Remembering Lily ~~ December 16, 1995 - May 26, 2008

It was a gorgeous day, and one that Lily would not live to enjoy. Lily was recovering from a debilitating seizure in the emergency room. Several days ago when I visited her at the vet, I was encouraged that she may recover as she stood shakily to greet me. Today, she looked my way, but that was all she was able to do. I could tell that Lily was ready to move on.

I first met Lily on an equally beautiful day in the fall of October 1996. She was a 10-month-old tri-colored Collie who lived on quiet farm that raised Collies and German Shepherds. Moving to the big city was quite a change for her. She was afraid of everything, and it took her a long time to be comfortable even going for a walk. After having lived with so many dogs, she was lonely living with just 2 cats.

Several months later, I rescued a Cocker/Lab stray and named him Chipper for his lively personality. He turned Lily's life around. They became fast friends and great playmates, chasing each other and squabbling over toys and chew bones. Though shy and insecure when I first adopted her, Lily became the Alpha dog after Chipper arrived. Next a sweet King Cav mix named Holly joined our family, and Lily's pack was complete.

I frequently brought home lost and abandoned animals, and Lily was always accepting of whatever came in the door. Unlike most animals, she graciously shared her food bowl and toys with every visitor. Though she seemed meek and mild, Lily was better than any alarm system and ferociously guarded her turf against any perceived threat, including an evil neighbor. Never letting down her guard, Lily barked at this neighbor until her final days.

When Chipper died unexpectedly several years ago, Lily mourned his loss. Though she soldiered on, Lily never seemed to fully recover from losing her best friend. Now she is reunited with both Chip and Holly, who were probably the the first to welcome her on the Rainbow Bridge. Though we miss all three of you tremendously, we are glad you are together again. Godspeed.

"Dog Whisper Episode Guide" Reviewed

Buster, my kamikaze terrier/Chihuahua mix was having some behavioral issues. I couldn't fault the little guy. He's a Katrina rescue who survived the hurricane and a near-fatal bout of heart worm disease. Anyone would need a little therapy after that.

Buster has always been a little skittish but it had gotten worse -- to the point where he was reluctant to leave the yard for a walk around the block. Most dogs beg to go for a walk, but not Buster. If I drove him to a park or unknown area, he had no problem walking on a leash and seemed to enjoy the exercise. If I tried to walk him in his neighborhood, he wouldn't go past the driveway and would try to scoot inside to the security of his favorite chair in the living room. Sidebar: on the advice of my vet, I even tried giving him some doggie antidepressants. But the medication didn't seem to help him get over his fears.

Enter the Dog Whisperer. I picked up his latest guide on dog behavior, "Dog Whisperer The Ultimate Episode Guide", since it had some chapters on dog phobias. While the guide didn't provide a lot of direction on Buster's problem, I found it interesting to read about challenges that other owners had faced with their pets. I admired their tenacity to work through the problem with the dog, rather than giving up on their pet.

The book is like a TV Guide version of the episodes rather than a in-depth guide on how to correct behavioral issues in dogs. Cesar Millan is obviously a gifted trainer, and his editors would do him justice by devoting more detail to the recommendations and follow-up sections of each episode. In any case, "Dog Whisperer The Ultimate Episode Guide" is an interesting read for any animal lover. If you are looking for advice on how to correct a serious behavior problem, you may want to check out other sources.

Do you have a recommendation on how to correct a dog phobia like Buster's? Please share your comments.

Visiting that Dog Mecca Called Carmel

If you've ever traveled with your pet, you probably know that it takes some advance planning to ensure a fun and hassle-free vacation. There are different definitions of "pet-friendly", however Carmel-by-the-Sea is the standard that many pet destinations should aspire to. Many of the hotels are indeed pet-friendly, but the grande dame is the Cypress Inn, which is co-owned by animal lover, Doris Day. Your pet is welcome anywhere in the hotel, even in the dining areas.

This beautiful hotel in the heart of Carmel is easy walking distance to great restaurants, fabulous galleries and shopping. Best of all, it is a few blocks from the famous Carmel Beach on Ocean Avenue, where you will find dog lovers and their loyal canines frolicking in the waves.

The Cypress Inn offers a terrific breakfast that you can enjoy in front of a cheery fireplace with your pet or on the lush garden courtyard. The hotel also hosts a daily happy hour, where guests as well as the locals enjoy a cocktail with their canine buddies. Cats are welcomed at the Inn as well. The staff keeps a scrapbook of the pet guests who have stayed at the hotel. Many are frequent visitors and stay in touch via Christmas cards to the staff between visits.


The Cypress Inn provides a list of all the pet-friendly restaurants and stores in the area. Most establishments welcome pets as long as they are on a leash and well-behaved. To stay on the good side of the health department, many restaurants allow dogs in their outside dining areas but not inside. Some will let you bring your dog in if it is in a carrier, but it is always best to ask first. If you would like to leave your pet at the hotel, a staff member will either pet-sit for you or arrange for a sitter to take care of your pet


San Jose is the closest large airport to Carmel and is a scenic 80-mile drive. Petfriendly.com offers a list of pet-friendly hotels, attractions, restaurants and shops in the Carmel area.

Sherman Makes a Choice

Not every cat covets a cushy lifestyle. Take Sherman for example. He showed up in our neighborhood about six months ago. My neighborhood is very pet-friendly and a number of households leave out feeding stations for the feral cats. We even have a vet in the neighborhood who has volunteered to spay or neuter any homeless cat we bring into his clinic. While big on the free food (and not so big on the surgical procedures), the stray cats are very attracted to my neighborhood.

Sherman resembled a cat that my across-the-street neighbor once had, and she decided to adopt him. I was thrilled that this little guy would finally have a permanent home. Sandra and I went through the whole ordeal of trapping Sherman and taking him to the vet to be vaccinated and neutered. Sandra even bought a plush new pet bed, toys, and tempting treats for Sherman. On his first night "home", he was miserable. He growled and tried to escape every chance he had. Sherman finally slipped out the door, but of course he didn't go far. Who would leave such a great set-up? My street is like a resort experience for stray cats. In the morning, there is breakfast on my porch, sunbathing on another neighbor's porch, a bowl of half-and-half in the afternoon at Sandra's porch, and back for dinner on my porch. Plus there is an igloo in the hedges stuffed with a cozy fleece bed and blanket for those nights that warm shelter is needed. What's not to like about this set-up?

Like people, animals may choose a lifestyle that is counter to what most others would choose, but it seems to work for Sherman.