Kudos to UkiahDailyJournal.com for doing a good job of keeping up with wildfire news in the Mendocino County area of northern California. In their Fire Updates sidebar for today is a link to DIY Smoke Filter from Ukiah Valley TV.

What a great YouTube video showing you how to make your own simple smoke filter for under $30. We all ought to have one of these in every room for the duration of the fires.

Buy more than one filter, if you can, because it needs to be replaced after it becomes clogged with particulate matter and other stuff in the air. The DIY video shows how much stuff their filter collected in 2 hours. Yuck, I hate to think what we dogs and people have been breathing in!

Just tape the filter to the BACK of the fan, making sure that the air-flow directional arrows on the filter face toward the fan — in the direction that the air moves.

It's hard to judge how much protection you can get from the DIY smoke filter, but it's better than nothing. I've been so wheezy that I wish we had one right here in our home office right now.

"Portable smoke filter" : Here's a trick that dog-ma saw for breathing more safely while getting from place to place outdoors in the smoke. Wet a washcloth or small towel, even a shirt. Wring it out a bit and wrap it around so it covers your nose and mouth. You can use a wet cloth to help someone else, too — like a pet, or a young child or baby — but make sure the cloth is loose enough to allow them to breathe.

Sonoma County skies are still smoke-filled from fires burning all over northern and central California. Tens of thousands of acres have burned and hundreds of residents have fled. As I write, residents are still fleeing areas of Mendocino County and animal evacuation centers have been set up. They're in Ukiah at the Redwood Empire Fairgrounds (for large animals) and the Mendocino County Animal Care & Control Shelter (for small animals).

Yesterday I breathed too much smoke while I was out with dog-ma at my vet checkup. (Dr. Gurevitch is pleased with my progress. He said I've got "neuro deficits" but will improve more. Good. I went for a little walk and got a compliment on my reverese mohawk from a human hair stylist. Nice.) But since we came home, I can't breathe right and neither can dog-ma. We learned that health warnings about staying indoors have been issued as far east as Nevada.

Add Lassen, Monterey, and San Benito counties to yesterday's fire list by county. The summary of Wildland Fires by Unit shows reports from Siskiyou, Del-Norte Humboldt, Mendocino, Santa Clara, San Mateo-Santa Cruz, Amador-El Dorado, Nevada-Yuba-Placer, Butte, Tehama-Glenn, Shasta-Trinity, Sonoma-Lake-Napa, Lassen-Modoc (including Plumas Co.), Tuolomne-Calaveras, and Madera-Mariposa-Merced.

There are SO MANY FIRES that I had to google earth and look at USGS GeoMAC maps to comprehend the number. Hundreds of fires are burning just in my region. In Mendocino county, 131 fires have burned more than 8,900 acres. . . . In Lake County, the Walker fire has burned at least 8,600 acres. . . . In Napa County, fire has scorched 4,089 acres.

Firefighting resources are stretched thin. Cal Fire has deployed more than 4,300 firefighters and tons of equipment. Cal Fire Chief Mark Romerao was quoted as saying "We're in fairly dire straits . . ." The California National Guard has been added to the fight, along with personnel from Nevada and Montana.

Firefighters from here in Sonoma County are dispatched all over the North State. Nearby Penngrove's Rancho Adobe Fire District Captain Bill Adams, a 20-year veteran, was quoted as saying he hasn't seen fires like this start so early in the year. "It's crazy," he said. "This is stuff you wouldn't expect to see until September or October."

Here's what an anonymous fire insider says: "The State of California is in the midst of the worst wildfire crisis in modern state history. More than 900 wildland fires are burning, many unstaffed. Incident commanders are making do with skeleton crews in most cases."

What a crazy year this has been thus far. We've gone from record-late spring frost (which hurt winegrape buds and other crops) to record-early major fires. What's the rest of the fire season going to be like?

I hope everybuddy stays safe.

Scooter's keeping an eye on things from his Santa Cruz water truck.

This morning I saw a glaring gray haze and smelled smoke as soon as dog-ma opened the back door. A 4,000-acre wildfire, sparked by dry lightning, is burning in Napa-Solano area, 45 miles southeast of here, just east of Highway 29 wineries in Napa Valley. The night of June 21st, a woman who lives on a Napa ridgetop said she watched the fire "come down the road toward our home." They sat in their living room as the "wall of flames" roared past their house.

