?

My dog was just diagnosed with abnormal pancreas readings after vomiting and diarrhea. He is doing better after a couple days on burger and rice and now I am interested in taking him off commercial dog food and treats and cooking for him at home.

Does anyone have experience with a similar problem and/or have a dog food cookbook or resource they recommend?

As the owner of Cavanese (a havanese, cavalier cross) and "grandma" to a labradoodle, who is a Labrador, standard poodle mix, I must say these are the two sweetest dogs I've ever been around.

I've owned purebreds for more than 50 years, including cocker spaniels, one of whom was a show dog and the grandson of a Westminster winner, bassett hounds and Dalmatians.

While I loved each with all my heart, none of them compare to these two dogs in disposition.

Both came from a kennel whose owner focuses on breeding crosses who are hypoallergenic dogs with great temperaments and who is as far from a puppy mill operator as you can get.

So why do some many people dislike "designer dogs"?

There are plants surrounding the patio so I'm hoping to find a mthod that won't hurt them

In Pennsylvania, the "puppy mill capital of the East," opponents of reform in the House of Representatives blocked a vote on bills that would have helped change the conditions these dogs live in. They introduced 100 frivolous amendments so that it couldn't be acted on before the summer recess.

What idea do people have on how we can pressure Pennsylvania to clean up this mess? I think maybe if tourism-related industries in Lancaster County, where the worst mills are, suffer economic pain, they will pressure their elected officials to act to end the suffering of dogs at Amish and Mennonite kennels.

For those who first learned about Dogphoria, nicknamed "Myspace for Dogs," on Yahoo, there is sad news, the site has closed down.

But former members are working on a new site and as soon as it is ready to go, information will be posted on Yahoo