Britain's Insane Rabies Law Being Reviewed

The UK government's chief vet and chief scientific adviser have told BBC News that current rabies controls in Britain are overly restrictive. It is not that long ago that fears of rabies arriving in the UK meant that dogs travelling back from Europe had to be kept in quarantine. Now the Pet Travel Scheme allows owners to vaccinate their dogs and confirm it with a blood test six months before travel. Most animal welfare groups agree the current system is too severe. But Chris Lawrence of the Dogs Trust believes that it would be wrong to bring the waiting time down to 21 days after vaccination. "Rabies is prevalent in Poland, Eastern Europe and many accession countries and by harmonising our regulations, [we] would increase the risk of rabies arriving in the UK," he said. "A three-month waiting period is supported by the science - and separate blood tests should continue to be required because one can't be completely sure of all vaccine stocks."

This mess is really just a way for a group of business people to make profits by keeping ridiculous regulations on the books. If the regulations are repealed, then they go out of business.

If you have to wait weeks or months before a dog can enter the country, then that dog is going to have to be kept in quarantine in another country until that time has elapsed. Science should prevail here, not this kind of thing. I am all for public safety, but some things are not risky enough to be bothered with. For example, yes, the earth could some day be hit by a huge meteor... but, is it worth creating a manned space station orbiting the moon just in case we have to evacuate the planet? No. Similarly, if the risk of an epidemic is ridiculously low, then why put in such stringent regulations?

Follow the money...

Another example of why I support limited government. Regulations are oftentimes just ways of creating protected monopolies, and undeserved profits, for certain types of businesses. This is NOT free enterprise in action. These laws are inhumane, irrational, and cruel to both dogs and dog owners. They are also ridiculously expensive.

Again, Do We Have A Pit Bull Problem Or Drug Problem?

A Long Island man is under arrest for siccing his pit bull on two police officers who were trying to give him a ticket for the unlicensed dog... Vanterpoool was arrested and found to be carrying 25 bags of what was believed to be crack-cocaine.

I have article after article at this blog showing the link between drug dealing / abuse and pit bull ownership. So, are the dogs the problem or the people who own them?

Pet Food Recall

Pet food contaminated with an industrial chemical may have sickened or killed 39,000 cats and dogs nationwide, based on an extrapolation from data released Monday by one of the nation's largest chains of veterinary hospitals.

That is a lot of pets, and a lot of heartache. Most pet owners I know have been scanning these articles regularly to see if their pet foods have been affected. I know I did it, too.

Summer's Here And The Time Is Right...

No, not for dancing in the streets. It is time to start training your dog! A lot of you have untrained pups and dogs, and as the summer months approach, you will be taking those dogs into public and seeing what a pain it is for everyone that your dog is out of control. You should begin obedience training with a dog no later than 4 months of age. On the other hand, healthy adult dogs of any age can learn and benefit from formal lessons.

GO BUNKER!!

Tonight is the big opening night. Bunker The Dog is a finalist in America's Cutest Puppies contest, being aired on WETV. I have worked with Bunker and his family to prepare him for this event, and tonight we will gather around the TV and see the first show (there will be 12 weekly episodes, showing on Saturday night around the US. Go to the WETV web page to find your local channel listing and air time).

Selling Dogs Like Cattle

There are questions about the future of a dog auction that had drawn protests in northeast Ohio's Amish country.

Critics call the breeding operations that supply the auction "puppy mills," factory-like operations in which caged dogs churn out litters year after year. People regularly gathered outside the auction in Holmes County to protest what they called an industry built on cruelty.

Dog auctions. Where do you think a lot of pet stores get their puppies from?

Dogs deserve better than this. Read books on dog breeding and early development, then compare that to what these types of operations entail.

500 Breeding Dogs In One Facility?

Morrison County commissioners approved a permit Thursday for a dog-breeding operation Belle Prairie Township that could involve as many as 500 animals.

I do not believe it is good to breed dogs like livestock, or to buy dogs from such an operation. To me, this is appalling. Here is how I recommend finding a good breeder.

Saturday Night

Bunker The Dog, and other puppies, will be on America's Cutest Puppies contest. It will air on WETV. He is one of the 10 finalists, and the PR tsunami is just starting. Tune in. I'm looking forward to seeing how all our training efforts paid off. I wasn't there for the filming, so I don't know how the show will proceed. Should be, however, a ton of fun!

Dog Problem Or Drug Problem?

A woman is going to be arrested for owning a pit bull because the dog killed her granddaughter.

The story doesn't explain the circumstances of the attack, and it is highly possible that the owner was negligent in managing the dog. But, was this really evidence of pit bulls being dangerous, or evidence that some people shouldn't own a dog.

Here's the clue: Her grandmother, Jacqueline Simpson, who suffered injuries to her arms as she tried to wrench the dog away, was also charged with possession of class A drug diamorphine.

Well, I don't have drugs like that in my medicine cabinet, do you? Diamorphine is another name for HEROIN. Drug dealers will get pit bulls, abuse them to make them vicious, and use them to protect their drug operations. Then, some of these dogs get loose and attack. Pit bulls are generally very friendly dogs. Funny how the drug dealers always have the nasty ones. Wonder how that comes to be, hmmm? I don't know how this woman got these drugs, or if she's a user or dealer, but all the warning bells are going off right now.

