Is This The Way You'd Want To Live?

Saudi Arabia's religious police have banned selling pet cats and dogs and walking them in public places in the country's capital Riyadh to preserve public morals.

That sounds pretty outrageous, doesn't it?

Then shouldn't we be just as outraged by animal rights advocates? They would also ban the selling of cats and dogs, and would outlaw the ownership of animals altogether. So, which is worse? Religious totalitarianism or some other form of totalitarianism? Totalitarians, collectivists of most sorts, will cross your personal boundaries to enforce their ways. They might even have good intentions. But, do the ends justify the means? Usually not.

Would you vote into office someone who was a such a religious fanatic that they would ban you from having a dog, or would severely restrict your ownership of a pet? Then think on this: Barack Obama supports animal rights. He said so. Are you going to vote for him?

Baby Killed By Puppy?

A dog attacked and killed a 2-month old baby boy who was left unattended in a swing, police said Monday afternoon. Officer Jason Willingham said the infant was mauled by either a Labrador puppy or a small pug at the boy's home and died at the scene. Police are not sure what caused the mauling or which dog killed the boy. Both dogs were taken to the Tulsa Animal Shelter, where Manager Jean Letcher said the lab was euthanized at the request of Tulsa police.

There is a lot more to this story. A lot more. Here are my immediate questions:

How is it that a baby is being mauled and no one hears it?
How is it that a puppy and pug maul a kid to death?
Why was the Lab euthanized but not the Pug?
Something really weird is going on here, right?

Can It Be Any Clearer?

A man chasing his dog across a railroad track in East Cleveland was apparently struck and killed by a train Saturday evening... The dog ran away while police investigated the accident.

THIS is why you train your dog.

So many people don't realize how important dog training is. They do a few puppy lessons at a pet store when they first get the dog. Then, the dog gets older, gets into trouble for stuff, learns to get away from Mr. or Mrs. Bad News when it is loose, and won't come back when you need the dog to come.

Does your dog come when called?

If your dog won't come when you call it, then it is not trained, and you have something seriously wrong in your relationship with your dog. It's not all about the dog. It is also about you, too.

Booze and Dogs Don't Mix

Here's some sorry idiot who was arrested for forcing his dog to run alongside his motorcycle... 30 MILES TO HOME!!!

The 50-year-old Remy was arrested Monday on a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated. Police say he told them he was riding home to Queens _ about 30 miles away _ with the dog leashed to the handlebars, trying to keep up.

Drunkenness is shameful behavior and it triggers people to do terrible things. Most domestic crimes involve some form of intoxication. Think about it. Get some help if this is about you.

So, You Think Your Dog Is Too Friendly?

An Australian woman has been saved by a pet dog which leapt to her aid after she was attacked by a large kangaroo, her son has said.

This was probably a friendly dog. Just because a dog is friendly doesn't mean that it won't protect you. One of the biggest misconceptions by novices is to think that a dog needs to be "mean" or made nasty in order for the dog to protect them. Aggression is more complex than this, and making the dog a snarling monster isn't the answer.

So, why would a dog come out and rescue you? What would make that happen? Why would your dog put its life on the line for you?

Answer that, and you'll be on the right track.

Dog Dies In Hot Car

A dog died Wednesday from massive heat trauma after being left for a half hour inside a parked car. Police found the 3-year-old female French bulldog "limp and unconscious." The owner told police he left the dog unattended in his car for a half hour while inside the mall.

I checked the weather. It was between 80 to 90 degrees that day. That is super hot in Massachusetts. It doesn't take a rocket scientest to know that will kill a dog. Especially a flat faced breed such as this.

Dogs can take heat. I've seen it here in Arizona. Even bulldogs like this. There's just a way to do it and a way to not do it. Hot cars, regardless of the location, are a death trap for dogs and kids.

My rule of thumb: If you or a kid couldn't take the same heat, then your dog probably can't take that heat.

Dog First Aid

Chocolate, grapes and raisins have been blamed for a staggering surge in the number of dogs being poisoned by sweet treats. In the last year, the number of canines who have become ill after eating chocolate has soared by 48 per cent. There has also been a 91 per cent increase in numbers of dogs poisoned after ingesting grapes, raisins or sultanas.And it has emerged that there has been an increase in the number of animals consuming painkillers - some of which vets say have been given to dogs by their owners to try and avoid paying vets' bills. The most common dog toxin was rat poison, followed by chocolate, Ibuprofen, paracetamol, oral contraceptives, grapes, raisins and sultanas and slug bait.

You'd think that every dog owner would know about this. Shouldn't vets tell them this during annual checkups?