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MAYOR ARRESTED
MEMPHIS
USA
June 30, 2008

mayor faces charges over release of dogs

An Arkansas mayor who ordered 10 Humane Society dogs let loose in a national forest is wanted on animal cruelty charges after a special judge issued an arrest warrant.

The warrant was issued Friday for Helena-West Helena Mayor James Valley. Circuit Judge David Henry found reasonable cause to arrest him over accusations that he obstructed the Humane Society of Southeastern Arkansas from caring for the animals.

Valley told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that he released the dogs 2 1/2 weeks ago in the St. Francis National Forest after residents complained that the makeshift animal shelter at the city's sanitation department was inadequate. The shelter consisted of nothing more than cages, he said.

The mayor told the newspaper that he didn't commit a crime and that the city couldn't afford to properly care for the animals.

"I look forward to my day in court," the mayor said.

Officials say that about half of the dogs have been found, and that two or three others were shot by a resident who saw them on his land.

A complaint by Ruby Burton, director of the area Humane Society, sought Valley's arrest on misdemeanor charges of animal abandonment, mistreatment and neglect.

Phillips County Sheriff Ronnie White said Friday that a deputy would probably notify Valley of his court date instead of arresting him. A date has not been set.

Valley also could face federal charges because it is against the law to leave animals, livestock or abandoned personal property on public land. The U.S. attorney's office in Little Rock is examining the case.

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WOMAN MAULED TO DEATH
USA
June 29, 2008

TITUSVILLE, Fla. -- Police are investigating a death involving household pets Friday.
It happened on Elliot Avenue in Titusville.
Titusville police responded to a 911 call from the son of Loraine May, 74, reporting that he had found her body when he got home from work. At the time, the three dogs in the home had significantly manipulated the crime scene, as it was likely several hours before the body was discovered, according to a news release.
An autopsy performed by the Brevard County Medical Examiner's Office revealed that May had been mauled to death by two of the family's dogs -- a golden lab mix and a Australian shepherd mix. May's son moved in and brought his two dogs into the home. Authorities said May got in the middle of a fight between her dog, a cocker spaniel, and her son's dogs.
The final conclusion of the investigation may take as long as 12 weeks, based on the final medical examination results, according to a news release.
Officials said the cocker spaniel did not injure May.
Animal Control took the dogs from the home.
Titusville police said they believe the family has given the OK to have the dogs put down.

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DOG OF HOMELESS MAN FOUND
SWANSEA
WALES
June 28, 2008

The little dog was found by Swansea man Richard Down, when he nipped to the Tesco store to do some shopping and ended up taking the lost dog home with him.

And, despite pleas from his partner's son to keep the pet, Mr Down issued an appeal to track down the dog's owner.

A number of readers have contacted the Evening Post to say they believe the dog belongs to a homeless man.
Judith Griffiths, of Glanmor Park Road, said she knew the homeless man as Simon and the dog as Charlie.
"Charlie is his beloved and faithful friend. They are inseparable," she said. "The dog would run around town, but would always come back to Simon. It is quite touching and I feel they belong together."
She added that she was also concerned for Simon's whereabouts.
"I hope nothing has happened to him", she said. "If he lost that dog, he would never cope."
Ms Griffiths described Simon as an intelligent man who kept himself to himself.
She said she often spotted Simon and Charlie by Debenhams car park but had not seen Simon for almost a week.
Another reader, 21-year-old Sarah Lloyd, also contacted us after seeing our report on the male terrier, now called Dylan.
Ms Lloyd said she used to pass Tesco's Marina store in Oystermouth every day, and would see him with the man.
"I am 80 per cent sure it is the same dog," said Ms Lloyd, from Clydach.
She added that seeing Wednesday's story also made her worried about the man's whereabouts, as the dog was always by his side.
"It is concerning as the dog never goes anywhere without him," said Ms Lloyd. "The dog was never on a lead, and was always walking by his side."
Ms Lloyd said she once gave the man some money as she passed but never talked to him or knew his name.
She described him as about 5ft 8in, aged in his 40s with long, brown, dreadlocked hair.
Ms Lloyd added: "He is in scruffy dress and always carries a sack on his back." A third reader, who preferred not to be named, said she believed the homeless man was known to people at the church shelter in High Street.
Confirming what others had said, she added: "I know he dotes on that dog. They have been together for years."
Tesco staff had been about to call the RSPCA when Mr Down agreed to take him home.
He and his partner, Alison Morgan, gave the terrier the name Dylan because he was found without a collar.

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A COUPLE were being quizzed tonight after a dead bull terrier was found dead on the banks of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in Burnley.

And when police raided an end-terrace property in Saxon Street, Daneshouse, they discovered a near-starving dog, also a bull terrier.

The raid also uncovered a number of reptiles, mainly small lizards and snakes, which were found in takeaway cartons.
An investigation was launched by neighbourhood police in Daneshouse after the discovery of the first dog over the weekend, after a tip-off was received from a member of the public.
Following a thorough search of the property, off Monk Hall Road, police arrested a couple in their 20s on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering to animals.
An electronic monitoring device - a microchip implanted in the dead dog - has proved to be a key lead in the inquiry so far.
PC Paul Broom, one of the officers on the raid, said: “Because the dog was microchipped we were able to trace it back to this property.”
Inspector Dave Anforth, of the RSPCA, said that the animal charity and police launched an investigation when the first dog was found on the canal bank, yesterday.
The second dog was discovered after police and RSPCA officers entered the Daneshouse property just after 10am.
The dog, said to be in an emaciated state, was found in an upstairs room and has now been taken away by the animal welfare charity to be cared for at one of their rescue centres.
Sgt Phil Carter, of Burnley police, said that a 26-year-old man and 23-year-old woman were to be questioned about animal cruelty.
The RSPCA has previously run campaigns urging pet owners to get their dogs or cats microchipped. The chips can often contain the names and addresses of the animal’s owners.

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PART OF THE FAMILY
NASHVILLE
USA
June 26, 2008

Richie McDonald’s Dogs are Part of the Family




Richie McDonald thinks it’s good for kids to grow up around animals. “I think it teaches responsibility,” he says. So it’s not surprising the McDonald family has four dogs: Two Shih Tzus, a Peek-a-Poo named Roscoe and a collie named Luke, rescued from an animal shelter three years ago. “They’re all part of the family,” says McDonald, who describes how he went to great lengths to keep that family together. “Luke had been badly abused,” he says. “We knew he was chained to a tree for a good part of his life. When we first got him he would hardly come to any of us, and then over the years we gained his trust — especially the kids.

“We moved across town recently, and we had everything out of the house, and Luke was last thing we had to get,” says McDonald, the former lead singer of Lonestar. “He saw the moving trucks and sensed something was up. I tried and tried to get him, but he just wasn’t having any part of it. I finally told the new owners I’d come back to get him. They fed him for the next few weeks, and I kept coming back, but Luke would never come to me, even for treats.
“Finally my whole family came out, and we had pills to calm him down and some chips to get him to come to us. Luke was scared and didn’t know what was happening. He still didn’t trust people. We were there about three hours, and I had about given up hope. My kids were on their knees, waving their arms — they said they were acting like trees so Luke wouldn’t notice them. I turned around, and then I heard the kids screaming. I looked and they were on top of the dog. Mollie, our little 9-year-old 50-pound girl, had tackled this 80-pound dog. I ran out and pinned him down and said, ‘What were you thinking?’ She said, ‘Daddy, I wasn’t leaving here today without Luke.’”
McDonald says Luke loves his new home. “Even with strangers he’s not as standoffish now,” he says. “Our family just wasn’t complete until we had Luke with us.”

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Owner, customer defend Manitoba dog-breeding operation



These beagles were the last of the dogs remaining at the breeding operation on Monday. (CBC)The man behind a Manitoba dog-breeding operation that is under fire for the treatment of its animals says the situation has been blown out of proportion.

Provincial officials began removing more than 70 beagles and American cocker spaniels from a breeding operation near Warren, Man., north of Winnipeg, last week and distributing them to animal organizations.

Owner Ernie Boklaschuk declined a recorded interview with CBC News, but said he had been unaware that the dogs were not doing well.
Boklaschuk said he asked the province to help him find homes for the dogs when he was unable to care for them due to a two-year battle with cancer.
Some of Boklaschuk's customers are also defending him.
Kelly Copp, who has bought three cocker spaniels from the farm, said she gives Boklaschuk the benefit of the doubt.
"They're good people, and this has been kind of distorted into, like, they're monsters out there in some puppy mill," she said. "That's not the case here, absolutely not the case."
Provincial officials said they prefer cases like this one do not receive public attention because the media spotlight might discourage breeders who need help from calling them.
Winnipeggers offer donations, homes for dogs
A Winnipeg dog-grooming salon that is caring for dozens of the dogs and puppies has been swamped with people looking to adopt the pooches.
Kim Kaufmann with one of the cocker spaniels from the Interlake breeding operation. (CBC)Kim Kaufmann, who took in 24 of the dogs at her Winnipeg grooming salon, said they were in terrible shape, with matted fur, infections, tumours and parasites.
The phone at Kaufmann's salon has been ringing off the hook since the story came to light on Monday. People who can't get through by phone are just showing up to adopt the dogs and bring donations of money, food and toys.
"It's appalling," said Gerry Carlson, one of the people who came to the salon to adopt a dog. "I feel bad."
The Winnipeg Humane Society, which took in 40 of the dogs, said the animals it received were dirty but otherwise healthy.

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New Generation of Mine-Clearing Dogs Born in Cambodia

Puppies born recently in Cambodia are the first mine-clearing dogs to be bred and born in Southeast Asia. Most Asian dogs are unsuited for de-mining, so fully trained dogs are imported, mostly from Europe. But that could change if Cambodia's new breeding program succeeds, saving time, money and lives. Rory Byrne has this report for VOA from Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia.

