Protecting Your Dog From Bears

"Woman Attacked by Bear While Protecting Dog... a black bear and its two cubs had wandered into her yard and attempted to attack her dog Maggie. The 200-pound female bear chased the dog as it ran towards the house... The bear was euthanized and tested for rabies as a precaution, according to state officials. The cubs were deemed old enough to survive on their own and will be released into another area"

This is normal behavior for a mother bear with cubs. They aren't going to let another predator near them, whether it is your dog... or you.

If you live in bear country, then the responsibility lies with YOU to educate yourself about bear behaviors and take necessary precautions. It isn't the bear's fault for being a bear.

So, now a momma bear is dead and the cubs are being released into the wild earlier than would normally happen.

All wrong. All. Wrong.

Protecting Your Dog From Coyotes

"A Department of Environmental Control official and an animal advocate recommended high fences – not invisible ones. They also said people should haze coyotes – throw rocks and bang pots and pans – to scare them away. CBS 2’s Lou Young reported Tuesday that a coyote den likely has been established in Chappaqua, and its members consider other canines to be competition – and occasionally food. “They’re having they’re pups; they’re getting a little more protective of their territories,” said animal trapper Jim Horton. “You know you leave you little Fluffy out in the yard and they’re going to take advantage.”'

I am amazed how people turn to government to wipe out species when the problem lies with the people. Look, we don't need to kill more coyotes, foxes or wolves. The problem is that if we decide to live near the habitats of wild animals, then we need to practice good supervision and containment of our domesticated animals, including our dogs. In addition, stop putting out "bait" for wild animals... such as food scraps... or unattended dogs.

We either come to terms with nature, or we wipe it out. That's the choice. We don't need more laws, we need more common sense, and we need to understand that nature isn't what we see in a Disney cartoon.

Another Stupid Dog Law

"Quarantine law comes as shock to dog owner"

So, a woman is playing with her dog, and her finger gets nicked by the dog's tooth when they both reach for the fetch toy at the same time. She goes to the doctor, the doctor is obligated by law to report it to the authorities. The authorities then want to put the dog, a very old and friendly dog, in quarantine for 10 days.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

First, most dog bite laws are written by dog hating politicians. So, one bad incident is used to punish millions of innocent dog owners and dogs.

Second, most dog laws have nothing to do with the behavioral and social reality that people face. We need to define what is a health hazard, and when it should be OK for a dog to bite. In this case, the dog isn't vicious, not a danger to society, and the woman's health (and yours) was never at risk.

Politicians pass laws that stay on the books long after they have retired to a nice fat pension, while we pay the price for their stupidity. This is another good example why we need limited government.

Protecting Your Dog In Case Of A Disaster

"Dog Pulled From Rubble A Week After Tornado Hit Moore"

Very few people have plans for what they should do if a disaster hits their community. Even fewer people have plans for protecting their pets in case of a disaster.

In an ideal world, you'd have a special kennel for your pets. Here are some ideas for such a thing: How To Build And Operate A Home Dog Kennel

What would you do if a tornado, flood, earthquake or terror attack caused you to flee your home without your dog? Would your dog survive? Think about it.

And do something about it.

Loose Dogs Attacked Jogger

"Sydney jogger's heart was visible after dog attack"

OMG.

How many times do people have to be told that they MUST contain and control their dogs?

Dog training is more than just teaching your dog a bunch of tricks. A good dog trainer will help you look over your situation and give you suggestions on how to more safely manage your dogs and prevent escapes. I do this kind of thing all the time. The more experience you have with dogs, the more you recognize potential risks that the average person might not notice.

So, go hire a trainer for a lesson where they evaluate your home and situation, and get some professional advice on ways to prevent your dogs from escaping.

It's Not Safe To Leave Dogs Unsupervised

"The thieves stole loaded guns, electronics and beat up her dog Maddie. “They threw cinder blocks and used firewood that was for our fire pit in the backyard to hit our dog,” said Daily. “They could have just shot her and left, but thank God she’s alive.”'

I don't believe it is safe to leave dogs unattended in a back yard. Yes, I know that for some people, that is their best option, but it is also important to understand the risks to you and your dog.

I suggest that every home with a dog have a security system. Get the best system you can afford. If you are really poor, at least have signs, pretending that your place is alarmed and under surveillance. Get involved in a neighborhood watch program. Install cameras and alarms if you can.

Should Stray Dogs Be Put To Death?

"As a result, Flagler County animal control officers are putting residents in that community on notice — wandering dogs could lead to the owner being fined. If an owner can't be determined, the dog will be taken to the kennel. Officers will be patrolling the area daily, Voigt said. After a dog is brought to the shelter, it will be assessed to determine whether it is adoptable. If not, it will be euthanized, she said"

It is one thing to capture a free roaming dog. It is quite another to kill it.

First, shelter evaluations are, on average, not valid representations of the temperament of any dog. The staff aren't qualified to make the assessments, and they are evaluating extremely stressed dogs and expecting them to act like a Disney movie cartoon dog. The evaluators are often not much more qualified to assess temperament than the checkout person at the local pet store.

