Joyleih, the "Legal Beagle Assistant"

Joyleih

Commentary by Joyleih

Need More Dog Parks

Once in a while I get to peruse the USA Today and noted that a recent article entitled “Dogs get run of more city parks,” suggests that dog parks, where we can roam freely without a tether, are the fastest-growing segment of city parks in the country. Portland, Oregon had the highest per capita number of off-leash dog parks among the nation’s 100 largest cities. I personally like dog parks because it is a good place for socializing like the Bonita Beach dog park. The article also mentions a series of guidebooks for dog owners. I like what the author said that dog owners have become a powerful lobby and “owners feel that ‘these children of ours are furry, they have four legs, but we are still paying taxes to be here and we still want our recreational needs met.’” I also like the fact that the article referred to “pooch power” in getting dog parks and I hope that the suburbs of Detroit, including Detroit, will become more dog friendly

The Potbellied Pig “Wilbur”

Bailley has asked me to do a commentary regarding a potbellied pig at a Condominium. I am advised that there are an estimated one million unwanted feral hogs running amuck in Texas. Obviously, the Governor of Texas hasn’t taken control of that issue. One pig named Wilbur is not one of them. Wilbur is a Vietnamese Potbellied Pig whose owners happen to live in a homeowner association. Wilbur is not the main course for dinner, but rather a pet like companion. The Association’s Rules do not consider Wilbur a pet. The Board gave Wilbur’s custodians a month to find another home, threatening a two hundred ($200) dollar a day fine if they did not comply, but Wilbur’s custodians have hired a lawyer who argues that Wilbur is not livestock because he is not used for food or other labor and because potbellied pig jowl is taxed in Texas because it is livestock feed. Now I happen to think that Wilbur, his custodians and his lawyer have a good argument. I think Wilbur ought to stay. Apparently, Wilbur has his own website and Facebook page which I will be happy to give you if you email me. I am sick and tired of Bailley getting all of the emails, so hopefully I will receive a few.

Michael Vick

Now those of you that follow my commentary know that I am not particularly enamored of Michael Vick. Nor is Joyleih. I wasn’t overly tearful when Michael Vick broke his arm at a recent football game and may be laid up for a couple of weeks. It wasn’t his throwing arm so he may be back sooner than later, but I can only think of all of those dogs that were involved in his fighting ring that were maimed because of his actions. He may be a popular athlete but Joyleih and I really have no sympathy for him, or much forgiveness. In time, I am sure we will put it past us, particularly for some good meat bones.

Celebrate October

Just a note to you out there that October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, Seafood Month, and my favorite, Cookie Month

Michigan Football

I am only one and ½ years old, perhaps ten (10) years in human years, so I have not had the opportunity to experience a winning Michigan Football program. Bob Meisner tells me that Michigan Football has been great for years, but the last three (3) years have been somewhat tortuous. Frankly, if for no other reason than to spare the wrath of our leader, I am happy that Rich Rodriquez has been fired because Bob became increasingly frustrated with every Michigan loss. Indeed, I know some dog friends that won’t even watch Michigan football, and, even though Bailley doesn’t like Gators, we did watch part of the Michigan v Mississippi State Gator Bowl until things got too ugly for even her to stand.

I hope with the new year that Dave Brandon will do what Domino’s Pizza did; come up with a new recipe for success

MICHAEL VICK WANTS A DOG!!!

I don’t normally get involved in Bailley’s discussions regarding Michael Vick, but I am appalled, as an assistant legal beagle, (I am basically still a puppy), about Michael Vick’s decision to try to adopt a pet. Fortunately, the Court has ordered him not to be involved in raising dogs, and while everyone should appreciate the wonderful opportunity to be with a dog such as Bailley and me, it should not be bestowed upon Michael Vick. I hope that the Court will sanction Mr. Vick if he even thinks about getting a dog as a pet. There are a lot more disserving people who have a better ability to raise pets than Michael Vick.

The Power of Pets

Now, I know from what Bob barks at me, I do a lot of running around the house and get into a lot of trouble, but I am also aware of the fact that there is a national fitness program by Mars Pet Care which is entitled “The Power of Pets.” It aims to get families and pets walking and playing together. It debuts at various YMCA’s in Brooklyn, New York; Chicago; Washington, D.C.; Nashville; and Portland, Ore. Unfortunately, there is not one in Michigan. Mars Pet Care, through its Waltham Center for Pet Nutrition, sponsors research on the benefits of human-animal interaction. Recent studies show that children who have pets are more active and seniors who walk dogs are healthier than seniors who rely on human partners for exercise. It is my view that having a pet does help people become more active and having a human helps us become more active; otherwise I would probably be sitting around all day in a cage and not handling my assistant legal beagle duties as efficiently as I do.

