Natasha Lyonne is NOT a dog-friendly Celeb

Ewww! That's all I have to say.

In the event you're seeking someone to dog-sit your pooch and you happen to know Natasha Lyonne, the once-hot star of American Pie and Slums of Beverly Hills, do NOT ask her to care for your dog.

And before I continue with this story, I am going to repeat: Ewww!

Natasha has a warrant out for her arrest after she failed to appear at a court date Friday. She is facing a number of charges, including her alleged threat to sexually molest her former neighbor's dog during a 2004 altercation. Yes, that's right--sexually molest a dog.

Okay, I have to ask: Where does an idea like that come from? I understand arguments happen, but when does someone actually think, "I am so pissed off that I am going to assault this person's dog in a sexual manner"?

The poor girl is reportedly combating an addiction to heroine and has been under the care of a doctor for a variety of issues. Let's hope Natasha gets her act together and stays away from pets for a while.

Read more on E Online!

More of Jake Gyllenhaal and his dogs

Jake Gyllenhaal sure loves his dogs. Not a week passes without some new photos hitting the Internet of Jake hanging with his puppies. Talented, handsome, and a dog lover--it may be that Jake is, in fact, the perfect man.

Visit A Socialite's Life for more pix.

Jessica Biel and her dog

Hollywood Tuna has some delightful shots of Jessica Biel with her pooch. Check them out!

Tara Reid gives cash to a... panhandling dog?!?

I have no idea what's going on here, but the photos on Dlisted would appear to be of Taradise host Tara Reid giving a $20 bill to a dog. Are things getting so tough in Hollywood that even the dogs are panhandling now?

If you have any idea what's going on in these photos, please let us know!

See more on Dlisted.com.

Jake Gyllenhaal and Sophia Bush bond over dog

Sophia Bush, star of One Tree Hill, and the suddenly-very-hot Jake Gyllenhaal, were seen flirting. Normally, this wouldn't interest me, except dogs were present--and we all know that flirting is FAR more successful when done in the presence of dogs!

See more photos on Egotastic.

Celebrity Dog Blog has photos

Check out the Celebrity Dog Blog for recent photos of stars with their pooches, including Hilary Duff, Gwen Stefani, Rachel Bilson & Adam Brody.

O'Hurley is "Dancing With the... Dogs"?!?

According to the New York Daily News, John O'Hurley, of ABC's hit "Dancing With the Stars," might be tired of dancing with attractive women in revealing outfits. Instead, he wants to dance with his dogs.

Animal behavior expert Bash Dibra has known John from the professional show-dog circuit, and John has asked Bash if he could train his dog how to dance. "He said, 'It'd be great if you could teach my dog to dance with me.'"

The articles doesn't say if Bash agreed to take on the challenge, but perhaps we should watch for John and his pooches, Scoschi and Betty, to show on ABC one of these days. Which one will wear the nylons and sequins?

Read more here.

Edie Falco gets sh!t from passerby (and dog)

I generally don't feel sorry for celebs who complain about the constant attention that comes with all that fame and fortune. If being under the microscope 24/7 gets to be too much, they're welcome to take a job in an office somewhere and slave away in anonymity for 60 hours a week, trying to make ends meet and pay the mortgage. I figure a week or two of that and the fans and paparazzi won't seem so bad.

Then again, there are times you just want to be left alone--and picking up dog doody is one of those times! Sopranos star Edie Falco was cleaning up after her dog when a passerby yelled, "Hey Carmela, I heard you didn't take sh!t from nobody!"

This tidbit comes from Gabsmash.

Senator Kennedy's dog to author a book

What does Senator Kennedy's pooch think about global warming, the War in Iraq, and domestic spying? I doubt we'll ever know, but we will find out what it's like to be the dog of a famous senator when Ted Kennedy's new book is released in May.

The veteran Massachusetts senator, has agreed to create a children's book to give the nation's students a peek at life behind the scenes in Washington, D.C.

How much behind the scenes do you think the book will go? Accepting checks from lobbyists? Backroom deals for pork barrel spending? Now THAT would make an interesting book, but instead I'm sure it will show the dog making his way through the offices of selfless public servants toiling to keep the nation free--sort of like "West Wing" meets "Clifford the Big Red Dog."

