Fat Free Dog Food?

A direct mail campaign to launch a fat-free dog treat helped sell 3,500 units in the first three days of availability, Pet Ecology Brands Inc. said yesterday.

I have some serious problems with the sale of fat free dog foods. Dogs are carnivores, and need diets much different than humans. This kind of diet might be a fad that could kill your dog. I wouldn’t feed this to my dog without a veterinarian’s specific recommendation.

A Bunch Of Stupid Rules

Dogs that attack other animals, chase children or bite neighbors must now be sterilized, implanted with microchips and confined in cages with warning signs.

But soon, punishment for bad dogs in Manatee County may also include public humiliation for the animals and their owners.

The county plans to post the names, pictures and home addresses of dangerous dogs online, much like the state's sex offender registry.

The dog hating wackos out there are just going too far. Normal dogs will attack other animals, and that doesn’t make them vicious or dangerous. Dogs that bite neighbors won’t become safe in public just by neutering or spaying them… it won’t fix the problems at all. And dogs that chase children aren’t necessarily dangerous… they might just be playing or curious, or the kids are initiating the game.

This garbage has to stop.

Handler Error Kills Police K9

An 8-year-old German shepherd who had worked for Puyallup police for seven years was killed in the line of duty when he was hit by a car while tracking a man who fled from an interrupted burglary.

Even police officers make mistakes with their dogs. Citizens aren’t the only ones who do dumb things with their dogs.

Who Is Watching Your Dog?

Here are two examples of the same problem… leaving your dog with someone else…

First, there is the Governor of Washington State:

Gov. Christine Gregoire's tiny dog Franz, a "first dog" so popular with schoolchildren and state capital visitors that he had his own Web page, wine label and trading cards, died Monday after he was hit by a car.

Franz, a powder puff of a Pomeranian who was a Valentine's Day gift 10 years ago from Christine and Mike Gregoire to their daughters, darted in front of a car and was struck.

The pet was rushed to the vet, but could not be saved, Gregoire spokeswoman Holly Armstrong said. The pet was in the care of unidentified Gregoire family friends at their home in Olympia while the first family was in Michigan for the Super Bowl.

Then, one of my favorite musicians:

B.B. King's dog, Lucille, has disappeared, and the legendary bluesman is offering an autographed copy of one of his signature "Lucille" guitars in an effort to get her back.

The 2-year-old white female Maltese, named after King's signature guitar, went missing about 10 days ago in West Hollywood while she was under the care of his co-manager, Matthew Lieberman.

"We're not sure how she got out of the yard, perhaps a gate was ajar," Lieberman said in a statement Monday.

For some dogs, it is better to have them stay at a professional kennel than with friends. Friends just won’t be as aware or diligent with your pet as they need to be. They won’t realize the dog is an escape artist, and they just won’t be as vigilant, or have the same level of containment in their yard, as you would at home. This isn’t always true, but with some dogs, and some pet sitters, it is.

Being A Winner Instead Of A Loser

Here's the truth: Super Bowl XL was about the Seahawks. It was about their blunders, their bad breaks, their inability to win a game that should have belonged to them but instead will go down as Pittsburgh 21, Seattle 10.

"[The Steelers] played well," Seattle receiver Bobby Engram said. "You have to give them credit. But I don't think we played up to our full potential."

What an awful admission to have to make. On the biggest stage American sports can offer, a moment the city of Seattle had waited 30 years to embrace, they didn't do their best.

If you look at the game itself, that was the story.

I no longer take sides with losers. I don’t know why we are raised to sympathize with losers. It is one thing to be a winner, even if no one else yet recognizes it, and to prove it against all odds. That is siding with a winner. It is another thing, however, to be a loser or to side with a loser. A Loser Mentality can destroy your life.

Thus, if you want a successful life: you don’t buy stock from a company that is a loser. You don’t model your life after a person who is a loser. You don’t live in a town, state or country that is a loser. You don’t hang around a bunch of losers as friends and advisors. You don’t follow a political philosophy that is a loser, such as communism or fascism. And you don’t pick people to teach you or your kids who are losers. Losers only know how to lose, and life is just too short to allow yourself to become a loser, too.

Winners know how to win and they want to win; and they have the determination and vision to succeed. They do things well on purpose, they take the effort to make wise decisions, they take their setbacks and make a plan to overcome them by ingenuity and by force, associate with good people, don’t spend money foolishly, and they like to hang around winners.

I often see this Loser Mentality when people pick a dog as a pet. They pick the most fearful and pitiful puppy from a litter, buy from the worst “breeder” they can find, or adopt the most dysfunctional dog from a shelter. In other words, they bring trouble into their homes and into their lives. I’ve even seen this with dog rescue volunteers and animal rescue shelters, who bring dangerous dogs into their rescue organization, and adopt them out to unsuspecting novice dog lovers. They bring trouble to other people’s lives trying to save every dog. Not every dog can be saved. Some are vicious and should not be sold or adopted as pets.

Start being a winner. I made that choice nearly a decade ago, and it made a big difference in my life.

Superbowl Sunday

Today is Superbowl Sunday! Which team do you think will win? Having lived in Seattle for so many years (and now residing in Phoenix as my new home), and knowing Seattle sports… I figure that the Seahawks are going to lose.

Seattle builds some great rookie teams, then, when they are at the precipice of greatness, they choke! It is a confidence thing. You have to see yourself as a winner to be a winner. It is a psychological thing. I know the city like the back of my hand, and I have developed a phrase that sums up the region: What Seattle giveth, Seattle taketh away. It is a boom and bust town; it is torn politically between wacko far Left and rock center conservatism, with the Left in the majority; it is a corrupt town in its own way, even though that isn’t evident to the outsider; it is a town that wants to be great, but doesn’t want to pay the price or do the logical things to be great. And the rain has its own effect on the town, too, which is why it is a tech center… what else do you do when it rains a lot, your job is in jeopardy, and the economy could go bust on you in a year or two? You read, you innovate, you start new businesses, and when you get rich, you either try to run the town or you leave for sunnier places. It is a place where you can love the scenery, but tire of how the wacko Left is ruining the place.

Even so, some individual team members will have proven they are great, the Seattle team can no longer afford to keep them, and next year, the whole team will be up for sale. Remember what happened with the Mariners and Ken Griffey, Jr, and the rest of that team? That’s just the way things work in Seattle. It just isn’t a winner, which is why I had to move. They are always the bride left at the altar.

But, then again, I could be wrong. The Seahawks looked great 2 weeks ago when they completely demoralized the Panthers. And 30 years ago, the Sonics were great for a season or so. My bet is that the Steelers win.