Queen Sofia of Spain, center, looks at a dog trained to find land mines during her tour to CMAC, Cambodia Mine Action Center (File)
These playful brown and white puppies are being trained for a deadly serious purpose. They will sniff out explosives so they can find hidden land mines and other unexploded bombs.
Cambodia is littered with millions of unexploded bombs and mines left over from three decades of conflict. Experts say between four and six million unexploded land mines lurk in the ground here, and they kill or maim over 400 people a year.
The puppies were bred from a pair of Belgian shepherd dogs imported from Bosnia. The parents were chosen because of their eager-to-please temperaments and good genetic history.
Local dogs are not suitable for clearing mines, or breeding mine-clearing dogs. Uk Rotha is a puppy trainer for the Cambodian Mine Action Center.
Rotha says the parents of these puppies are experienced mine-clearing dogs. Cambodian dogs are not looked after as well as foreign dogs - they normally run wild, so, he says, they are not good for breeding specialized dogs like these.
The puppies are isolated from each other most of the time so they build a strong bond with their human trainers. Heang Sambo has been training mine-detection dogs in Cambodia for 10 years.
Sambo explains that good land mine-clearing dogs must listen closely to their handler. They must have a good relationship with their handler because if they love him they will do what they are asked to do. Plus, he says, they need a sensitive nose which comes from good breeding.
The usual way to clear land mines in Cambodia is with metal detectors. But, says Sambo, this method is slow.|
He says the difference between a metal detector and a dog is that the dog only smells explosives while the metal detector picks up the sound of anything metal, including rubbish.
If the puppies become successful de-mining dogs there are plans to expand the Cambodian breeding program as quickly as possible. Ngoun Thy is the senior dog instructor at the Cambodian Mine Action Center.
Thy says that importing trained land mine-clearing dogs is very expensive. One dog costs about $30,000, which is too much for a poor country like Cambodia. And, he says, because there are experienced dog trainers here it makes more sense to organize a local breeding program.
A successful breeding program in Cambodia will mean the country can field more dog teams, faster, and more cheaply, and that means more lives saved.

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Man charged after toddler dog attack

The staffordshire bull terriers are expected to be put down.

New South Wales Police have charged a man with maliciously causing a dog to inflict grievous body harm after two dogs attacked a 12-month-old boy in Sydney's west early yesterday.
The boy is in a serious condition with head, chest and leg injuries, after being mauled by two staffordshire bull terriers at a home at Cranebrook.
The attack has been reported to the Department of Community Services.
Police spokeswoman Anastasia Stomo says a 36-year-old man was arrested at the home last night.
"He was later charged with causing a dog to inflict grievous bodily harm and actual bodily harm," she said.
"He was granted bail and is expected to next appear at Windsor Local Court on June 25." Police say they believe the dogs belonged to the boy's family. The animals are expected to be put down today.

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17 CLONED DOGS
KOREA
June 22, 2008

Disgraced scientist creates 17 cloned dogs

A controversial South Korean scientist has claimed to have created 17 clones of an endangered dog breed.
The Sooam Biotech Research Foundation, led by stem-cell scientist Hwang Woo-suk, says the cloned Tibetan mastiff dogs were requested by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

It says independent DNA tests have confirmed that all 17 dogs were cloned.
In 2005, Hwang and his team of Seoul National University scientists successfully created the world's first known dog clone, named Snuppy, an achievement that was independently confirmed.
However Dr Hwang was fired from Seoul National University two years ago after admitting that he faked research that claimed to have cloned human embryonic stem cells.

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ANIMALS SEIZED
TEXAS
USA
June 21, 2008

Dogs And Cats Seized From Longview Home



20 dogs and cats have been seized from a Longview home, and some of the animals appear to be in pretty bad shape, according to the Gregg County Humane Society.

Apparently, there had been a bad smell coming from a home on East Glenn Street for the last few days, and Longview Animal Control was sent to check on it. When they arrived, they found the dogs and cats in the home, and subsequently removed them.
The dogs were reportedly in bad condition with mange and fleas.
The Humane Society will not confirm the name of the woman, but they told me she did have a history of animal hoarding, although we've not be able to independently confirm that.
The animals will now be kept at the Gregg County Humane Society in Longview, awaiting a custody hearing.

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Skunks plague Lorain County family

Karen McCullough spent four months apologizing to people for smelling like a skunk.

The smell -- and the four skunks that lived under the house -- now are gone, but life for the McCullough family still stinks.

McCullough, her husband Kerry and 19-year-old son Kory, plus two dogs, two cats and a bird, have been living in a cramped rental house for a month while contractors replace and repair floors and floor joists in the kitchen, living room and utility room.
"I've cried a few times. Inside, I'm having a nervous breakdown," McCullough said Wednesday, sitting in one of the few intact rooms while workers sawed wood outside.
The ordeal began in November, when the family started hearing a scratching noise under the kitchen and living room floors.
The noise incited the dogs and cats, which clawed at the carpeting. The barking and hissing made the skunks spray. So did the hot water pipes that run under the floor to heat the house.
"It did not smell like a dead skunk. It smelled like something was on fire, like a plastic pipe," she said.
Kerry McCullough grew up in the house, and about 10 years ago bought it from his mother. The house is a few blocks from the lake, and over the years the family has dealt with nuisance animals like groundhogs, raccoons, possums and skunks, but the animals never got under the house, which sits on a dirt floor.
"There have always been tons of skunks. You'll see them walking down the street," she said.
To fight off the smell, she opened windows even when it was freezing outside, and simmered a concoction of vinegar and vanilla on the stove.
The family contacted Michael Conrad, a licensed trapper in Sheffield. He said he gets lots of calls regarding skunks from people living along or near the lake shore, though he doesn't know what attracts the animals to the area.
Skunks, like other animals, can get inside a building from a crawl space or opening under a porch or elsewhere.
"They're pretty sociable, and opportunistic," he said.
He tells homeowners to check around the foundation and make sure the animals are gone before closing off any openings using welded wire.
Conrad used hot dogs and marshmallows to lure the skunks out from under the house and into a cage. He caught the last two skunks in March, but workers had to wait for warm weather to begin the renovation.
When workers tore up the utility room floor they found the remnants of a nest, which the skunks had patched together with plastic bags, insulation and an old flag.
Workers have run into asbestos and rotted wood and don't know when the house will be ready to be occupied. The couple's homeowner's insurance will cover all the repairs and the rental, the only good surprise to surface so far.
And McCullough still has her sense of humor. On Wednesday when the concrete truck pulled up to the house, she jokingly asked the driver if he would release the brake so it would roll into the house.
"I could get a modular for $40,000 in 30 days," she said.

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Council slammed for scrapping poo bags

A dog owner has criticised the council for scrapping free poo bags which she says will result in more illegal dog fouling.

Pensioner Maureen Reidy has two Scottish Terrier dogs and previously used doggy bags issued by Dacorum Borough Council to clean up their waste.
However, these were controversially scrapped earlier this year under funding cuts and Mrs Reidy, of Market Oak Lane, Hemel Hempstead, says normal carrier bags are not up to the job.
The 72-year-old said carrier bags are not environmentally friendly because they are not bio-degradable unlike the doggy bags and also pointed out that many shops now charge customers for plastic bags.
"I have got two dogs and I take them for walks regularly and obviously they foul and I pick it up because I'm very adamant it should be picked up.
"If I have nothing to pick up with, there is nothing I can do about it.
"I have been using my hoard of carrier bags but my collection has run out," she said.
But the council says there has been no increase in dog fouling or any reduction in the use of its 430 dog bins across the borough since the free bags were stopped.
Spokesman Sarah Jones said: "The decision to stop the provision of dog scoops (bags] was part of the budget councillors set in March. By no longer providing free dog scoops the onus is on the dog owners as having the responsibility to deal with dog fouling
"This is in keeping with the council's work to promote responsible dog ownership."

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'Deplorable' mess at home overrun by dogs, cats

CITY OF NORTH MIAMI
Miami-Dade Animal Control and North Miami Police Department were at the house late in the day loading the animals into four trucks.



One woman was arrested and dozens of cats and dogs were seized Monday afternoon after an anonymous caller tipped off police that there were more than 20 animals in a North Miami house.

North Miami Police Chief Clint Shannon said when the city's animal-control officer Tami Fox responded to 990 NE 139th St. to investigate, she saw ''dozens and dozens'' of dogs and cats.
''The conditions are deplorable,'' Shannon said. ``This has to be one of the worst cases I've ever seen.''
Beverly Ann Prady, 55, was arrested and charged with felony animal cruelty.
Shannon said several animals were found dead and some without limbs. He said the stench coming from the home was unbearable.
The woman told police that the animals -- mostly large dogs and puppies -- are her pets, Shannon said.
Miami-Dade Animal Control and North Miami Police Department were at the house late in the day loading the animals into four trucks. By 10 p.m., they had captured nearly 80 animals.

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CANCER SNIFFING DOGS
SOUTH KOREA
June 17, 2008

'Cancer-Sniffing' Dogs Cloned in Korea

Cancer-sniffing puppies, cloned from the same litter, cozy up on a blanket at Seoul National University in this undated photo. / Courtesy of RNL Bio

Less than three years after cloning the world's first dog, a Korean biotechnology company said Monday it successfully cloned four canines that can sniff out human cancer cells.
The cloning team of RNL Bio, led by Seoul National University (SNU) professor Lee Byeong-chun, in April implanted into a surrogate mother cloned fetuses from a black retriever named Marine, a widely-recognized cancer-sniffing dog trained in Japan.
``The four black retrievers were born on May 28,'' Ra Jeong-chan, president of RNL Bio, told reporters. They were named as Marine-R, Marine-N, Marine-L and Marine-S.
Marine, who is six and half years old, is unable to reproduce because her womb was removed from disease.
RNL Bio says the four retrievers will be sent to Japan after three months to join the training program for cancer detection.
Each cloned dog will be priced at 500 million won ($480,000), the company said.
Researchers worldwide have been investigating whether dogs have the ability to detect breast, prostate, lung and skin cancer at a treatable stage.
Experts say cancer cells give off a scent that is not present in healthy cells, which can be detected by dogs in breath or urine samples.
Before the latest breakthrough, RNL Bio recently recreated seven drug-sniffing dogs last year at the request of the Korea Customs Service.
Prior to this, the team cloned the world's first commercial dog ordered by a California woman, who wanted her dead pitbull terrier cloned. The company said in February that it planned to charge $150,000.
The SNU team created the world's first cloned dog, an Afghan hound named Snuppy, who was cloned in 2005. RNL Bio was granted the exclusive license of the technology SNU. The firm plans to expand its dog cloning business to the world market.

