I thought cat lovers would appreciate this email I got.

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Posted under Uncategorized

We often hear about dogs in the White House, but you don’t often hear about cats.

I found this article about cats who lived in the White House.

Calvin Coolidge (Tiger) — Although Abraham Lincoln was the first President to keep a cat while in the White House, Coolidge was devoted to his cats and owned several former strays throughout his life. The most well-known, Tiger, was often seen around Coolidge’s neck as his owner paced the halls of the White House, and when Tiger escaped — making it all the way to the Lincoln Memorial before being found!— Coolidge made a special collar for the cat engraved with the words “The White House.”

Jimmy Carter (Misty Malarky Ying Yang) — Siamese cat Misty Malarky Ying Yang was the treasured pet of First Daughter Amy Carter, who brought the feline from Plains, Georgia to the nation’s capital when the family arrived in 1977. Amy was also presented with the gift of a baby elephant while her father was President — but the elephant took up residence in the National Zoo instead of the White House.

George W. Bush (India) — The all-black American shorthair India joined the Bush family when daughters Jenna and Barbara were young girls. After the twins left for college, India stayed in the White House until her death in 2009 at the age of almost 20 years old. Although some individuals abroad protested the name “India,” the cat was not named after the country, but instead after former Texas Ranger baseball player Rubén Sierra, who was nicknamed “El Indio.”

Bill Clinton (Socks) — The Clinton family cat, Socks, was an adopted stray who moved into the White House with the family in 1993, and was the subject of such books as Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Kids’ Letters to the First Pets and Socks Goes to Washington: The Diary of America’s First Cat. Unable to get along with new family labrador Buddy, Socks moved in with Bill Clinton’s secretary Betty Currie when the family left Washington. Far from easing into retirement after the end of the administration, Socks went on to lead the 2002 Little Rock Christmas Parade and lived with Currie until the ripe age of almost 20 before passing away last year.

Source: ZooToo

Posted under In the News

Warmer weather is here, and that means more dogs spending time outside. Unfortunately, dog bites happen, but there are things we as dog owners and dog lovers can do to help prevent anyone from getting injured.

I read an informative and interesting article by Mick McAuliffe, a Pet Behavior and Enrichment Manager. He says research has found more than 90 percent of dog bites are from dogs feeling threatened and therefore defending itself.

McAuliffe says children, adult males and people with multiple dogs are most at risk for bites.

He goes on to list some tips for preventing bites.

–Socialize your pet as a puppy

–Don’t put your dog in a position where he feels threatened or teased

–Walk and exercise your dog regularly

–Avoid highly excitable games, neuter your pet

–Teach your dog acceptable behavior

–Seek professional help with your dog develops aggressive behavior

I think it’s important to do everything to keep people and our pets safe. Many bites can be prevented, and it’s up to us as pet owners to do our part.

Posted under Obedience and Training

I just heard about Be Kind to Animals Week. It’s already passed this year, May 2-8, but I thought it was still a good topic to write about since it should be something we strive for 52 weeks a year.

Be Kind to Animals Week was started in 1915 by the American Humane Association. This year’s theme was “So many animals. So many ways to be kind.” The goal is to commemorate the role animals play in our lives, promote ways to continue to treat them humanely and encourage others to do the same.

Here are some tips from the American Humane Association and the Animal Rescue League of Iowa for being kind to animals.

1) Speak out For Animals: get informed about policies and legislation in your community and state that impacts animals

2) Reporter Animal Abuse

3) Appreciate Wildlife

4) Adopt a Pet from a Shelter or Rescue: every year, an estimated 3.7 million animals must be euthanized at our nation’s shelters because they could not be adopted into loving homes

5) Take Care of Your Pet: Pets are like children who never grow up; they need you to help keep them healthy and safe throughout their lives; keep your animal’s vaccinations up-to-date; make sure he’s wearing proper identification; take your pet to the veterinarian regularly

6) Donate or Volunteer at your Local Shelter: Cedar Bend in Waterloo is now training volunteers to handle/walk dogs

Posted under In the News

I’m still hearing stories about what my dad and Cubbie were up to while I was out of town at the end of April.

I know first-hand lots of people like to meet Cubbie and pet him. We get stopped quite a bit walking around our neighborhood. It’s much the same when my dad takes Cubbie on walks around Oelwein.

When Dad took Cubbie on a walk, they went by the Little Husky Learning Center.

Apparently, the kids were very excited to see Cubbie and wanted an “autograph” (at least that’s my dad’s version). So, my dad put Cubbie’s paw in the mud and marked some paper the kids gave to him! I hope the kids enjoyed meeting Cubbie and getting is “pawgraph.”

After putting his paw in the mud for the kids, Dad didn’t wash the mud off the paws. So, when Cubbie got back to my parent’s house, he tracked mud all around. It wouldn’t be so bad, except there’s new carpet and furniture in one of the rooms, which is where Cubbie went.

