Dog News

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2005-07-29T16:18:00.000-07:00

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Dog car

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2005-07-10T15:41:00.000-07:00

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Originally uploaded by dogk9.

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2005-07-08T12:16:00.000-07:00

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Originally uploaded by dogk9.

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2005-07-08T12:10:00.000-07:00

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Originally uploaded by dogk9.

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2005-07-08T12:08:00.000-07:00

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Originally uploaded by dogk9.

2005-03-21T11:34:00.000-08:00

"Plastic surgery is good for dogs!" according to a leading Brazilian pet plastic surgeon. A face-lift for a dog? [Seattle Post Intelligence] Not only can you get a face-lift for your dog, but you can even order up a mammary lift for her droopy tits after she's had her puppies... (Surely the SPCA would label this kind of pure cosmetic surgery an unnecessary and cruel procedure?)

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2005-03-14T12:59:00.000-08:00

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2005-03-14T12:49:00.000-08:00

Customize your Google News: If you're looking for updated news for dog and pet owners, nothing beats Google News' new customize your own news service! We rolled a dog news url for pet owners in just a few minutes: Google custom news for pets and their companions:

After enabling cookies, javascript and images, try this url:

[ Geek News: Google gets personal; Betanews: Google adds customization XP Central: Sweet! Google News goes custom]

2005-03-14T12:47:00.000-08:00

Customize your Google News: If you're looking for updated news for dog and pet owners, nothing beats Google News' new customize your own news service! We rolled a dog news url for pet owners in just a few minutes: Google custom news for pets and their companions:

After enabling cookies, javascript and images, try this url: (copy and paste in your browser and then press the <Enter> key

-----begin --------copy all five lines as one url into your browser's address-----------------------------

news.google.com/news?ned=:ePkh8BM9RZDLEoIwDEXXrlTAxzLDsit_KZRIM8bSaaMMf28
rMOzaczPnpq2upkLPbxRIjkQpQj8Oj0N1Med8AI3Inv1QaMq4MadAWm4gOG30ZupCbDZ5gkiJMFq3BG0
YhS2V0XadyMHdNOooYpj_LjemwIqyuxI-SWcoZcphLdmqPU0Q4th_rOagNscCXyxCPXSstO9vSaiLvJg
yzs_9rhJHKOoWvn3hDwQmUsk

----------------end------------

[ Geek News: Google gets personal; Betanews: Google adds customization XP Central: Sweet! Google News goes custom]

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2005-03-11T07:42:00.000-08:00

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2005-03-10T08:28:00.000-08:00

2005-02-16T19:28:00.000-08:00

Maryland's unequal assault law values dogs over police officers MD Currently, assaulting a police dog in Maryland earns a felony crime charge while the assault of a police officer only earns a misdemeanor... even if the officer is disabled for life. [Home Town Annapolis]

Proof of dog bites to include teeth marks MD Montgomery County Maryland may broaden its dog bite laws so that potentially dangerous dogs may be quarantined, even if their bites didn't require stitches... [Business Gazette]

2005-02-09T18:44:00.000-08:00

Lawyer steals little boy's dog [The Question Fairy, Becki] (an incredible tale recounted by John Kass, The Chicago Sun Times]

SayUncle on Pitbulls... and other 'random politically incorrect doglinks

Dangerous Meta "Before anyone gets all huffy, try a Google search to find any negative interactions between wolves and hikers in Wyoming. I havent found a single instance": Wolves facing uncertain future in Wyoming [The New York Times] (hmmm... wolves kill cattle in Wyoming, via Google searches... )

The Cat Pack: Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Peter Lawford and Angie Dickinson (cool cat pics and tales, plus a bone or two for a stray dog... )

Zoya's Alaskan kennel journal celebrates a sled dog... dogs, mountains, art, friends!

Happy Valentines Day "Crazy life of an animal lover who takes care of 28 furred and scaled pets PLUS who works full time, is a married college student, and volunteers for a local humane association..." [Richardson Zoo] (how do these people do it? I'm pressed for time and I only care for 2 dogs and 1 spouse!) [all sites via Technorati search]

2005-02-09T15:51:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Mystix on his new dog, Noel.

"... My dog.. His name is Noel, yes I said HIS. He is a German Shepard, Akita mix.. He is so very beautiful. His owners have had him since he was born and hes four now.. They kept him inside and his owner loved him very much. His owners wife however grew tired of him and took him to the pound or the shelter or whatever.. They were going to put him to sleep because he had been there too long.. He is a big dog.. 100+ pounds, and they didnt think anyone would want a dog like that and after a while they put them down.. .. So, I went to see him Sunday and when I got there and the girl brought him out he was beautiful. He loves me too.. [Mystix Manor] (check out his awsome Mystic graphics!)

2005-02-09T13:01:00.000-08:00

Small dogs as fashion accessories [USA Today via Adfreak] (Install Shockwave Flash Player to see the slideshow which mixes beautiful actresses, tea cup dogs, and flowing dresses. ''The dog is your baby, but it's also a living accessory... '' Richie Rich (Check out Uma Thurman, Paris and Nicky Hilton, Carmen Electra, Ashley Olsen and others... )

2005-02-08T17:46:00.000-08:00

ASPCA cruelty law 'pocket' cards ... become familiar with anti-cruelty laws in your state and help the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals... [ASPCA] (we adopted one of our beloved dogs from the ASPCA... )

So, just what makes a person evil... [Boing Boing]

Perhaps, evil arises when there is an absence of good, or in institutionalized evil, presents as a kind of... 'collective thoughtlessness that the philosopher Hannah Arendt described as the banality of evil...' [The New York Times, For the worst of us, the diagnosis... ]

Just what makes a supposed savior of animals go over to the dark side, as some 'animal shelters' occasionally do? (Whistleblower Accuses California Oakland Animal Shelter of Systemic Abuse, Berkeley Daily Planet, Animal Adoption Network under fire; operator charged with animal cruelty, Monroe Courier)

This phenomena is not unlike the common power strip surge protector, which when stressed to its breaking point, goes 'bad' and goes over to the 'dark side' by ruining the very equipment it is harnessed to protect.

Animal shelters which lack the support and involvment of the communities they serve seem doomed to a similar transformation...

Certainly, the strain of accommodating a 'euthanasia' policy which kills shelter animals instead of rehoming them is too much for some shelter employees.

"A 2003 Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) study estimates that of the 6 to 8 million cats and dogs that enter animal shelters each year, nearly one-half are euthanized..." [Lincoln Tribune]

To end the evil... perhaps:

'The need for euthanasia starts and ends with everyone... By treating animals humanely and engaging actively in spay and neuter programs, the need for euthanizing healthy, but unwanted, animals will die away over time...' [Steven Rogelberg, associate psychology professor]

2005-02-08T13:47:00.000-08:00

Transcontinental journey: greyhound's value soars from $3000 to $3 million [Australia, The Advertiser] Greyhound racing hits the bigtime, but will added riches only add to the breed's horrific mistreatment?

2005-02-08T13:26:00.000-08:00

W O O F [Computer Cartoons, Google Images via Blogoscoped] Blogoscoped is full of interesting finds: Search engine puppy for exact searching (not puppies, sorry, but your precise topic)

more dog cartoons via Google images

2005-02-08T12:21:00.000-08:00

From the weird facts archive:

"Nose prints are used to identify dogs in the same way finger prints are used to identify human beings. Breeders and trainers keep a dog's nose prints on file as part of its permanent record and insurance companies now require them whenever a dog is to be bonded. At one time paw prints were used as a means of canine identification, but these proved less accurate than noses..." [Animals Skygaze]

Trailer trash: Officers identify the only clean item in a mobile home overrun with dog feces, cockroaches and trash: "a half-gallon of Crown Royal whiskey in the bedroom" [ABC News] (but no mention of finding the dog... maybe the 'dog' feces belonged to a different species of animal.)

Stupid pet trick... headline touting new way to calculate your dog's age without multiplication. But it will set you back about $24.00 oh! [Investor's Business Daily]

cosmetic surgery for pets, not! CA West Hollywood may soon bann tail-docking, ear cropping, debarking, declawing and other non-essential surgeries for pets [NBC Sandiego]

Pet therapy, an oasis of comfort for dying Canada '...All the nurses and staff here do everything they can. But there are some things that we can't do that a pet will do. And the pet doesn't judge you, so regardless of whether a patient's in a wheelchair or has difficulty in communicating or is not as alert or has some cognitive problems, that is nothing to a pet...' [CTV.ca]

2005-02-08T11:37:00.000-08:00

Siberia: friendly foxes more intelligent than unfriendly foxes... or are they just clever foxes... outfoxing their human observers... Siberian foxes bred for friendliness also appear to have more social intelligence, according to scientists studying them. [Nature]

2005-02-04T12:02:00.000-08:00

'In all cases, the reason why dogs develop issues is they're lacking exercise or leadership [from their human companions] or sometimes both.. ' Cesar Millan aka the dog whisperer, SignOnSanDiego.com]

Dog blogs: Doggy woggy photo blog, The Terriorists, The Dawg Blawg

Animal Rescue Site: sells merchandise for dogs and their humans:. "Over 10 million animals are put to death every year in the US alone because they are unwanted, abandoned, or abused... " Supposedly, just clicking on the ads will help save dogs...

while searching Google, this sidebar ad caught my eye...

