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Friday, January 11, 2013
Crufts 2012
I hate revisiting old posts I start and haven’t finished. Sometimes I look at them and wonder who on earth wrote that or what was I thinking. Other times life gets in the way, I get busy and forget about the “brilliant insights” I had lol. This is one such post – I found the shell of a rough draft in my email draft folder that I started writing on my flight home from Crufts. Its so hard to believe its already been three months since Crufts.
I made a second annual pilgrimage to the United Kingdom for Crufts. I had a wonderful time with my friends and dogs. I also tried my hand at showing again and handled a 9 1/2 month old puppy bitch that belonged to a friend. The beautiful girl I showed last year did not compete as she was out of coat (her winter coat had shed and the new coat had not fully come in) and was not in tip top form. This year went smoother than last but I’m still not sure this showing thing is for me. I got really nervous and after composing myself from a wardrobe malfunction we performed well enough in the ring to take 3rd place in the puppy bitch class and the lovely little girl Molly is now qualified for Crufts 2013!
I was so distracted by socializing and watching the competition I didn’t manage to take any pictures this year. Ok, so I actually took 5 pictures before I got caught up in the moment. Luckily another one of the people showing in my same class had her mother there to watch and she used my camera to photograph us both. Whew, at least I have a couple photographs of the event.
Some of you may have heard about the controversy this year – the atmosphere took a sour turn when the Kennel Club announced they were requiring the breed winners of 15 breeds they deemed “high profile at risk” to have a veterinarian examination before they would be allowed to compete in the Group competition. What was supposed to be a brief visual exam (basically, the same sort of once over the judges give) with out apparatus turned into a full on veterinary exam using an ophthalmoscope and bam! 3 of the high profile breeds that were shown that day did not pass the vet exams, all failing the eye exam. There was very little talk about the controversial exams until the first day finished and the firestorm ensued.
Over the next four days of competition 6 of the 15 high profile dog breeds failed the vet exams. The Pekeneese, the English Bulldog, the Clumber Spaniel (for eyes of course. The vet who was not familiar with the clumber did not take into consideration the “bred for purpose” of the Clumbers eyes), the English Mastiff, the Neapolitan Mastiff (the judge actually withheld the winner) and the Basset Hound. I had the opportunity to speak with a few of the Clumber Spaniel breed people at Discover Dogs. The disappointment over what had happened was overwhelming. They felt betrayed by the organization that was supposed to govern and protect them. Several Facebook groups have cropped up in protest and to lobby for reform.
Unfortunately, the Saint Bernard is on the KC’s high profile list. There was a lot of tension during the competition and everyone was on pins and needles awaiting the vet exam results. While the breed winner, a beautiful saint bitch I might add, passed the vet exam this year, the saint bernard will have this hanging over its head teetering on disaster from here on out. What this will mean for the future of the breed the other breeds on the high profile list and the English Kennel Club in general is yet to be seen.
Dog World TV posted an interview Marina Scott with the Kennel Club chairman Steve Dean after the recent KC AGM. The main subject on the agenda, which has upset many exhibitors, was the matter of Best of Breed veterinary checks. The interview sheds some light on the recent changes and where the Kennel Club plans to go from there.
Who knows whether we will see sweeping changes in the breeds or whether the fall out will see its way to the American Kennel Club.
An Extreme Mutt Makeover by CARA Welfare Philippines
A female dog named Matt faced a miserable life outdoors but now is looking for her forever home.\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Popular Dog Blogs\Dogster\PinExt.png "Pin It")
The stray pets of the Philippines are fortunate that an intrepid group of volunteers have their backs: CARA Welfare Philippines -- Compassion and Responsibility for Animal Welfare in the Philippines. A nongovernmental nonprofit operating solely on private donations, the Manila-based group has made possible many astonishing success stories. But we think one of CARA's most compelling cases is the extreme makeover of a mini-mutt called Matt.
Matt is certainly an offbeat name for a girlydog; she earned her handle because of the tangled mats of knotted hair that covered her entire body. But mats were the least of little Matt's problems.
