Miami Herald: Owner saves dog from shark's jaws, 2008-Sep-30, by Cammy Clark: Greg LeNoir watched in horror as the shark's mouth opened wide, chomping a large set of teeth on his beloved 14-pound dog, Jake. ''Noooooo,'' LeNoir shrieked, fearing the worst. But the case of the rat terrier vs. the shark has a happy ending. ''Jake's doing great,'' LeNoir's brother, Phillip, said Monday. "And I still can't believe my brother jumped in the water and punched a shark.''
Bangor Daily News: Calais dog run a tribute to woman’s beloved pet, 2008-Aug-4, by Diana Graettinger:Three years ago, Heeja O'Leary was devastated when her Maltese dog died.But rather than focus on the sadness of the loss, O'Leary decided to start a memorial in honor of Mindy. Her plan was to build a dog run at PAWS Humane Center on South Street. That was nearly two years ago. O’Leary raised more than $5,000, and construction began last summer.On Friday, O’Leary toured the facility that her husband, Greg, built.
Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County Senior to Senior Program: Mature pets are especially suited for senior citizens because they are generally calmer, more even-tempered, require less vigorous exercise, and often already have been trained in important issues like housebreaking and litter box use. Both the human and the pet need someone in their lives, and often the best decision is to put these two seniors together.
June 20, 2008 is Take your Dog to Work Day, and the ASCPA sent out a news alert to remind people about unexpected problems which can crop up.
ASPCA: News Alert: June 13, 2008: Most dogs can’t resist the delectable smell of that wilting sandwich lingering in your coworker’s trash can. Aside from making a mess and spoiling his appetite, your dog’s naughty behavior could lead to a more serious problem if he eats something potentially toxic. According to the ASPCA’s Dr. Steven Hansen, your neighbor’s trash could be the site of harmful foods, or it could harbor bacteria that result in painful bloating, vomiting and diarrhea. Distract your roaming Rover from others’ garbage, and keep your own trash can clean for a healthy day.
Here's helpful advice from an animal control officers who was recently caught off-guard and found himself in a fight. Macon.tv: How to Avoid Dog Attacks, 2008-May-16, by Claire Simms: Animal Control Officer Van VanDeWalker says there are ways you can avoid being bitten. "The number one rule is, don't scream and run because the dog's natural instinct is just going to kick in to chase you and overtake you. "Number two, don't look the dog in the eyes. To them, that's a sign you're ready for a fight." Experts advise you walk away slowly and deliberately and try to get something to shield yourself.
Christian Science Monitor: 'Fairy dogmother' to a pit bull, 2008-May-1, by C.L. Votaw: The moment stretched out, and I started talking to him softly, but firmly: "What are you doing here all by yourself, huh? Where's your person?" He cocked his head and listened. "Hey, you're all covered with water and dirt. Are you the dog who's been racing around? What's going to happen to you?" The familiar chill of responsibility crept over me. Uh-oh! I didn't really want to get involved. So I turned on my heel and walked up the staircase to the parking lot, leaving the dog behind. About halfway up, I felt a furry breeze against my legs. The dog was now ahead of me, waiting at the top of the staircase. Learn the surprising happy ending.
Psychology Today Blogs: Songs to Soothe the Panicked Pooch, 2008-Mar-31, by Cathy Malchiodi: Much of the current knowledge about music's effects on dogs comes from the work of Belfast-based psychologist and animal behaviorist Deborah Wells. Wells exposed numerous breeds of dogs to everything from Metallica to the classical music of Beethoven, Bach, and Vivaldi. Wells found thatdog and headphones dogs in shelters exposed to classical music spent more time in a resting state, barking a lot less than other dogs. In contrast, heavy metal music agitated the dogs ... And pop music had no effect at all, possibly because dogs, like humans, are used to hearing it regularly. ...Dogs are known also to take comfort in music with slower rhythms, fewer instruments, and simpler melodies. Because dogs hear at much higher frequencies than people do, music to calm the particularly panicked pooch should be played a low volume.
Recently a older, deaf dog avoided being hit by a car because of a hand signal from his owner. If your dog is already a good learner, a few hand signals may be both fun and valuable to learn. DDEAF Training Hand Signs: Some people use ASL (American Sign Language, just as they would for a deaf person. This can be an advantage because anyone who knows ASL will be able to talk to your dog. Some people use modified ASL, so that they can hold a leash in one hand and talk to the dog with the other. Some people make up all their signs (you will probably still want an ASL dictionary, as it can be a challenge to invent signs with nothing to go on). Most people end up using a combination (i.e. obedience signs, and then one handed ASL). Anything you choose is "right" for you and your dog.