I’m going to a catered party for the game. I was invited by a past customer.

Which made me think about writing all of this…

Have you made preparations for the safety of your dog and your guests during the festivities?

Here are some thoughts:

Dogs and alcohol don’t mix well. Some people over consume during games, and then they will do dangerous things with or to your dog. Put the dog away.

Dogs and kids SHOULD NOT be left unsupervised!!! Read my earlier posts on this topic over the past week. Put the dog away! And give the kids activities to do that don’t involve the dog. If the kids are together… NO CHASE GAMES, NO WRESTLING WITH THE DOG, NO ATTACK GAMES, NO KISSING ON THE FACE OF THE DOG, NO GRABBING THE DOG BY THE TAIL OR FACE, NO HITTING, DON’T FEED THE DOG ANYTHING, DON’T BOTHER THE DOG WHILE IT IS SLEEPING OR PLAYING WITH A CHEW TOY OR EATING, AND DON’T PLAY WITH THE DOG IF AN ADULT ISN’T PRESENT.

Some snacks are poisonous to your dog, such as raisins, grapes, and anything chocolate. And some snacks are dangerous, such as anything with bones (like hot wings). Bones can choke and kill your dog.

If guests bring their dogs, too… make sure the dogs are getting along. Not all dogs get along and you don’t want a dog fight. Have each dog dragging a 2 foot leash so you can pull them apart if a fight ensues. Take off all metal collars and have the leashes attached to nylon buckle collars. Strange dogs (dogs that don’t live together) should not be left to play unsupervised.

Watch the front door, with guests coming and going. Your dog could run out and get hit by a car. Have your dog dragging a leash during the party so you can step on it if the dog tries to scoot out the door. Make sure your dog is wearing a buckle collar with identifying tags, in case your dog runs away.

Warn guests concerning your dog and your rules for your dog. YOU should do any correcting, not the guests. They will do it wrong, and might even provoke a biting incident.

Exercise your dog before the game with a good long walk or game of fetch. A tired dog is going to be much less hassle during the game. Similarly, you might want to put up some baby gates to keep the dog in a certain room during the game to prevent escape.

Your dog still needs to potty today! Who is going to be minding the dog to make sure the dog gets outside to poop and pee?

I’m sure there is more… but that’s enough for now.

Enjoy the game!

Dog Survives Fatal Crash

A dog was injured Thursday night in a fatal car crash that closed a major interstate for hours.

Officials at Medvet Medical Center for pets said the golden retriever is in the intensive care unit after undergoing surgery, NBC 4's Erin Tate reported.

Police believe the driver, 27-year-old Jason Kindell, fell asleep at the wheel of his car, veered off the road and hit several trees. He was pronounced dead at Riverside Methodist Hospital.

Another reason to be a safe driver.

More Animal Rights Silliness

Former French film star turned animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot slammed Romania on Saturday for culling stray dogs after a Japanese man was bitten to death in Bucharest. The capital's mayor Adriean Videanu announced immediately after the incident last Sunday that the time stray dogs could be kept in shelters before being put down would be shortened. Dozens of people are bitten daily. Bucharest residents are split, some advocating culling and others feeding the stray dogs on the streets and building makeshift shelters for them.

The 100,000 stray dogs in the capital are considered a legacy of former communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu's decision to demolish many houses in the 1980s. Dogs were abandoned by people rehoused in small flats.

Another silly cause by an animal rights wacko. These aren’t pet dogs. They are feral dogs… wild and dangerous. They cannot be made into pets once feral.

Man Tries To Drown Dog

A man has been accused of tying a 28.35kg concrete block to his dog and throwing the animal into a local canal. The dog survived.

Madison county prosecutors charged Guadalupe Perez Varela, 25, on Tuesday with one count of animal torture, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

Authorities said police were called on Sunday after someone saw Varela abusing the dog, which appeared to be a blue heeler mix about one to two years old. When officers found Varela, he took them to the animal. The dog's head was above water when it was found, but it couldn't move because it was tied to the block, authorities said.

How could you do this to a dog?

Dogs And Toddlers... Again!

A TODDLER has had the back of her scalp ripped off in a dog attack.

Chloe Argue may be left permanently bald following the attack at her grandmother's farm in Numurkah.

The two-year-old was playing with a border collie in the backyard on Friday afternoon when the dog struck.

"They were laying on the little dog bed together," her mother, Jennifer Argue, said.

"And all of a sudden he turned on her.

"I was in the kitchen with my mum and sister and I heard her scream 'mum' and raced out.

"When I grabbed her, the dog had her pinned to the ground, face down, and had ripped a section of her scalp with her skull showing.

Again… I repeat myself… KIDS AND DOGS SHOULD NOT BE LEFT ALONE UNSUPERVISED!!!

Toddler Killed By Dog

A TODDLER has died after her pet dog crept into her room and mauled her in the middle of the night.

The girl, aged 22 months, was found by her father about 4am and died in hospital three hours later, police said.

The attack happened at Bunyip, on Melbourne's south-eastern fringe.

“The family pet, a dingo-labrador cross, has pushed its way into the house in the night and gone into the child's bedroom,” Sen-Constable Darren Petrie said.

He said the attack happened sometime after 2.30am.

The dog was destroyed yesterday, he said.

The girl was one of four children.

She leaves behind two older sisters and a brother, 5 months, he said.

Dogs should NEVER be allowed into an infant’s bedroom.

This is also why I don't advocate owning wild / domestic dog mixes. They are not safe as pets with kids.

More Wacko Legislation... Another Sign LA Is Broken

Following the lead of San Francisco and San Jose, Los Angeles County supervisors on Tuesday asked the county counsel to draw up an ordinance that would require spaying and neutering of many pit bulls and Rottweilers.

As in other communities, several animal activists opposed the requirement. But Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, who offered the motion, cited a recent pit bull attack on a 11-month-old girl to argue it was necessary. The county intends to exempt professional breeders.

This is ridiculous legislation. I would move out of LA for this if I had a dog. Your dog will be next.

Kid Bitten In Face By Police Dog

A police dog brought into a classroom for a demonstration of its drug-sniffing skills bit a sixth-grader in the face as she and classmates were petting it.

The girl, whose name was not released, was not seriously injured in Monday's attack. A school nurse cleaned her wound, and the girl was treated at a hospital and released.

Dave Rarick, a spokesman for the New Albany-Floyd County school system, said the dog apparently became "spooked" during the classroom demonstration at Hazelwood Middle School.

