July 2007
Dog Survives 29 Days on Mountain
31/07/07
A Rottweiler cross has survived 29 days alone in the wilderness in Vancouver, Canada.
Aniki was found by hikers on the weekend after being separated from his owner on Mount Seymour nearly a month ago. The four-year-old dog lost 25 pounds during the ordeal and is suffering from an eye infection, but is otherwise in good health.
Aniki’s owner, Nam Hoang, had to leave the dog behind after he himself was lost hiking and had to take a treacherous route down the mountain. The dog, who had previously been hit by a car resulting in an $11,000 surgery, couldn’t follow down the difficult trail. Hoang, who has a health condition, continued down the mountain, sending friends the next day to find Aniki. Hoang returned to the mountain everyday hoping the dog would catch his scent and follow him out. The lost dog was found by hikers near the ridge where Hoang had left him.
To the Dogs
30/07/07
An art gallery in Vancouver, Canada is showing an exhibit dedicated to man’s best friend.
The show, entitled To the Dogs, is running at the Presentation House Gallery in North Vancouver. Through photographs and film, the exhibit explores the proximity of dogs to humans and the diverse roles canines play in our society. Dog portraits and everyday photographs of celebrities with their dogs highlight the show.
To the Dogs is only on display for one more week, so be sure to check it out if you’re in the area. Dogs are also welcome to visit the gallery while on a leash.
Vick Pleads Not Guilty
27/07/07
Michael Vick pleaded not guilty in court yesterday on charges of involvement in a Virginia-based dog fighting ring.
The NFL quarterback showed up at the courts on the same day his Atlanta Falcons teammates showed up for their first day at training camp. A frenzied crowd greeted Vick to the courts with boos and a few dispersed cheers from supporters. Whilst Vick faced the media circus and animal rights protesters, a plane encircled the Falcons’ training camp, trailing banner that read: “New Team Name? Dog-Killers?” Vick’s trial date is set for November 26, making it unlikely that he will play football for the Falcon’s this season.
The charges stem from evidence found on Vick’s Virginia property including 54 pit bulls, bloody carpeting, the graves of several pit bulls and an electronic treadmill modified for dogs. It is also alleged that Vick himself attended dog fights, paid off bets and helped in the execution of losing dogs.
Canine Hero Passes Away
26/07/07
A black Labrador Retriever, who helped search for survivors after 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, died yesterday.
Jake, a search-and-rescue dog from Utah, was put to sleep at the age of 12 after a battle with cancer. Jake was on hand after 9/11 to search through the debris for buried survivors. He also made the 30 hour drive with his owner from his home in Utah to Mississippi to help in the rescue efforts after Hurricane Katrina.
Jake was adopted by his owner, Mary Flood, as a 10-month-old disabled puppy suffering from a broken leg and dislocated hip. He eventually became a top ranked search-and-rescue dog and worked to save lives after various disasters. Later in his life, Jake joined with human trainers to teach younger dogs how to find scents and work in precarious situations.
Stray Dog Rescued from River
25/07/07
A stray dog was pulled from a river in Chicago last week by two teens.
Samantha Romano and Preston Reynolds were relaxing by the river on July 14 when two police officers called out to them to help the dog. The confused dog was panicking in the water and could not swim. Romano jumped in the water and passed the dog to Reynolds on the shore.
The dog was found only to be wearing a flea collar and had no identification tags. It also had broken teeth and was missing part of its tail prior to the river incident, leading veterinarians to believe the dog was homeless. Reynolds has stated his family will adopt the dog if no one comes forward to claim ownership.
The Dog Diet
24/07/07
A new book by Patti Lawson describes how to lose weight with help from your canine companion.
Lawson penned The Dog Diet after losing 30 pounds with help from her Cocker Spaniel and German Shepherd mixed puppy, Sadie. The weight loss began when Lawson wanted to share her snacks with Sadie, but didn’t want to feed her unhealthy junk food. The desire to feed Sadie well, led to Lawson herself eating healthy food.
