Despite plea, agency to keep Ellen's dog

Ellen DeGeneres' doggy drama intensified after her tearful plea led to death threats against the group that took her dog, a spokesman said.

Read all about it on Newsday, click here.

What do you think? Should Ellen use her show as a platform for personal reasons? Should she be allowed to give her adopted dog to a friend?

Chic canines shop at GW Little

Check out the dynamic duo behind GW Little. They have a great shop offering the latest designs in dog fashion for small dogs and all the accessories you need for your precious pup.

I think Roxie would look fab in their bamboo floral dress. I adore the green trim and bamboo accent.

I adore the pink closet or dog armoire all clad in pink! It reminds me of 'Legally Blonde.' So cute!

Dog moms on the go should take a gander at their all terrain 3 wheel stroller.

Rich Bitch: Leona Helmsley's dog inherits $12 million

This story is awesome on soooo many levels.

You can read the official document by clicking here.

Helmsley leaves dog $12M, grandkids zilch

Leona Helmsley's dog will continue to live an opulent life, and then be buried alongside her in a mausoleum. But two of Helmsley's grandchildren got nothing from the late luxury hotelier and real estate billionaire's estate.

Helmsley left her beloved white Maltese, named Trouble, a $12 million trust fund, according to her will, which was made public Tuesday in surrogate court.

She also left millions for her brother, Alvin Rosenthal, who was named to care for Trouble in her absence, as well as two of four grandchildren from her late son Jay Panzirer -- so long as they visit their father's grave site once each calendar year.

Otherwise, she wrote, neither will get a penny of the $5 million she left for each.

Helmsley left nothing to two of Jay Panzirer's other children -- Craig and Meegan Panzirer -- for "reasons that are known to them," she wrote.

But no one made out better than Trouble, who once appeared in ads for the Helmsley Hotels, and lived up to its name by biting a housekeeper.

"I direct that when my dog, Trouble, dies, her remains shall be buried next to my remains in the Helmsley mausoleum," Helmsley wrote in her will.

The mausoleum, she ordered, must be "washed or steam-cleaned at least once a year." She left behind $3 million for the upkeep of her final resting place in Westchester County, where she is buried with her husband, Harry Helmsley, and where the pair have a view of the New York skyline.

She also left her chauffeur, Nicholas Celea, $100,000.

Everything else, including cash from sales of the Helmsley's residences and belongings, reported to be worth billions, she ordered sold and the proceeds given to the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.

Her longtime spokesman, Howard Rubenstein, had no comment.

Helmsley died earlier this month at her Connecticut home. She became known as a symbol of 1980s greed and earned the nickname "the Queen of Mean" after her 1988 indictment and subsequent conviction for tax evasion. One employee had quoted her as snarling, "Only the little people pay taxes."

Small Dogs Have Big Reason to Smile

Ada Nieves of the NYC Chihuahua Meetup and her precious pups are featured in a book called Pocket Pups: The Definitive Guide to Diminutive Dogs . The book was written by Nikki Moustaki, an author and member of the NYC Schnauzers Playgroup and parent to 2 lovely mini Schnauzers. Congrats Nikki! Support dog lovers and pick up a copy today on Amazon.com.

Also, be sure to check out Nikki's latest online venture - www.Dogfessions.com. Dogs and their owners reveal their secret lives!

A vet's goal: Gas masks for animals

Newsday.com loves the dogs...check out this article on a Long Island vet's mission to equip all the fire departments in Nassau county with specialized oxygen masks for animals.

Read the full article here.

Love-ly Pup

My pal Jennifer sent me this adorable bit of news:



How much is that doggie in the window?
I do hope that doggie's for sale."

A Chihuahua puppy born in Japan with a natural heart shaped pattern on his coat has captured the hearts of animal lovers around the world.

Heart-kun, as he has been named by owner Emiko Sakurada, was born on May 18, 2007, one of a litter of puppies at the Pucchin Dogs shop.

His natural heart-shaped markings on his fur have made him an instant star in Japan. And it was a case of puppy love across the world as the tiny dog made television appearances worldwide.



Shop owner Ms Sakurada got the surprise of her life when she saw the birthmark heart markings in the fur of her tiny pooch.

She said it was the first time a puppy with these marks had been born out of the 1,000 animals that she has bred.

Since Heart-kun was born, he has brought a lot of luck, according to Ms Sakurada. He sister got lucky on the lottery and won a concert ticket.