Tough On Animal Control...

OK, I am tough on Animal Control operations because they are supposed to be professionals, knowing the law, animal behavior, and should be a model for humane animal treatment. However, they often miss the mark. Regardless of which entity does the animal control work, police officers or officers designated specifically for animal control, they need to know what the heck they are doing.

Here is a sample of what I am referring to. I think this looks incompetent to me, according to what the article says...

"Owner Maegan Verlanic says she could not believe what she saw - three police officers standing on a log with her dog on the other end of the catch pole. Maegan Verlanic, dog owner: "They had him hanging from it. You could see the top of his head from how high they had him from the ground." Captain Kurt Asmus, Blackfoot Police Department: "And before the owners could get back around and get into their own yard, the dog had passed away.""

I can tell if a dog is aggressive or not, because I am a professional. I expect humane care from others who are doing professional work with dogs... groomers, trainers, pet store operators, pet food manufacturers, veterinarians... and animal control officers.

Heartbreak

"Unable to come to terms with the death of their pet dog, an elderly couple in southern India committed suicide by hanging themselves, police said on Monday."

I have heard a quote, and I'm not sure if I've got it accurately, that says a dog will do two things in your life: win your heart, then break your heart. It is awfully hard when a beloved pet dies. The grief is intense and can last quite a while.

On the other hand, life goes on, and you can't let it take you down such a dark path that you give up on life yourself. When things are this bad, that is what professional counseling is for.

That is also what a new dog or puppy is for...

Head Halter For Lunging Dog?

"Q: my dog barks and lunges at other dogs when we are on walks, and I have a hard time controlling him because he is a 90-pound lab. How can I stop him from doing this?

A: There is a type of collar for a dog that resembles the halter a horse wears. It has separate parts that go around the neck like a conventional collar and another loop that encircles the muzzle...

However, don't just "control" the dog's behavior with the head halter. Make use of the opportunity. With the undesired behavior interrupted, train your dog to replace the undesired behavior with a desirable one. A good substitute behavior for lunging and barking on walks is to train the dog to look at you instead."

Based on years of experience working with dogs like this... I DISAGREE with this approach!

This dog could still attack another dog. This type of dog still doesn't like other dogs, and you are not getting the dog over its reaction towards other dogs. This is a misapplication of Operant Conditioning, and shows why you need more than a bit of behavioral knowledge before you start dealing with dangerous dogs.

This is why I recommend that you go to a veterinarian for MEDICAL advice, and a Dog Trainer for BEHAVIORAL advice. There are better ways to control dogs that aren't good with other dogs. I have a Problem Dog Class for this type of situation, and we don't use head halters... we fix the problem instead. Just yesterday, in this class, we had dogs running together that a couple of months ago would have attacked and hurt another dog. I have fixed this kind of thing over and over again. No one can fix all dogs, but you can fix most dogs. (And no, you don't need to "get the help of a veterinary behavior specialist for an accurate diagnosis and behavior modification plan". See my thoughts on choosing a trainer / behaviorist)

Rights vs Wrongs

"Tolerance is a two-way street, as a group of Somali taxi drivers in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn., are about to find out. In May, the Metropolitan Airports Commission in the Twin Cities is set to adopt new rules that will punish cabbies who refuse to haul passengers carrying liquor, even though the drivers claim their Muslim faith forbids them to do so. The Somali intolerance doesn't just extend to alcohol. Some drivers have also refused to carry blind passengers with guide dogs, on grounds that the Quran says dog saliva is unclean. And some Muslim store cashiers in the Twin Cities have refused to scan pork products, alleging this also violates their faith."

This controversy is a result of the perversion of opinions of our Constitution and Bill of Rights by activists and the courts over the years.

Bill Of Rights Amendment I: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

It is time to re-visit the meaning of freedom. Muslims in this country should be free to do or not do whatever they please regarding these kinds of private transactions. On the other hand, employers should be able to fire Muslims if they can't or won't do work that the job entails. This is about private individuals doing what private individuals want, or don't want, to do. The government shouldn't be involved in this at all. If a cab company, for example, wants to bar certain passengers from its cabs, well then, let the market decide whether they make money or not. If the cab company decides it doesn't want to hire Muslims, or carry dogs, or whatever, then let them try that and see if they can make money or not doing that. If Muslims can't get cabbie jobs because they won't carry certain types of passengers, then let them find a job somewhere else. That is what freedom is all about.

The cab business is an overly regulated, semi-monopolistic business which the government has no business fine tuning. We are so concerned with everyone's feelings that we can't understand that sometimes we just all need to learn to step aside and let people sort out their differences outside the court system. Otherwise, we'll become like Europe, nit picking every little detail to the point that we erode the very freedoms we want for ourselves.

We meddle too much in people's lives these days. This stuff doesn't necessitate another set of laws and regulations. If you like dogs, then great. If you don't, then I shouldn't be able to force my dog ownership on you, even if I am blind. Public opinion and the "invisible hand" of the marketplace will settle the rest.

Dog Problem Or Parent Problem?

