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Party Goes To The Dogs -- Thursday October 8th, 2009
Diane McCartney - McClatchy Newspapers | Posted: Saturday, September 12, 2009 12:00 am
With dogs, as with human guests, the key to a successful gathering starts with the guest list.
A birthday celebration for 1-year-old Digby attended by 20 of his friends was pretty much typical of a party for any youngster. One guest ran off with the birthday boy's new toy, another guest cried when he lost sight of his mom, and at least one guest overdid it and got sick.
"It usually gets pretty chaotic," said Digby's mom, Jennifer Hardman of Wichita, Kan., who was throwing her third birthday celebration for her dogs.
"But amazingly, everybody gets along pretty well and is pretty well behaved."
Parties for dogs -- including not only birthday bashes but puppy showers, obedience school graduation celebrations and "whine and cheese" soirees -- are becoming more popular, as more people think of their dogs as members of the family and include them in family celebrations.
Web sites like dogbirthdaysandparties.com and tailwagging.com sell party favors, decorations and treats and offer tips for hosting the perfect pet party. Guests at Digby's bash ate peanut butter-carrot birthday cake, splashed in three pools, dug through a treat-filled pinata and played games, including "musical sits."
Monica's Bundt Cake Co., which supplied the birthday cake, sells "bow wow bundts" for dogs in three flavors: peanut butter, beef jerky and chicken jerky, said employee Katie Clark.
"At least every month someone orders one," usually for a dog's birthday, Clark said. The small canine cakes cost $9.95, but larger ones can be ordered, she said.
Hardman's other two dogs, Flash and Mo, were among those wishing Digby a happy day, along with neighbors, family, friends and co-workers of Hardman, a veterinary technician at Wingert Animal Hospital, and their dogs. Breeds ranged from Pee Wee, a toy poodle brought by veterinarian Christina Richards, to Phineas, a Great Pyrenees owned by Hardman's sister, Debbie Freese, and also included French and English bulldogs, rat terriers, a pug, a mastiff and a golden retriever.
"We've got quite the variety here," said Richards, who also brought a miniature poodle and two German shepherds. "I'm surprised we haven't had more scuffles."
As with any party, the key to success starts with the guest list, Hardman said. Most of the dogs that attend her parties already know each other and are well socialized.
"I don't usually invite a dog that I know doesn't get along well with others," she said. And when it comes time for cake, she doesn't just set it down and let the guests go at it.
"Everybody gets a plate for their dog, and then we kind of spread out and feed them," she said. "Everybody needs to give the cake at the same time so we have no issues."
Dog trainer Janice Ronald offered some other tips, including making sure all dogs, especially young puppies, are properly vaccinated. "It wouldn't hurt to put on the invitation: 'Please make sure your dog is current on vaccinations,"' she said.
If a dog has issues with other animals coming to his home -- Digby certainly didn't -- it might be a good idea to have the party at a park, doggie day care or other neutral territory, Ronald said.
For guests, Ronald offers this bit of advice, which could be applied to any party: "Don't overstay." "If your dog is starting to get tired, anxious or frightened, or acting aggressive" -- a sign it might be anxious --"it's time to pick them up and go home," she said. And when it comes to birthday cake and snacks, "don't overindulge," Ronald said. "You don't want throwing up or diarrhea the next day."
Originating source of this story: http://nwitimes.com/lifestyles/pets/article_f4ec3437-b9cd-5a1d-b1b8-7803a2419d99.html
CesarMillan Magazine -- Tuesday October 6th, 2009
Cesar Millan dog-based empire adds slick magazine
SUE MANNING - Associated Press Writer | Posted: Saturday, September 26, 2009 12:00 am
In Cesar Millan's world, two groups most influence America: politicians and their dogs and Hollywood celebrities and their dogs.
"The rest of the population wants to do what they do," he said. So where does that leave Millan? Just about everywhere.
His National Geographic show "Dog Whisperer" is seen in more than 80 countries. He has three best-sellers and another book due out next month. He's a frequent guest star on talk shows. You'd think that would be enough. Not for the leader of the pack.
Millan has added a magazine, Cesar's Way, to his dog-driven empire. The first issue came out last week, with one more planned this year and six more next year. Millan dominates the cover, the stories -- even many of the ads, but the 120-page debut issue is also chock full of information.
There's food that can kill your dog, including chocolate, onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, sugarless candy, gum, raw salmon, mushrooms and turkey skin. And types of people medicine you can give your dog, and tips for traveling, eating and playing.
Future issues will include why homeless people can walk dogs off leashes and why blind people have such well-behaved dogs.
The magazine is focused on how you and your dog can grow, leaning on Millan's philosophy that incorporates instinct with emotion, the spirit and the intellect.
"I think it's quicker to achieve connection with a dog than a human because humans think too much," he said. "Balance is happiness, harmony, peace, love. There are endless opportunities to create whatever you want with whatever you have. Some people have lost that."
Photos of celebrities and their pets are featured in a section called "L.A. Paw," billed as a "K-9 court, where Cesar's dogs unleash their catty side." Four of Millan's many dogs are judges who comment in photo captions.
"That's one media-savvy teacup!" observes Daddy, Millan's 15-year-old pit bull, on a photo of Paris Hilton with Chihuahua in hand.
In a section called Tips & Whispers, the magazine offers the yappiest apps for your iPhone and debunks some dog myths like this one: A wagging tail is a sign of a happy dog. Fact: Not necessarily. A wagging tail can be a sign of affection. But it can also be a sign of competitive dominance."
There are two-page color spreads of doggie portraits, and a "True Tails" section featuring a corporate attorney turned animal talent scout and a police officer who married his dog trainer.
Jada Pinkett Smith gushes in another article about how Millan helped her -- pre-Will -- to boost her self-confidence through the training of her dogs more than a dozen years ago.
"We spent a lot of time together in the mountains," she said of her friend, in the magazine. "He helped me balance."
Millan, who offers a lengthy explanation of the pack theory, usually has 30 to 50 dogs around his Los Angeles home. At the moment, his pack is down to 15, among them the ever-present Daddy. He won't call Daddy his favorite "because it's all about the pack with me." But this man and this dog have been together for 15 years, since before stardom.
"He's pretty much helped me raise my two boys," Millan said. "He's kept me wise in my marriage." If there's a problem, Millan will ask: "What I am doing wrong Daddy?"
Pit bulls clearly hold a special place in Millan's heart -- and in his magazine with a spread on some celebs who own one -- Adam Brody, Jessica Alba, Jamie Foxx and Jessica Biel.
The last page of the debut issue is a tribute to Daddy. Millan describes making him breakfast, kneading chopped beef with fresh herbs and boiled green beans chopped into thirds.
"Daddy is an old, old man now. He can't do stairs anymore and he'll pretty much only eat his food if I prepare it," Millan wrote. "I have never had a dog like Daddy. ... I've been astounded by his intuition, consoled by his affection and awed by his silent empathy."
