Helloooo fur fans.  I had a fantastic Christmas, thanks for asking.  I managed to get the best present ever and the best piece of chicken breast available for Christmas lunch.  I have to say I enjoyed every morsel and the look on Angus dog’s face when I pipped him at the post for the best bits.  You have to be in the right place at the right time around here – and I always am, although everybody is now starting to look at my waistline … and not in a good way.  I’ve heard rumours of going for.. gasp.. walks and doing it more than once a week.  Shock and horror fur fans, I don’t know if my delicate disposition can take the trauma of it all.

Stay tuned for my workout update in the near future.. if I survive it all.

Keira didn’t have a family a few months ago.

Now, the mixed-breed dog has found a home with an Athens family and has quickly become a source of solace for a troubled boy.

Samantha Mattox, her husband, Lee, and their two sons, Gregory, 9, and Sam, 7, adopted Keira from Athens Canine Rescue earlier this year.

“I had wanted a dog for a very long time, but my oldest son had always been terrified of dogs,” said Mattox, who works at the main University of Georgia library.

According to Mattox, it didn’t matter if the dog was nearby or hundreds of feet away, her son was terrified of it.

“No amount of reason or logic could convince him that all dogs within a 50-mile radius weren’t out to hunt him down and attack him without mercy,” she said.

But that all changed when Mattox’s son met her sister’s dog, Murphy. At first, she said her son was scared of Murphy, but he eventually realized the dog wasn’t a threat.

After “babysitting” Murphy for her sister for a week and realizing how well it went, Mattox knew it was the perfect time to add to their family and get a dog of their own.

“I began searching the various pet adoption websites,” she said. “When I saw Keira’s picture and story on the Athens Canine Rescue page, I knew she was going to be our dog.

“I saw several dogs I liked, but I kept coming back to Keira. There was just something about her — that sweet happy face with her tongue hanging out and that ‘rogue’ left ear, always doing its own thing. I just melted.”

The Mattox family was able to meet Keira at Pawtropolis, and almost immediately Keira took to the family, showering them with love and affection.

“Fast forward five months, and it’s like Keira has always been a part of our family,” Mattox said. “She is so sweet, loving, goofy and energetic. She’s such a warm and happy soul.”

The best part of the whole experience, though, is the effect that Keira has had on her son, Gregory, who suffers from Asperger’s syndrome.

“My oldest son, Gregory, was diagnosed with Asperger’s when he was 5 years old,” Mattox said. “Some people refer to it as autism spectrum disorders. Some refer to it as high-functioning autism, because unlike classic autism, people with Asperger’s are able to communicate, often do well in school and are usually of above-average intelligence.”

According to Mattox, people who suffer from Asperger’s like her son have difficulty with social interactions and a harder time to relating to peers.

“I think Keira has had such a positive effect on Gregory because, like most dogs, she is very sensitive to human feelings,” she said. “She has a unique ability to recognize when he is upset and comfort him… story taken from.. onlineAthens… read full story… http://onlineathens.com/local-news/2012-11-22/rescue-dog-helps-boy-cope-asbergers

Hello there fur-pals.  It’s been ages since I’ve been in.

Things have been busy here and I’ve just lost my best mate, Dylan, so I have been keeping a low profile around the house because everybody is so sad.

I wait by the front door in hope that he will be back and I’m hopeful that maybe I might catch a glimpse of him if I look hard enough.  Mum says that I might if I’m very lucky and concentrate hard enough.

I miss my friend and hope that I see him again one day.

That Bo is one lucky dog: He’s going into the record books as the first White House pet to have his very own commemorative Easteregg.

Look closely at the White House’s 2012 set of collector’s Easter eggs, above. You can make out the black-and-white Portuguese water dog’s image — the red one, center — alongside the Easter bunny emblems that decorate the rest of the eggs in the souvenir set.

The wooden Easter eggs are sold through the National Park Foundation, which raises money to preserve and maintain America’s open spaces.

Sales figures were not immediately available, but the public’s reaction to the Bo Easter egg has been described as ”enthusiastic.”

Unfortunately, you can’t buy simply the Bo egg (we tried). The Bo egg is available only when you buy the entire set, seen above, which costs $29.50. Any of the other Easter eggs in the set, however, can be bought for $7.50 apiece… story taken from…. The Baltimore Sun… read full story… http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/pets/la-na-nn-bo-the-white-house-dog-has-his-own-easter-egg-20120406,0,6405744.story

Dog is man’s best friend – until she eats your Masters tickets.

Russ Berkman of Seattle told KJR Sports Radio he was running errands when Sierra, his Swiss mountain dog, swallowed four tickets to the annual PGA Masters Tournament in Georgia.

Frantic, Berkman knew he had to get the tickets, and called his girlfriend for advice.

“She says, ‘You have to make the dog puke,” he told the radio station.

Familiar with a safe method veterinarians sometimes have to use on dogs, Berkman fed Sierra a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water.

“It bubbles in their stomach; it’s very safe, and they puke in about 10 minutes,” he said. “About 10 minutes later she did what she was supposed to, which was puke up the Masters tickets.”

Sure enough, the tickets were there — in bits and pieces.

When Berkmancalled the Masters ticket office to explain, staffers reissued his coveted passes… story taken from… NY Daily News… read story… http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-04-04/news/31289619_1_masters-tickets-swiss-mountain-dog-bits-and-pieces

Helloooo fur fans! How lovely it is to be here. I didn’t think I would be feeling as good as I am right now, as I have been quite ill recently. Mum is starting to call me things like ‘the million dollar dog’ and the more derogatory ‘lemon.’ I certainly don’t think I’m a lemon, although my bits and pieces have been a little defective lately.

Bladder problems, we girls have them now and again, but I’ve been getting them BIG time. The vet bill for me so far is well over the $3,000 mark, but of course, I am worth every cent. I keep hearing Mum say ‘thank god for the dog insurance.’ Thank god she has me to love her, is all I can say to that.

I’m here today to tout the effectiveness of dog insurance, however. It’s been a ‘godsend’ apparently, says Mum, although I thought that I was the godsend. I’ve had the best of care, not that I don’t deserve it, and the vets and the specialist have all been marvellous. I’ve been the centre of attention, as usual, and it’s been great… except for the operation and the ultrasounds. I’m also giving the vet table a wide berth in the future, as bad things happen there, that’s for sure.

I will be back soon with news of my recovery.

Greetings fur pals!  It’s good to be back on the net again. Mum’s been having some time off, so it’s been hell trying to get any computer time around here.

Life is good right now, and the weather is starting to turn cool, so I’m looking for places to keep myself warm, preferably the comfy beds and lounges, if I can.

Sadly, I have been kicked out of the house today and I am spending some of my time on the veranda. At least the veranda also has a comfy, warm lounge, but it’s not inside and it’s as warm as it could be. I have peed on the last bit of furniture, or so Mum says. So I’m out here doing my penance, until tomorrow, when Dad gets home and I can bluff my way back indoors during the daytime.

Right now, it’s every dog for himself to get the best spot on the veranda lounge. I’m doing it tough.

Until next time.

Greetings fur pals! This post is brought to you today from under the lounge, where I am hiding out to escape a soaking in the dreaded ‘big white tub.’

My sister Ruby seems to enjoy all the primping and pampering, but I’m not one for the excesses of it all, so hide I must, lest I be cornered and dragged into the laundry.

I’m pretty sure I’ve found myself a good spot. I’m right up in the corner, in a nice dark place. Now if only I could get rid of Ruby, who is out of the bath and trying to get under here with me. She’s a dead giveaway, because she’s leaving a trail of water right to my secret location.

Until next time… if there is a next time…

Greetings fellow fur-pals and new year travellers! It was quite a year last year for me, and mum hasn’t let me post for a while due to illness. I’m hoping for an action-packed 2012 to make up for lack of action and interest in 2011.

I’ve managed to upset the neighbours already in the new year. Barking at anything that came my way, especially those pesky New Year fireworks that I couldn’t scare off no matter how much I barked at them.

We’ve had a lot of visitors and tourists over the Christmas break and I’ve barked at them all. Mum is threatening to put me in the ‘naughty dog’ room for a few hours to teach me a lesson, but it never happens.

Until next time.. do your best dog impression and stay safe…!

It’s a reunion 2 years and 3,000 miles in the making. Monday night in the cargo terminal at Sacramento International Airport, a boy and his puppy found each other again. Only after all that time and all those miles, they had really become a man and his dog.

“I think somebody found him and moved with him,” said Cody Baetge, now 17. “Because he’s a good dog. He’s sweet.”

Cooper the Chihuahua mix went missing two years ago. Cody and his family did everything they could to find him; they combed the neighborhood and searched shelter after shelter. Cody says he never gave up hope.

But it wasn’t until two weeks ago that Cody’s mom Michelle got a call from a veterinary hospital in Brandon, Florida. Someone had picked-up Cooper, and a microchip scan had revealed that Cooper belongs in West Sacramento.

“I thought it was just a California town I had never heard of,” said Michelle Baetge. “I told them I’d drive over and pick him up.”

That’s when she got the incredible news: Cooper had traveled nearly 3,000 miles in the two years since he’d been gone. The company that microchipped Cooper made the arrangement to have him flown to Sacramento. The veterinary hospital chipped-in with a create. And Cooper was on his way.

The little Chihuahua has a special significance to Cody because his grandfather got him as something for Cody to remember him by.

“Most news is bad news,” Michelle Baetge said. “This is good news. It makes people feel good to hear there are still good people.”

Cody was worried that Cooper might take a little while to recognize him after all that time.

“I think it’s going to be crazy… to finally have him back after two years,” Cody said, a few hours before Cooper arrived in Sacramento.

But you could tell by the way the little dog was licking Cody’s face, he knew he was right where he belonged.

And as the crowd of well-wishers and media looked-on, more than one person wondered out loud: the little dog, named after a Cooper Mini car, had traveled so far, for so long… what stories could he tell?

Story taken from… Fox40.com … read story, see video… http://www.fox40.com/news/headlines/ktxl-west-sacramento-family-reunited-with-dog-cooper-after-2-years-and-3000-miles-20111004,0,2607254.story

The kidnapping for ransom of a Woodland woman’s bulldog has drawn the attention of the press and the public across the U.S. and beyond, a Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Spokesman said Tuesday.

Chief Deputy Corey Huffine said he received calls Tuesday from the Los Angeles Times, ABC News and numerous other media outlets requesting information on the case. Good Morning America did a segment about the extortion scheme. A story about the dog also appeared on the website of the Daily Mail in the United Kingdom.

Jennifer Thomas of Woodland told authorities that Jagger, her English bulldog, disappeared Oct. 4.

The sheriff’s office said Thomas also told investigators she began receiving text messages Oct. 8 demanding she hand over prescription drugs and cash if she wanted her dog back. Thomas, who is wheelchair-bound, could not be reached Tuesday.

Huffine said he has been flooded with calls and e-mails this week from the local public as well as concerned people across the U.S. and overseas. He said he received one e-mail from someone in Germany wanting to ensure that the case was being handled properly. Others, he said, are offering to help bring Jagger home.

“There’s been a ton of interest,” Huffine said. “People love pets and love dogs.”

