Tails on Ellen show!

Tails interviewed famed comedienne Ellen DeGeneres for our November issue cover story (read the interview here). Ellen loves animals, so Tails was thrilled to get a chance to talk to her for our magazine. But even more exciting was this Friday, when we got a surprise mention on her show! Of course, it goes without saying, we’ll take Tails over Playboy any day!

Watch a clip from the show below (skip forward about 8 minutes to see Tails).

And there’s more! Ellen autographs her copy of Tails and leaves it in George Clooney’s office.

Update on the vice presidential puppy front

Vice President-elect Joe Biden has not only beaten Barack Obama to the puppy punch, but says he is planning on adding another dog to his family once he moves into his new home next month. The newest member of the Biden clan will come from a shelter, according to Biden in an interview aired Dec. 21 on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos. Biden purchased a 6-week-old German Shepherd from a Chester County breeder on Dec. 6, igniting considerable controversy among shelter and rescue advocates.

Biden confessed his partiality for German Shepherds, saying “I’ve had German Shepherds since I was a kid, and I’ve actually trained them and shown them in the past. So I wanted a German Shepherd.” The Bidens plan to adopt a Golden Retriever as a companion for the German Shepherd, who has yet to be named.

Volunteers with Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue as well as Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States, have voiced their enthusiasm for Biden’s latest decision on the puppy front. The vice president-elect has not mentioned whether he has identified a particular shelter. He will, however, have to undergo the same rigorous vetting process as any other potential pet guardian before an adoption can take place.

Meow meow, ruff ruff

After doing a quick Google and Youtube search, it appears a lot of people out there believe their pets can talk. There’s the dog who said “I want ice cream” I once saw on TV, and Odie the talking pug, who has his own website and has made various media appearances.

Maybe your pet can’t clearly say “I love you” like Odie, but according to a recent AP poll, 67 percent of pet guardians believe they can understand their pets’ woofs, meows, squeaks, or other sounds. On the other hand, 62 percent of pet parents believe their pets understand them.

I know my dog understands certain words like “Go outside” and “Car ride” by the way he enthusiastically dances in circles when he hears them, but other times I think our conversations go a lot like this Far Side cartoon:

Winter Weather: Fun or Frightful?

Snow Fun by flickr user pchorsedoc

Tails HQ was blanketed snow last night. Naturally, we saw several enthusiastic pups pouncing on the fresh powder this morning on our way to work. We also saw some canines who looked rather dubious of the winter mix.

So, we want to know how your pet spends his time during winter? Does he love snow or stick by the fire? Take our poll below!

Pet Pic of the Day

“Kimberbath” by flickr user dwellerblue

Want your pet’s mug to be our pic of the day? Join our flickr photo group and upload your images.

You can take the girl out of the chicken coop …

Home-grown eggs are no longer just for the pastoral set. Thanks to the urban chicken movement, city dwellers are getting a taste of life on the farm. Yes, you read that right: urban chicken movement, and it means just what you think it does. Just visit BackyardChickens.com or UrbanChickens.net if you don’t believe me.

Poultry on the patio may be downright trendy these days. And, yes, it’s legal in most major cities, including Chicago. Slaughtering chickens is prohibited within the city, however, so don’t plan on feasting on your favorite feathered friends. And with the price of chicken wire, a coop, and feeders costing around $500, selling eggs isn’t likely to yield a profit. This is a hobby of the city-caged heart—and the ornithologically hip.      

Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do…

I’m pretty sure when you sign up to be a police officer, Emu chasing doesn’t land at the top of the job duties list. But Gilbert, Arizona’s finest recently took break from catching criminals in order to do just that. And, there’s footage: The uncut video can be seen here and a slideshow of images here.

Biden puppy update

A few days ago we posted about Biden purchasing a puppy from what we hoped was a reputable breeder.

According to an article on Philly.com, the owner of the kennel in Chester County where he purchased the puppy was issued citations by the state Department of Agriculture.

According to the inspection report, Linda Brown, owner of Wolf Den kennel, was cited for “failing to provide records for dogs purchased or sold and failing to produce complete rabies vaccination records for her adult dogs.”

Dog wardens also issued warnings for maintenance and sanitation and will conduct a follow-up inspection.

Just another reason to ADOPT instead of shop!

Sixth annual Reindog parade

Here at Tails, we’re suckers for animals—especially animals dressed up in cute costumes! That’s why editors Lauren and Renee were honored to be costume contest judges at the Chicago Botanical Garden’s annual Reindog parade Dec. 6.

You can check out hundreds of great photos on the Garden’s website here.

Or take a look at this video compilation:

Endangered Species Act endangered

The Bush administration may be wallowing in the midst of undeniable lame duckness, but its recklessness is still alive and well. To borrow a term used frequently in the recent presidential campaign, Bush seems nothing less than “hell-bent” on stripping the Endangered Species Act of much of its muscle.

Yesterday, Dec. 11, President Bush announced a new series of regulations allowing industry to subvert many of the act’s guidelines, further endangering species ostensibly protected under the act. The regulations include exempting greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants and oil and gas drilling. Tens of thousands of logging, mining, road-building, and development projects are also being exempted from Endangered Species Act review, allowing the agencies proposing the expanded logging and mining to conduct their own reviews. Additionally, federal regulators would be barred from enforcing the protection of the recently declared endangered polar bears and Florida corals.

The Center for Biological Diversity filed suit against the administration within minutes of the announcement. Together with the Defenders of Wildlife and Greenpeace, the center is pleading that the court declare the new regulations illegal with due haste.