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Mine tunnel dogs are rescued

TWO dogs have been rescued after being trapped in a Valleys mine shaft for FIVE days.

Volunteers from the West Brecon Cave Rescue Team had to race against time to save the Jack Russells, which were trapped in a 12m deep adit – or drift tunnel – on the side of a cliff-like slope in Blaencwm, near Treherbert, Rhondda.
Rescue co-ordinator Brian Jopling said he first received a call from Mountain Rescue workers on Tuesday, to help out with the efforts to free pets Trixie and Rocky that had been going on since Friday, June 6.
“We got a party of about nine together and we arrived at about 6.30pm,” added Brian. “The dogs had been there since Friday and they were about 12 metres in.”
After hours of drilling and smashing at the rock to widen the cave the first dog – Trixie – was finally freed at about 10pm.
But Rocky’s ordeal was to continue.
“Unfortunately, Rocky was wedged in the gap which we were widening,” said Brian.
“We decided the best thing to do would be to return the following day.
“A young lad got food and water.
“We were quite happy that the dog would be safe.”
Returing the next evening, the rescuers were able to free Rocky who has since been reunited with his owner.
“Both dogs were delighted to see their owner,” added Brian.
“We are all dog owners – so we were pleased to find that the dogs were OK.
“It was a job well done.”
Brian, of Caehopkin, Swansea, was full of praise for the community of Blaencwm.
He said: “We were all impressed with the efforts of the locals and the interest they took.
“They helped to carry our equipment up and down a very steep bank.
“And as we are a voluntary organisation they are going to do some fundraising for us.”
To find out more about the West Brecon Cave Rescue Team or to make a donation, visit their website at www.wbcrt.org.

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A Wolf is a Dog, and a Dog is a Wolf.
Our Dogs are not the domesticated animal we think they are. It’s up to us, to domesticate each and every new dog, that we bring into our home. Why do you think there are millions of dogs being euthanized every year, and millions of dog rescues.



Every body likes to tell you that dogs and wolves’s are different. They are not. They are the same exact species. Behaviorally wise and every other way. They are all predators and carnivores. Why do you think so many people get bit by dogs every year. And why do you think, so many cats and other small critters get killed by dogs every year.



It really annoys me, when supposedly knowledgeable dog people. The dog trainers that we hire, to help us with our dog problems. Show their ignorance in regards to animal behavior by telling you, that your dog is not a wild animal. By them perpetuating this myth, when you do have problems with your dog, you’ll think to yourself, “that’s not a normal behavior for a domesticated dog”. And most likely the dog will pay the ultimate price…. Because of their, “Expert Knowledge” about canine behavior.

Dog rescue organizations have to re-channel their thoughts and energizes . As to why the calls from people looking to get rid of their dogs, Never stop coming. Instead of telling people, that they should have been more diligent in researching what breed of dog would have been more suitable for them. We should be telling them, that all dogs are the same. So don’t be surprised when Fluffy sinks her teeth into you, when you go to pick up her favorite toy.
Behind closed doors, we in the animal profession, love to blame you. For your failure’s, in properly raising a dog. The truth is, you have not failed. We have failed you. By continuing to teach theories of canine behavior, that are essentially hearsay and supposition, and have nothing to do with actual canine behavior.

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Filya, a nine-pound Yorkie, was killed on the street by a pit bull that broke its chain last week.



A Bensonhurst dog owner wants answers after his beloved Yorkie was savagely killed last weekend by a neighbor's pit bull who broke free of his chain.

"He grabbed my dog by the throat with an iron grasp and wouldn't let go," said a traumatized Mikhail Bocheko, 57. "It was an uneven match; he [was] a little doggie - only 9 pounds."
The incident happened Saturday night, when Bocheko took his Yorkshire terrier Filya for a walk around his 70th St. block.
"Suddenly, I saw this dog across the street, dragging a chain," Bocheko said.
"Within seconds ...this dog jumped from under the car and grabbed my doggy. I started screaming, pulling the leash and even hit the dog with my foot - but it was pointless; he just kept holding on.
"Filya whimpered a few times and that was it."
By the time cops and even an Emergency Service Unit showed up to sedate the 4-year-old pit bull, Buster - who still held Filya in his jaws - it was too late.
"Within the next 2 minutes, he was dead," said Bocheko's son, Dima, 25. "Then he was dragged all over the street and left in the puddle of water on the road.
"The police shot the pit bull with sleeping darts twice, packed him in the box and drove him away."
Buster is now in Brooklyn's Animal Care and Control shelter. His owner, Anthony Liggieri, has not claimed him and could not be reached for comment.
"He has to be evaluated for 10 days to make sure there's no rabies," said AC&C community relations representative Sarah Brown. "He seems quite calm in the shelter."
After 10 days, the Health Department will determine what to do with the pit bull.
But nothing will bring back Filya, said the Yorkie's owner.
"If this dog is so aggressive, maybe it should be put down," Bocheko said, adding that the body of their $900 dog was cremated the next day.
"The owners have to be punished, leaving such a dog without anyone to look after it," he said. "Filya was with us for seven years. After our children grew up and left, it became like our child."

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Dog ban means hundreds of B&Bs face
Owners of bed and breakfasts have been banned from keeping dogs in their kitchens under a European Union ruling that could see hundreds of family-run businesses close.

Tish Bowditch with her labrador, Maisie, in the kitchen of her farmhouse near Bridport, Dorset, which she runs as a bed and breakfast
Officials claim that the animals pose a potential health and safety hazard to guests' food.
However, bed and breakfast owners vowed to close rather than turn out the family pet.
Oliver Letwin, the former shadow home secretary, called the legislation "barking mad".
Tish Bowditch, 51, and her husband, Robert, diversified into the bed and breakfast business five years ago after their children moved out of the farmhouse that they have owned for 30 years.
Their labrador, Maisie, is routinely fussed over by guests at their home, Parnham Farm, near Bridport in Dorset.
Mrs Bowditch, who has three rooms, said that she would probably close if forced to displace the dog.
"Maisie's home is in the kitchen by the Aga," she said. "We haven't got a suitable outhouse for her. I am always very particular when it comes to preparing food and I am extra careful to keep her away.
"She wanders around the dining area, but I always make sure the guests are okay with her first.
"Most of the time they are and make a fuss over her. I think we would have to ask ourselves if it is worth carrying on as Maisie is part of the way we live."
The EU directive places small bed and breakfasts in the same category as hotels and restaurants, which are not allowed to keep pets in the kitchen.
The ruling emerged after one owner in Dorset had to give assurances to his local authority that his dog would not be in the kitchen at breakfast time.
David Weston, the chairman of the British Bed and Breakfast Association, said that he had never come across a case of food poisoning linked to the family dog in any of his 10,000 members.
"The regulations weren't designed to cover people's homes, which is essentially what a bed and breakfast is," he said. "Most of our members practise good standards of cleanliness and we think the regulations should be enforced in a common sense way.
"A few owners have made comments that if it came to not allowing the dog in the kitchen or get rid of it, they would close the business because it is not worth it."
Mr Letwin, the Tory MP for West Dorset, added: "The health and safety inspectors have determined that dogs and farmhouse kitchens are not compatible with one another. My conclusion is that this particular aspect of the world has gone barking mad." Will John, of West Dorset district council, said farmhouse kitchens were a "high risk" food preparation area.
"A bed and breakfast may be somebody's home, but once a room is used to prepare high-risk food that is going to be sold to members of the public it takes on a different meaning," he said. "If there was a food poisoning outbreak traced back to those premises it would not be much of a defence in court to say, 'It is okay because it is our home.'?"
"We aren't in the business of putting people out of business. Closing down the business because of this would be quite ridiculous."
My conclusion is that this particular aspect of the world has gone barking mad."
Oliver Letwin, Tory MP for West Dorset

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Cane toad a dog's dinner for 40 minutesBy

Greedy dog mistakes cane toad for pie
Both survive after dog brings toad back up
Slippery customer wreaks havoc

A CANE toad has survived after being eaten by a dog and spending 40 minutes in the animal's stomach.
The super toad was eventually vomited up by the dog and hopped away shaken but seemingly unharmed, the Northern Territory News reported.
The dog also lived - proving she's as tough as her owner, Darwin rugby league player Jackson Crews.
Bella was playing in her backyard in Bakewell, Palmerston, when she swallowed the toad.
"I went to feed the dogs some left over pies and pasties,'' Mr Crews said.
"I threw them on the grass and as I did I noticed a cane toad. Bella saw it and thought it was one of the pies.
"She swallowed it whole.''
He immediately called the Ark Animal Hospital and was told to bring in the dog straight away.
"They gave her a needle to help her vomit,'' he said.
"She vomited a lot of pies and pasties but nothing else came up. Then they gave her another needle and she spewed up the cane toad.''
Mr Crews said he couldn't believe both dog and toad survived the episode.
The toad is being kept at the animal hospital where staff have named it Spew.
Scientists believe hundreds of Territory dogs and cats have fallen victim to the cane toad's deadly toxins.
The toads release a poison when under stress and can kill a large dog within minutes.
Mr Crews said it was probably Bella's greedy nature that had saved her life.
"She swallowed it whole - that's probably why she survived,'' Mr Crews said.
There have also been reports of dogs getting "high'' after licking the backs of cane toads. But Mr Crews said Bella had shown no signs of unusual behaviour since her encounter with the toxic toad.

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DOGS REPRIEVE
DUBLIN
EIRE
June 11, 2008

Owners of banned dogs get reprieve

Owners of restricted dog breeds were given a reprieve today by Dublin City Council under a new scheme aimed at promoting responsible dog ownership.