FYI: cesarmillaninc.com
Originating source of this story: http://nwitimes.com/lifestyles/pets/article_03c82244-e5ae-50dd-842c-6eef8fcc57b6.html
Reasons To Spay/Neuter -- Monday October 5th, 2009
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(ASPCA) was established in New York in 1866 by Henry Bergh. This organization's jurisdiction was limited to the state of New York. While there is no national organization for the ASPCA in the United States there are around 600 similar organizations in the other states and cities.
Many independent groups have the same name as The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA); they are involved in the prevention of ill treatment to animals. These societies influence the government to pass legislation to prosecute people who mistreat animals. They also participate in investigation of cruelty cases.
SPCA inspects periodically the locations where animals live to ensure they live under humane conditions. It is ironical that they also have been entrusted with the responsibility of executing the dogs not adopted by anybody.
In order to avoid executing aimlessly a large number of puppies, the Pennsylvania SPCA made an announcement stating that they would spay male and female dogs that are sent on adoption. Since mid 1970s they have neutered thousands of female dogs; as per SPCA estimates this amounts to prevention of more than 100,000 potential litters.
Normally a female dog produces two litters a year, which may total 10 puppies. However a male dog can impregnate any amount of female dogs if it is allowed to roam freely. The SPCA has started a policy of asking for a deposit from anybody adopting a dog to take care of neutering expenses. Most refund the deposit once proof is provided from a veterinarian that the dog has been spayed or neutered.
It may be noted that not all organizations refund the adoption fee or deposit. You should check with the animal shelter to determine their policy before you adopt the dog.
Unfortunately, a large number of people do not get the dog neutered as a puppy. Many people are afraid that such an operation could cause the dog's personality to change or an increase in the pet's obesity. Normally the dog's desire to roam will decrease so this change in personality makes the dog a better per. Any increase in obesity can be countered by proper diet and exercise.
In many cases money was not a major constraint for spaying dogs although it can cost up to $500 to have a large dog spayed. In order to avoid this one SPCA in New York started a special clinic
Originating source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Reasons-to-Neuter-Your-Dog&id=3031755
Obese Dog Training -- Friday October 2nd, 2009
A dog becomes obese when the weight of the dog effects the body function or body functions. In some countries the dog obesity levels are as high as twenty five percent. Different food levels and available nutrition really play a roll in obese dogs. In most countries around the world, dogs are starving more than being obese. It seems to be to an extreme level of over feeding or the dogs just do not receive enough food.
When a dog becomes obese, pretty much the entire canine body is reflected in this. Joints have more stress on them, the teeth are usually weaker due to eating the wrong nutrition, healthy heart rates drop from lack of exercise. The list could go on for pages and pages. To put it in the most straight forward way, obese dogs live shorter lives and usually result in them being less happy in the long run.
It is said that a dog with a balanced diet will never ever become over weight. If you have a hard time finding yourself holding back on feeding the dog, than you need to realize that the dog needs much more exercise. The choice is choosing either a healthy diet or a more flexible diet with more exercise.
The most common method of getting a dog to loose weight and not be obese any more is to calculate how much food the dog actually needs to consume everyday. Weigh the dog in weekly scheduled times and speak with your veterinarian to how much food your dog actually needs. Split up the food into different levels, and pick the food that gives your dog everything he or she needs.
Obese dogs can be stopped by figuring out how to train a dog and figuring out what your dog actually needs for nutrition. The Dog Training Database is a base of dog training sources that can basically teach you everything anyone needs to know about dog training. For more Dog Training information, visit http://www.dog-training-database.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Weber
Dangerous Dog Food -- Thursday October 1st, 2009
Dangers of Commercial Food
Choosing the right food for your dog can determine whether your dog lives a long, happy life or a short, miserable one. There are many dangers of commercial dog food. I've heard too many heartbreaking stories by those who have lost a dog at a young age only to find out it could have been prevented. People beat themselves up over it until they find out the food they thought was safe is full of ingredients that lead to many illnesses (some fatal) including:
Major Organ Failure
Severe Allergic Reactions
Blindness
Leukemia
Kidney, liver, stomach and bladder cancer
Soon after learning this their grief turns to rage. How can dog food companies continue to get away with this and never be held accountable? The first reason is commercial dog food remains dangerous is because FDA regulations aren't strict. Say you buy your dog chicken flavored dog food. Is it made with chicken? Yes. Is the chicken fit for human consumption? No way. Almost every part of the chicken is made into food including the blood, bones, lungs and even feathers. This brings me to the second reason.
The wording on the label doesn't look menacing or dangerous. It's vague and that's one of the hidden dangers of commercial dog food. The "meat" that goes into most dog foods is labeled "meat by-product". Something so vague could be virtually anything (and yes, it is what I listed above). We put enough trust in people to do the right thing that we would never think they would put the life of another living thing at risk for profit. Sadly, that just isn't the case.
It seems hopeless since we are left with few choices when it comes to dog food. Most of the brands just offer the same ingredients with a different brand name by a different company. If the government is just going to let them get away with it. Staying informed is key.
For a quality food, please check out Life’s Abundance on our website.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Parke
Activities For Dogs -- Wednesday September 30th, 2009
Whether you have a large or small dog it is very important for your dog to get some kind of exercise. Exercise is very beneficial to your dog for many reasons. One reason being a dog was not born to be chained up all day, kept in a kennel half the day or locked up in a home with no fresh air. Your dog needs fresh air every day, time to run, walk and have fun. Listed below are some ideas and places you can take/go with your dog to ensure your dog is a happy one!
*Take your dog for a DAILY WALK - whether it is around your neighborhood, around a school track, a walking trail nearby, a park or a conversation area; your dog will love to be out with you getting exercise!
*Take your dog for a CAR RIDE - I am sure by now you know your dog loves to be with you. If you haven't already consider taking your dog along with you on little outings, like to the bank or to get a quick bite to eat. Your dog will love the fresh air but don't forget if you end up running into a store leave the window down a bit and don't make it a long visit inside. FYI - you might take along a small towel just in case you find out your dog is car sick.
*Play BALL/FETCH - I have found my dog will enjoy running after a cheap dollar store stuffed animal rather than an expensive dog toy. Dogs love to chase and playing fetch with your dog is a great activity.
If for some reason you are limited to getting around and out to take you dog for walks, look into finding a friend or relative to daily take your dog for walks. Your dog needs the activity and exercise just like our bodies need the exercise!
Find lots of information on how to care for your dog, train your dog, names for your dog and much more at http://www.pickingadog.org
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Porr
Dog Attack Sentencing -- Tuesday September 29th, 2009
San Francisco woman sentenced to 15 years to life in dog attack
US News
Sep 23, 2008, 5:50 GMT
San Francisco - A woman whose two dogs attacked and killed her neighbor in the hallway of their San Francisco apartment building seven years ago was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.
Superior Court Judge Charlotte Woolard said Monday that Majorie Knoller, 53, had not bothered to put a muzzle on her aggressive Presa Canario-mastiff-mixed dogs before taking them out of her apartment and did not call for help or retrieve a weapon while the animals were mauling 33-year-old Diane Whipple for at least 10 minutes, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
In 2002, a California jury found Knoller guilty of second-degree murder, but a judge reversed the decision and found her guilty of manslaughter and sentenced her to a four-year jail sentence.