Searching for Dog?
"We'll Pay You $300 Right Now
To Take A Quick Dog Survey!
HighPaySurveys.com " [ paid Ad on Google search]

I didn't sign up... check out their google listed links especially...

"//www.ahwa.org/jesus.html - Probably fake survey promising to pay $300 for taking a survey about Jesus. The first question is name and email, after submitting it says "Server misconfigured". [chat11.com: religious]

The snow's melting... finally. Dog companions beware! Before you shovel snow, put your pet INSIDE the house. This morning, I almost accidentally swiped one of my dogs with my snow shovel! I could just kick my myself.... what a stupid thing to do. An article from the Baltimore Sun two years ago, illustrates the dangers...

'pets were pummeled with shovels, smacked by snowboards and snowplows, lost for hours in snowdrifts and even shot.... the most common problems were frostbite and injuries inflicted by snow-covered objects, which the dogs had trouble seeing and smelling. ' [Baltimore Sun, Feb 23, 2003]

2005-02-04T10:52:00.000-08:00

I have 49 Gmail invites to give away!If you are a non-profit animal rescue group or an individual volunteering to help others, a Gmail account may be very valuable to your work. Gmail accounts are free! Just write:

First come, first served... Related: Gmail Tips: The Complete Collection [via Jenett Radio]

2005-01-26T18:41:00.000-08:00

Kumpi cares for service dogs in Iraq CO [CBS News 4, Denver]

When I called Kumpi Dog Food to place an order, Evy Serpa, the president, told me about her company's volunteer efforts to help service dogs working in Iraq:

These dogs save lives by identifying bombs so that civilians and soldiers are not blown up. The dogs are rarely injured, but the fact remains that every service dog puts its life on the line for its human counterparts.

Sadly, many of these dogs are malnourished and starving.

If you want to donate the best quality dog food, please help Evy's "Kumpi Kares for Iraq" service dogs fund by visiting any Denver metro area Wells Fargo Bank. For more information, call (303) 693-6533.

To order this quality dog food (which my dogs have personally tested and enjoyed), call Kumpi on its new toll free number: 1-877-465-8674 or go to Kumpi.com. Our dogs have tried both the senior Kumpi food and the regular Kumpi food. My smaller dog's bald spots (from prior surgeries) disappeared after she switched to Kumpi!

Helping service dogs is nothing new for Kumpi. The company also fed the service dogs which helped dig out the 911 disaster victims! More articles: Kumpi dog food and organic dog foods, What is Kumpi dog food

2005-01-26T13:52:00.000-08:00

No-kill shelter proposed CA [Canyon News] This may be old news, but it's ground breaking in its ideas:

"... proposed that each of the 86 Neighborhood Councils in Los Angeles appoint a local Director of Animal Welfare (DAW), who will have a duty to look out for the animals in the area. The DAW might arrange Animal Care Fairs, with free spay-neuter, dog training, education, and adoption services. One DAW might deal with dog-fighting problems, while another may assist with horse-related issues. Neighborhood Council meetings and newsletters are cost free means for reporting progress or pulling the community together for a particular project. A similar idea was practiced in Alameda County, resulting in emptier shelters..' Charlotte Laws

How to make Los Angeles a no-kill shelter city CA [Charlotte Laws]

2005-01-26T13:12:00.000-08:00

We sometimes find interesting sites in this site's Radioland Referers, just one of the many cool features of Radioland. Some of today's finds:

Community, Education and Links Animal Professional Network develops websites devoted to animals. Hmmm, they have a free web page offer to new subscribers, but it cost $15 a month to subscribe... oh well.

Race the Wind and adopt a greyhound I love Greyhounds... our chow chows are greyhound wannabies... When we went to look at adoptable dogs, we planned on a adopting a greyhound, but a very polite and shy chow captured our attention instead...

Police Patrol and Beyond, K-9 links

Search and rescue dogs

Search Bloogz

Search Creative Commons for your breed or interest

Geek News I usually go there from Daily Rotation, an all-inclusive, one-stop place for tech news...

Blogwise

Funny dog photos [Google Advanced Search] Pet Humor

2005-01-26T12:17:00.000-08:00

Goggle dog [DayPop Top 40] "Hello, I am Goggle Dog. I am a new blogger. I am most comfortable in goggles. Do you like? Do you want see me in goggles? Funny hats? Come back, and learn what it means to be me!"

2005-01-26T11:26:00.000-08:00

Going to visit at the hospital? Scrub up! Taking your therapy dog? He gets a bath too! Clean yourself advice on MRSA 'Patients should scrub up before coming to hospital to cut rates of superbug, say advisors...'

Patient Cleanliness Code

Wash before coming to hospital
Ask relatives to launder nightwear/bring toiletry supplies
Visitors should be freshly showered/bathed
Only two visitors at a time
Visitors should not sit on the bed
Patients in isolation should not have visitors
Ask staff/visitors to wash their hands
Bring medical wipes with you and clean your hands after using a bottle or bed pan
Collect your own bedside rubbish
Fill out hospital questionnaires [BBC News | News Front Page | UK Edition]

(Does anyone know where I can purchase 'hand wipes...' I've run out... It makes sense to hand them out when I visit the hospital with my therapy dog... )

2005-01-26T11:15:00.000-08:00

Do you own a dog? Are you a moron? Do you have a lot of money? Then get a cell phone for your dog! [Daypop Top 40]

Related : Fido gets his own cell phone [Dog News, December 2004] it may sound dumb, but if it's combined with a GPS signal, it could just find a lost dog... and for some owners, that's all that counts!

2005-01-26T11:03:00.000-08:00

(Amendment: Hedgeville Hounds won't be able to foster ChuCho after, due to the fact that he can dig under fences. He still needs a foster home and preferably, one that will keep him as an indoor dog and not one which would leave him unsupervised outside. He is an 'escape artist'.)

Yesterday, I received a call from Hedgesville Hounds, a rescue organization with an uncommon commitment to placing homeless dogs in loving homes. Hedgesville Hounds will help ChuCho, a homeless chow chow, until the perfect home is found for him. Thank you! Of course, ChuCho would never have had that chance for a second home, without the support of our local Humane Society in Rockville, Maryland, which works with animal rescue organizations in our area.

If you want to help Hedgeville Hounds with their mission, they need foster homes, donations, volunteers AND of course, adoptions. I hope someone wonderful adopts ChuCho; he's a magnificent, white chow chow with a joyful personality. Hedgeville Hounds will be featured on Animal Planet:

Hedgesville Hounds Pups Appear on Animal Planet!

"We were honored when our "Capra-Corns" were selected to be a part of the First Annual Puppy Bowl on ANIMAL PLANET airing on Sunday, February 6, 3-6 PM (ET) with encore presentations at 6 PM, 9 PM and 12 AM (ET). You have probably seen them in the commercials that are already airing..." [PR News Release]

Special thanks also go to Jeff Barr, who posted a note for me and got results! He heads up Syndic8.com, a web service provider with many cool FREE services:

A community-driven effort to gather syndicated news headlines...
A readable master list of syndicated news content...
An XML list of syndicated news content...
Quality of server measurement of all feeds, with statistics and history...
Complete statistics on every aspect of the site's content...

Reviews and pointers to syndicated tools and sites...
A very complete set of web services...
A plan to evangelize sites to syndicate their content...
A categorization system which uses existing schemes such as DMOZ
Articles and tutorials on syndication... [Syndic8.com]

2005-01-24T17:06:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the most depressing day of the year: January 24

'You're cold, miserable, in debt, out of shape, and you've already broken every one of your New Year's resolutions. Welcome to Jan. 24, the most depressing day of the year, according to a British psychologist...' [Ottawa Sun Online]

No wonder my dog is so grumpy... he isn't getting his evening walks on black-ice sidewalks.

Okay, so you've broken every resolution. You can make some more resolutions today and have fun breaking them tomorrow. That's what I did, and it's fun.