As part of the scheme, Dogs Trust Ireland is offering to neuter, spay and micro-chip dogs which fall under the 10 restricted breeds list banned from City Council housing since July last year.
Senior executive officer of the Housing and Residential Services department, Vincent Healy said the council acknowledged that a number of tenants were responsible dog owners and therefore would be allowed to keep their dogs provided they agreed to have them micro-chipped and neutered or spayed.
However, tenants who persist in illegally keeping restricted breeds could face eviction.
Dogs Trust Ireland has arranged with a number of veterinary practices around Dublin to carry out the service at no cost to the City Council. Campaigns Manager Brenda Comerford said that while the charity does not support breed specific legislation, it does encourage owners of all breeds to manage their dogs responsibly.
Under the charity’s subsidised neutering campaign, over 26,000 dogs have been neutered in Ireland over the past two and half years. A €20 dog neutering service is offered to owners on means tested benefit through a participating network of around 360 vets.
Under the new scheme in Dublin, tenants can keep a restricted breed dog provided their tenancy began before July 1st, 2007 and they owned the dog before this date. The dog must be licensed, neutered/spayed and micro-chipped by September 2008 and kept muzzled and on a lead in public places.
The scheme is open to owners of all pet dogs and not just to restricted breeds.
The restricted breeds are the American Pit Bull Terrier; Bull Mastiff; Doberman Pinscher; English Bull Terrier; German Shepherd (Alsatian); Japanese Akita; Japanese Tosa; Rhodesian Ridgeback; Rottweiler and Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

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Bull mastiff so big 'it can be seen by Google Earth'



Boris, a three-year-old bull mastiff, is so big it can be seen on Google Earth.
Boris's size is partly due to the full English breakfast he eats every day



The 14st dog can easily be picked out enjoying the sun in the grounds of the Tudor Grange Hotel, Bournemouth, on the online satellite-imaging service.
Fran Milner, 24, whose parents run the seaside hotel, said she could not believe Boris was that big.
"My brother-in-law was on the internet one day when he decided to look at a satellite picture of our hotel," she said.
"He zoomed in a little way and noticed a big, brown blob on the grass in front of the sundial.
"Then he realised it was Boris. He was in his favourite place. He loves lying there because it is a bit of a sun trap."
Google Earth uses satellite, aerial and ground-level photographs to create a virtual recreation of the entire planet. Internet users can zoom in from an aerial view of entire countries right down to ground level.

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Trouble ‘dogs’ Mayawati

NEW DELHI, June 7: The Uttar Pradesh chief minister, Ms Mayawati, appears to have her plate full. It is now animal rights activists who have taken up cudgels against the UP police for removing a bunch of stray dogs which till a couple of weeks ago, were inhabiting the lane outside Ms Mayawati’s Delhi residential premises on Humayun Road.
Citizens for Animals (CFA), an association of people from various walks of life working for the cause of stray animals in the city, has sent a petition to Ms Mayawati asking for strong action against the UP police personnel who had rounded up the dogs and removed them in flagrant violation of animal protection laws, apart from acting outside their jurisdiction.
Stating that the stray dogs, which had all been sterilised and vaccinated, had never harmed anyone in the area, the CFA said in its letter to Ms Mayawati “Whereas your personal staff, following your footsteps, have always been kind and gentle with the stray dogs residing for many years on the lane outside your Humayun Road premises, around 18-20 May, 2008, at the instance of a rogue policeman from Uttar Pradesh, these dogs have been cruelly bundled into an unknown vehicle, and dislocated, probably killed.”
The animal activists have urged Ms Mayawati to intervene in the matter and initiate urgent action against the guilty.
They said the dogs were being looked after by Ms Mayawati’s personal staff. Even the Metro rail staff in the vicinity were know to be feeding these dogs.
However, some time in mid-May, a motor cycle borne UP policeman reportedly provoked one of the dogs, which had retaliated. The cop had then prevailed on Ms Mayawati’s staff to get the dogs removed from the lane. Not content with this, one of the staff members who looked after the dogs had been transferred from duty at the CM's residence, the CFA letter stated.
Stating that these actions violate Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, which makes cruelty against animals a punishable offence, and the Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules, 2001, which mandate that killing or dislocation of stray dogs cannot be resorted to, the CFA urged the CM to intervene immediately.
The animal activists requested her to direct her staff to ensure that the dogs were relocated in Humayun Road.
In case the animals were found killed, the CFA wanted Ms Mayawati to ensure that the guilty were punished as per the law of the land.

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Staffies most unwanted dog on Wearside

Staffordshire bull terrier is the most unwanted breed on Wearside.

Hundreds of Staffordshire bull terriers are being dumped at animal rescue centres, after the breed has earned an unfair reputation as an agressive status symbol.
Now the RSPCA is urging people to rehome a Staffie during its Pet Adoption Week, which started today.
A survey by the animal charity shows the Staffie is the breed that ends up at Northern RSPCA animal centres most frequently, after German shepherds, Rottweilers, Akitas and Collies.
RSPCA inspectors blame bad and ill-informed owners for the Staffie's aggressive reputation, not the dogs, which can make the perfect pet.
A spokeswoman for the RSPCA Felledge Animal Centre in Chester-le-Street, said: "Staffies can make charming pets – especially if they've been well trained and socialised with both dogs and people from a young age.
"The Staffie was popular as a family pet in the 1980s, and as a result lots of dogs were bred to meet demand."
Popular breeds for adoption include Yorkshire terriers, West Highland terriers, Labradors, Jack Russell terriers and other small breeds.

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Walker at peak for charity

SUPER-FIT Maurice Ireland's boots are made for walking and walkies.

Veteran athlete Maurice, 71, has covered thousands of miles for good causes. And daily three-mile outings with his dog Amber ensure he and his faithful pet stay fit.
Today Maurice was setting out over 20 miles to mark out the two courses for the Macclesfield Three Peaks Challenge, taking place on Sunday. Amber will go part of the way.
The first route for the 13-mile trek takes in Tegg's Nose, Shutlingsloe and Shining Tor, while the seven-mile Goyt Valley Challenge is for less experienced walkers.
The event organised by Maurice, from Prestbury, near Macclesfield, is now in its sixth year and has raised more than £60,000 for Francis House Children's Hospice, Didsbury.
He got the idea after a fundraising jumble sale in the village was a disaster. He told organisers he would raise £1,000 and if he couldn't, would give it to them out of his own pocket.
Maurice then set up the first three peaks challenge in 2002 and raised £4,000.
Once this weekend's event is over he won't be putting his feet up for long.
On June 22 he will walk the 190-mile coast-to-coast route from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood's Bay, Scarborough.
In July, Maurice, the current British Masters veteran 5km over-70s road walking champion, will compete in a 50km walking race at Blackpool before doing a marathon in August.
He stays in shape by working out at Total Fitness gym in Handforth Dean, jogging, golf and taking border terrier Amber for that daily three-mile walk. Total Fitness manager Jez Tidman said Maurice was `an example to us all'.
Maurice was once a promising cyclist but was forced to give up after nearly dying in an accident in Fallowfield, in 1955.
After recovering he wanted to keep fit and completed a long-distance walk when a friend challenged him to do it. Maurice caught the walking bug.
He has walked and run competitively and fund-raises for Francis House.
He said: "It does a great job for children and families with worries and concerns. Every penny raised from the challenge goes to Francis House."
Maurice added: "A lot of people approach me about getting fit and the best and most sensible way is a brisk walk for about 20 minutes every day."
Francis House offers families of sick children a respite as carers and gives child patients a loving home from home.

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Another savage dog attack in Blacktown

Maree Chadwick and son Brendan Barlow from Tregear with their remaining Fox Terrier.

FOR the 17 years that Maree Chadwick has been living in her Tregear home, she never knew that two vicious dogs lived in the house behind.
But one sickening incident late last month has left one of her two fox terriers dead and her family too scared to venture into the back yard.
The dogs, one a pit bull cross and the other a staffordshire cross, had broken through the back fence and savaged her pets.
"I ran through the house, straight through to the front, yelled out to the neighbour," Ms Chadwick said.
"He came around and ran through he had a lump of wood but when he saw what was going on at the back fence he thought,' Nah, I'm not going to get into that'."
Thankfully another neighbour came to the rescue and advised Ms Chadwick to call the police.
"I was on the phone, frantically trying to get through to someone," she said.
"I just heard the frantic banging of the dogs under the house. It was making my blood curdle, just thinking of what my dogs were going through.
"By the time the owner of the dogs finally managed to pull them off, it was too late for one of the fox terriers, Toby.
"It's the worst thing that's happened since I've been here," Ms Chadwick said. "These dogs shouldn't even be here. They are bred for fighting and they shouldn't be in domestic back yards."
A council spokeswoman said officers had issued the owner of the dogs with a notice of intention to declare both dogs dangerous.
"Council will also issue a notice of intention to the have the pit bull cross classed as a restricted breed," she said.
The incident follows another attack involving pit bulls in April this year when a local family's pet staffordshire-pit bull cross mauled the family's seven-year-old daughter's arm.

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Dog survives days in rabbit hole



Brook has been reunited with owners Sheena Black and her son Ben
A dog has been reunited with its owners after spending nine days trapped down a rabbit hole in the Scottish Borders.

Mongrel terrier Brook went missing from her home near Coldstream on the banks of the River Tweed last month.
Owner Sheena Black said she had never given up hope of finding the dog which got stuck while chasing rabbits.
Brook was eventually dug out of the hole after a neighbour's springer spaniel alerted Mrs Black to the spot where her dog had become lodged.
When Brook first went missing her owner and her two sons, Jonathan and Ben, were confident she would return.
Terriers are remarkably resilient but I have to admit this is quite extreme to say the least
Mrs Black said: "When she never came home that night obviously we got worried but we never gave up hope.
"Jonathan, who had taken her for the walk, took us all back to where he last saw her and friends and neighbours joined in the search to no avail.
"We were out every day looking for her but there are so many rabbit burrows on the estate it was like searching for a needle in a haystack."
The search went on for nine days until friend Alison Barton visited with a springer spaniel.
"We were only about 40 or 50 yards from the house and the spaniel was getting a bit excited and then Jonathan heard a slight yelp which he instantly recognised," said Mrs Black.
"It came from a rabbit hole on a steep banking which was amazing because we had been in the area over the previous days and never heard anything."
However, the ordeal went on for another few hours as it took three men to help dig the dog out.
"Terriers are remarkably resilient but I have to admit this is quite extreme to say the least," said Mrs Black.
"If there is any lesson to come from this, it is that people who have lost a pet should never give up hope because we didn't as we felt there was always a chance and it was a wonderful result in the end.
"Brook does not seem affected in the least at what she has gone through and is back to her old self."

