Wednesday I was at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Cedar Bend Humane Society’s new adoption center in Waterloo.

I know the humane society staff and the board have worked on this project for so long. It’s nice to see construction ready to begin!

Yes, I have a soft spot for all animals, but being at the current shelter many times, there’s definitely a need for more space.

To read the script and watch the video from the groundbreaking, click here.

The goal is to be in the new center in December. The Sid Samuels Group is building it, and I’m told it will be “green” including the use of lots of windows.

I can’t wait to see the finished product! It’s sure to be a more comfortable space for animals while they wait for a good home.

Posted under In the News

Today, I got to cover what I found to be a very interesting story. More than 60 dogs and their handlers from Iowa and Nebraska are in Waterloo for a  K-9 training and certification program.

It happens each year, usually in the spring, and this year Waterloo is the host community.

Getting to see these dogs in action was so neat! The dogs are tested on their ability to locate narcotics in vehicles and buildings. I could tell the dogs knew what they were doing, and they were working very hard.

While I thought “police” dogs might not be as friendly (because they’re not supposed to be), that was absolutely not the case. As soon as I walked in, one of the dogs came up to greet me. She took long enough for a quick pat before moving on to sniff me and my camera. Then she continued her search around the room.

Greg Fangman with the Waterloo Police Department says law enforcement dogs aren’t “mean.” They’re simply trained to do a job. Most dogs go home with their handlers each night and are part of the family. He said most dogs stay in the “business” for about a decade.

Narcotics dogs work hard and do a lot of training. In Waterloo, dogs go through 120 hours of training before hitting the streets. Then they train about four hours every nine days.

To read my full story on the K-9 training and certification, click here.

Posted under In the News

Cubbie’s recent sleep habits are getting on my nerves. For the past several nights, he’s gotten up between 3 and 4 a.m. and wanted to go outside.

The first couple nights, I let him out and he did his “business” and then just wandered around the backyard sniffing EVERYTHING. I tried to get him in, and he just looked at me. I think part of it has to do with being in a new yard. He was driving me nuts just walking back and forth and back and forth sniffing!

Last night, he woke me up again at 4 a.m. I’m almost glad it was still raining because he doesn’t like to get wet, so he was very quick. Sometimes I wish I had a doggy door so Cubbie could just let himself in and out of the house whenever he wanted.

Obviously, if he has to go outside, I’m going to get up and take him. The problem is, I have trouble falling back asleep once I’m up. For Cubbie, I let him out and he runs right back to bed and starts snoring in a matter of minutes.

For me, even when I’m exhausted it takes me a while to fall back asleep (if I can fall back asleep at all). The past several nights I have gotten back to sleep, but not for about 20-30 minutes. Doesn’t Cubbie realize I need every bit of beauty sleep I can get?! That half an hour is a long time!

He used to be so good about sleeping through the night. I don’t know what happened! I haven’t changed anything about our bedtime routine (other than it’s a different house). Maybe I need to take his food and water dish away at 7 or 8 in the evening? I already make sure to try to wear him out about 30-60 minutes before bedtime. We also go outside around 10 p.m. just before going to bed for the night. Do you have any ideas that might help Cubbie sleep through the night?

Posted under Cubbie stories

My dad gives me some good stories to write about. While I was at work this morning, he decided to come over to do some more stuff to the house, including a little play area in the basement for Cubbie.

Let’s just say my dad isn’t always the most observant person. First, Cubbie recognizes vehicles and knows my dad’s truck. Cubs was upstairs (with the window open for a breeze) when my dad arrived. I guess my dad “let” Cubbie bark for awhile thinking he would stop. If Cubbie knows someone is in the house, he won’t stop barking if he can’t get to them. I apologize to my new neighbors for the barking this morning!

So Dad let Cubbie out of the upstairs and outside. I think Cubbie was just following my dad around for the most part. At one point, my dad took some stuff out to the truck. Cubbie followed him into the backyard. My dad didn’t see Cubbie follow him and just came back into the house and shut the door.

Dad said he kept hearing “yips” and couldn’t figure out where they were coming from. He looked around the basement and Cubbie wasn’t there. After awhile he went upstairs to look around the first floor. Dad said he thought he might be locked in the bathroom. He wasn’t. Then dad checked the attic. He said he kept yelling Cubbie’s name hoping he would bark, but he just whined. Finally, my dad looked out the window in the attic and heard Cubbie outside. In the pouring rain.

