Woody showed his team spirit for the Cleveland Cavaliers last night as the outlasted the Brooklyn Nets 98-94. I'm thinking he's going to need to wear this for every Cavs game.

If you are a dog parent, by now you have probably heard about the mysterious illness that has plagued thousands of dogs who have eaten jerky treats manufactured in China. While this epidemic is just now starting to gain widespread attention on national TV news, the problem has been occurring for at least the last six years. No one really knows for sure why or how these types of treats were even allowed on shelves, but, like what we see with contaminated people food, it's quite upsetting to find out that these things have made their way into our every day lives.

While the number of dog deaths (around 600 total) and illness (more than 3,600) went on the decline around January 2013 after two of the biggest offenders (Waggin' Train and Canyon Creek Ranch, both of which I used to give my dog) were permanently recalled, there are still many brands that may still be in your pantry shelves. I have been searching high and low for a complete list of the brands that have been deemed hazardous, and the closest I've come is this image below. The image cites the wrong FDA website URL and may not be 100-percent accurate, seeing as the FDA still hasn't released an official list of brands, but it's all I have right now and it's better than nothing.

Obviously I'm not a veterinarian, but in addition to avoiding specific brands, I've been suggesting my pet owner friends refrain from purchasing any dog treats that were not manufactured in the U.S., regardless of the contents. When it comes to training, I purchase Pet Botanics. They are relatively priced and because they are soft, I usually break them in half to get more use out of them. These treats can be purchased at most major pet store retailers, such as PetSmart. For other types of chews, treats and food, I shop at PetPeople, which offers more natural options that tend to be a bit pricier, but much higher in quality. PetPeople is a relatively small chain located in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis, and soon-to-be in suburban Detroit. If you don't have a PetPeople, just look for a local pet store that sells more natural food and treat options, specifically those made in the U.S.

Other things you can do for your dog?

• Feed him or her treats in moderation. Too many treats can make your dog sick in the same way you could get sick from eating too much Halloween candy.
• Read labels on everything and understand what really goes into dog treats and food.
• If your dog has recently eaten a made-in-China brand, make sure you monitor him or her for any changes in behavior or activity level. Also, make sure you contact your vet to make sure they are aware of the situation. They may want to run tests or provide any preventative treatment as an added precaution.

If you have any questions, comments or insight about this issue, please comment below. I'd love to hear other perspectives!

About a week and a half ago, Woody had a follow-up appointment for his skin allergies and I decided to videotape his disdain, as I do with pretty much everything that upsets him.

First of all, it's not. At least not in my world in Cleveland, OH. The parks I go to are still open, minus the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (but let's be honest, I rarely made the trek down there) and doggie daycare is still available while I travel during this busy October. My government issue moreso had to do with the city not doing its doggy duty - literally. Below is the tragic scene in the park outside my apartment last Wednesday:

Typically, this would be stocked with unused bags and the used ones wouldn't be spilling out into the environment. At first I was worried that this was a result of the federal government shutdown, thanks to some comments by a neighbor who is not a native to the U.S. This man's child was playing in the grass, so after Woody did his business, I apologized for not cleaning up and said that normally I don't have to worry about bringing my own bags across the street. His response: "Is this because your government is not open?"

Nice.

Fortunately, my first-world situation was resolved by Friday morning, a little later than normal, but nothing dire. Hopefully our federal government can get its act together by this Friday. All of the s*** that's been piling up on Capitol Hill is really starting to stink.