Study on Canine Comprehension
30/11/07
An Austrian study has proven that dogs have the cognitive ability to form abstract concepts.
The study, carried out by the University of Vienna, tested four dogs on their ability to visually categorize pictures. Using touch-screen computers, the researchers showed the dogs various images of landscapes and other dogs. When the test canines chose the dog image, they were rewarded with a food pellet. After this initial training phase, the dogs were able to successfully recognize the difference between images of landscape and dogs.
Since dogs have now proven their ability to discern visual objects, maybe it’s time to let them start choosing their own collars and leashes.
Vick to Pay for Dog Care
29/11/07
Michael Vick has agreed to pay over $900,000 for the care of 54 dogs found in a raid on his Virginia property earlier this year.
One of the football star’s lawyers confirmed that Vick will deposit the money on Friday to cover the expenses of the abused dogs seized from his property in April. Vick pleaded guilty to his role in a dog fighting ring in August and is scheduled to face his sentencing on December 10. The pit bulls rescued from Vick’s Bad Newz Kennels were place in shelters across the state after the raid. The dogs underwent assessment by animal professionals and some may soon be deemed eligible for adoption.
We hope all of these dogs are well cared for and eventually find homes for adoption.
Dog Addicted to Underwear
28/11/07
A British dog with a taste for inedible household items has undergone surgery after ingesting a pair of underwear.
Taffy, an 18-month-old Springer Spaniel, endured a two hour operation to remove the underwear from his stomach. It was the 40th pair of underwear that the dog has devoured. Taffy’s owners said he usually passes the items naturally, but they had noticed him in some pain with the most recent meal of underwear. The dog has also consumed 300 socks, 15 pairs of shoes and a key fob.
Taffy has made a full recovery from his surgery and his owners are making extra effort to hide underwear and other pieces of clothing from the dog. We hope Taffy starts to like her dog food a little more and undies a little less.
Model Offers Reward for Lost Dog
27/11/07
Fashion model Nicky Watson is offering a reward to anyone who finds her lost dog.
The New Zealand television personality and model was left distraught after her nine-year-old pet dog went missing over the weekend from Matarangi in the Coromandel. The dog, named Cricket, is a white Chihuahua with light brown ears and a ring around his tail. Watson told the press that she is "hoping that someone has found him and is keeping him safe”. She has had Cricket since he was a puppy.
We wish the best of luck to Nicky hope Cricket is returned home soon.
Willie Fights Back for Dogs
26/11/07
Willie Nelson has filmed a public service announcement to support anti-dog fighting legislation in the state of Georgia.
The country music star may soon appear on television and radio with a supportive message to help pass an upcoming Senate bill proposing harsher penalties for dog fighting activities. The bill would make it a felony for anyone to buy, sell or trade dogs for the purpose of dog fighting. Nelson was asked to shoot the announcement by the Utah-based Best Friends Animal Society.
Nelson, an avid animal lover, recorded his spoken message over the song “Georgia on my Mind”. It’s great to see such a well known celebrity supporting this cause.
Abseiler Rescues Dog
23/11/07
An abseiler descended a 50ft ravine in England this week to save a stranded dog.
Craig Tinney, 28, lowered himself down the cliff on Tuesday to aid the dog that had plunged over the edge the day before. Tinney spotted the six-year-old Labrador, Crown, in water at the bottom of the ravine. He then managed to climb back up the cliff face carrying the injured dog. Tinney, an experience gorge walker and abseiler, is being hailed a hero by local residents who participated in the search for the dog.
Crown suffered a dislocated hip from the fall but is expected to make a full recovery.
Celebrity Endorsed Dog Invention
22/11/07
Nicole Richie is promoting a new invention that saves lampposts from being eroded by dog urine.
The Simple Life star is putting her celebrity power to use by plugging a new dog urinal invention that wraps around lampposts to prevent damage to the paint. The dog urinals were unveiled by Swedish inventor Lennart Jarlerbro earlier this month to extend the longevity of your local street light. Richie described the product as being “a cute rubber cup attached to the post and a hose that pipes urine into the gutter".
This may sound strange to most dog owners, but perhaps some urban dogs do have lampposts they particularly love that need protection from pooch pee. At least the celebrities love it!
British Dog of the Year
21/11/07
A blind Bull Mastiff has been named Dog of the Year by the British RSPCA.
Oliver, the two-year-old Bull Mastiff, was voted to win the award by readers a national newspaper. Oliver was abandoned in when he was five months old and was suffering from a serious eye infection. He was picked up by a dog warden and rushed to immediate surgery, but it was too late to save his vision. The dog also had to have one eye removed. Oliver currently lives in an adopted home. His owners say he is just like any other dog despite his ordeal.
