Pittsburgh Dish

Manteca dog surrendered by owner

"Boss" turned over to Humane Society

The owner of the Manteca Bar on Monterey Street surrendered the dog he'd been keeping in the bar's tiny, filthy backyard yesterday to a Western PA Humane Society officer, claiming he can't take the dog home because he's not permitted to have a dog where he lives.

Neighbors called the Humane Society fearing the dog had not been properly cared for since the bar closed last month.

According to Shelley Rosenberg of the Humane Society, the five year-old shepherd mix was brought to the shelter yesterday and will undergo a behavioral evaluation sometime tomorrow. Depending on the outcome of the test, the male dog named "Boss," will likely be available for adoption soon after.

Call the HS tomorrow at 412-321-4625 ext. 281 to inquire about Boss.

Doggie Doings

Local group seeks help

Four-legged dispatch:

Hello Bully is a Pitbull advocacy group serving the greater Pittsburgh area and beyond. We are a Non-Profit corporation registered with the state of Pennsylvania. Our 501c3 status is filed and pending with the IRS.

We support spay/neuter, responsible ownership, and education. In short, we believe that the “Pitbull problem” in not a problem with dogs, but a problem with humanity. Our “PITBULL 101” educational program is suitable for all ages and is available for your group or organization at no cost. Hello Bully also has a small network of foster families who work with us to rescue Pitbulls in need and assure that they are placed in responsible, loving homes. No breed is as misunderstood, abused, neglected or euthanized due to overbreeding. Pitbulls desperately need our help.

On Saturday, December 1st we will hold our Hello Bully Brunch & Boutique Benefit. We are looking for donations for our auction as well as vendors to table at our event and donate a portion of sales to our organization. This will be a great opportunity to promote your business at a time of the year when we are all looking for unique gifts for friends and fur-kids.

Thanks for all your support.

Please contact us on MySpace or email us at hello@hellobully.com if you can donate or participate.
Daisy
Hello Bully
www.hellobully.com

Hello Bully Brunch & Boutique Benefit
Saturday, December 1st, 2007
Noon - 3pm
The Creative Treehouse
517 Lincoln Ave. 2nd Floor
Bellevue, PA 15202

Fighting the cold

Animal Friends' free straw program heats up

Four-legged dispatch:

Animal Friends is helping to keep companion animals warm and dry this winter with an annual Winter Straw Drop. Beginning November 10 and continuing through the month of January, Animal Friends is offering free bundles of straw to anyone who owns or cares for outdoor pets. Straw delivery is also available for those without transportation or are unable to pick up the straw from Animal Friends' Camp Horne Road location. Interested individuals should call (412) 847-7066 to reserve a bundle. Every request will be answered. Because blankets, towels and pillows will only get wet and freeze, straw is the best insulation against the cold and wet winter.

Animal Friends encourages pet owners to make their pets part of the family and keep them inside the home. Dogs, cats and rabbits are social animals, and just like humans, they get bored, lonely and depressed without interaction and companionship. However, recognizing the reality that many pets do live outside, Animal Friends urges those pet owners to obey the law by ensuring that outdoor pets have access to proper food and warm, dry shelters. A car mat or rug should be used as a flap over a doghouse door to keep the inside free of wind, snow and rain. Extra care must also be taken to provide drinkable water and extra food at all times during freezing temperatures.

Frequently check your pet's paws, ears and tail for signs of frostbite, a very common occurrence. If you suspect frostbite, your dog or cat will need to see a veterinarian immediately. Check your dog's chain often to make sure it is not frozen to the ground or tangled. A tangled, too-short chain can cost your pet his or her life in bad weather.

Animal Friends is located at 562 Camp Horne Road in the North Hills, just .5 miles west of Exit 15 off I-279. For more information, call Animal Friends at 412.847.7000 or visit www.ThinkingOutsideTheCage.org.