She spent three years behind bars before being paroled.
Last year, the state Supreme Court ruled that the judge had used the wrong legal standard in overturning the murder verdict. Woolard reinstated the jury's murder verdict at a hearing last month.
Knoller's lawyer said he would appeal the murder conviction.
Originating source: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/usa/news/article_1432517.php/San_Francisco_woman_sentenced_t15_years_to_life_in_dog_attack_
It Is A Dog's Life -- Monday September 28th, 2009
It's a dog's life
Marni Jameson - Times Correspondent | Posted: Thursday, September 24, 2009 12:00 am | No Comments Posted
"Who did this?" I'm on my hands and knees growling as I clean a mess I didn't make. My dogs, Oliver and Theo, tuck their tails under their bellies and slink away, like teenagers caught smoking.
I know my home has gone to the dogs, but lately that's true more than ever. For some un-dog-ly reason, my pampered bichon frisés have forgotten their indoor manners and regressed in potty training.
"If I didn't love you so much," I say, as I wipe and disinfect. It's too late to scold them; besides, I never know which one did it. I tell them how I feel, though they're nowhere in sight. Like my kids, they know when to conveniently disappear, though they're listening, always listening. Call Theo and Oliver by name, and they hide behind the sofa. But run a can opener, rattle the lid to their cookie jar, or slide open the back door, and they come running like the bulls of Pamplona. Call my kids from the next room to ask them to empty the dishwasher, and they're deaf as Dalmatians, but whisper that you just bought two pints of Ben and Jerry's, and their bat-like radar draws them home from two blocks away.
"Are they mad at you?" asked Sheryl Matthys, dog expert and founder of LeashesandLovers.com, when I asked her advice.
"If they are, they sure know how to hold a grudge."
"Do they need more outside time?"
"Except after 10 p.m., when they're tucked into their custom doggie beds, they're free to flip in and out the doggie door whenever their furry feet feel like it."
My husband, Dan, did not get the dog-lover gene, and is even more fed up with the dogs' backsliding. However, he knows better than to pick this bone with me, or he'll be the one in the doghouse. He knows how dogs rate with me, in many cases higher than people, including good husbands. Dogs don't complain about your cooking or singing. They don't care if your hair's a mess, or your breath smells like old coffee and pizza, if you're fat or skinny, or if you burp when you drink soda.
According to the Humane Society, I've got lots of canine-loving company: 39 percent of U.S. households own at least one dog, and 75 million dogs are pets. Yes, many are trouble. However, I'm sure the two-legged residents of those 39 percent households would agree with me: a house is not a home without a dog or two.
Here are some suggestions from Matthys on how to cohabitate more beautifully with our fuzzy friends.
* Set the ground rules. To re-housebreak my boys, Matthys said to clean, clean, clean. One reason my dogs kept marking the same spots was because I was using ammonia-based cleaners. Urine smells like ammonia, and triggers dogs to mark.
* Duh! Best solution: One part white vinegar with three parts water. (Or buy an off-the-shelf pet deodorizer and disinfectant like Nature's Miracle or Simple Solution.) Wipe up waste. Cover the area with the solution. Let it soak in; blot. Not sure where the spot is? Shine a black light around. It makes urine glow.
* Find fur-friendly fabrics. I've written before about Crypton, a synthetic stain-bouncing fabric, available at JoAnn's fabric stores, or online at www.cryptonfabric.com . Dog Gone Smart (www.doggonesmartbed.com) uses NanoSphere technology fabrics on dog beds and crate pads. The protective finish lets you rinse off soil and dirt with water. Tyler & Friends (www.tylerandfriends.com) makes some adorable products, including wallpaper, in designer doggie prints, though the fabric is not quite as durable. Leather makes another good pet choice. It wipes easily, won't snag, and leather lubricant can usually buff out scratches.
* Think down. Choose flooring in a pet home with care. Carpet is cozy, dulls noise, and, if it's the right color, can hide fur. But it traps odors and stains. Avoid loop carpets, like Berber, because claws can catch a loop, and unravel the carpet. Hard floors are far easier to clean; wood is warmer than stone.
* Don't lie with dogs (unless you want to). I'm not promising that putting a dog bed in your room will instantly get your pooch off your bed and into his, but it's a start. Pick one the same shade as your dog's fur. Many styles are available online, and at stores like Petco, Target, Wal-Mart and PetSmart.
* Snoop around pet boutiques and you'll find elaborate dog canopy beds, dog sofas and chaises in fun, pooch-friendly fabrics. Some end tables and nightstands out today double as dog crates in disguise.
* Have canine class. Contain squeaky toys and chews in a doggie toy chest or basket that Fifi can get into herself. And don't give Spike a treat from a bag. Put treats in a stylish cookie jar (with a tight seal to lock in the smell) or a cool canine canister. Mine has a lid painted like a bichon's face, and around the neck hangs a dog-bone collar with my dogs' names on it.
Join me next week as we talk about designer doggie digs.
Marni Jameson is a humorous syndicated home-design columnist, speaker and author of "The House Always Wins" (DaCapo/Perseus), now in paperback. Reach her at marnijameson.com.
Come Join Us! -- Friday September 25th, 2009
Please be sure to come see us on Sunday September 27, 2009 from 11:00 - 4:00 at the Petsmart in Hobart located on Route 30!
The Importance of Leashes -- Wednesday September 16th, 2009
Jessica Simpson's dog tragedy a lesson for leashes
September 16, 11:17 AMSF Dogs ExaminerShelley Frost
Dog owners who let their dogs wander off leash are not only violating the law in most jurisdictions, they are also putting their own dog at terrible risk. (YOUR ADOPTED DOG)
When a high profile celebrity like Jessica Simpson suffers a tragedy such as the loss of her small dog Daisy to a coyote earlier this week, we should examine our own safety precautions we take with our dogs. Using a leash is loving your dog. Had Daisy been leashed, it is unlikely she could have been snatched by a coyote.
It seems counterintuitive, but a leash means freedom. Notice how excited your dog gets when you bring out his leash? Your dog knows the two of you are going out. He's thinking adventure, new smells, and fun with you. A leash also means you won't get a ticket for violating the leash law, and that your dog won't in a moment of passion, chase a rabbit into a ravine and disappear for hours - or worse. (YOUR ADOPTED DOG)
Lists of Leashes:
Walking leashes are usually made from leather or nylon. It is recommended that they be at least six feet in length with a loop on one end for you to hold securely.
Tab leashes are short leashes usually used during dog training exercises.
Self-retracting leashes can allow dogs up to twenty-six feet of line. If your dog is well-behaved, a retracting leash is fun for sniffing and visiting. But for dogs who need reminders of their manners, these leashes are not recommended.
The information for this article was taken from the book YOUR ADOPTED DOG: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RESCUING AND CARING FOR A BEST FRIEND IN NEED, The Lyons Press, 2007, Frost/Makris
Source: Associated Press
Babies Understand Dogs -- Tuesday September 15th, 2009
Babies Understand Dogs, Bark-matching Study Finds
Science Daily (July 21, 2009) — New research shows babies have a handle on the meaning of different dog barks – despite little or no previous exposure to dogs.
