The late “Queen of Mean” Leona Helmsley who left her dog millions of dollars in her will after her death wanted much of her money to go to dog charities. Unfortunately for her, a judge ruled that the trustees could decide how to disperse the money. And they decided that the bulk of the money ($136 million) should go toward medical research with only $1 million going to dog charities like the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and guide dog training groups instead of $12 million as Helmsley had requested.
Speaking of Dogs in the Will
Star Trek creator the late Gene Roddenberry’s wife, Majel Barrett Roddenberry left $4 million so her dogs could be taken care of in the style they had been accustomed. The dogs caretaker will get $1 million. The dogs along with their caretaker will continue to live in one of the mansions.
Camp Lejeune’s Marine Corp’s military base in Raleigh, NC has banned dogs including pit bulls and Rottweilers from military housing. About a year ago a three year old boy was bitten to death by a visiting Pit Bull. Twelve other states, several cities and towns that have adopted bans on specific breeds deemed dangerous.
The ban means no one is allowed to own them and vidtors are not allowed to bring them in. Read more about it here…
An Australian family thought they had lost their dog forever when she fell off their boat. But 4 months later, their Australian cattle dog Sophie Tucker, was found. After the dog fell overboard, she swam 5 miles to an island & survived by catching & eating the wild goats on the island. Park rangers thought she was a wild dog & captured her. The family saw a local news story & went to see if the dog was theirs. Sophie had become wild but when the family called her name, she became the sweet girl she’d always been & starting crying & whimpering to go home.
President Obama promised his girls a dog if he won the presidency. We’d heard about how the selection was narrowed down to non hypo-allergenic breeds. A Portuguese Water Dog was the choice.
The Obama’s had decided to adopt a dog from a shelter, however Senator Edward Kennedy (who has Portuguese water dogs of his own), surprised the President & family a Portie puppy this weekend. The 6 month old puppy had a “meet & greet” but isn’t quite ready to come home just yet. He has been trained so he’ll have nice manners when he moves in. The dog was given the name, “Bo” after the guitar player Bo Diddley.
Since the Obamas didn’t actually adopt from a shelter, they will be donating money to the D.C. Humane Society.
Bo is actually a rescue of sorts. He was in another home but it didn’t work out. So he gets a second chance with the Obamas.
With the economy taking a downturn many people are having to make the choice between putting food on the table and keeping their dog. And in most cases the dog is the loser. An organization in Portland, OR has started a food bank for dogs. F.I.D.O (Friends Involved in Dog Outreach) is a volunteer organization that started in 2005.
Clackamas County dog owners facing financial difficulties can get one month’s supply of dog food for up to 4 dogs. FIDO asks that owners be prepared to show proof of residency, and they ask that all dogs be spayed or neutered. Owners whose dogs are not spayed or neutered will not be turned away, but they will be given information on low-cost spay/neuter programs, microchipping, and rabies vaccine clinics.
Along those same lines…
Many formerly wealthy dog owners are giving up the pooch after losing their jobs. It’s a trend being seen all over the country and moreso in areas of large unemployment. Areas where people routinely used their expensive pure-bred dogs to display their wealth – cities like New York or Los Angeles are seeing an increase in those pure-bred dogs showing up at breed specific shelters. It’s especially sad that these people choose to give up their dogs because in many cases they still have money…the dog was just a status symbol for them.
Kelley Davis of North Carolina put out $400 on her bed, which she intended to deposit in the bank. When she went to get the money, it was gone. When she took her Swiss mountain dog Augie out to do his business, she found bits of hundred & 20 dollars bills in his stool. She scooped it up & washed the bills off with a garden hose. She hopes the bank will still take them.