Photo: Cora the Love Piggy and Dish Puplisher Shirley the Docile bundle up on the coldest day in Dish history.

Humane Society Ball: Tux & tails

Click image for larger view.

A friend of animals

   Click image for larger view

On Monday, Aug. 6, Animal Friends is proud to honor Ms. Eula Houston, our dedicated Animal Care Coordinator, as she celebrates her 50^th anniversary at Animal Friends.

From the organization’s humble beginnings in the Strip District to our state-of-the-art facility in Ohio Township, Ms. Houston has seen a lot of changes over the past half-century, but one thing has remained constant—her deep and abiding dedication to the comfort and well-being of the homeless animals in our care. On what Allegheny County is proclaiming “Eula Houston Day,” her friends at Animal Friends are honoring Ms. Houston with a dessert reception, a vacation in New York City to see The Color Purple, and a party with friends old and new. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Animal Friends on Camp Horne Road. RSVP: 412-847-7029.

Good power lines make good neighbors

A tail of rescue on Buena Vista Street

by Peg Dawson

Saturday night in the War Streets was quiet and calm -- if not pretty freakin' humid -- until a loud noise shattered the peace.

No, it wasn't firecrackers. Not unwieldy gunplay.

It was the sound of a very pissed off cat.

The sound caused several neighbors, to step outside to investigate. If errant bullets don't scare us, a cranky cat certainly won't.

And there, stuck about 25 feet up in a tree on Buena Vista Street, was a small orange kitten. The cat, named Amber, ran up the tree after spotting a dog during a rare journey from her nearby home.

She was not happy.

Oh, and she was resting on power lines.

Fearing the possbility of fried feline, neighbors convened to study the problem. Does the fire department even rescue trapped kittens anymore, we wondered? What about the animal rescue folks? Assuming, of couse, they aren't too busy flogging Michael Vick in the basement of the animal shelter.

Being tough War Streeters, we decided to tackle the situation on our own. Seven neighbors--of many shapes, colors and creeds--two ladders, a flashlight, one basket, a bundle of catnip, one bowl of Nine Lives cat food and two hours later, Amber was safely plucked from the tree by one of Buena Vista's bravest.

Our neighborhood united for a good cause. We needed that.

Model: Penelope the Cat, Dish Rat Chaser

Boxer says no to dogfighting

Lost Dog in the Mexican War Streets

Please contact Dish if you have seen this dog. Her name is Nikka and she escaped or was stolen from a yard on Resaca in the Mexican War Streets last night. Not wearing a collar. Very friendly. Her owner is out of the country and neighbors are desperate to find her. Email (editor@pittsburghdish.com) or call 412-997-0314.

UPDATE: Amazingly, little Nikka was heard crying in her own back yard this morning...no more details available yet, and yes, she is being taken to the vet. Thanks to all who were concerned, worried and helpful.

Dog flu over

Area poochs primed for adoption again

Dish Publisher Shirley the Docile (pictured below) has her eye on hiring Morgan (pictured above) for her devious doppleganger. "You gave her snacks. I didn't get any!" Hehehe.

Anypoo, from the Post-Gazette:

After three weeks of treatments, quarantine, and increased sanitation prompted by an outbreak of dog flu, the Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania announced today it is returning to full operation.

"We have received the results from the last few dogs that were showing symptoms, and the tests were negative for canine influenza. We are now clear of this outbreak, and can safely serve all our clients, canine and feline," Executive Director Charlotte Grimme said in a news release.

Medical Director Dr. Donna Hughes gave the all-clear this morning, and the operation in Pittsburgh's Larimer neighborhood will return to full operations at 11 a.m. tomorrow.

The league had suspended acceptance of dogs into its facility and clinic.

The Animal Rescue League has estimated revenue losses of at least $25,000 because of the flu outbreak.

Donate to the ARL here.

All the news that's fit to pet

Humane Society and Animal Friends battle the cold.

