Come visit us at the Strawberry Fest

36th Annual
Pasadena Strawberry Fest
May 15th, 16th & 17th
Friday 3pm till Midnight
Saturday 10am till Midnight
Sunday 10am till 7pm
at the
Pasadena Fairgrounds
Fairmont Pkwy & Red Bluff
visit www.StrawberryFest.com for more information

Meet the World's Oldest Dog

The world's oldest dog proved she was a real party animal by celebrating her 21st birthday with a big bash and a cake, a Guinness World Records spokesman said today.

New Yorker Chanel is 147 in dog years. She struggles to see, hear and walk, but the off-white Daschund-cross, is still able to enjoy the finer things in life.

Her owners Karl and Denise Shaughnessy from Long Island like to dress her up in little jumpers and sunglasses or 'doggles' to protect her ancient eyes from the sun's glare.

Karl, a retired police officer, said: 'This dog is a real work of art.'
Chanel is recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest living dog after she snatched the title from Bella, a 29-year-old Labrador cross from Britain.

Bella, who was 203 in doggy years, died from a heart attack in her Lincolnshire home in September last year.

Karl's wife, Denice, adopted Chanel from an animal shelter in Virginia when she was just six-weeks-old.

Denice, then 30, was working as a court reporter in the Army. She rescued Chanel for her 12-year-old daughter, but the dog became more fond of Denice.

"Chanel was always very athletic," Denice said, recalling how they used to run three-to-four miles a day together.
Even 21 years later, Denice and Chanel still enjoy walks around their suburbs. But the dachshund now has to be carried and spends most of her time in the Shaughnessy's kitchen.

"We don't have to take her outside to to go and we don't take her out at all in the wintertime," Karl said. "We try to protect her as much as we can." Chanel is starting to look a bit frail, is hard of hearing and fighting a battle with cataracts but her physical impairments are small in comparison to her grand age.#

She celebrated her birthday with a visit to the New York Dog Hotel and Spa where she was joined by some doggy friends.

Chanel's vet Phillip Zangara, of the Roosevelt Animal Hospital in Port Jefferson Station, N.Y said: 'She's the oldest dog we have ever seen.

"She is defying every odd right now. I'm surprised at just about everything about her. She has the body of a six-year-old." Chanel has become slightly crotchety with age and has been known to snap a nip at strangers. But Denice says she still has a fairly calm disposition.

'She doesn't like to be bothered or have her face washed.

'And she doesn't let anybody hold her except me nowadays,' she said.

Denice has thought about the future for her aged pooch. She hopes she will never have to make a decision to put her down/
'I absolutely love her so much, and I am really just hoping that when it is time to go, she just goes in her sleep,' she said.

The oldest dog ever recorded was Bluey, a sheepdog from Australia, who lived to be 29.

Can your pet get Swine Flu?

The following is a message from the ASPCA. Don't worry, pet parents! The recent, rapid outbreak of the H1N1 virus, previously known as swine flu, appears to present little risk of infecting our furry friends. In the past few weeks, only humans have been affected by the new virus, and it's still unknown how the virus will impact other species.

"Currently there's no data demonstrating any risk of dogs and cats contracting this strain of the virus," says Dr. Louise Murray, Director of Medicine at the ASPCA's Bergh Memorial Hospital in New York City. "However, owners of pet pigs, as well as farmers, should monitor their animals' health more closely and take steps to limit transmission from humans to pigs and vice versa."

If you do count a pet pig as your animal companion, please consult with your veterinarian about a Type A influenza vaccine, which is available and recommended for all healthy swine.

Dr. Miranda Spindel, Director of ASPCA Veterinary Outreach, adds: "Swine influenza or swine flu is one of the leading causes of respiratory disease in swine throughout the world. Like most influenza A viruses, swine flu generally causes high levels of illness in pigs, but fatalities are uncommon."

For the latest information about the outbreak and your pet's health, please visit the Center for Disease Control (http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu). If you suspect your pet is ill or if he exhibits any sudden changes in behavior, please contact your veterinarian immediately.

Read the ASPCA's official statement on swine flu.

