Blog ID: 1286 Posted by LucyPal on Thursday Jul 31, 2008 3:51 PM EST

Dog Breeder Arrested After Being at Large Several Days

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A California dog breeder went on the run after Santa Cruz authorities charged him for allegedly neglecting dozens of canines on his property.  He eluded the authorities for several days, but the animal breeder, one Robert brunette, aged 45 years, was arrested last Thursday to in Los Gatos after an anonymous tip led the authorities to him.

 

I’m not sure why he went on the run, or even thought he could last very long on the run, since he was only facing ten misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and neglect to face. Let’s face it with today’s lackluster animal protection laws he’s probably only facing probation and some large fees.  However, he also has some felonies to deal with now because he went on the run from authorities.  That’s the charge that’s going to do the most harm I believe.

 

Animal control officers went in and seized 40 diseased and emaciated dogs from the man’s country boulder creek property last Saturday.  He managed to elude authorities on the day that they went into his property, but left bizarrely, five dogs goals on the table in his house, and then left another dogs skull and two decomposing dog paws on the same table a few days later.  It is confusing to say the least, as to why a man would leave evidence behind portraying his cruelty and the client, and then returned a few days later only to meet further evidence.  Maybe he’s going for an insanity plea?

 

Brunette mainly bred and sold Italian mastiffs.  However, he also had Rottweilers and Labradors at his breeding property and business. 

 

Lucky for the animals of the world the man was arrested and will now face innumerable charges, related to his dog breeding business and trying to elude the authorities.  That anonymous tipster should be congratulated. 

 

Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_10055025

 

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Leave your own comments by clicking here. Blog ID: 1284 Posted by LucyPal on Tuesday Jul 29, 2008 1:40 PM EST

Simple Bird Training Tips

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Everyone knows you can train a dog to follow commands and so can you do the same with a cat. However, you may not have realized that a bird can also be trained to be communicative, polite and even a bit of a showman if you do the job right. Here are a few tips on bird training from the Tri-County Pet and Bird Hospitals Website Try them out and see if you notice any changes in your pet bird’s behavior.

 

As a dog learns to sit, stay, & come on command, a bird should learn to step up and step down on command from anywhere, especially from their cage. Never allow the bird to climb out of the cage on its own. This is a rule that will allow you to stay in control of a pet bird and avoid problems later. Approach from below with your hand.

 

No shoulder (or on top of head) rides. A bird may eventually decide to knock the other bird off of its branch, which is your head. Another rule that may prevent problems later.

 

Use head/heart rule: Keep the bird’s head below your heart. This includes areas where they perch, and also refers to the height of their cage. This may prevent later problems. The dominant bird (the owner) gets the highest "branch".

 

A bird should learn to stay where they are placed. Reward with treats.

 

"Mr. Towel" is a friend. Towel play is very important; a bird will be wrapped in a towel for wing/nail trims and medical exams. Playing towel games will condition them to not be stressed for towel restraint. Start with placing your bird onto a towel on your lap, a table, or the floor.

 

These are all great tips for teaching your bird to follow the household rules and still keeping his or her friendship. Be sure to check out the rest at: http://www.dogcatbirdvet.com/training.html

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Leave your own comments by clicking here. Blog ID: 1282 Posted by LucyPal on Friday Jul 25, 2008 12:00 PM EST

Lost Iguana Found In Ottawa

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In Ottawa, Canada police had apprehended a lost 3ft. Iguana on the road near Fisher Avenue and Baseline road at 4:15 AM.  Now I know that anyone wandering around in the wee hours of the morning is liable to encounter many strange things, however, I have yet to encounter a large lizard wandering the streets.

The poor iguana was not only lost that appeared to be dazed and confused. I guess he was wondering home from a nightclub. To further humiliate the lounge lizard police officers captured him using a makeshift lasso. If being a lizard wasn’t bad enough, the police officers had to wrangle him up-like cattle using a small rope.

After being arrested police officers took it to one Demille reptiles animal rescue business in Manotick. He will be kept here until his owners are found. The reptile has been named ‘Boris’ by employees at the rescue facility.   Interestingly, it reminds me of some of the many famous ‘Boris’s from television and movies.  There’s Boris Karloff who acted as the original Mummy in the 1932 movies.  There’s also Boris the Computer Geek from the 1995 movie GoldenEye.  So many Boris’s so little time, I wonder which of them this little Iguana is named for?

If there’s anyone in the Ottawa area who has lost a lizard recently, you might want to head over to Demille’s to have a look and see if Boris is yours.  If no one claims Boris he will find a good home out of the animal rescue facility.

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Leave your own comments by clicking here. Blog ID: 1279 Posted by LucyPal on Thursday Jul 24, 2008 3:23 PM EST

Police Investigating Violent Dog Death in Desert

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It was a bit of a scare in Phoenix Arizona when a dog was found severed in two earlier this month. The dog named taco wasn’t sure what one owned by Humberto Medina.

 

Understandably, the man was distraught over the loss of his pet to such a violent end.

For a while it was suspected that the human had done this and could possibly be looking for other pets to harm in the area. However, a trio of the chin area news were called in to review the case in the body and decided that this violent acts was committed by and other animals and not a human being.