Don't get me wrong--I'm not criticizing. If writing a book from a pet's point of view is good enough for Gloria Estefan and Shirley MacLaine, then Ted is certainly welcome to take his best shot. "Reading is a lifelong adventure," said Senator Kennedy. "I hope that this book will spark an interest in young people to learn more about their government and to explore the joy of books."

Read more about the politician's dog's upcoming book on CNN or SignOnSanDiego.com.

"Stay" flabbergasts Sundance audiences with unique pet love

At first I wasn't going to share this since I am not sure the subject of this post--the movie "Stay," which was just screened to Sundance audiences--is really the kind of flick that reflects what you and I might think of when we use the term "pet lover." It's a film about the love shared between a woman and her dog... a special kind of love.

Reuters says the movie is full of "deliriously unprintable moments" and that "local standards will be 'offended.'" So, "Stay" sounded like something I could ignore.

But as I read the Reuter's review, I found the reviewer wasn't dismissing the film as just another crude, shocking indie film. The review notes, "'Stay' is a rather sweet and conventional love story" and a "surprisingly warm romantic comedy."

The crudity isn't surprising coming from filmmaker Bob Goldthwait (formerly know as "Bobcat"), but it sounds as if there's more to Bob and this film than Farrelly Brothers-type gross outs and cheap laughs. Heaven only knows when this odd little film will make it to your cineplex, if ever, but if you're not easily offended, perhaps it will be worth checking out.

Read the Reuter's review here. Or check out more from Sundace on the Indie Wire.

Jude Law walks away from Sienna and instead walks with dogs

Jude Law and Sienna Miller are so boring. Who knew such beautiful people could be so completely boring? They're dating, he cheated, she left, they're together, they're apart, they're together, they're apart--I'm glad we only report on their pets and not them, because those celeb bloggers have got to be darn tired of the two of them.

(And how come they don't have a cute name like Bennifer or Vaughniston? How about Slaw? Or, better year, Sie-saw?)

So, anyway, Jude and Sienna are on the outs, but at least Jude still has his pooches to keep him company. Socialite's Life has more photos of Jude and his puppies, and they all look darn cute (if a bit distraught and lonely.) Here's hoping Jude gets his names out of the rags and his face back into movies--we loved him in Sky Captain, Ripley and the vastly underrated AI!

Shannon Elizabeth, Kelly Osbourne and dogs do Sundance

Here is a shot of Kelly Osbourne and Shannon Elizabeth hanging out with the puppies at a party for Cesar's dog spa in Park City, Utah.

To see more pix from Sundance, visit Yahoo Photos.

Image: AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian

Loyal dogs to meet Ellen DeGeneres

You may have heard or read the news story a couple weeks ago: An Indiana man named Bill Burns decided to take a walk. Burns suffers from diabetes and well into his walk, he collapsed in a cornfield. There, he probably would've died except for his two dogs, Dusty and Butch. Butch held a flashlight in his mouth, which attracted attention from a sheriff, and Dusty kept her master warm by laying on him.

Now, Burns and these amazing dogs are heading to Hollywood to be the guests of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Well, one of the dogs is going to California, anyway--Dusty is a bit old for the trip, so she'll be staying home; but Burns and Butch left this weekend to fly to LA. The show will be taped on Monday and should be broadcast on Tuesday, so watch your local listings.

Burns remembers little of the night he collapsed, but he definitely recalls coming home from the hospital. Butch was happy to see him and wagged his tail and barked when Burns arrived home; but Dusty had another reaction: she walked up to him, sat down, put her head in his lap, and cried.

Read more on Reporter-Times.com.

Image: Keith Rhoades

Emmylou Harris, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton want your pooch safe & warm

Emmylou Harris, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton are all helping to bring attention to the plight of chained dogs through new PETA public service announcements. For "Unchain a Dog" Month, Emmylou hosted a news conference in Nashville where the three singers' spots were screened to encourage people to allow their pets inside, where they are safest and happiest, rather than keeping them chained outside, longing for warmth and companionship.

In Emmylou's commercial she declares, "I'm a proud member of some great organizations. One is the Grand Ole Opry. Another is PETA." And Dolly and Loretta donated some of their hit songs to the effort.

