BOL!!! Get a load of this furpals.. we all know today is The Oscars aka The Academy Awards.. and well, the American Humane Association has their own version of it – but they call it THE PAWSCAR AWARDS! There are a couple of Oscar nominated films that received the “No Animals Were Harmed” disclaimer, including Avatar, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Certified animal safety representatives monitor the use of animals on more than 1,000 productions each year to ensure these four-legged actors stat healthy and free from harm.



Best Alien Animal: Avatar

• It took James Cameron and crew several years to create Avatar, so it’s no surprise that the computer generated Na’vi “direhorses” (Pa’li) involved more than just a click of a mouse. These six-legged horse-like creatures were created using motion-capture technology, in which real horses wore miniature computerized motion sensors near their joints and facial areas to capture their movements. The live action was performed in a darkened motion-capture studio (called a “void”) and then recorded as computer animation data. This was then mapped onto a computerized 3-D model. While human actors wear a bodysuit for the “capture,” animals must be “captured” differently because of their body shapes, fur and other unique characteristics. Trainers shaved the areas around the horses’ joints and on their faces and attached Velcro using a non-toxic, non-irritating silicone adhesive. White light-reflective balls were placed onto the Velcro to capture the motion data onto the computer while the horses’ tails were wrapped in a sensor-laden material.

  

Best Newcomer: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

• Trainers speculate that Uno, the Neapolitan mastiff rookie animal actor had been abused by a previous owner because she would cower around loud noises and crouch to the floor when someone approached her too suddenly. But, while working on the set of “Harry Potter,” surrounded by a patient training crew and affectionate cast, she gained confidence and trust and adored the attention everyone gave her. Trainers believe Uno is destined for stardom.

Best Cameo: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

• As he has done in other films, director Michael Bay cast his own dog, a bull mastiff, in the role of Mikaela’s (Megan Fox) faithful pooch. And while the American Humane staff members were viewing a pre-release screening of the film as part of the disclaimer process, the massive mastiff made yet another cameo — by sitting at the staffer’s feet during the screening. (Either this dog is a sucker for his own mug or he was kissing up to the Pawscar judges.)

How cute is that.. Pawscars. I hope some day I can be a movie star too. Maybe they will make a movie called Beverly Hills Poodles or something along the lines…. ; )

Happy Oscar Day Furpals! I’m going to get ready for a night inside with mommy.. mmmmmm unsalted popcorn!

xoxo, touleh.

*SPINS* HAPPY SATURDAY!! Do you guys know what tomorrow is? SUNDAY! OSCAR DAY!! Wooohooo. Mommy & I will be canoodling on the couch eating unsalted popcorn! I’m so excited. I can listen to mommy talk about all the red carpet dresses. Are there any pooches that will be walking the red carpet? That would be soooooooo pawesome!!!! : )

Anyway!!! A lot of you guys like my D.I.Y. projects.. and I think you’ll like today’s. It’s on how to make your own tea tree dog soap. It’s a good thing to learn to do because spring is coming and that means flea season is coming up too! Tea tree oil is great for the dog skin to relieve hot spots.. as well as repelling insects & fleas! It’ll be a great thing to use after long, hot summer days out at the park!

Materials:

• 4 oz melt and pour base or soap flakes
• 1 1/2 tablespoons of herbal shampoo
• 10-15 drops of tea-tree Essential oil

1. Melt your soap down using a double boiler method.
2. Once your soap is melted add the shampoo and essential oil.
3. Make sure you don’t stir too vigorously or the shampoo will become frothy.
4. Keep stirring until completely mixed and then pour into your soap molds.
5. You can use some dog shaped molds or bone shaped molds for these soaps.

I hope you guys have fun making this at home!!! Blog tomorrow ; )

xoxo, touleh.

Hey there, fur-pals.  I’ve got some really important and serious information to share with you, especially to you guys living in SAN FRANCISCO. The other night, a sick puppy was stolen from the San Francisco SPCA, and they need her back as soon as possible, no questions asked, and they’re even offering a reward for her return!

Cassie, a 3-month-old lab mix, was taken from the shelter on Wednesday night. Cassie weights about 17 lbs, unspayed, and has a brindle (black/brown spots/stripes) and white coat. The shelter has no pictures of Cassie, but they say she looks very much like her sibling [photographed above]. Cassie has guardia, an infection of the small intestines that can be spread to humans.

The SF SPCA is offering a $500 reward for the return of this sick puppy. “We will not press charges or ask questions; we simply want her returned,” the SF SPCA said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.

You heard the facts, people — keep you eyes peeled on the streets for a pup that looks like Cassie’s sister in the photo. Her infection could get worse really fast without treatment… ohh, I can hardly think about it… But I’ll keep my paws crossed for her safe return, and hopefully some good samaritan will bring her to the shelter soon after reading about this.

