Liver brownies ... yum!

I discovered these little gems 6 or 7 years ago at Canine Christmas, and my dogs just love 'em. They make great training treats or a good supplement for puppies to get them some extra protein. A friend of mine did just that, using them to put some weight on her golden retriever puppy, who was the runt of the litter and needed some extra nutrition.

Now, they're a bit disgusting to make, but you'll get over it. And you can make a big batch and freeze them, then just thaw them in the microwave oven or refrigerator. In fact, they should be kept in the refrigerator because they will spoil and turn moldy.

LIVER BROWNIES

1 1/2 cups wheat germ
1 pound liver (beef or chicken)
1 1/2 cups corn meal (regular, not self-rising)
3-4 eggs
1/2 cup crumbled bacon -- optional

Add in order to a food processor or blender and puree for 2-3 minutes. Put in a well-greased cake pan and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

If adding bacon: Fry or bake the bacon until crispy, drain well, and crumble into bits. Add the bacon and stir into the brownie mix after it is pureed.

Cool, cut into squares and refrigerate or freeze.


Note: Some dogs have a hard time digesting corn, so you can use leftover cooked rice instead. Just grind it in a food processor or blender until it is like meal.

Is your pup a rock star?

The Herald once had a crusty managing editor who said, "I don't have a dog because dogs have to wear collars and collars imply that they're property."

Well, in the first place, under the law dogs (and all pets) are considered "chattel property." That's a fancy name for personal property that can be moved from place to place, as opposed to property such as real estate. So the law equates your beloved pet with a couch, or a car, or a piano. But I didn't want to get into that and shore up his argument.

What I said was, "I don't agree. I think a collar and especially a name tag sends the message: I have a home. I am loved. If I am lost, please take me home." He just went "harumph" and walked away.

Collars can also send the message, "Look at me! I'm a regular fashionista." And while the selection of collars is not bad at the local pet supply stores, you can get a collar fit for a rock star pup at My Pup Rox.

This local company makes colorful and funky collars for dogs and sells them over the Internet. And if you see a pattern you like, they will customize a collar to make sure it fits. A friend of mine has one of these collars, and I can vouch for the fact that they are made to last, too, with heavyweight interfacing.

Prices are in the $12-$14 range, which I think is pretty reasonable for a handmade collar. So if you're looking for something different, something clever, something fit for a rock star pup, check out http://www.mypuprox.com/.

Would you like a Bark-atini?

The Polo Grill in Lakewood Ranch is hosting a benefit for Honor Sanctuary Animal Rescue this Wednesday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Celebrity bartenders will serve up Bark-atinis and Meow-mosas and all tips will benefit the rescue group.

Honor Sanctuary operates shelters for dogs and cats and is supported entirely by community donations, according to Cindy Morton, president of the board of directors. Honor Sanctuary also operates a retail adoption center, Nate's Place, on Cooper Creek Boulevard.

Polo Grill is at 10670 Boardwalk Loop in Lakewood Ranch. For more information, visit http://www.pologrillandbar.com/ or call Honor Sanctuary, (941) 302-0933. You can also visit http://www.honorsanctuary.org/.

Crazy Critters for 'cave dogs'

Ever wonder why dogs like to pluck the stuffing out of their toys? I have. And I've come to the conclusion that it goes back to their "cave dog" days, when they were wolves and had to catch and eat their dinner.

Watch a pack of wolves on Discovery Channel chowing down on a moose or an elk and there you have the modern dog, noshing away on Mr. Fox, or Mr. Pig, or Mr. Rabbit.

Well, there's a new line of toys on the market designed for dog parents who don't enjoy coming home to a blanket of "snow" from a stuffed toy. They're called Crazy Critters and they are stuffing free. You can check them out at the website, http://www.buythecrazycritters.com/, which has a pretty funny video showing dogs in the act of massacring stuffed toys.

The website says "offer not available in stores," but they've got these critters at PetSmart.

Now, personally, I'm not sure dogs are going to go for them, considering they have no tasty stuffing, but if you don't see the humor in coming home to a blizzard in your house, you might want to check them out.

