@thunderbird8588: Interesting video, i think any animal that shows potential could be considered a service animal, why just stick to Dogs ? Maybe someone just might try for guide Apes! They are considered the most intelligent animals, so it wouldn't surprise me. :p

Excellent, made me smile all the way through, except whenhe/she fell over :D… I wa expecting the ball to go ...... POOF ....... :D

@Kipawa: I rode quarterhorses for many years - I just love em, and yours looks to be in good form. The picture of the baby rats is incredible. Thanks for sharing your photos. Thank you :) he does himself proud. Although i actually have trouble keeping weight off him :P unlike his paddock friends (a stockhorse and a thoroughbred). I love the western stuff. QH's are my fav, beautiful nature with a hint of cheekiness. He's starting to loose his awkward look from when he was growing (the see-saw look lol withers higher, withers lower as they grow lol) and hes now filling out which i love - i love chunky qhs :) Rats are amazing :) Glad you like the photo

I do agree that there are not always "obvious" disabilities for those with service dogs and that many of the laws/policies (in the US) are oppressive to dog owners i.e. you can be cited, in many jurisdictions, for leaving your dog in the car, but you can't bring them into the store either, or leave them tied up outside. But my OP was in regard to someone I have known for many years, and though she is getting on in years, has no disability, and the dog is not certified, just well-trained. I find this kind of abuse of 'the system' and of people's general kindness to be just wrong. Relating to handicapped parking, I would rather walk from the furthest parking available than park in a handicapped designated spot. My father has a handicapped hang tag (hip and knee surgeries) but keeps it in his glove box and only uses it if he's having a "bad" day. BTW: Kipawa - don't know where she got the "service dog" vest, but probably not e-Bay as she is not very 'computer savy'. I suspect from someone who actually has service dogs. Which, in and of itself, is another problem.

It's fairly addictive, isn't it? I've completed all the levels and am working on getting 3 stars on all. Can't wait for new levels to be released. P.S. figures the only response would be from someone halfway around the world though I do have relatives in your country. My grandfather came to the U.S. in 1922 and left 9 brothers and sisters. Still have contact with some decendants. They are mostly in Victoria.

MacPack: Yes, I know bestiality isn't illegal here - how stupid, and they did mention that on the radio. Also, the whole gang probably would platonically marry Topper, he is such a dear. My Shaye would REALLY like to marry Topper.

Sounds like absolute chaos - for both of you!!! Naughty kitties though! Yuk!

Love it..Congrats..

I take Blaze into the senior's lodge to go visit Grandma (in a town of less than 300), sure enough, there's a gentleman there that knew what Blaze was. He was an archeologist back in his day. His last dig was in 1976 deep in the Congo, and he stayed with villagers and witnessed the hunts and the lives of the basenjis in the village. He told me about one hunt. The basenjis chase antelope into huge nets that are strung up in the forest like barriers. The nets are handmade with ropes and vines. Some of the hunters stay near the net and hide, the majority of the hunters take the basenjis to the water hole and wait. When the antelope arrived, they release the basenjis and chase behind almost soundlessly. You can really hear the gourd bells, which are mostly around the loins. The antelope hit the net and are shot with arrows. The basenjis have to get beaten off… they get a little too excited. He has some amazing pictures. I'm trying to borrow his album to scan, but he's not comfortable with that idea. He loves Blaze though and he knows the african word for the breed which I can never remember or pronounce.

Sadly, the link no longer exists, at least for me. I do think 'Pits' get a bad rap and others that just look like them too.

So, I guess I couldn't have seen you in my recent trip throught the city of flying pigs (for those unaware, there is one). Two hours of stop and go southbound, trying to get to the airport. I was in the backseat and looked at every truck on the off chance there might be an AJ sighting. Obviously, no luck, as you were a few time zones away :) Had I seen AJ, I might have jumped out of the car I was in and jumped into your truck for a couple of miles…just to say 'Hi'...that's how slow going it was. My advise, for north or southbound, take the by-pass...but what do I know? There were plenty of trucks willing to wade through the traffic.

Poor Beagles are always used by labs. Someone at the dog park rescued a 3 year old Beagle that had been in a cage for 3 years. It was very over weight probably from low thyroid and even though very well tempered and tolerant didn't know how to play with other dogs.

In one of my previous apartments I used to frequent a particular, locally owned, quickie-type market. Occasionally, I would bring my dog. They had no problem with me bringing him into the store while I carried him. In fact, he became a bit of a celebrity because the clerks would point us out when we came in, saying "that's the dog I was telling you about, a basenji" to other customers. I had the experience of a bit of teaching about the breed. many were appreciative, some were just jerks because "they were 'real men' and they had to have a "real" dog" UUGGHH! So what's a "real dog'? Made me angry but it was a 'quickie-mart' - how angry could I get?

He is such a beautiful little boy - kudos to Spaik for deciding to get along with him. I'd love to have him - or any kitten, we love them so much. But, our 16 year old calico cat sometimes looks like a toy to one of our B's, so I don't dare. The old kitty takes care of herself, and has given both of my girls some scars - but she still does not appreciate living with dogs.

Thanks, Dan, we have had rain all weekend. But it is keeping it cooler, we had record highs in May and June. Hope you and Buddy had a good 4th as well.

So adorable! He/she really looks like she is totally enjoying it. I love water, but that dog could swim circles around me!

Enjoy your holiday Janneke. Soon i will be on one too when term finishes. Trouble is my contract ends so i need to find another job :(

@lvoss: Not supporting Eukanuba/Iams but every link on that site is an internal one and they are obviously biased and pushing an animal rights agenda. Some of the copy is over the top but data appears solid. Our western culture seems entrenched in the belief other species do not experience pain nor do they have rich emotional lives.