The pounds continued to drop with the responsibility of walking and playing with her puppy daily, what Lawson coined, “dogercise”. Above all, Lawson’s new book emphasizes the way Sadie helped build her self-confidence with unconditional love.
Safe Driving with your Dog
23/07/07
The SPCA is promoting safe car trips for your dogs this summer.
The BC chapter of the SPCA is encouraging drivers to protect their dogs while on the road. Police will focus on ticketing drivers who are caught with loose dogs in the car over the summer months.
All dogs should be restrained when travelling in the car, either in a kennel or by a dog harness secured to a seatbelt. Loose dogs in a car can cause distractions for the driver and serious injury to themselves and other passengers in the event of an accident.
Be safe and buckle up your pup your summer!
Chihuahua saves Toddler
20/07/07
A tiny dog has proven to be a hero after saving a toddler from a rattlesnake.
Zoey, a five-pound Chihuahua, saved her owner’s 1-year-old grandson from the deadly snake earlier this month in Colorado. The tot was playing in a birdbath when the snake rattled and prepared to strike. Zoey leapt between the snake and the baby diverting the attack. The dog’s yelps drew the attention of nearby adults who came to their aid.
Zoey suffered a series of snake bites but managed to survive the ordeal with only a small scar on her forehead.
Dog Obesity
19/07/07
New research reveals that an increasing number of dogs are suffering from obesity.
The findings, released by Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance, show that around 34% of the combined dog and cat population in the UK is considered obese. The study, which was conducted by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, also indicated that 81% of animal physiotherapists consider obesity to the biggest health risk for dogs. Overfeeding and lack of exercise were labeled as the primary causes of canine obesity.
Although the breed, sex and size of dogs can vary drastically, there are warning signs that your dog may be overweight. Normal, healthy sized dogs have their bellies tucked up with a visible waistline and little excess fat covering the ribs. In contrast, obese dogs often have sagging bellies, no clearly visible waistline and ribs that are difficult to feel through the fat.
Solving Taiwan's Stray Dog Problem
18/07/07
Taiwan is launching a campaign aimed at reducing the number of stray dogs on the island.
Officials are planning to better educate potential dog owners on the responsibilites and commitment of owning a dog. Stray dogs are a common sight not only in rural areas of Taiwan but in major cities. Statistics show that 179,460 stray dogs live on the island along with the population of 23 million people.
The number of stray dogs on the streets soared in the 1980's when financial success resulted in people purchasing puppies, mostly breeds popular in mainstream media at the time. Many of the puppies purchased were abandoned by their owners if they became sick or simply when they grew to adult size.
The new campaign is primarily to relay the message that pets are not disposable objects. Jiang Wen-chuan, a livestock chief under Taiwan's Council of Agriculture, predicts that the stray dog population will lower to 100,000 in the next decade.
Wiener Dog Races
17/07/07
The title of "Fastest Wiener in the West" was won by two-year-old dachshund, Sally, on the weekend.
Sally finished the 50-yard course in just over seven seconds at the 12th annual Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals championship race on Saturday night at the Los Alamitos Race Course. Sally, a first-time racer, defeated 86 other competing dogs.
The short sprinter's prizes included $1,000 cash, a trophy, a crystal-encrusted dog collar pendant, and an A-framed dog house.
The race drew a crowd of 12,000 spectators and raised more than $20,000 for the Seal Beach Animal Care Center.
Dog Adopts Panther Cub
16/07/07
A Rhodesian Ridgeback has adopted a 15-day-old panther rejected by her mother at the Belgrade Zoo in Serbia.
The panther cub, Milica, joined the litter of puppies after her mother refused to feed her and tried to kill her.
Zookeeper Dragan Jovanovic said the mother panther had done the same with all of her cubs since 1999 and believes she was traumatized in the past.
Milica is nursed and is cared for by the adoptive canine mother as though she were a natural member of the litter. Zookeepers said they usually care for abandoned animals, but placed Milica with the litter of puppies since they were born at the same time.
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