Apparently, Cubbie was drenched! But it might be a good thing it was raining because Dad left the back fence open. If it wasn’t raining and Cubbie didn’t want back inside so badly out of the rain, he might have left the yard.

But Cubbie isn’t “lost” anymore and he’s dry. My mom says Dad needs to pay more attention. He previously locked his cats in the garage when they followed him out there and he didn’t notice!

Posted under Cubbie stories

Wednesday I went to a Chicago Cubs baseball game with two co-workers: Michelle and Nick. The night game was a ton of fun, but a little cold. Too bad the Cubs lost.

We sat in the bleachers in left-center. We actually had a great view of the field.

Since I was out of town for the night, Cubbie went to my parents. He always has great adventures there.

With the weather so nice, my mom got to take Cubbie on a walk. She said they met a woman and her little schnoodle (who you will see soon on the Saturday morning pet pictures). The woman recognized Cubbie! So the two played for a bit.

Around Noon today I called my dad to check in on Cubbie, and to let him know when I’d be there to pick him up. I asked my dad if Cubbie was okay, and he paused slightly before saying, “Yeah. He’s fine.” I knew something was up.

After the trip, I ran some errands and caught up on some emails before getting back in the car to go get Cubs. When I got there, he ran to me so fast he couldn’t stop and ran into my leg. Then he jumped up in my lap for awhile.

My mom told me what really happened while I was gone. She said Cubbie tricked my dad into opening the house door that leads into the garage. Well, I guess the garage door was open so out darted Cubbie into the front yard. Mom said Dad was chasing Cubbie, but Cubbie wanted to go over and say hi to the neighbor dog, Molly. I guess Cubbie wasn’t listening to Dad. (To get Cubbie to come you have to kneel down and call him. I’m not sure if I’ve ever explained this to my parents). Eventually, Dad got Cubbie back in the house, but he was not happy. Mom said Cubbie felt bad, and he pouted on the chair.

When I got there, we decided to go play in the fenced backyard. We were playing with Cubbie’s toy when he grabbed something else in his mouth. I thought it was a mushroom, which I didn’t want him to eat. So I said, “Drop it.” He dropped it, so I distracted him with his toy while my mom picked it up.

Mom looked at it in her hand and said, “Danielle, this isn’t a mushroom. It’s a dead mouse!” Gross. We both think the cats brought it up to the house. Thanks goodness Cubbie dropped it right away, and my mom thoroughly washed her hands!

Now, we’re back home and Cubbie is sleeping. He’s always worn out when he leaves the grandparents. I’m worn out from the road and trying to sleep in a noisy hotel room in downtown Chicago! I think we’ll both sleep well tonight.

Michelle (KWWL morning show producer) & Me

Posted under Cubbie stories

Cubbie rarely goes under the bed. At the old house, he only went under the bed when one of his toys got stuck. After just a few days in the new house, Cubbie for some reason has decided he likes to go under the bed. I think part of the reason might be the bedrooms here are carpeted but were hardwood floors at the old house.

Last night, Cubbie wiggled his way under the bed. Nothing was under there for him to get. He just decided to go on his own.

Under the Bed

He found a spot and just laid there. I lifted up the bed skirt to see what he was doing, and he barked at me! Every time I entered the room or tried to see what he was doing, he barked. I felt like he was saying, “No girls allowed! This is my clubhouse!”

He stayed under the bed for about ten minutes. Then, he wiggled his way back out. I can’t imagine it’s very comfortable under there because he’s not exactly a small puppy anymore. The only way he can fit is if he army crawls on his belly.

I still have no idea why he was under the bed. There was nothing under there, and he wasn’t moving once he got to the middle of the floor.

I’ll have to see if it was a one night event, or if it becomes a new habit. Maybe he just wanted some alone time, and that was the only spot he thought he could get away from me!

Coming out from under bed; too close to camera

Posted under Cubbie stories

I think most of us know someone who always has to have the last word. In my life, Cubbie always has to have the last word.

He doesn’t bark all the time, but he does bark when he hears noises or thinks someone is at the door or when he simply feels like talking. I’m trying to teach him to “speak” on cue. It’s hit or miss at this point.

Most every time he barks, I try to quiet him. I appreciate knowing when someone is at the door, but I don’t want him to bark too much and disturb the neighbors.

When I give him a “shhhhh” or a “be quiet” he barks a little softer (but he still barks). I do the same thing again looking in his eyes and he gets a little softer again.