 

Humberto Medina discovered his hat in his backyard in north Phoenix after returning from a vacation on July 6. The Chihuahua six months old.

 

Investigators came in and took photos of the dog and sent them off to the veterinarian for review. After looking at the photos they were able to decide that tacos fate came at the fangs of another animal. Police had launched an animal cruelty investigation describing this alleged crime as a class six felony however they are now looking for a felonious animal. There’s no word on what will happen to the $5,000.00 reward they had posted for information leading to the supposed criminal culprit.

 

Police had no word on that kind of animal that was suspected in the attack. However, I would suggest that anyone living in the Phoenix Arizona area keep their pets indoors or on the leash while walking them.

Source: http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/2008/07/23/20080723tacofollo0723-ON.html

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Leave your own comments by clicking here. Blog ID: 1278 Posted by LucyPal on Wednesday Jul 23, 2008 6:49 PM EST

Ways to Pay the Vet Bills

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We will all face veterinary bills for our pets at some point in time, whether we're prepared to pay for them or not.  I've been forced to choose between a pet's surgery and paying the rent on time, so I know it's a frustrating situation.  If you ever come up with one of these bills to help take care of a sick pet, here are a few options to help pay that bills or come up with some aid straight from the Humane Society of America:

Ask your veterinarian if he or she will let you work out a payment plan. Many veterinarians are willing to work out a weekly or monthly payment plan so that you do not have to pay the entire cost of veterinary care up front.

Contact your local shelter. Some shelters operate or know of local subsidized veterinary clinics or veterinary assistance programs. You can find the name and number of your local shelter in the Yellow Pages of your phone book under "animal shelter," "animal control" or "humane society," or by calling Information. You can also go to www.Pets911.com and enter your zip code to find a list of animal shelters, animal control agencies, and other animal care organizations in your community.

If you have a specific breed of dog, contact the National Club for that breed. (The American Kennel Club, www.akc.org, has a list of the national dog clubs.)  In some cases, these clubs offer a veterinary financial assistance fund. Additionally, The HSUS has a list of breed-specific assistance groups.

There are some organizations that offer assistance locally (by state or community). See our state-by-state (including Canada) listing.

The HSUS also has a list of organizations that provide assistance to senior, disabled or ill pet owners.

Ask your veterinarian to submit an assistance request to the American Animal Hospital Association's (AAHA) "Helping Pets Fund." In order to qualify, your animal hospital must be AAHA accredited. To learn more about the program visit the AAHA web site. To find an AAHA accredited hospital in your area, search online at www.Pets911.com.

If you purchased your dog from a reputable breeder, check your contract to see if there is a health guarantee that covers your pet's ailment.

These are just a few of the suggestions you can find to help come up with the funds to pay for a pet's veterinary bills.  Look for more at: http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/what_you_can_do_if_you_are_having_trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html

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Leave your own comments by clicking here. Blog ID: 1276 Posted by LucyPal on Tuesday Jul 22, 2008 2:26 PM EST

Emaciated Dog Found in Little Billing, North Hampton

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I have seen some horrible tales of an animal starvation in the past but this is one that takes the cake.  I must warn you if you are sensitive to dramatic or disturbing images for stories not to continue reading.  In the town of little billing, north Hampton in Great Britain a dog was found in an extremely emaciated state.

The dog, a German shepherd was found walking around on July 16.  After seeing an image of him it’s hard to believe this for creature was still alive because he is literally a walking skeleton. One can barely tell that it’s a dog let alone a large breed like a German shepherd.

 

The local RSPCA has made an appeal for anyone to provide any kind of information on this for creature.  The dog, nicknamed Hopewell by staff looking after him state that he is estimated to be between five and seven years old.  He was found with overgrown nails and has mange which caused him to lose almost all of his hair.

They do not believe that hobo came to his skeletal state as a result of been a stray.  Because they believe that he would have been picked up long before he reached this emaciated state.

Hobo is now receiving treatment and eating and drinking well but they estimate he will have to stay in a hospital for least a month while he recovers.

Inspector Claire Ryder with the RSPCA said of the dog, ‘"I have never seen such a mistreated dog, he really was like a walking skeleton…He must have been in agony for a long period of time…I shudder to think how someone could have been so callous as to let him get in this state…I urge anyone with information to come forward to help us find out where Hobo came from and how he came to be in such a terrible way."

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/northamptonshire/7520220.stm

 

 

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Leave your own comments by clicking here. Blog ID: 1272 Posted by LucyPal on Monday Jul 21, 2008 4:08 PM EST

Pets Need Emergncy Kits Too!

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Many people have realized since the Hurricane Katrina disaster that pet’s need care in the case of an emergency too.  However, many people are still leaving their pets without any kind of protection in the case of a disaster.  People, Pets need Emergency Kits too!

You can easily help safe guard your cat or dog’s safety and that of smaller pets in the case of an emergency with a simple emergency kit and some preparations.  Every state in the country has a listing of their emergency preparedness centers and listings of pet friendly shelters where you can go with your beloved pets in case of an emergency evacuation.  Also, you can put together a simple emergency kit to take with you when you have to leave the house. 

