FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2009

Free every single week—pass it on! The Snippet • Friday, March 13, 2009 • Area SW

Pets win prizesDogs dancing to La Bolero and jumping through hoops, Peter Purves getting over-excited at the Best in Show trophy…..it can only be Crufts. From March 6th-9th almost 28,000 dogs and their owners will descend on Birmingham’s NEC to celebrate all things canine. In honour of these fine pooches, The Snippet is dedicating this issue to all of our four-legged furry friends. Read on to learn about some of the unusual pets past US presidents have had installed in the White House, why mediaeval cats were burned at the stake and how to tackle the delicate issue of friends’ whiffy dogs.

First PuppyNow I know I should be more concerned with matters of foreign policy, the environment and the global economy, but I have a confession. Specu-lation surrounding a potential new White House puppy was the only issue to have fully grabbed my attention during the latest U.S presidential campaign.

You see, it’s not just the British who are crazy about pets. American presidents have a soft spot for our fluffy friends too. Scarcely has a presidential term gone by without a number of pets making the Oval Office their home, and I’m pleased to report that Barack Obama is no excep-tion. In his victory speech, Obama promised his daughters Sasha, 7, and Malia, 10, a puppy to take with them to the White House. Excited as they may have been about Dad’s presidential win, the girls had another good reason to celebrate. A First Puppy in the White House? Now that’s exciting!

Past Presidents brought many interesting animals to live with them at the White House. The wife of John Quincy Adams, the sixth President, kept silkworms. Herbert Hoover, the 31st Presi-dent, had a possum. But top trumps go to Calvin

Coolidge, the 30th President, who had a raccoon named Rebecca whom he walked on a lead!

Some of the more unusual presidential pets have been gifts from other world leaders. James Buchanan, the 15th President, received a herd of elephants from the King of Siam (now Thailand). Not to be outdone, the Sultan of Oman gave Martin Van Buren, the eighth President, a pair of tiger cubs.

But let’s return to the here and now and to an issue of global significance. What breed of dog will Barack Obama choose for his daughters? We await news with bated breath. The only clues we have are Obama’s stated preference to adopt a dog from a rescue centre – where he joked there are plenty of “mutts like me” – and the issue of Malia’s allergies, which might result in the selec-tion of a short-haired breed. President Obama has admitted to CBS that the family has been deluged with advice and information: “We’re getting a lot of suggestions. And we’re taking it all under advisement.”

Who will replace the most recent canine incum-bents, the Bush family’s Scottish terriers, Barney and Miss Beazley? It’s one issue that’s certainly got tongues wagging…

Back In The DayMediaeval cats needed all of their nine lives! In 1484, Pope Innocent VII decreed that all cat-worshippers be burned as witches, believing that Satan-worshipping witches took on the form of cats. Cats’ habit of prowling at night further con-nected them to witchcraft. Any cat seen with an old woman was assumed to be a witch’s compan-ion. The Inquisition was instructed to try all cat owners as witches. Hundreds of cats and owners burned to death. The lives of cats didn’t improve much until the 17th century when they became mousers on ships. Thankfully, by Victorian times, cats had gained acceptance as household pets.

GlobAl All-TiMe Top 10Furry Fiends – Top 10 Most Destructive Dog Breeds:1. Great Danes2. Chihuahuas3. Whippets4. Mastiffs5. English Setters6. Daschunds7. Boxers8. Bulldogs9. Beagles10. Basset Hounds

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK Star Poodle

Aries (MAR 21–APR 19)Avoid wasting too much time this week worrying about whether your decisions are going to upset other people. Some people complain about everything and are simply afraid of change. Don’t take their objections personally.

Taurus (APR 20–MAY 20)You’re feeling more confident and energetic this week. You can stay focused and solve problems at work or in a test. Your positive attitude will bring out the best in everyone around you.

Gemini (MAY 21–JUN 20)Your intuition is strong this week and you sense what is going on behind the scenes at work and at home. You can tell what is on other people’s minds, and this makes you an excellent friend.

Cancer (JUN 21–JUL 22)Someone is nagging you this week to make decisions about the future. This is as much for their convenience as yours, so don’t commit to anything just to make them happy. Follow your heart.

