Bella's Boxer Shorts

Happy (Quiet) Fourth!

Happy Fourth of July!

Isn't it great to live in a country where everyone, included blogging Boxers, can speak their minds? Especially in an election year, it's a great time to celebrate freedom of choice. However, I'm not sure that should include being able to launch fireworks off your front porch. I don't know about your neighborhood, but my normally quiet street has turned into a hillbilly fiesta. It's like all the rednecks got drunk on Pabst Blue Ribbon and loaded up on illegal fireworks and now they'll spend the next week shooting them off in the street. 

I'm not the only person who thinks this is stupid. Seventy-three percent of Oregonians with pets don't find neighborhood fireworks amusing, and for many war veterans the noise is downright scary. Check out this blog post from The Oregonian's pet columnist Deborah Wood. According to Deborah, July Fourth is the No. 1 day of the year for lost pets because they panic at the noise and run away.

I hope that all my blogging buddies are enjoying the holiday and that they stay safe-and-sound.

xoxo - Bella

Running for Vee Pee

It's official. I'm throwing my hat into the ring as a vice presidential candidate. I think that Obama should pick me because:

(1) I can win the female vote and the canine vote.

(2) I have limitless amounts of energy...I'll kiss babies, visit old folks' homes, attend town hall meetings, whatever. Just feed me snackies and I'll be there.

(3) There are no skeletons in my closet (well, maybe a few destroyed sofa cushions...but if Mom has forgiven me then the rest of America should understand, too).

(4) I'm a lover, not a fighter---so I promise to run a nice, family-friendly campaign.

(5) Lastly, I look fiiiiiiiiine in my Obama Girl t-shirt!

xoxo - Bella

Legacy Boxer Rescue

Some of you will remember the portrait that my blogging buddy Cubby did for me a few months ago. Cubby is very talented and will take your pet photos and turn them into Clip-Art. But, not everyone knows that a portion of all proceeds from "Cubby Art" go back to Legacy Boxer Rescue in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area of Texas. Cubby and his Moms are just a few of the dedicated volunteers that help save boxers in need. Unfortunately, 2008 is already turning out to be a very rough year for boxers in Texas. Several are injured or ill and are in dire need of medical attention, and although Legacy has brought in $55,522 through adoptions, fundraising events and generous donations, they've spent $61,152 in that same time period on things such as veterinarian care, medications, food and other basic needs. Currently, there are 12 boxer in need of urgent care, and Legacy Boxer Rescue is trying to raise $6,000 to help them. They've already received nearly $4,500, and just have another $1,500 to go....so please consider making a tax-deductible contribution. Every little bit helps!!

xoxo - Bella

From Madonna to Obama.....

.....this blog is eclectic!

xoxo - Bella

Happy Earth Day!

It seems appropriate that it’s Earth Day today, because everything here in Portland is green, green, green! That shouldn’t be too surprising, though. It’s been raining non-stop for eternity and I'm bored out of my mind. The only upside is that the grass is growing, the flowers are popping and the leaves on our big chestnut tree are all coming out at once.

Today, I thought I’d list all the ways that I’m trying to reduce my carbon pawprint. Maybe my dog blogging friends have some cool ideas of their own?

1. I buy all my pet food and pet toys at Green Dog Pet Supply
2. After outgrowing my puppy KONGs, I recently donated them to Indigo Rescue instead of throwing them away
3. I don’t “stealth poop” in other people’s yards (hint to the neighbors) – instead, Mom picks up after me dutifully using 100% biodegradable poop bags
4. I wear hemp dog collars from Earth Dog – not only are they pretty, but the material is really soft and doesn’t irritate my neck!
5. My dog bed is filled with stuffing made from recycled soda bottles (you’d think it would be scratchy, but it’s really not)
6. I drink water directly from the tap – it’s perfectly delicious and doesn’t add more plastic to landfills
7. I buy dog biscuits and treats in bulk, which come in paper bags instead of extraneous plastic packaging

