Rolling Through the Shutdown

img-X07103029-0001, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

While Democrats and Republicans battle through the government shutdown, a tiny progressive Westie finds some positive news in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine."

Runners Have Nerves of 'Steel'

Steel Tower Hill Toon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

Mount Gilead, AKA Steel Tower Hill, is one of the challenges for cross country runners in the Lynn Woods (MA) Reservation. One runner passes up the chance to take in the view from the top in this week's cartoon.

View From the Goat Path

Goat Path Toon 7-18-2013, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

Each week, cross country runners make their way through the hilly, windy trails of the Lynn Woods Reservation in Lynn, MA. Sometimes these trails include the craggy Goat Path. While I have never seen an actual goat on the path, who knows whether they're around ... or what they're thinking?

Four Arms Better Than Two?

Martian Trail Run 7-18-2013, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

This week, "Capitol Hill Canine" takes another look into the future, when runners with four arms and cybernetic iPod ears win first place in the latest Olympus Mons Trail Run over a Martian terrier, a robot, an alien blob and a humanoid.

Red Planet Trail Run

Mars Trail Run, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

In the future, once NASA or Richard Branson finds a way to travel to Mars, will the human pastime of trail running find fertile soil on the Red Planet? Find out in a futuristic episode of "Capitol Hill Canine"!
Note: "Demos" in the last panel should have been spelled "Deimos," referring to one of the moons of Mars. D'oh!

Boston Loves Its Bruins, Hates Its Bears

Bruins-Bear Cartoon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

Given that "Bruins" are pretty popular in Massachusetts right now, the state Environmental Police should have shown more restraint when confronting a black bear in a tree recently.
Quincy the Boston terrier reflects on this sad situation in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine."

Terrier: Murray's gone, don't forget Western Mass!

By: Daisy

This past weekend, my human companions went to Western Massachusetts for a college graduation at Amherst. And because they booked a pet-friendly hotel, I got to go along!
We stayed at a La Quinta in Springfield, on the sixth floor, which is reserved for pets and their human friends. Maybe I barked a little too loudly in the lobby, but the staff didn't seem to mind. I was just trying to show my excitement at going on a trip "out West." It reminded me of my days with the kind folks of Westie Rescue in Palmer.
Western Mass. is on my mind for another reason. To me, the pet-friendly hotel is a sign of progress in the region ... a sign of the bold, forward-thinking philosophies that will get the state, and the nation, through this difficult economy.
Yet I feel the region is at a critical crossroads, especially now that Lieutenant Gov. Tim Murray has resigned as the second-in-command to Gov. Deval Patrick.

Canine Companion Reflects on Marathon

Boston Marathon Reax, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

Quincy the Boston terrier shares his thoughts on how the Boston Marathon tragedy has affected him and his human running partner, in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine."

Terriers' Tribute to Marathon Victims

Marathon Tribute, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

One reaction to the horrific Boston Marathon bombings two weeks ago was to bring running shoes to the finish line area and leave them as memorials. Sam the Boston terrier and Daisy the Westie bring their own running shoes in this episode of "Capitol Hill Canine."

Terrier: Punish pit bulls ... or their owners?

By: Daisy

As I was wrapping up my walk with my human friend Rich in Cambridge, Mass., the other day, we saw a neighbor, whose political suggestion for the day was, "Say no to measures banning pit bulls!"
While I was unable to contribute to the debate that followed, I thought Rich advocated my position very well, which is that some pit bulls are dangerous enough that they might require being banned.
Case in point: A few weeks ago, I was out with Rich on the North Cambridge bike path when we saw a pit bull with its owner ... or rather, without its owner. The dog had slipped out of his owner's grasp and fixed its eyes on me. In seconds, it caught up to me as Rich was trying to lift me up to safety. Luckily, it seemed all bark and no bite, as a trip to the Porter Square vet confirmed that it had not made contact with me. Rich did some barking himself at the owner when she caught up to her dog and, thankfully, led it away.
I have not seen either the dog or its owner since then, but this incident has made me more aware of the dangers of pit bulls ... or, to be fair, of the dangers of irresponsible people who own pit bulls.

The Perils of Pilgrim

Pilgrim cartoon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

"Capitol Hill Canine" has added a local commentator this year, Sam the Boston terrier. Here, he voices alarm at the power outage at the Pilgrim nuclear power plant in Quincy, Mass.

