Dog News: Dog News

SPCA adoption euthanasia

Dog gets another life despite death order Canada "A Lake Echo family was shocked to find the dog they once owned making eyes at them from a stranger’s car this weekend. Two months ago, they paid the SPCA $50 to have the animal put down, the couple claims." They said the dog had progressive epilepsy; on evaluating the dog, the SPCA found none and adopted the dog out without telling them... [Halifax Daily News]

"gene therapy" dogs

Gene therapy in dogs advances treatments PA A breakthrough in gene therapy, pioneered at the University of Pennsylvania, has tested successfully in dogs. The new gene therapy treatment allows treatment of diseases which caused multi-organ disorders. This means gene therapy may someday be used on diseases which were prohibitively expensive to treat. Such diseases in humans include Tay Sachs disease and Gaucher disease ... [Science Daily Magazine]

"Lawrence Lee" Radioland

Our news site was crashed, but now we're back up on Radioland, thanks to Lawrence! and Radioland tech support. (crossing our fingers)

PPET pets people exercising together

You're fat and so's your dog 'Get fit with Fido' at Pet Fit, a program that takes advantage of the benefits of having a dog (a companion for walking). [MSNBC Health]

bees kill dog

Bees kill dog, injure another AZ A Queen Creek man's dog is dead and another dog was critically injuring following a bee attack. The bees attacked after the man moved a shed in his back yard. He theorized the colony, estimated at 60,000 bees, has become more aggressive due to drought and became enraged at being moved... [AZ Central News]

dog laws

Paris: if you dog poops, you'd better scoop or pay a big fine... [Fox News]

Ottawa, Canada: dog owners unleash on leash law "The rules prohibit a person from walking more than two dogs at a time. They ll restrict owners from letting their dogs off the leash on most NCC land. They also forbid the disposal of animal waste in trash cans even if it's in plastic bags." [CBC Ottawa]

dog "crate training"

Crate training: pros and cons CA Crating a dog is not always beneficial for it, according to some dog behaviorists and trainers. Other trainers say that it's an essential part of training and point to the occasional necessity of crating: flight trips, etc. Crate training is recommended for dogs who chew and destroy household items. In the end, "the individual dog should be the criteria, not the opinion of the vets or people" who think that crate training is a solution for many problems." [Napa News] Related: Veterinarian Urges Crate Training

When we first took our newly adopted dog to beginning dog training, we learned about crate training. We dutifully purchased a large crate and set it up in the living room, in hopes that our dog would use the crate as his private den. He never did. We put treats in the crate, etc., but he showed distinct dislike for his crate. I felt we owed him the advantage of crate training (if there was one). One day, a dog trainer set me straight on the whole thing: He said "If your dog's not a behavior problem, then why worry about crate training? It just isn't required." Indeed... our dog doesn't like crates, we don't crate him and we don't worry about it. I suspect that he may have had his fill of crates before we adopted him. When we got him, he was shy and reserved: he's quite the social butterfly now...

dog suicide stories

Woman shoots her dog in suicide call for help A 68-year old woman found a forest fire approaching her cabin in the woods and didn't know that sheriff's deputies would risk everything to save her from her self-appointed suicide...

"... There was no way out, in her view. Her 20-year-old dog, Donny, was crippled and she couldn't carry him to the car."It was an inferno," she said. She called her former husband, and was told to leave. She replied it was impossible. Then she took a .45-caliber Colt handgun and shot the dog... " [Modesto Bee State News]

K-9 police dog drugs

Stray mongrel becomes top K-9 drug dog UK A homeless dog rescued from a shelter now spends his days sniffing out drugs for Northumbria Police. Bouncer detects drugs by sniffing the air around an item or person and then passively sitting down when he identifies drugs. 'Inspector Terry Davison, of Northumbria Police's dog section, said: "Bouncer really is proof that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover..." [BBC News]

cloned animal food

Cloned-animal food in next year's food chain MT

"At least two U.S. companies are now cloning prized livestock that are the healthiest, fattest and fastest growing of their herds. By cloning the animals with the best genes, companies aim to trim costs and bolster profits... [However], cloned animals suffer more than naturally bred animals from arthritis, obesity and other health problems. Also, biologists warn of the danger in the lack of genetic variety – diseases could wipe out entire herds of genetic duplicates." [Montana Forum]

The US Department of Agriculture declares that cloned animal food is probably safe to eat while transgenic foods (genetically altered) may not be. [Montana Forum] (Not in my dog's food, please and why make animals suffer for the bottom line of profit.)