The canine menace was back to haunt the citizens of Hyderabad as a six-month-old baby boy was mauled to death by stray dogs. The six-month-old's father Ranjith Singh, a washer man, informed that he had left the baby sleeping under a tree and within minutes found him seriously injured by stray dogs in the area. The Municipal Corporation authorities say that they have been monitoring the stray dog situation very closely and are doing the best to avoid such unfortunate incidents.

So... you leave a baby to sleep under a tree... LEAVE THE BABY THERE UNSUPERVISED... and the baby gets hurt. And you live in an area where there are stray dogs roaming around. What is my opinion? First, the parent should be prosecuted for leaving a baby unattended. Second, this is what happens when you allow feral dogs to roam the countryside. They go back to a wild state and act as any wild animal would. Dogs need supervision, training, containment, and proper socialization.

This reminds me of stories I have been hearing about how people are dropping their dogs off at off leash parks, then LEAVING the area. Kind of a cheapskate's doggie daycare program, eh? The dog could attack someone or be attacked, and the owners wouldn't be there to intervene. How stupid is that? And worse, I see people entering the off leash areas with kids, and letting the kids roam around unsupervised. That's stupid, too. This is one reason I recommend people to use a good quality doggie daycare instead of these home made solutions.

Pig Ears Recalled

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is recalling Pig Ears dog treats sold at BJ's Wholesale club because they could be contaminated with Salmonella.

This isn't the first time I have heard of pig ears having a Salmonella contamination. I am not sure you should feed these to your dogs, especially if you have small kids in the home that might handle the pig ears and then put their hands in their mouths.

Akita Attacks Woman At Dog Show

The decision on whether to euthanize an aggressive Akita could come within weeks, as investigators try to learn why the sturdy dog attacked a 70-year-old woman at a dog show competition Sunday, leaving her ankle mangled.

Who knows why these types of attacks occur. When I evaluate dogs for biting, there are times when the only way to know what happened is to spend some time with the dog. Most of the biters I encounter are insecure.

In addition, some Akitas don't like strangers petting them until they have had a chance to get to know the person. I am working with an Akita right now, and the dog doesn't like strangers to just come up and start "lovin'" on her. Once she has had a chance to get to know you, especially after a day or so, she remembers you and is quite friendly and playful. She also remembers if you aren't friendly with her, and the next time she sees you she will be unfriendly to you. Many dogs are this way, and I don't consider it to be a fault. However, if you know your dog is this way, you shouldn't let strangers come up and be overly friendly with your dog. In addition, this is also why you should be kind when you are training any dog, especially an Akita. Rough treatment makes many dogs into biters.

Pet Food Recall

The laboratory that identified the poison believed to be responsible for the death of pets around the country has started testing individual components of the tainted pet food to determine which ingredient was contaminated, officials said Monday. Scientists at the New York State Food Laboratory on Friday identified aminopterin as the likely culprit in a poisoning scare that prompted the recall of 95 brands of "cuts and gravy" style dog and cat food.

Have you been following this pet food poisoning story? I looked up aminopterin on Wikipedia to see what it is, and here is what I found:

Its antifolate activity was first used by Sidney Farber in 1947 to induce remissions among children with leukemia.^[1][2] Although more potent than the closely related compound methotrexate, it was replaced by methotrexate in the 1950s, due to unpredictable toxicity. Now in a more pure preparation, aminopterin is back in clinical trials for patients with leukemia.^[3]

The compound was used as an abortifacient in the 1960s and earlier, but was associated with congenital malformations.^[4] The name for its teratogenic effects is fetal aminopterin syndrome. When a similar cluster of abnormalies appears in the absence of exposure to antifolates it is referred to as aminopterin-like syndrome without aminopterin.^[5]

Aminopterin can be used as a rodenticide, although it is not approved for that use in Canada or the United States.^[6] It has an LD_Lo of 2.5mg/kg when orally administered to rats.^[7]

So, it suppresses immunity, can cause chemical abortions, can cause birth defects, and is used as a rat poison. Great. Imagine all the pets that didn't die. Will this cause a host of birth defects in our pure bred dogs over the next few years? This is more than just a poison.

Further, I am seriously wondering if this might have been a "test run" by a terror organization to see how vulnerable our food delivery system is in the US, and how we would respond to an emergency. I could be paranoid about this, but how does such a chemical get near, or, worse yet, mixed in, a batch of FOOD?! Seems mighty weird to me.

Bunker The Dog

On April 7, 2006, one of my students will be competing on a nationally televised TV show called America's Cutest Puppy.

Go see Bunker The Dog

Bunker is a 10 month old Bull Terrier, and he really is the cutest puppy I know!

From what I hear, the show should be a lot like American Idol. The show will be a blast!

We are also hoping Bunker is able to help raise funds to help find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis. Click HERE to find out more, and to find out how you can help. My wife has MS, so this disease directly impacts my family. Please watch this blog for TV air times and dates, and please contribute to the National MS Society.

Choosing A Dog Groomer

Here is an article on what criteria I recommend when choosing a dog groomer. They are NOT all the same.

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

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.

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.

How Could You?!

