Funny Dog Howling With Human Teeth: Cute Video
May 19, 2011 in Fun Videos, News, YouTube
A cute video of a dog playing with his Squeeky Toy. Enjoy!
You are browsing the archive for 2011 May.
by Kenn Bell
by Kenn Bell
Theo, Hero Dog Of Soldier Killed In Afghanistan, Could Receive Posthumous Honor
May 19, 2011 in In Remembrance, Military, News, World
Liam Tasker and his bomb dog, Theo
It’s the story that moved the world.
Hours after Lance Corporal Liam Tasker was killed by a Taliban sniper in the Helmand province in March, Tasker’s faithful patrol dog Theo died of what many believe was a broken heart.
Now thanks to Tasker’s mother, Jane Duffy, Theo, a Springer Spaniel, has been shortlisted in the hero dog category of London’s Dog Trust Awards that take place in June.
Tasker, who hailed from Fife Scotland, and Theo, have been praised for saving thousands of lives during their five month tour of duty in the province, which saw them uncover a record number of hidden bombs and weapon caches in Afghanistan.
“They always give soldier’s an award, but the dogs never get one,” Duffy said.
“We felt it was really important Theo was recognized for doing something, so it is really good he has been shortlisted.”
“Without Theo, Liam wouldn’t have been able to do his job and without Liam, Theo wouldn’t have been able to do his. Together they saved thousands of lives – it was amazing, they did a really good job.”
Duffy, who backed a campaign by some of Tasker’s friends to get Theo nominated for the award, said that when she spoke to her son while he was serving in Afghanistan that Theo not only saved his life on a number of occasions, but “kept him sane”.
by Kenn Bell
British Man Survives 200 Foot Fall After Attempting To Save Dog: Incredible Video
May 19, 2011 in Dog Rescue, Heroics, Inspirational, News, World
He almost lost his life trying to save the life of his Best Friend.
A dog walker survived a fall of over 200ft down a cliff after going to try to save his pet dog, which had just done the same thing.
The 53-year-old man, who has not been named, fell down Little Cliff, in North Yorkshire, England on Monday.
Police said it was “absolutely remarkable” that he survived with only a broken leg and wrist.
Flight Sgt Rick Jones, who piloted the rescue helicopter, said: “We got a call from the coastguard about a gentleman who had apparently gone over the cliff looking for his dog.
“Where the gentleman fell is about 200ft high, so we were obviously fearing the worst.
“But when we arrived both he and his dog were showing signs of life.
“We believe that he’s now stable and fingers crossed he’ll make a good recovery.
“The other good news is the dog is alright.”
Inspector Bruce Prendergast, of North Yorkshire, England Police, said: “It is absolutely remarkable that this man has survived a 200ft fall down the cliff face and escaped with injuries that are serious but not life-threatening.
“It is testament to the hard work and bravery of the coastguard and helicopter crew, who managed to extract the man from the bottom of the cliff in difficult circumstances, that he and his dog survived.”
Police do not believe there were any suspicious circumstances in the fall
by Kenn Bell
China Introduces One Dog Policy To Control Numbers
May 19, 2011 in Endangerment, Government, World
You’ve heard of the One Child Policy in China. Now get ready for the One Dog Policy.
Growing irritation with dog excrement on the streets, fears about rabies and public anger at people abandoning unwanted puppies when they grow up, means Shanghai, China’s largest city, is embarking on a massive crackdown to control the number of dogs.
Shanghai has a canine population of 800,000 and a human population of 23 million, but only around 140,000 of the dogs are registered and city officials say that since 2006, Shanghai has recorded at least 100,000 dog attacks each year.
From now on however, people will only be allowed to have one pooch or pay for the privilege. Any additional unregistered dogs will be turned over to government shelters and owners who don’t comply face a potential 3,000 yuan.
To encourage people to license their pooches, the annual management fee for each dog was reduced to 500 yuan in downtown areas and 100 yuan for the suburbs, according to the Shanghai Finance Bureau. At the moment it costs 2,000 yuan to register a dog.
Other new rules include requirements that dogs should be kept on a leash in public, that big dogs need to be muzzled and that any dog excrement needs to be picked up by the owners—or face a 200 yuan fine.
For many years, dog ownership in cities was seen as an upper class luxury and banned by Chairman Mao Zedong. But as China opens up, many households now have pets and dog numbers have been soaring in the past few years.
Dogs already have to undergo mandatory vaccinations, but from now on each dog must also be implanted with a chip containing the owners’ information. “We only have some 30 clients today who bring their dogs to be vaccinated. Most dog owners still do not know they should bring their dogs to us,” a worker surnamed Han at the Angel Pets Clinic in Yangpu district said.