Genetics Savings and Clone pets

Genetics Savings and Clone: cash cow of the future Thousands of people are clamoring for cloned pets, in the hope of reincarnating their favorite dog or cat. Even though its technology has not yet proven itself, "Genetics Savings and Clone" hopes to cash in on just such services: "We've done the market research. If you get the price below $10,000 for a dog and $5,000 for a cat, we can't begin to fill that. You break those price points and you basically have an unlimited market." (Right now, it's six figures and up [and yes, they've cloned a kitty.]). There are other ethical issues too, not the least of which include unleashing genetically altered animals on the world. [Technology Review] Related: Cloning Pets: Fluffy 2.0

"K-9 dog" retires police

Old police dog hangs up his leash CA Old Robby, a "10-year-old Belgium Malinois, is hanging up his collar, turning in his leash and wagging farewell to the men and women in blue at the Baldwin Park Police Department." He served well and remained vigilant and loyal, despite the many injuries he received in the line of duty. "Robby also demonstrates a spirited initiative off the job. He's hidden Hemenway's car keys in his doghouse and opened the refrigerator door with his paw to swipe a pizza. An empty pizza box was the only clue to his dastardly deed..." [Pasedena Star News]

"miracle dog" rescue

Castaway dog rescued by swimmer FL "...one lucky pup was found by a real dog- lover swimming nearly two miles offshore in the Northwest Channel past Christmas Tree Island off Key West...the dog was large, emaciated, and could barely sit up. ..it took the entire crew and charter clients to get the dog out of the water and safely aboard the vessel..." Later, an attending veterinarian doubted the dog would survive its ordeal." [KeysNews]

guide dog "seeing-eye glove"

Seeing-Eye Glove vs. Seeing Eye Dog UK "A glove that buzzes to indicate the location of objects is one of the technologies aimed at improving guiding for the blind... It is a technology born of frustration with the present state of what the blind call 'wayfinding.' "

"Guide dogs must be looked after, trained, and taken to the vet. They can miss obstacles like overhanging branches. The result is that less than 1 per cent of blind people in this country currently own seeing-eye dogs, estimates Bill Thornton, executive director of B.C. Guide Dog Service... " On the positive side, guide dogs provide companionship, additional guard dog services and more human like feedback; a glove can malfunction, cost a great amount of money, and definitely provides an impersonal touch (sic) [The Globe and Mail Tech Investor]

"dog education" veterinary

Dog Education Pet Education "contains over 2,000 in-depth articles written by the Drs. Foster & Smith veterinary staff. Many major universities utilize the PetEducation.com web site in their teaching and as a resource for student and faculty research." Every page includes a permanent pet reference section that's just a click away...

veterinary "pet insurance"

Insurance for dogs: a necessity AZ Bone up on pet insurance if you have a dog. (We didn't get it and we should have.) [Arizona Republic]

"oldest dog" world

Britain's oldest dog, age 27 UK Bramble, the collie, owes her longevity to good genes and meticulous care by her vegan owner, Anne Heritage. "She has a big bowl of rice, lentils and organic vegetables every evening. She's an inspiration and just goes to show that if you do eat the right things and keep on exercising, you can extend your life." [Daily Telegraph]

Cindy, a Jack Russell terrier and Britain's second oldest dog at age 24, owes her longevity to four daily tea parties with her owner.