Whimpers a man heard while doing yardwork turned out to be a dog buried alive in a neighbor's backyard. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office was investigating it as an animal-cruelty case. Sgt. Mike Ward said no one has been charged and would not release information regarding the owner of the property where the dog was found.

Who could do this to a dog?

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.

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?

Uh, The Year Is 2007!

Trailed by a television camera crew, a deaf Westbury teenager failed again today to bring his service dog to school.

When he arrived this morning for classes, John Cave was met by W. Tresper Clarke High School Principal Timothy Voels, who told him the dog, Simba, was not permitted inside the building. John handed the dog's leash to his mother, Nancy, who took the dog back to the family car.

I can't believe this kind of thing still goes on. Guide dogs are recognized the world over for their necessary services. This principal needs a good talking to by the PTA.

Fat Dog?

Is your hound round? Too much flab on your Lab? Is your husky, well, husky? A new drug may provide some help. The government approved the first drug for obese canines on Friday. Called Slentrol, the Pfizer Inc. drug is aimed at helping fat Fidos shed extra pounds. Like all diet drugs, Slentrol is meant to be part of an overall weight management program that includes a complete and balanced diet and exercise, according to its label. Slentrol is not a cure for obesity; its effects cease within a day or two of stopping treatment.

I see plenty of fat dogs. Too fat. The dogs don't need a drug, they need owners who love their dogs enough to not kill them with calories. On the other hand, there might be medical reasons for such a drug, and I am glad it has been developed.

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.

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.

Isn't This What We Have All Been Saying?!

In 1991 it was made illegal to own a pit bull terrier type breed unless it was registered. If the dog was not registered in 1991 then it became an illegal dog, so any pit bull terrier type breed dogs less than 15-years-old will be illegal, said Melanie.

Because pit bull terriers and pit bull terrier types were outlawed 16 years ago they should, by 2007 no longer be around in this country.

Yet pit bull terrier type dogs are prevalent in Bolton and some are still bred for fighting.

Melanie blames the law on the prevalence of the dogs. "By banning them it made them more attractive to the wrong sort of people. It also meant the gene pool became smaller which resulted in a problem with temperament," she said.

Bad Law Will Cause Unjust Punishment

A man whose dog killed his young niece could be prosecuted after it was confirmed the animal was a type of pit bull terrier.

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.

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?

Britney Spears Is Worst Dog Owner?

Britney Spears has been voted the world's worst celebrity dog owner for 2006.

The Toxic singer has taken the unwanted title from her new friend Paris Hilton, who came second this year after 'winning' in 2005.

Hilary O'Hagan, the editor of The New York Dog and The Hollywood Dog magazines that bestow the title, said: "Britney was the overwhelming choice. She once had three Chihuahuas and never left home without at least one of them on her arm. As soon as she met Kevin Federline and had children the dogs disappeared."

Well, I figure that you can have a pig for a pet, but a pig shouldn't own a pet. When will Britney's and Paris's 15 minutes of fame end? I'm tired of hearing about their crotches, pet dogs, guttersnipe lifestyles, and talentless performances. Aren't you?

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

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.

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

Train Your Dog!!!

A dog in David Mozeliak's canoe may have caused the capsizing that claimed the man's life. Mozeliak, 46, a Meriden resident who lived at 27 Blackstone St., drowned Saturday after his canoe overturned at Paper Goods Pond. Berlin police say Mozeliak was attending a child's birthday party on Percival Road, which borders the pond, when he decided to go out in the canoe and took the dog along for the ride. "We think the dog had something to do with it, the tipping over," Capt. Larry Schubert said.

Dogs must be trained. Period. It is extremely important, and here is a perfect example why. Further, some dogs should not be put in certain situations. This is a tragedy that could have been prevented.

Safety Precautions

A man trying to save a dog being pulled into a stump grinder was caught in the machine and killed, authorities said. Robert J. Wagner, 25, and his friend, John Santilli, of Port St. Lucie, were using the grinder while at a hunting camp in the River Ranch area about 9:40 a.m. Sunday, said Polk County sheriff's spokeswoman Donna Wood. Santilli's dog got entangled when the animal's leash got caught in the machine, Wood said.

It should be common sense that you keep dogs away from dangerous equipment when in use: fireplaces, lawn mowers, ovens, drills, saws, hammers, hatchets and axes, stump grinders, heavy equipment, etc. You have to use the same kinds of precautions you would with a small child.

Fighting Back, Even In China

IN an echo of the days when Chairman Mao denounced his foes as “running dogs”, hundreds of angry pet owners confronted the police in Beijing yesterday in a protest against the regime’s new “one-dog policy”. Eighteen people were arrested in noisy scuffles as about 500 dog owners gathered in a rare unauthorised demonstration near Beijing Zoo. Several of the middle-class protesters wore badges that read “stop the killing” and waved furry stuffed toys in the hope of softening the hearts of the riot police and plain-clothes security men who surrounded them.

Yesterday’s protest was sparked by police raids on an area of luxury villas. According to the state news agency, Xinhua, the security forces discovered six “large unlicensed dogs” in the dragnet. It did not disclose their fate. Elsewhere, residents have reported seeing policemen beating dogs to death in the street. Only dogs shorter than 14 inches are allowed. “Mastiffs, dobermans, saint bernards and great danes are banned,” Xinhua said, along with any dog considered “dangerous”.

