Prickle

This is little Prickle, at home and being stroked by her owner - my friend, William. Prickle has a wonderful life running around her garden - one of the most famous gardens of Menton - the Clos du Peyronnet.

'My little dog ~ a heartbeat at my feet.' Edith Wharton (1862-1937)

Gigi

Meet Gigi. I met him whilst having a haircut in Menton the other day. He sat patiently by his owner's chair. I thought he was a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen but his owner tells me he is a cross between a PBGV and a Griffon Vendeen. Nevertheless, considering his size, I've listed him as the former - as I had to make the choice between one or the other. Gigi is 3 years old and lives in Menton.

I lay on the floor to get this shot and when Isabelle, who cuts my hair, went to help me up, Gigi snapped at her (missed!) - not because he is nasty but because he mistakenly thought she was attacking me. We all need to be dog psychiatrists, don't we?

'The world was conquered through the understanding of dogs; the world exists through the understanding of dogs.' Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)

Jackye

This is Jackye, a 3 year old Min Pin who lives in Monaco with her Italian owners. Named after Jackie Kennedy, she's sitting on her owner's lap on a bench just down from the casino area of Monte Carlo.

Gina

Gina is 6 years old. Her owners tell me she is a Miniature Bull Terrier, as opposed to the normal size. She lives at Cap d'Ail with her charming German owners. This photograph was taken in the luxurious Metropole Centre. If you'd like to see what the dog who has everything would like - please click on the link. Maybe Gina will get it for her next birthday?

Our girls 6 months old (2)

At the circus - 4

These two were off-lead waiting for their owners - no attempt to run away or to mingle with the elephants. Notice how they both have undershot jaws.

'A dog never forgets his master' - African Proverb

At the circus - 3

As you can see in the photo below, this little girl was standing nicely with her owner until I came along and disturbed her. The humans, of course, are watching the circus. I think she's called Jane - don't you?!

At the circus - 2

Lovely Bernese Mountain Dog, waiting, like all the dogs for his owner to finish watching the circus parade. He looks fed up, doesn't he - but like most of our dogs, a patient angel.

'There are three faithful friends - an old wife, an old dog and ready money.' Benjamin Franklin

At the circus - 1

This little Papillon was one of many dogs waiting whilst their owners watched the circus in the port of Monaco today. You can see what everyone was watching by clicking on the link.

'For fidelity, devotion, love, many a two-legged animal is below the dog...' Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887)

Our girls 6 months old

Johnny

This is Johnny, a gorgeous little cross-breed - his owner told me half Papillon. He's 6 years old and is owned by a charming gentleman who was born in Menton and works at the Casino in Monte Carlo. He lived for 10 years in Australia so spoke excellent English. This photograph was taken in the tiny market of Carnoles, which is part of Roquebrune-cap-Martin. Look at that oh-so-earnest look in his eye. And see what he can do with his ears?

Sea dog

This little dog has been having the best fun on the beach at Menton and at the end of it all, needs his face and feet drying off. Don't you love the expression of the woman on the right? What is she thinking? 'Ugh, dirty dog,' - or perhaps - 'I wish I had a dog.'


'Today you feel a failure. Yet you pet and take care of your dog and to him you're a success.' Jo Winter.

Our female puppies 6 months

The Supermodels - Havana and Hopje

Meet Havana and Hopje who are sisters and almost 16 years old. Born in Menton, they now live in the beautiful medieval village of Roquebrune with their breeder, Marie-Hélène, who is a Dutch artist and friend. She is a wonderful source of information on Menton and Roquebrune and often helps me with details of history for Menton Daily Photo.

Marie-Hélène wrote:

'Havana and Hopje had a brother, Hector, who died last December. Their mother was Dufy de Jouxte Boulleng (died 1998) who endured a nuptial ceremony with their father Drill von der Domerhogte in Cabris, near Grasse, early 1992. Their great-grandfather was a well-known long-haired dachshund champion called Richter de Jouxte Boulleng, bred by M et Mme Caron from Normandy (now retired) . In the French dachshund world there is a notion of "la tête de Caron", something about the head which makes them instantly recognizable as descendants of one of the Carons' dogs. I have been stopped in the street by people asking me if they were from "chez Caron". Once at the small airport of Mandelieu, near Cannes, where I went to pick up little Hopje who had made the journey there by herself in a six-seater plane from Switzerland, I saw a dog with a definite "tête de Caron" and he turned out to be their cousin ! Another time in Cannes I passed a dog who had that same lovely head and he also came from Caron.