Go to Deepak Chopra's new Peace is the way website and pledge your allegiance to become a peacemaker. I've already broken my pledge, within minutes. Either Peace is the way is still under construction or I've locked myself out of its more promising sections, Chat and Forum, by refusing to activate Active-X. I am, as Deepak would say, distrustful and unevolved. sigh... if only the internet wasn't a quagmire of spyware and viruses.

When you go to 'Peace is the way', you'll immediately have to commit to becoming a peacemaker and then fill out a personal questionnaire of your inner character. At least it's easy...

I'd like to see someone or some animal welfare organization take Deepak's approach to 'viral marketing' and apply it to animal welfare: ask people to make a commitment to their pet, for better or worse, forever. and to take the next step: help others keep their pets by becoming a god (pet)parent. One of the best resources for animal welfare: Best Friends: no more homeless pets:

In Suicide's wake CA Suicide leaves questions and no easy answers to those left behind [Inside Bay Area]

Cheer up, tomorrow's January 25 and a better day than today.

2005-01-24T15:24:00.000-08:00

Profile of an animal cruelty investigator: protecting pets who have no voice:

"[The public] needs to understand that animals are like children. They are like family members... " [Herald Sun]

Annual Dogs in Art Auction includes famous Coolidge painting: Dogs playing poker. Mark your calendar: February 12 - 15, New York. [PokerMag.com]

Animal activists call Pitbull ban 'canine genocide' Canada "How is it possible to ban something with no legal description or definition?.. " [The Globe and Mail] (Apparently it is... as if that will stop dog fighting or dog attacks... keep on dreamin', Ontario... )

2005-01-24T14:59:00.000-08:00

Dog falls three stories, rescued by mountain climber TX [Local - KPRC Click2Houston.com]

From shelter dog to starring role in a Broadway musical... and a forever home NY A Broadway show producer chooses his canine actors from local animal shelters... [ABC News]

Murdered fashion designer leaves house to pet dog Germany Orphaned yorkshire terrier, Daisy, will also receive a live-in chauffeur... [Mail & Guardian]

2005-01-24T14:25:00.000-08:00

Supreme Court OKs dog sniff during traffic stop US citizens: Prepare for drug dog sniffs at traffic stops:

'The Supreme Court ruled Monday that police can have dogs check out motorists' vehicles for drugs even if officers have no particular reason to suspect illegal activity...' [baltimoresun.com]

2005-01-24T13:43:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone who has ever helped to place abandoned pets in new homes. Our own dog was once a homeless dog and would have been put down, had it not been for a selfless couple who took him in for three months as a foster. We treasure him and he is now a successful therapy dog who visits people and cheers them up in ways that no human can; this is his fifth year of service and he still relishes his work. My once homeless dog is a continual delight to everyone who meets him and a daily source of inspiration to me.

If you want to make your own miracle story happen, here's your opportunity.

A month ago, I got a call from the Montgomery County Humane Society to help find another sweet chow a home. He's still in the shelter. This time, this dog's plea is more desperate. His time is running out.

I've met this dog, walked him and played with him, and believe me, he is worthy of a good home. He has a friendly disposition and he listens well. Unfortunately, I won't take him; I have two dogs which are high maintenance (two hip replacements, two ACL surgeries, thyroid and arthritis issues, etc.) and I've made a lifetime commitment to them.

Can you help? Can you find ChuCho a home?

His plight is all the more poignant when you learn his story. He has never had a real home. He's been kept outside all of his life without walks or friends. His 'family' decided to get rid of him when he kept digging under the fence and running away. Happily, his temperment remains sweet and he's trainable. The Humane Society assures me he is in excellent health. They have great sympathy for him, but he hasn't found a home yet. Now, they're talking about 'putting him down.'

His problem is that he is a chow chow and that very label scares people off. I'm here to tell you that if the Humane Society says he's a great dog, with a friendly temperment who's passed his temperment test with flying colors, he's worth a chance.

You could foster him (if you live in Montgomery County, Maryland) if you are unsure if you want him and find out for yourself what a great dog he is. Or, you could even ADOPT him.

Chucho is the most beautiful and friendly chow I have ever seen. This neutered male chow chow is in good health, intelligent and trainable. He is mostly white with splashes of golden fur across his back;. his sunny disposition matches his gorgeous fur coat.

CHUCHO - ID#A258444 I am a neutered male, fawn Chow Chow. The shelter staff think I am about 1 year and 6 months old. I have been at the Rockville, Maryland, shelter since Dec 10, 2004. For more information about me, call:

Montgomery County Animal Control & Humane Society at (240) 773-5960
Ask for information about animal ID number A258444, tag #49

I know Chucho will bring good fortune and luck to his new family and home; can you make it happen. He needs your help.

2005-01-23T11:06:00.000-08:00

Animal rescuer or hoarder? CA The difference between a hoarder and an animal rescuer may be the outcome for the animal: adoption into a suitable family or confinement in an inadequate 'shelter':

"A rescuer is a person who is doing it properly... A hoarder is someone who falls in love with every animal and it becomes part of the family." [Bakersfield Californian]

2005-01-23T11:04:00.000-08:00

Animal rescuer or hoarder? CA The difference between a hoarder and an animal rescuer may be the outcome for the animal: adoption into a suitable family or confinement in an inadequate 'shelter':

"A rescuer is a person who is doing it properly... A hoarder is someone who falls in love with every animal and it becomes part of the family." [Bakersfield Californian]

2005-01-23T10:54:00.000-08:00

Academic advice: Spot is no name for a p*rn star CA The American Name Society provided common sense and hilarious entertainment at their annual Oakland conference which focused on the meaning of names... and how names influence perception and a product's success... [San Francisco Gate]

Hot: haunted items sell really well on Ebay If your dog or cat is terrified of a household object and it's driving you crazy with fear, you may make a tidy sum by selling it on Ebay. The key to a successful auction of a sufficiently haunted heirloom is how you tell your story... [Newspaper Asia]

2005-01-23T10:21:00.000-08:00

Dogs left outside in bitter cold, 20 degrees or below, may suffer frostbite or even death. NY Frostbite sounds like a treatable problem, but sadly, often it's a horrible death sentence. How many caretakers are willing to keep a dog who has had its paws amputated; untreated, severe frostbite can cause a dog's paws to drop off... Save your money, your heart and your dog, by bringing it inside:

'English recommends avoiding leaving your dogs outside at all costs, adding that just because they have fur coats doesn't mean they can endure cold temperatures...' [Oneida Daily Dispatch]

2005-01-21T10:36:00.000-08:00

Norway to kill 25% of its wolves A quarter of Norway's tiny population of wolves will be shot to protect farm animals. [BBC News]

K9 police dog sniffs out boob in boob toob [San Francisco Chronicle] When a thief hid inside a television, a persistent police dog sniffed him out, although police were convinced he had escaped the scene...

Family dog dies from grooming mishap [Yahoo News] (Stories like these encourage me to continue with paying extra for 'express' grooming... having the dogs washed, dried, brushed out by one trusted groomer, without the use of cages or crates.)

Help sponsor inmate-dog program Help inmates to rehabilate homeless dogs for eventual adoption...

"A New Leash on Life," pairs inmates with dogs from animal rescue agencies. [Yahoo News, Bladen Journal]

2005-01-21T10:08:00.000-08:00

Cold Weather fur facts DC While the US east coast is bracing for a winter storm which is expected to drop up to 8 inches of snow this weekend, pet owners are warned to bring their pets inside. Many owners do not do so because they believe these common myths:

Myth: Dogs and cats can fend for themselves in winter weather. Nothing could be further from the truth. The sad fact is that during winter many animal shelters are forced to euthanize cats suffering from irreparable frost bite of their ears and noses. [Chilling not healthy for pets, Journal World]

'The skin on an animal can freeze in as little as 20 minutes in sub-zero temperatures, according to local veterinarians and animal-care experts.