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TERRIER RESCUED FROM FIGHTING
ENGLAND
June 4, 2008

Gentle bull terrier is rescued from dogfighters
Susan Buxton, right, and Julie Goodall with the dog that needs a new owner A DOG rescuer has brought a young
Staffordshire bull terrier to Puddletown to save him from dogfighters in Ireland.
Susan Buxton said the dog faced being used as bait because he was too gentle to fight other dogs.
Now she is searching for a new owner to give Sunny a permanent home of his own.
Mrs Buxton, a volunteer who has helped find homes for 30 dogs from Ireland, said Sunny's lack of aggression marked him out as a typical dog to be used as a bait to excite killer dogs in fights.
She said: "He had been living at stables over there with other dogs. We know that dogfighting goes on and people get hold of Staffies for that. And those that don't have the aggression for fighting get used as bait to work up the other dogs.
"Sunny won't fight - there's no aggression in him at all. He would have ended up as bait and been killed."
Mrs Buxton said she named him Sunny to reflect his happy affectionate nature.
She said Sunny, who is believed to be one or two years old, is quite small and possibly partly cross-bred.
She said: "He just loves to be cuddled. He's very good and doesn't chew and he would make a lovely pet. He's being fostered for the moment but needs a permanent home with someone who has experience with the breed."
Mrs Buxton said Sunny, who is neutered, will be microchipped and vaccinated. Anyone interested in homing him should contact her on 01305 849068.

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DOGS MAUL PEOPLE
PERTH
AUSTRALIA
June 3, 2008

Dogs maul 3 people



Three people are recovering in Perth today, after being attacked and injured by pitbull cross dogs.

Police responded to a call from rangers saying two dogs were roaming around the streets in Spearwood in Perth's south.
The dogs attacked a ranger, before turning on two good samaritans who had come to her rescue.
All three victims, including a 74 year old, were treated at the scene, then taken to Fremantle hospital.
They suffered wounds to their arms, legs, chest and face.
Police were forced to close off a number of streets in the suburb of Spearwood as they hunted down the dogs.
Police were forced to shot one, while the other was captured by Rangers.
It's not yet known whether the second dog will be put down.

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Women on Wheels brings together motorcycle mavens

When Linda Kreter first fell in love with motorcycles, finding other women who shared that passion proved tough.
"When I started out 25 years ago, there weren't a whole lot of women on the road," the Mantorville postmaster said.
But that is changing. Between 1998 and 2003, the number of women motorcycle owners jumped 36 percent, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council's most recent data. That same survey found that nearly one in 10 motorcycle owners is a woman.
Now a new local group is hoping to appeal to the growing number of motorcycle mavens. Ann Schwanke recently launched the Rochester chapter of Women on Wheels, a national organization geared toward bringing together female riders.
"A lot of women like to ride and a lot of times they don't have anyone to ride with," she said.

That was the case for Schwanke, who started riding motorcycles 40 years ago as a teenager in Lewiston. But eight years ago, she joined the Twin Cities chapter of Women on Wheels. As part of the group, she got a chance to go on organized rides, learn more about biking and develop friendships. When she moved to Rochester two years ago, the clinic administrator for Bluestem Center was disappointed to learn there was no local chapter.
"I would just like to get a group down here so other women can experience what I have," she said.
Besides having fun, Women on Wheels aims to promote a positive image of motorcycling. Schwanke said members are not allowed to drink alcohol on rides and are expected to following riding etiquette, which includes staying two seconds behind the motorcyclist in front of you and rounding corners in single file.
Riders of all levels are invited to join -- even women who do not own a motorcycle. The cost is $30 for an annual membership, which entitles members to ride at any Women on Wheels event in the country.
The group's inaugural ride on a recent afternoon brought to mind the sights and sounds of a mini-Sturgis. The roar of engines dominated as five leather-clad riders showed off their motorcycles before leaving Rochester to get ice cream in Mantorville.
Stacy Ellefson was among them. Strapped to her chest in a pouch was her dog, Shea -- a toy fox terrier clad in flame-decorated goggles. A lead programmer analyst for Mayo Clinic, Ellefson said she has been trying to encourage other women to get into motorcycling. She said Women on Wheels offered the perfect chance to hang out with other women and do what she loves -- ride.
"It feels like you're flying," she said. "It just blows all your troubles away."

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MAN JAILED FOR BEATING DOGS
USA
June 1, 2008

Newaygo County man sentenced for beating dogs

WHITE CLOUD -- A White Cloud man has been sentenced to 93 days in jail and ordered to pay $527 in fines, court costs and restitution in the beating of his dogs.
William Reed also was ordered Wednesday to own no animals for one year. He has started his sentence in the Newaygo County Jail.
The 46-year-old had pleaded no contest last month to two misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty. A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt but is treated as such at sentencing.
Reed had been accused of beating his dogs with a shovel and chain. A neighbor had videotaped the three dogs being kicked and beaten.
The animals have been removed from Reed's home 40 miles north of Grand Rapids

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PUPPIES WERE SICK
NEW YORK
USA
June 30, 2008

Queens-based 'Bulldogs R Us' owner accused of selling sick puppies

Valerie Ramirez (l.) and daughter Jessica hold photos of bulldog Ozzie, whom they eventually euthanized.

Robin Schulder, who operates the Web site 'Bulldogs R Us,' has also been ordered by a Bronx judge to pay $2,095 to a heartbroken family that had to put down their ailing 7-month-old puppy.
A prolific Queens dog breeder has drawn the ire of animal lovers and the scrutiny of state law enforcement officials for running what a former customer described as a "house of horrors" that produces too many sick puppies.
The breeder, Robin Schulder, who operates the Web site "Bulldogs R Us," has also been ordered by a Bronx judge to pay $2,095 to a heartbroken family that had to put down their ailing 7-month-old puppy.
Schulder sells at least five different dog breeds from her home in Queens Village, and has numerous consumer complaints against her - drawing the attention of state law enforcement officials.
"We are aware of the complaints, take them seriously, and are reviewing them closely," said Alex Detrick, a spokesman for state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.
The Ramirez family in the Bronx bought an English bulldog puppy from Schulder in November that suffered from neurological disorders, blindness, parvovirus and a host of other problems.
"Within the first few days we noticed something was wrong," said Jessica Ramirez, 16, who borrowed money from her grandmother to buy Ozzie, a handsome mahogany and white puppy. "He started to lose weight. He walked around in circles."
In a contract, Schulder guaranteed Ozzie's health for a year, but she didn't help the family with veterinary care when he fell ill.
"We got three unfit-for-sale letters from three different veterinarians," said Jessica's mother, Valerie, a paraprofessional with the city Education Department. "I wanted her to pick up the medical bills but we didn't want to give [Ozzie] back to Robin."
One vet noted on Ozzie's medical chart that he was "depressed, weak, unable to support weight, vomiting in cage, no appetite."
After seven months of heartache the family tried to place Ozzie with a bulldog rescue group but another veterinarian advised them to euthanize him.
"I didn't want to lose him," said Jessica, who worked at a supermarket to pay her grandma back. "I didn't want to go with my family when they put him to sleep."
The family took Schulder to court and a judge ruled in their favor with a $2,095 judgment, which Schulder has yet to pay.
"I have no comments for these people," Schulder told the Daily News in a phone interview, contending she has done nothing wrong.
Schulder said the case was still pending. Court papers show the judgment is dated April 24. During the court hearing, Schulder said she sells 200 dogs a year, the Ramirez family said.
"I have no violations with Albany," Schulder said, referring to the fact that dog breeding is regulated by the state Department of Agriculture and Markets. "I'm a licensed breeder."
She also sells Yorkshire terriers, pit bulls, bull terriers and Chihuahuas from her home, and operates several Web sites.
Animal rescue groups are familiar with "Bulldogs R Us" and other animals sold by Schulder.
"This is a terrible operation," said Laurette Richin, head of the Long Island Bulldog Rescue, a group that places abused and sick animals with families. "I have had so many complaints about her that I don't know how she can still be in business."
Several former customers described Schulder's home as being overrun by dogs.
"It was filthy, it was smelly, it was disgusting in there," said Patricia Czech, who bought a bulldog named Vinny from Schulder. "It's a house of horrors."
Czech had so many problems with the 8-month-old that she had to return it to Schulder in two weeks and was refunded her $1,000. She has inquired about Vinny's fate, but Schulder won't return her calls, Czech said.
The Ramirez family cautioned potential customers from doing business with Schulder.
"Just look her up on Google," said Valerie Ramirez. "She needs to be shut down. She has sold sick puppies to a lot of people."

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Help scaredy cats (and dogs) cope with fireworks
While fireworks dazzle and delight people, they frighten many pets. Conditioning a cat or dog to cope with the loud booms and smell of fireworks...

Portland trainer Denise Mullenix offers treats to Browser while conditioning him not to panic at the sound of fireworks.
Lost and found

MANY PETS go astray during the Fourth of July holiday. Some bolt at the sound of fireworks; others slip out open doors or gates amid the holiday chaos. Here are a few tips for finding your pet if it should become lost:
Be prepared. Make sure your pet is wearing an up-to-date ID tag and has an ID microchip implanted.
Call in a lost report to local shelters. Also ask if they've received any found reports. Be careful how you interpret found reports; people may not describe your pet the way you do.
Get out and talk to people. Ask everyone you come across if he has seen your pet.
Post signs. Make eye-catching posters. Include a picture, contact information and where the pet was last seen.
Tap into the Internet. Use neighborhood listservs and e-mail contacts to let others know your pet is missing.
Return to owner. If you find a lost dog, remember that someone is counting on you. If there are no tags, call a shelter. Ask about lost reports, and submit a found report. The shelter or a vet's office can check for an ID microchip.

While fireworks dazzle and delight people, they frighten many pets.

Conditioning a cat or dog to cope with the loud booms and smell of fireworks can take months. However, experts say there are some things you can do to help your pet through this year's festivities.
Cesar Millan, dog trainer and host of the National Geographic Channel's "Dog Whisperer" show, plays recordings of fireworks at a low volume during an activity that the dog enjoys, such as eating or playing. Over time, louder sounds are introduced.
The dog is conditioned when it stops exhibiting signs of anxiety — panting, drooling, pacing — and it's comfortable when the recording can be played loudly, said Pam Reid, who works with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. This type of training can take time.