In Melbourne, Australia, a happy owner is sharing the experience of an active dog named Penny. This owner found some excellent advice from Dr. Pitcairn on protecting your dog's teeth, and my own research indicates there is only one thing every expert agrees about--don't let your dog chew bones unattended. Even the most carefully chosen bone can break teeth, choke your dog or block its intestines.
My Dog: Should dogs eat frozen bones?, 2007-Aug-31: Earlier this year Penny had a major tooth removed because it was broken....We think it might have happened when she was eating a bone, because she cried out and stopped eating, but at the time we didn't realise what the problem was. ...
Dr. Richard Pitcairn says:
Now you don't have to leave out the dog when playing games with families and friends. This company has a couple of different solutions: Darf Dog Games. DO YOU MIND is the new card/dice game people and dogs play. Friends and family compete to get their dogs to dance, pose, sing, play footsie among 60 fun activities. People and dogs have fun together while the dog learns, plays and becomes more socialized. This is a great game for parties!
Interfaith Animal Chaplains is a specialized ministry of Interfaith Officiants.com, listing dozens of independent Animal Chaplains around the world. The listing is a community service, and each Chaplain works independently within his/her own congregation, ministry, or organization. Independent Animal Chaplains provide an array of services to the community. We provide pet loss grief support and perform memorial services, pray for animals who are sick or injured, as well as many other services.
It all started when a kitty cat wandered onto a baseball field in 1991. Tony La Russa, then manager of the Oakland Athletics baseball team, rescued the cat, and he and his wife have gone on to rescue thousands of companion animals through their Animal Rescue Foundation: ARF saves dogs and cats who have run out of time at public shelters and brings people and animals together to enrich each others lives. ARF strives to create a world where every loving dog and cat has a home, where every lonely person has a companion animal, and where children learn to care. The ASPCA recently honored them with the 2007 Henry Bergh Award. Read more about how Henry Bergh changed the world for animals and founded the ASPCA. Then read about the numerous ways you can help at ARF.
IFAW (the International Fund for Animal Welfare) is usually associated with the protection of white-coated harp seals, but they also support numerous programs for pets and companion animals under their Community Led Animal Welfare (CLAW) campaigns. In South Africa Cora Bailey organized veterinary services for the poor communities, and eventually realized that dogs can make contributions to the community far beyond mere companionship. As part of an effort to keep them out of prison, young offenders were helping with kennel maintenance on the weekends. When officials realized that these undisciplined young people would accept a lot of responsibility for the privilege of training the dogs, a new rehabilitation program was born--for the dogs and the kids.
Only Natural Pet Store recently compiled a wonderful page of tips, including an age calculator that includes the dog's weight. Busting the Most Common Myths About Pet Food and Care: Determining your companion's age is a bit more complicated than straight multiplication. A simplified but a bit more accurate calculation is generally to compare a 1 year old dog or cat to a teenager of approximately 15 years, and a 2 year old dog or cat to human of about 24 years old. For each of your companion's years after that add 4 years. Dog ages are even more complicated due to the size differences between breeds - a 7 lb. Yorkshire Terrier ages more slowly than a 150 lb. Mastiff.
The Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pet organization usually places the pets of soldiers who've been deployed into foster homes, but they have found a growing need for places to kennel some of the pets. Their first effort will be an MVP (Military & Veterans Pet) Sanctuary in Arkansas, and your contributions are urgently requested. You can learn more about this worthy cause and see the plans here. Contributions are tax-deductible.
In Florida, many companion pets will outlive their elderly owners, and writing a will that includes instructions and funds for the maintenance of pets has become very popular. As more lawyers are experiencing the issues, specialties are developing. Designing trusts, custody settlements for divorce cases, and suing veterinarians and others for emotional damages due to loss of a pet, are all becoming more common as legal actions.
Florida Trend: Animal Law. 2007-May-1, by Cynthia Barnett
Interest in the field has surged in the United States in recent years, says Joyce Tischler, founding director of the California-based Animal Legal Defense Fund. In 2000, she says, there were nine animal-law courses offered in law schools around the nation, one journal devoted to the topic and no state Bar committees. Today there are 80 courses, including at Florida Coastal School of Law, Florida State University, Nova Southeastern, St. Thomas University, the University of Florida and the University of Miami. Three legal journals and two case-law textbooks cover the field. And 12 state Bar associations, including Florida's, have formed committees devoted to animal law.