"pet therapy" benefits

Therapy dog brings cheer to seniors IN A five year old german shepherd named Munster takes part in a Paws for People Pet Therapy Program and his impact is huge, according to the Activities Director of Caritas Adult Health Day Services: "They might have had pets, it is something they can relate to. It's also wonderful social interaction, they'll talk about this all afternoon. My heart just sings to see them so interested in that dog." [Northwest Indiana News] Related: Please help Pets on Wheels (When our dog recovers from his knee injury (possible [partial] Anterior Cruciate Ligament tear), he'll return to his favorite activity: volunteering for Pets on Wheels.

dog "dental ring" teeth clean

Brush your dog's teeth AZ A vet dispenses great advice: "grab the brush and brush your dog's teeth." He even tells us how... very important if you want your dog to get in the record book as the "world's oldest dog." [Arizona Repubic]

Never one to give up after repeated failure on doggy teeth cleaning, I recently bought our dog yet another dental kit: "Denta Clean," which contained mint flavored mouth rinse (ugh, he hates it); sugar free breath mints (he won't touch them); gel mints for dogs shaped like little marrow bones (he loves them); tooth paste (no thanks, he closes him mouth adamantly); and toothbrush (easy to use). Our dog has never gotten used to getting his teeth cleaned, but he puts up with it since he knows he can't get out of it.

The last time Dao got his teeth cleaned, he came home missing a tooth, right in the middle of his winsome smile. When we realized a tooth was missing, we confirmed it with photos prior to teeth cleaning. He had poor nutrition as a puppy and no teeth cleanings until we adopted him, so this was normal for him. Precautions to take if your dog has loose teeth include never giving it a chew toy or bone which might pull them out and reminding the vet that your dog's teeth are loose when you take it in for its teeth cleaning (I forgot to tell our vet.). "Pet Gel", which contains Aloe Vera, is supposed to sooth a dog's gums; Dao likes it and he smacks his lips less often at night when we remember to "lube" his teeth at bedtime.

Related: Should your dog get that bone?, Adventures in doggy teeth cleaning I, Adventures in doggy teeth cleaning II

"animal news"

Animal News Central Animal News Central "reporting the world of news about animals" has graciously linked to Dog News. "The hope of all of those who work for Animal News Center is that their efforts will help to make more individuals concerned about animal welfare, and take action to promote it." Wow, that's the whole idea behind Dog News too.

This no-nonsense animal news site sports a clean web style and includes sections on Pet News, Wildlife News, Farm News, and (egads) Lab News. News articles range from the deadly serious, "Second Hand Smoke Found to Cause Cancer in Cats", to the sublimely ridiculous, "Thai Government Bans Pet Cockroaches." Animal News Central is not funded by outside interests, so you don't have the conflict of interest that constrain a journalists' choice of articles and you don't have all those advertisements getting in the way. Way to go, Animal News.... what a great resource for animal lovers... (ps. We love the ASPCA: that's where we found our dog, Dao, the sweet chow.)

"miracle dog" stories

Dog falls over 100 feet, survives without a scratch UK Holly, the spaniel, owes her good fortune to the concerted efforts of "three fire appliances, a line rescue team, a cliff rescue team and two officers, " and a total of 19 people who rescued her, "after she plunged half way down the 300ft cliff at Capel Le Ferne, near Folkestone in Kent..." [BBC News]

"cat people" vs. "dog people".

Salon takes on cat people, dog people and the books they write Laura Miller writes funny reviews of cat and dog books, and attempts to pierce the veil of difference between cat people and dog people: "If writing about cats is always in danger of sliding into narcissistic preciosity, the peril in dog writing is bathos. No one, it seems, can write very much about dogs without getting into man's inhumanity to animal..." [Salon.com]

It seems that both dog and cat people are equally annoying in Miller's view. Unfortunately, not all dogs are like dogs; some dogs are more like cats and some cats are more like dogs. Our chow is really half cat; he's particular about everything, but not in a snooty way. He's quiet like a cat, so quiet that I have to check to see where he is; he mer-ows like a cat (barking is so passe for him) or he trills like a bird when he's excited. He's too smart for training; well, he puts up with it, but boredom sets in quickly. He's content in himself, unlike some dogs who require outside reinforcement of their own inner happiness. He's not a political animal at all: if he finds someone boring, he'll turn his back on them. There are lots of dogs that don't fit the 'dog' mold.