Infants just 6 months old can match the sounds of an angry snarl and a friendly yap to photos of dogs displaying threatening and welcoming body language.
The new findings come on the heels of a study from the same Brigham Young University lab showing that infants can detect mood swings in Beethoven’s music.
Though the mix of dogs and babies sounds silly, experiments of this kind help us understand how babies learn so rapidly. Long before they master speech, babies recognize and respond to the tone of what’s going on around them.
“Emotion is one of the first things babies pick up on in their social world,” said BYU psychology professor Ross Flom, lead author of the study.
Flom and two BYU students report their latest “amazing baby” findings in the journal Developmental Psychology.
“We chose dogs because they are highly communicative creatures both in their posture and the nature of their bark,” Flom said.
In the experiment, the babies first saw two different pictures of the same dog, one in an aggressive posture and the other in a friendly stance. Then the researchers played – in random order – sound clips of a friendly and an aggressive dog bark.
“They only had one trial because we didn’t want them to learn it on the fly and figure it out,” Flom said.
While the recordings played, the 6-month-old babies spent most of their time staring at the appropriate picture. Older babies usually made the connection instantly with their very first glance.
Study co-authors Dan Hyde and Heather Whipple Stephenson conducted the experiments as undergrads and don’t recall any babies getting upset.
“Many of them enjoyed it,” said Hyde. “Others just looked.”
“Infants are pretty cooperative subjects,” Stephenson added.
The mentored research experience helped Hyde and Stephenson secure spots at prestigious grad schools. Hyde is currently at Harvard working toward a Ph.D. in developmental psychology. Fellow co-author Heather Whipple Stephenson recently completed a master’s degree in educational psychology at the University of Minnesota.
“With this study, my favorite part was watching a somewhat zany idea grow into a legitimate research project,” Stephenson said.
Originating source of this story: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090720163559.htm
Help For Phobic Dogs -- Thursday September 10th, 2009
Help for Thunder-Phobic Dogs
Veterinarians Show Consoling Dogs Does Not Relieve Their Panic
June 1, 2006 — A new study shows that dogs can get very upset during thunderstorms, whether or not their owner holds them. The study measured the stress hormone cortisol to be up to three times normal levels while the dogs heard recordings of a thunderstorm. The company of other dogs did help, though vets say medications may be more effective.
Do thunderstorms make your dog tremble with fear with every rumble? Thunderstorm anxiety is common among dogs, sending frightened pooches shuddering under beds or even tearing up furniture. What's really behind this pet panic?
All it takes is one rumble from a thunderstorm and Patty Nordstrom's dog, Iko, is a nervous wreck.
"Iko starts shaking and panting and pacing and is very nervous and upset," Nordstrom says. Many sympathetic owners like her try comforting pooches with thunderstorm anxiety. Now, a new study shows consoling your pet may not help.
"One thing that the study showed was their dogs got really upset whether they held them, whether they left them alone," says Nancy Dreschel, a veterinarian at Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pa.
During the study, veterinarians sampled the dogs' saliva from a chewed cotton rope after they listened to a thunderstorm recording. Vets then measured the stress hormone cortisol and found its levels increased an average of 200 percent during a storm!
Dr. Dreschel says, "Physiologically, they're definitely responding -- their body's responding -- to this stress."
So how do you help Fido cope? Researchers say having other dogs around may help lower stress levels. "In dogs that lived in households with other dogs, their response was not as high and seemed to come back to normal more quickly," Dr. Dreschel says. But don't run out and get another dog just yet. She says talk to your vet first.
While Nordstrom figures out the best way to calm Iko, she's lucky thunderstorm season doesn't last forever. "It only really happens a few months out of the year. We try to work with him the best we can." Working to help man's best friend weather the next storm.
Researchers point out that having a multiple-dog household won't cure your pet of storm phobia. If you have a dog with severe storm phobia, discuss behavior options, like medications, with your veterinarian.
BACKGROUND: A new study by researchers at Penn State University has found that having a sympathetic owner did not lower the stress reaction of dogs that become anxious or fearful during noisy thunderstorms, but that living in a multi-dog household did lower the stress reaction. Storm-phobic animals can exhibit erratic behavior, destroying household items and furnishings, and causing their owners to experience lack of sleep and considerable mental stress.
ABOUT THE STUDY: Thunderstorm-anxious dogs not only suffer classic signs of fear -- including pacing, whining and hiding during a storm -- but also show a 207 percent spike in the production of cortisol, a hormone also produced by humans during stress. The researchers took saliva samples from the dogs used in the study before and after exposure to a recorded thunderstorm, and measured the cortisol levels in each sample. Dogs that lived in multi-dog households had significantly less overall change in cortisol levels compared to dogs that lived in single-dog households. This corresponds to a less extreme reaction to thunderstorms in dogs from the multi-dog households. However, that doesn't mean those with anxious pets should run out to the local animal shelter for additional dogs. The dogs in multi-dog households started out with slightly higher cortisol levels, indicating they were already under more stress from living with other dogs.
FIGHT OR FLIGHT: Certain events act as "stressors," triggering the nervous system to produce hormones to respond to the perceived danger. Specifically, the adrenal glands produce more adrenaline and cortisol, releasing them into the bloodstream. This speeds up heart and breathing rates, and increases blood pressure and metabolism. These and other physical changes help us to react quickly and effectively under pressure. This is known as the "stress response," or more commonly, as the "fight or flight response." But if even low levels of stress go on too long, it can be detrimental to one's health. The nervous system remains slightly activated and continues to pump out extra stress hormones over an extended period, leaving the person feeling depleted or overwhelmed, and weakening the body's immune system.
STRESS-REDUCING TIPS: It might not be possible to de-sensitize dogs who are fearful of thunder, but there are some easy, practical things humans can do to reduce the amount of stress in their lives. (1) Be realistic and don't try to be perfect, or expect others to be so. (2) Don't over-schedule; cut out an activity or two when you start to feel overwhelmed. (3) Get a good night's sleep. (4) Get regular exercise to manage stress -- just not excessive or compulsive exercise -- and follow a healthy diet. (5) Learn to relax by building time into your schedule for reading or a nice long bath.
Originating source of this story: http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2006/0601-help_for_thunderphobic_dogs.htm
Petite Paws Rescue Angels -- Tuesday September 8th, 2009
Guess what? We now have yet another way to raise some funds for our foster babies!
Do any of you use Avon products?
One of our volunteers has opened up a new Avon online store just for us and she is going to donate 100% of her profits back to us. Isn't that fantastic?
The Holidays are right around the corner so why not start shopping early for that extra special someone you know. Avon has so many products to choose from now. I have been using Avon products my whole life and I just love them.
So please visit our new online store and do some shopping to benefit our rescue kids. Please tell all you friends and family too.
Click here to shop at Avon for Petite Paws Rescue. http://tclegg.avonrepresentative.com/
Thanks so much for all your continued support.
Foster Makeover Contest -- Tuesday September 8th, 2009
We are pleased to announce Petite Paws Rescue Foster Makeover Contest! In conjunction with our Fall for a Rescue fund raising campaign, we are holding a special contest with some of our "sponsorship only" dogs. The foster dog that raises the most money in donations will win a day of dog pampering, a new bed, new toys, treats, and other goodies!
