According to the Washington post, Gayle and Craig Myers were headed to divorce and had only one bone of contention: Who would have the right to keep Lucky, their 16-pound gray-black Lhasa apso.

Under Maryland law, family pets — unlike, say, children — are treated as jointly owned marital property and sold if the divorcing couple cannot agree on who gets to keep them. The parties then split the proceeds of the sale.

But the standard resolution did not seem right to retired Prince George’s County Circuit Judge Graydon S. McKee III.

The judge, presiding over the limited-divorce proceeding by special assignment, decided on his own last month that Gayle and Craig, who have no children, would split custody of Lucky.

The dog will alternate spending six months with each party; Gayle’s turn began on July 1.

A recent survey of pet owners by the American Pet Products Association found 62% of small dogs,  41% of medium-sized dogs and 32% of large dogs sleep with their owners.  Apparently cats also snuggle up with their owners.   The survey found that 62% of cats sleep with their adult owners and 13% of felines sleep with kids.

According to WebMD there are a few things you should consider before letting your four legged friend hog the bed another night.  If you have allergies or asthma, it certainly isn’t helping if your cat is sleeping on top of your head.  They recommend using a HEPA filter, allergy meds or….and I know you don’t want to hear this…but keeping them out of your bedroom.  Yeah, right.

If you’re waking up tired every morning, here’s something to consider.  A  Mayo Clinic Sleep Disorders Center  study found that about half the patients in the study had a dog or cat, and more than half of those pet owners said their pets disturbed their sleep in some way nightly.

Here’s some good news though.  In many cases, pets in the bed can aid in helping you sleep.  Just having them next to you, with their warm little (or big) bodies, and the rhythm of sleep can be your own little slice of Ambien.

Once I tried sharing the bed with Meeko, but worried at every turn that he’d jump out of bed and break a leg so my little guy is perfectly happy in his own bed.

Do you let your pet sleep with you?  Bark at us!

Merrick Pet Care out of Amarillo, Texas is recalling 86 cases of it’s 10 ounce “Beef Filet Squares for Dogs” pet treats (ITEM # 60016 LOT # 10084TL7 BEST BY MARCH 24, 2012) because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.  If you’ve purchased this, you should return the unused portion to where you bought it for a full refund. For more info, check out their website, just click here.

Nature’s Miracle, Excel, Pro-Pet, Petco, DDS and Drs. Foster & Smith Nutritional Supplements and Powdered Form Products:

United Pet Group has recalled a variety of nutritional supplements for dogs and powdered form products for dogs and cats.  These products are sold under different names at different retailers.  Be sure to check the FDA release for a complete listing of products affected by this recall by clicking here.

Leave pets home when you head out to July 4th celebrations and other crowded summer events like concerts and fairs. Loud noises, combined with the heat can be stressful and even dangerous for pets. Secure animals in the house on July 4. Dogs will jump fences or go through windows when frightened. Cats will also try to escape. Pick a quiet room where your pet feels safe. Close the shades and play soothing music or talk radio to help drown out the noise from outside.

Never leave your pet in a parked car during warm weather. Even with the windows cracked, just a few minutes can be life-threatening, and costly! In the Sacramento heat, the inside of your car can reach over 120 degrees in a matter of minutes. In addition, under California law, leaving a pet in a hot vehicle can result in a fine of up to $500 and as much as six months in jail.

Make sure pets always have access to plenty of fresh, cool water and shade during the hot summer months. Limit summer-time exercise to morning and evening hours when it’s cooler, and remember that asphalt can be very hot on pets’ feet.

Keep pets away from puddles of auto coolant in the garage, driveway, or parking lots. The sweet taste of this poisonous liquid is tempting to animals, but can be fatal.

Pets and water can equate to disaster. Prevent (or carefully supervise) access to pools and open waterways. Fatigue can set in while swimming, and currents in rivers and other waterways can prove dangerous to canine swimmers.

