An ‘Imperfect’ Dog Can Make A Perfect Pet

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BY Diane Blankenburg For RGJ.com

Most of us who work in the animal welfare field are drawn to this field because we have an affinity for helping beings that cannot help themselves, whether it’s children, elderly people, or animals. But many people, whether in this field or not, feel something extra special about helping the most downtrodden.

Yesterday, I watched a You Tube video posted on the RGJ Mostly Dogs blog about Oogy, who was used as bait in a dog-fighting ring and left to die. He was saved by Larry Levin and his family, who fell in love with him instantly, in spite of wounds that left his head deformed. His body was far from perfect, but his loving spirit was strong.

This video made me reflect on my own experience with the “imperfect” dog. Three and a half years ago, I was new to Nevada Humane Society and had just moved to Reno with my two black Labrador retrievers. I have a thing for all animals but especially labs.

A staff person was walking a cute yellow lab by my office and my first, and typical, inclination was to give him a big hug. He clung to me like I was his life preserver.

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No Doggie Bags Needed: More Eateries Let You Bring In Your Dog

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By Gretchen McKay for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh — For some, it’s proof that the dining scene has, quite literally, gone to the dogs.

But to animal lovers such as Dan and Joan Huber of Observatory Hill, eating with your pet al fresco at a favorite restaurant is like the cherry on top of a sundae . . . or should we say a tasty piece of rawhide after a dinner of kibble. Whatever the language, it’s a treat.

It’s also savvy marketing, as Cassis on Western Avenue in Allegheny West has been pleased to discover. While dog owners are hardly taking over, the restaurant has drawn as many as seven dogs and their masters to its patio off Galveston Avenue since starting its Tuesday “Bowl and Biscuit Night” in July, and promoting it on Facebook. Regulars include the Hubers and their 2-year-old miniature schnauzer, Samson Amadeus.

Walking with your pooch to a neighborhood hangout is one thing. The Hubers load their wiry bundle of energy into their car, and happily so, for the 10-minute drive to the North Side. Why should neighbors be the only ones to enjoy owner/executive chef Dianne Porter’s good eats?

“Lady Di always has a beautiful menu,” says Mrs. Huber, who on a recent Tuesday was noshing on baked brie with roasted peppers and potatoes. “And he loves Tuesday nights.”

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Happiness Is Adopting An Older Dog

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By Hints From Heloise for The Washington Post

With the economy still in the dumps, dogs are being given up all across the country, so if you are looking to bring one into your home, visit a shelter.

While some dogs may be older, they just might make great pets. Older pooches have many benefits: Most are already house-trained, and they are full-grown, so no guessing if they are going to get bigger! Depending on age and breed, they can be less active and are usually more relaxed. They just may fit into your household without a lot of fuss.

If you already have a dog or two, the new addition will usually figure out the pecking order — unlike a puppy, which may want to run the place and be Alpha Dog.

When you bring your dog home from a shelter:

– Try to be with your new dog as much as possible on the first day or two to help ease it into its new environment.

– Get everyone in the family on board with behavior and training.

– Establish a routine for eating and exercise. Give your dog time to adjust.

– Let your dog develop a sleeping pattern and find its own place to sleep, or make a safe and cozy spot with a special towel, blanket or pillow.

– Give it lots of positive reinforcement. Make your new dog feel safe and loved in its new home.

Dog Eats Entire Beehive, Wins Award

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By Jill Rosen for Baltimore Sun

It’s not often a dog is rewarded for her silliness.

Except of course with the annual Hambone Award, bestowed by Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. The firm solicits stories of pets with extremely unusual insurance claims. People then vote on their favorite wacky story.

This year nearly 3,000 folks went to the polls and chose the story of Ellie: A California labrador that gorged on a beehive.

Here’s Ellie’s story, as told by VPI:

Robert Coe and his wife Sandra of Santee, Calif., thought they had seen the last of the bees buzzing around their home after exterminators sprayed a hive in their yard. That is until later that night when Sandra noticed the family’s 1-year-old Labrador retriever wasn’t acting like herself.