As for cats, I once knew a cat that followed me around like I was the pied piper. It wasn't my cat; it was a neighbor's cat that spent its life outdoors (because his owner made him stay outside). That cat talked a lot, in mer-rows and wanted companionship and a social life more than any dog I ever knew. The distinction between cat people and dog people is really a furry one, as Christian Andreae would say.

dog wolf origin

Unravelling the mystery: the origin of dogs? CA "Until a few decades ago there was a scientific debate about the origin of dogs: ... It is now established that the wolf (Canis lupus) is the only ancestor, and that dogs have been around for at least 14,000 years." But just how that happened has been debated for years. A new theory seems to hold promise: "that dogs were not domesticated from wolves as we know them today, but from an ancestral wolf that, unlike its wild cousin, adapted to an emerging habitat niche -- early human settlements..." [San Francisco Examiner]

"Animal Fair" NY

Profile of a twenty-something dog fanatic NY 'Diamond, you might say, is a dog person in the same way that Imelda Marcos is a shoe person. She takes Lucky to a pet psychiatrist.... She spends thousands of dollars each year on Lucky for grooming and birthday parties. She takes Lucky on trips abroad.... "It's a whole cult," Diamond said of her obsession, "especially in New York." ' [Forward]

"dog blogs"

Puppy Breath is a blog about a puppy name Roxy. Of course, all puppies become dogs, but would you read a blog called 'Dog breath?' Puppy Breath's motto of "Happiness is a warm puppy" sets the tone for this blog, which is an amusing journal of photos and warm memories and Roxie's many friends which include cats. Don't miss Memphis Friends.... [found via Ciscley via blogdex via pipetree's cool Weblog neighborhood (of all things!)] Related: over 2000 dog blogs at Libdex!

"service dog" training

Pet to amazing service dog in 8 1/2 months When Mae Ann Martin found herself disabled due to knee injuries, she applied for a service dog: the waiting list was 5 years long. "The service dog agency suggested she acquire a dog and have it trained herself. Lucky for Martin, she already owned Rinny." With training, her dog learned to pick up keys, fetch and help her maintain her balance and reclaim her normalcy. [Mohave Valley News]

dog t-shirts

All dog breed T-shirts If you have an unusual breed of dog or a dog that's not exactly popular (like our chow chow), you're usually out of luck when you want a beautful T-shirt showcasing your dog's breed. The Dog T-shirts by Choice Shirts' website offers 694 beautiful designs featuring all the breeds: that's 116 pages of dog art. Wow... [found via dogbreedinfo.com, another great site]

"lost dog" lawsuit

Dog fight grows over lost dog TX "A good deed for a lost dog has morphed into a fight involving an animal shelter, police, a nun, an attorney, a pet owner and a beloved Maltese with bad gums and a stubborn rash..." [Galveston County Daily News]

protection dogs

Chance, the dog, prevents rapist's chance A woman's recently adopted dog prevented her rape by breaking loose from his leash to attack the man hiding in her basement: She "left Chance chained upstairs while she went to the basement to wash clothes. As soon as she turned on the light, she panicked, because in the corner was an intruder waiting to attack." When her dog attacked, the intruder ran and apparently is still on the run...[Yahoo News!]

dogs "famous people"

Royal chef once put Prince Charles' royal dog in royal oven UK Aptly nicknamed by the Guardian Unlimited as "More titbits from below palace stairs," a new book purports to describe the intimate daily life of the royal family; it includes such titillating tidbits as: "An imaginative chef once placed the prince's favourite Jack Russell inside a warm oven. Although Tigger was removed, lightly done, to survive until the age of 18, the enduring mental scars can only be imagined..." Not funny, not funny at all ... from "memoirs by Ken Wharfe, who was once Princess Diana's bodyguard." [Guardian Unlimited]

luxury dog shops

Whimsey Bones, the doggy shop Shopping for your dog and want to get a one of a kind, homemade, with love, by a dog lover, present ? It's on the web too: Whimsey Bones [Syracuse.com] Don't miss their doggy links.

dog lookalike contest winners

I look like my dog contest winners Do you look like your dog? [site found via Weird, Bizarre, Funny and Engrossing]

SPCA "animal cruelty"

Loving home opens for dog, originally shot and left for dead NZ "Diane Sumner started crying in the supermarket when she read how Champ the dog was shot in the head and left to die in a pit. She rushed to the SPCA to see if there was anything she could do to help." Champ beat death, bonded with Diane, and was adopted out to her by the SPCA... [New Zealand News] (The ASPCA is where we found our dog too!)