New Albany Police Chief Merle Harl said that when the students were leaving, one child asked to pet the dog. The officer handling the dog said the student could. But then a group of children ran at the dog, which bit the girl.

"It was not the dog's fault. I guess the dog got scared, and if not scared, at least uncomfortable," Harl said.

I am not a big believer in having kids pet strange dogs. I avoid those situations with my dogs, and I think you take an unnecessary risk doing this with your adult dogs. Puppies and young dogs need to be socialized with kids, but adult dogs don’t.

Morons Run Detroit

Twelve-year-old Edward Leonard lies awake some nights, his grandfather says, haunted by flashbacks from the day a pit bull chased him down and attacked him on the street near his Detroit home, breaking his left arm and tearing into his body. Edward, then 9, was lucky to survive.

In April, a Hamtramck family lost its 6-year-old daughter after she was mauled to death by two pit bull terriers. In May, an Alaskan malamute and a husky fatally mauled a 2-year-old in Waterford. In December, a 91-year-old Detroit woman was killed by her bull mastiff.

With thousands of dangerous and unlicensed dogs in Detroit causing an average of 1,000 reported bites a year and a rash of recent Metro Detroit attacks, the Detroit City Council is considering joining Denver, Des Moines and the Canadian province of Ontario, among a host of other places, in banning or severely restricting ownership of a dangerous type -- the pit bull.

OK, tell me how this makes logical sense. This article says that people have been killed by pit bull terriers, a Malamute, and a bull mastiff… so they are going to ban pit bulls in Detroit to solve the problem of dangerous dogs.

No wonder Detroit is known as one of the most mismanaged and corrupt cities in the nation. They can’t even get something as simple as this right.

Man Starves Daughter's Dog To Death

A Northport man has been arrested for starving his daughter's dog to death, Suffolk County police said.

On January 28, police and Suffolk County SPCA officers responded to a complaint of a dead dog at 2 Fox Hollow Ridings Court in Northport and found the emaciated remains of a Labrador Retriever/Pit Bull mix which had been purchased from the Brookhaven Animal Shelter a year earlier.

The animal was in a cage in the apartment and had not been given food, water or medical attention for a prolonged period of time prior to its death, police said.

If convicted, this loser would get only 2 years in prison. That’s just not enough time.

Cultural Differences

Being called a dog is one of the worst insults in Africa where people generally do not keep dogs as pets.

It is always interesting to see how different cultures view dogs. I had a customer, years ago, who was from Congo. His fiancé had a dog, and it was quite an adjustment for him to have a dog in the home. He told me that in his country, people moved to the city to get away from the animals.

The Dangers Of Feral Dogs & Other Wild Predators

A stray dog killed a Japanese man in Romania's capital Bucharest on Sunday when it bit into a vital artery in his leg, police said. "When we tried to solve the stray dogs problem in the past, we were held back by sensitive people who love animals. Now, look what happens," Bucharest deputy mayor Razvan Murgeanu told private TV station Realitatea.

International animal rights activists, including former French sex symbol Brigitte Bardot, stymied a planned dog cull in 2001 by running public campaigns which accused Romania of animal cruelty.

"I'm sorry to say this, because I also have a dog at home, but the only way to prevent this kind of events is to take a radical measure of exterminating stray dogs," Murgeanu said.

Here is another example of the failure of the animal rights wackos. Feral dogs aren’t the same fuzzy wuzzy creatures we have in our living rooms. They are wild animals, which can run in packs, and can be lethal.

In some parts of the southeastern USA, American Bulldogs and pit bulls have been used for years to control (kill) feral dogs that roam the countryside. These feral dogs are dangerous, and cannot be treated as pet dogs.

Similarly, ranchers use packs of specially bred sighthounds to kill coyotes, and they use flock guardians to control wolves. In South America, they used packs of hounds to hunt jaguars and then sent in catch dogs to attack them. I have no problem with predator control using dogs. But, then again, I’m not an animal rights wacko, either.

Another Important Dog Lesson

"The incident serves to remind people that unsupervised dogs off the lead can fight if they confront each other and there is a likely chance that someone will get bitten trying to intervene. Owners need to have control to call them back."

Interesting article, worth reading. Two dog owners let their dogs off leash to run, the dogs encountered one another and a fight ensued. One owner reached into the fight, and was bitten, possibly by her own dog… stupid, stupid, stupid…

They Are Worth It!

The top selling stock dog Friday was Maude, who brought $15,500 at the Red Bluff Livestock Dog Sale held in the Don Smith Pavilion at the Tehama District Fairground.

Maude was consigned by Craig Eddins of Menan, Idaho, and will find a new home in Colorado. The lowest price for one of the 23 highly trained stock dogs was $2,000.

The dog sale was part of the action at the Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale, the largest livestock event west of the Rockies.

Trained, and well bred dogs, can sell for a lot of money. I know of a dog owner who was offered $100,000 for her show dog. And I have heard of other dogs, from other fields, selling for as much as a half million dollars.

Greyhounds & Drugs

Sports Minister John O’Donoghue tonight demanded an urgent report from Bord na gCon into the sacking of its chief executive amid a row over the doping of greyhounds.

Aidan Tynan was dismissed following a bitter dispute with the chairman of the body, Paschal Taggart, over whether drugs offences should be publicised. The banned substance erythropoietin EPO is better known for doping scandals involving cyclists in the Tour de France. An effective but dangerous stimulant EPO enhances the body’s ability to produce red blood cells.

Another reason I hate professional greyhound racing. These dogs are not pets but commodities. That’s not good for any dog. Have you EVER seen a greyhound puppy? Ask yourself why sometime…. it is because the pups that don’t show racing potential are put down and the rest are raced for money, and then discarded when their careers are over. No dog deserves that.

Pit Fighting Operation Busted

Sheriff's deputies found 136 malnourished dogs on the property of a Mulberry man Thursday, along with evidence that the dogs had been abused and trained to fight.

What deputies did not find anywhere on the property was a single morsel of dog food, Polk County Sheriff's Capt. Dennis Russell said. Many of the dogs, which were confined in cages or chained to stakes, did not have water available to them either.

An initial check of the dogs found 13 in such bad shape that they will be euthanized and that most of the dogs were pit bulls, sheriff's officials said.

Hewitt Grant, 38, of 2335 Pump Road, was charged with one felony count of maintaining and owning equipment and dogs for baiting or fighting and 10 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. A veterinarian was on the property Thursday night checking the animals one by one, and more charges could be filed, sheriff's spokeswoman Carrie Rodgers said.

Grant was using what the Sheriff's Office called "cat mills" to train the dogs to be aggressive, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. The cat mills are devices in which a live animal is placed just out of reach of a chained dog to train the dog to be aggressive. Two cat mills with the remains of small animals were found on the property, deputies said.