“My wife saw Ellie throw up several times,” said Robert. “There were hundreds of dead bees in each pile.”

Unbeknownst to the Coes, Ellie had discovered and eaten the beehive after the exterminators had left. Frightened by the volume of dead bees Ellie was vomiting, Sandra decided the dog needed to go to the veterinary hospital

The emergency veterinarian on duty examined Ellie and determined she had most likely only ingested dead bees and hadn’t been stung. Additionally, Poison Control indicated the pesticide did not pose a significant risk of toxicity. After a dose of anti-nausea medication and a few hours of observation, Ellie was on her way back home.

For the next week, the Coes administered over-the-counter antacid tablets and put Ellie on a diet of plain white rice and chicken. “She was eating better than we were,” joked Robert. “She acted just fine that week, really, but every time she went to the bathroom, she pooped bees. Thousands of bees. I don’t know where they all came from – the hive wasn’t that large.”

As Hambone winner, Ellie’s owners, Robert and Sandra Coe, get a bronze trophy in the shape of a ham and a basket of doggie toys and treats.

Can Dogs Save Us From Bedbug Scourge?

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From The Wall Street Journal

The march of the bedbugs goes on, leading to increasing demand for bug-sniffing dogs.

Bedbugs conquered the Empire State Building last week. “Like so many other buildings in New York City, the Empire State Building had a small occurrence specific to a uniform storage area in the basement of the building,” a spokesman for the iconic skyscraper said in a statement. “The area has been fully cleared.”

Bedbugs have also found their way into several movie theaters around the city. The AMC Magic Johnson Harlem 9 had a report of a bedbug bite on July 30 and, according to a company spokesman, the theater was immediately shut down for treatment. But that incident prompted the chain to inspect each of its locations in Manhattan. The company found bedbugs on “two of the 4,700 seats” at the Midtown AMC Empire 25 on Aug. 3, according to a spokesman.

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Call For Action Over Dog Ownership In United Kingdom

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Categories: Dog Safety, Lifestyle News, News

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The Associated Press

Animal charities and leading trade unions joined forces to call on the Government to improve laws on dog ownership in a bid to offer more protection to members of the public and workers, as well as the animals.

A coalition of 20 groups issued a statement demanding action against irresponsible dog owners, arguing that current legislation was “inadequate”.

The statement, sent to Prime Minister David Cameron, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and acting leader of the Opposition Harriet Harman, said: “We believe that irresponsible dog ownership, whether it is allowing dogs to stray, be dangerously out of control or indiscriminately breeding them, causes significant problems for the safety and welfare of both humans and animals. Current legislation is proving inadequate in many cases to ensure sufficient protection.”

“We believe that both the provision of sufficient resources at a local level for local authorities and the police, and updated and consolidated legislation that has a genuine preventative effect, are needed to address this problem.

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Kiwi Women Believe Dogs Are Better Listeners Than Their Partners: Survey

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From sify.com

Kiwi women believe dogs are better listeners than their partners, while for men, dogs are a lot more loving, says a new New Zealand survey.

A Purina survey released today shows 31 percent of female dog owners believe their pets have better listening skills than their partners, and 14 percent of men say their dog gives them more love than their partner.

The survey also revealed that nearly 50 percent of female cat owners share their problems with their feline friend.

And 50 percent even consider themselves as their pet’s parent.

“When people find strong companionship and affection in their pets, it is quite normal for them to begin treating their animals as important family members,” Stuff.co.nz quoted Purina’s pet-care expert Shivaun Statham, as saying. (ANI)

Sheepdog Turns To Herding Ducks In Northumberland

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Categories: Lifestyle News, News, Working Dogs

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From bbc.co.uk

A border collie in Northumberland whose owner hopes he can make the English sheepdog team has been honing his skills – by herding ducks.