To see the contestants and make a donation for your favorite foster, just click on the link:
http://www.petitepaws.org/fostermakeover09.htm
ChihuaWOW! -- Tuesday September 8th, 2009
"How Many Dogs Can Fit Inside a Chihuahua?"
CHICAGO, Ill. (USA) — No sooner had we asked, "How many dogs can fit inside a Chihuahua?" than we got a whole litter of answers.
Prior to last week, the world record for Chihuahua puppies was reportedly five. Then "Cricket" came along expecting six. But as it turns out, a prolific pooch named "Sassy" had already outdone them all.
Sassy's Chihuahua-ter broke on the morning of Sep. 29, and out came seven puppies.
On Sep. 29 between the hours of 10:45am and 6:22pm, Sassy gave birth to seven tiny bundles of fur at the home of Michael Kinser, possibly breaking the world's record for most puppies sired by a Chihuahua in one litter.
But, hold on to your umbilical cords, because just a few days ago, the record was broken again. ABC 7 Chicago reports that a Chihuahua named "Lucky" just gave birth to 10 puppies in Cicero, Illinois.
"She looked like a turkey," says Lucky's guardian, Edie Paese. "She gave to three and then maybe a half hour later she gave to three more. And then another one and then at one o'clock in the morning she gave birth to three more."
The father of the puppies, "Rocky", was also present at the blessed event and reportedly went crazy celebrating every time a puppy popped out.
"He was howling, screaming, crying. Yelling around, jumping around he went nuts," Vito Paese describes.
All ten pups are healthy and hungry, evidently. Since mamma Lucky only has eight "feeding stations", Ms. Paese has to help out with a bottle when she can.
The Paese family told reporters that they intend to keep and care for all the dogs together (as with Michael Kinser and Sassy's bunch). So that means you'll have to go elsewhere to get your own Chihuahua. But lucky for you, there are quite a few cuties in shelters around North America who are looking for homes.
Originating source of this story: http://dogsinthenews.com/issues/0211/articles/021125a.htm
Rescues Ride In Style -- Friday September 4th, 2009
By LINDA LOMBARDI
For The Associated Press
Puppies from an Ohio shelter are unloaded from the "Rescue Waggin'," a transportation service that takes animals from crowded shelters to uncrowded ones, at the Washington (D.C.) Animal Rescue League.
Puppies from an Ohio shelter are unloaded from the "Rescue Waggin'," a transportation service that takes animals from crowded shelters to uncrowded ones, at the Washington (D.C.) Animal Rescue League.
WASHINGTON — Dogs arriving at an animal shelter is usually a sad story. But the mood is more like Christmas morning as staff at the Washington (D.C.) Animal Rescue League wait for the Rescue Waggin' truck to open its doors.
The people and the animals have never met, but some greet like old friends. A basset shoots out to lick a face. Jodie Martin holds a small black puppy, one of the almost 40 dogs that she and the driver picked up that morning from two shelters in Ohio, and kisses it on the head before she hands it over.
"These are beautiful dogs," said a staff member at the Washington, D.C., shelter.
The Rescue Waggin' program of PetSmart Charities has moved more than 29,000 dogs since 2004 from communities with high euthanasia rates to shelters with high adoption rates. Their four trucks transport dogs from 53 shelters in 24 states, including a new route that serves Mississippi, Louisiana, southern Tennessee and Arkansas.
The pups travel in style: Specially designed trucks have air conditioning, piped-in music and video cameras so the dogs can be monitored in transit. The policy is not to transport animals more than 10 hours at a stretch, so the organization has just built a halfway kennel for overnight breaks to make longer trips a possibility.
When the dogs are led into their temporary home at the Washington Animal Rescue League, there's a full service hospital, a behavior department and a beautiful cageless shelter facility where a soothing fountain cascades over glass ceilings that let in natural light.
"We work on their physical, mental and social rehabilitation and transition them to new homes," says the league's director, Dr.Gary Weitzman.
If you live in a big city with a shelter like this one, it might be hard to understand how different the situation is in communities where the pups come from.
Mark Southwick says that when he started volunteering at the Parke-Vermillion County, Indiana, Humane Society in 2004, the euthanasia rate was 56 percent, including many perfectly adoptable animals, because they simply did not have the resources to either keep them or find them homes.
"Our shelter is situated in a very rural setting — we are literally in the middle of a cornfield," he says.
The shelter budget allows only enough paid staff to feed and clean. Volunteers like Southwick do all the adoption placement work. Volunteer efforts such as posting animals on Petfinder.com and transporting small groups of puppies to other shelters helped get the euthanasia rate down to 15-20 percent, Southwick says. Now, with Rescue Waggin', it's under 2 percent.
Moving animals in search of adoptive homes is not a new idea, but the scale of this program is unprecedented. Even a shelter like the Washington Animal Rescue League, which has long transported animals on its own, is enthusiastic about participating.
Weitzman says that it's a big help not to have to bear all of the costs, and the Rescue Waggin' trucks are state of the art. When he was on a committee to come up with guidelines for animal transportation, he says, "we found that we couldn't do better. They're really doing it right."
The program also does more than move animals around, with support services to help shelters improve the situation closer to home.
"If all we did was transport, that would not be the answer," said Marlene Walsh, director of Rescue Waggin' operator Humane Strategies.
Southwick's shelter has received grants from PetSmart Charities for facilities improvement and training to prevent illness. Most important, they are now able to offer low-cost spay and neuter services one day per week to the community and shelter animals.
For the shelters, the effects go far beyond the visible ones. "The thing that has changed so much is the more positive outlook," Southwick says.
Now that they no longer euthanize so many animals, volunteering and donations are up and staff turnover is at an all-time low, with positive results for all the animals, whether they leave on the Rescue Waggin' or not.
Says Southwick, "I see hope for these animals that I never saw before."
Originating source of this story: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2009801948_webanimalshelter04.html
A Dog's Life -- Thursday September 3rd, 2009
Science Daily (Aug. 19, 2009) — Some dogs are revered or pampered, with fancy clothes and loads of affection; others work for a living. David Blouin, a cultural sociologist at Indiana University South Bend, said relationships between dogs and their owners generally fall into three distinct categories, with some bestowing more canine benefits than others.
And while some dogs may live the high life, serving as surrogate children to their humans, their circumstances can change depending on their owner's life course and experiences.
"I found it interesting that there are different ways to relate to and think about animals and that people are able to switch and latch onto a different way of thinking about and treating animals when other things happen in their lives, like having children," said Blouin, an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.
Blouin conducted 28 in-depth interviews with dog owners from a Midwestern county. Dog ownership attitudes fell into three categories: Humanist, where dogs were highly valued and considered close companions, like pseudo people; protectionists might be vegetarians and they greatly valued animals in general, not just as pets; dominionists saw animals as separate and less important than people, often using the dogs for hunting and pest control and requiring them to live outdoors.