Huffine said he was so overwhelmed with interest in Jagger’s case that he was unable to work on much else Tuesday.

“My email’s blown up,” Huffine said, adding that he can’t step away from his desk without returning to find new messages on his phone. “It actually has slowed us down.”

Huffine said there had been no break in the case Tuesday, but that the sheriff’s office was taking the situation seriously.

Sheriff Mark Nelson released a statement Tuesday saying he’s had as many as four deputies at a time working the case.

“This is a living creature,” Huffine said. “We’re just doing the best that we can.”

Story taken from…. TDN.com.. read full story…. http://tdn.com/news/local/article_109ec342-fa23-11e0-9a52-001cc4c03286.html

One of the newest residents at Luther Acres Retirement Home in Lititz is only five months old.

His name is Buddy, and he has white hair and big brown puppy dog eyes. That’s not so unusual, because Buddy is a puppy, a Great Pyrenees puppy to be exact. He is the new resident therapy dog at Luther Acres.

His “job” at Luther Acres is to fill the need of residents for a warm. loving dog that can keep them company and attend some of their activities. He also helps to give them a purpose, in helping to take care of him. They enjoy feeding him, petting him and taking him for walks.

As Mary Schreiber, recreational therapist at Luther Acres, points out, residents enjoy activities and experiences that remind them of being at home. A few of them had to give up pets, and miss their cats and dogs. Buddy helps to give them the sense of well being that a pet can provide.

“Just petting a dog can help you feel more relaxed and satisfied,” says Schreiber. “And Buddy is a great listener.”

Schreiber has brought her own cat, Maddie, a sweet orange and white tabby, to Luther Acres, and discovered how much that meant to some of the residents. A therapy pet has to have the right temperament— friendly and calm— to visit nursing home residents.

“I saw how much some of them liked Maddie, and she still comes to visit.” says Schreiber. “But Buddy will be a full-time resident here.”

Buddy has his own area at the skilled nursing unit of the retirement home, plus a large, enclosed outdoor courtyard. He is crate-trained, so likes to sleep in his crate. Residents and staff take care of feeding him, giving him water and taking him for walks. By the time he is full grown, he is likely to weigh more than 100 pounds.

“I like Buddy. It’s great to have a companion,” says resident Jennie Baker, 102, and a retired nurse, one of the first graduates of Lancaster General Hospital nursing school.

Baker enjoys when Buddy stops by for a visit. He is able to sense when people are dog-lovers. He goes up to them and gently nuzzles them for a pat on the head. He often lies down next to Baker, and she just likes having him around… story taken from… Lancaster online … read story… http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/483727_Buddy-is-new-therapy-dog-at-Luther-Acres.html

They say all dogs go to heaven. But sometimes, heaven comes to the dog.

At least, that’s what 73-year-old Jim Arrighi of Tennessee said he believes.

Arrighi had been searching for his 4-year-old Jack Russell terrier, Petie, since the dog wandered away from his Erin, Tenn., yard July 28. He hung posters and bought ads in the local newspaper — he even went door to door when he could — searching for his beloved companion.

To make matters worse, Arrighi’s wife of 37 years, Juanita Arrighi, 77, died Oct. 12. Arrighi said he feels his wife is an angel who helped make sure Petie found his way home.

“I think she had something to do with it,” he said Wednesday, full of conviction. “She knew how much I loved that dog and how much comfort he was to me. I’d sit on the back porch and drink my coffee, and he’d do what he needed to do, then he’d crawl up in my lap and go to sleep.”

How Petie ended up in the yard of a Rochester Hills home, nearly 600 miles away, is unknown. But Arrighi said he has his theories. This morning, Arrighi and Petie will reunite, thanks to a microchip, a friend and volunteer and the generosity of strangers.

Petie wasn’t the only pet to find his way to the Great Lakes State recently. Ozzie, a long-haired, black-and-white cat sits in a Clinton Township veterinary clinic while workers there try to track down his owner in New York.

As with Petie, a microchip helped track down Ozzie’s owner and home. But more on Ozzie later.

Earlier this week, Petie wandered into the backyard of a family in Rochester Hills. The family contacted the Michigan Humane Society, which discovered the microchip and contacted Arrighi.

Arrighi said Petie’s favorite pastime is jumping Muster Ground Creek outside his house to visit the home of his daughter, Tyanne Morrison, 54. Petie would chase his daughter’s three cats up trees and sometimes ride on her four-wheeler, he said.

Occasionally, Petie also wandered down to say hello to workers who knew him at a nearby restaurant, Arrighi said. And that may have been his undoing.

“He’d ride with anybody — he loved to ride anything,” Arrighi said. “I’m sure he got into somebody’s car, and they just took off with him. He didn’t meet no strangers. He was friendly to everybody.”

Wednesday morning, Petie got into a car outside the Michigan Humane Society’s Rochester Hills facility with volunteer Nancy Greiser of Wayne, a humane society foster parent and volunteer since 2009. She was one of 76 volunteers who offered to drive Petie home — and she was the one who said she could leave immediately, humane society spokesman Kevin Hatman said.

“How can you not have your heartstrings tugged?” said Greiser, as Petie jumped for treats she held.

Greiser said she has volunteered with the Michigan Humane Society’s Berman Center for Animal Care in Westland since she retired from teaching at an adult-education facility about two years ago.

She said she and her friend expected to drive 10 hours Wednesday and stay at a bed-and-breakfast in Erin, Tenn., that offered them free accommodations. An anonymous donor was paying for their gas.

The reunion between Petie and Arrighi is scheduled for 10 a.m. at Arrighi’s home, about 90 minutes west of Nashville.

“I said nobody can cry when we show up,” Greiser said.

But that might be hard.

“This story puts a smile on the faces of our entire adoption center team,” said Marcelena Mace, shelter manager at the MHS Rochester Hills Center for Animal Care.

“It’s wonderful when we see microchip reunions, including those that seem like miracles. It really proves that no matter how far your pet may travel, a microchip can help him find his way home.”

Hatman said one in three pets gets lost at some time, but only 15% to 20% of lost dogs and 3% of lost cats are able to find their way home. Now, most rescues and veterinary clinics have universal scanners that can read any chip — and offer the pet a way home, he said… story taken from… Detroit Free Press … read story, see video… http://www.freep.com/article/20111027/NEWS05/110270683

On Thursday, a day of deluge, damage and tragedy, a beloved dog fled her Northeast Washington home and vanished. She apparently spent the night amid rain, thunder and lightning.

But for Asia, a medium-size black Labrador retriever/collie mix, the outcome was better than in many of the week’s storm-related events.

After a long chase through Northeast, three D.C. police officers took Asia into custody Friday morning at Gallaudet University.

It was not clear why officers had pursued her, but the chase ended about a mile from Asia’s house, which is at 16th and Rosedale streets. Asia had run out when workers came in. Asia, said owner Chris Maier, is “not used to strangers.”

The workers first looked for her and then called Maier, and he and his girlfriend searched for hours in vain. But after many calls to the D.C. animal control unit, Maier was told Friday morning that “something just came across the police radio” and that “it may have been your dog.”

It was. When they were reunited, Maier said, a tail-wagging Asia was truly excited. But on Saturday, he said, she still seemed “just sort of worn out.”... story taken from… The Washington Post… read story… http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-dog-goes-lost-in-storm-is-found/2011/09/10/gIQAvn5iIK_story.html

Helloooo there fur-fans. It’s lovely to be here again this week. I haven’t been around for a couple of weeks as I’ve been helping out at home with mum when she came out of hospital. I did my best to make sure I was around to offer support. Recuperating on the bed was the place to be this season fur-fans. I got to sleep with Mum all day for a week and was on my best behaviour. It was a special week, I can tell you. I got to eat extra treats on the bed for being a good girl and not jumping around too much. Not that I would anyway, I’m a lady.

I’m looking forward to getting out and about again though. Summer is here and the beach is just around the corner. I can’t wait to sink my paws into the sand again. As long as somebody cleans me up afterwards of course.

Until next time.

Greetings and salutations fur-pals. I’m here today with news of my latest escapades around the neighbourhood. Indeed I was really around the neighbourhood last week when I managed to slip out the side gate and notch up a couple of streets before I was spotted and chased home again. It was me against the world, fur-pals, and every other dog in the street as I strutted my stuff up the middle of the road and barked at anything that moved. That big brown fur-ball down the road had nothing on me, and as he was behind his fence, and I was on the other side, he was fair game. I said my piece and then said some more, until the demon dog almost jumped over the six foot railing in a fit of pique. Discretion is always the better part of valour, especially in this instance. There were plenty of other places to go anyway.  It’s a pity that the demon dog brought the whole neighbourhood out, or I would still be sniffing some delightful aromas down at the local park.

Until next time…

Farmer David Ferwerda may have dug pythons out of warthog holes and escaped elephant herds in Africa, but it was a pregnant Black Angus that would leave him on the operating table.

Ferwerda, a globe-trotting game hunter, credited his loyal Australian cattle dog Hannah with saving his life after the Angus attacked him on March 14.

“She’s an exceptionally good dog. She never takes her eyes off me. If it wasn’t for the dog I would never have gotten out of that barnyard,” he said.

It was a sunny morning when the 77-year-old bachelor went to do chores during calving season at his farm on 5909 East Buss Road. Little did Ferwerda know when he went to fix a leaky stock tank, that an Angus in the early stages of labor was lurking behind the barn door. The pregnant predator struck Ferwerda in the collar bone, knocked him in the manure and started pummeling him with her hooves.

Ferwerda thought he was dead meat.

“I hoped it would be over in a hurry because I didn’t have any chance to get out. I just gave up,” Ferwerda said.

The Angus didn’t break any bones, but put a nasty gash in his head. As he regained consciousness, Ferwerda saw that his mighty cow dog Hannah had backed off the beefy bully. The farmer crawled out on his hands and knees through the manure as the dog watched his back. Ferwerda said cows are scared of cattle dogs because they can bite their noses.

“The cow was pawing the ground, kicking manure and blowing snot. I got out of the barnyard without getting mauled again,” Ferwerda said. “She’s a wonderful little dog.”

Although Ferwerda was covered in bruises and suffering in pain, he was on such an adrenaline high that he thought he could bounce back from his injuries.

“I didn’t think much of it, I seemed to be OK,” he said… story taken from… Washington Examiner.com… read full story… http://washingtonexaminer.com/news/2011/10/cattle-dog-saves-his-owner-black-angus

A woman and her child were fast asleep when they woke to the sound of their dog barking.

When the woman got up to check on what was going on, she discovered her home was on fire.

Now firefighters say the family pet may have saved the woman and her child Sunday morning after a fire tore through the attic and the backside of their home near Lawrenceville  – and left them homeless.

Gwinnett County firefighters received the call around 4:20 a.m. about the fire in the 300 block of Shire Way.

When they arrived, they saw heavy fire shooting from the attic and the back side of the two-story wood frame house, Gwinnett County Fire Capt. Tommy Rutledge said.

“Firefighters made immediate entry to conduct a search and battle the blaze,” Capt. Rutledge said. “The blaze caused significant damage to the exterior rear wall, attic, and roof.”

