Sorry, these are all iPhone pics in the dark so not great quality, but you get the point. Click on the photo for a gallery.

This was taken in Saratoga Springs, NY when we went up for a day to visit with Rob's family.

Anyway, here is a sad little story from RJ (aka the Bear) about a pigeon he tried to save in NYC.

It actually has me a little teary. If you know me that's probably not surprising. There are a million animals with a story this sad or sadder but seeing her there with her little deformed leg and hearing the Bear's story about giving her a bath and blowdrying her just touches my cold dead heart a little bit extra.

Sorry the pigeon was euthanized, Bear.

And lots of credit to Pedigree not to bow to the pressure of the Westminster folks to show only happy dogs and not address the problems of shelter dogs.

Yes, I hate that fucking Sarah McLachlan ASPCA commercial too, it makes me bawl every time, but the real reason it upsets me is because I already do the right things - I adopt animals from shelters, I foster for a local shelter and if I had any money I'd donate it. I don't like rich celebrities making me feel guilty. Here is my official notice to all millionaires: Feel free to donate any of your millions to the charity you are telling me to donate to. Really, I don't mind. Now stop making me feel like an asshole because I don't have more money to give, or a bigger house so I can adopt more animals.

But I'm getting off topic. Here's the thing, Mr. Frei: You are lying when you say you care about all dogs but you refuse to show the truth about the dogs sadly waiting, alone and forgotten, in shelters - at least partially because they are not good enough for people who think they need a purebred dog. Your dogs aren't snobs - but you are.

Here is a sweet little story about a pair of sweet pit bull girls that accepted 15 chickens into their family.

Yes, clearly pit bulls are very vicious.

Please read this very informative article about why feeding your carnivorous pet a plant-based diet is a bad idea.

It seems quite obvious to me. It is not mean or bad of dogs and cats to eat meat. It is what they are supposed to do. It is natural. If you personally want to abstain from meat or even from all animal products, I don't agree with your logic, but you can go right ahead, it doesn't hurt you as long as you get the nutrients you need from your diet. Your pet, however, needs meat.

If the article is too long or hard for you to read, how about just watching this short clip form Futurama? It pretty much gets right to the point.

Katie comes when called from cider76 on Vimeo.

Note that our other kitty, Molly, is sleeping on top of 4 pillows, a comforter and a folded sheet on the couch.

We miss you up here in Boston!

Katie watching Cleo eat while Cleo stayed with us in April 2011. She was very calm and tolerant of both cats after initially howling just a bit.

Air Force bans pit bulls and several other dog breeds

To be fair, I'm highlighting pit bulls because they seem to be the most picked on breed currently, but I find it equally unfair for all the other banned breeds.

Hey air force, how about you ban stupid fucking people? That would actually solve problems for you. But you're not interested in solving problems. I'm not sure what you're interested in, but it must not be preventing dog bites or dog behavior issues.

I run out of words to even describe why this is so dumb. I just keep arriving back at words like "dumb" and "stupid" and "idiots" and "morons".

So, way to reach for the stars. Good job, US military, in making dumb rules that solve no problems and just cause families to have to give up beloved pets for no reason at all.

You suck.