No matter how many times I “shhhh” him, he ALWAYS has to have the last word. If I tell him to be quiet, he is compelled to bark one more time. I swear, if I never stopped “shhhing”–he’d never stop barking.

After the inital bark, it isn’t a big bark, but he still feels the need to say something after me. Sometimes it’s just a little tiny growl, but it’s still him making some type of demonstration that I’m not quieting him, but rather he’s choosing on his own to stop.

I guess he thinks he’s the boss of me! (Which is probably true most of the time).

This weekend when I picked him up from my parents, my mom and I were sitting on an old couch looking at some photos. Cubbie started tugging on the couch so my mom told him to “stop.” He quickly jumped on my lap with his ears back as if to say, “Mommy, I didn’t do anything. Tell Grammy to stop, not me.” My mom just laughed and said what a baby Cubbie is around me!

What can I say… I have a spoiled dog.

Posted under Cubbie stories

In an interview about the new dog at the White House, President Obama referenced an old joke: “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.”

While the statement is funny, I think it’s also true. For many of us, our pets are our best friends. I personally can relate to the statement in my profession. Depending on a certain day of the week or a certain story I cover, people might like me or they might be angry with me. As much as I’d like to please everyone, it’s unfortunately not possible.

I’ve developed a thicker skin in this business. You have to. But that doesn’t mean I don’t get hurt. I just try not to dwell on it for very long.

Many times people will see a story of mine and use that one minute of air time to judge me, often without knowing anything about me or having met me in person. I can tell you we all do the best job we can. What some people don’t realize is the time constraints we are under, the pressure of getting people from all sides to talk to us on camera and often times covering stories we don’t pick ourselves.

Don’t get me wrong, many people are very supportive and we all appreciate that so much! Unfortunately, the people who tend to speak the loudest are typically negative.

One of the best parts of my job is dealing with the public. I love talking to people and telling their stories. But because of being in the public, I also am “out there” more than a lot of people. In my job I completely understand I have to deal with criticism. I think most all of us welcome constructive criticism, but some people can be downright hurtful. No one likes to be judged, but we all do it. That’s why I try to live by the motto, “Treat others as you want to be treated.”

I love my dog for so many reasons, but one of the main reasons is his unconditional love for me. Whether I’m having my best day or my worst day, Cubbie loves me just the same. He doesn’t care what I do for a living, that I love to put on sweat pants as soon as I get home from work or that I have crazy hair when I don’t take the time to straighten it. All Cubbie wants is for me to spend time with him, which isn’t difficult because that’s what I want to! (We’re little homebodies)!

Life isn’t always easy. We all experience ups and downs. I believe everything happens for a reason and you have to experience sadness to appreciate happiness. I can truthfully say my bad days aren’t as bad and my good days are even better because of my dog. There are times I am so happy and I come home to Cubbie and he makes me laugh and brightens my day even more. Then there are times I come home from a difficult day at work, and as soon as I see Cubbie, my day isn’t quite so bad.

When my grandma died last May I really tried to be strong for my mom. I knew she was hurting, and I just needed to be there for her. I was and am very sad about my grandma. She’s the only grandparent I’ve ever known. I’m a Cubs fan because of her. When I didn’t want to cry in front of my mom, I would cry to Cubbie. He was a great support just being here. He’s fantastic at reading my mood. He can tell when I need to cuddle and be quiet.

My dog is truly a best friend. Happy or sad, seeing his brown eyes light up and his tail wag when he sees me, how could that not make a person feel better? I always want to be around my dog.

Pets can change our lives, and Cubbie has definitely changed mine. My life is better because of him and that’s why I’m committed to helping as many animals as I can. Another reason I love my job is the opportunity it gives me to raise awareness and make a difference. My job allowed me to start a pet segment on Saturdays, I get to write this blog and KWWL sponsors and helps promote my fundraisers for the humane society. I really do love my job for many reasons (more than just helping animals).

A man’s (and woman’s) best friend really is a dog or any pet we connect with.

Posted under Cubbie stories

The house is exceptionally quiet tonight. Cubbie is spending the night at my parents’ house in Oelwein. I’m the Emcee for a bridal show Sunday in Oelwein, and we went there today for the dress rehearsal. My parents decided to keep Cubbie since I have to work tomorrow morning anyway.

