Toddler Protected by Dog Strays Again
April 13, 2011
Last week Tyler Jacobson hit the news as the 2-year-old South Carolina boy who wandered off from his home, but was protected overnight in the chilly temperatures by his loyal dog. While most of the attention went to what a wonderful creature the dog was, it seems more attention should have been directed toward the boy’s home life. Because once again, Jacobson wandered off alone from his house — just eight days later.
The first incident happened April 1, and it took a 25-person search party, bloodhounds, and helicopters to find him. You would think after all that, the parents might be a little overprotective … or even just protective. But Sunday, a neighbor found the boy wandering the streets again, screaming, and called police. The dog, incidentally, was by his side.
See the original story: http://thestir.cafemom.com/toddler/118526/family_dog_protects_lost_toddler
Article source: http://www.dognews.co/toddler-protected-by-dog-strays-again/
Dog Fighting Ring Brought Down
April 13, 2011
After a sustained investigation, Pennsylvania SPCA and Philadelphia police dismantled a large-scale dog-fighting ring Monday, seizing dogs, guns, and drugs, and arresting 17 people.
Monday morning, authorities raided two properties in the Kensington section after a late-night raid Sunday of a home in South Philadelphia.
Wendy Marano, a spokeswoman for the SPCA, said that shortly before 12:01 a.m. Monday, authorities with a search warrant burst into a home in the 2600 block of Gerritt Street while a dogfight was in progress. Fifteen people were arrested and six dogs were seized, Marano said.
Source: http://articles.philly.com/2011-04-11/news/29406644_1_dog-fighting-ring-pennsylvania-spca-first-raid
Worth a look: Dog fighting in Britain
Article source: http://www.dognews.co/dog-fighting-ring-brought-down/
Kim Kardashian in K9 Magazine
April 12, 2011
"we have four family dogs, we have Dolche who’s a boy, he’s 5 years old and a Chihuahua, we have Gabanna who’s a 2 year old black Labrador girl, we have Bella, who’s a 6 month old Maltese and she’s the newest addition. And we have Butter, she’s 10 months old, her real name is Beatrice P Potter Butter Beans Beyonce, but Butter for short! I share Butter with my sister, Khloe, we went together to bring her home but because I travel so much she lives with Khloe."
Prosthetics For Dogs: GSD Gets Prosthetic Ankle
April 9, 2011
World’s first for UK vet as bionic German Shepherd, Mitzi Davis, unveiled her prosthetic ankle. Mitzi, a three and a half year old white German shepherd dog from Dorchester in Dorset was trampled by a horse which crushed her foot, tearing off all blood and nerve supply back in October 2010. In a pioneering procedure, Dr Noel Fitzpatrick fitted a titanium implant to the bone below her joint – the first time a prosthesis has been put in a fully articulating bone of a dog – meaning that the foot can move like a normal dog.
As Dr Fitzpatrick unclipped her lead, a few anxious moments ensued before Mitzi took her first few strides, walking with a normal gait and confirming to all eyes watching that the operation had indeed been a huge success.
Commenting on the procedure, surgeon Dr Noel Fitzpatrick commented; “Today could have gone either way. There was always a risk that the exoprosthesis could actually break when Mitzi ran off her lead so this truly was a nail biting moment for me and for the design team as it could have failed spectacularly. What we’ve seen today is remarkable. Mitzi is walking with an entirely normal gait, with her foot moving exactly the way it should and today marks day one of Mitzi’s return to living life like a normal dog.”
He added; “Today of course has implications not only for animals but for human amputees in the future and I will continue to work closely with Professor Blunn and the Stanmore Implants team to advance this technology to improve the quality of life for animals and eventually, for humans.”
Professor Blunn commented; “Humans and other animals share a large number of degenerative musculo-skeletal conditions. The repair process of the musculoskeletal system is essentially the same whether in a dog, cat or human being. Reconstruction of the musculoskeletal system share common problems and the interchange of information between both veterinary and human orthopaedics is very important. Therefore treating animals is not only ethical in its own right but is a useful paradigm for human orthopaedics.”
Talking Point
What do you think of Mitzi’s proceedure?
Could Mitzi and her reaction pave the way to help humans?
Article source: http://www.dognews.co/prosthetics-for-dogs-gsd-gets-prosthetic-ankle/
What Makes a Dog Dangerous?
