Adopt a Pet, Don't Buy!

Puppies are so adorable, cute, and cuddly. But lets face it, sooner or later all puppies grow up and turn into full-sized dogs. By adopting a grown, homeless dog, we'll surely miss out on a few months of soft puppy fur but we'll also skip the first year or two of razor-sharp teeth, shredded shoes, and pee-soaked floors. Hmm. Sounds like a pretty good trade off to me.

The Wag’s boys, Redd, Lincoln, and Claude are all rescues with different stories:

Redd was given up twice to the MCSPCA and we found each other when he was a wild two-year old who never learned how to walk on a leash. He stuck his nose through the chain-link cage and I broke the rules and stuck my fingers right back in to scratch his fuzzy cheek. He grumbled and fell asleep. Redd came to live with me the next day and has since become a huge people-lover, squirrel chaser, and perfect gentleman on his leash.

Lincoln is a bit of a different story. He was bred by an amateur just to make some cash. Stuck in a crate all day and night with his brother, he only ate what was leftover since he was the little guy. They pooped and peed where they slept and ate. When his breeder was evicted from his apartment, they had nowhere to live. We intervened and took him in, then found his brother a home the week before his bed would be ready at the shelter. Lincoln was scrawny fella with a monstrous head, protruding ribs, and skin issues from malnourishment. He’s a lovable beast of a dog who hates leashes, ate his own poop for the first six months, snores like an old sailor, and we wouldn’t want him any other way!

Claude, Link and Redd’s adopted cousin, is apparently the world's most perfect dog who knows all commands, never misbehaves, and has been a pleasure to his family since his adoption at two years old. He aims to please. A real brown-noser. A perfect foil to Link. Everything Link is, well, Claude is quite the opposite. From what I hear, Claude is so good that if has a bit of a queasy stomach, he holds it and waits at the door patiently to be let out onto the grass. Whatever, Claude. Butt-kisser. Link prefers just open his mouth to spew and get it all over with the moment it hits him. Good for you Claude, you really are a good boy!

Who knows where these dogs would have ended up and I sleep well at night knowing they’re safe and snoring with full chubby bellies after a day of chasing tennis balls and barking their heads off at the neighbors. These guys are the happiest they can be.

The point is, have a little patience. The perfect adoptable dog is out there -- there's even quite a few puppies. Take the time to visit a few shelters to find your best friend. You never know who you might find!

Weekly Wag Announces 1st Ever "Headlining Hound" Winner

The results are in!

Congratulations Sammy! You are crowned Weekly Wag's 1st Ever Headlining Hound!

After a long night of bickering, barking, and ballot recounting -- and no Milkbone breaks -- the Wag's staff finally came to a unanimous decision to crown our hound.

From homeless to Headlining Hound, Sammy the wire-haired terrier proved that with perserverance, anything is possible. His family dumped him alone in the country to fend for himself. He lived on stolen birdseed and grass until his new forever family found him and gave him a home.

Now our champion is full-bellied and famous. He spends his days napping, digging in the mud and goofing around with his two doggie siblings. What a life, Sammy!

We're anxiously waiting to hear a few words from Sammy himself about how he's dealing with his new fame and celebrity status. Hopefully he'll comment to the Weekly Wag soon!

The Weekly Wag staff wants to thank Bella, Sarge, Henley, Lola, Riley, Clyde, Zuzu, Bo, Hunter, and all the other contestants (and their people!) for submitting fabulous photos. We wish we didn't have to pick just one!

Best Summer Vacation Ever!

Hey Mom! What are we doin' today? Mom?
Mom, what are we doin'? Mom? Mooommmmm?
MomMomMomMomMom. Mom?
But Claude wont answer his phone, its rainy, and
Redd's old. Come on Mom! This is the worst summer ever.

Whaddya want from me, kid?!

Lemme alone. Git outta here.

I'm sleepin'.

Whoa... wait a minute. What's this?

Oh my god. A stick.

Holy smokes!

Give it to me!

Oooooooo maple.

Oh man, Mom! This is the best summer ever,

but you need a better camera!

Meet the Staff

Weekly Wag’s Daily News team is a highly esteemed group of brilliant colleagues collaborating to bring you our spin on what matters today. Here they are!



Lincoln is a 21-month old American Bulldog who, despite recovering from two recent elbow surgeries, is still a menacing beast at the front the door. The homeless guy came to us temporarily a little over a year ago. And everyone who knows dog talk knows that ‘temporarily’ means forever. The malnourished bag o’ bones had a head the size of Texas balanced on a skinny little polka-dotted body. But he’s all fattened up now and trying to figure himself out.


Lincoln is still finding himself and will ask lots of questions. He’s struggling with growing up, holding up his big head, and not plowing over guests like a bowling ball at the front door.



Redd, the Doberman-Hound mix is an older gent with a long list of impressive credentials. The Monmouth County SPCA alumni had already been given up twice by the age of two, has only one hip -- with a mean scar to prove it, and can snatch a flying bird with his teeth right out of the air.


Redd is more of the Charles Bukowski of the staff. He’s sneaky and not always truthful, but frank at the same time. He tells it how you don’t want to hear it. He's cuddler and lover with a poet’s heart and a seasoned old man’s mind.



Claude is a bit of different breed. He is elegant. Sophisticated. He is handsome and young and lives a posh life with two older women – two cats from the Popcorn Park Zoo. Unlike Redd and Lincoln, he has manners and class and wouldn’t dare rip apart a garbage can, or pee on the new rug, or eat my computer wires while I was writing for a deadline. No, not well-mannered Claude.

Claude will appeal to the more refined readers. He’ll discuss literature, food, wine, and the good life.

Stay tuned!

Welcome to the Weekly Wag

Welcome to the Weekly Wag! This is a place to catch up on current events, health and nutrition, books, movies, and everything else worth writing, reading, and talking about.

And oh yeah… dogs. There will be lots of dog talk (all pet talk welcome!). Training tips, food, breeds, mutts, shelters… you name it and you’ll find it here. We like to talk about anything and everything -- and we will -- but our faithful buddies hold a special place in our lives that nothing else can match. So dog lovers, get ready to brag about your pups!

Each week, a new topic will be introduced (not all canine contrived) and explored by our staff at the Wag. We welcome all of your comments, emails, and suggestions. Like us? Hate us? Tell us! Pet photos welcome!