This sick jerk needs hard time in jail… for about 10 years.

PETCO Dog Attack Not The Fault Of The Store

Diane Christian knows how her daughter loves dogs. So when she saw little Danielle patting a friendly looking rottweiler in PETCO Monday afternoon, she thought nothing of it.

Then she heard a horrible sound -- a growl and the snapping of teeth -- and looked down to see 5-year-old Danielle's face covered in blood.

"It was very traumatic," said Christian, 41, of Bay Shore. "I picked her up and started running around, looking for someone to help. There was a lot of blood."

After a four-hour surgery to reattach her upper lip, Danielle is still recovering at Southside Hospital in Bay Shore. And Christian said more surgeries lie ahead.

"My child will never look the same because of this," she said.

The rottweiler was not on sale at the Bay Shore PETCO; it belonged to a shopper. PETCO has a policy of inviting animals to shop with their owners, a company spokesman said.

But Christian said letting pets interact with customers invites trouble. She's retained a lawyer, Kenneth Mollins of Melville, and plans to take legal action against the dog's owner and/or PETCO, possibly as early as today.

I don’t blame PETCO for this tragedy. This is the fault of the dog owner, who brought a dog into a public place that wasn’t good with kids. This is also NOT a Rottweiler problem. This could have happened with any breed of dog. I have seen many dogs, comprising a wide variety of breeds, that just weren’t safe with kids, and would bite them if the kids got too close.

Hog Dog Blood Sport Is Illegal

Most people have heard of cockfighting, dog fighting and bullfighting.

And, now, still another entry into the illegal world of blood sports apparently has come to south-central Florida: hog-dog fighting.

It's pit bulls or bulldogs versus wild boars.

And when it's a teethversus-tusk bloodbath, seldom do the pigs ever defeat the dogs.

Hog-dog fights typically match a pit bull terrier or bulldog against a wild boar in a rectangular, 25- by 25-foot outdoor ring, bound by wooden posts, for 60-second bouts.

The object is to see how fast the dog can catch the pig as it runs for its life. The dog usually snares the pig within seconds.

The dog stops the pig by clamping its jaws against its snout, ears or testicles. The animals then are pried apart with a metal bar. If the pig survives, it's returned to the ring for another fight. If the pig collapses, it's left to die.

The three dogs with the best times are declared the winners, with their owners -- in this case -- splitting a cash pool of about $10,000.

Hog-dog fighting is a violation of animal cruelty laws and is illegal in the United States.

I am not against using dogs to hunt for boars. But, I am against this blood sport. This is just a way to torture a pig. True, humane hunters never torture their prey, they kill it fast and eat it.

Los Angeles Pit Bull & Rottweiler Ban?

LOS ANGELES A recent report of a pit bull attack on an 11-month-old Palmdale girl prompted Supervisor Mike Antonovich to ask officials to begin drafting an ordinance to regulate the breeding of pit bulls and rottweilers.

Are you going to fight this, or let this happen? Ever since the Governor enacted some terrible dog legislation, I have been waiting for dog bans to be enacted all across California. Now the tragedy begins.

Dog Strangles Kid

Police said the 40-pound girl had been playing in her backyard with her 18-month-old, 70-pound golden retriever, Jessy. Kaitlyn was wearing a scarf around her neck to keep warm.

"The dog apparently grabbed the scarf that was around the child's neck, dragged her around the backyard for a period of time and asphyxiated her in the process," said Suffolk County Police Detective Lt. Jack Fitzpatrick.

The grieving family could not bear to keep the pooch and turned him over to the Brookhaven Animal Shelter. "The family has informed the animal shelter that they don't wish to bring the dog back into the house," Brookhaven Deputy Town Supervisor Mark Grossman said.

How many times does it have to be repeated? Dogs and kids should NOT be left alone unsupervised.

Hang 'Em High

A 40-year-old Covington man could face animal cruelty charges today for brutally beating the family dog with a golf club during a drunken tirade, police said.

After the putter snapped, the man proceeded to use half the club as a sword, stabbing the black Labrador several times early Sunday morning, police said.

The terrified pet retreated to its kennel, but the enraged man followed the dog, then wailed away at the cage, police said.

Not until the man's 21-year-old daughter used her own body to shield the dog and shouted, ``Just stop, stop,'' did the man show any mercy, police said.

Parents. Have you no shame? I have personal experience dealing with a drunken parent, and having to stand him down during another drunken tirade. You hate them for what they have done. This guy needs some serious jail time… with hard labor. Unless the jail time is hard with these habitual criminals, they come out stronger, thinking they can “handle it”.

Negligent Parents, Negligent Dog Owner

A woman called me yesterday because her dog was on death row for biting a child. The dog, a 9 year old Akita, was put in a room while visitors came over. Two children, 4 and 5 years old, went into the room, unsupervised. The adults heard the dog growling, went in, and found the dog on top of the 4 year old, holding the child by the neck. The child was injured with puncture wounds to the neck.

There was nothing I could do. This would be considered an unprovoked attack. She couldn’t provide me with any justification for the biting incident.

In this type of case, the dog will be put down. The owner of the dog will, most likely be sued for the medical bills and for pain and suffering. And the parents of the kid, though negligent in their supervision, won’t get any kind of punishment (even though they are 50% at fault). If this dog owner has to serve any jail time, then I think these parents should serve just as much time.

Lessons:

Parents: Supervise your kids!!!!

Dog Owners: Dogs and kids can’t be trusted unsupervised. The dog should have been in a locked room.

Lawmakers: Start holding parents liable for negligence in these types of dog bite cases.

Keeping Dogs As Trophies

Keeping dogs as pets is an expensive hobby, and if these dogs belong to some of the top breeds, the hobby calls for really deep pockets. But, this does not seem to be dithering Punjabis, who have money, space to accommodate the best dogs in the world, and a never dying love for pets.

Harchand Singh is one of several such people, who have a love for dogs. And not just a solitary dog of some high pedigree, but, several German Shepherds some Great Danes and even Labradors.

"Keeping dogs is a childhood hobby. I used to go to dog shows as a child. Since then I have developed a hobby for keeping dogs. I have six German Shepherds, two Great Danes. For the German Shepherds, I give them a daily diet of 300 grams of food in the morning and the evening, and for the Great Danes, it is 600 grams in the morning and the evening," said Harchand.