Veterinarians at the North Shore Animal Hospital on Neptune Boulevard in Lynn said animals should not be outside for more than 10 minutes in temperatures below 20 degrees...' [Fur Factor, Daily Item of Lynn]

Myth: Long-haired dogs can be left safely outside in frigid weather. Truth: even a heavy coated dog can freeze to death, especially if its coat gets wet. If the dog doesn't freeze to death, it can sustain frostbite and suffer if it has pre-existing arthritis. 'No pet should be left outside in temperatures below 40 degrees. Short-coated breeds and small dogs should be supplemented with a coat or a sweater. Outdoor breeds such as huskies and malamutes need warm shelter from the wind and cold as well as a source of unfrozen water...' [Cold weather related illness and your pet, Telegraph Online]

Myth: dogs don't need water outside and can be fed water only at night. While it's true that water freezes quickly in 20 degree weather, that doesn't mean animals don't require it. Dogs and cats become more easily dehydrated in frigid weather. "Any dogs left out in this winter should have food and water and a shelter that keeps them dry. Water is difficult to supply to outside animals in the cold weather. A special effort has to be made to make sure it is at least available three times a day." [Wild weather brings warnings, Beloit Daily News]

Myth: dogs and cats can stay warm and alone in a car during cold weather. If the car's heater is running, yes... but it wouldn't be safe to leave the car running with animals alone in it. Cars become virtual freezers in freezing weather. [Pets and animals in distress, ]

Truth: extreme weather requires extra precautions with pets, even so-called outdoor pets. "This is extreme. This isn't normal. We just have to take the measures, for animals that stay outside, to make them comfortable..." Vicki Davis, executive director of the Tri-County Humane Society [Low temperatures pose dangers for pets, St. Cloud Times]

Myth: someone else will take care of that freezing pet you spotted outside. It's not your problem and it's okay to ignore an animal who can't speak for itself. If you see a pet freezing in the cold, ask its caretaker to bring it inside and provide it a warm home. Most people care about their pets and would never intentionally allow them to die in the cold...

2005-01-19T14:49:00.000-08:00

Pet insurance leaves owners out in the cold UK 'Pre-existing conditions' aren't covered, even if the pet was already under the insurance plan... [icNewcastle]

Vitamins, exercise and mental stimulation aid healthy longevity in both dogs and people... 'Regular exercise, mental stimulation and a diet rich in antioxidants can help keep the brain sharp in older dogs - and perhaps do likewise in humans..' [Scripps Howard News]

Man feeds his mother-in-law to neighbors' ferocious dogs Brazil [Oddy Enough News]

Animal rescue shelter or... house of horrors CA Complaints forced police to investigate a 'shelter' which neighbors said smelled like death and included 'refuse in the yard and a house full of trash, animal feces, cockroaches, mice and rats, and rotting dog corpses...'

"My place is not perfect... I keep it up the best I can..." said the owner. [San Bernadino County Sun] Related: Smell leads police to rotting remains

Midwest Airlines offers frequent flyer miles to pets US 'Midwest announced it will now reward pets with a free round-trip ticket for every three domestic round-trips they make with their owners..' [SBS World News]

Oregon tax refunds help homeless... animals OR [Bend Press Release] The Oregon Humane Society gets a boost from a check-off box provided to Oregon state income tax filers.

Legislators seek bans after pit bull fight ends in shootings MD [Hometown Annapolis]

2005-01-19T14:07:00.000-08:00

Warning to SF dogs: no free love in the park! CA Last week's passage of laws to upgrade the living conditions of San Francisco's dogs may have included non-tipping water dishes and comfy dog houses, but they didn't remove the 'anti-humping statute' from the books:

'Personally, I think it is a good law.'..The anti-humping law 'should stay on the books...' Carl Friedman, director of San Francisco's Department of Animal Care and Control [San Francisco Weekly] (The 30 year law has never been enforced... )

If only dogs in Maryland had it as good as dogs in San Francisco. It's now 24 degrees Fahrenheit, up from 20 degrees this morning, and perfectly legal to leave a dog outside all day, if it has an 'adequate' dog house, which is sheltered from the wind, has a roof, a floor and walls. I still think it's cruel to an older dog who has arthritis to be left in a yard with a dog house; if the dog freezes, it will be a legal death...

2005-01-12T16:56:00.000-08:00

Fun! Watch a slideshow of pet photos, upload your own at Pet-o-Rama. We did... here's ours..

2005-01-12T16:51:00.000-08:00

Family dog swam into Tsunami, saved girl: India In the aftermath of the deadly Tsunami in South East Asia, stories of heroism include dogs:

'Prabhakaran was hit by the wave when he was out in the sea and saw his daughter, Mubbi, on the shore. He tried to get to her but the water engulfed him and he lost consciousness. Some villagers saved me and they told me later that my dog Ramu saved my daughter, says Prabhakaran. Ramu had waded out as the waves receded to drag the floating Mubbi by the hair and out of the water. Many people say God saved them but in my daughters case it was my dog says Prabhakaran. Today, Ramu is treated like a family member...' [Nepali Times] Related: The Blogger's Tsunami Challenge, Webloggers: Give to Tsunami Victims and Ill Give Too[ ]via The Shifted Librarian] (we gave right away and already volunteer every week, but if I had time, I'd donate art to Wet Canvas, which is auctioning art to raise money for Tsunami victims ... )

2005-01-12T16:10:00.000-08:00

Keep your dog off my property or else! MA On Sunday, seven minutes after phoning in his threat, an irate neighbor carried it out: Wielding a shovel, he bashed his neighbor's dog to smithereens, according to an assistant attorney prosecuting the case...

"When I looked out the window, he had the shovel over his head and then he was swinging it like a baseball bat.. Crash was backed up against our shed he had nowhere to go.. ." [The Enterprise]

Martha's Vineyard: Biodefense researchers investigate tularemia MA Tularemia, sometimes called rabbit fever, is considered an ideal 'bioterror agent because it occurs naturally and can be cultured.'

'It is the unusually high number of pneumonic, or air borne tularemia, cases diagnosed on the Vineyard in recent years that has drawn to the Island the attention of researchers... ' [Martha's Vineyard Times] Related: Rabbit fever' alert to pet lovers throughout nation

2005-01-10T08:08:00.000-08:00

How far would you go to extend your dog's life? NY Brando, a beloved labrador retriever, received an expensive Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) test as part of the diagnosis treatment of his inoperable brain tumor. His family estimates they will spend up to $10,000 on his continued treatment, because "he's worth it... he's a miracle dog." [The Citizen]

Indeed, such stories have become more commonplace than extraordinary. We just spent hundreds of dollars on an ultrasound for one of our dogs, who recently had a bad reaction to an arthritis drug. She's fine, but creaky, and spends her nap time flopped on her very own electro-kennel thermastat controlled heating pad. (a must-have, if you have an arthritic dog).

2005-01-10T07:29:00.000-08:00

Sunglasses prevent seizures in epileptic dogs UK If your dog's epilepsy occurs from photo-sensitivity, there's a possible cure: 'One of the simplest managements is doggy sunglasses, which means they [dogs] can be walked and enjoy life...' The goal of gene researchers is to eliminate the genes which pass on the disease... [BBC News] Related: Doggles: sunglasses for dogs

2005-01-09T08:46:00.000-08:00

If you love cats or dogs, head over to Research Buzz's Culture-pets, and subscribe to its rss news feed . This week's feed Yahoo's new pets.yahoo.com and Yahoo's dogs portal, which covers breeds, dog safety and even pet greeting cards. [Research Buzz]

2005-01-07T11:52:00.000-08:00

SPCA charges man with torturing rottweiler in 'a case of "horrific abuse." NJ [Philly Burbs]

(Warning: don't read this story if you don't want to get very upset.

For me, the best remedy is to do something about it by helping people and animals, especially the ASPCA and the Humane Society. One of my dogs came from the SPCA and the other came from the Humane Society... )

2005-01-07T11:10:00.000-08:00

Art by Cheryl ... marvelous clipart graphics, animals and even wedgies...

[via Why Rush]

2005-01-06T14:40:00.000-08:00

Pet owners beware: pet microchips fail as standards change The pet microchip industry, previously standardized on a 125 kilohertz broadcast, now also offers a 134.2 kilohertz broadcast frequency, leading to errors in scanning and fewer lost pets recovered.

'There's no way to know how many lost animals might have been unclaimed by their owners and improperly euthanized because their chips couldn't be read by available scanners...'

Shelters using 125 microchip scanners cannot identify Banfield PetSmart pet microchips, implanted with 134.2 microchips. [Herald Sun, American Association Veterinary Journal] Related: Reuniting pets with families

If you can't trust your pet's microchip, maybe it's time to Network your pet [Big Green Monkey] (might as well put some of that spyware to work for you... Future Fido may sport a cellphone, a wi-fi modem, a Microsoft Security Spy Center and a microchip.)

2005-01-06T14:04:00.000-08:00

Neighbor disputes: pit bull puppy survives shooting; shooter cools off in jail VA [News Channel 3]

2005-01-06T13:14:00.000-08:00

Dog epilepsy gene discovered [Dr. Koop, Science Jan 7, 2005] A study authored by researchers in Canada and England brings hope for eradication of epilepsy in dogs. Currently, five to ten percent of dogs have epilepsy.