DOGS ARE GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH

As many of you may know, USA Today often has complimentary articles about dogs in its paper. I was read a recent article which appeared on Thursday, October 14, 2010, about my fellow dogs being trained to detect low blood sugar levels in children. It just goes to show you how valuable we are to improving the health of our human friends while providing them with, of course, unconditional love and licks. I am also advised that Beagles have been at the forefront in helping to determine the accuracy of drugs for humans, but I am glad that that practice has seemed to stop. It is getting a little more chilly here in Michigan, so I will probably have more time to stay in and do my legal chores, especially when the snow comes, so, you may be seeing more commentaries coming from me, though probably not as much as from Bailley who works on these things daily.

GOOD READING

I am only just a little over one year old and I am trying to perfect my reading abilities but I noted that there are four (4) good “Dog Tales” that might be of interest to some of you. The first one is called “One Good Dog” by Susan Wilson at St. Martin’s Press for $22.99. A lost man and a lost dog find each other and live happily ever after. Well, sort of. The second book that I would recommend is “I Thought You Were Dead” by Pete Nelson and published by Algonquin, which is a novel about the bonds between dogs and humans. As a gift you might want to consider, “Every Dog Has a Gift: True Stories of Dogs Who Bring Hope and Healing into Our Lives” by Rachel McPherson and Deborah Mitchell. This third book shows us the power of dogs that enhance the lives of the less fortunate. The last book that I would recommend is “Love Is The Best Medicine” by Dr. Nick Trout. This is a book about a veterinarian who tries to heal us dogs. Any of these books would be good reading for everyone.

Bailley

Bailley had some surgery done last Friday which turned out okay. She has been a little bit under the weather and I have had to take over her legal chores. I don’t have as much experience as she does, but she is always available to help. Hopefully, she will be back to work in the very near future, but she does get some vacation and sick days off here at the firm.

Keeping Cool

We have endured a hot summer, but I have just learned that dogs in animal shelters have been cooled off by ice cream during the heat wave. Not only are dogs cooled down in a good swimming pool, but ice cream does a good job of keeping us cool. I prefer pistachio, frankly, but Bailley eats any kind.

Canine Cancer

Bailley and I have taken a couple of weeks off from our columns to take a respite and to attend to chores around the house. You should know, however, that Bob Meisner had the carpet cleaned, which was due primarily to Joyleih’s indiscretions, but she is still only a year old.

Back to business: We notice that in the August 25, 2010 edition of USA Today there was an extensive article entitled “Stepping up vs. canine cancer.” In that regard, we note that a non-profit organization called Morris Animal Foundation finances all types of animal health research including many studies support through its Canine Center Campaign. The foundation is sponsoring walks in various places around the country to raise money and to create further awareness of the plight of so many of our fellow dogs that suffer from cancer. The article mentioned that you can read more on the cancer walk in Sharon Peter’s Pet Talk column at life.usatoday.com and with pet owners in the “Living with Cancer forum” at cancerforum.usatoday.com.

Take Your Dog to Dinner!

Gosh, I am not that old, but I am really excited about reading the article in USA Today for Thursday, July 22, 2010, on page 4D “Take Your Dog to Dinner.” Art Smith, of the Art and Soul restaurant in Washington D.C. says “to appreciate food and life is to appreciate animals, too.” Obviously, more restaurants are opening their doors to us and it is about time. I am tired of having to wait in the car or stay home and get stuck with dog bones when I could be eating at a first class restaurant, particularly, in Florida or California where they welcome us with more frequency and gratitude than some other places such as here in Michigan. On the other hand, I just learned that a mall in Bloomfield Township has seats outdoors in the hallway and now invites dogs to come for lunch and dinner. That is a great improvement and I also recognize a recent article in Travel & Leisure which speaks about dog hotels, spas and canine cooking. Again, it is about time, and congratulations to USA Today for being progressive and dog worldly.

Greyhounds Provide Comfort to Victims of Tragedies

One of my favorite things to do when I get up on a Wednesday morning is to read, generally, Section D of USA Today that has a page devoted to dogs and other pets. I noticed in the June 30, 2010 edition, that my brethren, the Greyhounds, are being used by an organization to help persons who have been subjected to tragedies in order to take their mind off the tragedy for a period of time by bringing the Greyhounds to visit the victims and their helpers. I don’t have any personal friends that are Greyhounds who do this, but I know that they are great dogs for this kind of activity, and, I know that dogs, in general, can divert the attention of humans from the everyday rigors and stresses of working and living by giving us a pat on the back, taking us for a walk, playing with us, giving us big hugs and kisses and by us providing a good lick or two in return. Congratulations to those humans who allow us to bring rest and comfort to those who have been subjected to tragedy such as Hurricane Katrina, and similar disasters.

P.S. If I could lick up the oil in the Gulf of Mexico, I would.

Hurrah, Doggie Bathrooms in Airports!

Well I can’t believe how much USA Today is speaking about our issues this week. For example, in the Tuesday, July 20, 2010 edition, it was reported that “New rule gets more airports to install doggie bathrooms.” Now I for one do not understand why we haven’t had doggie bathrooms in airports before now since lots of us traverse the airport to go from place to place. The article points out that airports enhanced with pet relief areas improve customer service, and, they are also being “nudged by a federal rule that orders airlines to work with airports to install facilities for travelers who have service dogs.” Congratulations to the airports with new dog bathrooms in Atlanta, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington Dulles, Washington National, Chicago O’Hare and Phoenix. What about the other airports, including Detroit Metro, where I reside. Sure there may be maintenance issues, but they will be lessened by allowing doggie bathrooms just like humans have.

