Wondering how much a pet will cost you? Check out this infographic on the annual cost of pets:

Annual Cost of Pets infographic

The humans have spoken.

We have a new token.

And, it's a cat.

Online votes ousted the iron and replaced it with a kitty for  Monopoly.

Now we're talking.

Next time you play the game, stop by my hotel on Park Place.

And bring your cash.

Later, P.

It has been pretty cold in Northeast Ohio, and us humans aren't the only ones dealing with the frigid air. Check out these tips for taking care of dogs in cold weather from Heidi Ganahl, CEO and founder of Camp Bow Wow:

1) Never let your dog off the leash in snow or ice. Although it may seem like a fun option to let your pup frolic in the snow, it can prove to be extremely dangerous. Dogs tend to lose their sense of smell in extremely cold weather and become lost. Believe it or not, winter has the highest rates for lost dogs!

2) Thoroughly wipe down your dog when he comes back into the house after being in the snow. It is common for dogs to ingest salts for melting ice as well as anti-freeze, which can prove to be very toxic.

3) Similar to how you should never leave your dog in the car during the summer, the same goes for the winter; a car can act almost like a freezer in the winter, trapping heat outside and causing your pet to freeze to death.

4) Fresh water is a must at all times, as your dog may be more likely to lick ice and eat snow if he/she is thirsty from lack of water. Similar to the above point, it is common for dogs to ingest snow-melting-salts and antifreeze.

This story came over the Associated Press wire services under the category ODD

Stewie, the world's longest domestic cat

Check it out:
RENO, Nev. (AP) — Stewie the Cat, the longest domestic cat in the world at more than 4 feet long from nose to tail, has died.

Stewie was surrounded by family when he succumbed to a yearlong battle with cancer Monday evening at his Reno home, owner Robin Hendrickson said Tuesday. He was 8.

Guinness World Records declared Stewie the record-holder in August 2010, measuring 48.5 inches from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail.

Hundreds of fans flooded Stewie’s Facebook site with memories and condolences Tuesday. The Maine Coon cat was a certified therapy animal that frequently visited a Reno senior center and helped promote animal welfare awareness with the Nevada Humane Society.

“Stewie was always very social and loved meeting new people,” Hendrickson said. “He has touched many lives, and for that I am grateful.”

Stewie’s full name was Mymains Stewart Gilligan. Hendrickson bought him from a breeder in Hermiston, Oregon, in 2005. Last month, he attended the International Cat Show in Portland, Oregon.
“He did really well at the show, even though he wasn’t feeling totally perfect,” said Stewie’s breeder, Valerie Horton, who also serves as the show’s entry clerk. “He loved being there because he loved the public. He always did.”

Horton said Maine Coons are the largest domestic breed of cats. She’s been raising them since 1980.
“It’s the luck of the draw,” Horton said. “We mostly breed for type and temperament, and then hope for the size. Stewie’s father came from some very large cats.”

Guinness World Records officials did not immediately respond to inquiries about a successor to Stewie’s record. The previous record-holder, Leo, a 48-inch-long Maine Coon owned by Frieda Ireland of Chicago, died several years ago.

Stewie was diagnosed in early 2012 with Lymphosarcoma, a malignant disease of the lymphoid tissues. He responded successfully to chemotherapy and was declared cancer-free, but the remission period was brief, and a vet recently found another, more aggressive tumor on his kidneys, Hendrickson said.
“I knew that although we could fight it, the end was near and so I wanted to simply make him comfortable and let him enjoy the time he did have,” she said.

-- Robin Palmer
rpalmer@news-herald.com

Saturday is Groundhog Day, and I've got five little words for you my furry, little rodent friend Punxsutawney Phil:

DO NOT SEE YOUR SHADOW.

No one needs or wants six more weeks of the white stuff.

No shadow, no snow.

Run back in that hole, and you better think twice about coming out, even if it is six weeks later.

Speaking of later,

Later, P.