Karen Black is (Not) Scary for Animals

You've seen in her House of 1000 Corpses. You screamed with her in Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering. You shuttered with her in Burnt Offerings. And you hid your eyes from Zapped Again! (not because it was scary, but because it was just too bad too watch.) Yes, we're talking about actress Karen Black, who turns out not to be that scary after all, especially when it comes to caring about animals.

In a new PETA ad released just in time for Halloween, Karen reclines against a tombstone bearing the inscription “I Wouldn’t Be Caught Dead in Fur.” You can see the ad, listen to Karen speak more about her disdain for fur, and download an enormous print-ready version of the ad at http://www.furisdead.com/feat-KarenBlack.asp?int=peta_newsfeed.

Maria Menounos & Christina Milian loves "Small Dogs in Big Ways"

Some Hollywood event occured that celebrated "Small Dogs in Big Ways." Unfortunately, we cannot find out a thing about the event, other than that lovely young celebs were in attendance. Here are shots of Maria Menounos & Christina Milian from Hollywood Tuna and Popbytes.

INXS' J.D. Fortune Wants You to Switch to Vegetarianism

If you're a fan of Rock Star: INXS, you know J.D. Fortune. He totally rocked the house and won a ticket to join the band INXS in 2005.

Now, the rock star wants you to kick the meat habit. In his new public service announcement (PSA) for PETA, longtime vegetarian J.D. sings the praises of animals, encouraging people to "Love 'Em, Don't Eat 'Em."

J.D. says, "Being part of a band takes a lot of energy. That's one reason I became a vegetarian. I feel better physically, I've got a lot more energy, and I feel better emotionally, knowing that I'm not contributing to the suffering of animals worldwide."

If you care to learn more, see the PSA, or want to enter to score a signed T-Shirt, visit GoVeg.com.

The Anti-Dog Whisperer

Here's a guy who isn't famous for training dogs (a la Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan), but he should be! Dr. Ian Dunbar wrote six books on dog training that set the standard all of us probably use with our own pups--yet he's living in happy anonymity in the Bay Area.

And, as you might expect, he takes dog training very serious: "Without training, the life of a puppy is predictable: chewing, soiling the house, digging up the garden, followed by a trip to the shelter where, if it's lucky, it gets another try. Without training, that dog will be dead in less than a year."

Dunbar also has some tempered criticism for the Dog Whisperer, and when a guy with this kind of experience speaks, it's worth listening; Dunbar has a veterinary degree and Special Honors in physiology and biochemistry from the Royal Veterinary College of London University and a doctorate in animal behavior from the psychology department of UC Berkeley!

Mr. Whisperer (a/k/a Cesar Millan) is beginning to fall out of favor with the nation's trainers. Millan subscribes loosely to the idea of the pack, a dogs-as-wolves theory that had long ago fallen out of favor with many trainers. "He has nice dog skills, but from a scientific point of view, what he says is, well ... different," says Dunbar. "Heaven forbid if anyone else tries his methods, because a lot of what he does is not without danger."

If you care to read more about Dunbar and his approach to dog training, check out the very informative article on SFGate.com.

Be Hilary Duff & Lola

Pretty soon, you can be Hilary Duff or her dog Lola. No, we're not talking about some nirvana-like state of celebrity self achievement--we're talking video games!

On October 17, Electronic Arts will release The Sims 2™ Pets video game, featuring Duff and her pet Chihuahua, Lola. Players can step into the shoes of one of Hollywood’s hottest young stars: They interact with Lola and Hilary as they can with any other pet or Sim.

“I’ve logged hundreds of hours playing The Sims games, so I jumped at the chance to be in The Sims 2 Pets,” said Sims aficionado Hilary. (Actually, we seriously doubt she said that. Probably some PR person said that, but let's act as if Hilary actually cared enough to say those words!)

“Although she’s trying not to let it go to her head, Lola is very excited to make her cameo in The Sims 2 Pets next month!” also said the PR person impersonating Hilary.

Some day, we must find a PR person who speaks for us, thus lifting that heavy burden of having to inhale, exhale, and string sentences together.

If you want to experience your own virtual Hilary and Lola, watch for the game to be released for Sony PlayStation2, the Nintendo GameCube, and as a PC expansion pack to the original PC game, The Sims 2. A Nintendo DS version of the game will follow in November.

Learn more on Playfuls.com.

Jorge Garcia protects his tiny pooch from The Others

Oh my gosh--the wait is over! Tomorrow begins the new season of LOST! We cannot wait to see what happens to Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Sayid, Michael, Walt, and the rest of the Lost crew.

One thing you won't see on lost is Jorge Garcia's tiny pooch. But while Hurley won't be showing off his dog on the show, you can see Jorge's real-live dog right here on our blog!

The actor was spotted with his pint-sized pooch on Saturday strolling near his home in Honolulu, Hawaii. His pup was dressed to the nines, sporting a pink jacket and matching leash!

You can read more on TMZ.com.