When Janet Haering isn't working weekends as an Oakland County mounted deputy on Paint Creek Trail, she can be found volunteering  at the North Oakland Animal Help, or helping with the Sweet Heifer Project, two of the nonprofit organizations that she helped create. And, if Haering isn't found helping the community on horseback or caring for her cows, she operates Art Concepts, an art gallery and custom frame shop she owns. Keeping Up With Janet Initially, I went to interview Haering for a story based on the North Oakland Animal Help organization, also known as NOAH.  NOAH is a new pet …

A couple of weeks ago, I headed into downtown Rochester to run a couple errands. As I drove, I started to think about Panda, the gorgeous black-and-white cat who was abandoned at Bark Place Avenue. Panda quickly took to the store and became the unofficial front desk clerk. I met Panda when I was doing another pet story, and I immediately fell in love with her. She became my favorite cat in the whole wide world (sorry, Rascal – it's true).   I can't have cats at home because of some serious cat allergies in the family, and I was craving a cat "fix," so I decided to stop in Bark Place to pet …

Two months ago, George Ash went on a mission.  He and his daughter, Lori Sheffield, own Skeins on Main, a yarn shop in downtown Rochester. They were looking to find a charitable organization to sponsor for the store's annual "Jenna's Retreat." Jenna is the late wife of Ash and mother of Sheffield.  She was 57 when she died suddenly 2 1/2 years ago. In her honor, Skeins on Main created Jenna's Retreat, a five-hour knitting event that combines classes with a gourmet brunch, champagne and door prizes donated by the store's vendors. This year, the retreat will be held March 21, which was Jenna's …

I cannot resist a good book, and I truly cannot resist a big, fuzzy dog that feels like a teddy bear. That's what motivates me to travel to the Rochester Hills Public Library on Wednesdays:  I can find both! Lucy is a 130-pound Newfoundland working dog that appears at the library Wednesday evenings for the Paws for Reading program. Lucy trades off weeks with her sister, Annabelle. Their handler, Liz Buckheister, joins them and invites children to sit and read to or cuddle with the dogs.  Lucy is 7; Annabelle is 6. They are both adorable and cuddly, and they love the children reading to them. …

Ah, finally: a heat wave.   Well, sort of. As the temperature crept up into the mid-20s this week, I thought I could finally take my puppy, Star Trek, outside to play without getting frostbite on my fingers. (Star Trek likes to play “fetch” with my gloves instead of with his own toys, thus leaving my fingers exposed.) As we played, I watched Star race through the snowy, icy yard. I wondered whether he was getting cold. I saw his poor little paws, digging into the snow and ice. And then I watched as he slipped and slid. I figured that if he was cold, he would stop playing and want to go inside…

Here is a familiar scene. It starts way before Christmas with a child, a wish and a few semireluctant parents. "Please, Mom ... ppppllleeaaase. Can I get a puppy for Christmas?” “No.” “Dad, Dad, can I PLEASE get a puppy for Christmas?" “No ... go ask your mother.” “Mom, please, please, please, can I get a puppy for Christmas? I really, really want one.” "No. Ask Santa” “Mom, guess what? I asked Santa if I could have a puppy for Christmas, and I promised him that if I got a puppy this year, I will take care of it. I promised I will feed it. I will give it a bath ... I will love it. I will pet …

How much is that doggie in the window?  If you have to ask, you simply cannot afford it — especially if it's one of the more famous furry associates that belong to business owners around Rochester.  On a recent shopping adventure I ran into cats, dogs and one smart bird who have taken up shop around town. Here's who I met: Panda the poofy cat Amazingly, Panda found her permanent home at Bark Place Avenue after someone dropped her off for grooming and never came back. (I simply could not believe that someone would leave a cat as gorgeous and friendly as Panda.) Panda places herself  …

This will be Star Trek's first Christmas. Star Trek is an Australian shepherd puppy — a normal, chewing-grabbing-jumping puppy who generally wreaks havoc the second I turn around. In fact, I recently caught him standing inside the fireplace and "cleaning it out" by eating the ashes. Yuck! From previous pet experience, I know that some decorations, such as tinsel or garland, can be very harmful to pets if ingested. Cats and dogs love the shiny strands of tinsel and likely will try to paw at them, chew them up and swallow them. But once ingested, tinsel can get wrapped in the intestines and …

Why did the wild turkey cross the road?  Well, he doesn't really remember. That's because the size of a turkey's brain is quite small in proportion to his rather large body. In fact, a "Tom" can get up to 4 feet in length from head to tail. And, contrary to popular belief, these wild birds can fly! After spotting a wild turkey standing at the corner of Adams and Avon roads, I decided to do some research about these big birds. Actually, a few weeks ago, while I was being prepped for some minor surgery, I was having a great discussion with my doctor of anesthesiology, Matthew Van Vleck. We …