People love their dogs. Start killing them, and you'll get a backlash. The Dog Haters have caused the banning and killing of many innocent dogs in this country, such as in Denver, CO. I'm not advocating civil disobedience. I'm not for breaking the law. I'm for changing the hearts and minds of the people, making them aware of the tragedy around them, and changing these inhumane laws and practices. Breed specific laws are cruel and unnecessary.

Communism & Dogs

BEIJING — First it was one child. Now authorities say Beijing families will be allowed only one dog. The restriction is part of efforts to stamp out rabies, state media said Wednesday. It follows a campaign in August in which thousands of dogs were killed in order to fight the disease. China's capital will institute a "one dog" policy for each household in nine areas, the official Xinhua News Agency said. "Only one pet dog is allowed per household in the zones, and dangerous and large dogs will be banned. Anyone keeping an unlicensed dog will face prosecution," Xinhua said.

OH, that's just wonderful, isn't it? Great news. Excellent way of managing a problem, isn't it? I just love over regulation, don't you?

I wonder what will happen to those extra dogs that have to be removed from multiple dog households. You can bet they will be put to death. This is barbaric.

BE SURE TO VOTE!

Are you aware that a number of candidates, in local, state and national elections, are pro-animal rights? Do you want your right to own a dog taken away? Then make sure the people in office support your right to own a dog.

When you live in a free country, the only way to preserve those freedoms is to elect good people.

Random Thoughts

Are you going to vote? If so, then you should consider voting for candidates that are "pro-dog". I have linked to a number of dog advocacy groups (look at the sidebar). Some will have recommendations and analysis of the candidates, initiatives and issues involved. You should vote PRO DOG.

OH, by the way, is your dog trained and well behaved? If not, then you should find a good trainer and hire them.

Have a fun weekend!

Sam

XYLITOL DEADLY FOR DOGS!!!

What's safe for humans can be toxic for dogs. A recent study warns about the dangers of xylitol, a commonly used sugar substitute found in some sugar-free candy, gum and baked goods. "Dogs are the primary victims of xylitol because dogs are the type of animal that will jump up on the counter and steal a cupcake or steal their owner's pack of gum out of their purse," said Dr. Louise Murray of the ASPCA. Cases of xylitol poisoning are on the rise. The ASPCA's poison control center managed 170 cases of xylitol poisoning in 2005, twice the number of cases in 2004. This years' number suggests the upward trend continues. Even small amounts of xylitol can be lethal. "You can see symptoms when a dog eats xylitol in as soon as 30 minutes," said Dr. Murray. "They'll begin to vomit, have tremors, some of the dogs will have seizures and actually their liver will begin to fail."

This is especially critical considering today is Halloween. How many dogs will die today from either eating chocolate or treats sweetened with Xylitol? This is why I recommend boarding your dog overnight on Halloween, to keep them away from these kinds of dangers.

Oxygen Masks For Pets?

The Seattle Fire Department has purchased five sets of respirator masks designed to help revive pets after house fires. "I've been to a lot of house fires where people are really begging you to save their pets," said Jen Bessler, a Seattle firefighter who got the idea from a fire station in San Mateo, CA.

It is about time. There is no reason to not try to save pets from smoke inhalation. In fact, many pets do all they can to save the lives of their owners when they detect a fire in the home. We owe them to make sure they live, too. Does your local fire department have such masks?

Boater Saves Drowning Dog

Tigger was apparently thrown from Diane and Richard Beckman's boat on their way from Key Largo to Marathon, Fla. They said once they realized Tigger was missing from their boat, they searched for him for more than two hours. "We went back and forth, back and forth," Diane told the paper. "Finally we just gave up, because we thought he couldn't have survived in the water for that long. I was just heartbroken. "

Another boater found Tigger and dropped him off at a local pet shelter. Because he had name tags on his collar, the shelter was able to contact the owners.

Diane was elated when she got home and listened to her messages. She went quickly to pick up Tigger. "He was so terrified. As soon as he realized it was me, he jumped in my arms and wouldn't let go," Diane told the paper. "Please tell dog owners not to take their dog out on a boat without a life jacket," Diane said. "Mine had a happy ending, but most don't."

The dog was found so far out that land wasn't even visible.

You can bet this isn't the first time something like this has happened. If you have a dog and a boat, you MUST teach the dog to not get off the boat without permission, have a supervision plan, and make sure the dog can't get off the boat when left unsupervised. And, yes, I think a life jacket is a good idea.

I Received This From SAOVA

Dear SAOVA Friends,

With only two weeks before the November 7, 2006 election, Democratic control of the House of Representatives in 2007 appears assured. Astute political observers may argue over individual House race outcomes, but most have turned to the Senate contests. Six Senate seats must change hands for the Democratic Party to gain control there. GOP losses in Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Montana are expected and widely predicted. If the Democrats can win one of three very close races in the Upper South states of Missouri, Tennessee or Virginia, a 50-50 tie will result. Power could be shared, as it was for five months in 2001, until Senator James Jeffords (I-VT) left the GOP to break that 50-50 deadlock. Two wins will leave Democrats in control of both chambers.