While I know my parents enjoy watching Cubbie, it’s always weird to have the house to myself. I’m so used to it being the two of us, that when he’s gone I feel really alone!

I must say, though, it’s nice to have the night to go over my bridal stuff one more time and go to bed early. Cubbie woke me up at 3 a.m. to go outside today!

Even though he sometimes wakes me up in the night, I still prefer to have Cubbie with me every night. I’m so used to his snoring, and I know when he nudges me in the middle of the night he wants underneath the covers. Plus, him snuggling next to me helps keep me warm. I usually don’t sleep well because I have a weird sense that he’s missing when he’s not next to me.

At grandma and grandpa’s my mom says he doesn’t sleep very well because he’s too concerned with what the cats are doing. (He needs to make sure the cats stay out of trouble).

What he loves about visiting the grandparents are the treats and the attention and playing with the cats. (I don’t think the cats view it as playing, but Cubbie certainly does). He gets showered with toys and belly rubs and my dad constantly feeds him dog treats. My mom usually leaves the back door open so Cubbie can run from the backyard to the house as often as he wants. I swear, when Cubbie leaves my parents’ house he doesn’t need to eat for a week and he’s worn out enough to sleep for 24 hours straight.

The best for me is picking him up. I’m so happy to see him, and he’s so excited to see me. I know it’s not bad to spend a night away from him, but I certainly do miss him! At least I know he’s having fun.

Posted under Cubbie stories

This article was forwarded to me by our receptionist at KWWL, Sandy Wolf. It’s interesting.

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Nation’s First Pet-Only Airline Will Begin Full Schedule in July

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. (April 16, 2009)–Pet Airways announced that it will launch the first pet-only airline specifically designed for the safe and comfortable transportation of pets, with the first pet flights scheduled for July 14. On Pet Airways, all pets travel in the main cabin not in the cargo hold.

Serving five cities to start – New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles – Pet Airways plans to expand nationwide with easily accessible pet check-in lounges to serve its “pawsengers” in major metropolitan areas.

A proprietary web-enabled reservation system will allow customers to book pet travel on the web. Owners will be able to track their pet’s travel progress online.

Background on Pet Travel:

According to the American Animal Hospital Association, approximately 76 million cats and dogs travel with their owners each year. Despite the high number of pets traveling, relatively few currently
travel by air. This is not surprising, considering the conditions under which most pets must travel. Many airlines allow small pets to travel with their owners, stowed under the seat, but most airlines will only accept one or two pets per flight. Pets that are too big to fit under the seat are relegated to cargo, and unfortunately in many cases, are treated as such.

Recently, several airlines announced they will no longer accept pets on board their aircraft. In addition, airlines that do accept pets as cargo will not accept them when outside temperatures are below 45 degrees or above 85 degrees, or in other words, during the most popular winter holiday or summer vacation months. Pet parents should be aware that a cargo hold can quickly reach temperatures over 120 degrees.

Pet owners who want to transport their pets across the country are faced with limited or dangerous transportation choices. A study by the San Francisco SPCA, found that of the two million animals transported in the cargo holds of commercial airliners per year, approximately 5,000 are injured in transit.

The Pet Airways Experience:

The greatest issue facing pet parents when they want to transport their pets, aside from the dilemma and trauma of putting their loved ones in cargo holds, is the inability to know who, if anyone, is taking care of their pet and where or how their pet is being treated. It is a very stressful experience.

Pet Airways has solved this problem completely. Pet Airways ensures pets are in the good hands of people who love and know how to take care of pets. From the moment a pet is dropped off at a
Pet Lounge, the pet is always under the care of trained Pet Attendants. Monitored by Pet Attendants, pets will fly in planes that are fully-lit, climate-controlled and have the proper level of fresh air circulation that pets require.

Pawsengers will be boarded and de-boarded from planes as quickly as possible, never left in the cold or heat, and depending on transit time, will be offered toilet facilities, food and water as necessary during stops. Pet Parents will be assured of sensitive, careful handling and the peace of mind that their pets are well looked after by people who care as much about their pets as they do.

The Pet Airways goal is to make the pet travel experience more comfortable and enjoyable for both pawsengers and their human families.

About Pet Airways:

Founded in 2005 by Dan Wiesel and Alysa Binder, Pet Airways was created to provide a safe and comfortable solution for the transportation of pets. Inspiration for the concept came from difficulties encountered when shipping Zoe, their Jack Russell Terrier, across the country.

Posted under In the News