I certainly hope no one reading this blog needs a reminder that dogs belong inside when the weather turns cold (and cats belong inside all the time!)

For more information, visit http://www.helpinganimals.com.

Adrien Brody longs for chihuahua, not Naomi Watts

I think this is the sweetest little news item, but it makes me think King Kong star Adrien Brody needs his head examined (or his eyes). The Daily Record reports that Adrien dug deep when looking for inspiration for the scenes when he searches for Naomi--his feelings for his pet chihuahua.

Now, I might think that Naomi herself was inspiration enough. (Have you seen Kong, or Mulholland Drive, for that matter?!?) Instead, in the scenes where Adrien must find Naomi after she's abducted by the big ape, he thought of the times he searched for Ceelo, his pooch.

"I've had scenarios where Ceelo has disappeared on me, run away, what have you. It's the most frightening, frustrating thing because he's so small."

Read more about Adrien, Ceelo, and Kong on DailyRecord.co.uk. And if you haven't seen Kong, by all means do so--you want to see this on the big screen! (Kong may not be anyone's idea of a great pet, but I couldn't help thinking of the relationships between pets and their humans when watching the scenes between Naomi and the digital-but-frighteningly-realistic ape.)

Isaac Mizrahi's dog loves Marcia Cross

Isaac Mizrahi needs to learn some manners. Did you hear about Isaac's odd and offensive behavior as E!'s interviewer at the Golden Globes? He may be a pet owner, but I suspect his pooch has more class than he does!

He told the lovely Marcia Cross, "You know who loves redheads? - My dog." While I applaud his pet's taste, the comment is simply insulting. (Isaac, you owe the loveliest and classiest of Desperate Housewives an apology!)

He also fondled Scarlett Johansson's breasts, felt up Teri Hatcher's cleavage, and asked Sarah Jessica Parker, "How much of your hair is real?"

I'm appalled! Or maybe I'm jealous! Or both! Either way, E! should put a leash on Isaac before the next awards show (or send him packing back to Target to design another pair of pants.)

Read more on Ananova.com.

''PawPurrAzzi'' in Miami--Tomorrow night

If you're in the Miami area and looking for something to do Thursday night, go hang out with local celebs and their dogs. A ''PawPurrAzzi'' event starts at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Village of Merrick Park in Coral Gables.

Some of South Florida's most prominent personalities will share their celeb status with their pets when portraits of their best friends will be displayed gallery-style and auctioned off as part of a fundraiser to benefit the Humane Society of Greater Miami and Adopt-A-Pet.

And believe me, these are some pet-loving celebrities! Former Apprentice hopeful Katrina Campins cut her vacations short because she couldn't bear to leave her two American bulldogs, Sake and Jax. Artist Romero Britto's gray and white cat, Squeaki, takes afternoon naps atop her owner's 2003 yellow Ferrari.

Other pets included in the portraits belong to the Miami Dolphins' Jason Taylor, singer Barry Gibb, The South Beach Diet author Dr. Arthur Agatston, shoe designer Donald J. Pliner, Olympic silver medalist Lauryn Williams and talk show host Cristina Saralegui, among others.

Read more about it on Miami.com.

Model arrives to cocktail party with poorly trained animal. And she brought a puppy.

Model Beth Ostrosky, a supporter of the North Shore Animal League, recently arrived at a cocktail party with a scruffy, ill-mannered animal--her date, Howard Stern. She also had a cute and cuddly pooch with her.

The cocktail party was for the North Shore Animal League, and Beth is the spokesperson for the non-profit organization which finds homes for over 20,000 homeless cats and dogs a year.

She also posed for their 2006 calendar, and I can think of worse ways to support a good cause then to purchase a calendar full of cute Beth and cut pets. You can purchase the calendar here. All proceeds from the calendar will go to the Hurricane Gulf Coast Animal Rescue Fund.

As for the party, there are no reports that Howard caused any problems, but perhaps that was because Beth kept him on a short leash.

You can see more images of Howard and Beth on the Yahoo News site.

Dog meets World Cup finalists

Do you consider world famous skiers to be celebs? Hope so, because here's a quick news bit about winning skiers and the dog they met at the finish line.

I always thought if you finished in the top three at a World Cup event, they gave you a medal or cup or something. Apparently if you do really well, you get a dog!