Leo (JUL 23–AUG 22)business and pleasure might mix this week, so be open to what someone else has to offer and be prepared to listen to any advice they have for you. Remember, fortune favours the brave.

Virgo (AUG 23–SEP 22)You’ll want to help out a friend in need this week, but be sure that you’re getting the whole story before you commit to anything. Someone may be economical with the truth, perhaps because of an ulterior motive.

Your Weekly Horoscope

Libra (Sep 23–OcT 22)All your commitments mean that you don’t have any time for yourself this week. pace yourself, avoid too many late nights and you’ll have the energy to get through until the weekend.

Scorpio (OcT 23–nOV 21)You may have been finding it hard to make somebody see things from your perspective this week. They will soon see that you were right all along, so just sit back and wait for them to come to their senses.

Sagittarius (NOV 22–DEC 21)Friendships and social events come first this week, so postpone any unimportant chores and accept any invitations to get out there and meet new people. Remember not to sell yourself short or put yourself down.

Capricorn (DEC 22–JAN 19)Differing advice from friends and family could be confusing this week, so make up your own mind about something that has been bothering you. You’ll feel relieved when you’ve finally decided what to do.

aquarius (JAN 20–FEB 18)it’s a case of two steps forward, one step backward for the rest of the week. be prepared for glitches, both at work and at home. You might find yourself having to repeat things more than once.

Pisces (FEB 19–MAR 20)This week is all about tying up the loose ends in a project that has run its course. While it may feel strange, you need to do this in order to start afresh, and it will give you a sense of optimism.

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Household tipHow to tell a friend that their pet is too smelly…Most dogs operate on the principle that it’s their duty to get as dirty and smelly as they can, whenever possible, by a range of foul methods including rolling in deer, rabbit and horse poo. However, there’s the normal ‘doggy’ smell and

then there’s the extreme, offensive, gut-wrenchingly bad doggy smell. And if it’s

got to the stage where you’re avoiding going to a friend’s home because of

their fetid dog, then it’s time to take action. So how can you delicately raise the issue of a malodorous hound without causing offence or

embarrassment to the owner?

Very, very brave souls could try a sim-ple “I noticed that the dog is getting smelly and I thought you might want to

know.” If you try this approach, be pre-pared for your friend to feel embarrassed or hurt and perhaps even not invite you over to the house again. For the slightly less brave majority, there’s always the

good old hint-dropping option. The next time you are at their house, a helpful but seemingly inno-cent comment, such as, “I found this really cute pot of organic dog shampoo at a country fair last week...” might help the penny to drop. Of course, the proper etiquette would be to smile and say nothing, and bathe yourself in boiling water and domestos for several hours when you get home.

Letters For Valentine’s Day this year, my wife decided to adopt a large rescue dog from a local animal shelter as a surprise present for us, but without con-sulting with me first. The dog has major separation anxiety issues, is destructive and extremely needy. I’m not anti-dog but I just can’t deal with all the mess and disruption. I’ve tried raising it with my wife, but she’s become incredibly attached to the dog already and says if he goes, she goes. I don’t think she’s joking. I’d appreciate some advice.

Stressed of Sevenoaks

Dear Stressed,Quite frankly, I’d rather eat a mange-ridden dog than own one. Your mutt could have been to a Swiss finishing school, speak several languages, make a mean curry and be a dab hand at clean-ing the loo and ironing shirts, but I still wouldn’t want to let him into my lovely, clean house.If getting rid of the dog isn’t an option, then you need to get him on side. Now I’m no dog expert, but I’m guessing that this dog could be bribed. Stock up on treats and toys, and make sure that you’re the hero who hands them out. Be brave

– offer to walk the dog on your own, and hope-fully you’ll form a bond. You never know, the dog might be able to sense that you’re fed up with him and is acting out in response. If you pretend for long enough that you love him, pretending might eventually become reality, and then every-one will be happy.