Blouin said the distinct orientations toward animals were informed by multiple, competing cultural logics as well as personal experiences, demographic characteristics and family structure. Rural dog owners were more likely to leave their pets outside, for example. Empty-nesters seemed to be the most attached to their pets.
"People don't make this stuff up themselves," Blouin said. "They learn how animals should be treated. There are different ideas out there and these ideas exist in little packages, which are promoted by different groups, like the Humane Society or kennel clubs."
Blouin is presenting his findings at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association.
Originating source of this story: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090810025813.htm
Oldest Dog Crosses Bridge -- Wednesday September 2nd, 2009
NEW YORK – A wire-haired dachshund that held the record as the world's oldest dog and celebrated its last birthday with a party at a dog hotel and spa has died at age 21 — or 147 in dog years.
The dog, named Chanel, died Friday of natural causes at her owners' home in suburban Port Jefferson Station, on Long Island.
Chanel, as stylish as her legendary namesake, wore tinted goggles for her cataracts in her later years and favored sweaters because she was sensitive to the cold, owners Denice and Karl Shaughnessy said Monday.
The playful dachshund was only 6 weeks old when Denice Shaughnessy, then serving with the U.S. Army, adopted her from a shelter in Newport News, Va.
Along with her owner, Chanel spent nine years on assignment in Germany, where she became adept at stealing sticks of butter from kitchen countertops and hiding them in sofa cushions in the living room, Shaughnessy said. She also liked chocolate, usually considered toxic to dogs, Shaughnessy said.
"She once ate an entire bag of Reese's peanut butter cups, and, you see, she lived to be 21, so go figure," Shaughnessy added.
Karl Shaughnessy nominated Chanel for the title of world's oldest dog after noticing the Guinness World Records book had no record.
Guinness World Records officials presented Chanel with a certificate as the world's oldest dog at a Manhattan birthday bash hosted by a private pet food company in May.
Chanel loved the party, especially the cake, which had a peanut butter flavor and had been made for dogs, Denice Shaughnessy said.
Chanel exercised daily and ate home-cooked chicken with her dog food, but good care wasn't entirely responsible for her long life, said her owners, who attributed God.
"Dogs are God's angels sent here to look out for us," Denice Shaughnessy said.
A dog from New Iberia, La., named Max, is vying for the record of world's oldest dog. Owner Janelle Derouen said Max marked his 26th birthday on Aug. 9. She said Guinness World Records officials were reviewing documents to authenticate his age; a Guinness World Records official in London didn't immediately answer an e-mail from The Associated Press requesting confirmation of that.
When asked the secret to her dog's long life, Derouen said she was shocked he's still with her.
"I have five kids, and all my kids are grown and gone," she said. "Now my grandkids are playing with this dog."
Originating source of this story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_obit_world_s_oldest_dog
By VIRGINIA BYRNE, Associated Press Writer Virginia Byrne, Associated Press Writer – Mon Aug 31, 10:54 pm ET
One Lucky Lab -- Tuesday September 1st, 2009
Lucky Lab Cheats Death Row
Let's have a pop quiz...
If you were a dog about to be euthanized, what would you do?
a)Pee on the floor.
b)Claw, bite, maul someone.
c)Yell, "Freeeeeeedommm!"
(hey, it worked for Mel Gibson)
d)Shake the executioner's hand.
If you answered a, b or c, then have a nice afterlife, pal. The correct answer is d. Or at least that's what worked for a stray dog in Kansas City.
The unidentified Labrador mutt (later named "Lucky") was scheduled to be euthanized at the Kansas City, MO Animal Shelter. But at the moment she faced her executioner, Lucky did a very unusual thing, says canine caretaker Andrea Galeski. "She shook the guy's hand as he was going to put her to sleep."
Kansas City Animal Control euthanizes an average of 19 dogs per day1, and Lucky was about to be just another statistic, but the dog's pitiable gesture of goodwill was all it took to get a reprieve from the man with the needle. "He put her back in the cage," says Ms. Galeski.
The Power of the Paw
Who could deny this appeal?
It was enough to win Lucky a last minute paw-don.
SIT, STAY, STAY
OF EXECUTION
This loopy looking Labrador was smart enough to cheat her way off of death row. Now that's one helluva trick (sure beats playing dead).
Photo: KFMB CBS 8
After that, Ms. Galeski felt something had to be done. Her doggie daycare organization Puppy's Playpen was not looking for another pooch, but Lucky was persuasive.
"She just looked at me with the look of, What do you want me to do next? Just tell me what to do!" says Ms. Galeski.
"So I'm going to take her. She deserves a second chance."
Puppy's Playpen, which sponsors animal rescue, will be holding an adoption drive on April 21 in Overland Park where one lucky family may be able to take Lucky home. Drop by if you're in the area, and if you see our hand-shaking heroine there, be sure to give her a hi-5.
Well, ok, a hi-4 would do just as well.
Originating source of this story: http://dogsinthenews.com/stories/070418a.php
Kleenex Warning! -- Monday August 31st, 2009
To Whoever Gets My Dog
They told me the big black Lab's name was Reggie as I looked at him lying in his pen. the shelter was clean, and the people really friendly..
I'd only been in the area for six months, but everywhere I went in the small college town, people were welcoming and open. Everyone waves when you pass them on the street.
But something was still missing as I attempted to settle in to my new life here, and I thought a dog couldn't hurt. Give me someone to talk to.
And I had just seen Reggie's advertisement on the local news. The shelter said they had received numerous calls right after, but they said the people who had come down to see him just didn't look like "Lab people," whatever that meant. They must have thought I did.
But at first, I thought the shelter had misjudged me in giving me Reggie and his things, which consisted of a dog pad, bag of toys almost all of which were brand new tennis balls, his dishes, and a sealed letter from his previous owner. See, Reggie and I didn't really hit it off when we got home. We struggled for two weeks (which is how long the shelter told me to give him to adjust to his new home). Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to adjust, too. Maybe we were too much alike.
For some reason, his stuff (except for the tennis balls - he wouldn't go anywhere without two stuffed in his mouth) got tossed in with all of my other unpacked boxes. I guess I didn't really think he'd need all his old stuff, that I'd get him new things once he settled in. but it became pretty clear pretty soon that he wasn't going to.
I tried the normal commands the shelter told me he knew, ones like "sit" and "stay" and "come" and "heel," and he'd follow them - when he felt like it. He never really seemed to listen when I called his name - sure, he'd look in my direction after the fourth of fifth time I said it, but then he'd just go back to doing whatever.. When I'd ask again, you could almost see him sigh and then grudgingly obey.
This just wasn't going to work. He chewed a couple shoes and some unpacked boxes. I was a little too stern with him and he resented it, I could tell.
The friction got so bad that I couldn't wait for the two weeks to be up, and when it was, I was in full-on search mode for my cell phone amid all of my unpacked stuff. I remembered leaving it on the stack of boxes for the guest room, but I also mumbled, rather cynically, that the "damn dog probably hid it on me."
Finally I found it, but before I could punch up the shelter's number, I also found his pad and other toys from the shelter.. I tossed the pad in Reggie's direction and he snuffed it and wagged, some of the most enthusiasm I'd seen since bringing him home. But then I called, "Hey, Reggie, you like that Come here and I'll give you a treat." Instead, he sort of glanced in my direction - maybe "glared" is more accurate - and then gave a discontented sigh and flopped down. With his back to me.