"oldest dog"

World's oldest living dog "A border collie said to be 27 could make it into the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's oldest living dog." [Ananova.com Quirkies] Related: Second World's Oldest Dog

"The oldest dog that has been reliably documented was an Australian cattle-dog named Bluey. He was put to sleep at the age of 29 years and 5 months!" [FurKids Facts News]

dogs "search and rescue"

Canines search and rescue "A feisty yellow Labrador retriever named Ranger is standing atop a pile of rubble barking wildly. Although he may look like a junkyard dog, Ranger is actually a highly trained emergency-response specialist hard at work." Teams of highly trained dogs and their handlers are taking certification courses in emergency response and rescue... [Christian Science Monitor]

For more information about search-and-rescue dogs, see the following websites: the Canine FEMA website; the website for the American Rescue Dog Association in Chester, N.Y; and the website of the National Search Dog Foundation in Ojai, California. [Christian Science Monitor]

"animals stolen from"

Man steals dog from animal shelter "A man entered an animal shelter Monday during regular business hours and attempted to adopt a dog." Once he realized he would be charged for shots and other associated fees, he stole the dog instead.... (happens all the time, according to animal shelter officials) [Journal News]

"dogs with jobs"

Smart dog, that Lucky Lucky is a hard working dog, who helps his boss, Dieter, repair computer gear.

"Out of order is at present ours often and gladly frequented area with the number 18. The reason: Dieter untangled since days cables, attaches Minidisc and cartridge deck correctly and installs all PC's again. On that in the autumn term all beginning Medienmacher in polycollege Stoebergasse can work like the professionals. The technical work in our house happens naturally under strict supervision of a watchful eye: Dieter's assistant Lucky (always victorious dog duel champion) participates always also!" [Lucky's translated page via Google] [found via Zebu, the dog (the genius behind Der Shock Wave ]

dogs detect cancer

Dogs 'could be trained to sniff out cancer' UK British researchers at Cambridge University are hoping to train dogs to sniff out prostate cancer. "Consultant orthopaedic surgeon John Church, who is helping the Cambridge scientists, says he knows of six cases in the UK where dogs appeared to have detected their owner's cancer." [Ananova Science]

"security dogs" wear ID

Security dogs must wear photo ID "Security officials at the US Open have ordered police sniffer dogs to wear id - including a photo..." [Anova Quirkies]

Linkfilter.net's humorous take on the dog ID requirement:

As we know from airport security, terrorists are even distributed among toddlers to eighty-year-old grandmothers and thus you have to be vigilant of them all, but the U.S. Open has expanded the search to dogs as well. Bomb sniffing dogs at the stadium were forced to wear photo ID's even though their officer escort also has to wear one. Apparently, terrorists dogs such as Omar Sparky and Mohammed Fluffy have been trying to sneak into the U.S. Open to "plant a bomb," so to speak. If you see any suspicious dogs in your neighborhood, immediately alert the FBI. UPDATE: I just received this statement from the National Association of Canine Americans: "We vehemently condemn all pooping indoors, but humans have to realize that their policies of leaving dogs inside alone for hours and not supplying sufficient chew toys often makes dogs feel they have no choice but to 'leave a surprise.' " -Fido, President of the National Association of Canine Americans [linkfilter.net]

rent dogs

Hong Kong pet shop rents out dogs "Rent now (by the week), buy later," is the policy at a Hong Kong pet shop; the proprietor says it cuts down on pet abandonment because people don't own the dogs and can return them before they tire of them [Yahoo News!]

