Throwing a stick when you are playing fetch with your dog could be quite dangerous. Not only are sticks sharp, but they are dirty too. And vets say that sticks cause some of the most frustrating kinds of injuries because they can range from minor to life threatening.
Read the rest of the story here…
In Sheboygan, Wisconsin, an 11 year old 120 pound border collie named Jiffy was found frozen to the sidewalk. Jiffy was let out the previous night to go pee. He is 60 overweight & couldn’t move because of his weight. Jiffy was freed & taken to the local animal shelter. Police issued an ordinance violation for animal neglect & prosecutors say a misdemeanor animal neglect charge could be filed Dec. 22, when Jiffy’s owner is scheduled to appear in court. See Jiffy here…
Obesity in dogs is becoming more common. Owners love their dogs & break down & give them extra food & treats & before you know it, you’ve got a fat dog!
Gus, the winner of the World’s Ugliest Dog contest has passed away. But his owner took him on a road trip (which he loved) and took him to the hotel where they celebrated his win.
Gus passed away from Cancer.
Read about his lovely passing here…
Speaking of Cancer in Dogs…
One in four dogs die of cancer. It’s the number one cause of death in dogs over 2 years old. A recent news story brought a lot of attention to the disease. There is an organization - Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) that is trying to become the American Cancer Society for dogs.
MAF has a global campaign underway to cure canine cancer, while producing new treatments to help dogs suffering today. MAF has a dedicated canine cancer Web site for dog lovers at www.CureCanineCancer.org.
See the news story on canine cancer here…
One of the many places threatened by the wild fires in Southern California was the headquarters of the Guide Dogs of America in Sylmar. Thanks to hundreds on volunteers, nearly 100 dogs and puppies were rescued. Luckliy, the facility was spared and the dogs were able to go back home. Watch the whole story here…
Would you believe being fined because your dog is getting too fat? That’s what is proposed in the UK as are part of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to prevent cruelty to animals.
There are three codes that are primary for enforcement in this act: allowing your pet to beg for food from the table, allowing your pet to eat “poisonous” foods & allowing your curious animal to satisfy his or her curiosity.
Ignoring the three codes won’t be considered a crime by itself, but it could be the determining factor in whether an individual is found guilty in court of a pet welfare offense – which carries a maximum jail sentence of six months or a fine of up to £20,000.
This is so silly, IMHO that you just have to read about it for yourself here…
The Dog Channel is introducing a medical section on its website. The Dog Medical Conditions section is where visitors can find what may be ailing their dog by browsing through a list of symptoms. The section contains 40 of the most common symptoms & was compiled by Karla Rugh, DVM, Ph.D., the vet from “Dog Fancy” magazine. Be sure to bookmark this page.
Operation Baghdad Pups, an SPCA group responsible for bringing stray animals back from the war in Iraq has made a major error. They are bringing back animals (dogs and cats) that have not been sufficiently vaccinated and quarantined before they go into new homes in the United States.
A mixed breed Labrador dog named Crusader had to be put down because he had rabies - something that would have been recognized had he gotten vaccinated 30 days before entry into the United States (which is the norm) instead of just a few days prior. Rabies is relatively rare in domestic pets in the United States, however it is very common across the world - especially with so many stray animals.
Because Crusader had rabies and was in close proximity to 25 other animals that were on the flight, those other animals now placed in people’s homes have to have precautionary measures taken to ensure that they do not also have rabies. Those pets now have to be quarantined for six months.
Sometimes in people’s overzealousness to do good, they take shortcuts which end up hurting in the long run.
By now you’ve probably heard the story of Jake the rat terrier dog being grabbed by a shark while he was out for his daily swim. His owner dove in to save him. Have you seen the video?
Snuppy, the world’s first cloned dog has just fathered 10 puppies! And not just any puppies mind you. Their two mothers are clones themselves.
This is the first time in history that a clone has had a family from a clone.
I watched a new reality type show last night on the National Geographic channel (right after Cesar Milan’s “Dog Whisperer”). The show was called “Dogtown” & it’s about the “Best Friends Animal Sanctuary” (the largest no-kill animal sanctuary in the nation) & the dogs who they rescue from neglectful &/or abusive situations.
Last night’s episode (which I think was a rerun) was about the pit bulls from former football star Michael Vick’s dog fighting ring. One dog in particular was heart-breaking. Cherry was so terrified of people that he cowered in a corner when they came near his pen & he wouldn’t walk - he would lay prone on the ground instead.
A trainer finally broke the ice with Cherry & he learned to trust the trainer. Now, 9 months later, Cherry has turned into a friendly, playful pup that takes walks, plays with toys and doesn’t even mind cats. And now he’s ready to move to a foster home.
It just goes to show that even terribly abused dogs are so forgiving & can learn to trust people again - even though they were their abusers.