Protect your pets from fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. Use flea and tick treatments recommended by your veterinarian, and talk with your veterinarian about heartworm (transmitted by mosquitoes) preventative. Heartworm disease can be fatal.
Your pet should always wear an identification tag with your current phone number and address, as well as a current license/rabies tag. A microchip is also important and can be your pet’s ticket home if she loses her collar and tags! Microchips are available at the SPCA for just $20.

If your pet does stray away from home, it is important to place a “lost” ad, post flyers and visit area animal shelters as soon as possible. At each shelter, provide a photo and specific description of your pet. These steps will greatly increase your chances of finding your animal friend! And if you find a lost pet, please take the animal to your nearest animal shelter. Place a “found” ad in your local newspaper and post notices around your neighborhood.

Aarff.com has some important tips for you from United Animal Nations.

Place an emergency decal on your front window or door
If disaster strikes while you are not home, a decal will alert rescuers of the animals inside.

Microchip your pets
Microchip identification is one of the best ways to ensure that you and your pet are reunited if you are separated. Be sure to keep the microchip registration up-to-date, and include at least one emergency number of a friend or relative who resides out of your immediate area.

Keep a collar and tag on all cats and dogs
Keep several current phone numbers on your animal’s identification tag. Identification on indoor-only cats is especially important. If your home is damaged during a disaster, they could easily escape.

Plan a pet-friendly place to stay
Search in advance for out-of-area pet-friendly hotels or boarding facilities, or make a housing exchange agreement with an out-of-area friend or relative.

Use the buddy system
Exchange pet information, evacuation plans and house keys with a few trusted neighbors or nearby friends. If you’re caught outside evacuation lines when an evacuation order is issued, your neighbors or friends can evacuate your pets for you.

Prepare an emergency kit for each animal
Include copies of your pet’s vaccinations, photographs, emergency contact references, temporary identification (see below), pet first aid kit, food, water and important supplies in an easy-to-grab container.

Have temporary identification available when you evacuate
When you evacuate with your animals, create a temporary tag  with your temporary contact information and the phone number of an unaffected friend or relative.

Include extra medication in your disaster kit
If your animal takes medication, a replacement supply may not be easily available following a disaster, so keep extra on hand. Don’t use expired medication.

Carry photos of you and your pets
If you are separated, photographs can prove that you are the rightful caregiver of your pets. Clear photographs of your pets, especially if they include identifying marks, can be helpful to create “lost pet” fliers.

Identify emergency veterinary facilities outside of your immediate area
If a disaster has affected your community, emergency veterinary facilities may be closed. Pets may become injured or ill during the disaster, so make sure you know how to access other emergency facilities. You can also check with your veterinarian to find out if they have an emergency plan that includes setting up in an alternate, emergency facility.

Comfort your animals
Your animals will appreciate your calm presence and soft, comforting voice if they are stressed following a disaster or while evacuated, and you may find it comforting to spend time with them, too. Some animals, especially cats, may be too scared to be comforted. Interact with them on their terms. Some animals may find toys, especially long-lasting chew toys, comforting.

Know where to search for lost animals
When animals become lost during a disaster, they often end up at a local shelter. Keep handy the locations of shelters in your community and nearby.

If you have any other tips, bark at us!

That’s, at least, what the Humane Society of the United States and Petplan hopes will happen.  HSUS and the pet insurance provider  have teamed up…asking businesses to consider programs permitting employees to bring dogs in the workplace.  How can you turn away all those cute little puppy dog eyes?  Hey, it’s all about creating a dog-friendly working environment.

Someone who knows all about dogs in the workplace is Jennifer Fearing of the Humane Society of the United States.   Fearing co-wrote a wonderful book called Dogs at Work which is a practical guide to creating a work environment where employees’ dogs are welcome.

“Our canine companions make excellent colleagues, even at big companies.  In the midst of tough times, employers can improve morale and support the human-animal bond by relying on Dogs at Work to develop and implement a workable -and free -program that works for everyone,” said Fearing.

