October 2007
Dog Saves Owner from Snake
31/10/07
An Australian Sheepdog is in a coma after saving her owner from a deadly snake bite earlier this week on the Gold Coast, Australia.
Tess, a young Kelpie, jumped to defend her owner from a 6ft long brown snake when it attacked on Sunday morning. Fay Palethorpe, 68, was gardening when the poisonous snake reared up and struck at her three times. The snake pursued her across the yard as she ran to the house when Tess came to the rescue. The dog managed to scare the snake away, but was bitten on the inside of her ear.
Tess has been given a 50-50 chance of surviving the ordeal. We hope this canine hero pulls through.
Update 04/11/07: Tess has amazingly awakened from her coma after suffering the venomous snake bite one week ago. The kelpie is expected to be weak over the next few days until she is fully recovered.
Dogs Stop Poachers
30/10/07
Game wardens in Kansas are using the natural hunting abilities in dogs to help catch poachers.
The wardens are training Labrador Retrievers to sniff out evidence against hunters who shoot more than their limit of game birds or illegally kill deer. The dogs complete a 400 hour course before going on the field to find stashed game, such as ducks buried in mud or deer antlers hidden in a vehicle. Dogs in the program are trained to recognize that their shift begins when the wardens buckle the working collars and harnesses on them.
The highly specialized dogs are trained to ignore their instinct to fetch and bark at the find instead, so evidence isn’t damaged.
Corgis Favoured at Fido Awards
29/10/07
A pack of celebrity Corgis were the big winners this weekend at the canine equivalent of the Oscars.
Poppy, Anna, Alice, Megan and Oliver swept the inaugural Fido Awards winning the titles for Best Historical Hounds and Best in World. The Corgis were recognized for their work in The Queen alongside Oscar winner Dame Helen Mirren. The breed also scored a win when the Corgi, Travis, who starred in Year of the Dog took home the award for Best Comedy Canine. Travis had to learn how to walk in a doggie wheelchair for the role.
The Fidos are the first international awards ceremony to recognize dogs starring on the silver screen. They were presented as part of the British Film Institute’s London Film Festival.
Pets Fill California Hotels
26/10/07
Dogs, cats and pets of all kinds are checking in to hotels across California as widespread fires force thousands to evacuate their homes.
The wildfires have displaced hundreds of thousands of people and pets since erupting on October 20. Many hotels in the region have dropped no pet policies to open their doors to owners with dogs and an assortment of other animals in need of shelter. Some hotels were reporting to have goats, potbelly pigs and even chinchillas as guests in addition to huge numbers of dogs and cats.
The evacuation orders were lifted for some regions today allowing owners to go back to their homes, but thousands still remain unable to return to their properties.
Halloween Hounds
25/10/07
Halloween is just around the corner and animal care professionals are giving some tips for dog owners to keep their furry friends safe.
Anyone taking dogs out to trick-or-treat should make sure to follow all the regular rules for nighttime walks. All dogs out in the dark should be wearing a luminescent or reflective dog collar with identification tags in case he or she escapes the leash. Cute costumes may give you lots of laughs, but they are best avoided if your dog is scratching or clearly uncomfortable. Also, remember that chocolate treats may be tasty for people, but they are toxic to dogs.
Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be sure to have a safe and spooky Halloween with your dog.
DeGeneres’ Dog Drama Continues
24/10/07
Ellen DeGeneres returned to her talk show yesterday after taking time off to cope with the public reaction to her recent dog drama.
The comedian took the extended weekend after breaking down in tears on her show last week over after complications with a dog adoption agency. DeGeneres had adopted a dog, Iggy, from the shelter that didn’t fit in well at her home. Trouble ensued when she gave the Brussels Griffon mix terrier to her hairdresser, breaking her contract with the shelter. The agency reclaimed the dog from the hairdresser’s family, resulting in DeGeneres making her tearful on-air plea.
DeGeneres recently stated that she hopes her experience with the dog adoption agency won’t deter people from finding pets at shelters.
Kidnapped Dog Found
23/10/07
A kidnapped German Shepherd has been reunited with his elderly owners in Bogota, Columbia after his captors made a failed attempt to extort $350,000 ransom for his safe return.
The dog, named Aldo, was dropped off at a veterinarian office last Friday by his captors, who told workers that he needed a bath. They never returned for the dog and it was soon discovered that Aldo was the dog stolen from a wealthy neighbourhood while his owners were away. Undercover police had been involved in a shootout with the dog’s captors earlier that day during a staged exchange meeting for the ransom money. No ransom was paid.
Aldo showed signs of starvation, but was otherwise in good health when he was returned to his owners.
Dog Walkers Find Totem Pole
22/10/07
A Toronto couple discovered a stolen totem pole on the weekend while walking their dog in the city’s east end.