People who already own more than one dog and registered them before the new law came into effect are allowed to keep their dogs. But for those who have more than one unregistered dog, only one registration will be accepted.
This has of course, sparked opposition from pet lovers.
One dog owner said, “I have three unregistered dogs. They have been with me for five years. They are family to me. I can’t just give one of them up.”
“For many dog owners who have more than one dog, it is too hard to make the decision to keep one but abandon another,” said Lai Xiaoyu, the head of the China Small Animal Protection Association, Shanghai branch.
by Kenn Bell
Stray Poodle ‘Rescued’ By Bird Of Prey In British Columbia
May 18, 2011 in Dog Rescue, Dog Safety, News, World
If you’re a small dog, you’d probably think that being snatched by a bird of prey and whisked into the sky wouldn’t be the best thing that ever happened to you.
Well, that’s exactly what happened to May the toy Poodle.
May plopped onto the grounds of a British Columbia nursing home on May 2. The nurses at Shorncliffe Nursing Home in Sechelt, British Columbia found the creature in very poor condition, with cuts on her back and multiple broken ribs. The lacerations told rescuers how she got there: clutched in the talons of a bird of prey. The dog had no identification and was also suffering from other maladies that led rescuers to believe she was a stray.
“In addition to the claw marks on her back and the broken ribs she sustained from the fall, all of her nails were so long they had grown into her paw pads and her teeth were badly decayed. We don’t know how long she had been wandering without care, but she was obviously very neglected. It’s ironic, but this bird may have saved her life,” said Shannon Broderick, branch manager of the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Shelter workers named the poodle May because of the day she was found.
“It’s an absolute miracle that she survived, and we want to do everything we can to help her,” Broderick said.
A local veterinary hospital took care of May’s broken ribs and torn paw pads, but the SPCA is seeking donations to cover approximately $3,500 (U.S. $3,580) in dental work.
Check the SPCA‘s website here for information on how you can help.
by Kenn Bell
School Kids Team Up With Marine To Save Afghanistan Puppy: Heartwarming Video
May 18, 2011 in Charity, Dog Safety, Inspirational, Military, News, World
Marine Captain Matt Taylor with Alice
A dog that survived the war zone in Afghanistan is safe in Indiana thanks to the U.S. Marines and the love of hundreds of local school children.
If you do one thing today, it should be to watch this video. You won’t be disappointed!
by Kenn Bell
Jennifer Aniston Loses Beloved 15-Year Old Dog Norman
May 18, 2011 in Celebrity, Lifestyle News, News
Jennifer Aniston has lost a beloved friend.
The actress’ Welsh Corgi-Terrier mix, Norman, died a few weeks ago at 15 years of age.
“He was an old dog and it was just his time,” Aniston said.
The canine was often pictured running on the beach and hanging out on movie sets alongside his famous companion, who is also the owner of a white German Shepherd mix named Dolly.
Though the men in her life have come and gone, Aniston could always count on her furry friends for unconditional love.
“Really, the most unconditional form of love that you can encounter is with a dog,” the 42-year-old star told the February issue of Allure magazine. “They’re excited the minute you come home, and they show the same amount of excitement every day. They’re loyal, and they’re always, always faithful.”
In 2008, Aniston reflected on the reality of losing a cherished pet.
“There really is no relationship like the one you have with a dog – and then they don’t live as long as they should,” she said at the time.
“You have to say goodbye way too soon. It’s just so sad. It makes me so sad. But their love is unconditional and I love that.”
by Kenn Bell
Houston, Texas Tops The List For Dogs Biting Mail Deliverers
May 17, 2011 in Health & Science Files, Lifestyle News, News
“Through rain, through sleet, through DOG BITES?!”
If you’re a mail delivery person in Houston, Texas, congratulations, your city has just won the dubious distinction of being the nation’s leader in dog bites on Postal Service letter carriers.
Statistics released this week by the U.S. Postal Service showed that 62 mail delivery people were attacked by dogs in Houston, Texas last year — making the city a runaway winner over runners-up Columbus, Ohio, and San Diego, Calif., with 45 attacks each.
“We often hear two comments relating to the Postal Service, ‘the check’s in the mail,’ and ‘don’t worry, my dog won’t bite’. Given the right circumstances, any dog can bite,” said Matthew Lopez, Houston’s Postmaster.
One other Texas city — San Antonio — made this ignominious top ten list. The Alamo City tied for sixth with 39 attacks.
Nationally, 5,669 postal employees were attacked in 2010 in more than 1,400 cities. That’s just a small fraction of the 4.7 million dog attacks reported annually — the majority targeting children.
The Postal Service says its medical costs from dog attacks amounted to nearly $1.2 million last year. More than one-third of all homeowners’ insurance liability claims paid last year — some $413 million — involved dog bites, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