The mother and child were displaced by the fire, which took firefighters almost 40 minutes to control… story taken from… Examiner.com.. read story… http://www.examiner.com/public-safety-in-atlanta/family-dog-alerts-sleeping-mother-child-to-burning-home

Hello there old fur-comrades. Good to be here for another installment on the ins and outs of the senior fur-child in the ranks.

I’ve been doing the rounds of the neighbourhood these last few weeks, as the darling of the older-female-dog-lover-set in the neighbourhood. I have to say, I’m a firm favourite with a lot of the ladies around these parts. I might be a bit older, but I’m holding my age well and my devastating good looks haven’t faded a bit. It also helps to be obedient and house-trained. I’m always on my best behaviour when I’m visiting the senior women’s network in these parts, because my reputation for being a senior-lady-fur-killer gets around. This ensures me with more of the best of everything. More treats, more attention, more cuddles, more grooming. Everybody wants to take me home! I can have my pick of luxury at any time. When my senior owner is indisposed, there’s almost a hen-fight to see who is going to get to take care of me.

Oh what a life!

Helloooo fur-fans. It’s great to be back once again, and reporting the latest news in my neck of the woods. I haven’t been touring the island as much as I would like to, and my fans are getting restless. Mum has been in hospital and I have been helping out a little around the house. It’s been wonderful to lay in bed with mum until late in the morning and sample some of the treats she has been getting with breakfast in bed. I try to get as close as I can to the food before Dad chases me off. He’s still hung up on that diet word that the vet mentioned last month, so apparently I’m still on rations.

Mum has been feeling sorry for herself ..so I try to be as sympathetic as I can, which can pay dividends in secret treats behind Dad’s back. He’s wondering why I’m not losing any weight. Mum is telling him it is because I haven’t been for a walk for a while as Mum has been confined to the house post-operatively. But we both know better.

I will be looking forward to the summer season, fur-fans, when I get to strut my stuff and my new summer wardrobe on the beach.

Until next time…

Hello fur-pals. Well, I’ve been main dog-about-the-house in recent times as I help mum after she has gotten out of hospital. I’ve been keeping my wet shiny nose pretty clean and I am on my best behaviour.

I’m taking my doggy responsibilities very seriously, and I make sure I am on the bed with mum at the first available opportunity to see if she is alright.  I’ve discovered that getting too excited about my duties and jumping all over mum isn’t met with the desired response, however.

I’m helping Dad with the food preparation and make sure everything tastes alright before it gets to Mum. This is the best job in town as far as I’m concerned, but it’s importance can’t be understated.

Can’t wait til we get to the point of walking around the block again, so I can get back to my seek and find missions once again though…

Until next time..

(NBC) – One in 400 children in the United States suffer from diabetes, and while many of them struggle with figuring out when they need their insulin, the parents of one Long Island boy found the perfect solution: Hero, a diabetic alert dog, a specialized breed of Labrador that can detect when a diabetic is in trouble and find help.

Johnny Pion, 8, is a laid back kid that was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes in 2008.

The disease is a death sentence without insulin, and his blood sugar needs constant monitoring. He can’t even go on play-dates without mom or dad fearing he might need help.

With Hero in her new home, Johnny’s parents may worry a little less.

They found out about diabetic alert dogs at a fundraiser for diabetes. The dogs cost around $20,000 and are not covered by insurance.

Through donations from friends, family and the community, the Pions brought Hero home from Warren Retrievers in Virginia, a specialty breeder of service dogs.

Cherri Campbell, Hero’s trainer, says the dogs can detect the slightest changes in blood sugar by their keen sense of smell.

“Humans have 5 million smell receptors; dogs have 5 billion,” she said.

When the dog detects something’s wrong, she’ll warn Johnny by nudging up against him. If he doesn’t respond, Hero knows to look for mom and dad.

Eventually Hero could contact 911 in an emergency.

On their first night, together Johnny was comfortable sleeping in his own bed and not with his parents.

Night time is critical because blood sugar goes unchecked while sleeping. Now Hero stands guard…. story taken from… wsfa.com… read story…. http://www.wsfa.com/story/15448185/dog-smells-low-blood-sugar

A dog in China is playing the role of surrogate mother to three white tiger cubs after the animals were rejected by their birth mother.  Story taken from… You Tube… see video… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OibeXKd5k3k

BENWOOD – A female mixed English setter dog was rescued Wednesday afternoon as it was trying to jump the median wall of W.Va. 2 in Benwood.

Marshall County Animal Shelter Director Cindy Brautigan said all four of its paws were bleeding. She said a volunteer from the Animal Rescue League saw the dog and stopped her car to try and slow traffic.

A man following also stopped and was able to catch the dog and put it into the woman’s vehicle and she took it to the animal shelter.

“The dog was full of burrs,” Brautigan said. “It was very hungry and very scarred. We are hoping someone comes to claim it. We have been trying to win her trust. We have been feeding it small meals several times a day.”

Because the dog was scared it bit the man who caught her, Brautigan said. She does not know who the man was, who caught the dog, or how severe the bite was.

“We normally hold a dog for five days before we release it,” she said, “but we are going to hold her 10 days before we let her go. We are hoping the owner will call or we will put her up for adoption.”… story taken from… The Intelligencer. Wheeling News-Register… read story… http://www.news-register.net/page/content.detail/id/559575/Dog-Rescued-From-Highway.html?nav=510

CORPUS CHRISTI (Kiii News) – An happy ending to the story about the missing family dog, Charlie.

Andrea Johnson’s family was heartbroken after the family’s pet dog Charlie went missing. The 8-month-old pup is actually a service dog for Andrea’s 7-year-old daughter Eva, who has Asbergers disease, a high functioning form of autism.

Andrea made a tearful plea during a 3 News broadcast on Wednesday, September 7, 2011, And later that evening Charlie was found. 3 News received a call from a guy named Larry Guerrero. He found Charlie near a restaurant by the Crosstown Expressway.

Guerrero cares for lost dogs, often finding them new homes. When he saw are report earlier this evening, he says he jumped at the chance of reuniting the family: “It just gets you all over man. It’s a good thing. As long as we do one good thing every day. That’s all we need.”

Johnson says, “oh, I’m so happy she is back home. She is back where she belongs. I can tell she missed us. Even if it was that little short of time.”

As you can imagine, in the future, the Johnson’s say they plan to  keep an especially close eye on Charlie… story taken from… kiii tv.com… read full story and see video… http://www.kiiitv.com/story/15421670/lost-family-dog-found

Good things come in small packages, the saying goes. A 19-year-old Utah man learned the truth of those words when he was awakened in the middle of the night last Friday by paramedics, who led him out of the family house, which was on fire. The emergency personnel had been led in turn had to the young man’s room by the family dog, an heroic toy poodle named Ted.

The fire broke out at around 3 a.m. That was when a passer-by noticed flames and called the fire department. The sleeping teen’s mother and two children exited the house before the firefighters arrived, but the 19-year-old was still inside. West Jordan Fire Battalion Chief Reed Sharman picks up the story’s thread. As he told the Salt Lake Tribune:

Two of our paramedics, Don Chase and Erik Andersen, had gone inside to search the structure, and when they opened the door, there was the dog. When they went to grab the dog, though, he ran downstairs.

He stopped on a landing, looked back at our guys, waited for them to catch up and then ran down to the next landing.

Ultimately, Ted led the emergency responders to a basement couch where the teenager was fast asleep. By this point, the house had begun to fill with smoke, conditions that further underscore Ted’s selflessness and bravery.

The two paramedics carried the young man and dog outside. The man was treated at the scene for minor smoke inhalation and released. The dog was uninjured, though Chief Reed Sharman told reporters he was “grumpy.” You would be, too, if you wanted to let firefighters know a family member was trapped inside the burning house but had no language in common with them.

The fire, meanwhile, was extinguished within 10 minutes. The house had sustained an estimated $30,000 to $40,000 in damage, but the most precious contents were perfectly fine, in no small measure thanks to a determined little dog…. story taken from… Examiner… read full story… http://www.examiner.com/pet-news-in-national/toy-poodle-rescues-owner-from-burning-home

Working with victims of physical, sexual and mental abuse is an area filled with difficultly. It becomes even harder when dealing with children.

For Mary Jo McVeigh, a counselor and child trauma expert, who has worked with children for over 25 years, it was a random interaction between her pet dog and a young client that opened her eyes to a new approach, one which is producing unexpected results.

McVeigh is the founding principal of Cara House, which helps children dealing with trauma. In addition to traditional counselling, the clinic offers special sessions with a loveable spoodle (cross between a poodle and a cocker spaniel) named Toby.

Toby is the canine clinical lead at Cara House and has been helping trauma survivors for five years. He is believed to be the first dog in Sydney to be used to help treat abuse victims.

“I could say it was some very sophisticated approach, but it was completely by accident,” said McVeigh.

“I was walking Toby one day and had to stop by work. A young girl was here [Cara House] and she was struggling with certain relationships, she wouldn’t let anybody near her, but there was an instant connection to Toby.”

Upon realising the effectiveness of animal comfort, McVeigh and her colleague Laura Luchi undertook training in the trauma model of animal assistance therapy.

Since then, Toby has become an integral part of the work done at Cara House.

“The beauty of Toby is the approach is more tactile,” said McVeigh.

“We work through Toby, we say what would Toby be feeling, what would Toby be thinking, how could you help Toby with his barking. This encourages children to take on a caring role for Toby and vice versa.”

McVeigh talked about how difficult it was for a child that has been traumastised by abuse to trust people, especially adults.

According to government agency, the Australian Insitute of Family studies, there were 46,187 claims of child abuse across Australia in the 2009-10 financial year… story taken from… The Age.. read full story… http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/life/puppy-love-aids-abused-children-20110919-1kgwz.html

Hello there old fur-comrades. I’m back again today and feeling pretty good about myself, I can tell you. I’m not feeling any bit older than I was a few weeks ago. In fact, I’m feeling fighting fit and ready for action in the trenches.

I’ve been ‘palmed off’ again by my senior owner..for want of a better phrase, to be strung out to dry at that young snapper, Angus’, place for the last week or so. I’m not really liking it all that much, but I’m once again fighting for my territory and I have set a few boundaries for the young buck to abide by.

I’m making it plain that I’m the boss, and I’m entitled to the benefits of the softest bed, the best lounge, the plumpest pillows and the lions share of the pickings at meal times. I’ve managed to hold my fort pretty well, and all this testiness has put a spring in my step and an arc to my bark. I’m feeling great!

Nothing like a bit of competition to keep you on your toes I say.

Helloooo fur-fans. It’s good to be back today and experiencing the fine weather we are having on the island of late. I’m out and about of course, meeting and greeting my fans on the island and doing the hard yards for the good of doggy-kind.

I’ve a sad tale to tell unfortunately. My visit to the vet last week has resulted on me being rationed in the kitchen. No treats or extras for me, unless I can sneak a few or look sorrowful at the fridge enough times.

The vet informed Mum that I was fat. FAT!..me!…I don’t think so. Mildly plump, a bit wide-bodied, a little roley-poley..but not straight-out fat. I resent the implication. I’m a little overfed and used to my luxurious surroundings fur-fans..but that’s what it is all about isn’t it? Aren’t I here to please myself and all who look upon me? I should jolly well think so.

