Pet Food Settlement

About 20,000 people, who lost pets due to tainted dog food back in 2007, are finally receiving their food settlement checks, according to a report in the Philadelphia Inquirer. The largest wave of animal litigation ever in the American legal system was aimed at Menu Foods, Inc. a Canadian manufacturer of about 100 of the tainted products.

Locally, Cheryl Cutler of Voorhees, New Jersey, received a check for $2,400 which she says not only cannot come close to making up for the loss of her beloved pet, Zeus, but is also no where near the amount of money (estimated $7,500) she and her husband spent on Zeus' medical care.

According to Sherrie Savett, a lawyer representing some of the many plaintiffs in more than 100 lawsuits filed agains Menu Foods Inc, claimants generally got more than fifty percent of their claimed losses. many who have received settlement checks have donated all or a portion of them to charities that benefit animals.

This pet food recall is one of the things that sparked the idea for our book since so many pet owners were resorting to cooking for their pets after the recall.

Dog Has Kittens For Lunch

Don't let the title fool you...what's for lunch is not the kitties!!!

Fred Wants to Be an Elephant

Maybe all that howling has to do with the fact that elephants can inhale so much more food! At least it looks that way to this guy!

My How Big Your Ears Are!

All the better to hear you with my dear. . . or so Harbor, a black and tan coonhound from Boulder, Colorado might say. Harbor's ears won him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the living dog with the world's longest ears! The official measurements: 12.25 inches for the left ear and 13.5 inches for the right.

His owner said that when Harbor was a puppy, he would trip on his ears and roll down the stairs!

Cage Dryers Can Be Dangerous

Here is a tip worth checking out courtesy of About.com Veterinary Medicine. We all know that heat stroke is a danger in the summer months to dogs and the caveat about leaving an animal in a parked care for even one minute. But cage dryers can present another threat to dogs susceptible to heat stroke.

Dogs and cats most at risk from dryer induced heat stroke include any that are already overheated from being in distress as well as those who are overweight, have breathing problems, heart problems and are very young or very old. Pets being dried by cage dryers should also have access to fresh water.

It is worth asking your groomer about the method of drying he/she uses for your dog, especially if your dog is at risk.

A Small Blip in Delivery

For those of you who pre-ordered the book from Amazon and received a notice that delivery would be delayed until October 28, you have a few options to purchase the book before then.

First you could attend one of our October launch events: the 11th in NYC at the Kimpton Muse Hotel, 130 W. 46 St. from 6-8 PM or October 20 in Philadelphia at Square 1682 Restaurant, 121 S. 17th from 6-8 PM. Books will be available for purchase and signing!

Second, you could order directly from ShopAnimalNetwork.com as early as September 27, the release date.

Or third, you could just sit tight. A lot of times Amazon delivers before they say they will.

Sorry for the disappointment. Many things are way out of our control!

Meet Chef Carmen Gonzalez

Carmen is a bundle of energy. She and her dog Jeeter hit the pavement for marathon walks every day!

Herm versus the Stairs

Watch to the end! Persistence pays off!

Please Re-locate

Way back when, this book was called Lick Your Plate. That is now officially a misnomer. Please transfer you allegiance to The Culinary Canine and forget you ever heard about the first title.

When we changed our Facebook page we couldn't move our followers because there were too many. Now it is up to you to move yourselves.

Beyond A Good Thing

Can anyone say "A Very Good Thing?"

The Culinary Canine will be featured on the Martha Stewart Show this fall!! We're taping October 17th and we'll know soon which chef gets the nod! Rumor has it Martha's own dogs may steal the spotlight but our chefs were all told to be prepared to bring their own dogs.

Yes, Sabina and I will be in the audience!

It's more like an outstanding thing now that I think about it....

We Hear She is a Cat Person

NPR's Terry Gross has a fabulous interview with sustainable food guru, Alice Waters. You can find it here. And for the record, Chez Panisse was one of the first restaurants we called. Alice Waters does not have a dog.

Grace Before Meals!

Too funny!

Todd Gray Wins DC Chef of the Year

This handsome family is none other than the Grays--Ellen Kassoff Gray, son Harrison and Chef Todd, at the recent RAMMY awards in Washington DC, where Chef Todd won Chef of the Year from the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington. Todd had been nominated for the honor nine times!

Perhaps it was the opening of his new restaurant Watershed, in the Hilton Garden Inn, in the up and coming NoMA (north of Mass Ave) neighborhood of DC that tipped the scales. We hear fabulous things about this casual, seafood eatery that opened in June as well as his cafe in the Corcoran Gallery and of course, the legendary Equinox.

Planning a trip to DC? Book a table at one of their restaurants and be guaranteed a great meal from great animal lovers!

When the Dog Eats More Than Your Homework

Back to School is upon us and so are those new school supplies. According to PET MD, fruit scented pencils and erasers may be especially appealing to your curious pooch, so be sure to keep those supplies off the floor and out of their mouths.

Here is the website's list of those supplies most likely to cause problems if your pup swallows (or tries to swallow)them:

10. paperclips
9. pens--watch out for any loose caps
8. pencils--just the right size to get lodged in the mouth or windpipe
7. markers
6. crayons--some smell good enough to eat!
5. balls--those small bouncy ones can easily get lodged
4. action figures/small dolls--and those accessories like shoes, doll clothing, miniature tools/weapons
3. coins
2. glue sticks/bottled glue
1. erasers

No mention of the actual homework, but we all know how that goes. Only the most important papers get drooled on.

A Peachy Summer Treat

From out friends at Modern Dog magazine, comes this peachy treat, perfect for those dwindling dog days of summer.

Newsbite l Aug 17, 2011
Isn't It Peachy?
DIY dog food perfect for late summer

Quick and healthy, this recipe capitalizes on late summer bounty. Fresh peas and the addition of peaches give the sweetness dogs enjoy, and non-gluten products are used to help with allergies. Prep Time: 10 minutes; makes seven 1-cup servings.

Shopping list and instructions:

3 lb ground lamb or in chunks
3 eggs
1/2 cup fresh peas, shelled
1 cup brown rice
1 cup canned peach slices in natural juice

1. Saute the meat in a lightly sprayed pan over medium heat for about 15 minutes until no longer pink and the meat juices run clear. Let cool.

2. Meanwhile, cook the rice according to package instructions.

3. Cook the eggs in a saute pan over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring gently until the eggs are firm.

4. Mix the lamb with the scrambled eggs and let cool.

5. Mix together the peas, rice and peaches, then stir in the meat and egg mixture. Allow to cool before serving to your hungry pup. See portion sizes and nutritional information here.

Updates

Very exciting news here at The Culinary Canine! The launch countdown has begun since we are told the book has arrived in the warehouse, ready to be shipped on Sept. 27!! For all those thinking about ordering in bulk for holiday gifts, remember that the pre-release price goes up once the book ships. You might want to check out our Amazon link here.

Second, we are told that the book will be released in electronic version in November! So all those with i-pads or color Nooks or Kindles will be able to see the book on the go. Better yet, we have discovered the ease of cooking with a recipe propped up on an i-pad, and think you too will love the convenience!

And our launch list is growing. Parties now in NYC (Oct. 11), Philly (Oct. 20) and Chicago (Nov. 10)!!!
Hope you can join us for one of them. Details to follow as the dates approach.

Hope your appetites are getting whetted......