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Web oF WonDeRGuaranteed to raise a laugh on even the most wretched winter’s day, Talking pets invites you to upload a photo of your favourite cat or dog, choose from one of a range of voices, add some accessories (such as sunglasses, hats, bow tie) and type in a short sentence. Then some mys-terious internet magic will animate your pet’s mouth, and you’ll see and hear him or her speak-ing the words that you have just typed in. Don’t worry if you haven’t got a pet – you can choose from a selection of mutts and moggies on the site. Forget the talking dog growling ‘sausages’ at Esther Rantzen on That’s Life. This is the real deal. you can email the results to your mates or just enjoy the show for yourself. Let’s face it, this is the closest we’ll ever get to an appearance on The Nation’s Most Talented Pets. www.talkingpets.org.

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on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 10 minutes until the tortilla is hot and crispy. Serve at once, preferably with a nice cold beer.

See and Be SeenCHISWICK PIER TRUSTS MOTHERS DAY CRUISETreat your mum to a relaxing cruise from Chiswick pier to Westminster and back. The boat will leave at 2pm so be ready to embark at 1.30pm. if you really want to make her day, we’ve also arranged a three course meal at pissarro’s when we get back. Combined cruise and meal tickets cost £25 for adults and £20 for children under 12. (The boat will start and finish at Chiswick Pier - it will not stop anywhere on route.)22 March www.chiswickpier.org.uk

HEAD OF THE RIvER RACEThe annual “Head of the River Race” from Mortlake to putney bridge is one of the big races on the rowing calendar — a warm up for the oxford vs. Cambridge boat Race which follows the same course backwards. The big difference between the Head of the River Race and its more famous counterpart is the fact that this one has 420 crews, instead of just two — meaning you can spend all afternoon sitting by the river watching the boats go past.21 March www.horr.co.uk

THE AnnUAL BLUEBELL WALK TAKES PLACE SUnDAY 26TH APRILWalkers are invited to enjoy the glorious surroundings of the Royal botanical Gardens at Kew and help raise money for Cancer Research UK. The 5km (three-mile) sponsored event is a great opportunity for walkers of all ages to view the beautiful gardens and historic landmarks at Kew. This is a great day out for all the family. There will be cafés en route serving a variety of food and drink, and there are plenty of children’s activities within the gardens. The event, now in its twelfth year, has raised more than £210,000 for Cancer Research UK. Join us this year and help us raise even more! please note we are unable to register children and concessions online. Children and Friends of Kew can register and pay on the day of the event. We are very grateful to Kew for once again generously supporting the walk.This event is organised by a supporter of Cancer Research UK.www.supportus.cancerresearchuk.org/Events/Charity_walks/112

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The Snippet Limited uses reasonable endeavours to ensure that material contained in The Snippet is correct and accurate and all material is published in good faith. However The Snippet Limited does not warrant or repre-sent its accuracy. The Snippet Limited will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or consequential losses or damages, arising out of any errors, inaccuracies or omissions in the material or in the information provided.

Interested in advertising in The Snippet and giving your business a real boost? For a media pack, email passiton@thesnippet.net or call 0207 371 0111.

GADGeT oF THe WeeKAttention all cat owners! Sick and tired of the neighbour’s moggy coming into your house uninvited? Is your cat being bullied? are other cats stealing your cat’s food? wouldn’t it be great if you could put a lock on the cat flap, and somehow give your cat the only key? The pet porte Microchip Cat Flap gives you this option. It works by identifying your cat by its microchip implant and will only open when it detects that particular microchip number. Designed by a vet, it can automatically detect light levels and can keep your cat in at night. Pet Porte: www.petporte.com.

Man About TownI want a dog. A man’s dog. A great big, slobbering, playful beast. Unfortunately, the lady in my life has her heart set on a Shih Tzu, one of those little white fluffy girlie dogs. Hell will freeze over before I’m going to be seen walking one of those in the park. I’m a firm believer that your choice of pet says a lot about you, and I’m backed up by the experts. Lynn Hoover, President of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants suggests that “If you have a ferret, you may be telling the world, ‘I’m a non-conformist.’ If you have a Labradoodle, you’re saying, ‘I’m as fashionable as my dog breed.’ Anyway, that’s the message others perceive, and you intention-ally -- or at least subconsciously -- want to communicate it.”

Apparently, people who tend to be social butterflies and prefer group settings own Golden Retrievers, while Chihuahua owners are often mischievous, taking after their high-energy, high-maintenance canine. God only knows what Shih Tzu owners are meant to be like! Regrettably for my missus, we are not about to find out.

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