Until next time…

Greeting fellow fur-pals. I’m back today with commiserations for myself once again. I’m the best at feeling sorry for myself and have earned the name ‘sook’ from Mum and Dad..especially Dad. He thinks I should be more doggy-manly…but Mum spoils me so I play on this for my own benefit.

My trip to the vet was as traumatic as I could make it. I howled before I got on the table. I howled when I was on the table. I howled to be picked up after I got off the table. I howled on the way home to an anonymous person who was kind enough to offer me a pat. I’m good at howling. I’m also good at finding friendly faces and hands in a sea of people in various locations.

I’m still getting over it all. I got on the lounge when I got home and stayed there until the ding of the microwave dinner bell, and then I was the first in line, howling in hunger for all to hear.

I’m sure to be back to my feisty fit fur-ball self in no time.

CAMAGUEY, Cuba – Yeti the dog already had a litter of pups to care for when the piglets adopted her as a second mom.

Ever since then, the Cuban farm dog has been pulling double-duty, nursing not just her own young but also the 14 swine.

Farmer Mannorkys Santamaria said the piglets also take milk from their mothers, but when they see Yeti, they run to her for a meal. On a recent day the young porkers followed her around the farm as if she were their real mother.

“No one imposed this on the dog,” Santamaria said. “The piglets discovered this on their own and began nursing with her when they turned 15 days old.”

Santamaria, 35, and his wife Eida Fernandes, 40, raise pigs, chickens, doves and turkeys on their small farm in the eastern province of Camaguey. There are also several mixed-breed dogs who have showed up on the property over the years and stayed.

So far, Yeti is the only one to become an adopted mother to pigs. Fernandes said she doesn’t seem to mind. All but one of Yeti’s biological offspring have been given away, and the one pup remaining nurses alongside the swine.

“When the piglets ventured outside their pen, it seems they smelled the dog’s milk and began screaming at her,” Fernandes said. “In the beginning we didn’t think the dog would let them suckle, but they insisted so much they ended up nursing with her.”… story taken from… The Sacramento Bee… read full story… http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/03/3882705/farm-dog-suckles-piglets-in-cuba.html

Greetings fur-pals. I’m back again today with reports of nice days and sunlit waters off my beach this morning. I’ve been down to the beach for a dig and a splash, and I enjoyed myself immensely, although I didn’t enjoy the wash and dry when I arrived home. Why is bath-water and beach-water so different? Maybe because I can get into more trouble at the beach than I can in a big white tub. I managed to chase a few birds, corner a few crabs and upset a couple of picnicing pensioners, all in the space of five minutes.

I also managed to dig a hole large enough to hide in, ensuring a panic and a search and rescue mission was organised before I surfaced.

All in all, I would consider this a good day’s work.

Until next time.

WINDSOR, Ont. — Misty, an almost 12-year-old Labrador retriever suffering from arthritis, has gone from aging hound in pain to joyful puppy after stem cell treatments at the Essex Animal Hospital, just southeast of Windsor.

Robert Meloche, Misty’s owner, considered putting her down earlier this year because his pet was miserable. She couldn’t walk up stairs and she was in pain.

Misty had arthritis in her knees and calcification in her front left paw. A month after paying $2,000 for a stem cell treatment, Misty was a new dog.

“She’s up and running,” he said. “She jumps into the pool. She has no problem going up and down the stairs. She’s prancing.”

Misty became so puppy-like she was sneaking off with shoes to chew. The treasured family dog has become so boisterous that they have to watch her more closely to make sure she doesn’t overdo it.

The Essex Animal Hospital, which has one of the province’s largest rehabilitation units, is now offering stem cell therapy to help pooches heal joints and ligament damage. The procedure, which costs up to $2,500, is done at the clinic.

Stem cells are removed from the canine, mixed with plasma and processed at an on site laboratory. The cells are then injected into the dog in the area in need of healing. The procedure takes about three hours. The procedure works best in conjunction with physical therapy.

“It definitely improves the quality of life,” said Dr. Janet Huntingford, a veterinarian who has owned the clinic since 1986.

Stem cells were first used in thoroughbred horses. The treatments are not commonly available and are only offered at a handful of clinics in the province, she said.

While there are some case reports documenting the results of the treatment, there’s nothing proving its effectiveness except observing how the patients react.

“It’s not the owner saying the dog is a lot better, but has the muscle bulk increased?” Huntingford said. “Has the range of motion increased to 140 degrees? That’s a measurable scientific thing.”

The three dogs that underwent the procedure since it was offered in April do physical therapy like walking on a treadmill in a salt water pool to improve fitness and build muscle without jarring tender ligaments.

After the procedure, Misty had physical therapy twice a week until she built muscle mass and then it tapered off, Meloche said.

The procedure is “cutting edge,” said Cathy Carnevale, the clinic’s manager. “We get dogs coming in on stretchers and after therapy they walk after two or three months…. story taken from… Leader-Post.. read full story… http://www.leaderpost.com/health/Stem+cells+bounce+back+Labrador+step/5330537/story.html

Hello there old fur-comrades. I’ve been getting some extra attention lately as my senior owner has been under the weather and I’ve been temporarily adopted by a lovely old lady who I think would like to dog-nap me and keep me permanently. I’ve been overfed, over-scratched, and over-pampered..but I’m not over myself, as I could always use a few extra hands on deck to lend a scratch or two to those hard-to-reach places.

Yes, I’ve had it really good old fur-comrades, and I’m a bit reluctant to go back to my heated and fur-lined bed and chicken dinners in the near future. I’m not saying that I don’t miss my senior owner – I do…but I’m going to miss those gourmet feasts and the five-star treatment I’m getting right now.

Maybe I can negotiate a contract of convenience in the near future…

Until next time…

Greetings fur-pals. I’m back this evening with news of my impending day out. I’m looking forward to being a guest at poppy’s place. I like it there because I can see everything that goes past, and nothing escapes my keen eye and steely determination. I can patrol up and down the perimeters to my hearts content and nobody minds at all. Poppy is a little deaf and so are most of the senior neighbours..all except one..who is..surprise, surprise…a veterinary clinic. Yes fur-pals….I’ve got it all going on…as many dogs as I can bark at in one day..coming and going, to and fro, in and out of the vets.

And I am there to make sure they don’t come on MY property. That’s right. While I’m here, nothing will cross the fence line. I love it here at Poppy’s place. My status is elevated to chief of property protection and patrol. And I’m not leaving until I have to.

Until next time…

The dog of a slain US Navy SEAL remained loyal even in death — refusing to walk away from his owner’s casket during the funeral service.

Petty Officer Jon Tumilson, 35, from San Diego, was one of 30 troops killed in Afghanistan when a Chinook helicopter was shot down by Taliban insurgents on August 6.

His funeral was held in Rockford, Iowa, last Friday.

During the service, attended by 1500 people, his Labrador Hawkeye walked up to the casket, heaved a sigh and lay down in front of it for the duration of the memorial.

Tumlinson’s cousin, Lisa Pembleton, photographed the dog resting by the casket.

“Hawkeye was/is his loyal ‘son’… I hadn’t planned on taking any pictures other than with family,” Pembleton wrote in a statement to the military blogHome Post.

“However, from my seat at the funeral, I felt compelled to take one photo to share with family members who couldn’t make it or couldn’t see what I could from the aisle.”…story taken from…. 9 news at ninemsn.com… read story … http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/8290197/loyal-dog-refuses-to-leave-soldiers-casket

(Memphis 8/22/2011) When a Raleigh woman held a yard sale over the weekend she didn’t know some visitors would think it was “free for all.”

Not only did some bargain hunters walk off without paying, but she believes they also left the family dog.

“I’ve had her for five years,” said Jacqueline Reed.

Reed says she realized her dog, Bianca was missing after she ran after a customers who picked up some items, but didn’t pay.

“She was loading the stuff and we just told her you didn’t pay us. She said oh, I paid somebody. We said no you did not pay us,” said Reed.

She says the woman finally paid and left with her family, but believes she also drove off with her dog.

She says she even saw a man in the vehicle holding down her pet.

“I thought he was intoxicated cause he was slumped over. Either he was holding her down or he was holding her with his foot,” said Reed.

She said just minutes earlier their children had been playing with the dog. She says she never imagined anyone would just walk off with Bianca.

“Not only did you try to take my stuff you took my dog, too? You gonna take my dog too,” said Reed.

Last month we told you about a 10-year-old-boy who had a puppy stolen from his back yard in the Berclair area.

His family believes whoever took the dog planned to sell it.

Reed is afraid the same thing is going to happen to her Bichon Frise and is asking for the public’s help.

“If you lurky about buying a dog look into it before you purchase a dog because these dogs are designer dogs they are expensive. nobody is going to just sell a dog,” said Reed.

Reed says while the ordeal has shaken her faith in humanity, she’s now relying on strangers to bring her dog home.

Reed says the family of four left in a tan or beige..newer, Chevy SUV.

I you know anything about the dog call 901-303-9353…. story taken from … News Channel 3 Memphis… read story, see video of dog… http://www.wreg.com/news/wreg-dog-stolen-story,0,7997703.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wreg-news+%28WREG+-+News%29

Hello there old fur-comrades. It’s good to be here once again. I’m feeling chipper and ready to run around again. I’ve been a bit under the weather lately, but I’m pleased to report that I’m back on track and running faster than my senior owner to the front gate to check the post.

I’ve been staying with that young snapper, Angus, once again these last few days and we’ve all been cooped up in the house because of the rain. It’s been hazardous, I can tell you, trying to assert my authority once again and rule the roost. I’ve managed to find a nice spot on the lounge to keep out of his way most of the time, but every now and again he jumps me when I leave my position and I have to dig in and defend my territory. I find that making a lot of noise and standing my ground is the best defence. Angus is not the braveheart he thinks he is, and usually backs down a peg or two when in danger of being bitten. Not that I can bite, I have few teeth left these days. But he doesn’t know that.

Until next time…

Helloooo fur-fans. Well, I’m really raving today. Raving about the rain and minimal opportunity to go out and about for my usual meeting and greeting tours of the island. It’s been boring, boring, boring, I can tell you. I’ve had nothing to do but lay around on the beds, the lounge, the sofa, the settee, and my plush lambskin.

I’m not one to get my paws wet, that’s for sure, so it’s been a major effort for Mum to get me down the stairs and into the dreaded drenching that ensues. I try to either make a quick dash for the top of the stairs or the carport. I hide as much as possible on wet days so Mum doesn’t remember that I need to go, and then sneak out the back and go on the veranda. Naughty yes, but necessary to survive the stress of getting my do all wet and smelly. A girl has to do what a girl has to do.

I can’t wait for summer and the new puppy fashion trends that are coming. How exciting!

Until next time…

Well it’s raining again..and raining, and raining. I’m going mad inside the house and have come up with a few ways to keep myself occupied:

• Annoy anyone who looks interested for a game of fetch. I have plenty of soft toys around the house and I can find ALL of them.
• Annoy my fur-ball sister Ruby when she is sleeping, which is most of the time.
• Annoy senior dog Dylan, who is staying with us right now. The grumpier he is, the more fun it is for me.
• Don’t annoy Mum or she will put me outside on the veranda. I have peed in the house one too many times in the last few days.
• Dig a good hidey hole under the blankets in the spare bedroom. It’s a good escape plan to have when I hear a loud voice. It might be me that’s in trouble.
• Hang around the kitchen between bouts of annoying everybody else. I might get lucky and find a tasty morsel on the floor that hasn’t been snaffled by my fat sister.