Signs like this one are posted all too often. Lost dog, lost cat, lost parakeet. Families are desperate to reunite with their animal companions. They post signs around their neighborhood, using the telephone pole to send the message, hoping someone has found Fluffy or Fido.

In response to this practice, The Western Pennsylvania Humane Society (WPHS) and the Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania (ARL) started Telephonepole.org as a way to post information about a lost pet--either yours or one that you've found. The free service collects information about the animal and where it was found/lost.

Gretchen Fieser, Director of Marketing and Communications for WPHS said the four year-old website hasn't been as successful as they'd hoped. "There have been matches made, but not as many as there could," she said. "We'd like other shelters to use it as well."

Telephonepole.org is even more important as winter months approach. Spread the word.

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Animal Friends is offering free straw for outdoor animals. Straw and hay help keep animals warm. With cold weather on its way this Thursday, you might want to take advantage of their Winter Straw Drop. AF will deliver as well:

Animal Friends is doing its part to help keep companion animals warm and dry this winter with its annual Winter Straw Drop.

Beginning November 15 and continuing through the month of January, Animal Friends is offering free bundles of straw to anyone who owns or cares for outdoor pets. Straw delivery is also available for those without transportation or are unable to pick up the straw from the shelter's Camp Horne Road location. Interested individuals should call (412) 847-7066 to reserve a bundle. Every request will be answered.

(Hopefully the poor old dog who lives under the porch on the corner of Buena Vista Street And North Taylor in the Mexican War Streets will receive some straw from a friend. His/her owners most likely won't provide it.)

Media hounds hounds

Bucs upstaged by barks.

About 200 panting pooches paraded into PNC Park last night for the first-ever “Pup Night at PNC Park” (among them Shirley the Docile, Dish’s delightful doggie) and for every 20 dogs there were at least two weary press photographers wishing something blew up across town.

The “Balls, not another yippy little shit in a Pirates shirt” glaze washed over them shortly after 7:30 p.m., about two- and-a-half hours into the event. Media shutterbugs wandered aimlessly through the swelling crowd on Federal Street—where the event kicked off with pre-game activites at 5 p.m.—hoping to avoid yet another portrait of inappropriate sniffing and indelicate self bathing. Overly tanned blonde women holding little dogs—especially dressed in frilly outfits or stuffed into Paris Hilton-type carriers—stole the media spotlight (and the crown from Shirley in the beauty contest. Yes, Dish entered her in a beauty contest. Gotta problem with that?).

The event was both a fundraiser for Animal Friends (Shirley’s alma mater) and a ploy for Pirates’ marketing team to curry favor with suckers like Dish. Motives aside, Pup Night proved a wagging success and dogs got their doo in the media.

(As for Shirley the Docile: She was spotted on the Jumbotron at around 10:30 by friends seated near the third baseline and Parents of Dish (PODs) spotted her on KDKA).

Photos: (top) Cora watches the Bucs not lose; Jayke, P-G's poster pooch; Shirley and Mr. Dish (hoping his pro-spay/neuter shirt that reads "I'm Fixed How About You?" might win a few votes) vie for the crown

Oh crap

They want to take me to a Pirates game.

by Shirley Van Tassell-Miksch

Hello, my name is Shirley. I am a dog and I need your help, as my parents are about to inflict an unimaginable cruelty upon me. See, my dad, Joe—or Mr. Dish, as he likes to call himself in this forum—got an email the other day from the Pittsburgh Pirates announcing that on Tuesday, Aug. 29, the North Side nine is allowing you two-legged-types to bring your pooches to the ballpark. He and my mom, Mrs. Dish—or Colleen—thought it would be a good idea to go to this event ... with me. Now, don't get me wrong, they're not cruel people, but why the hell would they subject me to this crap? Like it's not enough that they make me listen to games on the radio and watch those chumps get pummeled on television? What on earth have I done to deserve this? It's enough to put me off my kibble.