In Punjab, thousands of people like Harchand own multiple high-breed dogs as a matter of hobby. Pups of these super breeds start from somewhere in the vicinity of 25 thousand rupees and go up to a staggering 50 thousand rupees. But that does not bother these enterprising Punjabis, who are not just spending on dogs but are also keeping in their vast premises pets like Cocks, pigeons, turkeys and the like.

Keeping dogs as as trophies, instead of as pets, is a formula for disaster. Hopefully, these owners spend quality time with their dogs, and don't just own them for bragging rights.

A Dangerous Dog?

I WAS knocked over by a dog as it ran for a ball while on holiday in England. I ended up in hospital for two weeks with head injuries. I have a witness. Can I sue the dog owner?

TO succeed, you have to show the owner could and should have foreseen the accident. You should consult an English lawyer because English law will apply. The Law Society of England and Wales will recommend one.

Many cities would consider such a dog a "dangerous" dog... and the dog would be at risk of being put to death if it happened twice. Such a case happened in Seattle a few years ago with a Great Dane. The dog was just being playful... and ended up on Death Row.

This is why we have to fight for fair dog laws. Such a dog doesn't deserve death.

Horrifying Puppy Mill

Appalling scenes greeted USPCA officers during a raid on one of the "WORST" puppy farms ever discovered in Northern Ireland.

The shocking images - now in the possession of police - graphically show a horrifying catalogue of abuse and cruelty at an illegal breeding operation in Katesbridge, Co Down.

Our exclusive pictures show how:

• Calves and lambs were fed to starving Boxers, Rottweilers and Westies.

• Dogs were fed dead RATS.

• Various dog breeds lived in concrete pits and sub-zero conditions.

• Lamb and calf carcasses had been left to rot.

• A dead Boxer had been left on a path.

Other images show how dogs were suffering from malnourishment, how they had no bedding and were penned in by breeze-blocks.

It was also discovered that at least six Westie pups were held in tiny make-shift dens, made from wooden doors.

China's Pet Market Still Small, But Growing

Compared with the well-established European Union and United States markets, China is still small in size and scale. The sale of pets and pet-related products in the United States reached US$34 billion in 2004, about 45 times more than the Chinese mainland market.

Lu Di, a professor with the China Small Animal Protection Association (CSAPA), was quoted by China Times, a Beijing-based newspaper, as saying that the Chinese national capital is in short supply of professional pet lodging centers. The professor called for more investment in this field.

China Pet and Petstuff Development and Service Center (CPSC), the first regulatory body of the country's pet and pet-related products industry, was founded by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, in a bid to boost the market and to lead the industry along a healthy development track.

A Dog Isn't Enough Protection

A dog was shot during a home burglary prompting police to warn residents about armed suspects.

"We are very concerned that we have firearms being taken to the scene," said Essex Police Detective Edward Piro. "That is not typical."

Enjoy Your Dog Today

Well, I’m just about to head out to train a ton of dogs. Maybe today would be a good day for you to take your dog somewhere fun, brush up on your lessons, and then just hang out for a while. I still miss my dog, Dillon, terribly. He died 3 weeks ago, and I still am having flashbacks of him dying in front of me. I will get another dog by the end of this year, but it isn’t any fun being dogless. Appreciate the dog you have, because one day, your dog will be gone, and you’re going to miss them, too.

A Horrible Death

A $1,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the conviction of the individual or persons responsible for chaining a dog to two breeze blocks and throwing it off a cliff into the sea.

It is thought to be the first time the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has offered a reward to track down the perpetuator of cruelty to an animal.

Members of the public sickened by the manner of the pit bull's death have also come forward offering donations towards the reward fund.

A young, red-tan coloured pit bull drowned after it was thrown from a 50ft cliff into the sea near Admiralty House Park, Pembroke, last week having earlier escaped from the owner's property in Mary Victoria Road, Devonshire.

Is this sick, or what? Who could do that to a dog?

Vigilante Justice?

A SPATE of late-night raids by pet owners rescuing their dogs from behind bars has forced a council to upgrade security at its pound.

The culprits have cut through locks and steel walls at the Warwick Shire Council pound to liberate more than 20 impounded dogs in the past 12 months

You’ll see this kind of thing when the dog laws are completely unfair. I would suspect if you examined these cases, you’d find that to be true. People will fight injustice. Note, these weren’t fighting dogs being sprung loose… these were other breeds. A strong clue that this is about a bad dog law and a bad animal control operation. I've seen dogs on death row, living in a kennel for years and years, while the case snails it's way through the court system... until the dog dies of old age in the shelter... In one case, it was clear the dog was probably innocent, but animal control didn't want to relent, because it would have been a loss of face, so they kept the dog there until it died in custody. I don't justify the acts of those breaking the law, but I also don't condone the way many animal control operations abuse their positions of power. Both are wrong.

Vermont In The Grips Of An Animal Rights Campaign

The Vermont Legislature has gone to the dogs.

Lawmakers on Friday took testimony about two different bills that protect the health and welfare of pets.

One proposal outlaws the cropping of a dog's ears, while the other establishes licensing and enforcement protocols designed to shut down "puppy mills" that breed deformed and sick animals which are often dumped at animal shelters to die.

Both bills are controversial.

The puppy-mill proposal requires anyone who sells a dog or cat — including a family whose pet has a one-time litter — to be licensed and pay a per-animal tax. The ear-cropping legislation would make Vermont the first state to ban licensed veterinarians from performing cosmetic surgeries they have done for years.

This is driven by animal rights wackos. This is also why you need to vote for pro-dog legislators. Seemingly benign legislation has a sinister undertone… to completely get rid of dog breeding and ownership.

Only 7 Months?

A 41-year-old man was sentenced to seven months in San Mateo County jail today for killing his friend's dog with an ax while he was pet sitting.

Seven months is too good for this loser.

Waste Site Blamed For Dog Deaths

A closed waste site once described as a "timebomb" could be the cause of mysterious dog deaths and illnesses on a north Suffolk beach, it has been claimed.

The Gisleham waste site is close to the cliffs and beach at Pakefield, near Lowestoft, where dozens of local people regularly walk their dogs.

Recently, several pet owners have claimed their animals have been "poisoned" and died or been ill after walking along the coastline, although there has been no conclusive explanation.

I am ALWAYS careful where I take my dogs for walks or to play. I remember one of my dogs that was burned on his stomach my some unknown chemicals that had been spayed on a school yard.

Dog Takes Responsibility Over Flock

Six rare sheep, irreplaceable guitars and a lifetime of memories were destroyed Thursday in an early-morning barn fire a mile northeast of Carnation. Eleven fire units from Eastside Fire & Rescue, Fall City, Duvall and Redmond responded to the blaze that was first seen about 4:30 a.m. by a motorist driving along Highway 203.