What would this mean for sportsmen and animal owners?

We’ll absolutely have to refight old battles that we won in the past. The PACs of the largest animal rightist (AR), anti-hunting organization, Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) and its allies (see http://saova.org/ARPACS.html) have endorsed over 600 supportive politicians at the federal and state levels. If many of these endorsed candidates are true AR believers and they take office, the anti zealots will unquestionably reintroduce anti-hunting, pet, livestock and medical research bills that previously failed to become federal law. AR activity in many states continues to intensify. Half of the endorsements are local ones.

The Sportsmen's and Animal Owners' Voting Alliance’s (SAOVA) website at http://saova.org has been updated to include many new AR endorsements. Significant changes were made to the AZ, CA, CO, IL, MI, MN, NC, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA and WI state pages since our last message to you. Additional resource links to supportive animal owner groups have also been added.

While every vote counts, both in polling places and on the legislative floor, there are sixteen races where *SAOVA endorsees* are in head-to-head contests with animal rightist endorsees,

MO Senate *Talent (R)* v. McCaskill (D)

CA11 *Pombo (R)* v. McNerney (D)

CT2 Simmons (R) v. *Courtney (D)*

IA5 *King (R)* v. Shulte (D)

IL17 *Zinga (R)* v. Hare (D)

KY4 Davis (R) v. *Lucas (D)*

MI7 *Walberg (R)* v. Reiner (D)

MI9 *Knollenberg (R)* v. Skinner (D)

MI15 *Dingell (D)* v. Smith (I)

OH6 *Blasdel (R)* v. Wilson (D)

NC11 *Taylor (R)* v. Shuler (D)

NJ5 *Garrett (R)* v. Aronsohn (D)

NM1 *Wilson (R)* v. Madrid (D)

TN5 *Cooper (D)* v. Welsch (I)

VA6 *Goodlatte (R)* v. Pryor (I)

WI5 *Sensenbrenner (R)* v. Kennedy (D)

If your vote, or that someone you know, can be cast to support a SAOVA endorsed candidate against the anti zealots that wish to impose their distorted beliefs on the rest of America, please be sure to vote and encourage others to do so. Take your friends and neighbors to the polls on November 7th. The stakes are huge.

Voters need to read the ballot measures very carefully this year. There are important pro and con issues to be decided. Vote for the best candidates, but also take the time to study the entire ballot and make good decisions throughout.

Arizona Voters- Vote NO on Proposition 204.This is an animal rightist effort to force changes in livestock farming that no reputable agriculture or veterinary group supports.

Colorado Voters- Vote NO on Amendment 38. Amendment 38 strips current fraud and misrepresentation safeguards from ballot measures.

Florida Voters- Vote YES on Amendment 3. Amendment 3 will increase voter requirements for laws by petition that bypass the legislature.

Georgia Voters- Vote YES on Constitutional Amendment 2. Amendment 2 will protect Georgia citizens right to hunt and fish.

Michigan Voters- Vote YES on Proposal 3. Proposal 3 will permit Michigan’s dove hunting season to continue.

SAOVA's reviews are single interest efforts. We make no pretense of evaluating candidates' positions on taxes, education, social security, medical care, national security, gun control or social issues. To the degree that hunting, fishing, livestock farming and pet ownership are important to you, we offer these election candidate analyses to be combined with other, personal considerations to determine your vote. Please register and VOTE! Thank you.

Sincerely,

Bob Kane
Sportsmen's and Animal Owners' Voting Alliance -
Working to identify and elect supportive legislators
Visit our new website at http://saova.org

OK, so what do all of you think about this? I am clearly concerned about animal rights supporters or sympathizers being elected to office. What do you recommend?

Not Well

Investigators said 26-year-old, Michael Patrick McPhail may be the first person to face prosecution in Washington State under a new law protecting animals from sexual abuse.McPhail is being held on $300,000 bail and has been kept under suicide watch since his arrest late Wednesday.

Then, there is this story...

A Serbian man needed emergency surgery after he had sex with a hedgehog on a witchdoctor's advice.

Wonderful. His witchdoctor said so.

Can you believe that there are people who fight against making this kind of thing illegal?

This has to be a sign of mental illness, eh?

Neglect

A Janesville couple is charged with neglecting their 44 Siberian husky dogs. A criminal complaint says Jerry Talley told a Rock County sheriff's deputy that conditions in his home had gotten so filthy that he slept outside in a tent when the weather was good. Talley, 46, and his 42-year-old ex-wife, Michelle Talley, are charged with obstructing and failing to provide proper shelter, food and water for the dogs. They have a court appearance scheduled for Oct. 25.

I would suspect that more is going on here than just animal neglect. I know of someone who is a "hoarder", and this person needs help. I don't know if that is what is going on here in this news story. But, if it is, hoarding is a major problem and the people involved need help from their families and the community.

For All You Dog Haters Out There

After a disabled woman's cat started a house fire, her specially trained dog came to the rescue, then died trying to help the cat still in the house. Jamie Hanson said the 13-year-old dog named Jesse brought the phone so she could call 911 and also brought her artificial leg. "She got me outside and then she heard the cat upstairs and she went up there to get the cat and she wouldn't come back to me," Hanson, 49, said at a news conference Monday at Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center where she was being treated for her injuries.