Many dog health problems can be traced back to confusion about dog digestion, which is much different than human, and not well adapted for carbohydrates. Lew Olson does a wonderful job of researching and sharing the issues in her newsletter articles, which are archived at the B-Naturals web site. She also moderates a very large and active discussion group of pet nutrition at http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/K9Nutrition/, and all its thousands of messages can be searched here even if you'd rather not join.
B-Naturals: Digestion and Anatomy of the Canine, 2005-Sep, by Lew Olson
Since the small intestine of the dog moves food more quickly than that of omnivores and herbivores, dogs are not designed to deal with foods that need fermenting or further breaking down. Foods that work well in this type of environment include animal protein and fat.
Once she decided to help police dogs, high schooler Kelly Davis had to get a state law passed that allowed her to raise money for use by Maine police departments. Then she was allowed to spend the $40,000 she raised to purchase bulletproof vests for all the dogs. Now she also has an award for her volunteerism from Prudential Insurance.
BusinessWire: Maine's Kelly Davis of West Bath Named One of America's Top Ten Youth Volunteers. 2007-May-7
Six years ago, Kelly wanted to do something for her community, and, being an animal lover, she decided to help protect police dogs. “Police dogs do not choose their dangerous lives and deserve the same protection as their human partners,” she said.
Thousands of dogs around the world have experienced exceptional health for their entire lives on home-made diets of cooked or raw meat, bones and supplements, despite the fact that most veterinarians advise against it. Dogs have different nutritional needs than people, and we can't simply share our food with them. Many vets are skeptical that pet owners will take the time, effort and expense to balance the diet, but many support groups have sprung up, including Houston Raw Feeders. If you'd like to learn more, we recommend these sites that help you weigh the issues: DogAware and Raw Dog Ranch. One feeding program that has a big track record of success is The BARF Diet, designed by veterinarian Dr. Ian Billinghurst. Holistic veterinarian Dr. Marty Goldstein was recently featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
In a recent Wall Street Journal article, Kevin Helliker touts the benefits to humans of running with a dog companion, but he also mentions a few issues about keeping your dog healthy as a running mate.
Wall Street Journal: Benefits of a Canine Running Mate, 2007-Apr-17, by Kevin Helliker (subscription required)
After decades of jogging with friends, colleagues and loved ones, I've come to see that the ideal running mate is a dog. She is not competitive. Your fastest speed is nothing next to hers, so you will never run too fast for her. But neither will she whine about, let alone ridicule, your slowness. The only time she will complain is when you don't run at all, and that type of push is what personal trainers charge money for.
Throughout a dog's life, he or she may take many different kinds of medicine. In the mad rush, ever get the medicine home and realize it's not in the form you expected? Here's a place you can get quick tips for applying all kinds, from liquids to eye drops and ointments.
Howstuffworks: How to Nurse an Ailing Dog.
If you've been a dog owner for awhile, you know that getting Fido to take his medicine is not always easy. Rare is the dog who will take his medicine willingly, so here are some helpful ways to give your dog his medicine at home.
It's easy to become familiar with the plants which commonly threaten the well-being of our plants.
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Ten Most Common Poisonous Plants
Marijuana, Sago Palm (especially the 'nuts'), Lilies, Tulip and Narcissus bulbs, Azaleas/Rhododendron, Oleander, Castor bean, Cyclamen, Kalanchoe, and Yew.
My husband is terrible about giving the dog old food from the refrigerator. Here's a good article that ought to deter this habit.
David The Dogman: Danger in the Kitchen. by David Klein
Onions are not the only troublemakers in the pantry. ... Mouldy cheese will cause allergic reactions, apple seeds cause vomiting, and difficulty in breathing, coma. Potato skins cause dry mouth, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Rhubarb: vomiting, diarrhoea, ...
When disasters arrive, handling pets can slow you down. Be prepared to protect the lives of yourself as well as your animal companions by keeping a checklist and an emergency kit.
You can find a good article called "Natural Disasters and Your Pets" at this newsletter. If you want a first-aid kit for your pets as well, you can find them at www.first-aid-product.com, among other places.
When it's not convenient to keep the dog in and not convenient to let him get wet, what's the alternative to a covered parking area? A doggy rain coat. (Has anyone trained a dog to stay under an umbrella?)
Here's a very, very good rain coat from the sportswear department at Canine Cachet.