Homeowner Diane Pagel credits their Great Pyrenees guard dog, Kodiak, with saving most of her purebred flock. She had initially thought she had lost as many as 20 sheep.

"Sheep will go to where it is safe, and for them, that was the barn," she said. "But apparently Kodiak got them out. He was the last one out of the barn because hair has been burned on his back legs and back."

Amazing. This is what a good dog is all about.

Dog Leaps Off Bridge, Dog & Driver Die

One moment, William Jetchick noticed something out of the corner of his eye as he rode down Interstate 96 with his father -- a shadow, perhaps.

"Then there was a BOOM and the window crashed in," said Jetchick, 55, of Westland. "I was very startled. I looked at my dad, and his eyes were closed. He was moaning and nearly unconscious."

A 70-pound black Labrador retriever, apparently chased by children trying to return it to its backyard, jumped off the overpass and landed on the windshield of the Jetchicks' 1994 Ford Thunderbird, police say. Charles Jetchick, 81, the driver, died Wednesday of injuries sustained in the accident.

A good reason to take your dog all the way through obedience training. And why kids should be a part of the training.

Also, it is WRONG to chase a dog when it is running away from you. It will just keep running, even into traffic.

Wheeling, West Virginia Enacts Breed Ban

Wheeling City Council voted last night to approve a highly debated ordinance that would place restrictions on certain breeds of dogs.

Despite opposition from numerous pet owners, the ordinance was passed to place some control on "vicious" dog breeds, mainly Pitt Bulls. Several council members expressed concern and the need for further debate on the issue.

Several groups spoke out against the ordinance, including the St. Clairsville Kennel Club, which says the law is discriminatory.

The ordinance will go into effect on April 1. Fines will be assessed to anyone who does not register a vicious dog with the city.

Tail Docking Ban A Tool Of The Animal Rights Wackos

THE world of country sports is furious at a U-turn by the Government to bring in a total ban on the tail docking of dogs.

Ben Bradshaw, the Animal Welfare Minister, announced the decision yesterday during the committee stage in Parliament of the Animal Welfare Bill. He offered no exemptions for working dogs, such as gun dogs or police and Customs dogs, or for a vet to authorise tail docking under certain conditions. The breeds most affected are cocker and springer spaniels, terriers and German short-haired and wire-haired pointers.

This isn’t about animal welfare. This is about a wacko animal rights agenda, and an anti-gun movement in Europe. Tail docking does NOT harm a dog if done properly.

Greenies

Greenies have come under fire from consumers and some veterinarians, many of whom say they have performed surgery on dogs — including some who didn't survive — to remove chunks of the treat from the esophagus and digestive tract.

I’ll tell you this… I won’t feed them to my dog, that’s for sure.

What Is Fair?

Is it fair to blame the dogs for their owners' lack of responsibility? Maybe not, but leaving the public at risk from a known danger should not be an option.

Good question. And obvious answer.

No, it isn’t fair to blame the dogs. And, yes, the risk to the public has to be taken into account by removing the dogs from the present owners and giving them to responsible people to raise.

Who Is Running A Pit Fighting Ring?

Some community members in the Oshkosh area put together a $3,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for a dog fighting ring in the Town of Black Wolf.

The reward was organized after a pit bull terrier was found severely wounded over the weekend. The dog, which was named Sophie by humane society workers, had to be put down as a result of her injuries.

Officers say Sophie was used as a bait dog for training other fighting dogs.

Hey, all you losers who are into pit fighting… could you do this to your dog? Could you do this to anyone’s dog? If so, you are sick in the head.

This Isn't The Dog's Fault

The condition of a 3-year-old Spotsylvania County boy mauled by a neighbor's Rottweiler improved to serious yesterday, one week after the attack left the child critically injured.

Meanwhile, Spotsylvania Sheriff Howard Smith said authorities wrapped up their investigation and no criminal charges will be filed in the case.

Last week, Spotsylvania Commonwealth's Attorney William F. Neely said investigators had found no basis for a neglect charge against Dakota Murphy's father, who apparently lost track of the boy.

The father told authorities he had last seen his son asleep in an upstairs bedroom the afternoon of Jan. 10 and that the boy was gone when he went to check on him 15 to 20 minutes later, Smith said.

While searching outside, a deputy heard one of the neighbor's two dogs bark, Smith said, and then saw the boy sprawled on the ground in the neighbor's fenced yard. Authorities believe the boy might have climbed a fence at a sloping area of the two adjoining yards or might have been pulled over by the dog.

WHERE WERE THE PARENTS?

Dog Dies In House Fire

A DOG has died in a house fire in Sydney's southwest.

Firefighters were called to home on Trinervis Street in Macquarie Fields about 3.30am (AEDT) today, a fire spokesman said.

When they arrived at the scene, flames had already engulfed the top floor of the two-storey housing commission townhouse.

"There was a lot of smoke and that's what generally kills people, but in this case it was a dog," the fire spokesman said.

These stories are in the news all the time. I really don’t have a good solution to prevent this kind of horrible death.

Parents "Disgusted" As Dog Let Off

The family of a schoolgirl who suffered horrific facial injuries after being attacked by a dog said today they were "disgusted" with a court's decision not to put down the animal.

Demi Fraser, 11, needed more than 100 stitches after being attacked by the bull mastiff, whose puppies she had gone to see.

This is a horrible accident. But, you can’t mess with a bitches puppies and not risk being attacked, just as you can't mess with a sow's piglets and not risk being attacked. This is an example of a justified bite, even though someone was hurt. You can’t make dogs not be dogs. They will protect their young.

Hanson's Found Guilty Of Animal Cruelty

William and Tammy Hanson were found guilty on 20 out of 28 counts of cruelty to animals Monday in Baxter County District Court.

The sentencing phase of the trial is set for 11 a.m. Feb. 23.

Gearhart eventually ordered that the more than 450 dogs be removed from the premises.

Local veterinarian James Snodgrass stated in court that he had been to many similar situations, but this was the worst he had ever seen after he entered the compound when the warrant was served.

"My initial assessment was the conditions were unspeakable," Snodgrass said. "Some dogs needed, not immediate, but needed medical attention. The overall sanitary conditions were deplorable. There were open bags of dog food which was rained on and moldy."

Snodgrass described the scene as something beyond what he had ever seen and the worst he had ever seen in his 35 years of being a veterinarian.

Tammy Hawley of the Humane Society of the United States, who served as incident commander at the compound after it was seized by the Baxter County Sheriff, told Gearhart she had an average of 38 volunteers there each day to help with the care and feeding of the dogs. She arrived at the compound on Oct. 24 and was there for two months.