Anyone with information should call San Francisco police at (415) 553-1159 or the SF SPCA at (415) 522-3500 or (415) 554-3029.

thanks, readers!

xoxo, touleh

Gooooooood afternoon, touleh fans! It’s been a cold, wet Wednesday, and I’ve been waiting a little longer to go outside, waiting for a dry or warmer moment to go for a walk… but no luck… And teacher Steve was supposed to come by!! Stupid weather, keeping me from havin’ all the fun.. *slowspin…*

Well, at least I’m not the one in the doghouse today, but this guy in the news sure is! In England, this guy decided to walk his dog while HE comfortable remained in his car!! How lazy!! Check out what the examiner.com had to say about him:

A 23-year-old British man who was so lazy he walked his dog by driving alongside in a car while holding its leash has been busted. Paul Railton of County Durham — a small town in northeast England — was charged with not being in proper control of a vehicle, pled guilty, was fined and lost his license for six months.

“He accepts it was a silly thing to do and there was an element of laziness. He does not usually drive in a such a manner,” Railton’s lawyer, Paul Donoghue, told the court. During the hearing, Railton, who is not only lazy, but unemployed, whined, “A lot of people exercise their dogs in that manner.”

C’mon, people… part of getting a pet is to get out and move yourself off the couch!! Exercise is one of the greatest perks of having a pooch like me! Everyone needs exercise, and there’s no need to put your pet in danger by driving your 3000-lb car… bah!! That just makes me so mad that people would do that… Even when it’s raining, Mommy still walks me! Even my valentine Brady and new friend Kobe’s owners walk them anytime they have to go potty!

I hope that guy learned his lesson by having his license taken away from him, and I hope his doggy gets to go on longer walks with his owner walking right by his side! Speaking of long walks, Mommy just grabbed my leash, and iiiiii know what that means!!  See you all on the flip side! *spin*

xoxo, touleh

BOL!! (Barking Out Loud!) This is not a joke! I repeat, this is not a joke!! I know what you’re thinking.. a chimp.. sent to rehab?!?? Well, yes, it’s true. *spins* I couldn’t contain my giggles. Just read the store below and you’ll know why:

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A Russian chimpanzee has been sent to rehab by zookeepers to cure the smoking and beer-drinking habits he has picked up, Komsomolskaya Pravda reported Friday.

An ex-performer, Zhora, became aggressive at his circus and was transferred to a zoo in Rostov, where he fathered several baby chimps, learned to draw with markers and picked up his two vices.

“The beer and cigarettes were ruining him. He would pester passers-by for booze,” Komsomolskaya Pravda reported, adding that the monkey is now in rehab in Kazan.

My gosh. The world is sometimes filled with all sorts of crazies. Just remember, it is never okay to give your pets any sort of drugs. : ( touleh is against that!! Smoking & drinking is not good for humans .. so it’s not good for pets either! That monkey went a little bit crazy, BOL!!

Hope that lightened up the mood though.. with this cloudy weather and all.

Have a fantastic Tuesday!

xoxo, touleh.

What a beautiful day it is in Santana Row *SPiNS!* Won’t everyone come out to play?! I can’t believe it’s actually sunny after all the wacky weather that’s been happening all around! Sunshine makes touleh one very happy poodle.

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Anyway, I hope the bad weather hasn’t been making any of our fur-pals sick! Because we CAN get sick you know?! And you humans must be on the look out because we can’t speak for ourselves. So, here is a chart of things to look out for to know whether there is something wrong with your pup or not!

Remember, these are only some symptoms, and sometimes these things could mean so much more!!! Bring your pet to the vet as soon as you notice any of these things! A healthy pet makes a happy pet : ).

I hope I helped! Go out and enjoy this beautiful weather with your furrr-riends!

Happy Sunday!!!

xoxo, touleh

Hi furrr-riends! touleh here. It is Saturday and it’s beautiful out in San Jose… with a few sprinkles in San Francisco. Oh well! Don’t rain on my purrr-ade! BOL! I am not a cat.. why did I just purr?

Anyway, I’ve had a lot of customers come in the store that hasn’t been bringing their furry friends with them… why?! Come out and play! Well…. the answer to my question though, is that they don’t want their doggies to get wet from the rain. I’ve posted safety tips on the rain before.. however, I never told you guys how important it is to actually walk your doggy!! You can not .. I repeat, you can not let the rain stop you! Walking is very important.. and it can also help you bond more w/ your pup!

A 30-minute walk every day cures most dogs of most vices within a few weeks. Dogs are meant to roam. A house or a yard are confining to them. Letting a dog out in the yard does nothing to cure his “cabin fever.” You know how you feel when you’ve been in the house with the flu for three days? You need to get out. You need fresh air, sunshine, a change of scene, somewhere to go. So does your dog. So if you see him/her becoming restless, barking more, getting into things he/she shouldn’t, chewing up you bedspread, digging and being more aggressive toward others, start walking. You’ll be surprised what it does to not only burn off excess energy, but strengthen your relationship with the dog.