This Just In ...
Kevin Fischer is a veteran broadcaster, the recipient of over 150 major journalism awards from the Milwaukee Press Club, the Wisconsin Associated Press, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, and others. He has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for over three decades. A longtime aide to state Senate Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature, Kevin can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, "InterCHANGE," on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10, and heard filling in on Newstalk 1130 WISN. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their lovely baby daughter, Kyla Audrey, in Franklin.
The Barking Lot-America's Finest Dog Blog (12/22/12)
The Barking Lot is a regular weekly feature of this just in…Written by my lovely wife, Jennifer and me. It opens with the weekend dog walking forecast followed by the main blog from dog lover, Jennifer. Then it’s DOGS IN THE NEWS and our close. Enjoy!
THE WEEKEND DOG-WALKING FORECAST: We grade the weather outlook for taking your pet outdoors.
TODAY: Early risers in my area wake up to 12 degrees. YIKES. Sunny skies today, but don't let them fool you. A high of 28. "F"
SUNDAY: Partly cloudy. High of 30. That means more icy sidewalks and streets. "F"
Here’s my lovely wife, Jennifer with this week’s main blog:
I have some very simple rules for our future dog:
1. It will be microchipped
2. It will not go to the doggie spa to be groomed more often than I get my hair cut
3. It will NOT require a walk to do its doggy “business”
Regular readers of The Barking Lot know that I am a firm believer in microchipping. There are so many success stories of dogs & owners reunited thanks to that bit of technology.
90% of the time I wear a simple ponytail. I don’t color my hair because I’m not willing to commit to the regular maintenance. I’ll take the blonde Mother Nature gives me and leave it at that. So I would never, could never, own a pooch that needs constant shampoo/blow dry/trim/fluff/add-ribbons-to-ears grooming. It’s just not my style.
The very last thing I want to do when the wind chill factor is dangerous and it’s painful to go outside is to have to walk a dog. I find nothing enjoyable about having to put on layer after layer so that I can watch Fido pick the perfect spot to squat. Our pooch will have full run of our yards and that will just have to be good enough.
However, I know that many dog owners are dedicated to the daily ritual of walk/sniff/pause/squat/bark/try-to-play-with-another-dog thing. In light of our recent snowfall (Um, really I could have done without a white Christmas!) I think it’s important to review some basic safety tips.
I realize that most of my astute readers will look at these and say “No kidding!” However, just like in the summer months when you read about geniuses leaving their dogs in locked cars with the windows up, you will read about Mensa members whose dogs suffer extreme frost bite or die from antifreeze ingestion.
So as your pup is holding his leash in his mouth, looking at you and doing “the dance” you should probably consider these pointers before heading outside this season. The American Kennel Club also offers useful information about Winter Care for Canines. I guess a Siberian husky or Samoyed won’t be breeds I adopt!
---Jennifer Fischer
Thanks, Jennifer!
Umm, what future dog?
Time now for DOGS IN THE NEWS, canines that made headlines the past week.
Golden retrievers comfort Newtown survivors.
Healing, one hug at a time.
Injured dog found tied to pole with a sign, dies. WAIT!
Let's move to Colorado for our next story.
It's "unlike anything else in the world."
Brooke relieves stress at the dental office.
How did Gordy get from
Yet another case of a dog reunited.
BARKING
Household dangers every pet owner should know.
How to keep your dog jolly this season.
On the guest list for Christmas dinner? The family dog.
THAT'S IT FOR DOGS IN THE NEWS.
NEXT, OUR DOG PHOTO (s) OF THE WEEK.
Read the story and see more photos here.
That's it for this week. We close as we always do with our closing video.
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