No More Poisonous Dog Treats From China!

It just so happens that I was all out of dog treats yesterday (we have been using a ton of them in a wonderful new puppy class with our darling Poco) when this story popped into my inbox. It was a petition asking me to join thousands of other pet owners who want Target to stop selling poisonous dog treats from China.

I have stopped buying just about anything that says "made in China," but it never occurred to me to be on the lookout for tainted dog treats on the pet store shelves. 

Thankfully, a woman named Tracey Bagatta, from Center Moriches, New York, 

1. has launched a petition campaign to make sure that nobody's pet joins all the others who've gotten sick or died eating jerky chicken pet treats. According to Tracey -- whose own two dogs got sick this way -- a total of 5,600 dogs, 24 cats and three humans have gotten sick from the contaminated food (why three humans I'm not sure.)
 

More than 1,000 dogs suffered "horrifying" illnesses before succumbing. Those who survived will have lasting health problems.

Tracey's dog Ginger was so sick with bloody diarrhea and vomiting that she made two trips with her to the vets' ICU. Tracey's second dog, Sophie, was tested, and her liver enzymes "were off the charts!"

Even though they survived, both dogs -- like all the rest of the pets affected -- will have lifelong liver problems and will require daily meditation just to stay alive.

The FDA is now actively investigating the problem and has issued warnings and cautions to consumers. Meanwhile, a class action lawsuit is in the works, to set up a fund to compensate pet owners who have suffered this tragedy. 

What is the poison? So far, nobody knows. But it doesn't matter. It's time we sign Tracey's petition and spread the word as far and wide as possible. Make sure you know where you are buying your treats!

So far Petco and PetSmart have removed all China-made treats. But Target has refused to do the same? Why?

Please sign the petition right away. It reads:

To:
Target
Dustee Jenkins, VP of Public Relations, Target
Jeff Jones, EVP, Target 
Petco and PetSmart just took the lead to remove all treats from China to protect our dogs and cats from future tragedies. Why won't Target do the same? PROVE that you care about pets – and that we can trust you! Stop selling pet treats made in China!

Sincerely, 

[Your name]

Spread the word. Tell all your friends. And while you're at it, call Target corporate headquarters yourself and tell them to get their butts in gear and throw out this disgusting pet food.

Later today, I'll be going to my favorite pet store in Great Barrington, MA -- called Pawsh -- to buy Poco's favorite chicken treats. But it makes my heart ache to think of all the heartbroken people who have lost their pets in this sad sad way!!

(P.S. Pictured here are (top) my pupster, Poco, and my daughter Lindsay's adorable Milo.)

Hummingbird Mind

There are two hummingbird feeders outside the window and

every so often, one iridescent green bird comes soaring to the feeder, setting its long thin beak into the sugary water. Sometimes, one hummingbird will dive bomb another, trying to lay claim to the feeder.

I sit in meditation near the feeders, aware of the birds as they come and go. I hear the soft thrumming of their wings as I try to stay present with the in-and-out of my breathing.

But today, like so many days, I find my mind defying all attempts to quiet it down. My mind keeps bouncing from one thought to another, chattering endlessly. It skips from thought to thought faster than the hummingbird’s wings.

It’s so difficult to meditate sometimes.

Eventually, I get up off my meditation pillow and go into the house and get my camera. I sit on the grass watching the birds, camera poised on my knee. 

But I have no luck with the photo either. (The one pictured here is one I took another time.)

Maybe I will just try meditating again later. 

I Promise Not to Publish too many Baby pictures....

I know I know, grandmothers go overboard sharing photos of their revered babies.

I promise I won't overdo it.

But I had to post this one. Because no matter how many times I look at it, it cracks me up. And in the spirit of sharing a good laugh and an incredible baby, here you go.

When my daughter Jocelyn, Ronen's mom, posted this photo, she wrote:

"Oh, the night I just had...."

Who Is Hans Hofmann?

HE WAS A GERMAN- BORN ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONIST PAINTER.

MY TEACHER SAYS I PAINT LIKE HE DID.

I AM NOT SURE I AGREE.

ONE THING WE ALL AGREED ON IN CLASS TODAY --

IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TALK ABOUT PAINTING IN WORDS.

HERE IS HANS HOFMANN'S WORK.

Here is some of mine:

More Paintings...

My teacher tells me that it's about time I get a website for my paintings.

First you have to frame them.

Then you have to have someone who knows what she's doing photograph them. Then you have to have a web designer capture the viewer's imagination with a dazzling website.

I might do it, but then again, I might not. It's all very very expensive and hard to justify when you aren't selling any work.

But I do the painting for the love of it, and that's what matters most.

What Baseball Team Will He Root For?

Of course he's cute.  He's a baby. But not just any baby, he is my grandson Ronen, who officially turns three months old today, May 12th.

How did that three months slip away so fast?

Here he is rooting for his father's favorite baseball team.

Ronen doesn't know it, but he's got a long history of Yankee's to contend with in this family: his uncle Noah, his aunt Lindsay, his grandfather Richard, his great grandfather, Rick, and yes, his G-ma (me) too. At one point, his mother (Jocelyn) was a huge fan -- she used to wear her Yankees cap to high school in Massachusetts where there were a ton of Red Sox fans. She also had a huge stand up poster of Derek Jeter in cardboard standing front and center in her bedroom in the old days too. Alas, these days it looks like she might be switching allegiance!

But all of the rest of us are going to keep trying to persuade little Ronen to be a New York fan.

What do you the chances of us winning him over are, considering his father (Evan) will probably be taking him to Fenway before he turns one year old!

Well anyway we'll love you no matter what team you like, little Ronen.

Happy Happy Three-Month Birthday Ronen! You have made so many people so happy already!

Love, G-Ma Claudia xo

Lessons I Learn From My Dog

Poco springs to life at the littlest thing: a ball, a stick, a leaf, a morsel or crumb of bread that happens to fall to the floor.

She knows without knowing that spring is here, because -- finally -- that cold white stuff is gone. In its place is soft green grass. Now she can bullet and back and forth across the yard just to get to the other side, or, to get the treat she's been promised.

What she reminds me over and over again is how, in every single moment, there is something to marvel at and rejoice in, especially now that spring has arrived.

The daffodils.

The soon-to-be blooming magnolia.

The sturdy old maple trees, budding new leaves.

The woodpecker -- actually a pair of them -- knocking against said maple tree.

Poco teaches a simple lesson, that is, enjoy everything. So why is it I forget it so often?

Thank you Poco -- you are such a great puppy!!