This is a VERY sad story, which I found at Indy’s Spot. People need to be aware that this kind of cruelty is happening, and that the authorities attack those who try to help the victims - not the people who inflicted the animal cruelty. Here is a synopsis of the story: Tammy Grimes, founder of Dogs Deserve Better, was arrested September 11, 2006 for helping a dying chained dog named Doogie who could not stand in East Freedom, Pennsylvania. Tammy’s statement: ‘I could not have lived with myself or looked myself in the eye if I were such a coward as to leave Doogie lying there dying on the ground for fear of what would happen to me. I see this case as a travesty against justice…the true perpetrators of a crime are the people who left Doogie to lie there dying for three days without doing right by him. I am very saddened that we live in a society where people have to be afraid to do the right thing, to help those in need, whether that need be human or animal. Arrests such as mine are a pitiful statement for America, and I ask all dog lovers to stand with me to insist that all charges against me are dropped and charges of animal cruelty are instead placed against the Arnolds of East Freedom, PA. The Arnolds who left Doogie to die.’

At last there are more dogs at my regular exercise field. Cally the Giant Scnauzer was also there, she is one of the most socialized dogs I know. Lucky (a Jack Russell) has been in Italy for two months and I think he calmed down a bit while he was there. Like my Mum and Dad, his family prefer to take their dog on holiday with them. But there was a lot of red tape to go through every time they crossed a border. He had to get extra vaccinations and worming tablets - yuk. Lucky gave me a great new dog blanket as a reward for feeding their rabbit while he was away. It is really soft and cosy for the winter.

Peppy’s owner has a new dog, a Jack Russell called Toby. He has only just finished his jabs, so he can now come out with the rest of us. Well, I say that but George takes his dog out at 7.30 am, a bit early for me and Mum.

I hate to boast - but I will. The Kevin the Collie Blog has been featured on The Guardian website! This is one of the top UK daily newspapers, and Mum sent in my blog to see what they thought. She was sooo happy when they replied, I got a sausage as a reward. We have had lots of new visitors from there, so I must watch my spelling ..

Yesterday Mum took me on a train for the first time. The London Tube is cool with pets travelling and of course I do not sit on the seats! I started to enjoy myself when a guy gave Mum a biscuit for me (Viennese Finger). Everyone on the train was watching me eat it, then before Mum could stop him, he gave Me another one. When we arrived at Victoria, Mum had to carry me up the escalator. That was embarrassing, but at least we went out through the special gate - I felt like a celebrity dog then.
We went to an icing demonstration by Mum’s niece, who can decorate a chocolate egg in seconds. It was good fun and there was free chocolate but chocolate is bad for me: my Easter egg was made from carob. I enjoyed meeting loads of new people but as we waited outside the shop we saw a shoplifter. Mum took it personally because of her niece, so she challenged him. He wasn’t very happy, but he did put it back and we saw him off the premises - so I was a detective dog as well.
That was far too much excitement an ageing dog celebrity, I slept for hours when we got home.

Mum thinks I will eat ANYTHING but it is not true. She is feeding a friend’s pet rabbit - named Cuddles - and I go along with her. The rabbit runs away when she sees me so I have to stay in the house if it is time for him to go into the hutch. We get a few foxes round here, so a rabbit would not be safe outside at night. Yesterday Cuddles left some rabbit cereal so Mum pushed the bowl to me.. No way! There are very few things I do not eat, but that is one of them, also the lettuce and carrot that Cuddles nibbles. Unlike the sausage that Mum dropped the other day: I snapped that up double quick. So now I know why it is called Rabbit Food

If you’re like us, you frequently ask yourselves, ‘where can I find top, reliable donkeys for my donkey sporting event?’ Fortunately we found Donkey Sports, Inc, and our troubles are over. For the finest in Donkey Softball and Donkey Basketball events, we highly recommend this company. But you may well ask: ‘In this time of great geopolitical unrest, donkey sporting events are just the thing to lift our spirits. But I’m still sceptical; will the donkeys have reliable transportation?’ Yes.
According to the Web site, Donkey Sports.com guarantees ‘dependable, self-contained transportation for all donkeys.’
The company will also provide:
• Referee and game ball.
• Clean, well-cared for donkeys.
• Valid livestock health certificates.
• Easy to understand game organization information.
• Shoes that will not mark any floor.”
and a straitjacket, I guess, if you get that far!

It was an exciting weekend last week, as Monday was a Bank Holiday. If you are reading this in the US, Happy Labor Day. Sunday we went to the seaside and, I admit, my dog training was a bit lax. My favourite snack bar was not open, so I got no sausage treats and I was moaning in the car. But things improved when we arrived at Camber Sands.

This beach has some of the best sand in the world, Dad says. The dunes leading to the beach are covered in wild sea grasses, and there is hours of fun to be had in simply running up and down to explore them. The beach is excellent too, and dog friendly. The tide was coming in fast and we were almost cut off, Mum and I had to make a little leap to get ahead of it. Once I was a little damp I rolled and rolled in the sand, over and over until I was covered. I do look a bit fierce - but it is all in the interests of looking smart and having fun. I jump up afterwards and shake myself off, showing my shiny coat off to anyone who is looking! Bye for now - Kev
PS Why are so many people calling me an ikea dog? I hate the place.