The fire season is taking off here like crazy. What's made it intense is hot dry weather and thousands of dry lightning strikes that ignited fires all over northern California this past weekend. In addition to Napa, Solano, and Santa Cruz counties, fires are going in Mendocino, Lake, Humboldt, Trinity, and Shasta counties. The wind kicked up and carried the flames and smoke something fierce. By the evening of June 21st, smoke was drifting in the window where I sit at my computer. By the next morning, all I could see of Sonoma County skies was a brown orange haze in every direction.

Fortunately, a marine layer of moisture slowed down some fires overnight. I'm getting used to the almost constant sound of helicopters, prop planes that drop flame retardant, private planes, and other aircraft being staged from Sonoma County or based at the nearby Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County airport. (Yes, named after Snoopy's late, beloved dog-pa.)

The next story won't be easy to stomach: In the midst of all these fires and smoke, I am reminded of the news about two dogs up in Redding, California. Named Little Bit and Freckles, they lost their lives last week in a house fire . . . caused by a smoldering cigarette.

I'm never going to get over that unless I think about something good — like this story in the Redding Record Searchlight: When the chimney of a north Redding house was blown up by a lightning bolt, at home were a mother, her three young children, and their two cats and two dogs. The loud explosion crumpled the chimney to its base and also blew bricks into the neighbor's yard. The dogs and cats? They were fine, and so were their people. They all "rode out" the storm in the family van.

This family's survival story gives us a new concept to chew on: How can we turn the family van, car, or truck into a well-equipped temporary animal shelter!?

I'm holding hope for Midwest pets caught in the recent floods. May they all stay well and be reunited with their people.

On a personal note, I'm feeling grateful today that I've been able — for the first time since my spinal trauma — to raise a front paw this morning to wake dog-ma and then roll over for a tummy scratch.

I'm feeling even more grateful after reading how Midwest humane societies, HSUS rescue teams, the American Kennel Club (AKC), AKC Companion Animal Recovery (CAR), Midwest region AKC clubs, shelter volunteers, and others are helping animal victims of the recent floods.

The AKC and CAR reported in a 6/18 news article that they've donated supplies and coordinated shipments to temporary shelters housing displaced pets. They're also working with officials and their own club members in the region to offer assistance and help coordinate volunteers. Needed supplies have included crates, portable kennels, bowls, leashes, collars, harnesses, food, and other items that help volunteers care for hundreds of companion animals in major temporary shelters. AKC President Dennis B. Sprung was quoted as saying that "Since last week we have been contacting AKC clubs in the affected areas as well as local disaster officials in order to provide assistance for the benefit of any dog or companion animal displaced by the floods. . . ."

AKC CAR has a permanent Canine Support and Relief Fund providing resources, support, and other assistance to non-profit animal shelters and similar non-profit organizations that provide care for domestic animals orphaned or displaced as a result of natural or civil disasters. Woof!

Imagine what it takes to rescue pets and to staff and run temporary shelters that can safely house and feed every little buddy. How many pets must be frightened, or have special needs, or even acute health conditions to be attended to.

Are you a dog headed for wine country? Read on.

The real poop about dog-friendliness here: It's not easy in summer for a dog traveling in California wine country. Where you gonna hang out and stay cool? . . . You can't go in restaurants or farmer's markets, and relatively few wine tasting rooms. There are very few places that'll let you inside with your guardian/owner. Yet you could die from heat stroke waiting in the car.

I gotta pawse a second to 'splain about wine tasting rooms. If I were the manager or gift buyer, I wouldn't want rowdy dogs wagging merchandise off the shelves. And if I were a winery patron, I wouldn't want to run into big rowdy dogs in crowded tasting rooms.

So what's a friendly dog in wine country to do?

First, get to googly pawing. Find dog-friendly wine tasting rooms, not just dog-friendly wineries — there's a difference. Also look for wineries that have shady outdoor spots for us dogs. Don't forget to look for special dogstinations — you know, dog events like Bark in the Park, Graton Day festival Pet Parade, and Healdsburg Dog House Halloween parade. Always make sure you've got your dog bytes right though: Contact wineries, inns, and events to confirm their dog policies!