HB 3180: No More Puppy Mills

Take Action!

Quick Summary: HB 3180, a bill that will require licensing and regulation of large-scale commercial dog and cat breeding operations, is now pending in the Texas Legislature. This bill was written specifically to address the animal cruelty that is inherent in the puppy mill industry and will require that minimum standards of care, treatment and housing be met by puppy mill operators. Important Note: Hobby breeders who keep no more than 10 intact female dogs are exempt from licensing and regulation.

What can you do to help?
Spread the word! To increase the number of people contacting their legislators, please forward this alert to friends and family who love animals. Ask them to go to www.THLN.org, watch the puppy mill video and sign up to receive Action Alerts. A bill summary for HB 3180 is also posted on the site.

Each Action Alert will give you the progress of the bill and the names of legislators to contact to make your voice heard for the animals now suffering in puppy mills. As soon as HB 3180 is scheduled for a committee hearing, you will receive an alert.
This bill must be passed in a committee hearing before it can go to the House of Representatives for a vote. Please don't assume that this will be easy. Puppy mills operate in backwoods areas and in the shadows of our communities, but their owners have a strong lobby force at work to kill this legislation. They are driving paranoia among the hobby breeders who have not read this bill and are not aware that they are exempt from licensing and regulation, as long as they have no more than 10 intact female dogs.

Tell us your story.
Did you buy a puppy you believe may have come from a puppy mill?
Are you concerned about a potential puppy mill in your area?
Are you a shelter or rescue staff person who has assisted in puppy mill related work?
Do you have a question or comment about puppy mills?

Please share your story or question with THLN by clicking here. Please note that we are unable to accept attachments (including photos) at this time.

If you love dogs and cats, this is one of the most important bills you can help pass to protect them from cruelty. More than 700,000 dogs and cats were destroyed in Texas animal control facilities last year, simply because there were no homes for them. Puppy mills are not only cruel and barbaric operations that are producing sickly puppies with genetic defects, they are mass contributors to the pet overpopulation problem.

Thank you for taking action. Please help us spread the word.

NOT closing, JUST MOVING

That is correct! Not closing but only moving. I know it is short notice, but we have found the perfect permanent spot for Haute Dogs & Glitzy Paws. We will be moving to 26411 Preston Avenue this weekend. So we will be closed starting on Friday (the 13th) and will re-open Thursday (the 19th) while packing, moving and unpacking take place. Feel free to stop by to see what's going on, it's only right across the street.

We will be on the corner of Main Street & Preston Avenue. The building is an early 1900's house with a full kitchen and another room perfect for grooming. We will offer a large selection of raw, frozen & dehydrated diets and will also be introducing some new kibble dog & cat foods. We are welcoming back Honest Kitchen as well as a new dehydrated food. So stay tuned!!!

As most of you know Old Town Spring has stores that have been in business for years. We are very sorry to see Jessica from Libby Lulu's close her doors after 5 years in OTS, however we wish her the best of luck with her new incredible job designing floral masterpieces. Jessica & her mom Anita are wonderful people and we know they will be back to visit us soon.

Pictures of progress will be posted soon.

DO NOT MISS THIS CLASS: Self-Defense Semiar

Allison Arnold will be holding a Self-Defense Seminar on Saturday March 28th at the Woodlands Aikido Center.

This is a must attend seminar where you can learn some basic and easy self defense moves and learn how to avoid hazards. If you have a child, please sign up. This is a Parent/Child learning program. We all know the dangers of strangers, but what if something was to happen? Would your child know what to do? Be safe, not sorry!

Colin & I have signed up and I encourage all of you to do the same.

Please contact Allison at 713/822-4312 for questions or for more informaiton.

Chicken Chinnamon Cookies

Chicken Cinnamon Cookies

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup chicken broth
• ¾ cup oatmeal
• ¼ corn flour
• ¼ cup oil
• 1 tbl baking powder
• 2 tbls of cinnamon

Pretty simple – just mix the ingredients to dough. Roll out and cut shapes. Cook at 350F/ 180C for around 20 mins.