Another option is to take the pet for a checkup and ask the vet about sedatives.

Millan prefers using exercise over sedatives. "Normally you walk a dog for 20 minutes, but on Fourth of July, you walk an hour and a half, and you drain the energy so your dog is more tired. That is just like a sedative."
If a dog panics on the holiday, forget the fireworks and concentrate on the dog, Millan said. If you're outside, keep the dog calm by staying calm yourself.
Stay in control and get the dog indoors quickly, Reid said. If you drove, get into your car and sit with the dog. "Mask the noise. Turn on the air conditioning or the radio," Reid said.
If you're indoors when the dog panics, Reid suggests giving it a hollow chew toy filled with Cheese Whiz or peanut butter. "Some dogs are OK as long as they have something to lick or chew," she said.
Millan suggests doing an activity the pet will enjoy.
"Anything that can involve relaxation and fun, because that's what you want the dog to learn," Millan said. "Relax and have fun on the Fourth."

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RESCUE FOR QUAKE DOGS
CHINA
June 28, 2008

The white short-haired mutt was found dragging his crushed hind legs through rubble-clogged streets after the massive earthquake devastated China's Sichuan province.
The shy terrier mix was lucky to live through the May 12 quake that killed nearly 70,000 people. He was even more fortunate to survive the squads of police and soldiers who were gunning down homeless canines for fear they would spread disease in the disaster's aftermath.But his luckiest day was when he was picked up by Chen Yunlian.Now he's among some 100 "quake dogs" rescued by the former businesswoman, who has created something extremely rare in China: a private animal shelter. For 11 years, the 60-year-old Chen has been rescuing strays off the streets. She now cares for about 900 dogs and 100 cats in her shelter built among rice paddies on the southern outskirts of Chengdu, the provincial capital.
"I think that dogs and humans have the same right to live. They're equals," she told The Associated Press as a brown brindle hound missing a front leg jumped up on her and snuggled his snout in her lap. Chen's views about animal rights are radical in a country where dogs can just as easily be a pet or the main ingredient in a spicy hotpot. Although dog ownership has grown in popularity as the Chinese become wealthier, many people don't have the strong emotional attachment to the animals that's common in the West. Chen is also on the vanguard of a new movement in China of citizens who start their own groups to deal with social problems that were once mostly handled — or ignored — by the Communist Party-led state. The government and party — wary about anything that might challenge their monopoly on power — is still trying to figure out how much of a role it wants people like Chen to play. She was reluctant to discuss the matter. "I love my country and government. I want it to become even stronger and more prosperous," said the soft-spoken woman, dressed in a baggy white T-shirt and black pajama-like pants with white polka dots. Chen calls her shelter "Ai Zhi Jia" or the "House of Love." A tall metal fence surrounds the facility off a narrow tree-lined road about a 45-minute drive from downtown Chengdu. From the street, a cacophony of yelps, barks, growls, whimpers and whines can be heard. The air is filled with the smell of dry dog food, fur and the faint scent of urine and feces that's constantly being scooped up by a staff of eight.
The main building in the shady complex is a concrete U-shaped structure divided into rooms that serve as kennels. Each has a large front concrete patio that's enclosed by a knee-high wall and wire fencing. Dogs and cats are also kept in a network of recently built cages and dog runs. Dogs with a history of good behavior are allowed to roam the wide square-shaped walkway within the complex.
There are poodles, a couple of collies and an elderly, forlorn-looking Afghan hound named "Ah-foo" with clumps of missing hair and large polyps growing on his chest and legs. But the majority of the dogs are classic Chinese mutts: terrier-Pekingnese-pug-poodle mixes with squatty bodies, short legs, curly tails and pointy ears. Most looked healthy, with few signs of skin disease or digestive problems common in such conditions."Chinese people prefer purebred dogs and the mixes probably won't be adopted," said Chen, adding that she cares for every dog until it dies. "But mutts are the most intelligent and the most affectionate. They really appreciate you." One of her superstar mutts from the quake zone was a small, brown, short-haired terrier with alert brown eyes named "Qianjin," or "Forward." Rescuers said Forward and another dog — a shelty named "Guai Guai" — belonged to an elderly woman who was partially buried in rubble at a Buddhist temple that collapsed in the city of Pengzhou. The dogs stayed with their master while she was trapped for 196 hours.
"The rescuers told me the dogs were drinking rain water, then they would lick their owner's lips to help keep her from getting too dehydrated," Chen said.
When the 7.9-magnitude quake struck, Chen said she wanted to race to the hard-hit cities — most an hour or two away from Chengdu — but she had to wait 10 days because of road closures and restrictions on traffic.
When she finally got in, she cruised the streets in her van looking for homeless animals or asking locals if any pets needed rescue.
In the city of Guangyuan, she found the white terrier mutt with the mangled legs. Like other dogs with crippled hind legs at her shelter, the dog — whose name was unknown — now walks with the aid of a wheelchair-like device made of PVC pipes. It's a design a shelter worker copied from an American Web site.
Only a few of the quake dogs were injured and the rest were in good health, she said.A month and a half since the quake, Chen still gets calls from people with quake strays. During an AP interview, Chen's cell phone began ringing. It was someone from the hard-hit town of Beichuan.
"Our van is broken now so we can't go far," she told the caller. "How many dogs do you have? We can take them in if you can help us arrange a vehicle."
Chen said her shelter is close to full capacity and her budget isn't big enough for many more dogs. She said she spends $8,743 each month on dog food, salaries and supplies. She takes donations but pays for much of it from her own pocket, she said. Chen, who made a fortune as a distributor of cosmetics and other consumer goods in the 1990s, was on her way to see a client in 1997 when she saw a stray dog in the street. The dog made eye contact and something clicked, she said.
"He looked so sad. I said to him, 'Are you lost you silly little dog?'" she said. "I decided to take care of him and I missed my meeting. I named him Ben Ben."
She started taking in other strays, and her obsession with caring for homeless animals eventually eclipsed her interest in business and she retired. She sold her cars and properties to finance the expanding operation. She moved the shelter to the current location, which she rents, two years ago.
"I started down a road," she said, "and I couldn't turn around."

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Dallas will significantly tighten its rules on animal ownership under new regulations overwhelmingly approved Wednesday by the City Council.

Tammy Camp, a volunteer for Animal Connection of Texas, waved to motorists Wednesday in front of Dallas City Hall. Emotions ran high inside for those who spoke for or against a stricter animal control ordinance, but it passed. The ordinance will require that most animals be spayed or neutered, limit how many pets residents can have, and restrict how long dogs can be tied up, among other provisions.
The majority of council members hailed the changes to the animal ordinance as an important step toward reducing the tens of thousands of stray animals roaming city streets, and improving quality of life for pets. But others at the meeting, particularly breeders, saw the rules as too strict, prompting hours of passionate debate involving about 200 people. The ordinance was approved on a 10-3 vote, and most provisions take effect Tuesday.
Speakers against the animal ordinance formed a line in the center aisle, while those in favor took the wall. "It's the first step in trying to solve a complex problem that has been going on for a long time," Mayor Pro Tem Elba Garcia said. "We all agree it's time to do something."
Some council members, along with dozens of breeders and owners' rights advocates, argued that the new ordinance punishes responsible animal owners.
Many also argued that Dallas' new ordinance would be difficult, if not impossible, to enforce, noting that the city can barely handle the animal laws already on the books.
"We should have deferred this; we should have put this off until we could have gotten both sides together," District 9 council member Sheffie Kadane said.
"This is going to be another pooper scooper law that is not enforced," Dallas resident Sherry Talton told the council. "We need to take the time and slow this process down."
Some of the speakers launched into impassioned, even tearful soliloquies. For every ordinance opponent who decried its potential effect on animal breeding or owners' rights, there was a supporter noting the thousands of dogs and cats Dallas euthanizes annually.
Dallas Animal Shelter Commission Chairman Skip Trimble insisted that the city must move now to reduce the stray and feral animal population.
"It can only be done through sterilization," he said. "If we can't control the flow of water, we'll never stop mopping the floor."Such comments foreshadowed a fiery debate among council members."I blame this entire circle if this doesn't work," Mr. Kadane told his colleagues. Turning to city staff, he added, "You guys don't have the force to get out and do what this ordinance is trying to do."
Even a few council members supporting the expanded animal ordinance acknowledged Mr. Kadane's assertion. Only about one in 10 animals is currently registered, and residents' loose-animal calls often go hours or days without response.
But several council members noted that Dallas' latest 2008-09 budget outlook includes funding for 20 new animal services workers.
Top city staff expressed confidence that they'll make headway in a battle to clear Dallas streets of strays, many of which are potentially dangerous.
"You can hold me to that: We will get the dog numbers down," City Manager Mary Suhm said. "We don't mind being held accountable for that."
District 12 council member Ron Natinsky offered a substitute ordinance, which altered or deleted several provisions in the original animal ordinance proposal. It was rejected, 9-4.
Limits on the number of animals one can own and new rules on impounding dangerous dogs take effect next week. Provisions addressing outdoor dog confinements go into effect Sept. 25, while the spay/neuter provisions and breeder permit regulations take effect Oct. 25.

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COUPLE FIGHT FOR DOGS
USA
June 26, 2008

Couple fighting for lives of dogs they rescued
When Jim and Kim Giuntoli spotted a confused but friendly dog darting through rush-hour traffic on Pacific Highway South in Federal Way...

Jim and Kim Giuntoli took these two dogs to the Humane Society after another dog they had rescued was euthanized at a county animal shelter without notice to Jim, who had called to check on the dog almost daily.

