Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Excellent Idea

Old dog haven relies on donations to help save elderly dogs.

Send donations to:

Old Dog Haven
PMB A4
621 SR9 NE
Lake Stevens WA 98258-9400

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Have a Puppy?

If you have a pup that is approaching 4 months old... don't wait. Enroll your dog in obedience classes now. Doing it early will save you a lot of headaches, money and frustration later. By now, your dog should be mostly house trained, most of your socialization completed, and your dog's nipping and chewing should have been addressed.
Dog First Aid

A black Labrador retriever is expected to fully recover following surgery to escape a sticky situation, swallowing a quarter of a bottle of Gorilla Glue.

If you have owned enough dogs, you'll eventually have an emergency where your dog has swallowed something dangerous. This is why you should always have a dog first aid book on hand, which you have already read from cover to cover. In addition, you need to always have the phone number, name and address of your nearest pet emergency hospital.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

I Just Don't Understand Animal Cruelty

A man who placed a dog in a washing machine and turned it on was sentenced Tuesday to a year in prison. Chad Edward Ellis, 32, of Euless, had pleaded guilty to a charge of animal cruelty and faced a maximum sentence of two years in prison. The dog was scalded by the hot water before managing to escape after the incident about a year ago, but she was caught and locked in a closet for several days. Eventually, a friend of Ellis' found the year-old female black Labrador retriever mix and took her to a Grapevine animal shelter, where she was euthanized after antibiotics failed to stop the swelling from the burns.

You have to figure someone who did this kind of thing is really messed up inside. Yes, people should pay for the crimes they commit, but such a case should also require mandatory counseling, don't you think? I am guessing, and I really have no facts to back this up, that if you looked into the life story of this person, you'd find drugs and/ or childhood abuse. Let's hope this person enrolls in some serious counseling, and spiritual help from clergy, while incarcerated. We aren't going to stop this kind of thing without addressing how people like this are motivated.

Sunday, January 14, 2007

An Unfortunate Accident, Indeed

A 10-year-old San Antonio girl has died after being attacked by her neighbor's dog. Amber Jones was attacked while trying to help the animal after it had gotten its collar caught on a chain link fence.

The shame of all of this is that not only was the child killed, the dog will be killed, too. The dog did what animals do when terrified, they protect themselves. This dog should not be put down. It was an accident. This was not an indication of a vicious dog.

Monday, January 08, 2007

Scary Legal Interpretation

"Surely if the dog’s unregistered it has no legal owner. At that point you have an unlicensed dog with no legal owner, and who has committed an attack on an individual. You don’t require consent of somebody who doesn’t own the dog legally. “I will definitely be taking this up with the chief executive (David Warburton) on his return to work next week,” Mr Laws said.

I haven't seen this logic before. So, if your dog is unlicensed, the law will deem the dog has NO owner, you lose your rights to due process, they can pick your dog up without your consent or notice, and put it to death. This is a completely unreasonable and dangerous legal theory. What if they are wrong? What if they get the wrong dog? What if the owner is falsely accused? What if the bite was provoked by the actions of the person who was bitten?

Stupid Advice?

Usually most articles on managing dogs are OK... for the most part. But, here is another sensational article about dangerous dogs. The article describes things that define what a responsible dog owner should do. Most are fine... but this one, if you take the article literally, is patently absurd. I wonder if this is just a typo or if the author really meant this:

As a responsible dog owner, it is important you take steps to avoid having a dog you cannot control that may be classed as dangerous, even on your own property...

Keep your dog away from visitors, preferably in a separate room


Huh?

IF your dog is dangerous, then this good advice. But, if you have a friendly dog, like most people, this is just ignorance gone to seed. No point isolating friendly dogs! I wonder if this was intentional, or another overreaction by someone who knows nothing about dogs. AND how about advice like: HIRE A PROFESSIONAL DOG TRAINER, MOST OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE FIXABLE OR MANAGEABLE.

Sigh.

Friday, January 05, 2007

Ah, Just What I Suspected...

Detectives investigating the fatal mauling of a five-year-old girl have seized cash from the scene of the tragedy, police confirmed today. The force today confirmed that the officers also seized cash and unspecified "items" from the house.

So, they suspect the dog was used as a professional fighting dog. Isn't that the real issue here? If you make a dog vicious the way they do for pit fighting, then the dog, or even the breed, isn't the issue. The issue is illegal dog fighting and gang related activity in most cases. Go after the crime issues and these types of dogs will not be made by people. If this is the way this turns out, the dog and the kid were both victims. No point making more dogs into victims by killing them just based on the breed.

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Five-year-old Ellie Law-renson - described by her parents as a "little angel" - was mauled to death at her grandmother's home in the early hours of New Year's Day.

The animal, which was shot dead at the scene, has been confirmed as a type banned under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act.

The basis for prosecuting someone for an attack should NOT be based upon the breed of dog. It should, instead, be based upon the behavior of the people involved. Yes, these people might have violated this law, and you should obey the law, but it is a bad law and should be repealed. There seems to have been plenty of reason for the law to get involved here without the breed being an issue. If the same circumstances had happened with a different breed, the child would still be dead.

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Dog Nazi's On The March

The Seattle Animal Shelter, determined to crack down on people who don't license their pets, is considering sending plainclothes officers to patrol city parks.

Tell me why this is necessary? Does this make the community safer? Does Animal Control need that much more money? What good does it do?

Monday, December 18, 2006

Merry Christmas!

