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.
Category Archives: General
Michael Vick’s Dogs Get A New Start
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.
Dog Chew Toy Recalled After Many Tongue Injuries
The New York dog chew manufacturer of the Four Paws Pimple Ball With Bell is recalling the toy after several dogs ended up having severe tongue injuries.
At least two dogs got their tongues caught in the hole in the ball, the ball had to be cut off and the dogs tongues were injured so badly that their tongues had to be amputated. And one dog had to be euthanized during the same sort of surgery.
If you have this toy, throw it away or send it back to the company.
Speaking of chew toys…
Apparently, dogs can’t resist deer antlers! At least according to ANTLERZ™ brand dog chews manufacturer, QT Dog. The antlers come from deers that have shed them naturally (so no deers were harmed in order to get the antlers). Wild deer shed their antlers once a year as part of a natural process, after which the deer re-grows another set.
The antlers are cut to the appropriate size, cleaned, and packaged to produce the dog chews. ANTLERZ™ hold up substantially longer than most traditional chews made from plastic, bone, or compacted starch. Unlike processed livestock bones, ANTLERZ™ don’t chip or splinter when they are being chewed on by even the most aggressive dogs.
I’ll have to get some & see if my girl likes them.
Celebs And Dog Food
Ellen Degeneres has one, & now the daytime cooking talks show hostess Rachel Ray has one. What do they each have? Their own lines of dog food.
Rachael Ray has launched a new line of super premium dog food and treats called “Rachael Ray Nutrish.” Proceeds from each sale will be donated to support Rachael’s Rescue, which is dedicated to helping at-risk animals through adoption, medical care and educational programs, along with training and outreach initiatives.
Rachel had input in creating the dog food & treats. They are available & most stores nationwide & retail from about $3.99 - $16.99. Find out where to get them at www.nutrishforpets.com.
Police Dog Dies In Hot Car
Sam Diesel, the 2 year old German Shepherd police dog died from the heat after he was found in a police cruiser. The dog was routinely kept in the police cruiser with the air conditioning on. But on this day, the air conditioner failed and the dog died from the heat. No one knows how long the dog was in the car without AC but he was in the car for more than one hour while his handler was inside the police station working.
Sam Diesel was bought back in October for $12,625 and was paid for by donations from local WalMart employees when the police did a fund raiser.
It just goes to show, no matter who you are, you should never leave your dog alone in a car on a hot day.
Daily Dog Bites Causing India to Push For Dog Sterilization
Over 200 people were bitten by dogs in one day in Ahmedabad, India! In 2007, there were around 80,000 dog bite cases reported by hospitals in Ahmedabad. Stray dogs have over-run many cities in India, so much so that a law was passed last year to sterilize the thousands of strays. But, none of the agencies responsible for project has bothered to start work. That’s government for ya! :p
The Most Aggressive Dog Breeds…Will Surprise You
Pitbulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans oh my! Just the mention of those breeds sends chills down some people’s spine. They tend to be aggressive breeds no doubt (especially when the owner is irresponsible), but would you believe that the most aggressive breeds are tiny?
The dog taking the number one spot as the most aggressive breed is the Dachschund (or weiner dog). I know as a young kid my sister got bit by one. She was fearless & picked the dog up & bit it right back (on the back)! It avoided her from then on. 
The number two spot is held by the Chihuahua. No surprise there. Practically every chihuahua I’ve ever met shook terribly & snapped at everyone (including their owner). I was bit by a chihuahua but didn’t even realize it because it bit my pant leg. I only noticed it when the owner (who was yakking on her cell phone) apologized & I felt my pant leg being tugged on.
And the number three spot goes to the Jack Russell terrier. A neighbor has one that lunges at everyone who walks by. He’s bitten quite a few people before the owner can yank him back. Come to think of it, that little terror bit my pant leg too!
Dr. James Serpell, a University of Pennsylvania researcher said smaller breeds might be more genetically predisposed towards aggressive behavior than larger dogs. Not to mention the fact that bites from small dogs are rarely reported.
I believe owners of small dogs that bite are irresponsible if they let their dog bite people…even if they only grab someone’s pant leg. What if they bite a small child? Any dog that bites (big or small) needs the problem corrected.
Read more about the dog aggression study here…
China Asked To Remove Dog From The Menu
The chinese people eat dog meat in many dishes. But with the world watching during next month’s Beijing Olympic Games, the Beijing City Government Food Safety Office has asked the 112 officially designated Olympic restaurants in the region to take dog off the menu. And many other restaurants are being asked as well. Waiters & waitresses are being instructed to make other suggestions for those ordering the dish.
As with most habitual controversial practices, this is all for show. People won’t stop eating dog meat, they just won’t do it where anyone can see…until after the Olympics is over. If you don’t see people eating dog, does that mean that dogs are not being eaten? Hiding it from people is just a case of “out of sight, out of mind.”
China isn’t the only city that has temporarily banned dog. South Korea did too during the 1998 Olympics there.
Trouble On The Dog Cloning Front
A war of sorts has started brewing among the cloning facilities over who actually owns the patent to clone animals.
The Texas firm, Start Licensing, that is credited with cloning Dolly the sheep is suing the South Korean biotech company, RNL Bio, that has cloned several dogs, including cloning the world’s first dog for personal companionship (the 3 clones are to be born later this month via a surrogate mother). Start Licensing claims to hold the patent rights to clone dogs, cats and endangered species. The technology was developed at the Roslin Institute for the Dolly project.
BioArts, a California company claims that it has obtained exclusive licenses for the cloning of mammals using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technology from Start Licensing. BioArts is currently running an online auction to clone five dogs, with the bidding starting at $100,000.
RNL could potentially block BioArts from cloning dogs using its patent from Seoul National University (SNU) & they claim that they could sue BioArts and its Korean subcontractors, Sooam BioTech Research Center, led by disgraced scientist Hwang Woo-suk, as early as this month.
Anytime there is substantial money, prestige & notoriety involved, lawsuits abound. And cloning is historic!
Summer Tips for the Dogs
Summer is upon us & this is the time of year when many a beloved dog dies after being left in a hot, locked car. Even leaving your pooch in the car for just a few minutes (even if you crack the window) could kill your dog. Remember, dogs can’t sweat to cool themselves off. Be mindful before you take your dog with you when you run errands this summer.
One place many people don’t consider their dog suffering heat related problems is when they take their dog cross country with them on an airplane. Most pets are put in the cargo hold (which is air conditioned), however when the plane is coming in for a landing, the air conditioning is turned off. The temperature in the city you land in should be no more than 86°, otherwise it is like leaving your dog in a hot car with the windows up (& who knows how long it’ll be before they get your pet out of the cargo hold). Again be mindful if you are transporting your pet via airplane. If the temperature is going to be hot when you land, schedule your flight for the coolest part of the day.
Speaking of summer, 60 dogs rode the waves at the 3rd Annual Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition held at Imperial Beach, Calif. The competition raised money for the Modest Needs Foundation, which combats poverty.
Some of these dogs really have style on the boards - decked out in sunglasses & shorts. Check them out…