This dog, nicknamed Buddy, was rescued by Jim and Kim Giuntoli and later euthanized at the county shelter in Kent.
When Jim and Kim Giuntoli spotted a confused but friendly dog darting through rush-hour traffic on Pacific Highway South in Federal Way, they were determined to save him.
They spent three hours trying to find a shelter or a veterinarian to take the mixed-breed black Labrador retriever. Finally, a veterinary hospital in Issaquah agreed to hold the dog until King County animal control could come get him in the morning.
Last week, 12 days after the playful dog with the floppy ears arrived in a county shelter, he was euthanized. The Giuntolis are keeping close tabs on two other dogs that Jim rescued later.
To the Giuntolis, the death of the dog they called Buddy brought home a controversy over whether King County shelters are killing animals unnecessarily.
The head of the county's shelter program said the dog was put down because he was judged a threat to other animals. County Executive Ron Sims' office has asked a county public-health veterinarian to investigate whether proper procedures were followed.
A citizens oversight committee reported last fall that dogs and cats in county shelters were held in deplorable conditions and workers weren't adequately trained to determine whether animals should be adopted out or euthanized. Two subsequent consultants' reports also blasted care in the crowded, understaffed shelters in Kent and Bellevue.
Veterinary staffing has been increased and the Metropolitan King County Council has appropriated nearly $1 million to buy more cages, hire more workers and step up pet-adoption efforts.
The council is now mulling whether the county should stay in the shelter business.
The Giuntolis would have taken Buddy to their Auburn home right after finding him June 4, but they have four cats.
He was rambunctious and undisciplined, but not aggressive, said Jim Giuntoli, 44, a restaurant manager for years. "All I got was big wet kisses on the neck. He was licking my wife's hands."
When the couple stopped at a pet store to buy food, a bowl and a leash, Buddy broke away and ran toward a dachshund. He sniffed the smaller dog and ran off again.
Jim advertised in the newspaper for the owner, and he called the shelter almost daily for updates — and to remind staff that if no one came forward, he'd take Buddy.
But shelter officers wrote that Buddy tried to dominate other dogs, growled at an officer and put his mouth around the arm of an officer who touched his side. "This dog makes me very uncomfortable," one officer wrote. An evaluation by two officers rated the dog's behavior toward cats at less than 1, the lowest score on a scale of 1 to 5. "The scores do not reflect aggression with people, but they're off the chart — extremely bad aggression — with cats and dogs," said Al Dams, acting manager of animal care and control.
Last week, after Buddy had been in county shelters for 11 days, Jim Giuntoli called the shelter over and over but wasn't able to get through to anyone. The next day, he was told that the dog had been euthanized that morning.
Kim Giuntoli was heartbroken. Jim was sad — and furious.
His thoughts turned immediately to two other dogs he rescued from I-5 a week after he and Kim picked up Buddy. Afraid that mixed-breed terrier and golden retriever would meet the same fate as Buddy, Giuntoli called the shelter and lied: He said he knew the owner and that the owner wanted the dogs back.
"There's no way in hell I'm going to let these two other dogs die," he said later. "I couldn't sleep at night."
Giuntoli admitted to shelter staff the next day he didn't know who the dogs' owner was, but pleaded to be allowed to take them to the Seattle Humane Society in Bellevue, where he thought they would have a better chance of survival.
A behavioral exam at the Kent shelter had cleared the small terrier mix for adoption, but put the golden retriever on track for euthanasia for aggressively defending his food and not liking to be handled.
Dams let the Giuntolis take the dogs to the Humane Society. Like the county shelter, the Humane Society quickly cleared the terrier for adoption.
The retriever will be put up for adoption only if a two-week behavior-modification program breaks him of the habit of growling and stiffening menacingly when food or a toy is taken from him, said shelter manager Katie Olsen.
Dams defends the county shelter record.
"We have several missions," Dams said. "One is saving as many lives of animals as we can. The other is public safety." If an animal is found to be a danger to people or other animals, he said, "then we make the hard decision to euthanize."
Dams said the euthanasia rate has dropped from 34 percent last year to 19 percent through May of this year. County shelters housed 11,801 animals last year.
Jim Giuntoli remains bitter about Buddy's death."Here's a dog somebody called about every day and cared about, and here's what happened," he said. "What about the sickly dogs nobody puts an ad in the paper for? Who plays God there?"

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FOUR DEAD DOGS
KALAMAZOO
USA
June 25, 2008

4 dead dogs found in house

Four dead dogs were among 16 dogs removed Monday from a house just west of Kalamazoo, authorities said.

Several of the dogs were being kept in metal-wire and plastic crates, and large amounts of feces were found inside the house in the 8000 block of West KL Avenue, said Steve Lawrence, director of Kalamazoo County Animal Services and Enforcement.
Animal Services workers were called to the house after Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Department deputies responded to a report of possible animal neglect at about 10:30 a.m. Monday. Police said the house is being condemned.
Lawrence said authorities found a dog skull in one crate, the bodies of two dogs in a metal-wire crate and another dead dog in a plastic crate.
``The conditions were pretty nasty,'' Lawrence said after viewing photos of the house. ``This is probably one of the worst (cases) we've seen in a long time.''
Several of the dogs that were alive when police and Animal Services workers arrived Monday also were being kept in crates, Lawrence said.
Three dogs were found in a crate fit for one to two dogs, and the floor of the crate was covered with about an inch of feces. Two of the dogs in the crate were emaciated, and one had golf-ball-size mats of hair and feces on the bottom of its feet, Lawrence said.
Authorities also found a pair of 6- to 8-month-old Australian shepherd puppies with teeth that were in bad condition and similar to what officials might normally see on a dog as old as age 6. Lawrence said authorities believe the dogs' teeth may have been damaged from eating feces.
The 12 dogs taken from the home alive have been turned over to Animal Services by their owner. Officials will provide veterinary care to those that can be treated and put them up for adoption, Lawrence said. One or two may have to be euthanized because of ``aggression issues,'' he said.
Police continue to investigate. They plan to submit the results of their investigation by the end of the week to the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor's Office for review and possible felony charges, sheriff's Lt. Robert Phillips said this morning.

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2 dogs rescued from Kennedy Expressway traffic



Two Shar-Peis dogs were rescued from the northbound express lanes on I-90 at California Avenue by State Police early Monday morning. Chicago Animal Care and Control supervisor Vivish Jacob (left), veterinarian supervisor Marek Dygas and veterinarian Robert Zborek take care of them at Chicago Animal Care and Control.
Digg Del.icio.us Facebook Fark Google Newsvine Reddit Yahoo Print Reprints Post comment Text size: Illinois State Police rescued two dogs found on the Kennedy Expressway on Chicago's Northwest Side at the start of the Monday morning rush hour.
The dogs, male and female Shar-Peis, were rescued about 5 a.m. at California Avenue, according to officials, who said Monday afternoon that the dogs are in good shape. Anne Kent, executive director of Chicago Animal Care and Control, whose veterinarian examined the animals, said they were not microchipped, which means their owner or owners have not been identified. "We're treating them as stray dogs," Kent said. She said she is hoping someone will claim them.


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Pets Need Seat Belts Too, Expert Says
Harnesses, Belts Can Save Pets In Crash

Leslie May was traveling along Interstate 70 with her shelties from Dayton, Ohio to Indianapolis after a dog agility trial when vehicles in front of her suddenly started to break.

"Cars were skidding out in front of us, so I went into the berm, and so did the car in front of us," May said. "The dogs were in the car, and I didn’t want anyone to rear-end me."
May collided with the car in front of her, but she and her dogs, Johann and Gracie, were virtually unscathed. Johann suffered bruised ribs.
"If they were not buckled in, I don't know what would have happened," she said. "The dogs would have been flying."
May, who is in her 40s, believes she is a responsible pet parent who restrains her pets when they are riding in her vehicle. After the accident, she started blogging about various pet issues in Johann's voice at her blog.
According to Bark Buckle Up, a pet safety advocacy organization, pet travel has increased 300 percent since 2005, while the use of pet restraints is about 2 percent, so it is crucial to spread the word about the importance of restraining pets when traveling. June is also pet safety month.
Christina Selter, founder of Bark Buckle Up, said there are three reasons why it is imperative that pet parents restrain pets when traveling.
No. 1 is so that the pet does not distract the driver. No. 2 is so that the pet does not get injured in an accident or hurt the driver or passengers. No. 3 is so that first responders, such as police officers and firefighters, can respond appropriately.
"In an accident, an unrestrained animal is dangerous to the human passengers as well. Even in an accident of only 30 mph, a 15-pound child can cause an impact of more than 300 pounds. A 60-pound dog can cause an impact of 2,700 pounds, slamming into a car seat, a windshield, or another passenger," Selter writes.
She added that when a pet has been stressed, it may run away from the scene of an accident or become aggressive.
A pet owner can avoid these types of difficulties, however, by using one of the many types of restraints available. They include harnesses and soft and hard crates.
Bark Buckle Up provides reviews and ratings of pet safety products. The ratings include the product's quality, ease of use and availability.
Selter said it is important to consider the pet's demeanor as well. Selter, who has three pets, said that her miniature pinscher, Princess, is a wiggler so the Pet Buckle Harness works best for her. A harness may work best for a dog that does not move around as much, she said.
She added that cats should also be secured, but they typically do not like harnesses. Instead, she said, owners could use a combination bed and safety seat.
There are not many pet safety laws on the books, but California recently approved a law that prohibits pets from riding in the laps of their owners.
Selter said she was happy to hear about the law passing and hopes that other states will follow suit, because if an airbag went off when a dog was on a lap, it would be devastating.
She also said dogs should not be allowed to hang their heads out the window, because their corneas can be severely damaged.
In Maryland, a law has been introduced to prohibit dogs from riding in the beds of pickup trucks. Selter said that California and New York top the list for pet safety, while the Midwest region is the worst.
"You see in places like California and New York, pets are welcome in more places like restaurants, malls (and) offices, so people are just more used to it," Selter said. "In the Midwest, pets are not traveling as much yet."
As part of Bark Buckle Up's effort to get the word out about the importance of pet restraints, it has teamed with Volvo dealers across the country to host pet safety days. The events teach pet owners about pet safety products and give tips for traveling safely with pets. The general public and their pets are welcome.
The pet safety kits include a decal to notify emergency personnel that a pet is in a car or home and a card kept by the owner that includes the pet's information and veterinarian information.
Selter encourages pet parents get the kit because if the owner is killed or incapacitated in a wreck, the pet is usually taken to the local pound, where it may not get the necessary care to save its life.