Oliver is truly an inspiration to everyone who has pet living with health problems and deserves his recognition as Dog of the Year.
Dog Returns after Adventure
20/11/07
A dog from Missouri has returned home after seven months on the road, one operation, two intermediate homes and a new name.
Happy, also known as Radar, went missing from his home with the Bowman family seven months ago. This week, Happy’s owners saw his picture in the paper after he ran away from his adopted family to the vet who they had neuter him on November 11. The black mixed breed dog had made headlines as being the first dog the vet could recall running back to the clinic after an operation.
It’s a twisted dog’s tale, but at least Happy has lots of people out there who are more than willing to give the adventurous pooch a home.
New Breed of Bomb Dog
19/11/07
A team of four highly trained bomb sniffing dogs will be deployed in Australian prisons to combat risks posed by terrorists.
The Labrador Retrievers will be used to secure the jails and courts in New South Wales for the upcoming trial of nine men caught in the country’s biggest anti-terrorism bust. The dogs are being taught at a new $1.8 million police dog training facility to detect explosives including TNT, PETN, RDX, Chlorox and nitrate. The dog team will likely take part in US testing to determine if they can detect the relatively new and unstable explosive, TATP.
The dogs will play an integral role in security for the trials, which will begin next February and are likely to last up to two years.
Vancouver Dog Squad Anniversary
16/11/07
The Vancouver Police Dog Squad in BC, Canada will mark its 50th anniversary this weekend with a celebration open to the public.
People will have the chance to meet police dogs and watch demonstrations as a part of the celebration downtown this Saturday. Veteran officer, Ron Ginter, will be attending the event, recalling his memories of signing up as one of the original members of the dog squad. Ginter remembered how his first dog, King, loved to search homes and would bounce around waiting for him to unclip the leash.
Admission to the 50th anniversary party is free and German Shepherd puppies will also be on hand to entertain the crowds.
Man Marries Dog
15/11/07
An Indian man has married a dog in a bid to rid himself of a curse he believes to have struck him after being cruel to dogs earlier in his life.
The 34-year-old farmer fell on bad fortune 15 years ago, just days after her beat two dogs to death. He became unable to walk and his hearing and speech were impaired. Doctors did not have a diagnosis for him, but an astrologer recommended marrying a dog to break the curse. The man married a four-year-old dog, named Selvi, in a traditional ceremony on the weekend. He said his marriage to the dog is purely to lift the curse and that he will eventually find a human bride.
Dogs may be man’s best friend, but this may be a little too far fetched...
Dog Returned for Ransom
14/11/07
An English couple paid a £750 ransom to have their 18-month-old dog returned to them by thieves.
The lurcher, Buddy, was stolen from outside a grocery store on September 25 while his owner picked up the morning newspaper. It was nearly two months later that the dog’s elderly owners, David and Mareth Cornock, received the ransom demand. The owners did not contact authorities, as instructed by the dognappers, and paid the ransom in exchange for Buddy’s return.
Buddy was safety reunited to his owners, but the police say that the owners’ compliance with the dognappers’ demands may result in similar incidents in the future.
Warning after Dog’s Fireworks Scare
13/11/07
People are being urged to attend organized firework displays after a dog in the UK suffered serious injuries during recent celebrations.
Kamae, a 10-year-old Japanese Akita, was frightened into traffic by fireworks being set off in the neighbourhood for the annual bonfire night. The dog became trapped underneath a car and had to be rescued by firefighters. Kamae was in critical condition for 12 hours and has since made a full recovery. The dog’s owner said that bigger dogs are often spooked by fireworks and can easily cause harm to themselves and others when frightened. He urged people to attend organized pyrotechnic displays rather than setting off firecrackers in residential areas.
Dog safety is an important issue with loud noises. Always keep your dog in a safe, enclosed area during times when they may be spooked by fireworks or lightening storms.
Blood Transfusion saves Homeless Dog
12/11/07
A dog found near-death on the streets of Dallas, Texas last month has made a miraculous recovery after receiving a blood transfusion.
Princess, a Boxer mix, was taken to the Operation Kindness Carrollton dog shelter by a good Samaritan who found the dog in a church parking lot. Princess was anemic, beset with parasites and unable to eat when she arrived at the shelter. After receiving a blood transfusion from fellow shelter resident, Prince, the dog’s condition improved enormously. Weighing only 22 pounds when she was found, Princess has gained 11 pounds and started playing with shelter workers since receiving the transfusion.