"Matt belonged to a squatter whose house is pasted against a wall along Araneta Avenue," says CARA's Rebecca Tieng, who discovered the dog in October. She was kept above the ground on an elevated piece of plyboard, tethered by a short metal wire just a foot long. The wire was so tight around Matt's neck that it dug into her flesh. Two years prior, her owners had acquired Matt as a puppy, then promptly robbed her of every pup's birthright: To romp and play and sleep where it's safe. She never knew the comfort of living indoors.
"She lived in a very neglected state," Tieng says -- and that's putting it mildly. Had Matt tripped or fallen or taken one wrong step off her plyboard perch, she would've died by hanging. With no roof or canopy over her head, she was fully exposed to the elements.
Meanwhile, the wire around her neck gave her an inflamed wound. She was rarely fed, and never got water -- unless, that is, you count the raindrops that pelted her from a stormy sky, cruelly stinging her wounded neck.
Tieng boldly offered the owners money for their dog. "I convinced them to give her up, paid them 1,000 pesos, and they surrendered her to me," she recalls. So hands-off were these people that they thought their dog was male; now, Tieng says, "Matt is short for Mathilde!"
Upon arrival at the CARA veterinary clinic, Matt was shaved from nose to tail, with extra care taken around the neck, to expose the injured flesh for treatment and healing. Not surprisingly, Tieng says, "the wound had become badly infected, so the vets cleaned and stitched it up." Despite the pain she endured thanks to mistreatment, Matt enjoyed interacting with the people who tended to her.
That pesky name has understandably caused confusion, leading people to believe Matt is a boy. On the CARA blog, prior to desexing surgery, Matt's prognosis was: "He will be a beautiful dog once his fur has grown back."
Along with the matted, filthy fur and the ability to reproduce, Matt also shed her fear of moving an inch. Her inner puppy came out to play, for keeps. "She would bark incessantly until she was let out of the clinic cage and played with," Tieng says. "She loved attention, hugging, and nipping!"
Today, Matt is doing well. "She is housetrained, instinctively very clean, and smells like a baby," Tieng reports. Matt loves interacting with dogs and people of all sizes, but CARA is seeking a home without children because of her irrepressible, puppylike tendency to jump, hug, and -- yep -- nip.
Considering all she's been through, it seems only fair to grant this dog a permanent puppy pass. CARA's truth-in-advertising approach is commendable: "She must have someone in the home 24/7 who can give her all the love and care she missed for the first two years of her life," Tieng insists. "She is very sweet but naughty in her own cute ways."
Long may Matt's too-long-repressed inner puppy play. CARA hopes you'll help spread the word about Matt, so she'll find her forever home -- and please consider donating so the group may continue doing dog's work for the Philippines' furry citizens.
Do you know of a rescue hero — dog, human, or group — we should profile on Dogster? Write us at dogsterheroes@dogster.com.Welcome Earth Animal to the Raise A Green Dog Partner Program!
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Product Review – Smart Bones
many Veterinarians never endorse dogs chewing rawhide because of concerns about the digestibility and potential choking hazards. Many consumers also have concerns about chemicals used to process rawhide and the general lack of regulation in the leather industry. And let’s face it … rawhide is hide. It’s skin. Processing leather for consumption takes quite a bit of work; work that results in toxic waste, which has a negative effect on the environment.
I’m not an anti-rawhide person. I’ve fed rawhide to my dogs. But I do worry about the chew when it gets to be so small that the dog might swallow it. Unless I’m watching him chew the entire thing — or unless I look up as he gets to the end of it — I may not know that he’s about to swallow the last of it. I also had a Dachshund who would maul and gum the rawhide until it was soft, wet and floppy. When I took it away from him, I pulled a bunch out of his throat that he had partially swallowed. Yuck.
And yet, rawhide has benefits. It’s a long-lasting, protein chew that will give a dog hours of chewing activity, which they need to keep their minds occupied in their modern confinement lifestyles. It also helps clean their teeth.
