I Work With Animals! Ron Trotta and Schmitty the Weather Dog

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Filed under: Dogs, I Work With Animals!

Name: Ron Trotta
Age: 50+
Job Title: Meteorologist With Schmitty the Weather Dog

How did you end up working with Schmitty?
During the 2008 presidential election, I traveled 8,000 miles across the country with Schmitty and "entourage" on the Bark the Vote tour to help get out the vote, raise awareness and visit animal shelters across the country. I started including Schmitty on my daily "Climate of the Election" weather reports as we crisscrossed the U.S.A.

When and how did Schmitty's talents get discovered?
We were doing a weather report on top of a mountain in Trinidad, Colo. I was holding Schmitty, preparing to talk about the temperature and the wind, when I suddenly got this vibe from Schmiitty that the unusually warm weather was all about high pressure. It was an ESP kind of a moment. That's when I found out Schmitty the Weather Dog has a nose for the weather.

How does Schmitty predict the weather?
The correct term is "pawcast." Psychics "predict" things. Schmitty has a nose and an ear for the weather. Schmitty has focused that very keen canine sense of smell and hearing on detecting pressure changes in the atmosphere and the movement of air masses around the planet. Her forecasts, which are communicated subliminally to me, are 99 percent dead-on accurate. Schmitty helps me be a better meteorologist.

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Halloween-Themed Pet Toys

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Cats, Pet Product Reviews

You've spent loads of time perfecting costumes and special Halloween snacks for yourself and your family, but has someone been left out of the action? Although sharing your sweet treats with your furry friend is a bad idea, there is a way to get your pet in on the festivities: a new Halloween-themed toy!


JW Pet Arachnoid Ball, $9.99 at PetSmart
Our toy-testing dogs went crazy for these! They're easy to throw, and we dig how super cute they are. The dogs seemed to like the different layers of rubber and the remarkably loud squeaking. Though described as durable, we suggest human supervision around power-chewing pooches.


Mini Plush Tootsie Pop, $1.99 at DogToys.com
You can't give your dog any loot from your Halloween haul, but you can offer the next best thing with a toy lollipop! Or maybe you should just have a few on hand for your dog-owning neighbors when they stop by your house to trick-or-treat. We know we'd love to get this in our candy bag!

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Cute Pet of the Day – October 26, 2010

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Filed under: Dogs, Cute Pet of the Day

Name: Marco

Location: New York, N.Y.

Age: 2

Favorite Treat: Dried liver treats.

Favorite Toy: Squeaky pig.

Likes: Jumping, the beach, dogs bigger than he is, acting like a person, and his own float in the pool.

Dislikes: The rain, large waves at the beach, and when people sit on his float on the pool.

Weird Quirks: Before Marco goes out for a walk in the morning, he has to take some food from his bowl with him.

Fun Fact: Marco goes to bed promptly at 11 every night.

Congratulations to our submitter, Chad. If you'd like to submit your pet, upload your favorite pet photos to our Flickr pool!

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While nothing can beat a picture of a dog in a Princess Leia costune, here are other fun Halloween stories from AOL.

Holidash editor puts the Katy Perry costume to the test.
StyleList offers trick or treat options for Mom.
MyDaily horoscopes tells you what is happening in the stars this week.

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Cute Video – Dreaming Puppy Makes Your Heart Go KA-BOOM!

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Filed under: Funny Animal Videos

Usually, we'd come up with some cute fodder here to describe the video below, but we've got nothing.

What we have is an eensie-weensie puppy, lying flat on his back, eyes shut, cooing as he dreams through some adorable R.E.M. sleep, cuddled next to a Japanese toy bear. When a video is bursting with this much cuteness, anything we might add is just gilding the lily.


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Hedgehog Says Relax

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Filed under: Small Pets, Funny Animal Pictures

"Hey, guy, no worries. Don't get all worked up about it. Be like me. Do I look stressed? No way; there's no stress at Daily Squee. Relax! Be cooooooool. It's all good, man. Copacetic. Ain't no thing but a chicken wing."

