Springs’ Roscoe fast, not fastest

We hope you didn’t bet on the hometown favorite: Our city’s very own Roscoe failed in his bid to become the nation’s fastest Chihuahua.

Top honors in the 35-foot race in San Diego last weekend went to a New York dog.

Roscoe’s owner, Ken Bonitz, says his pup was the fastest out of the chute. But he got caught up in a “V” — hemmed in by two other dogs.

“Roscoe’s not aggressive, so he ended up in the middle of the pack,” says Bonitz.

“And it was miserable out there,” he added, noting that it was in the mid-90s with high humidity.

But Roscoe had a good time. He got to sniff out things at the city’s famed Balboa Park, and ate California cuisine at an outdoor patio restaurant (he had grilled chicken). Oh, and yes, he did get a souvenir. While he wasn’t allowed in Sea World, he did bring home a stuffed toy Shamu.

Bonitz says he plans to enter Roscoe in the contest again next year.

SHOPPING AT HOME

First there was the Fuller Brush man, the Avon Lady and the Pampered Chef.

Now there are pet advisers who do the same thing: demonstrate and sell products in the home and help set up parties.

Through Petlane Inc. you can either become a pet adviser (sales rep) yourself, or hold a party where advisers help you show a plethora of pet products to your guests.

To throw a Petlane party you invite all your pet-loving friends, provide some refreshments and show off some of the 250 vet-approved products in the company’s line. Under a host rewards program, you get free pet products, depending on how much is sold.

For more information, go to petlane.com or call 1-888-870-8324.

BOOKS WE LIKE

Who wouldn’t like to read the journal of a cat whose New Year’s resolutions include promises to promote peace between dogs, cats and mice; refrain from mauling the dog; and not be condescending to his humans?

For cat lovers of any age, “The Secret Diary of Adrian Cat”(DNA Press), is lots more fun than reading a tell-all about Britney. And besides, Adrian has his own romantic side. Take this entry about his heartthrob: “Modern etiquette dictates that the way to woo a lady-cat is to present her with a love token such as a decapitated mouse or a comatose robin.”

The authors got the idea from the popular book “The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole — age 13 3/4,” popular in the 1980s. We’ve seen “Adrian Cat” for sale at amazon.com for about $5. For more information, go to www.thesecretdiary

ofadriancat.com.

BOOKS WE LIKE, PART II

In the market for a service dog?

A new book, “Working Like Dogs: The Service Dog Guidebook,” by Marcie Davis and Melissa Bunnell (Alpine Publications, $24.95), is filled with useful information about the animals.

Davis, who has had two service dogs, and Bunnell tell people how to apply for the dogs and what to look for in one, and give tips on how to keep the dogs healthy and how to cope with their retirement or death.

The book also explains the differences among the various working dogs: service, hearing alert, seizure response and guide dogs.

The book is available through bookstores, or by calling 1-800-777-7257. It’s also available at workinglikedogs. com or alpinepub.com.