Dead man partially consumed by his dogs

Dead man partially consumed by his dogs TX Paul Hodges had been dead for a while before his pet dogs ate parts of his body; the dogs had no other food. The dogs got away when the body was discovered...

Sheriff's Capt. Toby Giles "urges people in the area to be on the lookout for the dogs, which he described as 'plumb wild' in the wake of their feeding frenzy. "I've seen it quite a bit over the years," he said. "We've seen pets do this. Cats will do it, they are the worst.".. [Texarkana Gazette via Romensko's Obscure Reading Room]

pets allergies children

Pets reduce children's risk of allergies "Children who grow up with dogs and cats in the home have a significantly reduced risk of developing common allergies- some by 50 percent or more - a surprising finding resulting from a study following hundreds of children from birth to nearly age 7." Scientists expected to come to the opposite conclusion and were dumbfounded by the results. [Eureka Alert] Related: Childhood exposure to animals lessens allergies Multiple Pets May Decrease Children's Allergy Risk [Science Daily]

therapy dog children

Therapy dog motivates disabled child Arnie, the yellow lab, "is a regular at Euro-Peds, a physical therapy program that treats children with cerebral palsy or other neuromuscular disorders..." Children forget their pain and enjoy physical therapy, thanks to Arnie's patient interactions... [Free Press]

"pet detective" "lost dog"

Lost dog reunited with injured owner NH A can of dog food, some hot dogs, a sausage and her master's dirty shorts helped collar a dog that eluded searchers for 13 days after a highway crash. [Portsmouth Herald]

When a dog is lost, it helps to know how to find it. Some techniques gleaned from this article: bait a live trap with the owner's scent: use owner's clothing; bait trap with food; enlist help from local societies and local people; publicize and track sitings; place traps at sightings. Related: Life as a Pet Detective

K-9 training school

K-9 Training School enjoys international success IN Ken Licklider's K-9 training school graduates have served international events all over the world, from a papal visit to the US to to the Pan American Games. 'Licklider's methods are ... different from training techniques of the past. "Fifteen years ago, the dog training world was kind of a mess," Licklider said. "There were these archaic ideas, but I've tried to work and drive to change things." ' [Hoosier Times]

pet memorial dog

Animal Memorials: honoring a pet's passing An indepth look at how some families memorialize their family pet's passing demonstrates the integration of pets into the American family. "The International Association of Pet Cemeteries counts more than 600 "active” pet cemeteries in the United States, with Bide-A-Wee in Wantagh being the largest..." [Newsday.com]

pet euthanasia statistics rescue

Artists shed light on plight of disposable pets UT "Last year, 5 million unwanted pets were put to death in U.S. shelters.... that that breaks down to 13,800 every day, or 575 dogs and cats euthanized every hour." In a disposable society, where a new car or residence takes priority over continuing care for a pet, one artist has taken his silent animal activism to another level: Cyrus Mejia, a founder of the Best Friends Animal Rescue project in Utah, has "collaborated on an installation, The 575 Project, part of an art show called "Silent No Longer" at the St. George Art Museum which addresses the wordless plight of disposable pets...." [Hark the Herald.com] Related: Animal Workers See Death Daily: an inside view of what it's like to have to euthanize discarded pets

dogs crime

Mugger's dog helps rob motorist W.VA In Charleston, W. Virginia, a man and his pit bull have teamed up to rob unsuspecting motorists: when a car pulls up, the man opens the car door, sics his dog on the driver and demands money. In a recent incident, the man then punched his victim and demanded cash. "The victim gave the man money and he and the dog fled." [Staten Island Live]

dog photographs

Gini, poster dog, cheers up Zurich! If you can't take a holiday in Zurich, at least you can laugh at the amusing posters of a Jack Russell Terrier placed around the city for your amusement by a sympathetic businessman... [Ananova.com quirkies]

"dog survives"

Spicy's spicy tale of danger and survival Spicy, a tiny chihuahua, fell from her owner's boat, broke her leg, swam three miles and survived for seven days under a house on deserted island. "Spicy's owner says one thing is clear: Spicy is no ordinary dog." [ABC Daily News]