Keep Kids and Dogs Safe-Unplug The Shredder!

Keep your paper shredder in a place where children and dogs can't get to it or simply unplug it. There have been reports lately of kids and dogs getting hurt when they start playing around with shredders. One dog in in South Carolina has lost "chunks of his tongue" when it got caught in the family's shredder and is still recovering a month later.

Story Link:
www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/14228571.htm

Dog Friendly Jobs

Here's a special search engine for folks who would like to bring their poochie to work with them! Yes, those jobs do exist. Click on the link below and search away.

http://www.simplyhired.com/dogfriendly

Family Dog Set On Fire

A man in Rancho Cucamonga California has been charged with animal cruelty as a result of setting the famly dog on fire during an argument! The poor female Collie at the heart of this story has suffered "wide spread" second degree burns from neck to tail. The dog will survive according to the report. The man will be charged with a felony.

Story can be found on www.mercurynews.com "Breaking Story" section.

Good Hearted People Save Pug

A Pug dog that broke three legs after being hit by a car last week had it's life saved by strangers through the internet! People in several countries read of the dog's plight and donated their money so the Pug could have surgery. Just 14 minutes after the dog's story was told on the internet, money started to roll in from dog lovers. The Pug had his surgery and is now recovering.

Pug's Story:
http://www.startribune.com/462/story/334507.html

High End Doggie Products

The Global Pet Expo just wrapped up in San Diego. A trade-only show for retail store buyers. Believe it or not there are people willing to spend thousands on collars, jewelry, clothes, and accessories for their poochies. From $100 "skid mats" to $15,000 ostrich skin carriers, people who have no children often see their pets as substitute children and splurge to the hilt!Americans will spend approximately $38 billion on their pets this year still on the uptrend from last year.

Story Link:
www.signonsandiego.com/news/features/20060325-9999-1c25pet.html

San Francisco Puppy Has "Dog Flu"

A puppy located in San Francisco has been diagnosed with "Dog Flu" by a lab in U.C. Davis. Why is that concerning? Because "Dog Flu" is contagious and dogs who have contracted have died. It's certainly nothing to panic about but common sense should come into play when and if you see your dog showing signs of an upper respiratory infection. This infection can manifest itself as a runny nose (nasal discharge) or persistant cough.

Dogs who share toys or dishes with other dogs are at risk of contracting this disease. And I'd be careful about taking your dog to dog related gatherings such as "dog parks" and the like. I know a lot of people love to take their dogs to these places but to be on the safe side, maybe this activity can be skipped till this disease passes, assuming it will.

Even though there's no vaccine for this condition, the good news is that dogs who have gotten this disease have recovered so it's not automatically fatal. Just use good judgement and keep an eye on your dog especially if it's a highly social dog and always around other canines.

http://cbs5.com/topstories/local_story_083192349.html

How Fleas Affect Dogs

Here's an interesting and informative article on how fleas wreak havoc on our pets. If you have cats also, be careful to read the label, as cats sometimes cannot tolerate the chemicals that dogs can.

www.heralddemocrat.com/articles/2006/03/21/life/life02.txt

Vivi The Wayward Whippet Still Causing a Buzz

News wire reports are still doling out stories on Vivi the whippet on the lamb. Supposedly Vivi was seen touching noses with a doberman in the New York area! That Vivi does get around! Seriously, it would really be a kick if Vivi was found and returned to her home. It's not probable but it is possible. Keep a lookout for Vivi!

http://www.dogexplorer.com/content/view/103/1/

Shaggy Dog Movie Suffering at IMDB

Tim Allen's "The Shaggy Dog" isn't a big hit with the folks who have seen it and have given their reviews on the Internet Movie Database. They've given the canine comedy only a 2.1 rating out of a possible 10! Ay Chiuahua! Not good. I haven't seen it yet but their rating doesn't mean that you won't like it. When it comes to movies, tv shows, and food, everyone has strong opinons.

Here's the details and reviews by people who have seen it:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0393735/

The Lifetime Cost of Your Dog

If you've fantasized about owning a Mercedes but just know you'll never be able to afford one, then think twice about getting a pooch. According to Churchill Insurance of Great Britain when you factor in vet bills, food, toys, boarding, neutering, and incidentals, the average cost of owning a dog is around $40 thousand dollars! Naturally the bigger the dog the bigger the total with the Great Dane being the most costly of pups.