It's not that I don't like sports. I'd be more than happy to catch a Steelers or Pitt football game. Or a CMU fencing club match, even.

I don't think that I can talk them out of this, either. They want to enter me in the pregame canine beauty contest (Christ, let me have my dignity, people) and think it will be oh so swell to watch me mingle with my canine brethren and sisteren whilst the Buccos get treated by the Cubs as I treat a delicious beef bone. On the plus side, $5 of each $20 ticket goes to Animal Friends, the no-kill shelter that used to be in the Strip that moved to somewhere up on Camp Horne Road. That's where I came from and those folks treated me pretty nice. As you can see, I wasn't killed and they taught me to write. Good times.

Honestly, though, why my mom and dad don't just write a check to Animal Friends and let me lay on the sofa the evening of Aug. 29 is beyond me. People, I just don't get 'em.

At Bossa Nova downtown.

Animal Friends stock down by one

Pittsburgh Dish is pleased to announce the addition of a new member to our newsgathering family: Shirley the Docile.

Her primary responsibility will be to lay on the floor of Dish Headquarters and occasionally glance up at Mrs. Dish while she brings Dish to you. Shirley will also be expected to poop and pee outdoors (Hear that, Shirley?). Shirley joins Penelope the Rat Hunter and Max the Accountant in our employee menagerie. Shirley is also expected to be nice to Penelope and Penelope to her. Let's not reinforce that nasty cat/dog stereotype, kids. Max lives and works next door and will not be directly affected by Shirley's arrival.

At present Shirley is still in the hands of the wonderful folks at the Strip District’s no-kill Animal Friends, where she has abided for a couple of months. She, though about 5 years old, had yet to have her reproductive abilities nullified before being chosen to join Dish and is recuperating in the care of reproductive nullification experts. Shirley had a mighty fine cage at Animal Friends, spacious and clean. However, Dish is mildly disappointed that she had not been assigned the one sponsored by Mario Lemieux and family (great hockey player, savior of a franchise and animal chum. What a guy. Especially for a Canadian.)

Shirley, who’s left paw is a bit malformed either from spending much of her earlier years confined or from a congenital defect, nevertheless moves around effectively. In this manner, she shares much with Mrs. Dish (she's got the palsy). (Read more of Shirley the Docile’s past here:

http://www.animal-friends.org/site/press.jsp

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05231/556405.stm.)

Shirley is black, believed to be part Shar-Pei and part something larger, such as a lab, and all love. Her baleful eyes demand petting and hugging. A nice, new bed and 44 pounds of lamb-derived victuals await her Sunday arrival at Dish HQ. She is black, believed to be part Shar-Pei and part something larger, such as a lab, and all love. Her baleful eyes demand petting and hugging. A nice, new bed and 44 pounds of lamb-derived victuals await her Sunday arrival at Dish HQ.

Ruff nights

Charity, shaken not stirred.

Bark your calenders folks:

Local band Black Crash will perform at around 6:15 Friday night at Sports Rock in the Strip District (1400 Smallman St.). It's a benefit show for Animal Friends and their Bark in the Park event (Sun., August 28, North Park Skating Rink & Grounds). The benefit (held in the loft) runs from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. There will be dogs, drink specials and raffles.

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Looking for a good cause and a good excuse to go to happy hour?

If so, get your tail down to Bossa Nova (7^th Street, Downtown) every Wednesday in September for Yappy Hour II.

From 6-8 p.m., a mere ten buck donation, made to proceed the Animal Rescue League, will get you cheap drinks, prizes, cheap drinks, complimentary massages and manicures, and cheap drinks.

So if alcohol isn’t enough of a good cause, get down there and help the city's orphaned animals.

Scoop by Katie Johnston

Images: The Art of Kelly Pound

A North Side Dog's Life

Just another day in the North Side's West Park for these social butterflies.

Every afternoon is happy hour for neighborhood hounds. What do you think they prefer to imbibe--Pink Squirrels or Side Cars?