2005-01-06T12:50:00.000-08:00

SF mulls law to ensure its dogs' wellbeing CA Dogs in San Francisco may soon enjoy a pampered and protected status if a proposed law is passed. Specific requirements for dog owners include:

Water must be served in a non-tipping bowl.
Dog houses must contain a raised floor, dry and clean bedding.
Bedding sufficient for when "the ambient temperature falls below that to which the dog is acclimated." [NBC11.com]

How about a law against tying or chaining a dog. Many dogs meet their end from accidental hangings: Abandoned, terrified dog strangles on rope lead UK [icDunbartonshire]. (A friend of mine told me how he tied her dog to a porch and later found him dead, strangled by the very chain which was meant to keep him safely home.

Related: New UK law proposes to ban dog walkers from 'walking and talking' together on the job! [Wandsworth Guardian

2005-01-06T12:39:00.000-08:00

CSI: Autopsy ordered for dog shot by police IL In a move to fend off a costly lawsuit, Cook County medical examiners have been ordered to autopsy a dog shot by police. In dispute: the trajectory of the bullets and the circumstances of the shooting. Both the dog's owner and the County have hired attorneys... [Chicago SunTimes]

2005-01-05T12:32:00.000-08:00

Scientists repair animal hearts with implanted human stem cells TX The heart of a pet may someday contain human cells... [Press Release: Americans for Medical Progress] (Full Story at Bioresearch Online]

UK pet owners spend more on dogs' healthcare than on cats UK Almost a third of UK dog owners have invested in medical insurance for their pet while only 17% of cat owners bought pet medical insurance. In addition, the survey indicates dog owners are willing to spend more than cat owners on veterinary services. [Saga Pet Insurance]

Divorced man ordered to pay 'dog' care support Italy "With food and vet bills a dog can cost almost as much as a child to raise..." [Ananova ]

Dog, shot by police, spent night in shelter without medical care TX Investigations into the shelter's management are underway [Houston Chronicle]

Chiclet chewing 'gum' for dogs Brazil [Ananova] (leather dog bones]

Pets help with new years resolutions [News 10 Now] (video)

Maryland police follow bloody trail in suspected violent crime ... to a yellow lab with slashed throat. [Baltimore Sun] Followup: Slashed dog survives injuries [Local 6]

Man arrested for shooting neighbor's barking dog NM [News Mexico Channel]Case of dog shot by police is probed (Houston Chronicle). A dog shot by Houston police last month lay all night at the city animal shelter without veterinary care, prompting an investigation into possible violations of internal policy or state law, a health department spokeswoman said Tuesday.

A year later, a Florida mobile home community forgives man charged with manslaughter for dog mauling of his neighbor by his six pit-bulls... Dog-mauling death trial pending FL "You have to forgive, you can't hold a grudge forever. It's a hurting thing, but you have to let bygones be bygones..." [WCJB]

2005-01-04T13:52:00.000-08:00

If you missed it, go 'adopt a shelter' from NoVoiceUnheard, a nonprofit which is donating books in honor of adopted pets to the shelter of your choice. I did! My free book to the shelter of my choice is in the mail!

To share your shelter pet story and adopt a shelter, visit Every Nine Seconds Campaign.

'An animal is euthanized every nine seconds in an animal shelter in this country'. [NoVoiceUnheard]

2005-01-04T12:04:00.000-08:00

Intriguing new pet products...

Farting Fido? Try the Canine Diaper The canine diaper even comes in a 'thong' model (where's the photo?, please), for Fido's indiscrete moments, thanks to Flat-D, a diaper company which also manufactures diapers and pads for people:

"These pads use a high tech filtering media that was originally developed for the British Chemical Defense Establishment, to provide protection to its soldiers against nerve gas and other toxic vapors associated with chemical warfare. Activated charcoal cloth is well known in the medical field for eliminating odors in liquids and gases. You cannot tell visually when a pad is used up or fully absorbed..." [Flat-D]

Oddly related and hilariously funny: caution, f-o-u-l four letter words used: CausticTech does a rant on bloggers and other self-important people: "ok...the next time your spewing your next diary entry, please remember...it's just not that important. there's a reason why the words diary and diarrhea are very similar sounding..." [via Scobleizer blog] (Sounds like we need to buy ourselves some diapers from Flat-D. )

If your dog is farting too much, maybe it's his dog food. Did you know that 'food rarely retains its nutritional value beyond 6 months..." [Journal Times]

Paw Pads promise to keep Fido's paws from slipping [Business Wire; Google Search] Holy cow! I've been trying to invent this; every time we take our dogs to PetSmart or Petco, they end up slipping and sliding over slick floors:

'PaW PaDs, a patent pending self-adhesive non-slip product that is die cut in the shaped of a dog's pad, is a remarkable alternative to dog boots and shoes. "91% of the dogs tested didn't realize they had anything on their foot...' [PaW PaDs]

If Paw Pads work as promised, they may even save some dogs from certain death: every year, dog dies from licking ice melt chemicals from their paws: Tiny dog's death attributed to ingesting de-icing chemicals [Record Courier]

A 2004 moment to abhor? '...dog-as-ultimate-fashion-accessory. A tiny dog combines the best qualities of a quiet husband and a gaudy brooch.' We all know gaudy brooches are out, but I beg to differ that tiny dogs will ever lose their fashionable cachet... [Journal Gazette]

2005-01-03T16:43:00.000-08:00

I have a couple of Gmail invites to give away. If you want one, drop me a note to tell me how you help others. (and two sentences are enough. I don't need an essay.) First come, first serve.

2005-01-02T14:09:00.000-08:00

How Did Animals Escape Tsunami? [Wired News via DayPop Top 40] Do animals have a sixth sense? and if so, how can we harness their talents in surviving disastrous earthquakes and tsunamis?

Supposedly, an astrologer warned some clients to avoid beaches at all costs, just prior to the Tsunami. The former Cambodian king even claims he saved his entire country by heeding his astrologer's advice. (While he was at it, why didn't he warn his neighboring countries?)

2005-01-02T13:46:00.000-08:00

DC Metro to get 3 new bomb dogs VA 'Washington's Metro subway system is beefing up its force of bomb-sniffing dogs. Metro Transit Police are adding three dogs to the canine unit after they graduate from an 11-week training course next week...' [baltimoresun.com ]

Dog rescues 7-year-old from Tsunami India

"Run away!" her husband screamed from a rooftop after he spotted the colossal waves. It was a simple command that smothered Sangeeta in a nightmarish dilemma: She had three sons, but just two arms... [CBS News]

2004-12-28T11:12:00.000-08:00

One at a time... stories of shelter animals CA If you have a shelter story, you are invited to send it in to No voice unheard. "Were asking people to log onto our Web site and write about an animal that has touched their life..." [Santa Cruz Central]

2004-12-28T10:45:00.000-08:00

FDA slams Novartis, maker of Deramaxx, pet arthritis drug DC [CNN Money] (If your dog is on Deramaxx, it may be wise to ask your vet if it is at risk for serious side effects. )

Deramaxx is a 'Cox-2 inhibitor', and in the same class as Vioxx, a drug recently withdrawn from the market after being linked with heart problems in those taking it.

2004-12-28T08:37:00.000-08:00

Toronto panics, bans 'vicious' dog breeds Canada Toronto responds to the rising incidence of dog attacks on children by banning the breeds most often cited:

"Kids were literally having their faces ripped off. We had to do something to stop that..." [Canada.com]

Related: Boy dies from rottweilers' mauling [Vancouver, BC, MyTELUS] (When four dogs (three rottweilers and one collie) escaped from a basement, they tore apart a sleeping child.)

2004-12-28T07:09:00.000-08:00

On this earth, everything can change in an instant... The Tsunami disaster need is so urgent that all of us who can are asked to aid the disaster victims. CNN lists some of the most effective charities. I chose AmeriCares because they have resources already in place in SE Asia and they can leverage $100 donation to the equivalent of $3000 or $4000. You can use the Charity Navigator to check up on a site before you donate. (Related: Tsunami Help blog via blogdex.net)

In the face of the Tsunami disaster, if you choose to 'clone' a pet for $50,000 instead of helping disaster victims, you deserve the 'heartless dork' award. (I'd exempt the woman who cloned her cat from that award, because she did so before the disaster... )

The death toll could rise to over 100,000 because there are at least 60,000 people still missing...

2004-12-25T12:15:00.000-08:00

By now, we've all heard about the Woman [who] is thrilled with her $50,000 cloned pet cat [Romenesko's Obscure Store]

A CNN commentator's remarks about the cloned kitty's owner has been critical and nasty. Specifically, he claims she should have spent the $50 K on animal shelter pets. I don't see how a woman who pampered her original cat for 18 years is to blame for the shameless people who dump their pets at animal shelters.

If anything, we might learn something from this woman's love. She is obviously abundantly successful and wealthy AND she loves pets. PETA (people for the ethical treatment of animals) can learn a thing or two from her. Specifically: Yes, you can love animals and YES, you can also be wealthy enough to clone a pet. Maybe her sense of abundance has some effect on her ability to achieve such wealth.