Your pet’s emergency kit should include the following list of items graciously created by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency:

 

·       At least three days worth of food and water in airtight, waterproof containers.

·       An extra supply of pets' medicines, as well as their medical records, kept in a waterproof container.

·       A pet first aid kit.

·       Two collars and leashes — with ID tags— for each pet.

·       Crate or other sturdy carrier.

·       A good picture of your pet and a picture of you with your pet.

·       A list of local emergency animal hospitals as well as pet-friendly hotels and shelters.

As you can see a pet’s emergency kit is much like the kit you put together for your family with extra food, water, identification and medicine.  You can stash this kit in the garage next to the car so it’s easy to pop into your vehicle before leaving.  I also suggest keeping the items for your kit in the dog’s or cat’s travel carrier, so they’ll make for convenient storage. 

Whatever you do, do not leave your pets locked up or tied up in the house during an emergency evacuation.  That can pave the way to a painful death in the case of your beloved pets if a flood or fire occurs or you can’t return to get them.

 

Source: http://www.ajc.com/pets/content/pets/stories/2008/07/21/emergency_plan_pets.html

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Leave your own comments by clicking here. Blog ID: 1273 Posted by LucyPal on Sunday Jul 20, 2008 4:29 PM EST

Cat Gets Head Stuck in Mason Jar

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We’re all familiar with the term, ‘Curiosity Killed the Cat’, well, in the case of one Ralph the cat it may not have killed him but it certainly used up one of his nine lives.  After reading about this kitty’s predicament I find myself wondering how cats ever got a reputation for being more independent and intelligent than dogs. 

Ralph the cat managed to get his head stuck in a Mason Jar over the weekend in Vancouver, Washington.  Yup, he got his head stuck in the open end of a glass Mason Jar.  You know I thought cats had whiskers to help them avoid the problem of getting stuck in tight spaces. 

To be honest, Ralph was home alone while this even occurred.  His owners came into Fire station 85 on 3216 N.E. 112^th Ave. seeking help for the traumatized kitty.  Apparently the two men had gone camping over the weekend and left the kitty home alone, naturally assuming a cat would be okay by itself for a few days, being so independent and all. 

Jim Flaherty, a firefighter spokesman for the Vancouver Fire Department said of the owners, ‘They didn’t know what to do…The guys troubleshot it.”  The guys being the big manly firefighters of Station 85 who decided to slather some lubricating jelly around the outside edge of the mason jar and the cat’s neck.  Thus lubed up they were able to guide the cat’s head out of the jar with his lesson learned about tight spaces.

The cat’s owners were uncertain how long Ralph had his head stuck in the jar over the weekend.  However, there is a similar case of a cat in Tennessee surviving 19 days with its head stuck in a jar before being rescued.  The firefighters stated that the cat rescue occurred so quickly that they never got the names of the cat’s owners.

 

Source: http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_072108_news_cat_jar.78b65714.html

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Leave your own comments by clicking here. Blog ID: 1270 Posted by LucyPal on Saturday Jul 19, 2008 6:32 PM EST

Woman Attacked by Kangaroo, Saved by Dog

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We don’t normally think of kangaroos as terribly violent creatures.  However, an elderly woman in New South Wales, Australia was attacked and almost killed by a rogue kangaroo.

Kangaroos are extremely common across the whole Australian continent.  In fact, there are dozens of different species of kangaroo ranging from the tiny 17 ounce Potoroos to the large red kangaroos, which are the world’s largest marsupial that can grow over 6ft. tall and weighing more than 200lbs.

I would think that there are more kangaroos than people in Australia at the moment.  Luckily, up until now we have yet to deal with a large scale kangaroo revolt.

The elderly woman, Mrs. Rosemary Neal, 65 was walking through a mob of kangaroos on her farm to look after some of her forces in the paddock.  The farm is near Mudgee about 160 miles northwest of Sydney.  Their farm is normally overrun with these large marsupials and as such she felt comfortable and safe in their company.  However, a large mail kangaroo several inches taller than her own 5ft. 6in. suddenly lunged.

The attack those short was violent.  Her son, Darren, stated, “Her face has been ripped apart, her hand has been mauled, and she’s got scratches all over her back and concussion…Her whole body is sore where she has dropped to the ground.”

The son also stated that go kangaroo just jumped up and launched right at Mrs. Neal.  He only hit her once can’t sing her to drop and roll.

Luckily, Mrs. Neal’s dog heard her screaming and bolted down to chase of the large angry kangaroo.  Her son stated, “If it wasn’t for the dog she’d probably be dead.”

Mrs. Neal has since been discharged from the hospital, but her family states that she’s still in a bad way.  It may take her while to recover from this unusual incident.

 

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/2308304/Pet-dog-saves-old-woman-from-rogue-kangaroo.html

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Leave your own comments by clicking here. Blog ID: 1269 Posted by LucyPal on Friday Jul 18, 2008 5:54 PM EST

Man Shoots Pet Duck with Pellet Gun

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Circles the pact Peking duck now has an order of protection against one, Ylik Matthews, 21, after he jumped over his neighbors and in march and shot her with a pellet gun.

Circles who lives in long island is that pets of one, Janet Lippincott.  Janet pursued the order of protection and against Matthews on behalf of Circles.  Circles was not present in the war room on Friday to hear the boy apologize for shooting her.