Until next time…

Hospitalized for severe depression, Gayle F. looked forward to spending time with her “therapists,” who coaxed her back to health with non-judgmental support, frisky good humor and occasional wet kisses.

For Rocket, bringing smiles to people in need is her job as a therapy dog.

Owned by Patricia DeMeo of Wellesley, the bright-eyed mini-pinscher is one of 37 dogs providing “therapy on a leash” in MetroWest Medical Center’s pet therapy program.

Discharged from the hospital a week ago, Gayle F., a 30-ish MetroWest resident who asked not to be identified, described those several-times-a-week, half-hour sessions with Rocket, Katie Bear and a giant Great Dane nicknamed Libby as “bright spots that provided light during a really tough time.”

“I was very sick. I felt I was fighting for my life. Just sitting on the floor playing with Rocket and the others was the highlight of my week. I can’t describe how valuable it was to getting back on my feet. Spending time with therapy dogs was instrumental in my ability to pull through,” she said.

About three years ago, DeMeo enrolled Rocket as as a therapy dog at the hospital as a way to return the kindness and support her late parents received at a cancer hospice.

She said therapy dogs must learn at least a dozen task-specific commands, such as leaving treats or potentially dangerous objects they might encounter in a hospital, and moving carefully around patients using walkers or wheelchairs without being startled by sharp noises like dropping bedpans.

Throughout about 200 visits to the hospital and area nursing homes, DeMeo said Rocket has demonstrated an intuitive understanding of patients’ varied needs.

“Dogs sense things humans don’t. One patient might want Rocket to sit in her lap. Someone else might want kisses. Someone else might just want to touch her or talk about the dogs they used to own. Everyone wants something different. But Rocket just seems to know what they need,” she said.

Sherri Hebert, administrative assistant in the behavioral medicine department who coordinates the pet therapy program, said the hospital has been using therapy dogs since 2002 to boost patients’ spirits, encourage interaction and reduce stress.

Accompanied by an owner, therapy dogs visit the hospital’s child development unit and behavioral medicine department, which includes geriatric and adult units. A dog owner who’s enrolled her Pembroke Welsh corgi, Katie Bear, in the program, Hebert said individual dogs might make 30-minute visits to different units four to eight times a week, including weekends and evenings.

Director of Behavioral Medicine Mary Mullany said anecdotal evidence suggests spending time with therapy dogs can elevate patients’ moods, lower blood pressure and relieve stress among patients and staff.

“We’ve seen patients with dementia calm down, and a man, almost immobilized by depression for several years, begin to communicate. With geriatric patients, I think spending time with therapy dogs can promote verbal skills. When therapy dogs come into a hospital setting, it’s a time patients can laugh and enjoy themselves,” she said.

That’s no surprise to Susan Piraino, whose 135-pound Great Dane Liberty – nicknamed Libby – visits several hospital units, cheering up children as well as older patients who have diminishing communication skills.

The Ashland resident is convinced Libby “absolutely senses” the different needs of children, elderly and emotionally troubled patients.

And while Libby reaches her waist, Piraino said her personality is so placid she never snaps with roughhousing children or gets startled by unexpected noises.

Like several other owners, she said Libby becomes excited by the prospect of a hospital visit, signified when a special bandanna is wrapped around her neck. “She’s ecstatic when she gets in the car to come here,” said Piraino.

For several years, Pat Gipp has been bringing Penny, an alert Australian shepherd, to the hospital and hospice where patients nearing the ends of their lives seem comforted by stroking her coat.

The Holliston resident said Penny has entertained young patients by accepting high-fives and playing soccer with them.

Her voice turning serious, she recalled being asked to bring Penny to an area hospice where a dying patient had slipped into a coma. Without prompting, Penny laid next to him.

Three other dog owners nodded.

Stroking her Great Dane, Piraino said, “Love is the best medicine you can give.”…. story taken from… Norwich Bulletin.. read story… http://www.norwichbulletin.com/lifestyles/pets/x1510863501/Canine-Compassion-Therapy-dogs-bring-smiles-to-people-in-need#axzz1UyEKhgSK

What’s on your dog’s summer reading list?

A small pilot study by researchers at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University provides preliminary, but suggestive evidence that reading aloud to man’s best friend can have positive effects on children’s desire and ability to read.

“The benefit of the dog is they’re not judgmental, and they are great listeners,” said Lisa Freeman, a professor in the department of clinical sciences at Tufts, who said the study was spurred by observations that having a canine audience seemed to increase children’s engagement with reading. “It really builds their confidence.”

The health effects of pet ownership have been the subject of a number of small studies, which have been far from definitive. Some research suggests that pet ownership provides a wellness boost – one study found that dog owners who walked their dogs were 34 percent more likely to get 150 minutes of walking exercise per week compared with non-dog owners. But others have found pet ownership correlated with negative health outcomes, like a study of 424 patients admitted to the hospital with acute coronary syndrome, which found that pet owners, especially cat owners, were more likely to die or be hospitalized again.

For years, Freeman said, she had observed what appeared to be the beneficial effects of a reading program that paired children with canine listeners. But there was no evidence to support the anecdotal observations. So the Tufts researchers designed a simple study.

Over a five-week period last summer, 18 second-graders at the Grafton Public Library were randomly divided into two groups: for 30 minutes each week, half read aloud to a dog and half read to a person.

The children were allowed to choose whatever books they wanted, and read to the same dog each week, settling in on a large dog bed with their canine companion. Freeman noted that children seemed to prefer to read books about animals, seeming to want to choose stories the dogs could relate to…. story taken from… Boston Daily Dose… read full story… http://www.boston.com/Boston/dailydose/2011/08/reading-dogs-may-have-benefits/VLho7fH7fecr2msqWQfiiJ/index.html

TWO burglars bit off more than they could chew when they were met a householder’s angry dog.

Daisy chased after the criminals, biting one of them on his legs as he tried to steal her owner’s mountain bike.

“We believe the burglar will still bear bite marks from Daisy and would urge anyone who can help identify him to get in touch with police.”

Detective Constable Nev Price

The incident happened as the victim, a woman in her mid-30s who does not want to be identified, returned to her home in Lewes Road, Darlington, with her daughter and the family’s two pet dogs.

She spotted two youths in the lane behind her home and saw that one was carrying a man’s silver and red mountain bike over his shoulder, which she recognised as her own.

She shouted at them to stop and they ran off, one of them still carrying the bike.

Daisy then chased after the youth with the bike and bit him on the upper left of his leg and then on his right calf.

The thief then turned, threw the bike at the dog, before also swinging a kick at her, before making his escape.

Daisy was unhurt.

On returning to her home, the victim discovered she had been burgled, with the thieves taking money, mobile phones, cash and cigarettes.

Detective Constable Nev Price, of Darlington CID said: “Due to Daisy’s intervention, the victim got her bike back, but, unfortunately, when she returned to her home it had been burgled, and money, mobile phones, cash and cigarettes had been taken.

“We believe the burglar will still bear bite marks from Daisy and would urge anyone who can help identify him to get in touch with police.”… story taken from… The Advertiser… read full story… http://www.theadvertiserseries.co.uk/news/9181682.Burglar_bitten_twice_as_Darlington_victim_s_dog_gives_chase/?ref=rss

Greetings fur-pals. It’s good to be here for another week to tell my ‘tails’ of non-stop action, excitement and drama. It has been a week of drama, I can tell you, as I was packed off to the groomers for a day of drowning in the ‘big white tub’… mangled by all sorts of cutting devices, and blown to smitherines by someone holding  black gun of wind hell all over my extremities. I can’t understand why I was left to suffer the indignities of it all, but I was sure glad to see Mum at the end of it all. I nearly ran through the glass door in an effort to escape my bondage – in a bid for freedom.

Needless to say by the time I got home I’d cried in the car and on the ferry on the way back to the island. This earned me a few points with some passing sympathisers, and a few extra pats were forthcoming for my troubles. I was out of action for the rest of the day while I recuperated from the whole sordid affair.  Even my extra special chicken and vegetable dinner was hard pressed to make up for the stress of it all.

Until next week…I’m sure I’ll be fighting fit once again….

There are lucky dogs and then there are really lucky dogs.

Count Billie, a 7-year-old boxer-pit bull mix, among the latter. Lost for 34 days, she was little more than skin and bones when a Palo Alto Animal Services officer rescued her in the wilds of Los Altos Hills on June 25.

Billie’s normally 65-pound frame had shrunk to 35, owner Angella Tai said Thursday.

“I actually couldn’t hold her,” said Tai, 32, recalling her joyful reunion with Billie, who is a healthy 57 pounds now and climbing. “I was scared I was going to hurt her.”

Billie’s ordeal began on May 23, when painters working at Tai’s home in Los Altos opened a door to the garage the pup was left in for the day. The workers needed to use an outlet in the garage and the sound of noisy equipment firing up sent the typically skittish Billie running.

“I get home at 4:30 and I ask the painters, ‘Where’s my dog?’” Tai said. “They said, ‘She ran away.’ What do you do at that point? Get angry or accept it?”

While Tai and her girlfriend of two years, Lillian Jungleib, 25, accepted the explanation, they were far from ready to write Billie off. The pair canvassed Los Altos, made hundreds of fliers and visited every shelter from San Mateo to San Martin…. story taken from…. Mercury News … read full story… http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_18570606?nclick_check=1

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - When yoga goes to the dogs, they call it doga.

And while doga may not measure up, fitness-wise, to a game of fetch or a run on the beach, experts say practicing yoga with your pet can soothe the not-so-savage breasts of both person and pooch.

“I consider it partner yoga,” said Suzi Teitelman, a Florida-based instructor who has been teaching doga to man, woman and beast since 2002. “It’s my lifelong passion.”

Teitelman stumbled upon doga because her dog liked to lie under her while she practiced.

“When you feel good, they feel good,” she said. “They want to be around your goodness.”

Classes, DVDs and a training manual followed. Teitelman said she’s trained more than 100 people around the world in doga, some from as far away as China and Japan.

Disco yoga, kid yoga, beach yoga, spin yoga and yogalites are but a few of the trendy hybrids saluting the sun at fitness centers these days, all takeoffs on the 5,0000-year-old practice that coordinates movement and breath.

But Teitelman insists she teaches a traditional yoga class, even if the downward facing dog is flesh and blood.

“We chant together to feel the vibrations, then we start moving into twists and turns,” she said.

Traditional poses such as warriors, triangles and backbends follow, possibly enhanced by a little dog balanced at the belly or waist.

“The person takes dog deeper into a stretch, and the dog takes the person deeper,” she said. “If you have a dog on your arm in a standing posture it helps balance and strength.”

