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You are browsing the archive for 2011 August.

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by Bobby-Tucker

“Hero Dogs” To Get Their Own TV Awards Show

August 4, 2011 in Celebrity, Entertainment, Heroics, News, Service Dogs, Working Dogs

Film star Ewan McGregor and actress and animal rights campaigner Betty White will join Whoopi Goldberg and other all-star panelists to judge a new heroic dog award show which will air on the Hallmark Channel.

The American Humane Association is bringing the celebrities on board for its inaugural “Hero Dog Awards,” a TV contest which will recognize “the thousands of specially trained dogs giving comfort to people every day.”

The winning dogs will also get to attend their own red carpet awards gala in Beverly Hills.

Canine movie star Rin Tin Tin, a dog rescued from the frontlines of World War I in France who later became an American icon and movie idol, will be given a special legacy award, presented to one of his doggie descendants.

Dogs will compete in eight categories: law enforcement and arson dogs; service dogs; therapy dogs; military dogs; guide dogs; search and rescue dogs; hearing dogs, and emerging hero dogs, for “ordinary pets who do extraordinary things.”

White, 89, of “The Golden Girls” TV fame, also works for several animal organizations, including the Los Angeles Zoo.

Other celebrity judges will include personal trainer Jillian Michaels and “Glee” cast member and dog lover Kristin Chenoweth.

The 90-minute show will be broadcast on the Hallmark Channel on November 11.

Story by Elaine Furst for Dog Files

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by Bobby-Tucker

California Woman Sues PETCO After Dog Dies From Cage Dryer

August 4, 2011 in Endangerment, Grooming, Inhumane Practices, Legal News, News

Dog dies from cage dryer

A California woman is suing PETCO after her dog suffered fatal injuries from being placed in a cage dryer.

Teresa Gilland dropped her dog Sadie off for her monthly grooming appointment at the PETCO store in Fair Oaks, California —where Sadie experienced heat stroke, internal bleeding and burns after being in a cage dryer at the store. She had to be euthanized at the veterinary office later that evening because of her extreme injuries.

“I couldn’t have known,” Gilland said. “It never occurred to me that they were putting her in that kennel. It’s nothing you can see… it’s not out there for the public to see. It’s an enclosed kennel, and they blow hot air in there.”

There has been controversy about cage dryers in the past, but Gilland is the first known court case in the U.S. Since Sadie’s death three years ago, Gilland has spent two years trying to find a lawyer that would take the case, and is armed with a report from the veterinarian who treated Sadie, stating she suffered “internal burn injuries and bleeding caused by heat.”

Gilland hopes she can get cage driers banned, but said consumers should at least see a posted warning when they drop off their pet.

PETCO released the following statement in regards to Sadie’s death:

“We’ve been aware of Sadie’s story since it happened three years ago. We can’t comment on the case, as it’s currently in litigation, but it was a tragic loss and we take all issues of pet safety very seriously. Over the last few years, we’ve made a number of improvements in the grooming equipment we use and we are always seeking to improve our existing safety practices. One of those improvements is that we no longer use heat of any kind in the drying process in our grooming salons.”

Story by Elaine Furst for Dog Files

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by Bobby-Tucker

Koko, Australia’s Canine Star, Enjoys The Good Life

August 3, 2011 in Celebrity, Entertainment, Lifestyle News, News, World

Koko the Red Dog with Makeup Artist

Stretched out on the couch in a penthouse suite overlooking Western Australia’s Swan River and lapping up water from a Moet & Chandon ice bucket, Koko the kelpie is living large.

The charming canine is taking part in a publicity blitz for the new film Red Dog, based on the true story of the dog who roamed the Western Australian outback during the 1970s.

The film, starring Josh Lucas and Rachael Taylor, is a must-see for animal lovers of all ages.

Producer Nelson Woss, who describes the film as a love story between a community and a dog, hopes the film, which drew giggles and tears from viewers at the Perth, Australia premiere last week, will become as well-loved as Crocodile Dundee and Babe.

As for Koko , he couldn’t sit on command when he was picked after a nationwide search and needed three years of training from animal trainer Luke Hura before he could step onto the set.

Although Lucas was desperate to take the kelpie to New York with him, it was Woss who got to keep him.

Once the national media tour winds up, Koko will step away from the spotlight.

“It was hard to make this movie. It was a hot, harsh, tough environment and Koko was just a real pro,” says Woss.

“He worked so hard, and now he’s just going to enjoy being a dog. We go for long walks and he has a feed, and he’s a happy dog.”

Story by Elaine Furst for Dog Files

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by Kenn Bell

Puppy Fakes His Own Death: Cute Video

August 3, 2011 in Fun Videos, News, YouTube

Funny, cute, strange, weird? I’m not sure. What do you think?

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by Bobby-Tucker

Michigan Rally For Condemned Pit Bulls Draws Dog Lovers And Supporters

August 3, 2011 in Animal Control, Breed-Specific Legislation, Events, News, Pit Bull

Free The Dogs Rally

Clutching signs that read “Free Them All,” “We Will Fight For Their Life” and “Stop Wasting Taxpayers Money,” a group of Monroe, Michigan animal lovers spent the majority of Thursday drumming up support for three condemned Pit Bulls.

The rally was intended to persuade the community that those who love animals should be outraged at the circumstances involving the Pit Bulls that were seized by police from a house during an alleged dog-fighting operation in March.