Fearing shares some of the benefits with Aarff.com:

* Costless benefit
* Reduced absenteeism
* Improved morale and productivity
* Supports human-animal bond
* Increased retention and recruitment

To make it successful, Fearing says:

* Get the boss on board
* Appropriate dogs only
* Routine. Routine. Routine.
* Even-handed and consistent enforcement

To learn more and to get Fearing’s book, just click here. Meantime, I hope you’re reading this with your canine in your cubical!

Examiner

Veterinarian Cindy Bressler sued Carey on Wednesday in a Manhattan state court.

Bressler provided “extraordinary services” for the Jack Russell terriers , Cha-Cha, Dolomite and JJ, but the Grammy Award-winning singer paid only about $8,200 of the roughly $37,800 in charges, according to the the lawsuit.  The  bills cover a little more than a month of care.

Bressler’s lawyer, Michael  Posner, didn’t elaborate over the dogs treatment.  Bressler’s website states she makes house calls in New York City and the Hamptons and caters to “prominent New Yorkers and celebrity clients.”

No immediate comments so far from  Bressler’s attorney or Carey’s spokesperson.

Pet parents are coming up with some doozies too!  Apparently Max, Spot, Snoopy and yes….even Meeko aren’t cuttin’ the mustard anymore.  The folks at Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) set out to find the most unusual pet and cat names.  They obviously have the inside scoop since the company insures nearly a half million pets.  Their employees voted using the company’s database of pet names, and narrowed them down to 50 in each category.  I have to admit, there’s no lack of creativity.  The owners of  Pickle Von Corndog told VPI he looked like his name. “We like to pickle and brew things in our home,” says Jason Siobhan.  “We happen to have a lot of pickle cookbooks as well. One day he  came home with the little guy, and had just looked at a cookbook called “Pickled.”   Siobhan said ‘Pickle,’ and Pickle wagged his tail. It just seemed right.”

Pickle Von Corndog (VPI)

Top 5 Wacky Dog Names:

1.  Pickle Von Corndog

2.  Lord Chubby Pruneface

3. Badonkadonnk

4. Ninjastar Dangerrock

5.  Molly McBoozehound

Top 5 Cat Names:

1.  Purr Diem

2.  Bing Clawsby

3.  Cleocatra

4.  Admiral Pancake

5.  Optimus Pants

1. New York City – Between winding trails, off-leash hours and fenced-in dog parks,New York City‘s Central Park is the perfect pet hang-out. Plus, pet daycare can be found in nearly every Big Apple neighborhood.

2. Chicago - Dogs are welcome on canine cruises at Chicago’s Navy Pier, and the Windy City is home to a number of pet resorts and patio restaurants that welcome furry friends.

3. Boston – Pooches are welcome to tour Boston Harbor by boat, and dogs are welcome to take the subway.

4. Houston - Local pet lovers praise Barnaby’s Cafe, where pets aren’t just welcome, they’re given their own cardboard bowl to dine from while their owners grab a bite.

5. San Francisco - The city by the bay offers plenty of pet-friendly dining, off-leash beaches, and outdoor areas. Take your dog for a stroll across the Golden Gate Bridge — or even bring him along on a cable-car ride!

6. Austin - Besides outdoor cafes and off-leash parks, Austin residents tout the Zilker Botanical Gardens and Congress Street Bats as great places for local dogs (and dog-owners).

7. Washington (and its suburb Alexandria, Va.) - Both areas feature plenty of pet-friendly restaurants and parks.

8. Portland, Ore. - The Lucky Labrador restaurant chain is famously pet-friendly. Pets are also invited to visit the Rose Gardens and Saturday outdoor market.

9. Charleston - Bring your pet along on a walking tour of historic Charleston, whether it’s a daytime stroll through Magnolia Plantation or a nighttime ghost tour of the city’s haunted haunts.

10. Ann Arbor - Pets are welcome to frolic in many of the city’s outdoor spaces, including the Nichols Arboretum, a large botanical garden at the University of Michigan.