"I just want to say I'm sorry for the stress I caused the family for hurting their innocent pet," Mathews, speaking at a near whisper, told Suffolk County Court Judge James C. Hudson.

Matthews defense attorney Mark Kirschner stated the young man, "didn't realize what the consequences would be when he was playing with that pellet gun."

He may not have realized what the consequences for the but you’ll certainly be dealing with them.  Matthews will be spending one year in jail after conviction of aggravated animal cruelty.  He will only be spending eight months there because of time already served though.  In addition the protection order was extended to 2016 which will likely last beyond Circles natural lifetime.

Circles was so traumatized by the attack that she briefly stopped laying eggs.  Although, she has now made a full recovery and is back to her egg laying ways.  She was shot in the neck by the pellet gun.

Her owners have decided to move her and the family out of state to Rural Queen Creek, Arizona.  Lippincott is quoted as saying, "I'm out of here," also attributing her decision to move to some tensions with other neighbors.

Matthews Attorney states that once he gets out of jail he will stay out of trouble and pursue a culinary career.  Perhaps the young man will have learned that when craving Peking duck he should stay away from other people’s pets.

 

Source: http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-liduck0719,0,2347610.story

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Leave your own comments by clicking here. Blog ID: 1268 Posted by LucyPal on Thursday Jul 17, 2008 8:02 AM EST

Two Canadian Boys to Have Psych Evaluations after Microwaving Cat

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A central Alberta judge is concerned about the mental health of two young boys who pleaded guilty to microwaving a cat this Thursday.  The judge fears that these boys may have underlying psychological problems that are more pressing than the need to send tens the boys before a new school year starts.

Judge Joanne Goss, stated, “I am concerned, and I have reasonable grounds… The circumstances of this offense cry out for a deeper look.”

The boys are fifteen and sixteen years old.  They pleaded guilty last month to breaking into a home twice in December and microwaving a cat to death. According into the boys in statements of facts the cat screamed in pain and it took over ten minutes to die.

Crown lawyer John Laluk stated, “Despite that time frame, the cat was not taken out of the microwave. “He told the judge at the very worst this ‘shows a conscious desire to cause an animal to suffer’.

Court lawyers defending the boys argued that sentencing should have occurred instead of this delay for a psychological assessment that the judge ordered. They state that there are concerns the fall court date could interfere with the beginning of the boy’s school year. The lawyers state that their young clients just want to get on with their lives and won’t be able to do so until they are sentenced.

A handful of animal rights protesters were outside the courthouse demanding harsher animal cruelty laws and holding up signs saying, jail time to fit the crime. Two other teens in the area are scheduled to go on trial for similar robbery and the animal cruelty charges in November. I don’t know about you but it appears that this region is developing a problem with teens causing animal abuse.

Source:   http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080717.wmicrowave0717/BNStory/National/home

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Leave your own comments by clicking here. Blog ID: 1267 Posted by LucyPal on Wednesday Jul 16, 2008 1:00 PM EST

Cats Lower Cost Pet and Good for You

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Cats are the new alternative pet for those living in an economic downturn.  If you are economically depressed as well as Natalie depressed and emotionally depressed you might consider getting attacked because the costs associated with caring for cats are relatively low compared to those costs of caring for other higher maintenance animals such as dogs or even ferrets. 

I know in our area it’s very easy to find a cat. in the classifieds that’s free to a home.  Many times these cats are older cats that have already gotten their vaccinations, but if you are really looking for a kitten you can find plenty of them too.

Owning a cat is good for your mental and emotional health, and there is even some evidence to suggest that it’s good for your physical health as well. Cats have been shown to raise self esteem, the more stress and blood pressure, and even improve depression. So if you are economically depressed as well as emotionally depressed maybe you should consider picking up a cat.

For children it’s been found that owning a pet creates positive self esteem which is then spread into other areas of their lives such as school four went with friends or family. The additional responsibility of a pet is what boosts their self confidence.

Cats are also good for adults. A study has found that path can increase the survival rate of heart attack victims. I’m pretty sure that blogged about that earlier. In addition Katz can help lower your blood pressure and reduce your stress levels.

Pet ownership is good for the elderly. Older people have extreme difficulty dealing with loneliness, and owning up at can help provide them with some of the companionship they’re missing in their later years. Plus, a cat or other pet gives them a responsibility and a reason to stay healthy so they can take care of that pet.

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Leave your own comments by clicking here. Blog ID: 1266 Posted by LucyPal on Tuesday Jul 15, 2008 1:48 PM EST

Lost Dogs Find their Way Home

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There is a rash of dogs finding their way home after being lost for years this week.  One dog, a golden retriever, named Sam I Am vanished two years prior from owner, Alice Baines backyard in Tampa Florida.  In fact, she disappeared during the midst of a hurricane and that blew down a fence.  The golden retriever disappeared into the hurricane.

Then one Thursday in 2006 in Chicago, Illinois, over 1200 miles from home, Sam I Am was reunited with her owner.  A microchip imbedded and Sam I Am’s skin revealed his family’s address.  They are amazed that the Golden Retriever managed to make it all the way to Illinois’ from Florida.