She testified in court about some of the animals that were found at EDNAH. One dog, Della, had ear trouble and a tumor between her toes, as well as overgrown toenails which were imbedded in her paws. There were other dogs that had ingrown toenails; some had mange; others had matted fur; and one, Grandpa, had stones which made it difficult for him to urinate.

I heard about this case a while ago, before it went to court. The pictures I received showed deplorable conditions.

Year Of The Dog Tragedy

BEIJING, Jan. 16 -- Although the traditional Year of the Dog in Chinese lunar calendar is still two weeks away, a dog-raising craze has spread in the city. Since last November, the price for pet dogs in Shenzhen has increased by 30 percent, and the boom is expected to last for several months.

"This Chow Chow is now worth of 3,200 yuan (US$400), while two months ago you could buy at 2,200," said Wang Zhongping, owner of a pet shop on Yanhe Road, where the city's largest dog market lies.

According to Wang, thoroughbred dogs are the most popular among buyers, including King Charles Spaniels, Pomeranians and Tibet Dogs. Many species of thoroughbred dogs have been sold out in Shenzhen.

"We have to spend a couple of months training the dogs before we can sell them. As the demand for well-bred dogs rises, stores are emptying out of their cuddly canines quickly. Another wave of dog sales is yet to come, and the prices are expected to rise," said Wang.

Dog paraphernalia is also becoming more expensive. The price of dog food has increased twice since late November, with the increase reaching 10 percent.

Dogs under 40 days old are bestsellers in Shenzhen's canine market. These pups don't require milk feeding, which makes it easier for new owners to raise them, and are much cheaper than the older dogs.

"Dogs of the same type might differ greatly in prices. For example, a nine-month Tibet Dog will cost 360,000 yuan, while a 40-day one costs only 20,000. The difference is due to the seller's costs in raising and training," said Zheng Jianfang, a dog lover.

Zheng suggested that people should buy dogs in regular pet shops, which can provide a birth certificate for each dog as per the requirement of city authorities. Such shops have invested vaccination on dogs to avoid canine madness.

She also recommended that people avoid buying fat dogs or those with long hairs.

"Fat dogs can easily contract asthma or heart disease, while dogs with longer hair can bring a lot of trouble in summer," she said. Enditem

There are so many things wrong here, it’s hard to decide where to start. First, you don’t buy a dog at 40 days old, or 9 months old from a pet store or breeder. You want them at 8 weeks old. Second, you don’t buy a dog to be part of a fad or holiday. Third, you need to consider the breed. Forth, NEVER get a dog from a pet store. Go directly to a good breeder.

This is a tragedy in the making.

Pop (Or Is It Poop) Star Advocates Animal Rights Violence

MORRISSEY, the pop singer and outspoken vegan, has been branded irresponsible for publicly backing violent attacks by extremists against scientists and companies involved in medical research using animals.

The former frontman of the 1980s group The Smiths said he believed terror tactics were justified against those who conducted animal experiments because they had brought it on themselves.

If you want to see how pathologically dangerous the animal rights movement has become, then read this article in its entirety.

Most Popular Dog Breeds In Korea 2005

The yappy Maltese lapdogs were the most popular breed among Koreans in 2005, according to figures from the Korean Canine Club released Thursday. The indigenous Jindo breed ranked second, up five notches from seventh in 2004 after it became an official dog breed registered with the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) in July last year.

The popularity ranking of pet dogs is based on the number of pedigrees issued by the KCC.

The docile and good-natured Golden Retrievers came third, followed by Miniature Schnauzers, which are suitable for keeping indoors, and Toy Poodles. The German Rottweiler was sixth as the only large breed that made it into the top 10. The Cocker Spaniel, ranked first in 2004 and generating a veritable Cocker fever, dropped to seventh. Popular sled-dogs Siberian Husky and Alaskan Malamute dropped five places to eighth and ninth respectively, reflecting the difficulty of keeping bigger dogs in urban areas.

Interesting to compare the popularity of specific breeds around the world. In the US, almost no one know what a Jindo dog is, but in Korea, it is the second most popular dog. It is also interesting to note that their most popular dogs are mostly companion Spitz breeds, whereas in the US and Europe, the most popular breeds are European breeds. I expect, over time, that the Korean tastes will change to be more like ours here in the US. The breeds they are choosing are more difficult for novice dog owners to manage, and will fall out of favor over time.

Boycott Switzerland!

Switzerland's veterinary authority on Friday recommended a total ban on keeping pitbulls, as well as tighter restrictions on other attack dogs. The Federal Veterinary Office recommended tighter restrictions on 13 dog breeds, including bull terriers, Rottweilers and Dobermans. Anyone wanting to keep one of these dogs must apply for renewed approval and be able to prove the origin of the animal, according to the proposals.

Pitbulls are not a recognized breed of dog and are bred from other types only for their aggressiveness, the veterinary office said in a statement. Dogs that are crossbreeds from any of the 13 listed, including pitbulls, will be banned, according to the new proposals.
Switzerland's media has been demanding tighter controls on dangerous dogs since a 6-year-old Turkish boy was mauled and killed by a pack of pitbulls last month in the town of Oberglatt

K9 Unit In India To Expand

Encouraged by the success of its canine force in the war against insurgency, the Assam Rifles unit here has decided to augment the strength of its dog squad.

The canine unit, which was set up in 1996, currently has about 60 dogs. The squad is responsible for the entire northeastern region. The number would now go up to over 200.

The Assam Rifles Dog Unit has rendered invaluable service during the counter-insurgency operations carried out in the mid-nineties.

Sniffers, the Silent Warriors — as the dog unit of the Assam Rifles is popularly called — has made the task of the security forces much easier. “The dogs have done a tremendous job in the anti-insurgency operations in the region. They nearly have a 100 per cent success rate,” said Lt Col Paramveer Singh Siddhu, commanding officer of the canine unit.

Over and over again, canine units have proven to save lives.

Dog Killer Almost Gets Off Scot Free

PUTNAM VALLEY, N.Y. -- A man will spend the next 20 weekends in jail for kicking a neighbor's 15-year-old dog to death.

Putnam Valley Town Justice Louis DiCarlo ordered the jail sentence and a $1,000 fine for Frank Aquino, 41. Aquino also must pay $485 in restitution and do 50 hours of community service once his jail time is completed.

Aquino pleaded guilty to animal cruelty on Oct. 13 for causing the death of Roxi, a mixed breed German shepherd.

