Staff Newspaper Columns

Ken White’s Column

Not the “Dog Catcher”

One need not be a partisan or a pundit to know that our political environment has become fully toxic, and while this one small issue might be a silly bone to pick in light of all we’re going through I just can’t let it go without comment. I am fed up hearing, from all...

read more

Urban Doves vs. Sky Rats

I grew up in 1950s-60s Brooklyn, long before the place became trendy. I also grew up with a mother who felt cleanliness was two notches above godliness, which meant no pets (along with raking the shag rug, and clear plastic covers over the upholstered furniture)....

read more

Halloween

While absolutely a fan of his poetry, I don’t necessarily accept T.S. Eliot’s prediction, “This is the way the world ends, Not with a bang but a whimper.” If it is going to end, I suspect the globe is more likely to spin off its axis as an unfortunate side effect of...

read more

We’re Monsters

From what I see, many of today’s Halloween costumes remain true to a theme familiar to those of us who haven’t gone trick-or-treating in half a century or more: the part human, part animal creature, whether monster or hero. For example, the half man, half wolf Wolfman...

read more

What A Face!

I bet you’ve experienced this yourself. It’s been a long and especially hard day, you’re feeling all kinds of emotions, and that includes feeling all alone. You look over at your dog or cat, and things start to shift. Your cat does it with her eyes, the way she...

read more

A Dumb Topic

Having written weekly columns for decades, this is the first time I have chosen a dumb topic. (Readers, however, may think quite a few others also qualify.) With Halloween coming, I’m reminded how often I’ve talked about this holiday’s real risks to our pets (from...

read more

Very Old Dog Teaches New Tricks

Although we’re certainly not always kind to them, people’s feelings about dogs can be considered a long-time love affair. But when did that begin…? We now have evidence of a first date going back further than previously estimated for here in North America. Scientists...

read more

Bees, Bats and Bombs

Back a few weeks to my Labor Day column, I mentioned bees used to detect explosives. As promised to a doubting reader, this is my further explanation of what seemed to her a highly suspect reference. Quoting here from no less a source than the December 7, 2006 issue...

read more

Learned At The Puppy’s Knee

Lola, the world’s most perfect puppy (my column, my rules), is celebrating her first birthday. Well, we’re calling this her first birthday since, as with almost every shelter graduate, the day of her actual birth – along with other early details – is only a guess. But...

read more

The Name Game

Here’s a question I often get asked: “What’s the relationship between Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA and American SPCA (ASPCA), Humane Society of U.S. (HSUS), and other national-sounding groups?” The question often comes as those organizations send mail asking...

read more

Labor Day

There are several theories about the history of Labor Day but none I’ve found pay any attention to the other than human animals used in labor, and that seems an oversight. The history of animals used in labor is frankly neither humane nor pleasant (and although...

read more

Quite the Dickens

A century ago, Maria Dickin set the goal of helping London’s animals. While even today we remain dissatisfied with the quality of life offered most animals, we know that current conditions are far better than those of the early 1900s. Dickin described an epiphany...

read more

The Original Tesla

At times it seems that we are a species possessed of apparently tiny memory as well as very little interest in the past. Here’s a case in point. Say the word “Tesla”, especially here in the Bay Area, and you’ll soon find yourself in a conversation about innovation and...

read more

Living With Animals: Fish Tales

Following last week’s story of my first pet, Spot, did you know that fish are the most popular pets in America? 14.5 million households have tanks containing 160 million finny friends. The highly profitable aquarium industry ($300 million/year) creates much animal...

read more

Living With Animals: Spot

Outside of work, I’ve lived with literally hundreds of animals, but all of that since leaving home at age 16. I spent childhood begging, unsuccessfully, for a pet. Rather than a pet-less childhood, however, it’s more accurate to say there were no pet-able pets. There...

read more

Critter Corner

Door dashing dog

Dear Critter Corner:  We just adopted a new pup and need some advice on teaching him not to dart out the front door anytime it’s opened.  We live on a busy street and he has gotten out once and it was very scary!  Please help! I am so glad to hear that your pup is...

read more

Crate training your cat

Dear Critter Corner: I recently adopted a bonded pair of 2-year-old cats, and plan on taking them to the vet for their annual checkup. Any tips on how to train them to be comfortable in their crates? Crate training cats can be a fun and rewarding experience for both...

read more

Teaching puppy to come when called

Dear Critter Corner: We just got a new puppy and want to start working on getting them to come to us when called.  Can you give us some pointers? This is the perfect time to start training since when our pups are very young, they tend to follow us everywhere.  Take...

read more

Helping cats adjust to a move

Dear Critter Corner: I’m planning a major move across the country with two senior cats and it’s kind of daunting. To add to that we’re downsizing from a one-bedroom apartment to a studio, help! Any kind of move, whether down the street, to another city, or across the...

read more

Crate training

Dear Critter Corner: We have been having a hard time with crate training our new puppy.  Are there any tips or tricks you can give us to help with the process? Crates can be a valuable tool when it comes to house training and your puppy!  Here are a few tips on making...

read more

Rough playing cat

Dear Critter Corner: I have a feisty young tabby cat that wants to pounce and tackle me all day. It has started going after my ankles and it hurts! What can I do to stop this behavior? Rough play is common in young cats and a normal behavior. Luckily, it is an easy...

read more

Is a husky the right dog for you?

Dear Critter Corner: I love the way Huskies look fluffy and wolfish. I have been considering adopting one for a while but want to learn more about them. Is there anything I should know before adopting one? Siberian and Alaskan Huskies are the most famous part of the...

read more