Teitelman believes the rewards of yoga accrue to human and animal alike… story taken from… The Baltimore Sun… read full story… http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/sns-rt-us-fitness-yoga-dogstre7701us-20110801,0,1003754.story

A dog stuck down a hole in Hampshire was freed with equipment used to rescue victims of the Japan and New Zealand earthquakes.

Ivy, a four-month-old cocker spaniel, was found trapped deep in a fox hole in woods near Well Street, Burghclere.

Hampshire Fire Service’s urban search and rescue (USAR) team used its flexible search camera and listening devices during her rescue.

Ivy was found by a member of the public after going missing from her home in Burghclere four days earlier.

A Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “Crews set to work to dig Ivy out but it was very important to be able to monitor her whilst the digging continued to ensure she was not injured by the tools.

“After about two hours the crews were able to expose Ivy’s face.”

He said watch manager Buster Brown then gave Ivy some water and slowly cut away at the soil to release her on Thursday.

Ivy was put on a drip as she was dehydrated and needed fluid replacement

“Ivy had been trapped in the tight tunnel by her hips and her front legs were underneath her chest, making it impossible for her to claw her way forwards,” he added.

“Once out of the tunnel, she was handed to the RSPCA who took her to a local vet.

“She was kept in overnight on a drip, having been trapped for four days she was dehydrated and needed fluid replacement.

“She is now making a full recovery at home.” … story taken from… News Hampshire & Isle of Wight… read story… http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-14385379

Pet dogs could serve as ‘biosentinels’ for monitoring human exposure to toxic compounds present in shared households.

Marta Venier and Ronald Hites environmental scientists from theIndiana University believe pet dogs could help sense these compounds, thanks to the presence of chemical flame retardants in their blood at concentrations five to 10 times higher than in humans, but lower than levels found in a previous study of cats.

Dogs may be better proxies than cats, they say, because a dog’s metabolism is better equipped to break down the chemicals, reports the journal Environmental Science & Technology…. story taken from… The Times of India… http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-30/pets/29761577_1_pet-dogs-compounds-pbdes

Helloooo beautiful fur-fans! I’m back this week with news of my tour to the neighbours place to give my seal of approval for the back yard amenities and security. I was able to enjoy myself and inspect the yard for any discrepancies in the new locks and bolts on the gates. I can report that it is virtually impossible for a four legged fur-maiden of my stature to gain access to the road beyond the confines of my day-care facility. But who would want to escape? My carer loves to spoil me, and I’m allowed to play, laze on the sofa, and have treats anytime I want. It’s a day spa away from my home spa fur-fans…. and of course, all are privileged to have my company for the duration.

Until next time…

Greetings fur-pals. I’ve just been out and about and up the street sniffing the smells and seeing the sights of the neighbourhood. I for one, am a bit miffed that I wasn’t told about the new dog down the road moving in and was caught off guard in a frenzy of barking and escaping to a safe vantage point. I was lucky to escape with my tail hairs intact and my ego in place.

I managed to get up quite a speed though, and redeemed myself in the next street when I chased a big ginger cat up a tree. Made personal note to myself to watch out for new dog and big spiteful cat on my next excursion.

Until next time…

Hello there fur-pals. It’s great to be here today. I’m enjoying the sunshine out in the front yard after my usual shenanigans buzzing around the place and annoying anything that moves.

As I’m a great fan of the ‘Bichon Buzz’..I’m likely to take off at any moment. I like to get into training for the great Bichon Buzz award that I just know I’m going to get one day. I do my best to run as fast as possible around the front yard at full pace for about ten minutes a day…this is enough to keep me trim and fighting fit for a standoff with that big dog down the road. If my daring plan of accost and bark fails…at least I will be able to outrun him.

Until next time…

BARKIN’ BUDDY is the new must have mobile application for dog lovers everywhere. This social networking app allows owners to build profiles, add buddies, make new friends to play with, locate dog friendly location and ultimately better manage their pet’s relationships. The app is an innovative concept from the Radical Ideas Group. All you have to do is download BARKIN’ BUDDY from the App Store, head outside with your dog and start making friends.

BARKIN’ BUDDY is a dog-to-dog relationship management app, set to improve your pet’s social life. Once downloaded, simply create a pet profile, add a photo of your pooch and you’re on the way to creating your dog’s very own social network. Let others know when and where you’re heading, share information on hot spots, locate buddies and use it to make new doggy friends.

Radical Ideas Group CEO and dog lover Alexander Bagg, came up with the idea after recognising the disconnect between the sheer number  of dog owners worldwide and the advent of social networking. “Being a dog owner, I felt there was a need to effectively combine the two” Bagg says “pet profile pages on other social platforms can only do so much in terms of actual functionality but with BARKIN’ BUDDY, the focus is on the pet and not the person.”

The BARKIN’ BUDDY app is a fun and modern way to develop your pet’s relationships and is simple and easy to navigate. In particular, the Map page displays various icons representing the location and status of your dog and those of other pooches nearby. It can show how many dogs you are walking, which buddies of yours are out and about, those who are yet to become a buddy, and those who are offline. BARKIN’ BUDDY will enable dog owners everywhere to better manage their pet’s relationships just by ‘barking’ to their dog’s buddies to let them know where and when to catch up.

Visit the official website http://www.barkinbuddy.com for step-by-step details on how to manage the app and updates from the world of BARKIN’ BUDDY.

BARKIN’ BUDDY is available now from the App store:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/barkin-buddy/id441400702?mt=8

Juan Bablo watches Winnie the Pooh on the TV in his hospital room, holding his blue lightsaber, when he senses something.

He doesn’t know what it is, but it’s close. He can sense it, like Winnie the Pooh senses honey.

The 2-year-old slides off the chair and walks over to the doorway in his red “Cars” sneakers, peeking into the usually silent, sterile hallway of linoleum floors and medical equipment.

There sits Brit, a golden retriever, waiting, tail wagging shortly after passing through the double doors of pediatrics at University Medical Center.

Another boy is on his way too but in a toy car, urging it forward like Fred Flintstone, feet to the floor from the driver’s seat.

“Brit is something different that they don’t expect to see in a hospital. It’s something normal,” Cynthia Jones, manager of pediatrics intensive care, says as Brit walks over and sits next to Juan.

The dog, one of two currently volunteering at the hospital, gives sick children an incentive to rise out of their beds and move around, which helps recovery, Jones says. That’s the point of Brit’s weekly visits with owner Karen Andrew. But there’s much more to therapy dogs than to get children’s blood flowing.

“The touch is supposed to be the magic, the connection,” says Andrew, watching Juan kneel on the floor and stroke Brit’s paw. “They have an innate ability to get better.”

Brit will even go into intensive care units where children are on breathing machines, their eyes closed.

The child’s hand will be placed on Brit, and they’ll start petting, intrinsically knowing the feel of dog’s fur, Jones says.

“Go to work,” Jones tells Brit.

Like a nurse checking on patients, Brit makes her rounds, room by room.

Brit’s first stop is 9-year-old Juan Morales, wearing a yellow shirt down to his knees with the face of Spongebob Squarepants on the front.

He has been here for nine days because of a ruptured appendix and wants to go home, his mother says.

But, for now, he is fixated on the dog… story taken from… Las Vegus Review-Journal… read full story… http://www.lvrj.com/news/pet-project-helps-patients-126102263.html

Greetings old fur-comrades. In the next few weeks I will be reporting on my progress on Blackmores PAW (Pure Animal Wellbeing) range, Osteosupport Joint care Powder for Dogs, and Osteocare Joint Health Chews.

I’m pretty fussy fur-comrades, so it’s going to take a lot to get past my k9 taste quality control checks, I can tell you. I’m also looking forward to reporting my progress in regards to outdoing my senior owner, who is on some osteo supplements of his own.

Until next week…

Greetings fellow fur-pals. I’m here once again with news of my daring neighbourhood escapades. I’ve managed to not only organise my perimeters this week, but the perimeters of the neighbours in the immediate vicinity and see off most of the feathered wildlife in the area. Mind you, I never seem to be able to catch anything, as I’m flat out getting a good vantage point high enough off the ground. I can’t fly in other words.

Doesn’t matter how fast you run fur-pals, if you’re not operating in stealth mode, then you aren’t going to catch anything but a bindi in your footpads. I tend to like the commotion approach myself. Mum says I’m making up for a lack of size and height. My quarry is long gone long before I make it into the vicinity of their whereabouts.

Still, I don’t mind. It’s the thrill of the chase. Haven’t quite worked out what I’d be doing with my prey once tackled anyways. I prefer my dinner cooked and served thanks. Til next time…

Australia. RSPCA, adopt a pet today!… http://www.adoptapet.com.au/

TEWKSBURY, Mass.—It’s Thursday morning at Tewksbury State Hospital, and patients are buzzing with excitement, already starting to line up.

PARIS — A three-story town house on Paris’ exclusive Place Vendome, with sumptuous interiors hung with plush red velvet and gilded chandeliers — it’s an address fit for a king.

Or his dog.

The property in question is actually a miniature poodle-sized replica of a tony Paris townhouse, handmade for discerning pooches with deep pockets and a taste for the finer things in life.

The 4-foot-tall dog house — complete with a canopy bed and velvet-lined drawers for storing Rex’s accessories — is the jewel in the crown of Puppy de Paris, a new luxury line crafted by French artisans.

Other offerings in the line by Karin Fainas include “Le Canape Place de la Madeleine,” a velvet bed painted with scenes from Parisian bakeries and fitted with lion’s paw feet in hand-cast silver, and a doggy bowl in gold-dipped bronze that looks more like a crown than something you’d fill with dog chow.

“I used to work in fine jewelry, and my clients would inevitably have little dogs in tote,” said Fainas, a 41-year-old with elegant features and close-cropped hair. “They were always telling me, ‘What about my dog? You should make beautiful things for him, he deserves them just as much as I do.’ ”

So Fainas set about doing just that… Story taken from… Detroit Free Press… read full story… http://www.freep.com/article/20110627/FEATURES01/106270309/Puppy-de-Paris-label-offers-luxury-dogs?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s

EL PASO, Texas — A dog on the verge of starving to death was turned in to the El Paso Humane Society on Tuesday. The woman who dropped the animal off claimed to have found the dog wandering on Fort Bliss. But shelter workers don’t believe the animal is a stray. Instead, they believe someone is responsible for the worst case of animal malnutrition the El Paso Humane Society has seen.

Shelter employees are affectionately calling the 3-year-old Boxer “Bones.” The dog weighs just 22 pounds, half of what he should. “The condition he is in did not happen overnight; it’s been progressing for about a month,” said Betty Hoover, the shelter’s executive director.

Bones showed no signs of being a stray. The dog is extremely well socialized, very friendly and shows no fear of other animals or people. The woman who dropped the dog off at the shelter left her name, address and phone number. But when shelter workers said they tried to reach her, the phone number she left was a non-working number. That is more reason for employees to suspect the dog had not been wandering the streets, rather belonged to someone. “It makes me sick. It makes me very, very angry. I really hope that with the coverage this guy is getting in the news, maybe someone out there knows something about him,” said Hoover…. story taken from… kfoxtv.com… read full story… http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/28246649/detail.html

Helloooo fur-fans! What a lovely day it is today! I’m feeling rather special as I prance around the house in my new do. Dad has purchased some simply devine luxury doggy bath soap…all natural of course, with hints of lavender and tee tree oils. It lathers up wonderfully and leaves me feeling soft and fluffy..which is the best way for a pampered Bichon girl like myself to be.