Both Princess and Prince, a shepherd mix breed, will be available for adoption in the near future.
Black Dogs Fill Shelter
09/11/07
An animal shelter in northern Alberta is making a plea to potential pet owners not to overlook dogs with black coats.
The Lakeland Humane Society is experiencing a bout of the phenomenon referred to as “Black Dog Syndrome”. The shelter is over three quarters full of black dogs that have not been adopted. The syndrome occurs when a dominate preference for light coloured dogs results in dogs with black coats filling shelters. It is believed that the reluctance to adopt breeds with black coats is associated with negative portrayal in the media. Dogs with black coats, such as Rottweilers, are often shown as being aggressive in television and films.
Similar reluctance towards black furred pets is even more prevalent with cats due to many cultures associating bad luck superstitions with black cats.
Bravery Award for Police Dog
08/11/07
A police dog in the UK has been recognized with a bravery award after nearly being strangled while trying to detain a suspect.
Sam, a nine-year-old German Shepherd, was presented the award in a ceremony this week by Chief Inspector Adrian Knight of the Warwickshire Police. The dog was honoured for his heroics shown in September last year when a suspect grabbed and twisted his dog collar, choking him into unconsciousness. Sam’s quick actions gave his human partner time to apprehend the suspect while Sam recovered.
In a double honour, Sam was also recognized as the top performing police dog in a competition to test his skills at obedience, agility and searching.
Study in Dog Genes
07/11/07
A study from Sweden has shown that the genetic variation between different dog breeds is far greater than previously thought.
Susanne Björnefeldt revealed the findings as a part of her dissertation earlier this year, showing the genetic elasticity of dogs compared to other species, such as their ancestors, wolves. By comparing DNA, Björnefeldt surmised that breeds of dogs can vary drastically, even in similar looking breeds. She cited Poodles as an example breed saying that kennel clubs often recognize Poodles as being divided into four groupings when, genetically, they are actually divided into five groups.
Dogs are the most varied mammals on the planet due to human-influenced breeding over many centuries, among other reasons.
Dog Memorial
06/11/07
Dogs and cats are being remembered with a unique pet memorial in Manila, Philippines.
The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) opened the memorial space for pet owners who live in apartments and condominiums to have a place to bury their departed cats and dogs. People who choose to bury their pets in the cemetery are asked to give a donation to the PAWS shelter. Many people mark their pet’s resting place with tombstones engraved with special messages to their beloved companion.
The memorial allows for urban pet owners to lay their dog or cat to rest with their favourite toys or collar rather than having to cremate the remains. It also provides a place to visit and leave flowers or photographs of their pets.
Dog Blood Bank
05/11/07
Vets in England are calling for a national blood bank for dogs to meet the growing medical demands of pets.
Members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and associated academic institutions said the field of animal medicine is growing with the rising demands of pet owners. Surgery for cataracts, hip replacements and chemotherapy are some of the treatments for which dogs require blood transfusions. The specialists named a few breeds, including Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Keeshonds and Retrievers, that are more likely to suffer from heart problems where blood donations would be needed.
The blood shortage for dogs was listed by the panel as one of the biggest constraints in veterinary medicine.
Dog and Cat of the Year
02/11/07
A dog that saved his owner from choking and a cat that woke her owner to a house full of deadly carbon monoxide have been hailed as Dog and Cat of the Year.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) honoured the heroic pets at a ceremony in New York yesterday. Toby, a 2 1/2-year-old Golden Retriever, was recognized for giving his owner a modified Heimlich maneouver by jumping on her chest when she was choking on an apple skin. Winnie, a grey-haired tabby cat, earned her award by clawing at her sleeping owner to alert her of a toxic carbon monoxide leak in the house.
The dog and cat were given their awards at a ceremony along with five humans who performed extraordinary heroics towards animals.
Pizza Dinners for Shelter Dogs
01/11/07
A Chicago pizzeria has been offering up some delicious dinners to homeless dogs at a local shelter.
Ted Lownik, a partime deliveryman at Barracco’s pizza, has been making special deliveries to the Animal Welfare League in Chicago since hearing about outbreaks of tainted pet food on the market. Lownik has brought the shelter dogs over 4.6 tonnes of beef, gravy and pizza scraps that would have otherwise been thrown in the garbage. The Animal Welfare League was forced to destroy most of their stored food after many animals were killed by the tainted products.
What a treat for homeless dogs to be receiving gourmet dog food scraps from this generous restaurant.
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