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The Doggie Diaries – Does Your Dog Talk to Strangers?

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Dogs, Pet Training

Each week, Ben Westhoff shares the ups and downs of owning Pippi, the dalmatian mix he and his wife Anna adopted as a puppy in late 2009.

Anna wrote this week's column.

At our basic training class, our teacher often warned the class about allowing our pooches to meet and greet strange dogs that we encounter on walks. She recommended giving any unknown dogs a wide berth, just in case they are poorly trained or vicious. Yet at the same time, she stressed the importance of socializing our dogs properly. Socialization is key, after all, when boarding. This seemingly contradictory advice confused some of us. How does one socialize a dog without allowing it to spend time with new dogs?

Pippi loves going on walks through town, where we often encounter strangers. She loves meeting people -- especially children -- but she is even more energized when she can associate with other dogs. She mounts a full-on charm offensive, wagging her tail and lowering her front legs to show her playfulness, a little doggy smile on her lips and a sparkle in her eye. Fellow owners have remarked on how well she relates to other dogs, even ones who aren't always friendly.

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Wirehaired Pointing Griffons 101 – Dog Breed Info

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Dogs, Pet Adoption

Name: Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Personality: The Dog Breed Bible lists the breed's best qualities as "devoted, willing to please, amiable, and often comcial," though the book also notes that they are "reserved with strangers."

Jay Hoth, president of the American Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Association, adds that he tells prospective griffon owners that these dogs are "almost too smart for our own good."

Grooming: The American Kennel Club describes breed's fur as a "coarse double coat." Jim Lorraine of Frog Hollow Griffons, a wirehaired pointing griffon breeder in Sauquiot, N.Y., says their coats are also "non-shedding and hypoallergenic." Not much unkeep is needed. "Using a comb on their coats a couple times a week works the best," according to Lorraine. Hoth agrees, noting, "Griffons don't require a great deal of grooming, but do benefit from periodic brushing to remove dead hair. The griffon should not be bathed too frequently or have a conditioner used on their coat."

There are other elements of good hygiene that you can incorporate into your Griff's grooming. Hoth says, "Their ears need regular maintenance to prevent ear infections. This includes cleaning with a quality ear cleaner and pulling of hair from the ear canal. The hair between the pads of the feet should be trimmed regularly to reduce dirt and ice accumulation. Nails need to be trimmed on a regular schedule."

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Cute Pet of the Day – October 25, 2010

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Dogs, Cute Pet of the Day

Name: Magnolia

Location: North Vancouver, B.C.

Age: 1

Breed : English Bulldog

Favorite Toy: Nylabone.

Favorite Treat: Frozen buffalo bones

Likes: Food and kids.

Dislikes: Rain and being alone.

Weird Quirks: She scares easily.

Fun Fact: You can get her to do anything with food as reward.

Congratulations to our submitter, Lee Animal. If you'd like to submit your pet, upload your favorite pet photos to our Flickr pool!

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Cute Video – Kitty Catnaps in a Teacup

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Filed under: Cats, Funny Animal Videos

Afternoon tea generally is not enjoyed in America. We like our long, hard work days, frozen TV dinners, and restless, sleepless nights. It's the American way.

This kitty, however, lives where tea time is not only sacred; it's necessary. Because with the tea comes a nap, and isn't that the way we should all live? Take a cue from this kitty and give yourself a break today. You deserve it.


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Cute Video – Kitty Catnaps in a Teacup

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Cats, Funny Animal Videos

Afternoon tea generally is not enjoyed in America. We like our long, hard work days, frozen TV dinners, and restless, sleepless nights. It's the American way.

This kitty, however, lives where tea time is not only sacred; it's necessary. Because with the tea comes a nap, and isn't that the way we should all live? Take a cue from this kitty and give yourself a break today. You deserve it.


More Funny Videos

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