Thankfully, I have a very understanding mother who cleaned up the muddy mess and realized it wasn’t Cubbie’s fault he had muddy paws!

Oh, Cubbie and Grampy are buddies. I wonder what stories I’ll hear next.

Posted under Cubbie stories

May means graduations, and I’ve spent all weekend attending parties for the grads. Sunday, I was in Readlyn for Jon Macken’s celebration.

Jon’s sister, Elizabeth, is my middle brother’s girlfriend. I’ve been to the Macken farm before, but in winter. This was my first chance to really see the animals.

Besides cats and dogs, they have two fainting goats and a pot belly pig!

The goats are Tippy and Holly, and I saw first hand why they’re called “fainting” goats. Jerry was trying to get the goats out and Holly fainted. She rolled on her back with her legs straight up in the air, almost as if she was frozen in place. Several seconds later she began to squirm and went running off. So neat.

My new friend is Bacon. Jerry said she thinks she’s a goat (they live together and graze together), but she also acted a lot like a dog. One of her favorite things is to have her belly rubbed. She is very friendly. If you rub her belly, she will follow you all around and even lick your toes!

I’ve been around pigs/hogs before, but I’ve never touched a pot belly pig. She came over, I gave a pet and she knelt down and rolled onto her side. What can I say? I’ve got a new friend!

My dad thinks Cubbie would like a pot belly pig. Hmmm….

Posted under Uncategorized

On my day off last week I was sitting on the couch reading my book (Cubbie was sleeping next to me), and I got a picture message on my cell phone.

It was from a number I didn’t recognize, and the picture was of a man holding my dog. I thought, this is odd. I don’t remember ever being around when this picture was taken, and I’m with him 90 percent of the time. I had a gut feeling my dad was behind this (but I also knew he had no clue how to send a picture message).

So, I called my dad. He said, “Oh, you got that already? I was going to call and warn you about it.”

Apparently, it was taken when I was gone and my parents watched Cubbie. I mentioned before how Dad took Cubbie on lots of walks. Dad says when he and Cubbie were out walking people thought my parents got a new dog as a playmate for Cubbie. My dad said, “No, this IS Cubbie.” Dad told me after hearing that everyone wanted to pet him. He’s one popular dog.

Cubbie went in the school (my parents live next to the high school and middle school), and took a picture on Mr. Minton’s lap. I don’t have to guess how Cubbie got there. Knowing my dog as well as I do, he probably jumped up without hesitation. He thinks every lap is especially for him!

Posted under Cubbie stories

This week I was the guest speaker at a National Honor Society ceremony in Oelwein. While I spoke with the juniors and seniors and their families, my mom watched Cubbie. Well… maybe “watched” isn’t the right word. (Sorry, Mom).

When I got back from speaking, my mom had something to show me. While she was on the phone with her brother, Cubbie wandered around the house. He apparently went into my dad’s room and grabbed the mouthguard he uses to keep from biting his tongue at night.

Now, you might remember I’ve written a similar story before. That’s because this is the second time Cubbie has gone upstairs, jumped on the bed, climbed on the night stand, grabbed the mouthguard out of its plastic container and chewed it to pieces.

Dad says it was Mom’s fault because she was on the phone. Mom says Dad should have shut the bedroom door. I think Cubbie always finds a way to get into trouble. I guess I owe my dad a third mouthguard. Hopefully this one lasts longer than the last two!

Posted under Cubbie stories

I’m very excited about the Cubbie Tails/Waterloo Bucks Dog Day at the Ballpark. This year’s event is Sunday, June 20 at 3 p.m. at the Riverfront Stadium in Waterloo. The cost is $10. Proceeds go to the Cedar Bend Humane Society in Waterloo.

Besides the game, I have some baseball-themed t-shirts (thanks to the Shirt Shack) and a silent auction.

So far, I’ve gotten some great items for people to bid on! I have a quilt from Crazy to Quilt Shop, Jiva $50 gift card, Caribbean Tan & Spa $20 gift card, ISLE Hotel and Casino package, Crossroads Center gift package, tickets to Gallagher Bluedorn, UNI athletic tickets, family passes to Heartland Acres, a dog carrier from Neccesories and a sterling silver pet-themed necklace from Roth Jewelers. I am so grateful for everything being donated!

I also want to give a special thanks to Warren Transport for making a significant monetary contribution for the third year in a row!

Posted under Pet Events

I went to Tripoli today for a nice pet story. A cat helped save a neighbor lady who was lying on the ground with a broken hip!

It’s one of those feel good stories that reminds us once again why we love our pets.

Tinker the cat heard the neighbor lady tapping her cane on the wall after she fell. Tinker got her owner’s attention and got her into the bathroom so she could hear her neighbor shouting for help.

Here is a link to the script and video.

Posted under In the News