Second, make a plan for how you're going to stay cool. That means all day long in summer. Don't worry about evenings; it cools off before sunset. How about getting a professional dog walker, doggy daycare, or dog spa visit along your travel route? (Consider a single-run kennel 'cuz you might get overwhelmed by strangers.) Tell your people to see about advance reservations and other requirements!

Third, pack everything you need to stay cool: your water bowl, plenty of water, your leash and outdoor tie-down, cooling bandana neck-scarf, Body Cooler Pet Mats, Pet Wrap Vest, shade umbrella, and a stack of big towels. Towels soaked in cold water can help you and your people stay cool. Remember, too, to pack your food, treats, travel ID, toys, emergency contacts, vaccination records, and other regular stuff.

Fourth, get a good doggie seatbelt harness. I wear my Ruff Rider Roadie harness and wouldn't do car travel without it. Forget the dog crate! You'll suffocate inside that thing in the summertime here!

Fifth, tell your people to sit-stay flexible. Be prepared to change the itinerary on super-hot triple-digit days. We have only a few in a row, then it cools off again. On the hottest days, head for wineries and recreation spots in the cooler Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast.

If you get desperately hot on the wine road: Ask your people to stop and buy bags of ice to arrange close to you — not directly on you!

Remember, even with ice and cooling mats, you cannot survive long alone in the car. If your people park in the sun instead of the shade, you're done for. Warning: You're taking a risk if you even try to stay in the car, so just don't let your people leave you there.

If you have an emergency of some kind: Your guardian/owner should speak up! Go talk to people at the winery or restaurant or wherever, and get them to let you go inside with them while they take care of the emergency!

You doggehs have more traveling suggestions?

I went for a check-up at Dr. Jordan's office today. I was happy to see Dr. J. It made me feel good that she's pleased with my progress. I overheard her and dog-ma talking about my foot placement and leg movement, but I'm not going to worry about it as long as I'm getting around.

Dr. J told me I look great. I don't think she meant my hair style. But Kyrana, one of my favorite vet techs, really liked my shaved-back hair style. She called it a reverse mohawk. Dog-ma laughed when she heard this and said she calls it that, too.

We believe the reverse mohawk should become one of dog grooming's trendy summer styles. It's sure a cool cut for wine country summer. . . . "Get yore revmo on and go tastin' some fine wine." But of course you don't have to remove as much hair as I had to for my back surgery.

I didn't set out to make a political statement with my reverse mo, but it could be interpreted that way. Today's mohawk styles come from the practice by warriors of the Mohawk Nation, whose hair was grown long and cut only when they went off to war. The cut style was to leave just a narrow strip about three-fingers' wide down the middle of their scalp from their forehead to the nape of their neck. If the original Mohawk style was about going to war, then I guess the reverse mohawk symbolizes keeping the peace.

To be safe, watch out you don't get a bad sunburn trying to be political or cool. If you're post-op like me, that'd be a bad thing, as would getting chilled sleeping in a cold spot at night or in the A/C.

My dog-ma says she grew up near Mohawk Nation territory. She remembers that they're one of the Iroquois Nations and are known as "keepers of the Eastern door." I hope nobody minds my spin on their warrior hair style.

I've been going to blog about what to do when disaster strikes . . . then I read the news about the Iowa floods and the northern California "Martin fire" — near Bonny Doon Vineyard.

Re. the Martin fire: "Todd Stosuy, the manager of Santa Cruz Animal Services, said [they sent] out all their Animal Control Officers into the field, go door to door, and see if everyone is okay. What Todd said they needed at this time is people to care for all the evacuated animals at the Santa Cruz Fairgrounds and they will divert some of the volunteers to some of the other temporary holding areas. They are also in desperate need for all types of feed for horses and livestock and dogs, cats, etc."

Thirty Martin fire evacuees spent one or more nights at San Lorenzo Elementary school, and fifteen slept in their cars. Most people in their cars wanted to be with their pets — their lucky pets. Another lucky pet is Molly-Moo, a cat rescued from the fire by Animal Services' Stosuy (just after she'd given birth to a litter of kittens, by the way).

How many unlucky pets are there in Iowa, where thousands of people have had to evacuate terrible flooding?