Elaine Coyle, 50, and her husband Dan, 45, found the pole partially covered in leaves off a trail in Morningside Park while walking their White Shepherd dog, Storm, on Saturday. They dragged the pole back to the trail by tying Storm’s leash to it and having the dog haul it out of the brush using her harness. The couple alerted the police and waited for an hour before authorities arrived to retrieve the pole.
The totem pole, which stands five metres high, went missing last week after a group of at-risk youth spent their summer completing the project.
Dog Walk of Fame
19/10/07
Celebrity canines will be honoured with their own walk of fame in south London’s Battersea Park.
The walk will open on November 5 when the first six inductees will be announced from a shortlist that includes some of the biggest dog stars of the past century. Some of the frontrunners for the initial plaque are Lassie, Gromit the cartoon dog, Tintin’s pet Snowy and Toto from The Wizard of Oz. Battersea Park was chosen as the location for the walk due to its proximity to London’s best-known dog shelter, the Battersea Dogs Home.
The dog walk of fame announcement comes weeks before canine movie stars are to be recognized at the inaugural Fido Awards.
Dog Rescued After Cliff Fall
18/10/07
A dog was found alive today after plunging down a 30ft cliff near Aberdeen, Scotland three days ago.
Taffy, a collie breed, was on holiday with his owners when he tumbled over the ledge earlier this week. The Coastguard and Royal National Lifeboat Institution launched a search for the missing dog after his owners alerted authorities. The injured dog was spotted at the bottom of the cliffs this afternoon by a member of the public. Taffy required medical attention, but is recovering well. He has since been reunited with his family.
Officials in the coastal area are reminding dog owners to keep their pet on a collar and leash when walking near steep cliffs.
DeGeneres’ Dog Woes
17/10/07
Ellen DeGeneres made a tearful plea on her show yesterday for an animal rescue group to return a dog to her hairdresser’s family.
The situation arose when DeGeneres adopted Iggy, a Brussels Griffon mix terrier, and discovered that the dog didn’t get along with her cats. She decided to give the dog to her hairdresser, which was in violation of the contract she signed with the rescue agency. When the agency found that the comedian had placed Iggy with a different owner, they repossessed the dog taking him from the hairdresser and her two daughters aged 11 and 12.
The animal shelter stated today that they would not return the dog. One of the reasons for the decision was their policy that small dogs cannot be housed to families with children under the age of 14.
Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
16/10/07
October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is urging the public to give a homeless dog a family.
The ASPCA estimates that 8 million to 12 million pets are taken in by shelters in the U.S. each year. More than half of these shelter animals are euthanized due to lack of resources or space. Most shelters have both purebred and mixed breed dogs with trained staff on hand to help you choose the right dog breed for your lifestyle. Dogs are also screened for health and behavioural problems when they enter the shelter.
If you choose to adopt a dog, the ASPCA reminds people to have the pet microchipped and to be certain the dog is always wearing a collar with identification.
Good Dog, Bad Cat
15/10/07
A man was saved by his dog last week when a fire broke out in his house after the family cat knocked over a lantern.
Roland Cote, 56, was alerted to the blaze in his Maine home when his black Labrador, Thumper, woke him up by pulling on his arm. Cote had just enough time to call emergency services and evacuate the house. Firefighters later discovered that the blaze was ignited when the family’s pet cat, Princess, knocked over a kerosene lantern that burned a hole in the rubber propane line that ran to the refrigerator.
The dog and cat were the only occupants in the house other than Cote. There were no injuries besides a singed tail for the cat.
Vet a Hero in Pittsburgh Blaze
12/10/07
A Pittsburgh veterinarian saved people and pets from a fire that broke out in his animal hospital yesterday.
Dr. Mark Jasmine was in the process of spaying a dog when the fire erupted around noon at his clinic in Springdale. Jasmine, whose family lives on the top floor of the building, rushed to rescue his children then returned to save the dogs and cats in the hospital. Once everyone had been evacuated, Jasmine completed surgery on the dog on a makeshift operating table in a nearby parking lot.
No one was injured and the fire was controlled before it could spread to neighbouring properties. Fire officials are investigating the cause of the blaze.
Pet a Porter
11/10/07
Harrods will feature creations from top designers in their annual Pet a Porter dog fashion show set to take place on October, 29.
The famous UK department store will showcase jewelled collars, coats and leashes from designers including Ben de Lisi, Basso and Brooke, Issa and Stephen Webster. The featured piece will be a £2500 diamond and sapphire encrusted Vivienne Westwood dog coat. The collection, worth an estimated £1.5 million, will be paraded on a neon-lit catwalk at London’s Harrods.
Celebrities including Brittany Murphy and Elizabeth Hurley will attend a VIP champagne reception for the event aimed at raising money for the Retired Greyhound Trust.