And more recently Rocco the beagle found his way home after an amazing five years. Rocco, disappeared from his home in 2003 in Queens and resurfaced earlier this month at a shelter in Georgia, 850 miles away in Hinesville.

His owner, Natalie is now eleven years old and more than excited to have her pet back home. "When my mom told me they found Rocco, I cried hysterically - just like I did when they told me he was lost...I felt like I was in a dream, like my head was spinning."

Roscoe was discovered when someone dropped him off as a stray at the liberty county animal health control on July 5.  After a routine scan they found he had an identity chip implanted in his skin which revealed his owner’s name and address. 

Natalie also said, “I don't think he recognized me, but I told him I loved him as much as always…Rocco seemed a little confused, but happy. He looked at me like, 'I don't know who you are, but I love you, too.' “

Roscoe is currently settling in back home and try to get used to Bonita, the Poodle mix the family picked up in 2004. 

 

Source: http://www.nypost.com/seven/07152008/news/regionalnews/returns_5_yrs___850_miles_later_119921.htm

 

Source: http://newsday.typepad.com/news_local_flaim/2006/12/status_quo_ho_h.html#comment-26596885

 

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Leave your own comments by clicking here. Blog ID: 1265 Posted by LucyPal on Monday Jul 14, 2008 11:46 PM EST

Major Detroit Dog Fight Broken Up

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Dog fighting rings seem to be everywhere these days.  A Detroit dog fighting ring was just broken up this morning, July 14, 2008 after raid by Wayne county Sheriff’s deputies on the east side .

Over two dozen deputies including the Sheriff’s special response team and Federal drug enforcement agency a chance and Michigan humane society officers acted on its head and rated a dogfight held at 12:30 AM Monday inside a two car garage in the 200 block of Nevada between Woodward and John R. road.

During the course of the raid 53 people were arrested and $27,000.00 in cash was seized by the Sheriff’s deputies. In addition, officers seized three handguns and small amounts of marijuana and cocaine.  The raid Occurred just as two pit bull terriers had started to fight in the garage.  Officers were able to catch most of the people at the fight and even the suspected fight promoters.  Amongst this total were three juveniles under the age of seventeen who were later released to their parents.

The two dogs however did not fare so well.  One dog was injured in the fight and is being treated by the humane society.  The other dog got loose as it was being carried off by its owner when he was stopped and arrested by deputies.  Having no other recourse one of the deputies shot the dog when it bit him but he ran off.  The dog is still on the loose.

Those are rested at the fight face felony animal fighting charges which can carry up to four years into present if they’re found guilty.  The four people who were identified as the fight organizers can face additional fines and community service.

This is the first raid conducted by the Wayne county Sheriff’s office in five years. All suspects are expected to be arraigned Tuesday in 36^th District Court in Detroit.

 

Source: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080714/NEWS01/80714040/1003/news01

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Leave your own comments by clicking here. Blog ID: 1263 Posted by LucyPal on Sunday Jul 13, 2008 12:45 PM EST

Trappers and Pet Owners Argue over Alaskan Traps

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There is a major trappings scandal going on in Alaska right now with you people on both sides arguing over the rights of trappers and the rights of dog owners. It seems that with the gradual increase in the popularity of dog ownership in the country over off and even less got a number of dogs are now becoming trapped in the animal traps placed by Alaskan trappers in the area Parks and countryside. 

One dog that was the victim of an animal trap is now considered a symbol of the growing problems with pets becoming accidentally caught in animal traps and snares that are meant for wild animals. This friendly mutt named, Andre, lost the lower half of both of his left leg after becoming trapped in an animal trap or snare. His owner, Karen McNaught of Palmer, Nursed Andre back to health after he was discovered last winter when a woman noticed him trailing blood across the country road.

She stated, “No one had seen a dog with two legs cut off like that…The bone was sticking out on both of them. It was horrible." 

Now Andre is doing well and bouncing around the yard like a pogo stick and when he gets tired he leans against something to rest up. Karen plans to fit him with artificial prosthetic legs.

The Alaska board of game recently Approved restrictions requiring that traps and snares the placed 50yds. From trails and trailheads in Chugach state park. But, this move left plenty of trappers complaining about the restrictions. The game board is caught in the middle of a fierce debate over the rights of trappers and the rights of pets and dog owners.

The best way to avoid being caught in a trap for having a pet caught in a trap is to stay on all trails and keep your pet on a leash at all times. 

 

Source: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iWD0Nrf49bIEIWdMmOXlNytu2u5wD91SFQHG0

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Leave your own comments by clicking here. Blog ID: 1262 Posted by LucyPal on Saturday Jul 12, 2008 8:15 PM EST

Couple Suing for Right to Keep Dog in Apartment

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People tend to see which other quite a bit every single year, and we’re all familiar with the famous hot coffee scandal that McDonald’s endured several years ago.  So you can see that not all of those lawsuits are as serious as they should be, or perhaps they are here is another lawsuit so you can judge for yourself with this one.

A couple, living in a high-rise apartment in Southport, Australia are battling for the right to keep their pet living with them and their apartment.  They own the penthouse apartment themselves, but the building is maintained by the building’s corporate body.  This is mostly composed of other apartment dwellers in the building, and last year they got together and voted to ban animals in the building.

