All Breed Dog Show

07/12/07

Show dogs and their human companions are preparing for the All India All Breed Dog Show this weekend in Bangalore, India.

The dog show will be hosted by the Bangalore Canine Club at the Palace Grounds this Saturday and Sunday. Prizes will be awarded in several categories including Junior Handlers, for children, and Best Bred Dog. Dogs will also be judged in areas that are relevant to their breeds, such as German Shepherds being judged on training ability and Blood Hounds being tested on their tracking skills.

The dog club has already received 450 entries that will see over 50 breeds of dogs showcased for the public.

Attempted Dog Theft

06/12/07

Two men kidnapped a police captain’s dog in Chicago last week inciting a car chase and arrest.

A neighbour saw two young men form a dog leash out of their belts last Wednesday afternoon and lure Kasey, a 50 pound mixed breed, from police Capt. Thomas McMahon's yard. The dog belongs to McMahon’s 14-year-old daughter, Katie, who pursued the thieves when alerted to the dognapping. The neighbour picked Katie and continued the chase in a minivan. The police captain soon joined the pursuit and chased the men until they dropped the dog leash and the dog was able to jump into the minivan with Katie.

McMahon eventually caught up with the criminals at a restaurant where one was arrested while pretending to order food and the other hiding behind garbage bins.

Rich Dog in Hiding

05/12/07

The dog that inherited $12 million earlier this year has gone into hiding after receiving numerous death threats.

Trouble, a white Maltese, was flown by private jet to Florida after receiving about 20 threats on her life. The little dog has earned a negative reputation for its habit of biting people. Trouble also inflamed tempers after her late owner, New York socialite Leona Helmsley, made the dog the primary beneficiary in her will. The dog has been living under an assumed name in the southern state for the past two months.

It seems that Trouble is living up to her name with all the media attention and bad habits she is said to have.

MUTTS Muse Dies

04/12/07

The dog that inspired the comic strip MUTTS has passed away at the age of 18.

Earl, a white terrier, will be missed by fans of the comic and his owner Patrick McDonnell. MUTTS is a comic that focuses on a cat named Mooch and his canine neighbour Earl. The character Earl was known for loving people and dog food, as well as for his habit of howling when left alone by his bachelor owner, Ozzie.

The MUTTS comic strip began in 1994 and is currently published in more than 700 newspapers.

Bulgaria Passes Dog Laws

03/12/07

The Bulgarian government has passed legislation that imposes huge fines on people who mistreat or abandon their pets.

The eastern European country introduced the pet protection laws last Friday to help limit the number of stray dogs roaming city streets. The law promotes adopting stray animals and strongly discourages cruelty to dogs and cats. It also heavily encourages pet owners to spay or neuter their pets. An estimated 700,000 stray dogs were killed in the capital of Sophia between 1998 and 2006 despite protests.

The new fines for abandoning pets can climb to as high as about $2500 USD.

Read more of the Dog Blog.