Link:
http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=456&sid=717533

Southern California Puppy Buyers Beware!

If you live in the Southwest and are looking to get yourself a puppy, be careful to check out the breeder or retailer before purchasing. A network of puppy smugglers known as the "Puppy Pipeline" are doing their best to make sure smuggled puppies from Mexico are available for you. Many of these puppies are sick, underage, and certainly stressed out.

Two instances in the last few days have occured, one of them in the San Diego area at a checkpoint where a man was caught with 26 puppies in a duffle bag! If you don't check out the breeder/retailer you're planning to buy from you'll only have yourself to blame. What is worse than bringing home a new puppy only to discover it's sick and may not recover. Do an internet check on potential breeders and go with known professionals who you can trust.

When you carelessly buy one of these pups you're directly supporting this cruel cottage industry of puppy smuggling.

Story Links:
www.10news.com/news/8070157/detail.html

http://cbs2.com/local/local_story_075130720.html

Don't Kill Dogs to Eliminate Coyotes!

This is a cautionary story of a guy who wanted to get rid of some coyotes and ended up killing dogs with pesticide. A guy wanted to eliminate troublesome coyotes and soaked some meat in "Paraquat Plus" a very deadly pesticide and left it for the coyotes. Leaving the meat out in the open is irresponsible to say the least! As a result three innocent dogs have suffered and died. People need to stop and think what could be the possible consequences of their actions before they proceed.

Story Link:

http://newsblaze.com/topstories.html

The Blessing of Dogs

"There'd be a lot more than 50,000 names on the Vietnam Wall without these dogs, and I don't think the average American even knows the role they played." - Dr. John Kubisz, a veterinarian serving with the 764th Veterinary detachment in Vietnam.

Quote above taken from the site "War-Dogs.com./http://www.war-dogs.com/" What other animal on earth is more deliberately heroic than the dog? Dogs will kill to defend those they love and admire. They protect, defend, help, assist, guide, befriend, save, alert, their attributes go on and on.

Jewish tradition states that God blessed the canine race. During the "Exodus", thousands of people escaped Egypt and tradition states that not one dog barked during that dramatic exit.

Satirizing The Wayward Whippet Story

Here's a sarcastic/satirical angle on the "Vivi" the wayward whippet story. I'm sure Vivi if she could understand, would not be amused.

http://www.sploid.com/news/2006/03/vivi_the_strays.php

Cadaver dogs Called Back Home to Maine

The Portland Press Herald is reporting that cadaver dogs have been called back home to Maine from searching through the terrible conditions still present in Louisiana. These brave and faithful duty-bound dogs have had to trudge through " a 4-inch blanket of gasoline, engine oil, sewage and industrial waste. " Otherwise known as "New Orleans goo", very toxic. The city has become "a rat factory" with large ugly rats everywhere especially in the abandoned homes. About 2300 people are still unaccounted for there.

The dogs and searchers were called back as the searchers weren't allowed back into their hotel rooms. They were told they couldn't get back in until they filled out papers requesting federal assistance! It's been months and months since this Katrina and there are still body parts "stewn all over the place." The recovery workers are not being given the proper resources to get the job done. Curious isn't it? Why not?

Latest On "Vivi" the Wayward Whippet

Whippet-on-the-lamb Vivi was thought to be sited a couple of days ago. Her owners believe she is still hiding out in one of the hangers at JFK. The hangers are heated making her chances of survival a little better.

The workers at JFK, many of which speak no English, say they spotted her a couple of days ago. They say that awhile back, a poodle took up residence in a cargo area and stayed for nearly a year! So, if poor Vivi is there hiding out there is a chance she can keep herself alive until found as there are countless rabbits and squirrels for her to hunt down and dine on.

The continuing Vivi Saga:
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-livivi024646904mar02,0,3114763.story

Whippets-Not For Everyone

Whippets are very energetic and love to get in their share of exercise. Not everyone has enough time to take care of the basic needs of dogs like these. There's just not enough time in some people's schedule according to a whippet owner in North Carolina.

Whippets:
http://ww2.wpri.com/Global/story.asp?S=4584522