This meant the couple, Bente and Warren Tutton would no longer be able to keep their ‘ gorgeous‘ Maltese shih tzu in the apartment.  At the time of the voting there were 102 apartment units in the building and ten of them had dogs.  Currently there are only two apartments with dogs left.

The Tuttons have taken their case to court and are suing to have the bylaw removed and the original law reinstated which allows dogs in the apartment building.  Mr. Tutton stated, "This was about our rights . . . and Bernie's…Most people would have given up. They wouldn't have spent $70,000. We felt so strongly it was wrong, it was worth doing."

This change in the bylaws has also affected the Tuttons military to sell their apartment. Last year they were offered $4.5 million for their apartment by some potential buyers however, the buyers pulled out when they learned they couldn’t bring their dog with them in the move. Those same buyers, later moved into a similar apartment for $5 million that allows pets.

 

Source: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24012246-2,00.html

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Leave your own comments by clicking here. Blog ID: 1261 Posted by LucyPal on Friday Jul 11, 2008 8:24 PM EST

China Bans Dog Meat in Restuarants

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Many of us are looking forward to the Chinese Olympic Games this summer.  It is both a symbolic representation of goodwill amongst all of the countries around the world, and a measure of how far China has come in public relations with countries both large and small.

Another part of their public relations plans for the Olympic Games is the Banning of dog meat from all 112 official Olympic restaurants. This is in order to avoid offending their foreign visitors.  The ban has been issued by the Beijing Catering Trade Association, and forbids all designated Atlantic restaurants from placing a dog on their menu.  The BCTA also urges other restaurant’s to remove the meat from their menus during the course of the summer Olympics.

Dog meat is known as, fragrant meat, in China and eaten by some Chinese for purported medicinal properties.  Restaurant workers are advised by the BCTA patiently suggest another meal option to diners that come in and order dog meat.

Xiong Yumei, deputy director of the Beijing Tourism Bureau told Xinhua, ‘If a customer orders dog meat, restaurant staff should patiently suggest another entrée.’

So if you have been looking forward to going to China for the purported dog meat exotic meals you’ll find that you are going to be disappointed in these official Olympic restaurants.  I myself do not suggest the eating of dog, especially for medicinal properties.

The BBC’s James Reynolds stated that this band is just one of several steps taken by China to avoid offending foreign visitors or even to avoid appearing humorous and becoming the brunt of their jokes.

Authorities have also told people to line up lately, smile at foreigners, and to avoid speeding on the streets.  In China there is a practice of people lined jumping in order to avoid long waits.

 

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7501768.stm

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Leave your own comments by clicking here. Blog ID: 1259 Posted by LucyPal on Thursday Jul 10, 2008 11:56 AM EST

Black Bears Spotted in Canada

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People living in southwestern on how the little their problem, and it looks like it might be getting worse. Black bears in Brigden, Canada are turning into peeping toms.

Debbie Bishop and her husband Mark, stated that their dog a border collie, named Molson, treed a black bear last Tuesday night near their home on oil springs road.  She stated, “After seeing it, there's no doubt in my mind there's bears here…It wasn't a big raccoon or anything like that. It was nothing else but a bear." 

Around 11:00 PM that Tuesday the Bishops hurt their dog barking incessantly. Mark Bishop went outside to investigate the dogs barking and noticed a black bear crouching in their tree about 10m away with the dog barking at the base of it. They called the dog back home and Debbie called police.

Taking advantage of its chance to escape the black bear broke a few branches on the tree as it climbed down and ran off into a neighbor’s field. The Bishops state that this is the first time they have seen bears on their property.  She said, “There's no bears around here. I don't know where he is and I hope I never see him again.” 

The police stated that they had received reports on Tuesday morning that the Colonies in the area had been destroyed and a nearby and still had been ripped apart. Looks like that the bear was a little hungry. The police also spotted what looks like bear droppings and and a grassy area where a large animal has laid down for the night.

Hopefully, that there will move on to new territory after finding nothing but dogs and bees in this small town in Canada. Folks should remember two cleaner garbage cans thoroughly, keep me scraps in the freezer until garbage day, and avoid putting meat, fish or food into composters.

Source: http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2008/07/10/6116836-sun.html

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Leave your own comments by clicking here. Blog ID: 1258 Posted by LucyPal on Wednesday Jul 9, 2008 12:52 PM EST

New Dog Reality TV Show Called Greatest American Dog!

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There’s a new dog show in town, and it’s only on T. V.  Fans of dogs will love the new summer show called, Greatest American Dog that starts Thursday, July 10 at 8:00 PM on CBS.

This new reality T. V. series challenges a dozen dog owners and their beloved pets to compete against each other for grand prize of $250,000.00. Every week the owners and their pets will cooperate in challenges involving everything from pageants to dance numbers with choreography.

On the show, a panel of three judges will evaluate the contestant’s performances and eliminate one seen each week during these ten episodes of the television show. The three judges include Victoria Stillwell, an expert dog trainer, and Wendy Diamond, pet lifestyle commentator and Canadian born Allan Reznick who is well established in the dog world.

