Worldwide Pet News: Military Dog Retirement Act

Finally, something that Congress agreed on and Obama signed that I think we can all get behind… and wouldn’t you know it, it involves dogs! It’s a sort of military dog retirement benefits package: it seems that up until this bill (actually a Defense Authorization Act rider) that guarantees military pooches a ride home — previously they were just adopted out in the country they were serving in or required huge amounts of paperwork and special permissions (and cash) to take home — and gives first dibs on adoption rights to the people they were serving with.

Yay! Bring those puppies home! If anyone in San Francisco reads this and has brought back, or will be bringing back or adopting a military dog, I want to take some pictures! Drop a note in the comments. (Although obviously there aren’t a lot of these yet, given how tough it was up until this bill passed.)

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Dog of the Day: Siberian Husky

This Siberian husky pup is the official greeter at a local nail salon. Well… more of an official sleeper, really. But adorable nonetheless.

Black And White Siberian Husky Covering Nose With Paw

I guess this is what you do if you’re a dog and your nose is a little TOO cold?

Black And White Siberian Husky Looking Hopeful

Aren’t those facial markings amazing?

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Dog of the Day: Mango the 3-Month-Old Shiba Inu Puppy

Go go Mango! Four months old, and winning the hearts of every passer-by. At least, those with hearts.

Black And Tan Shiba Inu Looking Attentive

He looks so attentive.

Black And Tan Shiba Inu Looking Attentive

A remarkably photogenic puppy.

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Sunday Disapproving Switchup: Bunneh

Disapproving Bunneh! Actually he’s not all that disapproving, is he? He just looks kind of tired to me. Perhaps that was because he was handled by dozens of people through the course of what was for him a very long day. I hope he was adopted by the end of it, poor guy.

Black And White Tuxedo Bunny

Apparently bunnies are among the harder-to-place adoptable animals at the SFSPCA.

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Caturday Supplement: Grey Tiger Tabby And Friends

More Macy’s window kittens for your Caturday delectation. I like them all but the stripey/spotty kitten belly on the grey tiger tabby takes top spot for me. (Oh, by the way, have I mentioned yet this year that you can watch the Macy’s kitten-and-puppy windows live-streamed here? Because you can.)

Health insurance in this country is nuts. I and the head of HR (who also does a bunch of other stuff and is crazy busy) have between us probably spent at least two or three hours trying to convince my health insurance company that I exist. This right in the middle of a medical… situation. NnnrrrRRRRGH.

Three Grey Kittens, Including One Grey Tiger Tabby

The one on the right is pretty great too: 1/3 on the cat bed, 2/3 off, and he has a right-angle bend. And that’s comfortable.

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Dog of the Day: Wet Alaskan Malamute

Apparently this lovely if wet Alaskan malamute loves to swim every bit as much as your average golden retriever does. New one on me, the only malamute I ever knew well wasn’t much happier with swimming than she was with baths.

I wanted to hug this gorgeous pup on sight, but while I love dogs unreservedly, I draw the line at going around smelling like wet dog all day. Especially when it involves covering one of my favorite shirts with wet dog hair. So I petted him a lot instead. It’s a lot easier to wash your hands when you’re out wandering than it is to launder your whole wardrobe.

Slightly Wet Alaskan Malamute

Is it just me or is that tail truncated? Didn’t notice that when I took the pictures though…

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Double Dog Day: Two Happy English Bulldogs

A pair of English bulldogs doing what English bulldogs do best: looking happy. Those wide mouths were just designed to smile.

Two English Bulldogs Looking Happy

I prefer to think of those as Charlie Chaplin mustaches.

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Dog of the Day: American Pit Bull Terrier Mix

This is an American pit bull terrier mix  — not with corgi, or at least, I don’t think so — that we ran into at CorgiCon. She was very, very chill, greeting every dog and every human who approached her with friendly equanimity.

I was feeling a little down today, but I had a chance to go visit my corgi friend Tidus and my human friend Anh this evening, and a little corgi therapy really does make a lot of difference. All you people out there with a dog to cuddle, give them an extra hug for me today, and for all those other people besides me who can’t have a furry friend.

American Pit Bull Terrier Mix Sprawled Out On A Sandy Beach

Spread out so as to get as much tummy as possible in contact with the sand.

American Pit Bull Terrier Mix Looking Very Contemplative

She looks like she’s thinking deep thoughts.

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Dog of the Day: Rhodesian Ridgeback

Another CorgiCon attendee, but I can’t help but feel that there’s something… different about him. I dunno. Could it be the fact that he has legs that are about as long as a corgi’s body? Or maybe that he was bred for hunting lions that outweigh him by a factor of four to one, whereas a corgi was bred to herd cows that outweigh him by a factor of… a hundred?

Huh. I’m gonna have to say that neither of these breeds were behind the door when the raw courage was handed out.

Anyway, this fine fellow is a young adult male Rhodesian ridgeback, and was very much enjoying galloping up and down the beach amongst the corgis.

Rhodesian Ridgeback Standing On A Beach

Ridgebacks are always bigger in person than I remember them being.

Rhodesian Ridgeback Turning To Run Away On A Beach

They also ‘gallumph’ when they run, which is always good for a laugh.

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Dog of the Day: Happy Huskorgi

A happy huskorgi, from the CorgiCon beach day. For some reason most of the corgi mixes I saw when I was there were half husky. Perhaps it’s just because huskies are ridiculously awesome happy dogs with attitude, and so they go really well with corgis (which are ridiculously happy awesome dogs with attitude).

And really… taking a Pembroke and adding a giant curly fluffy tail? Sold! The even-fluff-er-than-usual hocks are just an added bonus. I do notice, though, that his legs are rather longer than a purebred corgi, if still pretty stubular.

Happy Huskorgi (Husky Corgi Mix) Standing On A Beach

Look at that smile. That is one happy dog.

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