Well, that's not going to do it either, I thought. And I punched the shelter phone number.
But I hung up when I saw the sealed envelope. I had completely forgotten about that, too.
"Okay, Reggie," I said out loud, "let's see if your previous owner has any advice.".........
"To Whoever Gets My Dog:
Well, I can't say that I'm happy you're reading this, a letter I told the shelter could only be opened by Reggie's new owner.
I'm not even happy writing it. If you're reading this, it means I just got back from my last car ride with my Lab after dropping him off at the shelter. He knew something was different. I have packed up his pad and toys before and set them by the back door before a trip, but this time... it's like he knew something was wrong. And something is wrong... which is why I have to go to try to make it right.
So let me tell you about my Lab in the hopes that it will help you bond with him and he with you.
First, he loves tennis balls... the more the merrier.
Sometimes I think he's part squirrel, the way he hordes them.
He usually always has two in his mouth, and he tries to get a third in there. Hasn't done it yet.
Doesn't matter where you throw them, he'll bound after it, so be careful - really don't do it by any roads. I made that mistake once, and it almost cost him dearly.
Next, commands. Maybe the shelter staff already told you, but I'll go over them again: Reggie knows the obvious ones - "sit," "stay," "come," "heel." He knows hand signals: "back" to turn around and go back when you put your hand straight up; and "over" if you put your hand out right or left. "Shake" for shaking water off, and "paw" for a high-five. He does "down" when he feels like lying down - I bet you could work on that with him some more. He knows "ball" and "food" and "bone" and "treat" like nobody's business.
I trained Reggie with small food treats.
Nothing opens his ears like little pieces of hot dog.
Feeding schedule: twice a day, once about seven in the morning, and again at six in the evening.
Regular store-bought stuff; the shelter has the brand.
He's up on his shots.
Call the clinic on 9th Street and update his info with yours; they'll make sure to send you reminders for when he's due. Be forewarned: Reggie hates the vet.
Good luck getting him in the car - I don't know how he knows when it's time to go to the vet, but he knows.
Finally, give him some time.
I've never been married, so it's only been Reggie and me for his whole life. He's gone everywhere with me, so please include him on your daily car rides if you can. He sits well in the backseat, and he doesn't bark or complain. He just loves to be around people, and me most especially.
Which means that this transition is going to be hard, with him going to live with someone new. And that's why I need to share one more bit of info with you....
His name's not Reggie.
I don't know what made me do it, but when I dropped him off at the shelter, I told them his name was Reggie. He's a smart dog, he'll get used to it and will respond to it, of that I have no doubt. but I just couldn't bear to give them his real name. For me to do that, it seemed so final, that handing him over to the shelter was as good as me admitting that I'd never see him again. And if I end up coming back, getting him, and tearing up this letter, it means everything's fine. But if someone else is reading it, well... well it means that his new owner should know his real name. It'll help you bond with him. Who knows, maybe you'll even notice a change in his demeanor if he's been giving you problems.
His real name is Tank. Because that is what I drive.
Again, if you're reading this and you're from the area, maybe my name has been on the news. I told the shelter that they couldn't make "Reggie" available for adoption until they received word from my company commander. See, my parents are gone, I have no siblings, no one I could have left Tank with... and it was my only real request of the Army upon my deployment to Iraq, that they make one phone call the shelter... in the "event"... to tell them that Tank could be put up for adoption. Luckily, my colonel is a dog guy, too, and he knew where my platoon was headed. He said he'd do it personally. And if you're reading this, then he made good on his word.
Well, this letter is getting to downright depressing, even though, frankly, I'm just writing it for my dog. I couldn't imagine if I was writing it for a wife and kids and family. but still, Tank has been my family for the last six years, almost as long as the Army has been my family.
And now I hope and pray that you make him part of your family and that he will adjust and come to love you the same way he loved me.
That unconditional love from a dog is what I took with me to Iraq as an inspiration to do something selfless, to protect innocent people from those who would do terrible things... and to keep those terrible people from coming over here. If I had to give up Tank in order to do it, I am glad to have done so. He was my example of service and of love. I hope I honored him by my service to my country and comrades.
All right, that's enough.
I deploy this evening and have to drop this letter off at the shelter.
I don't think I'll say another good-bye to Tank, though. I cried too much the first time. Maybe I'll peek in on him and see if he finally got that third tennis ball in his mouth.
Good luck with Tank. Give him a good home, and give him an extra kiss goodnight - every night - from me."
Thank you, Paul Mallory
I folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope. Sure I had heard of Paul Mallory, everyone in town knew him, even new people like me. Local kid, killed in Iraq a few months ago and posthumously earning the Silver Star when he gave his life to save three buddies. Flags had been at half-mast all summer.
I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on my knees, staring at the dog.
"Hey, Tank," I said quietly.
The dog's head whipped up, his ears cocked and his eyes bright. "C'mere boy." He was instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on the hardwood floor.. He sat in front of me, his head tilted, searching for the name he hadn't heard in months.
"Tank," I whispered. His tail swished. I kept whispering his name, over and over, and each time, his ears lowered, his eyes softened, and his posture relaxed as a wave of contentment just seemed to flood him. I stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried my face into his scruff and hugged him.
"It's me now, Tank, just you and me. Your old pal gave you to me." Tank reached up and licked my cheek. "So whatdaya say we play some ball His ears perked again. "Yeah Ball You like that Ball "
Tank tore from my hands and disappeared in the next room. And when he came back......he had three tennis balls in his mouth.
Originating source of this story is unknown.
Petite Paws Milestone -- Thursday August 27th, 2009
As of today, Petite Paws Rescue Angels reached a total of 700 dogs saved!
Thank you all for your continued support!
Vick-What Is Next -- Wednesday August 26th, 2009
Michael Vick. The name not only turns heads - in our community, it makes pets and their people cry themselves to sleep. The Dogster "Jerk of the Year" award? No question. Paws down, done deal. Congratulations, Mr. Vick.
From the Dog Blog to The Cat's Meow, we've been covering the issue and providing a place where people can let their feelings out and express themselves. A special group on Dogster has even been formed: For the Love of Every Dog is actively taking a stand against Michael Vick, and is open to our canine and or feline friends. Obviously, it's a situation that really affects dog and cat lovers. It's a horrible, disgusting story that we certainly wish we didn't have to cover. Things would be so much easier if none of this ever happened and Vick was just a football player playing football. Running, passing, getting sacked every now and then... same old, same old.
Sadly, that's not the case. Vick's involvement in and support of organized dogfighting and consequent dog deaths led to his being caught, tried, imprisoned and (temporarily, at least) banned from play in the NFL. But as we all know, he's out of jail now, and he's back in the NFL. Vick was recently signed to a $1.6 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, is allowed to play in the last Eagles preseason games, and will attend all practices and meetings. After that, he'll be eligible for full reinstatement to the NFL, and, should NFL commissioner Roger Goodell give the go-ahead, Vick will be allowed to resume play as before.