Independence Day for 118 Beagles

I am so excited about the USA Today article which appeared on Monday, July 19, 2010, entitled “Independence Day for 118 Beagles Used in Lab Tests.” I direct your attention to that article because we beagles have long been mistreated by drug companies for tests. Now admittedly, the article does suggest that we are a breed which has a “much acclaimed breed characteristics: joyful, noisy and curious. Yup, that is who we are. The article goes on to say that “beagles being beagles (and that is why they’re favored for research - they’re generally cheerful, easy to manage and adaptable).” That is great for our personalities and our reputations, but we don’t like being guinea pigs for research. Fortunately, the 118 beagles that were released are finding new homes. I applaud the agencies and persons who have helped to find homes for these beagles. I think all of us beagles should be concerned about the fact that while our personalities are so wonderful, we end up in research labs.

Pet Policies at Hotels

While I see our fellow dogs on almost every commercial on TV, irrespective of the nature of the commercial, the hotel industry doesn’t seem to be recognizing our need to stay in decent accommodations as much as they should. USA Today says that about twenty-nine million Americans travel with their pets every year, but “rules vary from hotel to hotel”-(and they are subject to change). Boohoo to the Four Points by Sheraton at the Kansas City Airport that used to allow pets but changed its policy. I am advised that for pet policies, or any other special requests, you shouldn’t rely on information from third party sites or even the hotel chain’s central booking system, but, rather, to contact the property directly and ask for specifics. Some hotels charge a fee or damage deposit for us while others will only assign smoking rooms to travelers with animals, which makes me sick. Some properties even have pet weight restrictions, a limited number of pet designated rooms, or, prohibit you from leaving us alone at any time. I normally like to be with Bailley when we travel and I don’t always have to be with humans. I think it is about time that hotels treated us with more respect and became more accommodating.

PUPPY LOVE

Since I am a puppy, I am always interested in reading articles about “puppy love.” A recent article by Sharon L. Peters for U.S.A. Today, points out that puppy love is regularly available to “folks who live in and around Palmetto, Florida, even if they own only older dogs-or no dogs at all.” Apparently, a golden retriever, Labrador retriever and collie pups are let loose most mornings for a couple of hours of cuddle and playtime with anyone who shows up. It is particularly good for people who live in condos that unfortunately, don’t allow pets, and the program allows them puppy contact. Now I am an eleven (11) month old puppy and I think that puppy love is wonderful, and, anyone who wants should be able to pet me. I think it is a great idea for us puppies to be available for hugging and, perhaps, an occasional snack. I am advised that these dogs also go to various events and facilities including nursing homes, schools and hospitals. I would frankly like to sit on the lap of a judge or two before they make some of their decisions to see if I can clear their head and calm them down. In any event, bonding with people is what we are all about. I applaud the dogs in Florida as well as any other puppies that want to join me in a similar vocation here in Michigan.

This is my first commentary and I am real excited about doing it.

I have been chasing my tail for a long time with some boredom and now that I am a Legal Beagle Assistant, I can comment on some of the important issues relating to dogs and society. I for one am willing to be trained to detect various cancers as was described in an article in Sunday’s Detroit Free Press of June 6, 2010. In that regard, Dr. Jean-Nicolas Cornu of Tenon Hospital in Paris and his colleagues trained a shepherd breed that had already been used to detect bombs, and, was used in other cancer tests to identify urine from patients with confirmed prostate cancer and then to differentiate those samples from urine in healthy persons. I am advised that in sixty-six (66) tests, the dog was correct sixty-three (63) times. If I got those kind of grades in school, I would be more than happy. I am hopeful that my fellow brethren in the dog community will volunteer to get involved in these research activities, which, obviously, benefit everyone.

Good Licks to All,

Joyleih “The Legal Beagle Assistant”

Hello All

I am just getting involved in this commentary but I sadly noted in the Detroit Free Press of June 14, 2010 an Associated Press-Petside.com poll conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media. It said that most pet owners would likely get vet care if the bill was $500.00, but the percentage drops remarkably if it is a $1,000.00 or more, and, of course, the alternative is the despicable term “euthanasia.” I, for one, being nearly a year old, am in good health but I think that people being able to save their pets is very important. The national health insurance bill should have dealt with it as well. I also think that some of the stimulus money, even if you don’t think it was a good idea, should have been directed towards pet health care particularly for those that can’t afford it. I hope that those readers of our column will join with me and Bailley in getting our political leaders to give more consideration to America’s pets in terms of their health and welfare, and, that those politicians who happen to have pets are in a position to have to explain to their pets why they have not protected pets in general through financial assistance.

Good Licks to All!