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Man dies after pet is mauled by bull terrier

"Pillar of community": Michael Harrington died after suffering a heart attack
The family of a Hendon butcher who had a heart attack and died after his greyhound was viciously attacked by another dog have spoken of their shock and horror.
Michael Harrington, 66, was walking his two greyhounds through Gobions Wood, in Brookmans Park, at about 8.30pm last Wednesday, when one, Danny, slipped his lead and was savagely mauled.
After calling the police to report the incident, Mr Harrington, a retired butcher and greyhound trainer who spent more than 50 years of his life in Hendon, suffered chest pains and died outside his house, in Oakland Avenue.
It is believed the dog was a Staffordshire bull terrier owned by a neighbour.
Mr Harrington's daughter, Wendy Harrington-Pike, is certain the trauma of the attack caused his death.
She said: "My father was a big chap. He worked all his life as a butcher, had three kids, and walked his dogs at least twice a day. He was fit and healthy and nobody expected this. It's horrific, a real shock.
"He was a lovely man and everyone has been trying to help. Letters have been pouring in from people saying he was the pillar of the community."
Mrs Harrington-Pike, 35, added that incidents like this are common in the area.

Recovering: Danny



"It happens a lot. Recently a 75-year-old neighbour had a bull terrier sink its teeth into his spaniel. Many people are only interested in these dogs for fighting; they goad them on.
"We want these people not to be allowed to own dogs."
The injured greyhound is currently recovering at the Royal Veterinary College, in North Mymms, after suffering a skull fracture and large gashes to its chest and legs.
Hertfordshire police are investigating the dog attack, but are not treating the death as suspicious.
Mr Harrington leaves his wife, Sally, three daughters and six grandchildren.

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RAID DISCOVERS CARNAGE
BATON ROUGE
USA
June 21, 2008

Rescued Chihuahuas are in a cage on the back of a truck before being removed from a home in Walker where hundreds of animals, both dead and alive, were discovered Thursday



Deputies arrested two people Thursday after finding more than 150 dead birds along with another 300 live, neglected fowl at a mobile home just outside the town limits of Walker.

Most of the neglected animals found on the property are birds, ranging from chickens to quails and peacocks, said Steven Hart, president and chief cruelty investigator for the Livingston Humane Society.
Investigators also found dogs and hamsters, a donkey and a miniature horse on the 2.5-acre property.
Responding to an anonymous tip, the Livingston Humane Society and the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office went to the residence at 11260 Florida Blvd. and found most of the animals in the heavily wooded back yard of the property, said Jason Ard, Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office chief of operations.
Hundreds more dead chicks were found inside the rusted mobile home, authorities said.
“I’ve never seen anything this bad,” said Terri Dunlap, vice president of the Livingston Humane Society.
Investigators think the couple arrested in the case, identified as Cindy Jones, 34, and Samuel Stroup, 40, both of 11260 Florida Blvd., Walker, raised the birds and animals for sale at flea markets, Hart said.
Unlike exotic pets, none of the animals required a special license to raise or sell, he said.
Volunteers worked well into the evening attempting to catch birds and animals to bring to foster homes.
Workers were seen chasing ducks with nets across the yard, while others were counting the remains of decomposed chickens, often using beaks as the only indicator of how many individual birds were part of the decay, Dunlap said. Long-dead carcasses were found inside cages with live animals, she said.
The number of dead and neglected animals is expected to rise as volunteers scour the site, Hart and Dunlap said.
One count of live animals included eight Chihuahuas, two pit bull terriers, one donkey, one miniature horse, eight geese, 42 Peking ducks, 11 pigeons, 18 rabbits, four hamsters, 41 silky chickens, 71 button quail, 85 regular quail, two peacocks and more than 100 chickens, Dunlap said.
Four rabbits and two chickens were euthanized because they were too sick to survive, said Susan Yarnall, a veterinarian from Denham Springs Animal Hospital.

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DOGS MUST BE LEASHED
CZECH REPUBLIC
June 20, 2008

Bill calls for all dogs to be leashed
Fines for littering and noise could also be set to increase

Increased fines for minor offenses have appeared in several laws that are either being drafted or currently being discussed in Parliament:
Environment Minister Martin Bursík added a clause to a law regarding trash disposal that would impose a fine of 500,000 Kc for improperly throwing away large appliances such as a TV or refrigerator
Interior Minister Ivan Langer has called for offenses such as holding loud parties, littering with gum or cigarette butts and ignoring police to result in a 20,000 Kc fine
Although extreme fines have blocked the passage of several laws in the past, Agriculture Minister Petr Gandalovic, author of the animal-protection bill, defends the rising fees. "Every law needs to include a punishment measure large enough to deter citizens from breaking it," he said. "It is only logical for fines to rise as salaries do"

Dog owners are likely to be unhappy about a draft bill soon to be discussed in Parliament. Already approved by the government May 21, the regulation would require all dogs to be walked on leashes, or else owners could be fined 50,000 Kc ($3,175). It is part of an animal-protection bill intended to minimize cruelty to animals, and it has divided mayors as well as veterinarians and the public. “A hike in fines has a very educational effect upon the population,” said Josef Duben, spokesman of the State Veterinary Administration, on one side of the argument. “Dogs not on a leash suffer because, for example, they could run away and get lost, so this is another way to prevent cruelty to animals.” Policymakers in larger cities generally support the proposed law. “In many designated areas in Prague, such as parks, dogs without a leash can currently cost the owner 1,000 Kc on the spot, which can climb to 30,000 Kc if the case goes to court,” Deputy Mayor Rudolf Blažek said. Enforcing the new city ordinance, however, would be another matter. According to city statistics, only 148,000 Kc in dog-related fines was paid last year because police officers often had too much work to handle canine violations. Some parents of small children also seem to welcome the new law. “Dogs will often run around children’s playgrounds bothering everyone,” said Eliška, a mother of two who lives in Prague. “As a mother, I fear for my children and would be glad if owners could be punished for endangering little children.”Many living in smaller towns and villages, however, are stunned by the proposed piece of legislation. “When you live in the backcountry, dogs are a part of your daily life. The idea that they would have to be kept on leashes at all times is absurd,” said Petr Pávek, mayor of Jindrichovice pod Smrkem, north Bohemia. “A law demanding such things and threatening fees is insane and will make our daily life miserable.” Instead, he suggested, large cities should designate dog playgrounds in parks, as they do for children. “Effectively banning dogs is not a solution, but giving them a space to play apart from children should be,” Pávek said.Dog breeders are also highly skeptical of such a law. “Dogs need to run around and play with other dogs and people. If they are kept on a leash all the time, they will never socialize properly and that will result in more attacks on people,” said Jana Baudyšová, a championship breeder from Kamenný Prívoz. “Dogs aren’t bad in and of themselves. Bad behavior is either the result of neglectful owners or a child who annoys them for hours until the dog has no option but to attack. Why don’t we keep children on leashes all the time? Protecting animals is definitely important, but it needs to be approached sensibly.”Considering the reluctance of some politicians to the proposed law, it remains to be seen how it will fare in Parliament discussions this month. “I myself would prefer fewer restrictive laws,” said Jaroslav Kubera, mayor of Teplice and a Civic Democratic senator. “It is true that some parents do complain about dogs harassing children, but that’s what we have municipal police for. When our officers see a teenager with a dangerous dog, they simply tell him to put it on a leash. That is after all the work of municipal policemen, to keep peace in neighborhoods,” Kuber explained.

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THE DOG HAS TALENT
UNITED KINGDOM
June 19, 2008

Fido's got talent: Meet the stars of the alternative Crufts who can skateboard, load the washing machine - and save your life

Emily Sharratt and cross breed puppy Pickle show their skateboarding talent
For dog lovers who find the rules, rituals and rigmarole of Crufts a little stifling, it is the perfect alternative. Because the dogs scooping the awards at Britain's first Cold Wet Nose Show (motto: The event not to be sniffed at) aren't always those with the grandest pedigrees or the glossiest coats.

Instead, ordinary mutts and mongrels will line up to take a bow wow for a wide range of incredible achievements.
Cas, for instance, is an eight-year-old border collie who turned from a cowed and beaten stray into a doggie dancer to rival Britain's Got Talent finalist Gin (who, incidentally, is also attending the event).

Five-year-old Tibetan Terrier Harry, meanwhile, provided a lifeline for his mistress, Caroline Rich, when she fled her violent husband.
'Some people are calling the show the anti-Crufts,' said Beverley Cuddy, editor of Dogs Today magazine, which is organising the event at Loseley Park, Guildford, on Saturday, July 12. 'I don't mind that.
'It's certainly not going to be a stuffy show. More a sort of doggie Glastonbury - although hopefully without the mud. 'It is the first time we have run it, and the whole idea is to raise the profile of all the things dogs do for people. It doesn't matter if the dog is a mongrel or has a fantastic pedigree - it just has to be loved.'Visitors will be treated to plenty of canine magic, but the awards will take centre stage. Here, we profile some of the most deserving winners.
Emily Sharratt, four, is the youngest entrant in the dog show's Brain of Britain competition. She has taught her cross-breed puppy Pickle (pictured above) to perform several tricks - including skateboarding.
Emily's mother Sarah says: 'She has taught Pickle to jump through a hoop, and is now teaching her to go through her legs.'
Cas is an eight-year-old border collie who was found abandoned and emaciated in the Welsh mountains. She was terrified of people, suffered panic attacks and barely ate. But to Gina Graham, 23, who works for a housing association, Cas was just perfect. 'I wanted a border collie because they are an active, intelligent breed,' she says.
'Cas had a terrible start to her life, but I took her to agility classes and she just loved it. It really brought out her confidence and she changed from a scared little puppy into a confident young dog.'
Cas also revealed a talent for dancing, and is a spirited performer in the mould of Britain's Got Talent finalist, Gin.
Gina and Cas will put on a dance display at the show, and also teach novice dogs - and their owners - the first canine dancing steps.
When Caroline Rich, 50, fled her abusive husband, all she took with her were some clothes and her beloved dog - a five-year-old Tibetan terrier called Harry.
Caroline was forced to live on the streets with Harry until the United Welsh Housing Association offered her a home. The only problem: dogs weren't allowed in association properties.
'Incredibly, however, everyone at the association was amazed by how well Caroline cared for Harry, and so they decided to change their policy,' says Beverley Cuddy from Dogs Today.
The next problem was how Caroline would manage on income support of just £59 a week.
'Happily, the charity Tailwaggers came to the rescue,' says Beverley. 'And now Liz Nu