If there is any good that has come out of the Michael Vick situation, it's that his cruel and irresponsible actions have brought focus to the dogfighting situation in the United States - it is seriously out of control, and it is something we should all be concerned about. Vick's arrest and conviction also made one thing very clear: dogfighting is not just a low-brow but harmless sport - it's a gruesome, murderous, disgusting "hobby." Largely an underground activity, the number of people involved in dogfighting is difficult to guess, but the estimate reaches well into the tens of thousands. Again: it is a prevalent epidemic in this country, and one that needs to be addressed.
So the question is: where do we go from here? What's done is (unfortunately) done and we have to move on and address the issue of dogfighting in the United States and abroad. This grim issue requires the attention of every pet lover out there. The scenario involving Michael Vick has brought to light the fact that dog-fighting (and killing) is actually an acceptable form of sporting entertainment in some social circles. Allowing this to continue is dangerous, cruel and inhumane. It has to stop.
Originating source of this story: http://blogs.dogster.com/dogster_site_updates/2009/08/24/michael-vick/?utm_source=dogster%2Bnewsletter&utm_medium=inline%2Btext&utm_campaign=090825
Girl Raises Money For Dog -- Tuesday August 25th, 2009
"8-Year-Old Girl Raises Money For Dog’s Operation”
It was love at first sight. When Katherine Hawkins, an eight-year-old girl from Atlanta, first saw Rocky’s picture on the Internet, she just fell in love with this golden retriever who was looking for a new home.
But Rocky needed surgery because he had been hit by a car and his previous owners had never treated his broken leg.
Without ever meeting Rocky, Katherine started to raise money to pay for Rocky’s surgery. She first gave up her allowance and then started selling cookies.
Katherine’s mother said, “You cannot resist a little 8-year-old girl holding this envelope saying would you please give money to help this dog that’s been run over.”
This motivated young girl raised over $1,000 dollars which was about half of what Rocky’s surgery would cost.
Adopt-A-Golden, where Rocky was staying, was so impressed with Katherine’s efforts that they knew that she would make a loving and caring owner for Rocky.
Kate Jackson of Adopt-A-Golden said, “She had done so much research into the golden retriever breed. It was her idea to start raising money to take care of his operation, so when it came time for Adopt A Golden to look for someone to help with the recovery, we couldn’t think of a better person.”
After Rocky’s surgery, he was able to go to his new home and he even got a new name, Tanner. Katherine said he wasn’t a Rocky because he was so sweet.
Katherine’s mother added, “I kept reminding her, you’re 8-years-old, and look what you’re doing, you’re changing the world for a dog.”
Source: KSDK http://www.itchmo.com/8-year-old-girl-raises-money-for-dogs-operation-4847#more-4847
Mouth To Snout Saves Dog -- Monday August 24th, 2009
"A kiss makes the heart young again and wipes out the years."
-Rupert Brooke
Whoa Boy, it wasn't that kind of kiss. Granted, the 15-year-old dog was indeed a casualty of love and perhaps in need of a younger heart, but it was the "kiss-of-life" that brought this big boy back from the brink.
NEW LONGTON — But I suppose now we ought to begin from the beginning; it seems "Laddie" has had a nose for getting himself killed lately. Just four months since his last death experience (in which he drowned in a canal and was revived by his guardian Tricia Parker), the dog keeled over again while on a walk at the New Longton playing field.
An incorrigible girl-chaser with a degenerative heart condition, Laddie tends to get rather worked up in the presence of the ladies despite his advanced years. This time it was Meg, a 10-month-old lab mutt who sent the canine Casanova into cardiac arrest.
"My dog is under heart treatment from the vet," says Ms. Parker of Hey Ends. "He is 15 but he thinks and acts like he's five. He goes mad for girl dogs and that's what caused it."
She further explains, "He saw this other dog and he was off, but he collapsed before he got to her. He has a leaky valve in his heart and he got that excited his heart stopped."
Lucky for Laddie, it was Paul Whalley, an ambulance-trained medic, who was walking the other dog Meg when the incident occurred, reports the Lancashire Evening Post.
Thinking fast, he utilized his life-saving skills and gave the dog mouth-to-mouth, with wonderful results.
Says Ms. Parker, "If it wasn't for this guy, that would have been it; he's my hero. I wanted to thank him so much for what he did. He brought him back to life."
The hero Mr. Whalley left no immediate comment for reporters. It is our guess that he's still gargling with mouthwash.
Originating source of this article: http://dogsinthenews.com/issues/0106/articles/010626a.htm
Extra Mile For Aging Pets -- Thursday August 20th, 2009
Dog lovers who go the extra mile for aging pets.
August 20, 2009
Ask Ollie
Dear Reader -- In recent weeks we have published unhappy tales about puppy mills and fat cats. This week in an attempt to write a fluffier story, I introduce you to a happy tale about animal lovers who walk the extra mile for their aging dogs.
A recent Hobart Business After Hours, hosted by Service Doctor, was attended by 100 Hobart Chamber of Commerce members and guests plus two dogs. One dog, 17-year-old Julie, a mixed breed, belongs to Merrillville attorney Donald Schlyer. The second dog, Gavin, is a 12-year-old purebred Yorkshire terrier and an important member of the Angela Davis and Randy Ralls family. Davis and Ralls hosted the chamber event at their new Service Doctor showroom at 5150 Plaza in Hobart.
"The event gave us a unique opportunity to show off our new cooking school, the showroom built about one year ago and our neighbor, the Spike and Buddy's décor store," Davis said. "Gavin was at the event as part of his professional duties. He is the president of our company and his job description is simple. He is to be sure that we are all having a good time and that everyone is safe."
Gavin sleeps much of the day but, when required, supervises employees from his office on the corner pillow. "He's not a micro-manager and is smart enough to delegate to everyone else," Davis said.
Julie travels everywhere with Schlyer and is an expert in client service. In her youth she exhibited the true grit to be in law by riding with Schyler on his motorcycle.
"She performs her duties well," Schyler said. "It's difficult for the partners to be cross with any dog when you realize that the name 'dog' is God spelled backward," he said. "This dog is the epitome of an animal with a good heart. She doesn't have many faults other than her lifespan being just too short."
Both Gavin and Julie go to work with their humans five days a week. Schyler is a personal injury and bankruptcy attorney.
"When clients are uncomfortable, Julie comes into the room and does her magic," he said. "Just her presence settles down clients and our employees, too. Clients begin to feel more comfortable and that takes the stress out of doing a deposition," he said. "Unfortunately, she is getting very old and that is why I take her everywhere I go. When she dies, I will get another dog from a shelter, but not right away. I will let at least one season pass out of respect for Julie."
At the event, both Gavin and Julie were appropriate and didn't beg from guests enjoying a menu of grilled vegetable pizza, shrimp toast bruschetta, Swedish meatballs and chocolate chip cookies piled on plates held high in the air. Personally, I would rather be president of a company or a respected member of a law office if I could come that close to delicious Swedish meatballs. Food is not a perk for this writer. -- Ollie
Originating source of this story: http://www.post-trib.com/lifestyles/ollie/1722373,askollie0820.article
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