I'm sure Kjetil Andre Aamodt of Norway and Benjamin Raich of Austria got nice medals for their winning times at the Alpine Skiing World Cup. These two skiers also got something extra--their picture taken with a fan's dog! Aamodt took second in the Combined Slalom and Raich won the the men's Alpine Skiing Super-Combined World Cup event. Both took the time to have their photo taken with a fan's dog.

It's nice to see the pooches 0ut supporting their favorite Olympic hopefuls!

Image: AP Photo/Keystone/Alessandro della Valle

DMX and dog, Gotti, announce new album

Suppose you were in jail for two months--what's the first thing you'd do when you got out? Play with your dog, of course!

It sounds like rapper DMX (or as his mother knows him, Earl Simmons) may have had other things on his mind after being released from a 70-day sentence for violating his parole. Released December 30th, he quickly signed a three-album deal with Sony after dropping longtime label Def Jam. (Guess they didn't come to visit him in the slammer.)

But DMX wouldn't announce his new record deal and upcoming CD without his best friend, Gotti. On Friday, DMX made the big announcement of his label change, and Gotti was right there with him (as you can see).

Read more about DMX's upcoming CD, "Here We Go Again," on ABCNews.com.

Fatboy Slim urges Sir Paul's dog to leave his vegetarian ways

Recording star Fatboy Slim wants Sir Paul McCartney's dog to go off his veggie diet and enjoy a nice piece of steak.

Okay, that's not really true, but it does sound like a juicy gossip headline for the Enquirer, don't you think?

The fact is that Fatboy Slim did accidentally feed meat to Sir Paul's pooch, and he feels terrible about it. Turns out Norman (his real name, which isn't nearly as cool as Fatboy) is accustomed to leaving bits of leftover meat on a beach near his home for the foxes. But Paul lives nearby, and his pooch seized the opportunity to enjoy some tasty meat.

Said Norman, "I had a birthday barbecue last year and threw all the old meat out and his dog went and finished the lot. I felt really bad."

Read more about Norman and Paul on Virgin.net.

Paul Parducci saves dog from shelter

You probably don't know the name Paul Parducci, but his face is familiar. Paul's appeared on shows like Bones, Cold Case, Will & Grace, NYPD Blue, and some show I think I've heard a little about, Desperate Housewives.

He may not be nominated for this year's Golden Globes, but we think he's worthy of an award for saving a dog from a shelter. Paul maintains a blog at http://paulparducci.blogspot.com/, and he's posted about his new Pug/Chihuahua that his son named Shadow. Seems Shadow's prior owner left him languishing in a county facility until Paul and his family saved him.

And just like you and me, Paul's found his new canine is changing his life for the better. He posted, "My new dog Shadow is a brilliant and happy canine----I really love this dog."

Here's hoping Paul much success and Shadow much love in his new home.

Tony La Russa's ARF

St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa loves animals, so we're going to root for the Cards this year.

During a 1990 baseball game between the Oakland A's and the Yankees, a stray cat wandered onto the playing field. Tony, then the Manager of the A's, captured the feline and after the game tried to place it with a local shelter. To his dismay, Tony discovered there was not a single No-Kill facility in the East Bay region of San Fran and that the cat would be euthanized. So, he and his wife, Elaine, named the cat "Evie" and found a home for her.

But that didn't end Tony's efforts. His experience with this cat was the genesis for the founding of Rescue Foundation (ARF), a No-Kill organization dedicated to bringing people and animals together to enrich each other's lives.

Pop star Peter Cetera and actor Kevin Pollak recently joined Tony at a star-studded event to raise money for ARF, which has grown to 1,800 pet adoptions a year. By the end of the evening, ARF had raised $200,000 to benefit the care and shelter of homeless animals.

Read more about the celebrity pet event on InsideBayArea.com. Find out more about ARF at http://www.arf.net/. And if you'd like to donate the pet organization that Tony founded, click here.

Nicolas Cage's, Denise Richards', and Oprah's dogs have issues

Isn't there such a thing as "trainer/puppy privilege"? Is it appropriate for a dog trainer to solve the problems of star pooches and then blab about it?

Cesar Millan, star of National Geographic Channel's "The Dog Whisperer," talked to the media and dished on the problems of star pets. The name-dropping Millan mentioned Nicolas Cage, Denise Richards, and Oprah, saying their pets "all have issues."