So I was interested in the concept of Smart Bones, a chew that’s veggie-based chewy outside and chicken jerky inside. I tried two of their varieties, the chicken and the peanut butter, in size large, which is 6.5? long. They also have a dental variety (see below for sizes and flavors).
The “vegetable” outside is mainly extruded corn starch, and includes (depending on the flavor) sweet potatoes, peas, carrots or kelp.
I gave one to my 12-week-old Shiloh Shepherd puppy, who’s a shark right now (everything goes in the mouth, right?) and one to my nine-year-old Irish Setter. There was a little bit of crumbling on the outer part of the chicken one, but the chew seemed to be palatable. While it did not last as long as a rawhide, it did keep her busy for half an hour. The Irish Setter had a ball with the peanut butter one. His teeth aren’t as sharp as the puppy’s milk teeth, and he’s not as frantic, so he got nearly an hour’s fun out of his.
I saw no ill effect when I took the dogs out to do their business. Sometimes, you can feed a new treat or chew and then regret it later. But there was no evidence that the Smart Bones were stressing their digestive systems. They don’t smell, which I like (some rawhide chews reek) and they don’t stain my carpets or sofa, which is nice, since my Setter likes to save some for later by hiding his treats under our pillows on the bed.
Smart Bones are also fortified with vitamins and minerals, which gives them an extra nutritional boost. Minor “cons” I see are that they have 9% protein content (vs. 80% and up for rawhide) and dogs with grain allergies might not tolerate the high corn percentage. Other than that, my dogs loved them. This is a smart alternative to rawhide if your dog does not like or should not consume rawhide.
Sizes: Mini, small, medium, large (also available in chips and “smartsticks”
Buy in bags or bulk boxes.
Flavors: Chicken, peanut butter, dental
Introducing Ferris! (Or: Why I suck)
Posted on 05. Oct, 2011 by Keri in Dog Bliss News\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Popular Dog Blogs\Dog Bliss\)
Hi. I’m back. And with good news.
Introducing Ferris! He’s my 18-week-old Pomeranian puppy.
There’s so much to say about this. Such a whirlwind of emotions: Joy, nostalgia, guilt, amusement, frustration… And that was just in the last 20 minutes. So much has changed for me since I lost Bliss and even since the last time I wrote on this blog. My life doesn’t resemble what it did before. Not to get into too much detail and make everyone all uncomfortable and squirmy (don’t you hate it when you ask people how they are and they actually tell you how they are?), but seriously, almost everything has changed since I posted in July of last year.
But back to Ferris. After 20 months, I finally decided I was ready for a new dog, and debated whether or not I wanted another Keeshond. I love the breed. Bliss was everything I wanted in a dog and more. But there were a couple of issues. First, at 30-50 pounds, a Keeshond would be too large for the small place I’m renting, and second (and more importantly), I didn’t want to try to replace Bliss.
I’d considered a Pomeranian before I found Bliss, and revisited that idea. After meeting several, I found a little guy who met what I wanted in my next dog but whose size, color (he’ll get redder with his adult coat), and gender would be far enough removed from Bliss to help avoid comparison. I brought him home last week.
And here’s where I get honest with y’all (because if I can’t be honest, why bother writing?). It’s been a bit of a struggle.
Ferris is freaking adorable. He’s smart, bouncy, active, and alert. I chose him because although he was initially a little aloof, when I picked him up he nuzzled under my chin and gave me little doggy kisses. I saw how he acted with his owners (playful and attentive) and I knew that with socialization, he’d come out of his shell a little. But although he can be affectionate, now that I know him it’s not necessarily how I’d first characterize him. “Feisty” would be a better word.
I began to get concerned when I saw a couple of instances of resource guarding. He only did it twice, but of course, my mind unfairly harkened back to Bliss whom we could never get to growl outside of playtime. This little dude at 17 weeks was already doing it. Family and friends told me it’s just a “puppy thing,” but I know better. This is the kind of thing that can escalate quickly and become a real problem later. In our first vet visit, I brought it up. Although he was gold with the vet, an assistant abruptly stuck her head in the room and Ferris started growling and barking.