April 9, 2011
Do Dog Owners Live Longer?
April 8, 2011
Dog Owners Live Longer, Are Happier and Healthier: Report
Academic research has revealed that dog owners are happier, healthier and likely to live longer. Whilst it has been established for some time that pet ownership makes people happier, it has now been shown that the benefits of owning a dog outstrip those of cat or any other animal.
A psychologist from Queen’s University, Belfast, said dog owners tended to have lower blood pressure and cholesterol.
Writing in the British Journal of Health Psychology, she says that regular ‘walkies’ may partly explain the difference.
Dr Deborah Wells reviewed dozens of earlier research papers which looked at the health benefits of pet ownership.
In some cases, the research even ventured as far to suggest the social support offered by an animal is greater than the support than another human could offer.
She confirmed that pet owners tended in general to be healthier than the average member of the population.
As well as lower blood and cholesterol levels, dog-owners suffered fewer minor ailments and serious medical problems than owners of other pets such as cats.
It has been believed for some time that dogs can assist people in recovery from serious illnesses such as heart attacks, and act as ‘early warning’ to detect an approaching epileptic seizure. This research adds further strength to the claim.
Dogs as Stress Relief
Dr Wells was not totally sure why, exactly, dogs are so beneficial to our health:
“It is possible that dogs can directly promote our well-being by buffering us from stress, one of the major risk factors associated with ill-health.
“The ownership of a dog can also lead to increases in physical activity and facilitate the development of social contacts, which may enhance both physiological and psychological human health in a more indirect manner.”
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Tip: want your dog to live longer?
Then proper dog nutrition is your key to extended the life of your pet.
Article source: http://www.dognews.co/do-dog-owners-live-longer/
Man Barks at Dog
April 8, 2011
Not Quite Man Bites Dog, but Man Barks at Dog – Gets Prosecuted!
Here’s one of those stories that have to be seen to be believed.
A US man has gotten himself in trouble with the law for, wait for it, barking at a dog.
MSNBC reports:
According to a police report, Officer Bradley Walker was responding to a crash at the Mason Pub early Sunday morning when his K-9 officer, Timber, began barking.
Walker said he observed 25-year-old Ryan Stephens with his face about 2 inches from the rear window of the police vehicle, barking and hissing at Timber.
When Walker questioned Stephens about why he was barking at the dog, Stephens replied, “He started it. He was harassing me.”
Walker said he believed Stephens was intoxicated because he smelled of alcohol and his speech was slurred.
Stephens is to appear April 21 in municipal court on a misdemeanor citation of willfully teasing a police K-9 officer.
Walker said it’s dangerous to incite the dogs while they’re locked inside the vehicle.
Amazing dog story!
Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42463543/ns/us_news-weird_news/
Article source: http://www.dognews.co/man-barks-at-dog/
Dog Begs a Small Fortune
April 8, 2011
A cross breed dog from South Beach, Miami, has been singing for his supper and earning his family a packet according to a piece in the Telegraph.
The paper reports how:
The dog, named locally as Chocolate, has been filmed begging for money in a packed restaurant in the Florida city.
Tourists recorded him carrying a bucket from table to table before waiting patiently until diners dropped money into his begging bowl.
When a careless donor missed the receptacle, the dog carefully retrieved the bill from the floor with his teeth before adding it to his haul.
It is not known how much money the dog makes from begging, but judging by the number of notes in his bucket, he is proving quite a success.
Article source: http://www.dognews.co/dog-begs-a-small-fortune/
Do Dogs Really Need Booster Vaccinations?
April 7, 2011
Deadly Lungworm Infections Spreading to Dogs
April 6, 2011
It is being reported in the British media that the spread of deadly lungworm infections is spreading from urban foxes to dogs.
The Daily Mail reports:
Dogs are at increasing risk from a deadly parasite spread by urban foxes, experts say.
Cases of lungworm infection –an animal disease that causes breathing problems and internal bleeding – have doubled in recent years.
The disease arrived in the UK 30 years ago and is carried by foxes, slugs and snails.
The lungworm parasite, angiostrongylus vasorum, is carried in fox faeces.
Dogs pick up the disease if they swallow the pests or contaminated dirt.
Symptoms include breathing problems, nose bleeds and vomiting. The worm does not affect humans.
Article source: http://www.dognews.co/deadly-lungworm-infections-spreading-to-dogs/