Havana has been with me since birth. Hopje spent a few years in Switzerland and then ten years in the Hague in Holland. Nearly two years ago she decided to retire to the French Riviera and come back to live with Havana and me. This has been a great success, with the two sisters behaving like a trade union when it comes to food, Bonios etc.. They are the best of friends (I have about 5000 photos of them sleeping with one head on the other's shoulder etc.) and still enjoy the lascivious attention of one or two male dogs, particularly a smooth-haired dachsie from Turin by the name of Gothic, who has always been passionately in love with Havana and now also courts Hopje.

All they do now is sleep and eat with the occasional excursion to the sunlounger!'

Bandit

This is Bandit, a 2 year old shih-tzu from Burgundy. He was on holiday in Menton with his owners and I snapped him just outside the market area. I think he's used to being photographed as he happily posed without moving - look at those gorgeous eyes.

'Sometimes you don't want to talk about problems. You just need your dog's sympathetic brown eyes and silent companionship.' Jo Winter

Street puppy

This lovely puppy lives with some of the Menton street guys. SDF as they are called - sans domicile fixe - without a fixed address. She's 10 months and they told me, in Italian, she is an Irish sheepdog, which I've never heard of - so we'll call her a mix. She was well-fed, happy and the three guys with her obviously adored her. Let's hope she has a good life.

'He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.' Author Unknown

Izzy

This is Izzy, the Yorkshire terrier and his very proud owner. I took it in Menton, today - first day of sunshine for well over a week and everyone and his mother was out walking. I forgot to ask Izzy's age but he looks quite an old dog, wouldn't you think? The land you see in the background is Italy.

Diamond Pet Food Settles for $3.1 Million

Today, January 4, 2008, Diamond Pet Foods settled with pet owners for $3.1 million.

After approximately 12 shipments of corn tainted with Aflatoxin slipped into the Diamond Pet Food Plant in Gaston, South Carolina in 2005, dozens of dogs died. Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring chemical which comes from a fungus found on corn and can cause liver failure. The FDA found Diamond did not have records of test results from that corn but it went into food sold in 23 states as the Diamond Brand or Country Value brand.

About 350,000 bags of pet food were recalled aftera New York veterinarian linked the death of a dog to Diamond pet Food. No one knows just how many dogs died or were injured nationwide.

The company has already settled with about 1,200 customers but many more have yet to file claims under the class action which started with a suit filed by plaintiff, Nicole Bass of Knoxville, Tennessee.

Pet owners have until April 15, 2008 to join the class action but they must be able to prove that they purchased the recalled pet food, did not return it to the store, and that their pet was injured as a result.

Pet owners of animals who died can be compensated for testing and treatment of aflatoxin poisoning, compensation for their pet's death and pet food up to $2,000. Owners will not be compensated for loss of affection, mental anguish, emotional suffering or the cost of burial.

Plaintiffs who want to opt-out of the settlement and file their own individual lawsuit have until March 16, 2008 to do so.

According to the settlement, the company contends that it did nothing illegal but says that it will cooperate with those injured to avoid costly time-consuming litigation.

The Diamond pet food recall preceded the 2006 pet food recall where hundreds of dogs and cats died from toxic melamine found in brands made by Menu Foods.

Click Here To Read The Diamond Pet Food Settlement

Click Here To Download A Claim Form

Click Here For The Diamond Pet Food Settlement Website

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT DATES:


February 26, 2008

Objection Deadline, postmarked or received


March 16, 2008

Exclusion Deadline, postmarked or received


March 26, 2008
at 1:30 p.m.

Settlement Fairness Hearing


April 15, 2008

Claim Form Deadline, postmarked or received