Of course, he doesn't think much of the training we humans have, either. "We are the only species that follows unstable pack leaders around the world." (Sounds more catty than dog-like!)

Read more about Cesar and his whispers on seattlepi.com.

Don't piddle on Matthew Broderick's star!

Matthew Broderick's got a star, and he'd appreciate it if you'd make sure your dog behaves while standing near it. He and Nathan Lane received their Hollywood Walk of Fame stars recently, and Matthew got a laugh by saying, "Please remember to curb your dogs when you are walking in this area."

Broderick has won two Tonys and starred in one of the greatest films of all time--1986's "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." So happy was Matthew with his star that he led all in attendance to a rousing chorus of "Danke Shein!" (Not really, but it woulda been fun, don't you think?)

See pix from the star ceremony on DailyCeleb.com. Or read more about it on Cleveland.com.

Michael Jackson sued by animal caretaker

Michael Jackson better get a new pair of pajama bottoms, because it sounds like he's heading back to court.

No stranger to the inside of a courtroom, Michael is being sued this time for not paying the vet who helped care for his private zoo at Neverland Ranch. The suit, filed December 27th in Santa Maria, California on behalf of Dr. Martin Dinnes, alleges Michael owes $91,602 for care of an assortment of animals, including giraffes, elephants, flamingos and orangutans.

Dinnes is an expert in zoo and aquatic medicine and surgery and has been the chief veterinarian for Michael's ranch for the past 15 years. The animal doctor, who still provides care for Jacko's pets, is seeking to recoup all unpaid bills.

Michael has flown the coop and no longer resides at Neverland Ranch or anywhere in the country, for that matter. He now resides in the Middle East country of Bahrain where he hopes to get some relief from the unflattering attention that has dogged him in the US.

Read more about Michael, his animals, and his troubles on EOnline.com.

Halle saves two dogs (well, really just one)

Halle Berry was photographed saving two dogs. The first dog was running through traffic, and we'll give Halle a shout out for quickly stopping her Range Rover and saving the Pomeranian puppy. She then found the pet's human companion nearby, making sure the pooch got home safe and sound.

And then a second puppy needed saving, and who you gonna call? Catwoman! Another dog was found in some nearby bushes, and she also saved that puppy. Now, bushes aren't normally known for being especially dangerous, but if the dog was unleashed and likely to get into greater trouble, Halle the hero might've saved two dogs in one day.

The neighborhood was quite impressed with Halle's willingness to pitch in. Said one neighbor, "Halle was brilliant. The owner was so relieved and just couldn't thank her enough."

You can read more about Halle's heroics on the Mirror Web site. Or, visit JustJared.com for some pix of Halle in action.

Hero dog for sale in Taiwan

There are no typical "celebrities" in this news item, except that the dog at the center of the story has become a celeb in Taiwan and around the world in the past week.

You've probably heard the story of the hero dog who saved a newborn infant by pulling the baby out of a toilet and licking him clean so he could breath. The baby was born to an unemployed single mother who was living in a charity-run dormitory. The mother gave birth in a toilet but then fainted, and her baby would've died if not for the heroic pooch.

The mother cannot afford to keep the pet, so he is being offered for sale--and hundreds of Taiwanese are vying to become his new human companion.

The story ends on a sad note, however--the mother cannot afford to keep her child either, so the charity that runs the home is offering both dog and baby for adoption, and "sadly, there are more people interested in adopting the dog than the baby," according to a representative. Here's hoping all concerned end up living happily every after.

For more information, read more on the Herald Sun site.

Oprah needs better neighbors!

Oprah Winfrey needs better neighbors. Condos are great, but living with the rules and dealing with petty gripes can be a problem, as Oprah is discovering.
Oprah's neighbours in Chicago are causing a fuss because they fear her dogs will cause a problem in their condo building. The dogs AREN'T causing a problem, but her neighbors are griping because they MIGHT. (I've got a few choice words for neighbors like that, and if Oprah wants me to take care of this issue for her, I'd be more than happy to have a "discussion" with her fellow condo dwellers.)

Winfrey has spent more than a few bucks connecting separate condo units at one of Chicago's most exclusive condo complexes, and some of her neighbors are upset that Oprah is bending the one-pet-per-unit policy.

