If you have a good stable home and are considering getting a dog (or perhaps a second or third dog), now is a great time to find an abundance of dogs at rescue shelters. Apparently, our struggling economy and the increasing number of home foreclosures have left many dogs homeless.

As people are losing their homes and moving into rental apartments, many are also leaving their dogs behind.  Some leave their dogs due to the fact that pets are not allowed in their new living arrangements.  Others leave their dogs because they can no longer afford to take care of them. 

Regardless of the reason people leave dogs behind, it is a fact that pets are the newest and probably most unfortunate victims of the foreclosure crisis. Fortunately, the lucky ones make their way into the animal shelters.

Telling the difference between a good dog breeder and a bad one is very important, especially if you want to purchase a puppy that is healthy, happy and designed to live the maximum amount of years for its breed.

Most people who want to purchase a puppy don’t think much of going to a pet shop, or even just looking in the newspaper for people who might be selling puppies. While both of these options can work for someone wanting to buy a puppy, there are also problems that can occur with both.

Ultimately, the best choice for someone wanting to purchase a healthy, happy, puppy is to choose a good dog breeder who knows what they are doing.

My grandmother raised and bred Pomeranians for years and I've heard some real horror stories about wannabe dog breeders who didn't know what they were doing. This resulted in puppies that developed health problems later, or animals that were kept in such poor conditions that they never really got completely healthy because they had such a bad start to begin with.

Here are 3 questions to ask when you're visiting dog breeders...

You know it’s not healthy for people to eat too fast, and that’s also true for dogs. The same uncomfortable things can happen -- like gas, bloating, choking, even vomiting (nothing fun about that!). 

If your pooch is a gulper, the partitioned dog food bowl by DogPause might be the solution you’re looking for.

It's a fun way to get your dog to eat more slowly!

Litter boxes aren't just for kitties anymore...

If you have a new pup in the house and need a housebreaking helper, there are a number of products available these days that do a great job.

But if your going to be away at work, school, or play for many hours during the day, consider a litterbox made especially for dogs.

Subtitled: "Just Who Did We Buy Those Expensive Pillows For Anyway?"

We recently invested in a new set of down pillows for our master bedroom. Actually two sets of pillows -- one King size and one Standard size. And these are some super-duper pillows, too.

They're a premiere line of hotel-quality pillows from Hampton Inn. (And yes, they were expensive.)

The only thing is... sometimes I think our dog enjoys those pillows more than we do!

If you drive with your dog unrestrained in your car (which means the dog has the freedom to roam from your lap... to the back seat... front seat... and from window to window) and you live in California, then you may be breaking the law.

That is, if a bill sponsored by Bill Maze in the California state legislature passes. On May 5th, it passed in the California Assembly with a 44-11 vote. The bill now heads to the Senate. The earliest this new law could go into effect is January 1, 2009.

You have a potential major risk of an auto accident when you have a live pet that can be around in your face, in the steering wheel, down on the floor under your feet," Maze said Friday. "Pets have a mind of their own and are unpredictable." Source

I have to say, as much as I have been guilty of doing this in the past, I think driving with lapdogs should be outlawed... and in all states.