“Yeah,” the vet said, “you may have an aggression problem here. This is going to need constant attention, and probably an individual trainer.” She went on in that manner until she saw my crestfallen face and stopped, saying, “I’m sorry. Probably not what you wanted to hear.” It wasn’t, especially on that day (again with the personal things, but just know that date was significant and hurtful). I took Ferris back to my car and bawled until I damn near dehydrated.
I already had a training class scheduled, but thought a trainer visit couldn’t hurt. She came over on Sunday and evaluated Ferris. She didn’t see the same thing the vet did. “Well, resource guarding isn’t great,” she said, “but it’s early enough to deal with. I don’t see aggression. He’s a pretty independent little guy, and he’s never going to be a dopey, wiggly-with-strangers type. But he may get more outgoing with socialization.” I was okay with that.
But here’s the thing. Here’s the really honest, I-suck-as-a-human-being kind of thing. I haven’t really bonded with Ferris yet. I enjoy him, I think he’s adorable, but… But. I knew he wasn’t going to be Bliss, but then… you know… he wasn’t. Bliss was pure sweetness through and through. Ferris is sharp and wily. Bliss just wanted to be near me. Ferris wants to see how much he can get away with. Bliss needed me. Ferris needs what I give him. I play with him, I give him tons of affection, we’ve begun training, and I’ve gone above and beyond what a puppy needs. But it just doesn’t feel the same.
And it’s so unfair to Ferris. So, so, so unfair. Bliss had the advantage of following a real problem dog (he was neurologically impaired, had seizures starting at 11 weeks, was aggressive, and died at 2 years old), so anything she did was an improvement. And her sweet nature was so irresistible I bonded with her instantly. Ferris looks sweet, but he’s actually kind of edgy. He’s just a little harder to connect with.
But then after some significant soul-searching I realized I’ve put way too much pressure on the dude. Not only did I expect him to be Bliss (yes I did), but Bliss without all of her own set of faults. I also expected him to take care of everything else that’s going on in my life and make me instantly happy. Because if a puppy can’t make me happy, what can, right? Wow. That’s a huge burden for a 4-pound puppy.
So I’m giving him (and myself) a break. We’re working on what we can work on now, and I’m forgiving myself for feeling the way I do. I’m celebrating his victories and his differences, and trusting that all good things take time. Amazing things take time plus faith plus work. Lots and lots of work. I think we’re both up for it.
…And now excuse me while I deter Ferris from taking the drapes down.
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Tags: Featured, Ferris, pomeranian, puppy, puppy bondingThursday, January 10, 2013
California Law Bans Using Dogs to Hunt Bears and Bobcats
Advocates say the hunting dogs are put at risk.
Beginning Jan. 1 it will be illegal to use packs of dogs to chase, corner, and ultimately shoot down bears and bobcats in California. Backers of the law say it's not only unfair to the hunted animals but also potentially dangerous and borderline abusive to the dogs.
Gov. Jerry Brown signed SB 1221 into law in September, banning the use of hounds to hunt bears and bobcats, the Huffington Post reported. The practice involves unleashing packs of trained dogs to track down, chase, and tree bears. Once cornered, hunters can then shoot the animals.
Seventeen states still permit the use of dogs to hunt bears, while 15 ban hunting hounds. In the remaining 18 states, it is illegal to hunt bears at all. In California, bear hunting season was closed early when the allotted number of licensed kills -- 1,700 -- was reached. Preliminary data puts the number of those kills tracked by dogs at less than half.
It is a sport with a long, robust history, and hunting enthusiasts argue that the new ban impedes on a legacy of tradition. They claim they much prefer the chase aspect of the hunt, and that bears and bobcats are often released.