While I would never clone a pet, I applaud the people who love, honor and keep their pets for 20 years, in the same manner as the woman who cloned her pet cat.

2004-12-25T11:39:00.000-08:00

Time magazine has opened up its archives to the general public. You can search for articles by keywords and date. Pull up a chair with a cup of cocoa or java, and warm your heart with Time's extraordinary dog stories which date all the way back to 1923. [Research Buzz] (unfortunately, Time teases the reader by limiting stories to the first paragraph... you have to subscribe to Time to receive entire articles...)

2004-12-25T11:23:00.000-08:00

If you have some holiday vacation time now, please stop by your local animal shelter and visit the many pets who have been discarded this Christmas. You'll be amazed at the quality and quantity of pets available. At the behest of a friend, we stopped in at our local animal shelter to check on a discarded pet: the most beautiful and friendly chow I have ever seen. This neutered male chow chow is in good health, intelligent and trainable. He is mostly white with splashes of golden fur across his back;. his sunny disposition matches his gorgeous fur coat.

CHUCHO - ID#A258444 I am a neutered male, fawn Chow Chow. The shelter staff think I am about 1 year and 6 months old. I have been at the shelter since Dec 10, 2004.
For more information about this animal, call:

Montgomery County Animal Control & Humane Society at (240) 773-5960
Ask for information about animal ID number A258444

The shelter also has many other purebred dogs, as well as cats and birds, all of whom are blameless in losing their original homes. A patron explained to me that people are in the habit of 'dropping off pets' before driving to the airport...

It sounds farfetched but my own experiences jive with the patron's. A friend of mine called me this week to tell me about an eight year old male chow who was dropped off at his vet's. The family had decided to 'put him down' because he was now eight years old and they had just replaced him with a Christmas puppy! The vet asked for (and received) permission to place the dog in another home.

2004-12-25T09:58:00.000-08:00

Iuplogbeta.com Rescue groups and pet care organizations will want to take advantage of Iuplog's new blogging service:

It's free. If you sign up before January 2005, you'll receive a 12 month subscription which automatically upgrades to the final version, and yes, it's free.

It's super easy to use. All of the awful details of maintaining and installing a 'content management system' (CMS) are taken care for you. Really... You can send stories and photos from your phone or computer with a simple point and click. neato.

The expense of a dedicated computer system is unnecessary.

You can concentrate on what you do best: write, snap photos and tell your story. Did I mention that it's free? Rescue organizations, non-profits and charitable organizations will love this feature. To me, if this saves just one more dog or pet, it's invaluable. I like this feature the best...

Read the Lockergnome review here... and go save some pets.

2004-12-16T07:15:00.000-08:00

Accoona, a search engine named after the 'no worries' (accoona matata) friendly lion of The Lion King, has officially launched, amid claims it is more accurate than Google. The search engine, based in China, is endorsed by Bill Clinton (no worries, you can search it in English... ) [Reseach Buzz]

China may have an animal friendly search engine, but Beijing officials are concerned that its dead pet problem may hurt its Green Olympic Games Campaign for a 2008 Olympics bid. (Maybe Bill Clinton can help... ) [ABC News, Australia]

2004-12-16T06:54:00.000-08:00

Search for pet ringtones, mobile wallpaper and other cool stuff for your cellphone. [Mobile.tucows.com via Marc's Voice]

2004-12-15T14:38:00.000-08:00

Avoid these pet disasters at Christmas time:

Don't leave children alone with pets; if you fall asleep, keep the pet in another room away from children: Sleeping infant killed by house dog [Jackson Channel] (Nobody can blame a mother for falling asleep with her infant by her side. A mother's heartbreak cannot be mended after such a tragedy.)

Pets suffer from cold exposure during cold weather. Bring pets inside when it's cold. How cold is too cold for your dog or cat? Even 40 degrees may be too cold. Your domesticated pet, dog or cat, can become seriously ill from enduring cold weather, even if you only leave it outside during the day. Naturally, you may have provided adequate shelter: an insulated dog house, protected from the wind, and two inches off the ground for your dog, but if your dog won't use it, or go inside it, it won't do him any good.

This morning, I met an old chow-mix, howling in a low soft voice, by his fenced yard. He probably has a dog house, but he's too loyal to use it. He's waiting for his owner at the front gate and will stay near it all day... He's cold and sad; his stubborn loyalty bids him to stay where he can watch for his owner, no matter how inclement the weather... Domesticated animals must be sheltered during winter [The Baltimore Channel]

Pets suffer poisoning from party foods: macadamia nuts, raisens, chocolate, coffee grounds, alcohol, sugarless gum ... and other foods cause serious illness in pets every year. If it's not food for your pet, don't let your pet eat it, period.

For a $50 fee, you may call a pet poison control hotline 1-877-2ANGELL -- for people who believe that their pets have been poisoned. Pet owners can call the hot line 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and speak to a veterinarian who specializes in animal poisoning, but don't forget there's a fee included. Pets poisoned at Christmas [Boston.com]

Avoid buying sick pets from pet stores. How can you know whether a pet is sick or not when you buy it from a pet store? Short answer: You can't; a pet may be incubating a serious illness which manifests after you buy it. To avoid the heartbreak of buying a seriously ill pet, only purchase pets from reputable breeders and insist on receiving their pet vaccination records. See Store vets fail customers and pets [Boston Herald], Local Pet Store Cited for Animal Cruelty ID [Idaho News Channel 7]

Request your groomer to keep strangers away from your pets. Every year, people steal pets from groomers, especially at Christmas time: Somebody stole Mercedes, a cute pomeranian, right out from under a Petco groomer's nose... [ABC 13]

2004-12-14T18:08:00.000-08:00

The Answer Bus: if you're looking for answers, try it out. The Answer Bus will provide up to five answers to each question you ask. Example: Why is the species African wild dog endangered? Rich questions deserve rich answers. (I'm putting the answer bus in my main tool bar... it's that good.) You may ask your question in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian or Portuguese.

The voyeur in you will enjoy snooping on the last 100 questions posed to the oracle of the web, the Answer Bus

2004-12-14T13:30:00.000-08:00

Hip Games, makers of Dog's Life, an interactive video game for the Playstation 2, has donated $5,000 to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and pledges more contributions next year. [Game Info Wire]

Woman strangles rottweiler after attack FL Police may charge a woman with animal cruelty, even though she strangled the rottweiler as it attacked her small Yorkie. When a tossed beer can didn't faze the attacking rottweiler, the woman took matters into her own hands... [News.com AU]

Coyotes preying on suburban pets MN [WCCO] In response to increased sightings of coyotes, city officials in Twin Cities ask residents to feed their pets inside and leash them during walks.

2004-12-14T12:49:00.000-08:00

Sleeping infant killed by house dog MS The mother 'woke up to find her baby not in the bed with her'. ... and ... 'turned on the light, followed a trail of blood through the hall to the living room and found her child...' [Jackson Channel]

Man bites dog .. often FL [Baltimore Channel]

Dog with no eyes... makes Great American Mutt finals This heart warming story may help you to Cast your vote [Times Dispatch] Voting polls close on Wednesday, 8 pm, December 15.

911 Rescue dogs doing well [Business Wire]

Mr. Mutt, Virtual Pet Adoptions, donates $22,000 to local shelters and rescues. [PR Web]

2004-12-14T12:31:00.000-08:00

Feeling generous? How about helping police dogs dodge bullets next year: Vest-a-dog provides bullet-proof vests to police dogs in Canada and the US. [Ben Hammersly's Dangerous Precedent: links]

2004-12-14T12:22:00.000-08:00

You can buy a vintage 1958 Dog News magazine for next to nothing on
an eBay auction today! This all-breed issue features the Shetland Sheepdog.

2004-12-14T11:57:00.000-08:00

Aol tracks its most popular searches in 2004 by category, including dog breeds:

Beagles

Pit Bulls

Chihuahua

Yorkshire Terrier

Bulldogs

Pugs

Maltese

Boston Terriers

Labrador Retrievers

English Bulldogs

2004-12-14T11:08:00.000-08:00

When pampering goes too far... 'U.S. consumers annually spend more on pet products than they do on children's toys, by a whopping difference of $14 billion a year...'

Neuticles ID You got your dog neutered and you feel guilty about it. Now you can make him 'whole' again. "Neuticles," testicular implants crafted from FDA approved polypropylene (also in silicone), typically cost around $70 for a cat or dog... [KIDK]

When Brittany Spears stayed in Las Vegas recently, she treated her pet chihuahua to a $180 steak dinner. [Teen Hollywood]

Dog house catches on fires Putting a light and straw inside a dog house seemed like a great idea, until it caught on fire...