There’s nothing like all natural hand-made soaps to make a girl feel pretty, and smell better than a perfumery. I had a hand in the selection and quality, of course, and I gave it the paws up for lather, anti-sting and ease of blow drying afterwards. I can’t say that I’m overly rapt in the process, but I am rapt in the accolades that I have received from my fans in the last few days. I’ve had more photo shoots than I can possibly mention here.

Take my advice fur-fans…and check out all the natural dog soap options available to you. These products should be available at all good and environmentally friendly puppy stores.

Until next time…

Hello there old fur-comrades. I’m back again today with winter tales of wonder and woe. The woe being that I have been forced once again off my luxuriously warm senior day bed for a winter clean and dust… and the ‘wonder’ of why my senior owner is bothering at all.

My senior owner is all in a flap that he’s actually becoming senior. I don’t know why he can’t be like me and lie back and enjoy his senior years in the comfort he’d like to become accustomed to…before it’s too late to enjoy anything at all.

My senior daft owner is madly cleaning and clearing. I’m staying well out of his way in case he accidentally clears me out and forgets where I am. Sadly this has happened on one occasion, and I was left with an awful tale to tell when I was rescued from the skip bin after howling up a storm.  Unfortunately I had decided to take a nap in a comfy old camphor chest that was designated for the dump. I was lucky I had a good set of vocals and my senior owner had his hearing aids in.

Until next time when the dust settles…

Greetings once again fur-pals. I’ve been looking forward to talking about my recent adventures with the neighbour’s dog, a much bigger counterpart than I, and I have to say that I have lived up to my brave reputation. Mum calls me ‘braveheart’… which I hope is a compliment to my protective prowess, rather than my ‘attack and retreat very quickly to the nearest safe vantage point’ approach.

I’m feeling pretty pleased with myself for seeing off the boofy chocolate labrador down the road. Mum says I was lucky he was only a puppy and of happy disposition. I know better of course. I’m practicing my Alpha dog skills every day…and I know I’m ready for almost anything. Well, almost. I’m not too sure about that big white dog around the corner, so I wait until I’m at a safe vantage point before I let him have a piece of my mind…rather than a piece of me. Mum says I’m going to bite off more than I can chew one day..and she says I have ‘SDS’ syndrome. I’m pretty sure it means ‘serious dog stuff’..but I heard someone mentioned ‘short dog syndrome’ the other day…when they were talking about that silly maltese down the road. Now he IS full of it, that’s for sure.

Until next time…

By the time summer school starts in early July, Caleb will probably walk into class with a golden retriever at his side.

Caleb Ciriacks is a 7-year-old severely autisticboy who for the most part doesn’t speak. He shrieks and paces when he gets anxious, and on occasion he pinches and scratches others. Eddy is Caleb’s service dog, tethered to the boy by a red strap. The dog keeps Caleb from running off into crowds or darting into traffic, and he knows to intervene when the boy starts to feel anxious.

When Caleb entered first grade last year, school officials in Cypress refused to let him take Eddy to school. Caleb’s parents sued in federal court, alleging that the district was discriminating against their son based on his disability.

On Tuesday, a federal judge in Santa Ana ruled that Frank Vessels Elementary School must let Caleb take Eddy to school and that the boy was probably a victim of discrimination. U.S. Department of Justice attorneys filed a “statement of interest” in the case, saying the school district was violating the boy’s civil rights and misinterpreting the Americans With Disabilities Act…. Story taken from… the Los Angeles Times… read full story… http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-autism-dog-20110615,0,1727974.story

The richest lapdog in the world — a little white Maltese named Trouble — died at the age of 12 in her final days in luxury, every need tended to around the clock, in Sarasota, Fla.

Trouble owed her coddled lifestyle to her former owner, New York Hotel heiress Leona Helmsley, who died in 2007 and turned her back on relatives to bequeath the bulk of her estate, $12 million, to her dog.

Helmsley bought the beloved pet for comfort after the death of her husband, billionaire hotelier Harry Helmsley.

A judge later knocked down the dog’s inheritance to $2 million. Though the pooch died in December, news of her demise was only reported this week.

The pampered pooch had led a life of luxury after her owner purchased her at a New York City pet shop and chauffeured her around in a stretch limo…. Story taken from… abcnews.go.com…. read story… http://abcnews.go.com/US/leona-helmsleys-dog-trouble-richest-world-dies-12/story?id=13810168

Hellooo to all my fur-fans out there once again. It’s lovely to be here and it’s lovely to be home once again after my tour of the mainland and my local neighbourhood. I’ve been enjoying my nice sheep-skin rug by the fire for the last few days, and I’m loath to move about, even to go outside in the freezing cold for my abolutions. Mum’s thinking about investing in some doggy booties, as my delicate disposition calls for desperate measures when it comes to keeping one’s feet nice and dry on the cold and icy grass. I’ve taken to sticking to the concrete for all my daily doos, and it’s not going down too well with the fur-less residents of the household, I can tell you. I honestly don’t know what the problem is really, I’m happy and dry, and I do my business out of sight so that nobody can see.  I’m probably too careful though fur-fans, as I believe that it’s the ones my human counterparts can’t see that get stepped in.

I hope that my booties arrive soon so that we can all settle down and get down to business.

Until next time…

Around 50 dogs competed to become a surfing champion at this year’s annual Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition.

The surfing contest, in its sixth iteration, took place at Imperial Beach in California and saw the dogs divided into categories based on size and whether or not their owners would ride with them on the surfboard.

The canines were judged on various criteria, including style, time spent on a wave and confidence, while winners were awarded a trip to a San Diego resort and are to be featured in magazine Modern Dog.  … Story taken from… digitalspy.com.au … read story and see video… http://www.digitalspy.com.au/odd/news/a323341/dogs-take-part-in-surfing-contest-video.html

Hello there old fur-comrades. Well I’m still alive and kicking in the cold Winter chill, although the only moving I’ve been doing lately is from my heated bed to the lambskin rug in front of the fire place. I’ve feeling a tad shivery these days, and I’m often seen wearing my coat, as my own coat is thinning out at the back end. I find this a little embarrassing, probably as embarrassing as my senior owner finds his thinning up top. We deal with our problems in much the same way, we cover them up and hope for the best.

I’ve also developed a few cysts and moles, just like my senior owner – and like my senior owner, I’m off to get them checked out very shortly – to our respective practitioners. I’m not getting too worked up about it all, until I see the vets table of course, then it’s battle stations and battening down every hatch possible, including my nether regions for the dreaded temperature taking. Don’t understand why this is always necessary, especially when it’s not that end of me that’s the problem.

Until next time…

Greetings fur-pals. It’s good to be here once again for my usual bites and pieces. I’ve been having a ball the last few days. Mum took us on a holiday to another island and I was in my element, meeting and greeting – although I wasn’t too taken with the young pup that kept chasing me around trying to nip my nether-regions. Gave her the old one-two chase and scare tactic, which worked for me, but not for Mum who scolded me for picking on puppies. Not my fault I say! Not me doing the chasing, but must uphold my tough-doggy image and defend my boundaries, and those include my nether-regions.

Have to say I was glad to get home to my boss-dog position once again.

Until next time…

Ernest Vasquez was walking his dog Taz this morning when he heard something in the bushes. Vazquez didn’t think much of it, guessing it was probably just a cat.

“Come on boy let’s go and he kept growling,” he said.

Suddenly the two-year-old pit bull started to push extra hard on his leash.

“At that point the hair in the back of his neck stick up he got in a real protective mode, so I looked again and turned I saw a head go up and it was a fox,” said Vasquez.

He tried to pull his dog back home but Taz firmly stood his ground.

“The fox lunged towards us and he just had to do what he had to do,” he said.

The fight was broken up, Suffolk Animal Control was called, and the fox will be euthanized and tested for rabies.

Vasquez says he regularly sees foxes on his morning walks with Taz, but he’s never seen one lock eyes with his dog.

He says they’re all around the neighborhood, hiding in bushes, he guesses the area around his house is the perfect home for a fox.

Vasquez hopes the fox population doesn’t become a problem in Suffolk, though he knows his dog will be able to handle it.

“He used his instincts, he was protecting himself and I guess protecting me,” he says.  Story taken from… ‘News Channel3′… http://www.wtkr.com/news/wtkr-su-fox-attack,0,769013.story

It doesn’t take long for Sandy the dog to feel at ease with a stranger.

A few soothing words, a good scratch behind her ears, and the 32-pound mutt drops and rolls onto her back. Her soulful eyes and swishing tail seem to say — á la Dug, the talking dog from the film “Up” — “I have just met you, and I looove you.”

“My friends call her a hussy when she does that,” joked her owner, Toni Nelson. “She is very well liked by the people in this building.”

It was about a year ago, following a rough period of hospitalizations for depression, when Nelson thought about getting a dog.

But she had no idea that the bond she would develop with the sweet pooch would be her lifeline — her reason to live.

“I think she thinks that she’s here to please me and to take care of me,” Nelson said.

From the recliner in her tiny apartment at a well-kept senior housing complex in Staunton, Nelson stroked Sandy as the dog snuggled on her lap, her head resting on Nelson’s chest.

“I believe very strongly that Sandy was meant to be with me.”  …story taken from… ‘newsleader.com’… read full story… http://www.newsleader.com/article/20110522/NEWS01/105220343

LA GRANGE, Ky. (AP) — His arms covered with faded tattoos, his neck tomato red from the prison yard sun, Robert Butterfield’s home is cell No. 226 of the Luther Luckett Correctional Complex in La Grange, where he’s doing 13 years for robbery and stealing drugs.

Nine-year-old Celia Dutton lives in Floyds Knobs, Ind., with her parents and two brothers, where she helps take care of the family’s horses and reads four books a week.

Butterfield and Celia have never met — and probably never will — but they have one thing in common: Mickey, a 60-pound, black-and-white pointer mix who has, in different and separate ways, rescued both of them — Butterfield from the dreary isolation of prison and Celia from her nightly anxiety about seizures.

Butterfield trained Mickey through a 2-year-old program at Luther Luckett called Camp Canine that has resulted in adoptions for around 140 dogs. Celia’s family adopted Mickey in June after a doctor suggested sleeping with a dog could calm her at night.

Programs similar to Camp Canine are operating at 11 of 13 state prisons and two private facilities in the Kentucky Department of Corrections system, said department spokeswoman Lisa Lamb. … story taken from… ‘NecN.com’… read full story… http://www.necn.com/05/08/11/Dog-adoption-program-changes-lives-behin/landing_nation.html?&blockID=3&apID=e62697780de4459a9ae6abfd94fcc182

Male dogs are from Mars, female dogs are from … Pluto?

True, dogs aren’t exactly a fertile market for self-help manuals. But a new study finds that the brains of male and female canines are not the same — and in at least one task, the females have an edge.

The researchers aren’t sure of the root cause of these doggie brain differences, but the study points to the need to take sex into account when trying to understand how animals think.