Bird brain: It's not an insult

Lots of birds can talk ... cockatiels, parrots, mynah birds. And the "bird experts" tell us they are just mimics, that they really don't know what they're saying.

Well, I beg to differ.

I once had a cockatiel named T-Bird. And that bird could think, I swear he could.

One time, I had gone to Busch Gardens and won a stuffed toucan in a ring toss game or basketball throw, I don't remember. But I do remember coming home and showing T-Bird the brightly colored stuffed version and he said, "Pretty bird!"

OK, not close enough to "thinking" for ya? Here's the one that really convinced me:

T-Bird and his lady friend, Chula, used to have a perch in the living room where they hung out in the daytime. I had draped a rather large marine rope down the perch so they could climb back up when their wings were clipped.

One day, T-Bird climbed down the rope and set out across the floor to where my tasty leather shoes had been shucked by the door. He got to about six inches away from the shoes, stopped in his tracks, said "NO!," and walked away.

I'm convinced that was thinking on his part. I don't care what the "experts" say.

Killing them with kindness

Ever have one of those "that is so wrong" moments? I had one on the way to work the other day.

I was behind a car driven by a man and his two dogs. Actually, the man was driving and the two dogs were navigating. They were hanging out the window as dogs are wont to do, but ... they were hanging out the driver's window.

And I heard myself saying it: That is so wrong.

How can you be in control of a car when you have two dogs - or even one, for that matter - in your lap? And what would happen if you get in an accident and your airbag goes off? There go your dogs, too.

Sometimes people think loving their dogs means letting them have their way all the time. They consider it a kindness to give them the freedom to do whatever they want.

I believe a happy dog is a well-behaved dog who knows his boundaries, knows what is expected of him, knows that his human loves him enough to keep him safe.

And I believe some people kill their dogs with kindness.

Don't make me beg

We teach our dogs lots of things. Some commands, such as "sit" and "stay," are essential for a well-mannered dog. And some, such as "roll over," "play dead" and "beg," are just tricks for kicks. We think they're cute, and some are, but one is downright bad for dogs: begging.

I had a hound who would beg at the drop of a hat. Whoever had Jethro as a puppy had taught him this, and I used to think it was cute. Until he got older and had back problems.

It was the day after a family gathering. We had ordered pizzas, and Jethro spent the day begging for "pizza bones," the tasty crusts with little bits of cheese stuck to them. The next day he could hardly walk. I took him to the vet, and he was diagnosed with disc problems. He was put on medication and we went back in a week for a checkup.

I told the doctor that Jethro appeared to be getting bettter, he was able to "sit and beg." And that's when Doc Mossler gave me a good scolding.

"Don't let him do that," he said. "That's the worst thing he could do. Dogs are meant to be horizontal and when they sit up like that, they compress their spine and get disc troubles."

DUH! It had never occurred to me, and I felt like such a bad dog mom. I tried my darnedest to break him of it, but it was ingrained in him and he had back troubles the rest of his life.

So if you're thinking of teaching your puppy to beg, please don't. And if you make him sit and beg, please stop. It will save him a lot of pain in later life.

Please don't make me beg!

Can you help in a storm?

Hurricane season can be an especially stressful time for pet owners. As pets are part of our families, arrangements need to be made for them as well as ourselves. The days of evacuating and leaving pets behind to fend for themselves are gone, thankfully, because Manatee County now has pet-friendly shelters so families can take their animal members with them.

To prepare for this season, Manatee County Animal Services is hosting a hurricane preparedness meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The session is designed to recruit and educate volunteers on hurricane preparation in homes and shelters, and to come up with a game plan for teamwork in the event of a storm.

Kris Weiskopf, chief of Animal Services, and his team want to compile a list of people they can count on to assist in a time of need. Especially welcome are animal rescue volunteers, who can bring their experience to the table and help get this team organized.

If you can help, plan to attend the meeting at Animal Services, 305 25th St. W., Palmetto. It's being graciously sponsored by Al & Elaine's Legacy, an animal rescue support group out of St. Petersburg.

RSVP to Kerry Barnes, an animal rescue volunteer and co-founder of Al & Elaine's Legacy, at kbarnes4@tampabay.rr.com.