Imablog

Until recently, all of my experience with tripe has been through Nethack (tripe rations, “Blech, dog food!).
A few months ago, Whole Dog Journal had an article on feeding green tripe which I found quite intriguing. The article warns that green tripe pretty pungent stuff and feeding it probably isn’t for everybody, but that it can provide numerous health benefits for your dog.
While I was at Dolittle’s today, I saw they started carrying green beef and venison tripe from a company called Tripett. After mulling it over a bit, I decided to let the dogs try some of the beef tripe out, so I picked up a few cans.

Whew, the WDJ people weren’t kidding when they said green tripe smelled. This stuff was mighty odiferous. I suppose if I had to describe it, I would say it was a green poopy smell. It’s kind of like what you smell when you’re in a cow barn, but greener.
Each of the dogs got 1/3 of a can along with their regular food (California Natural Lamb and Rice). When I gave it to the dogs, they just dug right in. Even Nala, who normally questions anything new in her food dish, didn’t hesitate and gobbled everything down.
At 464 kcals/can for the green beef tripe, it’s pretty calorie rich. A can is almost an entire meal’s worth of calories for my dogs. Just something to take into account if green tripe is something you’re going to add to your dog’s diet.
I have two cans left, enough for two more meals for the three dogs. I doubt I’ll see any of the touted health benefits with just a day and a half of feeding, but at least now I know I wouldn’t have any problems feeding it to the dogs if I wanted to make it a regular component of their diet.

Earlier this year (amid some fuss from a few people that City Council didn’t have anything better to do), Charleston City Council saw fit to amend the city’s leash ordinances, which become effective March 1, 2009.

Significantly, the new ordinances remove the provision that allowed animals to run at large as long as they were under voice control. Now animals must be under physical control or leashed, with a maximum leash length of 16′ (~4.8m).

Further, the new ordinance gets more specific about where animals can and can’t be.

No person owning or having possession, charge, custody or control of any animal shal cause, permit or allow the animal to stray or in any manner to run at large in or upon any public street, sidewalk, athletic field, athletic facility, or park or upon the property of another, if such animal is not under a physical restraint or a leash so as to allow the animal to be controlled.

No animal of any kind shall be permitted on any tennis court, fenced recreation field, or athletic field at any time, even if such animal is physically restrained, leashed or otherwise controlled.

Fortunately, the city has opened up several areas as off-leash areas in addition to the three existing city operated dog parks (with possibly more dog parks to come).

• Ansonborough Field, Concord Street (All day)
• Brittlebank Park, Lockwood Blvd. (All day)
• Cannon Park, Calhoun Street (Restricted hours)
• Governors Park, Seven Farms Drive (All day)
• Hazel Parker Playground, East Bay Street (Restricted hours)
• The Horse Lot, Chisolm Street (All day)
• Johns Island Park, Rewes Lane (All day)
• Lenevar Playground, Lenevar Drive (All day)
• West Ashley Park, Mary Ader Avenue (All day)
• White Point Garden, Murray Blvd. (Restricted hours)

While in dog runs or off-leash areas, animals are required to remain under sufficient strict voice control, and handlers must abide by the rules posted at each site. Owners are reminded that they are required to clean up after their pets. During the first two weeks of March, the City’s Animal Control officers will be focused on educating off-leash area users. Afterwards, violators will be subject to fines for violations.

That means watch your dog, control your dog, and pick up after your dog.

I guess I’ll have to add these new spots to my dog park tour series now.