Onboard Signs specializes in dog onboard signs (by breed). Sales fund the non-profit Dog Patch, home of the Dog House. A huge selection of signs by breed is available. that's cool... even chow-chows! And the chow-chow image used made me do a double-take. It looks just like our dog! (but it isn't)

The Pet Psychic... for real or not? [Orlando Weekly News] another fascinating look at Sonya Fitzpatrick's talent for communicating with animals, dead and alive...

(I'll buy it...  I'd rather believe we connect with our animal friends on a nonverbal level that defies the laws of communication. I also believe that anything is possible... really... timetravel... ghosts... gimme that reality anyday; it makes more sense to me than terrorism, cold war, and 'pure' science... )

And I'd also rather get my news from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart than from any other media outlet. Getting the latest news on the infamous Kobe trial from Stephen Colbert is the cat's meow. Last night, Jon Stewart told his audience to read his 'be-log'... wink-wink....

Shirley MacLaine believes dogs can talk and her little terrier is an old soul who is teaching her truths in life. She's got a new book out: "Out on a Leash," which records conversations with her dog, from the humananimal to human language.  [The Desert Sun] (I'm definitely going to read it... I'm no old soul, but our two dogs are definitely evolved... and teaching us with their doggy wisdom.)

For cat friends, left out by the Bow-Lingual craze, take heart: Meow-lingual, debuting in South Korea, will soon appear world-wide for the cat conversationist who needs a translator.

On our last visit to the Ark, the Montgomery County Humane Society's non-profit pet supply store in Rockville, Maryland, I discovered Evolve, a new dog food packed in bags with a 'space age' oxygen barrier seal; when you seal the bag with its reclosable zipper, you can squeeze out the inside air through a one-way valve. That gimmick alone was worth the purchase. I had to buy it and see if our dogs liked it. Unfortunately, the zipper was defective, so I could not close the bag properly; however, the dogs absolutely loved the dog food and went bonkers over the Evolve pet treats. Evolve's 'Turkey with Barley' dog bones received an enthusiastic 'thumbs up' from both dogs.

I called Evolve's toll-free phone number (1-800-331-5144), reported the defective zipper, and they're sending a coupon for a free bag (very nice of them). I don't think I'll switch our dogs to Evolve just yet (even though both dogs love it); Evolve's chicken meal, sourced from Tysons Foods,  cannot be certified organic or range-free. However, the Evolve spokesperson told me that they're actively seeking organic ingredients and may soon market a certified organic dog food. I'd buy it if they did. She also told me the lamb meat in Evolve dog food is certified range-free, organic, highest grade marketed, and imported from both New Zealand and Australia. In the meantime our dogs will make do with their Bench & Field dog food, which is certified organic. We buy our dog food from Trader Joe's, a gourmet food store. Trader Joe's specializes in organic foods for both people and pets at reasonable prices.