The dog wandered onto Aquino's property, in Putnam County, during a Memorial Day barbecue in 2004. Aquino kicked her so hard that she limped over to a nearby bush and was found dead an hour later.

I am shocked at the lenient sentences handed out for this kind of crime. This dog suffered horribly. This guy is a wacko, and needs much harsher punishment. Our justice system is sick, and it needs a good doctor. This reminds me of that recent case where the judge sentenced a guy to 60 days in jail for molesting a young girl over a period of about 4 years. The judge said he no longer believed in punishment… yada, yada, yada… This is why the Alito hearings are so important. Alito will be a reformer on the US Supreme Court. We just can’t have judges making the laws. That’s what LAWMAKERS are for. That’s what we elect them to do. It is a form of tyranny when judges take it upon themselves to make law instead of just being a part of enforcing the laws we ask our representatives to make.

A sentence like this is a crime in itself. If the law allowed a harsher sentence, then it should have been dished out. If not, then you folks in NY have some lobbying to do.

Guard Dogs Are Obsolete

A SERIAL dog killer responsible for three canine deaths and the attempted poisoning of a fourth animal in Melbourne would continue to kill until caught, RSPCA national president Hugh Wirth said today.

Dr Wirth said investigators believed someone was using snail pellets to kill family pets after four separate attacks in a close community in the city's west.

RSPCA officers were helping police investigate the poisonings and had given the government laboratory samples from the dead dogs' stomachs so they could identify the poison used.

Pet owners have been urged to keep their dogs inside at night.

This is why you should never use a dog as a “guard dog”. It is too easy to kill them. The role of guard dog became obsolete long ago.

Giving Gifts Is Sometimes The Wrong Thing To Do

I have worked with many dog owners over the years. After all that time, you learn a few things. One thing I’ve learned is that people are more likely to take care of a dog that they purchased rather than one they got as a gift, regardless of the age of the person. Similarly, they are more likely to take their dog training lessons seriously if they purchased them themselves than if they got them as a gift.

It’s just human nature. If you aren’t invested in a thing, whether it is a relationship, or a business, or a home, or anything… then you really don’t put as much serious effort into it. Maybe that is why the kids of the ultra rich end up almost insane. They are given everything and never have to make any personal sacrifices. Study the Getty, Rockefeller, etc. family stories.

That is why I’m against giving holiday puppies. I already am prepared to hear the complaints from those pet owners in the coming months. And to watch the shelters fill up with unwanted dogs.

Inhumane Practices Abound At Animal Shelters

From DoggieNews.com

The Houston Chronicle reported today that animal shelters in the city have abnormally high euthanasia rates when compared to shelters around the country. City shelters are putting to sleep many breeds often associated with aggressive behaviors.

Family Violence And Animal Abuse Are Linked

We all know that there are wackos out there.

Here is the first case:

Salvador Rodriguez thought his wife was cheating on him, so he took it out on her dog. He stabbed the animal in the chest and neck with a butcher knife, and then he hanged it by its neck for 20 minutes.

Miraculously, the dog survived. Also miraculously, Rodriguez's wife didn't leave him.

But on Thursday, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge sent Rodriguez to jail for six months and put him on probation for three years.

Then there is this case:

An Austin woman turned herself in to police Thursday, charged with animal cruelty.

Investigators say Joanne Hinojosa stabbed a dog to death at a home in South Austin.

The dog belonged to a friend of Hinojosa's husband. She is separated from her husband.

Hinojosa was arguing violently with her husband and the friend outside the house and was then was left alone inside with the dog, witnesses said.

One man called the police and when officers arrived, they say they found the dog bleeding with a knife sticking out of its side.

They took the animal to an animal hospital but doctors could not save the dog. The dog had 27 stab injuries when it got to the hospital, doctors said.

Police say in situations of family violence, animals are also at risk.

If you live with a psycho, then one day, that person might just harm your dog. I know, personally, of such a situation. They need to be locked up in a ward for the criminally insane.

LEAVE THEM!

Take note that neither of these whack jobs will get much in the way of punishment for these heinous acts.

Chicago's Top Dogs

The list of most-popular AKC registered dogs, released Wednesday, reveals that Chicagoans also have a thing for pups with pushed-in faces. In addition to ranking boxers No. 4, compared with No. 7 nationwide, we like pugs and bulldogs, which don't make the nation's Top 10 list at all. Here's the 2005 list of Chicago's favorite purebred dogs:
1. Labrador retriever
2. German shepherd
3. Golden retriever
4. Boxer
5. Pug
6. Yorkshire terrier
7. Rottweiler
8. Bulldog
9. Shih tzu
10. Poodle
The tiny shih tzu muscled out the Doberman on Chicago's list. Dobermans fell to No. 12.

Girl Dies Trying To Save Dog From Swollen River

A GIRL aged 16 died yesterday after jumping into a swollen river in an attempt to save her dog.

The girl, who was named by neighbours as Michaela Mooney, leapt into the River Ehen in Egremont, Cumbria, shortly before 2pm.

Her boyfriend dived in to try to rescue her, but the current was too fast and Michaela was dragged 300 yards downstream before becoming caught in branches.

She was in the water for almost two hours despite a rescue attempt involving police, fire, mountain rescue and coastguard teams.

This same kind of thing happened just a couple of days ago. As I said then, you just can’t try to save a dog in this kind of circumstance. You’ll die, and so will the dog.

Chicago Finds Another Way To Insult Dog Owners

Dog owners could get a break Wednesday, when Chicago park officials are expected to approve a measure making the county's controversial dog permits available at participating veterinarians' offices.

The permit, required to use city dog parks, would cost a mere $5, compared to the $35 fee park officials proposed last fall, unleashing growls from dog owners.

A MERE $5? And animal control wanted $35?!!! Here’s another good reason to move out of Chicago. They have a vendetta going against dogs, and I just wouldn’t live there if I had a dog. I’d move out of the city.

Senator Ted Kennedy Decides To Corrupt His Dog

Sen. Ted Kennedy is writing a children's book that will explain the workings of government from the point of view of his dog Splash.

I wonder if he’ll show the dog how he became a drunk, how he has cheated on his wife over all these years, and how he wastes our tax dollars to promote his vulgar politics? And this will all be taught to our kids? Be afraid. Be very afraid!

South African K9 Officers Going To Iraq

Crucial police dog units countrywide are being decimated as handlers and trainers are lured to high-paying jobs as private security contractors and bodyguards in Iraq.

Well, when you don’t pay your police force enough money, what do you expect? And, it is probably MORE dangerous for these guys to be K9 officers in South Africa than being a private contractor in Iraq!