THAT is why I love dogs.

War Dog Is Honored

A statue of a hero dog that became mascot to the Free Norwegian Forces during World War II has been unveiled. British and Norwegian naval officers have gathered in the coastal Angus town of Montrose to immortalise the story of Bamse the St Bernard. The dog, who died more than 60 years ago, has already been honoured with the animal equivalent of the George Cross. The £50,000 bronze memorial was unveiled by Prince Andrew in front of hundreds of spectators. Bamse, a crew member on board the Norwegian minesweeper Thorudd, became a hero when the vessel was stationed in Montrose and Dundee during the war. His legendary exploits included saving a young lieutenant who was set upon by a knifeman and rescuing a sailor who fell overboard.

Truly a hero. Yet, there are animal rights wackos who don't believe dogs should be used for any kind of service work at all. We just can't let their types determine the fate of dog ownership.

Another Dog Dragged Behind Vehicle

Ellis County investigators are searching for a woman they said tortured a dog Saturday, NBC 5 reported. A witness reported seeing the woman drag the dog behind her pickup before leaving it in a ditch.

This happens a lot more frequently than you might realize. I have reported on this quite a few times.

Just Surrender, OK?

A Gilford police dog fell from a second-story window while searching for a robbery suspect during the weekend, but still got its man. They say Agbar fell from a second-story window while on the hunt, but was not hurt, and led officers to Mount, who was arrested outside his apartment.

Another reason why dogs are used by the police... amazing athleticism.

Sick

A trail of blood led police to two suspects who allegedly bound and dragged the family dog behind a vehicle in Didsbury, Alta., over the weekend. The dog's injuries were so severe, a veterinarian called by the RCMP had to euthanize the dog on the spot. Investigators said the dog's legs were bound together with duct tape and there was a tow rope around its neck. The dogwas severely bleeding from several parts of its body. Police officers followed a trail of blood to a local home. Charges have been laid against two teenagers. Daniel Charles Haskett, 19, of Didsbury, has been charged with injuring/endangering an animal and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. He is also charged with obstructing police. A 17-year-old male, whose identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, is charged with injuring/endangering an animal and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

What is an appropriate punishment for this kind of abuse? And can you consider anyone who would do this to be mentally stable and safe to be in public? I'd like some answers.

Yeah, Right...

Go over to DoggieNews.com and read their post about certified animal behaviorists... and you can read my comments, too.

Don't waste your money or time on these so-called experts. I've been generally underwhelmed by their expertise.

What A Morning...

I woke up this morning with a dog drinking water out of the toilet. I hate that. And I put a stop to it immediately. I don't let my dogs do that kind of thing. I think it is unsanitary. I really don't want a dog dripping toilet water from its muzzle coming up to greet me. I'm surprised how many people think nothing of that.

Then, I read how North Korea has detonated a nuke. And then I wonder if what I do every day matters. What is responsible dog ownership in relation to the dangers of nuclear war? I am very curious as to what the world response will be, especially China, Japan, and the US. Forget about Europe. Like usual, they won't do a thing. All this world turmoil is so similar to what I have read about the 1930's. I have no doubt we are heading for a major world war. Something horrible is coming.

If I am right, then people won't think much about dogs. They will be thinking of their own survival.

A Dangerous Dog? No Way!

A RETIRED nurse was left covered in blood after she had a finger bitten to the bone by a dog while doing a neighbourly deed. Vera Hall, 61, of Wheatcroft, Cheshunt, was posting a note through the door of a nearby house when a hound inside sank its teeth into her right index finger, which was poking through the letterbox. "It was pouring with blood everywhere. I'm an epileptic and I nearly had a fit." She added: "The dog made no noise before or after. It's a Staffordshire bull terrier." A Hertfordshire police spokeswoman said that, although officers initially attended, the case had been referred to Broxbourne Council's dangerous dogs co-ordinator.

So, this _____ (choose your word) puts her finger in a door and gets bitten by a dog. The case is then being referred as a dangerous dog issue. Unbelievable. Do something stupid like this, and expect to be bitten. This dog is NOT dangerous and this woman took risks she should have known were foolish. The dog is not at fault here, nor is the owner of the dog. It is also irrelevant what breed was involved in this biting incident. And I resent the sympathy ploy, claiming this dog caused her to risk a seizure... she caused her own problems. This is a clear case of a dog defending its property. This dog felt this woman was trespassing on its master's property, and did what any good dog would do: Defend its master. This was a justified bite, regardless of what the law says.

Explain This To Me...

A PET dog was killed after falling 400ft over a cliff... at the base of Huntcliff near Saltburn. The incident began earlier in the afternoon when a couple were walking their labrador, Jake, along the cliff top. The dog fell nearly 400ft down and the owners contacted Cleveland Police who in turn contacted Humber Coastguard.

Was this dog off leash? And if so, what kind of idiot walks a dog off leash near a 400 foot cliff?!

I saw a lady walking her yellow Lab the other day, off leash, along a busy road. I don't care how well your dog is trained. That is just stupid.