Heart-kun's owner has been inundated with requests from people wanting to purchase the unique puppy. But they can keep their paws off him, she says, for her little four-legged friend ain't going nowhere!

Freebie: Playtime at Biscuits & Bath

Small Dog Play Groups (Under 20 lbs.)
Every Monday from 7pm - 8pm

Get your pup out of the house and on their way to becoming a social tiny tot!

Nothing is more important than socializing and playing with a variety of dogs and people in a safe environment. Come enjoy spacious indoor running fields at Biscuits & Bath and meet with friends for a great time - its FREE!

All dogs must be spayed/neutered, friendly with other dogs, fully vaccinated and healthy. Registration required - Do it on line. For general inquiries, please send their customer service department a question or request at customercare@biscuitsandbath.com.

Doggie Fun Facts

Cool stuff for any canine lover to know!

In Asia, royalty used to put their Pekingese in their coat sleeves to keep them warm. The breed was the exclusive property of the Chinese Imperial Court, and commoners even had to bow to the dogs.

The oldest breed of dog native to North America is the Chihuahua.

Dogs turn in circles before lying down because of natural instinct; in the wild their wolf ancestors did this to flatten long grass into a cozy bed.

A puppy's eyes do not open until they are 10 to 15 days old. Vision is usually not completely developed until they are approximately four weeks old.

A mixed-breed dog will usually possess the behavioral traits of the breed they most closely resemble in appearance.

The classic Poodle haircut was originally meant to improve the dog's swimming abilities as a retriever, with the pom-poms left in place to warm their joints, and a fluffy bulbous tail meant to stick up out of the water so they're able to be spotted easily.

A puppy's natural instinct will make them chew on absolutely anything that they come into contact with, (so always be sure they have something safe to nibble on).

Puppies should remain with their mother until they are at least eight weeks old. During this time she will teach them not to bite and how to get along with fellow littermates.

39% percent of pet parents say they have more photos of their pet than of their spouse or significant other. Just 21% say they have more photos of their spouse or significant other than of their pet.

Survivors of the Titanic included two dogs: a Pekingese and a Pomeranian.

An American Animal Hospital Association poll showed that 33% of dog parents admit that they talk to their dogs on the phone or leave messages on an answering machine while away from home.

The oldest dog lived for 29 years. He was an Australian cattle dog named Bluey, who died in 1939.

Dogs are mentioned 14 times in the Bible.

The smallest mature dog was a Yorkshire Terrier from Blackburn, England that was 2 1/2 inches high at its shoulder, and weighed only four ounces.

The tallest dog is a Great Dane named Gibson in Grass Valley, CA, who stands 42.6 inches high at the shoulder, (when he stands upright on his hind legs, he's over 7 feet tall!), and weighs 170 pounds.

If you notice a dog when he is fast asleep, you will see his eyes moving back and forth under the lids, as a human's eyes do. Researchers are almost certain that dogs dream.

Dogs' nose prints are used to identify them, just as fingerprints are used to identify humans.

When a dog bays at the moon, he is following his basic instinct to call the pack together.

70% of pet parents sign their pet's name on greeting cards. 58% include pets in family and holiday photos.

Mutts, an investigative report

"Hey Mister, What Kind of Dog is That?" For great early summer reading (and watching), check out Baltimore Sun reporter John Woestendiek's seven-part multi-media series on his quest to trace his mutt's DNA.

Click here to read all about it.

Source: Urbanhound

Event: Small dogs unite!

My good pal Rece is throwing a playdate for the small dog set. She organizes the NYC Small Dogs Playgroup.

You don't want to miss her puppy pawties. Last year, she organized a lovely event on the water called the Canine Cruise. Need I say more?

Here's more from Rece about her shorty shindig this Saturday:

It's about time we re-visit our old haunt, HAPPY PAWS!! Come hang with our playgroup regulars and meet some newbies. Great people, great pooches, good music and yummy snacks! Our pooches sniff and play, while we munch and chat! Then of course, there's also the Happy Paws boutique for pooch necessities, cutie outfits or we can snag some treats for our deserving little angels.

Spend 2 hours of your Saturday socializing your dog with his playgroup buddies. Your pooch will smooch you for it!

Cost: $5 per dog

To RSVP, join her playgroup: http://smallbreeddogs.meetup.com/3/