Second, if the owner can be found, it is irrelevant what the dog's temperament is, provided the dog hasn't been involved in some kind of crime. Give the dog back. Killing the dog is, in my opinion, a taking of property by the government without due process, and unconstitutional. This can and should be challenged in court. It is not clear, in the article, whether dogs with known owners, who want their dogs back, can get them back. That should be spelled out.

The stray dog problem in any city is a problem. Draconian solutions only de-legitimize the efforts of animal control. If the punishment doesn't fit the crime, then it is immoral and will be defied. Innocent dogs will be condemned to death by the government.

I think the government had better re-think what they are doing. Could you live with killing an innocent dog, knowing you are incompetent to make that decision, and knowing that the owner is going to be harmed, as well? Most sane people couldn't kill a dog like that. It won't pass public scrutiny for long.

Dogs Poisoned, Police Investigate

"2 Dogs Being Treated For Antifreeze Poisoning In Fayette Co... she came home to find her dogs unable to move, and she found vomit everywhere"

If I can give a tip to the owner and the police, it would be that these situations usually revolve around some crazy neighbor getting angry about barking dogs. There are goofy people out there that will take the law into their own hands and kill your dog.

I tell people all the time to not leave their dogs unattended in the yard, especially if you have a known nasty neighbor, or if your dogs are known to bark a lot.

Few things make people go mental over a dog more than barking.

Another target are dogs that poop in neighbor's yards. It drives some people nuts. It can also be someone that is a dog hater in general.

Lastly, some people are psychopaths or psychotic, and they will kill dogs.

But, if I was placing a bet, it would be on the guy that hates barking dogs.

I hope these dogs recover, and the person responsible sent to prison for a good long time. I think it is reasonable to figure this was not an accident.

Cougar Kills Dog

"State wildlife officials are searching for a mountain lion that killed a dog in Boise Tuesday, but say it may have already left the area."

At some point, we are going to have to come to a truce with nature, where we accept the risk and responsibility for preserving the wild habitats, and animals that go with them, instead of always going out to kill a wild animal that kills a human or one of our domesticated animals.

I have a real problem with killing wildlife when we choose to put ourselves and our domesticated animals at risk in rural areas. Cougars, wolves, coyotes, lynx, and such are just trying to survive. As we encroach upon their habitats, what else are they to do?

We manage habitats very poorly in this world, here in the US and abroad. That's why we are facing the extinction of so many species of plant and animal.

This is not about eating meat, or hunting. That's a separate topic, and I've addressed that in other articles I've written.

So, unless there is an imminent danger to a human or domesticated animal, then I think we should leave the wild animals alone... and not put temptations in their path... like leaving little fluffy dogs unsupervised in rural communities.

Don't Be Your Own Veterinarian

"Man played at-home vet by stitching up his cut dog with twine and clamping mouth shut with duct tape so it couldn't whine"

This kind of thing happens more often that you might realize. I've been around the dog world for a very long time. I've seen situations about this bad a few times. In every situation, the person had a substance abuse problem, was a cheapskate, and did the surgery themselves because they screwed up and the dog got hurt and didn't want others to find out.

This stuff is felony / prison territory folks. It is better to take the dog to the vet than to have the police take you to jail. And it is cruel to do medical procedures that you are unqualified to perform.

What Kind Of Punishment For Killing Dogs?

"Matthew David Jensen is accused of breaking into three different homes between May 8 and May 9, and in the process, killing the family dogs who were inside of the homes. The dogs allegedly killed by Jensen were either stabbed, strangled or killed by blunt force trauma"

What should be done with folks like this? What kind of punishment, treatment and such should the law require? What do you do with violent offenders?

I have a hard time believing that people that do violent things like this ever change. Look at the crimes here, and tell me how this turns around some day?

Bitten By A Police K9

"'The dog came up on him pretty suddenly, and he did attack the dog," said Sergeant Tim Lewandowski of the Tulsa Police Department. Monroy kicked the dog in the head multiple times, and the dog bit him in the leg. "The dog was doing what the dog is trained to do, to grab hold of him and hold him," Lewandowski told News On 6."

You're an idiot if you try to fight with the police and a K9... you aren't going to win. Just give up. The place to fight the police is in court. If you feel wronged, that's the venue. Otherwise, suffer the consequences.

Los Angeles worst city for dog attacks on mail carriers

"Los Angeles was the worst with 69 attacks, followed by Seattle and San Antonio with 42 each and Chicago with 41. The city with the least attacks was Wichita, Kan., with 20. Tacoma, Wash., had just 21."

Look, I don't want anyone to get bitten by a dog... but 69 dogs in LA, which is one of the biggest cities in the world, with all the problems including gangs and such... isn't that big of a number. I know they are trying to promote National Dog Bite Prevention Week, but this statistic tells the reader just the opposite, that it isn't a problem to worry about.

Dog bites are a problem, and there are better ways of addressing it... supervision, containment, proper medical care, not leaving dogs unsupervised with kids under 10 years of age, socialization, happy and active life for the dog, and completing basic obedience.

