askollie
Ask Ollie
Ollie was born in Hattiesburg, Miss. In September 2005 he was rescued from Hurricane Katrina by a delegation from the Humane Society of Northwest Indiana …
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Be kind, consistent when teaching your dog
Dear Readers: “Stay,” published by Scholastic press, is a true story written by Michaela Muntean, is a charming book about a man who finds a way to adopt, love and raise 10 shelter dogs. Sometimes a dog shows up when a person needs one most …Read More
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Choosing a female or male dog
Dear Ollie: Thank you for answering my question last week on how to make the right decision for acquiring a pet. I am contacting local shelters right now and looking for the dog that will exercise with me. Now, I need to know which is …Read More
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Choosing the pet that’s right for you
Dear Ollie: I have read that whether finned, feathered or furry, pets are good for people’s health. They can lower blood pressure during times of stress and pet owners are more physically fit and tend to be less lonely or fearful than those without pets. …Read More
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Breeders, shelters best for pet purchase
Dear Ollie: Where do pet stores get their puppies? Sandy, Whiting Dear Sandy: Virtually all of the puppies sold in pet stores come from puppy mills. Last week I wrote that Los Angeles, Calif., passed an ordinance banning the retail sale of puppies. Los Angeles …
Dog’s place in bed a tough rule to follow
D ear Ollie: I heard about your advice column from my human grandmother who resides in Ogden Dunes. She calls me her grand-dog. I’m a state of Virginia boy and hope you can help me as I have an unusual problem with my human parents. …
This column is just for you, cats
Dear readers: I rarely write about cats because, quite frankly, I don’t like them. Alas, we live in an age of cats so I’m dedicating this column to them. Hopefully they can read. Hey Ollie: Please remind your readers to stop feeding the feral cats. …
Even pets can have New Year’s resolutions
Dear Ollie: It’s that time of year again when I break most of my New Year’s resolutions. I think about them all through Christmas and listen to humans talk about adopting new behaviors in 2013. It’s all about being a better dog companion and sending …
Research pet groups before donating
Dear Ollie: On the last day of 2011, my pet family made the traditional year end donations to about three of their favorite animal welfare charities. These charities received our money and sent back a letter of appreciation to my pet parents. All went well …
Dogs find way into Nativity scene
Dear Ollie: It’s the Christmas season and my family and I went to see a lighted Nativity scene staged by one of our local churches. I didn’t pay a whole lot of attention to the festivities because I couldn’t sniff the sweet smell of food …
Keep your pets safe this holiday season
Dear Readers: It’s Christmas-strutting time for “snarky” black and white shih tzus that have not been very good this year. Wait, that’s me. Oh my, I just love this jolly holiday season but, according to my human family, for all the wrong reasons. People leave …
Dog was protecting his bone with bite
Dear Ollie: The other day, my small dog was happily chewing on a bone. When I tried to take it, he growled and then when I finally did take it from him, he snapped and a small bite that drew blood landed on my hand. …
Personality of dogs as complex as humans
Dear Readers: “People behave the way they do for a reason.” Hmmm. Any human attending a life-skills training class will have their eyes opened and ears bent back by an enthusiastic trainer making that point again and again and again. Well, my woman-human and I …
What’s behind a name?
Hi Ollie: Is your real name Oliver? Were you named after Oliver Norvelle Hardy? The reason I am asking is because you show a good sense of humor and a quick wit in writing your column. I thought you may have gotten your comedic talent …
Best seat at Thanksgiving is under the table
D ear Ollie: Is it OK if I brag just a little? I’ve been doing quite a lot of wishing this past week. And, like a canine miracle, my wish was granted. Little “Sticky Fingers” is coming to my home for Thanksgiving dinner. “Sticky Fingers” …
Event helps break pit bull’s bad rap
D ear Ollie, Last Sunday, I was a four-legged walker at the Coast-to-Coast Bully Walk at Coffee Creek Watershed Conservancy Preserve in Chesterton. You probably know this was part of a national program to promote a positive image of pit bulls. I am a small …
Pet abandonment a significant issue
Dear Ollie, I have always wondered what really happens to dogs that are not adopted from shelters and cute puppies that never get sold in pet stores. Do you know? Tango, a mixed breed dog adopted from the Hobart Humane Society Dear Tango, Well, I …
Laddie finds a new, happier home
Dear Ollie: My name is Laddie and you wrote about me last week. You were looking for my owner, right? Well, I find myself in a great place right now. Two ladies adopted me from the Humane Society of Northwest Indiana. I am the only …
Looking for Laddie’s owner
Where are you, Dorothy Williams? Laddie, your little black and white pomeranian dog, would like to know. This poor baby was found by two men Thursday and brought to Lucky Stop, a convenience store on County Road 500W and U.S. 30 in Valparaiso. He was …
Consider a shelter dog
Dear readers: About this time of year, I can’t resist writing about humans who are dumber than the dumbest dog, which by the way is not the shih tzu. It’s common knowledge that acting on impulse or appearance is not the way to welcome a …
Nothing wrong with dogs who like to ‘kill’ toys
D ear Ollie: Hi, dude. My name is Dalilla Blue, my half-sister is Daisy May and we are purebred Boston bull terriers. I have a question for you. Why does Daisy May have to ruin everything? When she gets a toy she has to “kill” …