JK Rowling Adopts Greyhound
10/10/07
The owner of a Scottish dog rescue centre was surprised to realize that she had housed a Greyhound with the world’s most famous children’s author.
Celia Fernie was unaware that the person she was screening for dog ownership was the Harry Potter writer, until she handed her the cheque. Rowling gave the unsuspecting Fernie a cheque for £1000, when only £30 had been requested as a donation to the Greyhound Rescue Fife. Rowling brought her family to the rescue centre where they chose a four-year-old retired racing dog named Sapphire as their new pet.
Sapphire, a charcoal-coloured Greyhound, joins a Jack Russell Terrier named Butch in the Rowling household.
Puppy Makes Legal History
09/10/07
A puppy in Connecticut has been protected with a restraining order in a landmark court decision.
Riley, a six-month old Golden Retriever, is the first pet in the state’s history to be issued a protection order against his owner’s ex-wife. Cassandra Reynolds has been ordered to stay 100 yards away from Riley after the dog’s owner claimed she kicked the puppy. The incident took place when Reynolds was dropping her kids off at her ex-husband’s house and an argument broke out. Riley’s owner said Reynolds kicked the dog across the yard with both feet while sitting in her car.
The ruling is under a new Connecticut law that protects animals from domestic violence. Many other states are passing similar laws.
World Animal Day
05/10/07
People celebrated pets around the globe yesterday for the annual World Animal Day.
Numerous churches marked the day with a Blessing for the Animals, including one prominent Catholic Church in Amsterdam. The Our Dear Lady, Queen of Peace Church saw Rev. Pierre Valkering bless a variety of pets including a canary, a goldfish, a guinea pig, a handful of cats and more than two dozen dogs. October 4th was chosen as World Animal Day because it is the feast day of Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and the environment.
Animal shelters, wildlife groups, dog rescue associations and schools also celebrated by holding information sessions and fundraisers for the benefit of animals around the world. Many groups stressed the importance of outfitting your cat or dog with a collar for identification.
Dog Finds Mammoth Bone
04/10/07
A tiny dog has discovered the fossilized leg bone of a giant woolly mammoth on a UK beach.
Daisy, a miniature wire-haired Dachshund, found the bone jutting out of the sand when she was on her morning walk in Dunwich, Suffolk. The dog drew the attention of her owner, Dennis Smith, 69, by staring at the bone, which was stuck in the sand between the high tide and low water mark. The bone weighs 8lbs and is 13in long. Smith later showed the bone to a geologist who identified it as belonging to a woolly mammoth that roamed the earth probably 2 million years ago.
According to Smith, Daisy was quite pleased with the find, even though the bone was far too heavy for her to lift. The dog loves to gnaw on bones and always gets the leftover lamb leg bone after a roast dinner.
Missing Dog Found in Far North
03/10/07
One month after he escaped from a backyard, a New Zealand dog was found wandering the northern tip of the country.
Benji, a small mixed breed, disappeared from the suburbs of Auckland in July when he was visiting his owner’s parents. Over a month later, Benji’s owner got a phone call from Whangarei Animal Control, informing her they had found the dog nearly 300km away from where he went missing. Benji was found wandering near a highway and was missing his collar. The dog was later identified when they successfully scanned him for a microchip.
Benji was found in good health but was in need of a bath. His owner believes he may have been picked up by somebody then dropped off at the remote location.
Egypt Shooting Stray Dogs
02/10/07
The city of Giza is set to resume shooting and poisoning stray dogs after veterinarian services claim sterilizing them is too expensive.
The move was announced by Giza’s chief vet Abdullah Badr in an interview on the weekend. Badr said that sterilizing the dogs would cost 50 million Egyptian pounds, while shooting them would cost only 400,000 pounds. He also stated that 30 million pounds a year is spent on treatment for people bitten by stray dogs and that animal welfare organizations had not lived up to their commitments to provide funding for sterilization methods.
Animal rights activist, Brigitte Bardot, has threatened to boycott all Egyptian products unless more humane controls are used. Bardot made an appeal to the Egyptian President earlier this year which resulted in an investigation into humane stray dog control.
Loyal Dog Saves Owner
01/10/07
An 80-year-old New Zealand man was saved by his dog after crashing his vehicle on an isolated road.
Keith Marsh rolled his four-wheel drive down a steep embankment last week on a remote road in northern New Zealand. He was forced to spend the night in the wreck as the vehicle was not visible to passing traffic. Marsh’s fox terrier, Sam, kept his owner warm during the freezing night before climbing the bank to sit by the road and find help. Two teachers passing by the next morning saw Sam and pulled over. They discovered the accident site and alerted emergency services.
Marsh had made several attempts to escape the wreck but was unable to as he was disoriented and suffering from minor injuries, dehydration, shock and diabetes. Marsh is recovering in hospital.
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