Dog beds ($425 up), four-storty kitty condos, sleigh beds ($150), armoires (for all those pet clothes), Sharon Osbourne posh pet furniture, e-Bay pet furniture: all feed an insatiable demand for posh pet duds... [Lakeland Ledger]

The puppy purse for those who cannot let go of their puppies... [onlypunjab.com]

Meanwhile, animal shelters continue to receive discarded pets and anticipate higher traffic after the holidays...

2004-12-13T19:50:00.000-08:00

Fido gets his own cell phone It's been three months since this press release, but pet companions are drooling over the very idea of having a pet phone home (if he ever gets lost).

Finally, The pet phone is ready for dogs (but not yet for cats; they want the phone to work purrrfectly, first. The Pets Mobility phone combines Global Positioning Technology with the cell phone so owners can locate their pets away from home (and talk to them).

2004-12-09T06:29:00.000-08:00

Court rules on rude vet: inexcusably rude, yes; incompetent, no PA Rude vets can sigh in relief: You can't be sued for saying things like: 'rot in h*ll' to your human clients. [phillyburbs.com] (Another story of a botched euthanasia and the blame game which ensued.)

Do-it-yourself vet charged in cat paw mutilation PA [Action News Four] A fake vet's operation on a cat's paw resulted in animal cruelty charges...

2004-12-08T15:36:00.000-08:00

Stupid pet gifts... just in time for Christmas It's official: pets outnumber people in the United States, about 50 million more pets than people reside in the US and that means just ONE thing: Start shopping for presents for the most important member of your family: the dog.

'Four out of five pet owners consider their pets to be their children...' according to the American Animal Hospital Association

Your dog or cat doesn't read, but that doesn't matter, especially if you're getting him or her Is Your Dog Gay?, Is your Cat Gay?, two new books published by Simon and Schuster, sure to appeal to dog owners with too much time on their hands. I can't wait for next year's spinoffs: Is your dog a transexual? ... Dogs who love pants legs...

How about How to Tell if You're Obsessed with Your Dog, a new book by Jenny Lee. If you bought Is Your Dog Gay, you ARE obsessed with your dog and you can save yourself some money (send it to me as a thank you for saving you money). ditto for the cat...

The aquarium toliet tank ... poor fish, but what fun you'll have flushing the toliet and watching the fish swim around the tank (no disappearing Emo's here.) Hours of fun for the cat too! [Dave Barry's 2004 Gift Guide, AZ Star]

Turd-u-cken (dog food) what a name... canned gourmet dog food by Merrick (it may be perfectly good dog food... dogs who read will appreciate the double entendre.. )

For pet lovers who have lost their pet: [Dead] Pet Portrait Rock (You won't get it in time for Christmas: there's a six week waiting list... [Michigan Live]

Push your lazy dog around in a shopping cart: Hammacher Schlemmer's pet stroller [Michigan Live]

Comfort Zone, an all natural alternative to Prozac, promises to soothe your anxious dog

(Hey, I buy it, and I like it... err... I mean, my dogs like it. Well, I think they like it. They can't tell me. But I feel better buying it and using it as a room diffuser. The dogs are splayed out together in the hall, in a doggy stupor of pleasant relaxation... )

If you can't think of what to get your best friend, it's time to ask him to go sign a Pet Gift Registry, so you'll know what your dog really wants for Christmas Muttz has one, other stores are sure to follow. [Rocky Mountain News]

How about the Pee Station (a fake yellow fire hydrant stake). It's a giant yellow plastic nail that you hammer into the ground. Supposedly your dog will naturally want to pee on it, thus saving your yard. We bought one. Our yard is still pocked with patches dead grass; I guess the dogs keep missing... I bought it at either Petsmart or Petco... We didn't have the heart to return the product, because our dogs may have pee'd on it. It's still in the back yard, doing nothing...

You can always buy something crappy at the Poop Report. (they need to expand their wares... I don't feel like making my dogs wear t-shirts.)

[Pets now outnumber people in the United States -- 337.8 versus 290 million, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. There's gotta be a way to cash in on this... but so far, all I do is spend, spend, spend... ]

2004-12-07T13:54:00.000-08:00

Celebrate the holidays, but don't feed the dog your holiday meals:

'... fatty foods can trigger pancreatitis in pets; chocolate can cause increased heart rate, tremors, or excitation, depending on the type and quantity ingested.

Bloat, (a painful and deadly condition to dogs) can be induced by ingestion of uncooked bread dough can be life-threatening. The animals body heat will cause dough to rise in the stomach. Alcohol is produced during the process, and the dough may expand several times its weight (and all along you thought it was water retention).

Some types of grapes and raisins have been shown to cause kidney failure in dogs when eaten in quantity...' [GAGV News]

Is your dog gay? Is your cat gay? Two new books help owners determine the sexual orientation of their pets. (no pet psychic needed here... ) [GAGV News]

2004-12-06T16:22:00.000-08:00

How to give your dog diabetes, heart disease and obesity... feed it people food. Regular grocery food, the kind we all eat: junk food, fast food, fried food -- all of it is incredibly bad for your pet. 'If you feed your pets lots of white rice,... you will end up giving them diabetes.' [NewsTarget]

Woof woof; pet law practices go through the woof.. and with good reason: '...animal suffering matters...' [Time]

Hope for new treatments of spinal injuries in dogs and humans [Science blog] Purdue University research treatment offers hope for stopping human paralysis as well as dog:

'... an injection of a liquid polymer known as polyethylene glycol (PEG), if administered within 72 hours of serious spinal injury, can prevent most dogs from suffering permanent spinal damage...'

2004-12-06T15:34:00.000-08:00

Dr. Early puts Chows, Shar Pei and Cocker Spaniels in the dog house: "... if your family is ready for that commitment, a pet can make a wonderful, memorable Christmas morning:"

'... My top three breeds that I would avoid in getting are cocker spaniels. I'd also avoid Shar Peis. They're great, beautiful, lovable dogs, but they tend to have a number of health issues. The other breed you may want to avoid is a chow or a chow mix. They tend to have an unpredictable behavior pattern that may be dangerous to families with small children...' ' [Ask the Vet, Pets as Gifts]

Sadly, some vets pass on their stereotyping of dogs by breed, as if it were gospel. The truth is that all dogs may end up with health problems, even Labrador Retrievers. Moreover, within dog breeds, temperment can vary widely, even within a single litter:

One of my own vets tells me that his most feared dog patient is a Golden Retriever, a dog with total aggression. Getting a so-called perfect breed will not prevent temperment problems. Our vets really enjoy our chows, who are both sweet tempered, quiet and obedient. Both of our chow chows came from a shelter; both would have been put down, if we hadn't adopted them. Unfortunately, because of breed stereotyping, most Chows and most Shar Peis, once dumped at a shelter, get put down, even if they're gentle...

The phrase I often hear from people is 'chow chows are unpredictable...' That would scare me away from adopting a chow chow too, if I didn't know better. The very people who repeat this to me are never owners of chows.

Please don't get a dog for Christmas... But when you do get a dog, consider a shelter dog, and please, consider adopting a Chow Chow or Shar Pei or Cocker Spaniel. You'll find an abundance of breeds at animal shelters, dumped for reasons that truly only reflect their owners' idiosyncrasies and miscomings...

2004-12-06T12:18:00.000-08:00

Digging up misery: Puppy dogs for christmas presents [UK Pets]

Sometimes the best intentions bring the worst outcomes. Giving a pet as a Christmas present? Stop, please don't. Here's why:

A puppy's vet bills can cost over $1,000 a year. If you give a pet to someone who can't afford it, that pet may end up at an animal shelter where it most likely will die...

A dog can live for over 13 years. A lifetime commitment coerced (by you) on a friend may backfire on you; you may end up with resentment for buying an unwanted pet. The pet ends up unwelcome, but tolerated, or dumped... (later, when you've left town).

Pets take up time; does your friend (child, parent, or spouse) have that time? Young children require supervision...

Stress: the holidays are filled with stress already. Putting a new pet into a stressful environment is a recipe for disaster. Pets need extra time with their new companions in order to adapt to their new home...

It isn't fair to you, to your friendships, to your family, to the pets, to surprise them as presents on Christmas. It would be a better to volunteer time and money at the animal shelter, so unwanted pets get a better chance after the holidays.

2004-12-06T11:18:00.000-08:00

Shelter: woman brought in frozen dog, asks for new one NM '...A woman brought her one-year-old terrier mixs frozen body to a Sante Fe animal shelter, placed it on the counter 'and asked to look for a new dog. Workers did not allow her to adopt another dog...' [KOBTV.com]

The number one myth about dogs is that they can fend for themselves... Nothing could be further from the truth.