But the building manager is coming to Oprah's defense: "There is a one-pet-per-unit policy, but Oprah owns four units. She is never here with more than two dogs, and she is as quiet as a mouse. If any of the residents have any questions, they can come and ask me what the rules are."

Seems to me Oprah's condo complex needs a few more dogs and few less grumpy humans!

Read more on ContactMusic.com.

Jake Gyllenhaal heads to park with two pups

Jake Gyllenhaal is my kind of actor--handsome, talented, unafraid to take risks... and he loves dogs. He's so perfect that there must be some deep dark secret, like maybe he starred in a bad action/disaster flick where he played the world's oldest high school student who is too lazy to walk through a snowstorm so his aging but still cute father must brave untold life-threatening risks over a 100-mile trek to save him. Nah, Jake would never make a career choice like that!

But I digress. The amazingly talented Jake was recently seen taking his dogs to a dog park, and of course, his dogs are perfect just like him. His German shepherd, Atticus, is rugged and handsome just like Jake. And his puggle, Boo Radley, is cute and adorable just like Jake.

For numerous cute pictures of Jake, Atticus, and Boo, visit JustJared.com.

NASCAR's Greg Biffle prefers flying to driving with his dog

NASCAR driver Greg Biffle could've driven seven hours to get his dog to the vet appointment, but why do that when you can fly instead. (Of course, if those darn state troopers would only let him drive his usual on-track speed, he could cut that time by more than half!)

Greg brought his dog to N.C. State at the suggestion of fellow NASCAR driver Ryan Newman after local vets couldn't figure out why one of his boxers, Gracie, had been sitting strangely and hobbling a bit after chasing Greg on his four-wheeler.

Rather than make the drive, Greg "summoned his helicopter." The trip was apparently the first time an animal had been flown to the school for a routine exam. Alas, the news reports don't indicate if the N.C. State vets could diagnose and resolve Gracie's problem. We certainly hope so!

Read more about Greg and Gracie on the Miami Herald Web site.

Leona Helmsley's "fierce and vicious" Maltese

Okay, I know Leona Helmsley has a rep for being fierce and vicious, but is her cute, little Maltese that way, as well?

A former housekeeper said that she was working in Helmsley's 46th-floor apartment overlooking Central Park South when Trouble struck. (That's "Trouble" with a capital "T"--Leona's dog is named Trouble.) The maid claimed she "was viciously attacked and bitten about her right hand" by the 6-year-old Maltese and suffered "severe and serious personal injuries."

A judge has thrown out a lawsuit filed against Leona by the housekeeper, but the ruling doesn't clear Trouble's reputation. The suit was rejected because Leona's employee, "was injured while doing her job and therefore was entitled only to the benefits she had collected under the Workers' Compensation Law."

Then again, maybe it isn't the dog's fault at all; instead, Leona's late husband, real-estate tycoon Harry Helmsley, is to blame! Why? It is said that Leona believes her late husband communicates to her through the pooch.

Said one associate, "She didn't use the term 'channeling,' but she gave me the clear impression that Harry was speaking through the dog."

In addition to not liking the housekeeper, the late Mr. Helmsley is said to have told Trouble to tell Leona that the he doesn't like the public mausoleum that's been built next to his private crypt at Woodlawn Cemetery.

You can read more the lawsuit against Trouble and Leona on Newsday.com. And click here to read the New York Daily News article about how Harry communicates from the beyond.

Jake Gyllenhaal and James Gandolfini riding the Puggle trend

They're not new--they've been around for about five years--but Puggles are taking the world (and Hollywood) by storm. Their popularity continues to rise, and the American Hybrid Canine Association notes that puggles are the most popular type of dog among the 500 litters a month the group registers. The dogs were selling for about $450 in April, and now it's common to see them listed for more than $1,000.

The breed is also popular among celebs, with Jake Gyllenhaal and James Gandolfini among the stars who've adopted the dog. Jake, in particular, has been heard raving about his new pooch to friends and family.

Read more about Puggles on the Sun-Sentinel.com. Or, learn more about the breed on DogBreedInfo.com.

Image: DogBreedInfo.com

Barney and Miss Beazley demand respect!