The talented canine, called Roy, has been in training for a competition which could see him chosen to represent England at future international events.

Owner Emma Gray said the Indian Runner ducks were ideal training for seven-month-old Roy due to their slow speed.

Roy is a hit with visitors to the farm who watch his regular displays.

‘More entertaining’

Ms Gray, 24, who works on her parents’ farm near Morpeth, has been working with sheepdogs for two years.

She said: “The dogs know the difference between ducks and sheep, but they are not really bothered as long as they are working.

“It’s great fun and I love working with the dogs.

“It is much more entertaining herding ducks and we do displays at the farm which go down well.

“The ducks are a bit more predictable than sheep and cannot run as fast so they do not get away from the dog.”

Dog Missing After Fatal NJ Crash Found Safe

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Categories: Endangerment, Lifestyle News, News

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By Stephanie Barish for wpix.com

PATERSON, N.J. (WPIX) – A two-year-old dog that escaped a fatal car crash in Paterson on Sunday was found safe and sound Thursday.

John Everhart, of Bethesda, Maryland, was driving his SUV on Interstate 80 when authorities say it flipped over on the highway. Everhart died in the crash.

The 20-year-old adopted the 40-pound basset hound named “Bodhi” about a year ago.

According to reports, the victim’s father, Jay Everhart, said the family was in Maryland for a memorial service when they received news the dog had been found.

Animal control officials say the dog was found on Caldwell Ave. near McBride Ave. early Thursday.

Everhart’s father said a friend of John’s will pick up the dog and bring him home to Bethesda.

City Dwellers More Likely To Consider Dog Or Cat Their ‘Baby’

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By Robert Preidt for HealthDay

A pet’s status in a family may be influenced by where the owners live, new research suggests.

People who regard pets as children tend to have a city background, for example, while those in rural areas have a more practical attitude, said study author David Blouin, of Indiana University.

“To think of pets as just another animal is not uncommon in rural areas, which makes sense given the utilitarian relationships people in rural areas are more likely to have with a range of different animals — from farm to wild animals,” Blouin, an assistant professor in the sociology and anthropology department at Indiana University South Bend, said in an American Sociological Association news release.

He also found that pets often lose their status as “children” when owners start having children.

“If you have kids, you have less time to spend with your pets. That’s part of it, but not the whole story. People who think of their pets as their children often re-evaluate this thought when they have human children of their own,” Blouin said.

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Wonderland Dog Racetrack In Mass. To Close

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By Lyle Moran for The Associated Press

REVERE, Mass. — Wonderland Greyhound Park shut down after 75 years on Thursday, a move that follows the end of live dog racing in Massachusetts and the apparent demise of a casino gambling bill that might have allowed the track to lure patrons with slot machines.

Wonderland said in a statement that it was suspending business operations immediately because it could no longer compete in a “drastically changed gaming market” that includes casinos, slot parlors and a so-called racino in neighboring states.

Since a voter-approved ban on greyhound racing took effect on Jan. 1, the track had remained open for simulcasting, in which patrons can place bets on races being run in other states.

Richard Dalton, president and CEO of Wonderland, said remaining employees were notified this week that they would lose their jobs.

“This is an emotional day for all of us, and the most difficult part of it is the hardworking people who have been given notice that they no longer have a job,” said Dalton, who added that many of the employees had worked at the track for decades.

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Blind Dog Has Own Guide Dog

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By Robert Kovacik, Olsen Ebright for MSNBC.com

A blind dog and his seeing-eye dog in Agoura Hills are in search of a new home.

Hampton, a 2-year-old Lhasa Apso/poodle mix, is blind and has trouble getting around. He relies on a Chihuahua named Brownie to help herd him.

The dogs hit if off back in January during a walk, says Laurie Bernie of L.I.F.E. Animal Rescue.

“All of sudden, Brownie’s face just changed, and it was like, ‘Oh, something’s wrong here and I need to help him,’ and then they went all the way up my street, and he just herded him all the way up,” said Bernie.

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