Barnum and Betty

January 17.  And it's a big birthday - for Betty White!  Betty turns 95 today.  The Golden Girl actress and comedian has a long history in the entertainment field.  But what you may not know is that she is a big animal rights activist - and she loves dogs.  Betty is said to have turned down a role in a movie once because there was a scene where a dog was thrown down the garbage chute in an apartment building.  Even though it was a comedy, she didn't want people to get crazy ideas.  Over the years she has contributed lots of money and has volunteered with a variety of animal charities - including The Seeing Eye - the oldest guide dog school in the world.  Her list of accomplishments is long - she has certainly had a life well-lived - and we hope that she has a HUGE party when she hits 100!

And in other entertainment news - the 146 year old Barnum and Bailey Circus is folding the Big Top tent for the last time.  The entertainment icon saw declining attendance over the years - particularly after the circus had pressure from animal rights activists and it stopped featuring elephants.   My take on the circus?  It was a form of entertainment back in the day before the age of technology.  It gave people a glimpse of exotic animals that they would never have the opportunity to see in their home environments.  Dogs were actually seen in circuses dating back to the earliest days - in fact that's where the term "dog and pony show" originated.  So like everything in life, times change.  And the days of the traveling variety show have come to an end.  But not to worry - my human says that if anyone still wants to see a circus, all they have to do is come to our house...

Have a good one and Happy Birthday Betty!