Cold weather tips for pets (by American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)

Keep your pets inside. Outdoor cats and dogs can freeze, become lost or stolen, injured or killed. If your dog must go outside, go with her, and bring her back in with you.

Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice. It can frequently lose its scent on ice and can easily become lost. If your pet plunges through ice into water, don't go out on ice to rescue it; find help.

Make sure you thoroughly wipe off your dogs' legs and stomach when they come in out of the sleet, snow or ice to remove salt, antifreeze or other chemicals.

Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during the cold weather. A car becomes a virtual refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold.

Upon first word of winter weather, check supplies of pet food, litter and medications in case veterinary offices are closed because of snow or ice.

Be careful with space heaters, lamps or similar devices that can be touched or knocked over by pets.

2004-12-03T08:29:00.000-08:00

Got your dog blog yet? why not try out MSN's new Spaces...

Here's our latest tryout... Dog News

Security? well, you know how well MSN tackles that:

When I changed my mobile blogging options, I got this message:

secure.spaces.msn.com
- The certificate for "secure.spaces.msn.com" is signed by the unknown Certificate Authority "Microsoft Secure Server Authority". It is not possible to verify that this is a valid certificate

gee, right out of microsoft's own mouth... not bad

2004-12-02T14:52:00.000-08:00

The dog that ate my net worth... US Umbrella insurance provides a safety net when your home owners insurance and auto insurance can't cover liability costs over and above $300,000... Umbrella coverage also steps in to handle the coordination and cost of legal defense against liability lawsuits if your home or auto insurer's obligation is exhausted. With some lawsuits lasting for years, legal fees can run over $100,000.

'.. A dog on the loose, a party by the swimming pool, a teen driver on a Saturday night -- these are just a few of the accident-prone situations that can cost a consumer millions in a liability lawsuit...' [PR Newswire] Believe it or not, volunteering can also open you up to lawsuits, especially if you serve on the board of a non-profit organization...

2004-11-30T16:27:00.000-08:00

modern pooch : your daily doggy fix. 'Modern Pooch is a new dog-centric weblog .. modern pooch : your daily doggy fix..' [blogdex.net]

2004-11-30T16:12:00.000-08:00

okay, you took a zillion photos of your dog with your digital camera... now you want to play with them. Head on over to Web Fx - The Web Graphics Tool kit and have fun with online digital effects which you can apply instantly to your photos. My favorites are TV, Hundred Dollar Bill and Magazine:

2004-11-27T04:27:00.000-08:00

Just in time for Christmas: Can't afford a SEGway? Try the dog powered scooter! OR Like the SEGway, the dog powered scooter, offers total control for the rider. Its inventor claims dogs are exercised, but not abused by the scooter's use. Expect to pay about $500 ($450 + $50 shipping):.

'One of out of every hundred people says it's abusing the dog; the other 99 say it's the coolest thing they've ever seen...' [Albany Democrat-Herald].

2004-11-27T04:01:00.000-08:00

Miracle cure: doctors induces coma to save girl from rabies WI [Boing Boing] Imagine: curing rabies without the rabies vaccine... related: Experimental treatment saves rabies victim [CNN]

'... the [Center for Disease Control] CDC is reevaluating its approach to rabies in people, and scientists are studying what drug combinations might work in infected animals...'

The experimental treatment, a last ditch attempt to save a rabies-infected girl, administered a combination of two anesthetics and two antiviral medications, in order to boost the girl's immune system, so she could fight off the almost always fatal disease. In all prior cases, patients who did not receive a rabies vaccine died.

( Dog News articles are licensed under a Creative Commons License. )

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2004-11-25T12:16:00.000-08:00

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2004-11-25T12:15:00.000-08:00

2004-11-24T14:13:00.000-08:00

Pet psychiatrists have the Rx for animal friends gone cuckoo Japan (This headlines presumes the problems lie with our pets, not ourselves.)

National Geographic's television show: The Dog Whisperer offers the view that disturbed pets sometimes reflect the psychology of their owners. Good Dog U., an Animal Planet television show, also offers training for the owner and the dog. Both shows offer much of the same advice, but in different styles.

2004-11-24T07:22:00.000-08:00

Just signed up for a Flickr Pro account. Flickr has a calendar feature: here's Dog News' calendar It's kinda sparse, unlike Paolo Valdemarin's calendar. [Paolo Valdemarin: Paolo's Weblog] (blame it on the dogs; they are high maintenance.... )

I think the best feature of Flickr is its effortless sharing of photos by topic and its automated output of those topics in rss. Here's an rss feed for dog

(offtopic: If your web site isn't using rss, it's dead.. [headline via dailyrotation.com].

If your web site isn't using a photo web service like Flickr, it's boring! Spice it up, please.... )

2004-11-24T06:50:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving

"Be the change you wish to see in the world... " - Dali. L [via Justinpfister.com]

Justin Pfister offers a free google news rss service available: Google rss news feeds Try it out; here's one for 'animal shelters'. (you need an rss reader; some browsers automagically allow you to read rss.) I thanked him for the service and bemoaned the fact that Google News doesn't provide an rss google news service natively, like Yahoo does. He responded:

'It is too bad Google [News] hasn't given us the option to generate RSS feeds like Yahoo [News] does. I hope efforts like this will let them see that they need to do it...'

(Hint: if you are a commercial site, consider using a free Yahoo News feed! for your customers... )

Cloning kitty MA [Christian Science Monitor] (a great article on the pitfalls of cloning pets, or even snippets of their DNA... )

(nonrelated: If you're using Google Desktop Search toolbar, read this article: Google search cache spawns SSL fear. [ Network World Fusion via Hackinthebox.org]

2004-11-23T15:12:00.000-08:00

Dear Readers: please excuse the following rant to All-dog-breeds. com

gee, All-dog-breeds. com is using Dog News' feed, a violation of the Creative Commons Attribution Non commercial, Share Alike License. and they even had the nerve to place a copyright (grrrr... ) on this content, at the bottom of each of their pages.... Copyright 2004 Tale Chaser Publishing, Inc., 12 W Mesquite Blvd. #108, Mesquite, NV 89027 ... I will never use Tale Chaser publishing for any publishing; they are taking my writing and placing it on many pages of THEIR site ... gee, they didn't ask, they just took it, with no attribution and NO permission. All-dog-breeds com! please, stop using this content! right now!

Non profits, educational and rescue organizations committed to animal welfare are welcome to use this feed, provided you adhere to the license requirements of Creative Common license, and stated on each and EVERY page of Dog News' site. (Drop me a note, please) Other organizations may write for permission, which is decided on a case-by-case basis, but commercial sites are prohibited from using this site's content.

Thank you... time to walk the dogs ...

2004-11-23T13:46:00.000-08:00

Yard dog's luck runs out: shot dead by cops IL Burger, Jaaron Foster's pet dog, is now effectively 'dead meat', but you can't fault Foster for lack of trying to avoid just such a terrible fate for his beloved rottweiler. According to Foster, three years ago, police shot his then 8-year-old dog in his fenced yard. After that harrowing event, he always secured the wrought iron fence with a metal pin and three years passed without Burger ever escaping the fenced yard. A week ago, Burger got shot again -- this time, dead; and the shooter, a cop who was serving a warrant on an empty house, claimed the dog charged at him... [Sun-Times column, Mary Mitchell: 'What would cause a cop to shoot fenced-in dog?]

Father Of Mauling Victim Pleads To Gun, Drug Charges Charlotte Boy Killed By Family Pit Bulls When a letter carrier witnessed the horrific and fatal dog attack, he bravely attempted to save a family's son from the family pit bulls; his reward: the father allegedly threatened to kill him... "He was screaming for help. I got me a stick and jumped over the fence. I got the dogs off him..." [NBC 17]

Love My Dog, Love Me The great Arab-Muslim-American puppy story [Slate]

Go Ahead, Sleep With Your Dog And, no, we don't mean it that way. [Slate]

(there is just nooooo way I'll ever sleep with my dog(s). they snore, they're big, and I know them too well. I know where they've been and what they like to sniff... )

Vet's role in pet's death raises red flag PA Was there really something fishy going on at the vet office?... [Pittsburgh Live]

Dog racing: a strange world, inhabited by strange people UK The ingredients of this story: dog racing, crooked bets, jilted lovers, and abandoned dogs... [Times Online]

Dear Readers: Happy Thanksgiving... Dog News will resume publication on November 29;

(thank you to Lawrence and Radioland support for vigilantly monitoring message boards and so quickly repairing the 'L:" path not found error which prevented website updates... ) Radioland, the blogging app that just keeps on giving... and giving... back to the community.