Kids up to no good? Drug-sniffing dog now for hire

"If parents ever wondered if their children were using or selling drugs, a local man is starting an unusual business by renting a drug dog."

I have no problem with this. In fact, I think that employers would be the bigger client of this dog owner. Every smart business wants to be drug free.

I like this... a lot.

Can You Identify A Breed Or Mix?

"In a new study that was just released, researcher Victoria Voith once again exposes the challenges of identifying dominant breeds of mixed breed dogs, even by "experts" in the field"

The folly of pit bull breed bans is that there is no reliable way to identify a breed of dog. All you can get are probabilities, and even then, experts can disagree. That is even true of pure bred dogs. Many pure bred dogs are not really pure bred. First off, many breeds have gone extinct and have been recreated in the past 100 years. Second, it isn't unusual for a breeder to slip in a related breed, to bring in some characteristic, and then sell them as pure bred dogs. It happens more frequently than you might imagine.

Can you make a guess? Sure. Should dog bite laws be designed around those guesses? No.

Hat Tip: KC Dog Blog

Either Contain Your Dogs, Or Lose Your Dogs

"A prize one ton bull had to be put down after it was savaged by two American bulldogs"

Look, you know I love dogs. Love all of them. But, with dog ownership comes a lot of responsibility, which includes making sure your dogs don't get loose and harm someone else, some other animal, or someone else's things. This means using proper containment.

Most of my dog training students need to be educated... and reminded... about how to properly supervise and contain their dogs. We go over proper doors, fencing, gates, crates, kennels, procedures, and such. The law is intolerant of escaped dogs, as it should be.

Obey the law, or your dog might end up dead, and you'll be at fault... and possibly also get a big fine, a huge financial judgment, and even time in prison.

Royal Oak To Require $1 Million ‘Dangerous Dog’ Insurance

"Royal Oak is about to unleash new regulations on dog owners. The new rules, which go into effect Thursday, require owners of “dangerous dogs” to carry $1 million in liability insurance, post signs, complete an obedience class with the dog, and keep the dog in a locked, fenced-in area. Owners must also comply with seven pages worth of other requirements to keep their pets in the city."

We have a Constitution. We have the right to own private property, which includes a dog (which is why I oppose current legal efforts to change ownership into guardianship, since that affects what you can and can't do with your dog). Thus, the government can't just put restrictions on the ownership of things without a reasonableness test... and I don't think this is reasonable... and therefore it can be challenged on Constitutional grounds and probably beaten. It is the same as requiring someone to have $1,000,000 in liability insurance to exercise their free speech, to vote, to own a gun, or in case you might decide to own slaves. This fight will cost the city a lot of money. It is effectively a ban on private ownership of dogs, based on a messy, long dog bite law that will have to support this requirement for each and every sentence and clause.

For example, a nip is different than a bite. A provoked bite is different than an accidental bite. A bite from a Chihuahua is different than a bite from a St Bernard. Do all of these require $1 million in insurance and all 7 pages of these other requirements? No way.

See: When Should It Be OK For A Dog To Bite?

How severe is Anchorage's pet poop problem?

"Anchorage has a lot of dogs -- an estimated 74,000 of them, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. And they poop a lot, producing 8 million pounds per year, according to the city department that monitors such things, Anchorage's Animal Care and Control Center"

Isn't it interesting that Alaska is also home to the most wild animals per square mile, but no one is asking to control their poop? Yes, people should be considerate and pick up. But, a lot of this is also usually driven by the squeaky 1% of dog haters out there. Everything in moderation, folks

Don't Abandon Your Dog, It Is A Crime

"Ms. Malliotakis, who's sponsored a number of pet-friendly bills, said folks who can no longer care for pets, for whatever reason, shouldn't leave them to fend for themselves, as Charlie was. They can bring the animals to a veterinarian, no-kill shelter, police or groups such as Anarchy Animal Rescue"

It's shocking the number of dogs that are abandoned by their owners... in the desert, left behind when people move, put in dumpsters, thrown out of cars, and on and on. Laws need to be stiffened for such abuse and cruelty. There are places that will take a dog if you can't keep it.

Otherwise, suffer the consequences. They are committing a crime.

You have to figure those that abandon dogs need some serious prison time. If they are this callous about a helpless dog, then they need some serious punishment.

Animal Rescue Takes Over Former Pet Store Location At Superstition Springs Center

"The idea of a mall location came in the fall when Elek read a story about Superstition Springs Center’s parent company, Macerich, looking to put animal rescue facilities in former pet store spots. It took months of contact and work, Elek said, but in March, Pawtique had its “soft” opening. Since then, the facility has averaged about one adoption a day. The Pawtique only carries cats and small dogs, but Panacea takes in dogs and cats of all sizes."

I think this will be a new trend in animal welfare. Think about it. If a pet store can sell puppy mill dogs for $3000, why can't a rescue "sell" dogs for $300? Of course they can, and people will buy. And they will also buy supplies to support their efforts, which will bring in even more revenue for the rescue operation. Shopping mall operators could also use these stores to generate additional traffic to help support their other tenants. So, it is a win for everyone. This is one idea that you should be studying if you are into animal rescue.