With bombs bursting in air…Me again, Chester Chatsworth with a star-spangled fun and fact-filled July edition of the Dallas Homes Newsletter Chester’s Chatterbox.  This newsletter is dedicated to all of you Independent and honorable Americans out there who make our lives so special.  Oh…we’re proud to be American’s…or at least Texans anyway.  Happy Fourth of July!  And have a great fun-filled summer.

Why Are Dogs and Flags Similar?

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 For you history buffs, here are a couple of web sites that may be useful for facts and information on the Flag: www.si.edu/resource/faq/nmah/flag.html for historical flag information: www.userpages.aug.com/haywire/history.html and, if you feel the need for some poems about “Old Glory,” etc. check out: www.theshop.net/slworley/amerindx.html

 Cool Dogs and Hot Dogs

 July is one of our hottest months here in Texas.  So, I thought I’d share some tips with you on how to keep your dog healthy, safe, and cool in this hot summer weather. Hot dogs (the ones you eat) are good, but hot dogs (climatically challenged canines) are not! 

First of all, we need to determine if your dog will be indoors or outdoors.  You see, it’s easy to keep us dogs cool indoors.  We just sit and chill in front of the air conditioner while eating our favorite flavor of Popsicle, which I like to refer to as flavored ‘water bones.’ Unless, of course, you don’t have air conditioning, then it is important to have open windows or a fan moving air around inside.  The most important thing is to have plenty of fresh, clean water for us to drink at all times. 

We need exercise too.  Even in hot months.  But it’s important to remember that we don’t perspire like you sweaty humans.  Because of this, we need to have a place to cool down afterwards, or we need exercise around water where we can take a dip now and then to cool ourselves off.  My cousin Flossie even likes to water ski on occasion.  Maybe you’ve seen her picture in the Swimsuit Edition of Canine Sports Illustrated. 

We always like to take a nice car ride and enjoy that fresh wind blowing in our faces as our ears flap in the breeze.  Well, I guess my ears don’t flap much because I had my ears cropped as a pup.  But I still like a good car ride now and again.  One important point though is that if you do plan on taking your dog out in the car NEVER … I repeat ...NEVER leave them in a closed up car.  Even with the windows down and fresh water for them to drink it can still get incredibly hot in the car, even in a short period of time.  This can cause undue stress to your pet, heatstroke, or even death. 

One more word of caution:  Despite the fact that we love riding in the back of pickup trucks.  It is probably a bad idea.  We can be seriously injured if an accident occurs or if we have the urge to jump out to chase that stray cat we see in passing.  Oh, and under no circumstances should you tie or chain your pet in the back of a pickup.  I once saw a truck passing by with a black lab dangling over the edge of the truck by his leash.  Luckily, my loud barking got the attention of the driver, and the lab was rescued.  But, you can see the potential for danger there as well. 

These are just a few safety tips for dogs in the summer time.  I’m sure there are other precautions you can take to keep your dog cool and healthy.  Just think smart and use common sense.  After all, we are one of the most (probably The Most) important members of your family. 

The Origin of the Hot Dog

Speaking of hot dogs (the eating kind), have you every wondered why you humans call them by this canine-etically impolite term?  According to Don Voorhees in his Book of Totally Useless Information, around the turn of the century, it was thought that frankfurters were actually made from dog parts.  (Ewwwwww-www!) At that time, (according to Voorhees) a concessionaire, at New York’s Polo Grounds, by the name of Harry Stevens had his vendors yell, “Get your red-hot dachshund sausages!”  Cartoonist T. A. Dorgan liked this expression and started calling them hot dogs…setting a new trend in the food industry.  Abhorring if you are a dog…but, in all essence…true!