I’m sure I could be doing a whole lot more, though. And I will definitely try. Now, go hug a tree!

xoxo - Bella

 

Oprah Takes on Puppy Mills

I have a confession to make. I don't really care for Oprah. I know, I know. That's sacrilege for many people. But there's just something about her that drives me 'round the bend. Maybe it's for unleashing that buffoon Dr. Phil onto the world. Maybe it's the weird facial expressions. I don't know. I guess it's like that "Seinfeld" episode, where Kramer goes into convulsions every time he hears Mary Hart's voice on television. For my Mom, it's Rachael Ray that drives her bonkers. She calls her "Muppet Mouth," which I think was originally made up by Anthony Bourdain. My Mom calls him a bad-ass, which I think she thinks is a compliment.

Anyway, back to the subject. Despite my feelings about Oprah, she does a lot of good things. She's also a dog lover. If you have a chance, watch her television show today. She's going to expose the cruel realities of unethical puppy mills. I think you'll probably need a few hankies. And if you can't catch the show, you can sign this pledge from the Humane Society to stop puppy mills by doing the following:

(1) Choosing not to buy your next pet from a pet store or an Internet site; and

(2) Refusing to buy supplies from any pet store or Internet site that sells puppies.

Sign the pledge!

xoxo - Bella

It's Spay Day USA!

Hey Everybody,

Check it out, today is Spay Day USA!

Go to the Humane Society's website to find out how to make a tax-deductible donation that provides low-cost spay and neuter services to communities in need.

xoxo - Bella

World Peace...and a New Wubba, Please!

Continuing on the "green theme" (see my previous post about my carbon pawprint), I convinced the folks that we they didn't need yet another picture of me with Santa Paws. Instead, we're recycling last year's photograph because: (a) I look a year younger; (b) Santa always stays the same; and (c) we're saving gasoline by not driving the car and we're saving money by not buying yet another fancy collar & leash set. (Plus, you should've seen what they made me do for this year's Christmas card. Enough already with the humiliation!!)

In fact, inspired by a recent advertisement, we're trying to keep the holidays simple this year. My recommendation is to make a charitable donation to your local animal rescue organization, or volunteer some of your time. Here in Portland we have great organizations such as the Oregon Humane Society and Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital (which was a lifesaver during what I call "the ham incident.")

Of course, total abstinence is no fun. So, dear Santa, could you forget about the sofa pillow incidents and bring me another Wubba toy....pretty please?

xoxo - Bella 

My Carbon Pawprint - Yikes!

Anyone who knows my Mom knows that she's kind of a recycling nut. She took Portland's Master Recycling class and now she follows Dad around the house to make sure he isn't throwing things away that he shouldn't. She won't let me have any cheap plastic dog toys from China and she saves the newspaper bags to reuse them as poop bags...which she thought was a good thing until she read this two-part article by Christie Keith. Now she's feeling kind of guilty. She promised to go to Green Dog Pet Supply tomorrow and buy biodegradable bags--which is good news for me, since she never leaves the store without some kind of dog treat!!  The article makes some other good points, but my favorite part is this quote from the author:

"Even if it can be challenging to reduce our pets' carbon pawprint, I'd argue that their net ecological impact is positive. That's because in seeing the world through the eyes of our animals we come to both know and care about the natural world. [...] Perhaps most importantly, the human-animal bond fosters compassion not just for our pets, but for all living creatures -- other humans included. An open heart is never a bad thing, for us, for the planet, and for the other people and animals with whom we share the earth. "

Isn't that a nice thought?

xoxo - Bella

Bye, Bye Vick

Dear Michael Vick,

I consider myself a lady, so I'll refrain from any gutter talk. But I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you a nice trip to the slammer. The big house. The clink. Tonight, I'm going to celebrate the end of your career with a nice glass of pinot noir (ooops, I meant a nice juicy bone).

Bye, bye SCUMBAG.

xoxo - Bella

Click here to send a virtual "thank you" to the U.S. Attorneys in the Vick case.