So, What Do All These Stories Have In Common?

1.) A Rottweiler dug his way out of a pen and mauled a toddler before the dog was shot to death by sheriff's deputies. Two-year-old Julius Graham wandered into the yard next to his grandparents' house Tuesday when he was met by the dog. "He got excited and the dog reacted," said Nina Estrada, a cousin of the boy's mother. The boy later died

2.) A six-year-old girl was recovering in hospital yesterday after being tossed around "like a rag doll" by a pit bull terrier in a savage attack. The dog turned on Tyla Cole as she arrived with her father, Marcus, at a friend's house on the way to a christening on Sunday. Initially, the American pit bull looked pleased to see them and was wagging its tail. But moments later, the dog attacked.

3.) A CONCERNED mum is calling for the law to be changed after her young daughter was savaged by a rottweiler. Six-year-old Alicia Duff and her mum Lisa are now waiting for the wounds to heal before hearing from surgeons about possible plastic surgery to the youngster's severely injured arm. The frightened child, who attends St Joseph's First School in Ombersley Way, Droitwich, was rushed to the accident and emergency department of Worcestershire Royal Hospital after the dog bit her arm on Sunday, September 17. According to her mum, Alicia had been told that the dog was safe to stroke before it lashed out. The incident happened when she went to a nearby house to call for another youngster of the same age.

While these are all tragic incidents…. I see no indication that anyone knew that these dogs would bite.

Not all dog bite incidents are the result of the fault of the owner. Dogs are animals, without morals and without human judgment. They do what they do sometimes, and you don’t always know why. AND THERE IS NO LAW YOU CAN PASS THAT CAN PREVENT THESE TYPES OF INCIDENTS.

You Oughta Be In Pictures!

Stage mothers for a Rottweiler and other dogs have sued a company called Hollywood Paws for failing to turn their pooches into stars. More than a dozen pet owners contend the company collected tens of thousands of dollars but never delivered on promises to get film and television auditions for their pets.

"I lost a lot of money," said Rachel Armstrong, owner of Goliath the Rottweiler.

Armstrong said she believed her dog had the "cool" factor that would get him into music videos and paid nearly $2,000 to Hollywood Paws LLC for training.

All she got was a rejection from "The Tyra Banks Show."

Hollywood Paws offers training in such media skills as getting a pooch or cat to crawl, freeze or scratch on command. On its Web site, the company warns: "Completing these courses won't guarantee that your house pet will become a screen pet." The business also has a talent agency and bills itself as "a way to effectively link animal actors and studio trainers with professionals in the entertainment industry looking for new talent."

Well, there has to be a lot more to becoming a famous media star than just doing a few pet tricks and signing with a talent agency, right? At least, I'd want some evidence that a.) there was a demand for my kind of pet; b.) my dog was suitable as a TV personality; and c.) the agency I was working with had a track record for getting work for these pooches. Maybe all this is legit, or maybe not. Anyone out there know?

Police Officer Kills Dog

A dog died after Omaha police responded to an intrusion alarm near 31st and Larimore streets around 1:30 Sunday morning. While officers were at the home a dog charged one of the officers and the officer in turn shot and killed the dog, said Officer Andrew Passo. "I heard gun shots, I look outside my window and saw cop cars 15 to 20 deep. What I think was a person in my yard that was shot.. Actually was my dog in a fenced-in gate, which I paid $9,000 for my dog to be able to run around legally" said Kerwin Andersen, the dog's owner.

These are tough cases. The police need to be allowed to catch criminals. So, we allow them to engage in high speed chases, which sometimes cause horrific accidents, killing innocent people. And likewise, we allow the police to chase criminals, and if a dog gets in the way, the police are allowed to kill the dog in self defense.

I am hoping this police department, and all police departments, have clear rules for when the killing of a dog is allowed. I'm betting most police departments don't have a written policy on such things, allowing them to kill dogs in situations that wouldn't be considered justified. In this case, however, if they were responding to an intrusion alarm, and went to the appropriate address, then I'd side with the police. But, the owner should be compensated for the loss and given a new dog, or cash settlement. If the alarm was faulty, then the alarm company should be the one to give the owner a new dog, or cash settlement.

By the way, this is another good example why dogs should NOT be left unsupervised in your yard. They can't protect you from anything out there, they are vulnerable to being killed, or they can harm someone or another animal. Dogs should be in the home at night, with their owners. Dogs should not be left outside in the yard unattended for long periods of time. If that is impossible (and there are only a handful of good reasons for keeping pet dogs outside unsupervised for long periods of time), then they need to be housed in a properly constructed home kennel, or left with a professional boarding / daycare facility. The role of the guard dog is obsolete.

Pit Bull Saves Girl's Life

This one won't make the headlines anytime soon...

A pit bull has been credited for saving the life of a 17-year-old girl, Jerrica Seals, from house fire. "She called me screaming," said Leticia Vega, 36, the sister of Seals' boyfriend Javier Garcia, 23, who is the owner of the house. "She said the dog woke her up barking, jumped on the bed and bit her on the leg," she added.

Now, if this pit bull dog had attacked this girl... Of course, the incident would have made national, and possibly international, news.