Reznick says of the show, “We wanted to make the show educational as well as entertaining…There were minimal meltdowns and chairs flying and that was one of the things that appealed to me about the show. I just got a sense it was going to be fun, but it wasn't going to be cheesy. It was immediately evident that we really had good chemistry among the three judges."

On the show there are twelve contestants both men and women from across the United States who range in age from 24 years old up to 60 years old.  The dogs are representative of a wide variety of breeds including a Parson Russell terrier, a boxer, and a mixed breed who wears customized outfits such as a Maryland Monroe dress and a statue of liberty costume.

In the final week of the show there will be only three teams left who will square off in a double elimination challenge.  This looks to be a great summer show four reality television fans.

 

Source: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/artslife/story.html?id=05d7387d-9c7e-46fa-923b-eddf32d848c7

 

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Leave your own comments by clicking here. Blog ID: 1257 Posted by LucyPal on Tuesday Jul 8, 2008 12:48 PM EST

Dachshunds Most Aggressive Dogs

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Size does matter, or at least it does according to a recent study released by U.S.  Yep, it seems smaller dogs tend to be more aggressive than larger dogs and will even be more likely to attack than larger breed dogs.

Is it possible that these little dogs are truly aware of how small they are compared to other animals and feel a need to make up for it? Perhaps they’re hiding something, an insecurity about their size, behind their aggressive behavior towards people and other animals.

The study appears in the Applied Animal Behavior Science Journal which is published by the Dutch group Elsevier. Researchers who created the study sent questionnaires to the owners of 30 different breeds of dogs, more than 6000 dog owners. The study asked questions determining how a pet responded to a variety of common stimuli and different situations.

The results of this unusual study found that Dachshunds, Chihuahuas and Jack Russell Terriers topped the list for aggressiveness and likelihood of attacking strangers and other dogs. The small dogs, especially the Dachshunds, are likelier to attack compared to other larger breeds like pit bulls, Rottweilers, and other breeds commonly thought of as “macho" breeds.

Doctor James Serpell, a University of Pennsylvania researcher on the study stated that these smaller breeds might be more genetically predisposed towards aggressive behavior. He stated, "Reported levels of aggression in some cases are concerning, with rates of bites or bite attempts rising as high as 20 per cent toward strangers and 30 per cent toward unfamiliar dogs.”

So keep your eyes peeled for that dangerous Wiener dog when you’re walking the streets because you never know when he may attack.  He’s low to the ground, though sure the get the sausage dog quite the advantage.  If you aren’t careful you may lose an ankle or suffer severe bites the next time you come across this vicious little creature.

 

Source: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/features/mutts/blog/2008/07/the_most_aggressive_dog_breeds.html

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Leave your own comments by clicking here. Blog ID: 1260 Posted by LucyPal on Monday Jul 7, 2008 11:28 PM EST

British Couple Admits Throwing Dog from Balcony

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Here is a sad tale that dog, alcohol, and a couple with no patience.  A couple in England, Sheena and Alexander Spence, recently admitted to hurling up a black Scottish terrier named Laddie from their balcony window.

The couple were looking after the dog for its elderly owner Nancy Howells, 86, who was in the hospital dying from kidney failure last October .

The dog died from an internal hemorrhage on October 2 after receiving a number of low as and apparently falling from the balcony.  According to the west from which magistrates court, the couple pleaded guilty to two charges of unnecessary suffering to an animal and one charge of failing to attend to the needs of an animal.  They were convicted of these charges under the British Animal Welfare Act of 2006.

Apparently, Maggie was hurt during an argument between Mrs. Spence and her husband.  In the midst of this argument which was fueled by alcohol the dog ate her ankle and left quite a severe bite.  Mrs. Spence admitted that she struck Laddie in order to get him off of her ankle.  Then her husband also pulled the animal and lashed out at him.  From that point things get a little bit murky.  The couple told RSPCA officers that from their levee struck the door and Mrs. Spence picked him up and threw him over the balcony.  Implying that the act was impulsive and without thought before hand.

However, a neighbor told officials that she had heard a dog yelping, the patio doors open and then she heard a thud.  Plus, Mrs. Howells daughter told the RSPCA that she had received an unusual call in which Mr. Spence said, “Hello Pat, the dog has bitten me and Sheena...do you want me to finish him off over the balcony?”

In a later call, Mrs. Howells son in law states that Mrs. Spence called and stated, “"The dog will be OK but that is if he doesn't come by an accident first."

 

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2276188/Couple-admit-hurling-dog-from-balcony.html

 

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Leave your own comments by clicking here. Blog ID: 1252 Posted by LucyPal on Sunday Jul 6, 2008 5:35 PM EST

40th Annual Diamond State Cat Club Show

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Cat lovers from around the world showed up for the 40^th annual diamond state cat club show, where 225 cats were shown off and judged by the experts.

One cat owner and breeder Nancy Sullivan brought her Himalayan show cat to the contest.  She stated that "It's like being a fashion model…You need something for everything. This comb cost $50. It's imported from Belgium. They are very hard to get."

This been said as she swabbed the eyes of her cat to remove excess moisture and gunk with a makeup pad.

The contest which takes place at the Nur Shrine temple in Newcastle, Delaware was quite a hit for the Fourth of July weekend and many cats won ribbons and awards.