I love dogs as much as the next person--in fact, I am sure I love dogs MUCH more than the next person--but you still have to wonder what a Marine thinks as he stands at attention for a couple pooches.

This photo was taken on New Years Day. Barney, President Bush's dog, and Miss Beazley, first lady Laura Bush's dog, are seen strolling away from the Marine One helicopter at the White House.

You can see this and other photos of President and Mrs. Bush at http://news.yahoo.com/photos/sm/events/pl/051302laurabush/p:2.

Image: REUTERS/Mannie Garcia

Dog Whisperer whispering to L.A Lakers?

Okay, I really have no idea what is going on this picture, but I ran across this Reuters shot of 'Dog Whisperer' Cesar Millan meeting with Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson on December 20, 2005. I could find no mention of why this odd meeting occurred nor any news items to explain this.

Is Cesar going to improve the Lakers' performance by whispering to the players? Perhaps a team mascot isn't behaving well? Who knows! If you can explain this, please let us know!

For the record, Cesar's television show 'The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan' launches prime time on the National Geographic Channel on January 6, 2006.

Image: REUTERS/Max Morse/File

Lassie signs up for Frequent Flyer miles

Who knew pets could get Frequent Flyer miles? Well, maybe you did, but I didn't... until today!

Virgin Atlantic's "Flying Paws" program has already drawn almost 1,000 animals--596 dogs and 402 cats. Included on the list are celeb animals such as Lassie (or, as he is known at home, Carter).

Sir Richard Branson has said, "Having pets of my own I know how important it is for our passengers to feel that their pets are well looked after when travelling. This reward scheme is unlike any other and will set a precedent amongst the four legged frequent flyers; after all it is a pawtastic club to belong to!" (Okay, I'll bet 1,000 Frequent Flyer miles that Sir Richard has never in his life uttered the word "pawtastic"--it sounds much more like it came from the pen of an anonymous PR person toiling away in the bowels of some enormous Virgin corporate HQ building.)

Owners receive gifts for their pet, such as a name tag or dog-sized T-shirt. And the more they fly, the better the rewards; how do pet pedicures and Prada clothing sound? Or, after a certain number of flights, your pet can be generous and donate 1,000 miles to you.

Read more about the Flying Paws program on the Telegraph site. Or, visit the Virgin Atlantic site to register your own pet.

Washington's "First Dog" raising funds for Katrina's pet victims

Living in the Washington governor's mansion isn't going to Franz's head--he's making the most of this celebrity limelight to advance his own "pet causes."

Franz is the pet of Gov. Christine Gregoire. In Franz's first year as "First Dog," he's hit the road for public appearances at school assemblies and parades and has launched his own Web page. And now, there's a first dog wine label. Proceeds from the privately selected Washington Merlot, bottled by St. Hilaire Cellars in the Yakima area, are going to help pets impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

If you'd like to read more about how this feisty Pomeranian--who was once the runt of a litter---has become a Washington celeb, click here for an article on The Olympian Web site.

Matthew McConaughey & Penelope Cruz walk their dog

Earlier today we posted a link to a blog who made fun of Kelly Osbourne for looking like her pooch, and in this link Dlisted takes the opportunity to dis Penelope Cruz's attire while she was out walking her dog with the casual yet studly Matthew McConaughey.

Granted, Penelope's flashy ensemble is a bit mismatched for Matthew's torn jeans, but just look at how cute the puppy is--maybe she was just trying to ensure people would notice her instead of focusing on the adorable puppy.

Click here to see more shots of the Penelope and Matthew walking their dog. (Link warning--Dlisted uses some language that has the potential to offend some.)

Hilary Duff strolls with her pooch

Okay, we're pretty sure this is Lola, a Fox Terrier/Chihuahua mix, and not a "micro deer" as Gabsmash calls the pet, but Gabsmash has a couple photos of Hilary Duff grabbing a soda while out on the town with her dog. Click here for more photos of Hilary and her pooch.

Kelly Osbourne travels with her dog

Hollywood Rag has some shots of Kelly Osbourne arriving at LAX along with her pooch. They make some uncomplimentary comments about the way Kelly and her dog look alike. While we'll admit it's not the best we've seen Kelly look, we just think it's sweet she travels with her pet. Click here for more photos on the Hollywood Rag.