Sorry for not posting for a while. My family has experienced a personal tragedy that has taken up most of the past month. You just never know when life is going to deal you a blow. Then, you find out who your friends are and what you are made of. You also discover who professes to be a good person, and who really are good people. My faith in God has been the only thing that has held me together over this difficult time. When all else fails, at least He hears you and you can read your Bible for answers. And those answers and His grace are sufficient.

Phil 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Please keep me and my family in your prayers. God will do the rest.


-- Sam

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

China's Absurd Dog Slaughter

Days after the Chinese government announced a crackdown on dogs in the capital, dog lovers here are quietly walking their pets after midnight and avoiding nosy neighbors. They're also fighting back. A campaign to protect people from a sharp rise in rabies cases led officials to announce last week that they would limit each household to one dog and ban dogs taller than 14 inches. Since then, pet owners have expressed resentment, as well as fear about what might happen to their animals.

Now, let's just think on this a minute. China says they have a rabies problem. So, they are banning the ownership a.) of more than one dog per household; and b.) of dogs taller than 14 inches.

So, explain to me:

1.) How does limiting the number of dogs in a household limit the spread of rabies?

2.) Why are big dogs more likely to spread rabies than small dogs?

This thing is absolutely absurd. There is more going on here than rabies. Rabies is the excuse, but not the reason. This is about control of the population through terror. This is a reminder to everyone that the leadership isn't to be messed with. Just like that mass murdering butcher, Mao. This is all a lie to preserve a brutal authoritarian government.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Are You Prepared For The Holidays?

Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year’s eve, and New Year’s Day are almost upon us. Are you ready?

Think on this. How well behaved is your dog around family and guests? Will your dog run out the front door? Is your dog dangerous with other animals or with strangers? Will your dog listen to you and your family? And what if you are leaving town… have you made plans for your dog?

It is almost too late to make preparations, unless you really start putting in some effort today. You should be making plans NOW for your dog for this holiday season!

TRAINING NEEDS

First, I know many of you now need a Tune Up for your dog, or you have postponed training altogether. This time of year is one of the worst for animal accidents… dog biting incidents, poisoning on holiday foods, run away dogs, etc. If you have postponed training, you can do private lessons and get most of the training in before everything comes falling down on you. Further, many of you have time off during this season, and now have time to work with your dog. It is much better to be prepared, in advance of guests arriving, than having to deal with a dog emergency.

BOARDING AND EXERCISE NEEDS

If you have a friendly dog, are leaving town, or having guests, I recommend that you enroll your dog at a doggie daycare for the day, or board your dog overnight. For an example of a good doggie daycare, check out Paws To Play (located at 7312 E Thomas Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251; (480) 966-9267; www.PawsToPlay.net ). At a full service doogie daycare, you can expect to be able to purchase all of the following services: doggie daycare, boarding, board and train, private lessons, group lessons, grooming, and dog related products for sale.

Doggie daycare is only for dogs that are friendly with strangers and other dogs. A good doggie daycare offers specialized training for dogs that aren’t sociable, but that has to be resolved before boarding. Holidays can be dangerous times for dogs, and having your dog professionally managed and supervised could actually save your dog’s life. In addition, your dog will come back calmer and more obedient.

Be sure to get what you pay for! At a true"doggie daycare", your dog ISN'T isolated in a kennel most of the day. Your dog will be in supervised play groups, and rotated through a variety of indoor and outdoor play areas, featuring wading pools and playground equipment, throughout the day. The staff will also spend some individual time with each dog, and even address minor behavioral issues for you (the big stuff requires working with a professional trainer). Your dog will come home calmer, happier, and easier to manage. Plus, you can have the peace of mind knowing your dog is being well cared for, and you can sign up to have your dog trained by professionals.


BOARD AND TRAIN

I have a customer who has been out of the country for three weeks. We completed Basic Obedience I a couple of months ago with her two dogs. She then proceeded to do Basic Obedience II, which refines the dog’s skills, especially off leash. After all that effort, she didn’t want to let her dogs get rusty on their obedience work. One dog started out having a biting problem. The other would only listen if you have a piece of food to offer. Today, those dogs are both friendly and obedient. My customer signed up for a Board and Train Program while she has been out of town. So, every day, I have personally trained her two dogs at Paws To Play doggie daycare. I am extremely excited about her coming home this Thursday, because I want to show her how much progress her dogs have made.

For example, we have been working on Tandem Heeling. “Heel” is an obedience command which means for the dog to walk at your left side, and to sit at your left side when you stop, on or off leash. Tandem Heeling is where you teach TWO dogs to walk at your left side, to sit simultaneously at your left side when you stop walking, on or off leash. One of this customer’s original problems was that she found it impossible to take her dogs for a walk. One dog wasn’t good with strangers or other dogs. The other was just so big, strong, friendly, and disrespectful that he’d drag her down the street. That has now been solved, and she’s going to be amazed at how easy these dogs can now be walked together. And we worked on other skills, too.

Board and Train is a good option for people who just don’t have the time to work with their dogs, or for people who are boarding their dogs and want their dogs to come back more obedient, and to ensure their dogs had more activities to do. That’s not to say that doggie daycare isn’t a great thing. But, an untrained dog isn’t any fun to live with. And we can brush up on your dog’s obedience while you are away. Just be sure to check out the place before letting someone train your dog. I have heard of some seriously abusive training programs. You must make sure it is with someone you can trust.

FINAL THOUGHTS

So, please think on this. Set up lessons NOW. And call professionals in your area to set up grooming, doggie daycare, and/or boarding. Get your dog trained, and make sure your dog is in a safe and fun environment while you are enjoying the holidays. Besides, if you do need to leave town, you had better book your reservations now, because if you wait to the last minute, you will probably be out of luck.

Sam Basso