This weekend (6/17-6/18/06) the east coast of the USA will be experiencing a heat wave. Ominous predictions call for temperatures reaching 90-95 degrees, and with the accompanying high humidity it'll feel like it's over 100 degrees...even in the shade.

The following week, we'll undoubtedly hear stories about stupid, ignorant people who left their children/pets in cars with little or no ventilation. Rather than explain the results of such actions, I'll continue with my article.

Do NOT leave kids/pets in cars during hot weather. If you see a kid or animal locked in a car in distress, this, you might want to break the windows and rescue them. The local ASPCA or Division of Youth & Family Services would probably want to talk to anyone guilty of not caring for their kids/animals. Although it doesn't take any brains to have a kid or own a pet, it does require that you show some semblance of responsibility when it comes to their welfare.

Please don't let your any thing/one you own become a statistic.  And if you do, may you also suffer the horrible torment you bestowed upon your charges.

Stay cool, my friends.

It's absolutely amazing; I wish you could see this!

We have a year old tri-colored collie named Douglas (a.k.a. Dougie). He's a real pleasant guy, and an exponent of what our Vet says are the only two emotions his own collies emit: happiness or fear. He shows his happiness when:

He's fearful when:

After all, he never can tell when an errant doorway, a jar of tea or a plastic ball might try to invoke bodily harm on his person.

But, back to this "Snorkling" group that's gotta be created by the AKC. I was out on our deck this past weekend watching our pups (that's the aforementioned Dougie and our three Shelties-Lily, Lyric and Declan). After they had been running around for a little while, I decided to fill their "outdoor" water bowls so they could quench their thirsts.

Turning on the hose to fill the bowls is, of course, a supreme effort in and of itself...