I realize how much we all need to prepare BEFORE disaster strikes.

Imagine, animal friends, you're home with your family one minute, and the next, you're home alone in a terrifying situation: Your guardian/owners have been forced to evacuate — or worse, they're no longer with us — and you've got little food and water. You've got to get out of the house before you starve. Maybe you've got to get out immediately because everything's on fire, or because your home is disappearing under rising flood waters.

If you're not prepared for emergencies like these, you're sh** out of luck.

You're aware of what can happen from the news during and after the Katrina disaster. You remember how hard it was to witness the initial suffering and death of people and animals, then in the aftermath how hard it has been to stomach news about homeless pets, lost pets, and adopted pets caught in legal battles over ownership rights.

What lessons have I gleaned? For starters, let's dash through a few impawtant points today: Microchipping (collars and ID get lost and even thrown away) . . . guardian/owners networked to outside help for pets (have PET GODPARENTS!) . . . written proof of pet ownership and attorney-in-fact for pet care . . . copies of your photos and all pet records (local vets not available during disaster!) . . . phone numbers and web addresses for local animal shelters, humane society, petfinder, pet rescue orgs, relatives, friends . . . survival kit at hand and paw!

As a dog, I can only take a small bite out of all this. But you people out there can make all the difference. Please.

I've been whining about protecting little ears again since dog-ma said she'd seen puppies and human babies at last weekend's music concerts. I asked the wonderful vet Jona Sun Jordan, DVM, to offer us some advice. Thank you, Dr. J!

"Young pet and human ears are especially sensitive to intense sound," Dr. Jordan says. "Exposure to continued or impulse noise above a certain level — about 100 decibels — can cause pain to little ones and even instantaneous hearing damage. Sound level at a concert can reach 115 to 120 decibels, the pain threshold for the average human adult."

I ask, how can a human stand sound this loud at a concert? Dr. Jordan explains, "When a person has been enjoying alcohol or other substances, their sense of hearing is dulled. This means that dangerously loud music may not sound all that loud to them. To be safe, little ones should have the appropriate protection at a concert even if the adults don't think the music sounds all that loud."

Grrr. This is serious. When pets, kids, and babies, are near big stage speakers, it's like they're standing next to someone firing a rifle — only it's worse, because speakers get louder with sudden feedback blasts or when accidentally turned up.

Dr. Jordan adds, "I know of one case where a boy lost his hearing during a loud concert. He was lucky and most of his hearing returned after a few months, but it was a scary time for him and his family."

Here are 5 simplified points for ear protection:

(1) If it sounds loud to you, it's too loud for pets and children, and damaging to ears of human babies and animal babies.

(2) All concerts are too loud, period. There's no "safe" concert for pets and little ones to attend. Not unless they remain way in the back of the audience and also far away from any back speakers.

(3) Little ones need earplugs to be safe around any potential loudness. You can make or buy earplugs for pets and kids. Get them to practice wearing new earplugs before they need to.

(4) Consult health professionals. It takes skill to plug little ears effectively and safely, especially tiny baby ears. Your veterinary and pediatric humans would be pawsitively pleased to help protect little ears!

(5) Make sure earplugs are effectively muffling sound. Keep little ones away from intensely loud sound anyway.

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Dr. Jona Sun Jordan and her caring staff are at Coddingtown Veterinary Clinic, Santa Rosa, California. She practices Eastern holistic medicine, including TCM and nutritional and herbal therapy, as well as Western medicine. She sees "all furry pets (except tarantulas), including but not limited to cats, dogs, ferrets, rats, mice, guinea pigs, chinchillas, gerbils, hamsters, hedgehogs, ocelots, servals, margays, and even coatimundis."

Dog-ma says Harmony Festival 2008 ended on June 8th with a kickin' performance by the passionate world-class songstress Angelique Kidjo.

If that weren't Harmonious enough, the all-time great songwriter/singer Paula Cole performed at the festival on June 7th.

Woof! Congrats on 30 years of Harmony! Special TX WOOF to Debra Giusti, festival founder! Big TX WOOFS to Randi Rembe, exhibit management, and Betty Biodiesel, announcer extraordinaire, who made dog-ma's announcement asking people not to leave dogs in cars 'cuz it's too hot.