“When you start looking, you get some very interesting and instructive results,” study researcher Corsin Müller, a cognitive biologist at the University of Vienna, told LiveScience.

Peering into the canine mind

Müller and his colleagues tested female and male dogs — “completely normal family dogs,” Muller said — to see whether they understand a concept called “object permanence,” which is the realization that objects don’t disappear and don’t change form just because they go out of sight. Children learn this physical law around the age of 1 or so. The question, Müller said, was whether dogs understand it too. [Read: 10 Things You Didn't Know About the Brain]

The researchers set up a wooden board and a system of blue tennis balls attached to strings. The dogs, 25 female and 25 male, watched one of four scenarios: A small ball disappearing behind the board and re-emerging; a large ball disappearing and re-emerging; a large ball disappearing and a small ball emerging; or a small ball disappearing and a large ball emerging. The first two experiments were the “expected” conditions, which didn’t break any laws of nature. The second two events, in which a ball would seem to shrink or grow while out of sight, were the “unexpected” or impossible conditions.

The researchers measured the dogs’ ability to understand that something impossible had just happened by measuring how long they stared at the emerging ball. The experiments are similar to those used to understand infant cognition.

“If something unexpected or, say, impossible is to happen, children and animals will look longer at the event,” Müller said.

Who’s smarter?

At first glance, dogs did seem to look longer at the event when the ball seemed to mysteriously shrink or grow. But when the researchers broke the results down by dogs’ sex, they found that male dogs hadn’t noticed anything odd at all. Female dogs, on the other hand, stared at the “unexpected” conditions for more than 30 seconds on average, more than three times longer than the 10 seconds or so they spent looking at the balls when they didn’t change size.

The sex difference emerged across breeds, which ranged from large to small, purebred to mixed, Müller said.

There are three possible explanations for why male and female dogs — or any animal — might show sex-based brain differences. The first is that evolutionary pressures in the past might have subtly shifted male and female brains. If one sex hunts while the other builds nests, for example, the nest-builder might gradually become better at spatial reasoning, while the hunter might evolve to be better at navigating through unfamiliar territory. Another possibility is that brain differences arise because of childbearing duties; a female solely responsible for rearing her offspring might show greater nurturing skills than a male that has little to do with his offspring after mating.

Neither of these is a good explanation for dogs because their sex-specific differences seem very limited, Müller wrote. Instead, he suspects a third possibility: That the sex differences in the brain are a side effect of other biological sex differences.

“[Most likely,] this is just a byproduct of sex hormones working on the brain, without necessarily having a function,” Müller said.

Although this experiment gave female dogs the cognitive edge, Müller said it’s likely that future findings of sex differences would even the intelligence scale.

In humans, Müller said, “there’s tons of differences you can find, but for everything where you find men are better than women, you can find something where women are better than men.”  Story taken from… ‘Live Science’… go to site… http://www.livescience.com/13890-female-male-dogs-brain-differences.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Livesciencecom+%28LiveScience.com+Science+Headline+Feed%29

Greetings again fur-pals. Well not much to report this week, except that Mum’s had enough of my antics in the dirt and taken to keeping me indoors a lot more these days. I don’t mind too much at the moment because it’s really rather cold out there and I’m not too keen on braving the elements for extended periods of time. Fronting up on the rug positioned near the fire has become one of my favourite past-times of late.

I’ve heard on the grapevine that I’m visiting the doggy groomers sometime this week, so I’d best keep my wits about me and not get over excited when I hear the jingle of the car keys. It could mean more than just the weekday drive to the park….

Until next time…

BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhuanet) — Now that keeping pets has become popular in Shanghai, pampered pedigree dogs are becoming a regular sight on the streets. The boom in the number of dogs and cats has increased the number of strays as more pets are abandoned. But from May 15th, things should change. The implementation of the “one dog under one roof policy” lowers the price for dog ownership but limits the number of dogs within one family in an effort to crackdown on unregistered animals. To what extent will the new quota save the day…. Story taken from… News.Xinhuanet.com.. Read story… http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/video/2011-05/17/c_13878942.htm

SHANGHAI — China’s largest city is setting a limit of one dog per family in an effort to gain control over the soaring pet population and curb rabies.

Cao Yi already was walking her dogs at 11 p.m., hoping to avoid trouble both with neighbors and with the authorities over her brown poodle and golden retriever.

“I’m afraid one of the dogs might be taken away,” she said.  Story taken from… The SunHerald.com. Read full story… http://www.sunherald.com/2011/05/19/3126902/shanghais-one-dog-limit-causes.html

Greetings once again fur-pals. I’m having a lovely time in the front yard today, as the new grass has been laid and I’m running amok. While it’s not as good as the mud puddle for stirring up the household, it’s jolly good for running at top speed without any tread damage. I’m having a field day running up and down the perimeters barking at anything that goes by.  Bonuses for me, as I’m harder to catch on the grass when I’ve done something wrong.

Until next time…

SAN FRANCISCO—A little dog has some singed hair and a little eye irritation, but is otherwise OK after surviving a fire that gutted a San Francisco residential hotel, authorities said Thursday.

Firefighters found a Chihuahua “scared, but running around” in a closet on the top floor of the three-story Park Hotel around 5 a.m. Thursday, San Francisco Fire Department spokeswoman Mindy Talmadge said.

Firefighters turned the dog over to city animal care officials, who were able to reunite the dog with its owner Thursday.

“He smelled very smoky, but was in remarkably good spirits considering the experience he’s been through,” said Eric Zuercher, a supervisor with the San Francisco Department of Animal Care and Control. Story taken from… Mercury News.com …read story… http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_18003715?nclick_check=1

The story of Colton, a one-year-old English bulldog, does not begin as a happy tale of a puppy romping with laughing little children. It does, however, end with a smile.

Born paralyzed in both of his hind legs, Colton spent the first year of his life trying to get around by dragging the two legs until, in time, a huge hole had been worn in one back leg, and both were painfully infected.

The owner who took in Colton after finding out that the breeder would euthanize the pup came to realize that the care the dog required exceeded her capabilities, so she called upon Black Hills Boxer Rescue, a local organization of about 50 volunteers that provides care and foster homes to dogs.

“The owner contacted me back in November,” said Shelley Cumella, who along with her husband, Vince, started up Black Hills Boxer Rescue in 1999. “The owner’s daughter who lived in Mitchell had taken the dog and discovered that with her own children, the dog had become too much for her to take care of. At that time, they moved Colton to Rapid City.”

Cumella said that even though she had been told the basics of Colton’s past, she hadn’t realized the severity of his disability until seeing him for the first time. Realizing that Colton’s injuries required immediate attention, Cumella contacted Dean Falcon of All Creatures Veterinary Hospital, who had tended her own two dogs.  Story taken from… Rapid City Journal… read story… http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/news/article_0f49b950-7226-11e0-ad6f-001cc4c002e0.html

Hello old fur-comrades, it’s good to be here once again as another Winter approached and my old bones are being soothed by the heater. I was thrilled when my senior owner decided to bring out the heating contraption early this year to heat HIS old bones, as he’s getting a bit like me and more inclined to rug up before rugging up is necessary. He’s taken to putting a heating pad on his armchair at night and it’s a senior fight to see who gets on it first. Ican tell you fur-comrades, I can put up quite a fight when my personal comfort is involved, and I can usually outgun the old boy when it comes to holding the bladder. Sooner or later he has to get up and go, and I move into the best position and dig in for the night. I didn’t get my nickname ‘Barnacle Bob’ for nothing you know. I can cling on with the best of them.

Until next time…

Greetings fur-pals. Well, it’s good to be here again this week with news of the dirt pile in the front yard. It’s been a glorious time for me fur-pals, as I dart about, skidding, sliding, rolling and anything else I can think of in the dusty, dirty mess. Special bonuses if it rains and the dust becomes mud and sticks to my fur. Add points if I actually get inside and roll on the lovely multi-coloured rug that Mum bought last year.

I’m in hiding at this present moment however, as I can hear the splashings in the big white tub and the soft tones of bribery in the air to get me within grabbing distance of the danger zone.

Until next time…

ANTIOCH, Calif.—Four Antioch police dogs, including one that was shot in August, have been outfitted with bulletproof vests.

The dogs showed off their new custom-made body armor this week. Each vest weighs about five pounds and is both bullet and knife resistant.

The $1,200 vests come after one of the dogs, a 65-pound Belgian Malinois, was shot in the right shoulder by a burglary suspect in August.

The dog survived and was back on the job two weeks later. But police officials tell the Contra Costa Times that the injury might have been avoided if the dog had been wearing one of the vests.

The vests were provided by The Police and Working K-9 Foundation, a group that also helps pay for emergency medical care for police dogs.  Story taken from… ‘Mercury News’… read story… http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_17899624?nclick_check=1

If you’re a poodle, get out of Iran.

Actually, if you fit the description of any four-legged tail wagger with a propensity for chasing Peugeots, you are not welcome in that country.

Lawmakers in the nation’s capital have proposed a bill that would make owning a dog illegal.

What do Iranian politicians have against pet pooches? They’re un-Islamic, disease-ridden and short-legged…. Story taken from ‘The Toronto Star’.. read story… http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/980475–iran-tries-to-make-it-illegal-to-own-a-dog?

Greetings fur-pals. I’m back today with news of my latest adventure. It was action all-round as I braved the wet weather and the mud in the front yard before the new turf goes in.

There’s lots of doings to do in a mud pile fur-pals, especially when you are on a limited time frame before Mum spots you messing about and getting messy. I managed a good dive, slide and a couple of rolls before my dobinski sister, Ruby, barked to let everybody know where I was and what I was doing. It’s like the gestapo, honestly.

I was once again packed off to the ‘big white tub’, for a scrub a dub-dub.

Until next time…

Greeting fellow fur-pals. Well it’s been a hot few days, and I’ve been coming up with some brilliant ideas to beat the heat on my doggy patch.

I’ve discovered that the fridge isn’t only for tasty nibblies when I can get hold of them, it’s also an amazing bit of cool space after you wedge your nose into the door seal and push it open. Unfortunately it doesn’t last for long before I’m either discovered or something starts dripping on me.  The cool tiled floor space in the bathroom was often a place where I could stretch out in comfort, until I started weeing on the toilet and I was banned. Well..that’s what it’s for, isn’t it? I’m just doing my bit.

I’ve managed to find the cool spots on the floor now where the airconditioning hits, and I’m staying put for the day.

Until next time…

Puppies Behind Bars trains inmates to raise puppies to become service dogs for the disabled and explosive detection canines for law enforcement.  Visit the website… http://www.puppiesbehindbars.com/

Oregon. Basco, a seven year old ex-military bomb-detecting German Shepherd, is set to receive stem-cell therapy to treat osteoarthritis in his hips.

Basco, who had completed two tours of duty was discharged by the military and adopted by Debbie Richter. An Oregon State University Veterinarian will perform the procedure.  Read story…. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/10/AR2011021003261.html

Illinois. Mary-Lou the two year old Labrador isn’t just an ordinary dog.  She’s fourteen year old Patrick’s constant companion and helper. Patrick is a special needs kid, and without Mary-Lou his life would be very different.  Read story… http://www.bnd.com/2011/02/13/1589770/spotlight-service-dog-changes.html