"pets" news and stories

We've seen you Slashfoodies pressing your noses up against the windows of new restaurants or talking for an unseemly amount of time about the pasta you made last night. And we love it, since that's what we go nuts for, too.

But we also know you have multiple obsessions, so if a meowing, drooling or swimming compadre is one of them, check out our brand-new sister site Paw Nation, featuring adorable photos, smart advice and even pet horoscopes!

For those canine-lovers devoted to both dogs and food, there's also a new book out there for ya: "One Nation Under Dog: Adventures in the New World of Prozac-Popping Puppies, Dog-Park Politics and Organic Pet Food." Say that six times fast. An exploration of America's puppy prediliction, the book features a whole chapter devoted to the grub we feed our four-legged friends. Journalist Michael Schaffer's tours Bogner Meats, where they manufacture human food and raw dog food alike. Though one manager declares his father would have "rolled over in his grave" at the notion of upscale dog food made from people food, Schaffer seems pretty taken with it, especially in the wake of the salmonella scandals.

But seriously, folks, Paw Nation? One Nation Under Dog? Who's in charge here, anyways??

Our pug, Lola, has been getting rather portly these days. Last week my husband and I had "the chat" about treat reduction, since we both have a bad habit of giving her a nibble of whatever we might be eating, be it toast, cheese, etc.

Obviously we want her to be healthy and that is our reasoning behind our new routine; but while wondering if there were any healthy substitutions this was brought to my attention. I had read many times that chocolate was bad for dogs, but after seeing this Today show episode I learned of some new items to look out for. Along with this list is a grouping of allowed items.

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Well, it's getting on toward summer time. It's the time of year when you want to take your dog on a walk right down to your favorite dining/ drinking establishment (if you live in a place where that's a possibility, that is). In the US, and I assume a large number of other places around the world, you'd be relegated to the patio or sidewalk areas if you brought Fido along. That's nice for this time of year, but it gets pretty chilly of you want to do that in the colder months.

If you lived in Tuscany, though, that might be about to change. Lawmakers there are looking into passing a law that would allow pet owners to bring the hairier members of the family along to any public venue, including museums and theaters. There are conditions: the pet must be on a lead, the pet must be well behaved, proper hygiene must be looked after, and the pet must be vaccinated and healthy.

If your baby doesn't do well in with other dogs or has hygiene problems, then you're out of luck. But if a pet in Tuscany meets all the rules, then they can go out to dinner with their person. Life is sweet under the Tuscan sun.

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I'm not quite sure what to make of Alice Wang's set of two wine glasses. In the box, they look a little strange because one of them looks like it was taken out of the fire a little too soon. It's tilted! But it's tilted for a reason - so Fido can sip his wine, too.

Granted, I am not sure it's actually safe for a dog to drink wine, but the idea of the Pet Plus Wine Glasses is cute for a pet-parent and his or her pup to share in a drink together, lounging out on the veranda. Just pour yourself the Pinot, and fill his glass with water.

The Pet Plus Wine Glasses are available from designer Alice Wang's website.

More on pets and food:
Animals who like people food
Real Food for Cats, Cookbook of the Day
Dog dining bill advances

How can someone who puts out such a fun food mag put on such an unbearable TV show?

I want to like Rachael Ray, the TV show. I really, really do. Honest. But it's just an annoying hour to me. Maybe it's because I'm a guy. One minute Rachael will be teaching us how to make some cool quick meal with pasta and vegetables, and then five minutes later she'll be talking about women in abusive relationships or how someone can organize the shoes in their closets. It just doesn't work for me. (And there's also the whole thing with her voice and bubbly personality, which I can take on 30 Minute Meals but when it's an hour every day...). But it's really popular, so maybe I'm not the right audience.

But Every Day With Rachael Ray? That's a great little magazine. It has a bunch of recipes that you feel you can actually cook (unlike some mags), quick guides to eating in various cities, tips on shopping, tips on buying wine, interviews. It's well-done. If there's one quibble I have is the whole "celebrity fridge" feature in the back of every issue. It's kinda funny to see what celebs have in there, but do we have to have some quiz about what they have? On the same page where we can see the answers?!? It seems to be a quiz made for people who find the TV Guide crossword difficult.