Terrier Takes a Knee

Westie Vet Visit, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

It's been a while since Daisy the Westie last shared her thoughts on the political scene. That's because a medical emergency sent her to the local vet. She reflects on a tough stretch in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine." Thank goodness she, like millions of Americans, has health insurance!

McConnell: Economy Will Take a Bath

McConnell-Pet Shampoo, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader in the Senate, is blaming the government for spending tax money on dog and cat shampoo and a $325,000 robotic squirrel, while at the same time trying to end the Bush tax cuts. Yet a Westie puts him in his place, in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine"!

Terrier: Election lessons, digested

By: Daisy

Like my lunch of microwaved chicken and rice, I feel that I have digested the historic results of Election Day sufficiently enough to share my canine perspective.
One month ago, the drama of the past year reached its climax, with voters lining up at the polls and viewers staying up long into the night, tracking the election results as intently as I track squirrels on the bike path. What lessons can we take from how Americans voted?

Barack ... Back for Seconds

Thanksgiving 2012 Cartoon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

President Obama has returned for a second term and on the eve of Thanksgiving, his plate is full with pressing issues. Read more, and hear what a Westie has to say, in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine"!
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Terrier: Pawprints on Election Day

By: Daisy

This morning, as I watched my human friend Laura walk across Massachusetts Avenue in North Cambridge to vote on Election Day, I began wailing from the back seat of our Toyota Corolla. And while my other human friend, Rich, patiently waited behind the wheel for Laura to return, I couldn't stop crying.
You see, I wanted to be in that polling place, too, casting my vote in the elections I've blogged about for almost 10 months. Yet until some forward-thinking human introduces a Constitutional amendment that would extend the franchise to dogs, the only way to make my Westie voice heard is by blogging. So here are my thoughts on the final day of Campaign 2012.

Mitt: Eye on Storm, Foot in Mouth

Sandy-Squirrels Cartoon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

There goes Mitt Romney, doing something inappropriate again. This time his campaign wants to tour areas damaged by Hurricane Sandy for political capital. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (who refused him), President Obama and a Westie set a better, bipartisan example in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine."

Loosey-Goosey Foreign Policy

Canada-Mexico Toon, a photo by rbtenorio on Flickr.

If you look at the transcript of Monday's presidential debate on foreign policy, two countries were noticeably absent from the discussion: Canada and Mexico, which happen to be the US' only next-door neighbors. Where's the love? That's what a Canada goose and a Chihuahua ask Barack and Mitt in the latest episode of "Capitol Hill Canine."

Terrier: Romney squirrels away support

By: Daisy

Normally, when I see a photo of a squirrel, I start thinking of dinner. But one particular squirrel has made me wonder if he is out to lunch.
The squirrel in question is named Gnocchi. He is a South Carolina gray squirrel who lives in the city of Summerville. And about one week ago, he made a prediction that made me lose my lunch: That Mitt Romney would win the presidential campaign over Barack Obama.
"His owner Serena Ash set up two bowls of walnuts, each with a picture of the presidential contender," the Summerville Patch reported. "Whichever bowl he ate the most nuts out of was the winner."
This left me thinking about two things. First, how come my human companions Rich and Laura never leave me two bowls side-by-side? And second, I suspect this test was far from impartial ... that certain squirrel-like qualities of Mitt made him Gnocchi's pick from the beginning.

Cats & Dogs: Did Obama do well in debate?

(Welcome to the first installment of Cats & Dogs, an ongoing political debate between Daisy the dog and Pancho the cat.)

By: Daisy and Pancho

DAISY: Good afternoon, everyone! Today my good friend Pancho and I are discussing the performance of Democratic President Obama in his first debate with GOP challenger Mitt Romney in Denver last Wednesday. Pancho, am I the only one who thinks the president did a good job?

PANCHO: Yes, you are! Mitt came out swinging his sword like Puss in Boots, and Obama had no counterstroke. My fellow felines know that to win a catfight, you need to get your swipes in. I don't understand why Obama didn't dig out the claws about Mitt's many weak points: his dismissal of the "47 percent" who don't pay taxes, his own reluctance to pay taxes ...

DAISY: And what I consider the cardinal sin: His driving with his dog atop the family station wagon on a cross-country trip back in the early 1980s. But where you see this as too much Mr. Nice Guy, I see it as taking the high road. And isn't this a good thing? Haven't we had enough of negative campaigning?