Many protestors criticized a video that shows the evaluation methods used by Dr. Katherine Houpt, who testified in court earlier this month that three of the dogs should be put down because they are dangerous and offer no use to the public. One part of the video shows a fake hand attached to a stick being used during the testing of the one of dogs named Dusty.

William Bellottie of Detroit, Michigan and a member of the Detroit Bully Crew, a Pit Bull rescue operation, acknowledged some Pit Bulls used in fighting can’t be saved, but the Monroe four weren’t used in fights.

“Can every dog be rehabilitated? Absolutely not,” Bellottie said. “But I believe these dogs should be given a second chance. And it’s not just these three dogs. It’s an epidemic. It’s not just Monroe.”

Trina Stillwagon, a Monroe County resident and a member of the Monroe Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), said she was pleased with the turnout and support given to the dogs.

She said she was dumbfounded that the county continues to fight over the issue and spend money in the process. So far it has cost more than $7,000 to house the four dogs at animal control and Ms. Stillwagon said they would take the dogs right now if it were allowed.

She says another rally is being planned before the August 9 Monroe County Board of Commissioners meeting.

“I’m happy anytime we can bring attention to animal welfare,” Stillwagon said. “All they have to do is release them to us and it won’t cost the taxpayers a penny. I’ll drive over there right now.”?

Story by Elaine Furst for Dog Files

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by Bobby-Tucker

Owner of Dogs That Killed Black Lab Is Arrested In Oxford, Connecticut

August 3, 2011 in Endangerment, Legal News, News, Tragedy

Lab killed by two dogs

Owners of a mauled dog say they are happy the owner of the other dogs is finally taking responsibility.

The owner of four large Newfoundland dogs that mauled and killed a smaller Labrador Retriever at a Connecticut park last week has been arrested.

Vicaie Tkacz (pronounced Vicky Kach), 37, of Oxford, Connecticut turned herself in to the Oxford Resident Trooper’s Office on Friday. She was charged with two counts of failure to quarantine, obstruction of an investigation by an animal control officer, four counts of a roaming dog and four counts of a nuisance dog.

Police said on Tuesday night, her four dogs were being walked by teenagers who had trouble controlling the dogs. Pat Severson, 20, meanwhile was walking his 11-year-old black Labrador Retriever, “Roxy,” when at least two of the Newfoundland dogs attacked them. Severson said he has bruises on his hands from hitting the dogs, trying to make them stop mauling Roxy, and was bit by one of the dogs. He is taking rabies shots as a precaution.

Pat Severson’s father, Jim Severson, said the family had been upset that the dog owner was evading her responsibilities by not turning herself into police.

“We’re pleased she is now doing the responsible thing, and whatever situation she has caused, she’s going to have to deal with it now, and we’re hopeful justice will be served,” he said. “We’re dealing with a personal loss here and this doesn’t change that. But I’m glad she came to her senses and is taking care of the things she should have been taking care of all along.”

All four of the Newfoundland dogs, which Tkacz breeds, have been quarantined and are being held at the Oxford Animal Control office.

Oxford Resident Trooper Sgt. Dan Semosky said the case is now closed. He gives credit not only to his office but also the Oxford and state animal control offices for their help.?He said the office has had other complaints about Tkacz and her dogs, but never one this extreme.

“This is a very sad case,” he said.

Tkacz has been released on a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned on August 18.

Story by Elaine Furst for Dog Files

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by Kenn Bell

Toy Tracking Pup: Cute Video

August 1, 2011 in Fun Videos, News, YouTube

This is such a happy dog! Her mind is working and she loves it.

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by Bobby-Tucker

Heroic World Trade Center Search And Rescue Dog Passes Away

August 1, 2011 in Heroics, In Remembrance, News, Working Dogs

WTC SAR Dog Morgan Passes AwayAfter recently being diagnosed with a rare form of canine cancer, K9 Morgan passed away this morning.

A few weeks ago Morgan was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma. Hemangiosarcoma is a rare, rapidly growing, highly invasive variety of cancer that is very common in German Shepherds.

Earlier this morning, Morgan started to have serious complications and began to bleed out and the decision was made to not let her suffer any more.

Morgan was born on June 16, 1999 and was one of the two original canines on the K9 Task Force. She had extensive training in cadaver location (her specialty), scenting and trailing of persons, collapsed building searches, rappelling, as well as water scenting (from aboard a boat or on shore). During her active time on the team she found many lost and missing persons, assisted local law enforcement in helping track down felons and locating the remains of the deceased.

During her team’s mission at the World Trade Center, Morgan and Chief John Frank took a terrible fall together. John fell about 10 feet breaking his arm and Morgan fell nearly 30 feet and was knocked unconscious. With help from the Suffolk County SPCA, Morgan was awakened and was ready to go back to work 6 hours later.

When the team re-visited the WTC site in Sept 2002, Morgan began to have trouble walking. After some tests and talking with the team’s vet, it was determined that Morgan was starting to have some serious hip trouble from the previous year’s fall.

On October 4, 2002, Morgan was officially retired…but not for long.

In September 2005, Morgan, John and Jason came out of retirement for a few weeks of work to assist New Orleans and the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina.

Since 2002 Morgan has lived the relaxed life in the care of Dee, her favorite vet assistant. Dee has been taking care of Morgan since she was a puppy.

Morgan took full advantage of her retired life, spending her days chasing toys and taking up space on the couch and every now and then taking Dee on an adventure through the woods during their daily walks.

Rest in peace dear Morgan. You deserve it.

Story by Elaine Furst for Dog Files

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