Another cat breeder Tracy Smith of Millsboro proved that it takes a long time to get their cats ready for this major competition, as well as other competitions. She stated, "You're talking about at least three hours of grooming…That's for the show bath, plus you have a maintenance bath during the week. You have to keep the oils out of the skin. If you start them at 6 weeks, they don't mind the water…It's fun to spend time with the cats on the weekend…I've been showing for 11 years now."

It seems these cats get more pampering than most people on a daily basis. I can say this, because I really don’t wash my hair as often as I should, or wear the amount of hair gel, mousse and make up that these cats do...nor have I ever won a show prize.

This competition saw quite a crowd of admirers. By late morning the parking lot was filling up and attendees began parking on the grass. Organizers stated that the competition attracts between 500 and 800 hundred people every year. This is quite the crowd for small state like Delaware.

 

Source: http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080706/NEWS/807060358

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Leave your own comments by clicking here. Blog ID: 1250 Posted by LucyPal on Saturday Jul 5, 2008 5:31 PM EST

Barney Blind and Deaf is Still World's Greatest Dog!

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It seems dogs all over the place are winning contests these days. A big golden retriever who is both blind and deaf won the Mercury World News World’s Greatest Pet Contest.

Yep, this golden lab named, Barney, is just about as happy as can be even though he’s missing two of his senses. I suppose since he is a dog after all he still has his one greatest cents which is his sense of smell and it must be how he makes it through the world and still remains so sociable.

Barney’s owners, Amy Shever and Dan Vold, state that he loves to meet new people. He'll turn his head when someone walks up and will follow you as if he were seeing you with his eyes but instead smells you with his nose.

Whose owners adopted Barney 3 1/2 years ago after receiving an e-mail about a dog that has ‘little chance of adoption’. When they went to foster Barney they realized by the end of the first day he would be joining their family permanently. Barney is now eight and a half years old, but he spent most of his early years confined to a garage. He received almost no veterinary care and had no exercise. As a result when he was rescued he could barely walk because of his toe nails which were so long.

Barney wasn’t always blind, but he did have cataracts which limited his eyesight dramatically. He did have cataract surgery but there were complications and as a result they had to remove both eyes.

Because of his untrained early upbringing and the fact that he lacks eyesight or hearing, his owners had to use touch training to teach Barney basic commands. Basically if states have on his rear he’ll sit if they struck his front paw he’ll lie down.

This dog seems to know his way around the house his basic commands and how to create new people. He is the World’s Greatest Dog.

Source: http://origin.mercurynews.com/homeandgardenheadlines/ci_9793538

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Leave your own comments by clicking here. Blog ID: 1249 Posted by LucyPal on Friday Jul 4, 2008 2:08 PM EST

Beached Killer Whale Saved in Australia

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Here is a whale of a story. A killer whale story to be precise. Yet it seems even those Aussies down south have trouble with whales beaching themselves.

Near Auckland a killer whale estimated to be about three years old beached itself on Friday afternoon. The whale coming in at a petite 3.4m was a female and naturally was in trouble. Inexperienced whales are not the only sea mammals to have beached themselves, but they are the ones most likely to be saved. Simply because they weigh less and so the crushing force of gravity isn’t as strong on them when out of the water. Of course, volunteers and animal conservation staff will make every effort to save every beached whale.

Luckily, this little less was the only one to wash up on shore at this particular beach. To help save the whales life she was watched over overnight by project Jonah and department of conservation staff. They decided that the whale was small enough to be handled and department spokesman Bill Trusewich stated that the decision was made yesterday morning to move the whale bike trailer to Takapuna Beach where the water is calmer.

Though an uncomfortable journey for the whale, she survived the trip and did not take very long to get reoriented once back in the water. Mr. Trusewich said, ‘Within 10 minutes it was able to regain its stability again and move off by itself.”

As you can imagine this whale is happy to be alive and so are the people who rescued it. Happy that it’s alive that is. All too often whales that beached themselves do not survive their experience on dry land. When one whale can be saved it’s a cause for celebration. The whale was monitored as it made its way out to bring the total channel just in case it tries to come ashore again or loses its bearings.

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Leave your own comments by clicking here. Blog ID: 1248 Posted by LucyPal on Thursday Jul 3, 2008 1:04 PM EST

Woman Loses Big Toe to Dog

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Here’s a story that says we should all keep an eye open when around our pets. It’s gross so if you have a weak stomach don’t read on. Stop now while you still can!

In Alton, Missouri a woman’s a dog managed to chew off her big toe while she slept. This week that event occurred quite anticlimactically in the woman’s home.

The woman, Linda Floyd, is 56 years old and a diabetic who suffers from neuropathy. As a result she has no feeling in her feet. This is a common problem in diabetics as they get older. In fact, many diabetics have poor circulation as well and may end up needing a part of their extremities removed as a result. However, it’s obvious Floyd didn’t expect to have an amputation in this manner.

The woman took a nap one Monday afternoon and said that she had woken to find her dog, a miniature dachshund named Roscoe licking her right foot. She soon realized her to know was missing and states that she had a reaction of total shock.

An ambulance took Floyd to the hospital where it was found that the dog had che