The Barking Lot is a regular weekly feature of This Just In…Originally written by both my lovely wife, Jennifer and me, this blog brings you the latest news about our furry friends including articles, columns, photos and videos. Enjoy!

THE WEEKEND DOG-WALKING FORECAST: We grade the weather outlook for taking your pet outdoors.

TODAY:  Overcast. High of 27.  “D”

SUNDAY:  Mostly sunny. High of 22. “D”

Time now for DOGS IN THE NEWS, canines that made headlines the past week.

From my wife Jennifer in December 2012:

It just boggles my mind that every year the same sorts of “warnings” and “advice” must be shared with the public.  You know what I mean:  on days when it is 108 degrees in the shade you have some Barbie Doll bubble head news reporter telling you to make sure you drink enough water and try to stay out of the sun.  At Thanksgiving time there are always articles telling you to be incredibly cautious if you are going to attempt to deep-fry your turkey.  Then inevitably you hear about some yahoo who torched his house because he thought it would be a good idea to cook the bird that way in his garage and used way too much oil.

Here’s another bit of advice that comes out this time of year:  Don’t buy a dog for your kids for Christmas.  Seems logical, right?  But trust me, by the middle of January shelters all over the country will see a spike in surrenders because said puppy didn’t fit with the family’s lifestyle. 

Think about how hectic your Christmas week is… families to visit with, gifts to exchange, meals to make, baking to do, last-minute shopping, etc.  Do you really think that adding a rambunctious fur ball to the mix is a GOOD idea?  Everyone knows how puppies love to, and need to, chew.  So in addition to all the regular goodies that your new addition can ruin, there are all sorts of holiday-related items that can cause damage to your house and even worse, your pup.  Think ornaments and ornament hooks; toxic plants; wires from lights; and of course plants like poinsettias, holly, and mistletoe.

If your kids’ attention span is limited to the amount of time it takes to open the next present, how will they handle a 24/7 commitment like a dog?  Are you perhaps just trying to recreate some Rockwell-inspired “moment” when Billy and Susie discover a beribboned bundle of fur under their tree?  If your family is truly ready to make a commitment to a puppy there might be a better time of the year to do so. Think about these points before you decide. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

—Jennifer Fischer

Dog flu hits shelters across US.

How Much Loud Noise Can a Dog Tolerate?

Dog protects young girls for hours after getting lost in woods.

Dogs gifted by North’s Kim resettle in South Korean zoo.

The Army is investigating a number of social media posts that appear to show soldiers wearing dog-themed bondage masks in uniform.

Clever Dog Collects Hundreds of Plastic Bottles During Walks – to Recycle Litter and Clean His Town.

The airline apologized for the mixup.

U.K. Dog Daycare Recreates Nativity Scene with ‘Clever’ Canines: ‘We Practice Year-Round’

Dog experiences ‘pure joy’ while wrecking his owner’s Christmas tree.

VIDEO: Rizzo has been transformed. From Freeport, Illinois…

That’s it for this week. Thanks for stopping by.

We’d really appreciate it if you forward this on to other dog lovers you know. Let them have some fun!

See ya, BARK, next Saturday!