The Humane Society of the United States believes otherwise, and supporters of the bill maintain that it is intended to protect not only California's bear and bobcat populations, but the hunting dogs as well. Using a pack of dogs to run down another animal can be seen as unfair, and once a bear or bobcat is in a tree, it's not a shot a hunter is likely to miss. What's more, in confrontations between dogs and game, dogs are often mauled or thoroughly exhausted by the hunt. When it comes to hound hunting, it seems that all animals involved face unnecessary risk and abuse.
The sport is similar to English fox hunting, which was banned in different parts of the United Kingdom starting in 2002.
Do you agree with the ban? Tell us why or why not in the comments below.
Source: The Huffington Post
Saint Bernard Cupcakes #2
This weekend I am going to a dog show in Cleveland to watch a few of my friends show their Saint Bernards. I usually make a tray of Saint Bernard cupcakes to take to my Saint Bernard Club November meetings and I’ll take them to the dog shows that I go and watch. Ive mastered the ones I posted about in 2011 (LINK to post) I’ve tweaked them over the years and they are a big hit.
I’ve seen some great cakes online that use fondant, gumpaste and candy clay. I’ve always been afraid to try it out, it seemed so hard. I finally decided to dive in head first and made my own edible candy clay and tried my hand at making a Saint Bernard cupcake topper. My first attempt, less than stellar but I was actually able to do it. So I ran out and bought some more chocolate and made more candy clay and gave it a full on go. Here’s the end result. I’m actually pretty impressed with myself. I hope everyone likes them at the Cleveland Cluster this weekend.
A whole new “Dog Bliss”
Posted on 26. Sep, 2009 by Keri in Dog Bliss News
Whew…
After a few weeks of work, Bliss and I are proud to present a whole new design for “Dog Bliss”! We’re hoping this new layout will give us the flexibility to show off more doggie products and have room left over for events, public service announcements, and other dog-related stuff. And JELL-O. There’s always room for JELL-O.
Today is the perfect day to officially launch, as it’s Bliss’ ninth birthday. Happy birthday my little furball factory! She’s very excited about her ninth birthday, as you can tell from this photo.
We’re still working on adding features and ferreting out the last few bugs, so please bear with us during this transition. If you see anything wonky, please drop us an email at keri (at) mydogbliss (dot) com.
We have a lot of dog products waiting in the wings, and we’re ready to get back to the business of showing them off. Oh! And don’t forget we’re on Twitter, so please follow us!
Thanks for reading, and we’ll be barking at you soon. Or whining. Depends on our mood.
Keri & Bliss
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Tags: FeaturedProduct Review: Magnetic Vehicle Signage
Social media may be all the rage for marketers these days, but old-school signage still works. If you’re trying to start or build a pet business, magnetic auto signage is still one of the most affordable ways to get your message out there. And they work, because you’ll find that you get phone calls while you’re stuck in traffic, and people will talk to you about your business when you park your car and step out of it. A sign can remind people that they need your product or service. When you’re in your car and you see a vehicle sign, it’s easy to pick up a mobile phone and call the number (that’s how I got my last lawn care guy).
We tried www.magnetsonthecheap.com for their fast turnaround and affordable pricing (starting at under $10). They have stock designs that you can use if you don’t want to design your own. We uploaded some artwork and our logo, which reproduced very nicely.
The magnet quality was very good, and the color really popped. I had to take it off during the heat of the Texas summer (daytime highs of 108 degrees) because I didn’t want it to fade or anything. It may not have, but I didn’t want to take any chances.
It looks great on the vehicle and it’s very eye-catching.
These signs are great for:
Pet sittersVeterinary practicesYard poop pickup servicesGroomersDog walkersBoutiques and pet shopsTips:
Clean and dry your vehicle before attaching sign.Do not place sign over trim or ridges that could create air pockets.If you place the magnet crooked, peel it off and start again. Do not try to nudge or slide it into place.Store the magnets flat.Use a light background if your vehicle is dark for good contrast.Make the type big enough for people to read 20 yards away.Think about whether your business (i.e. a pet sitter) only serves certain cities/towns in your area, and if so, say it on your sign.Decide what action you want people to take. I wanted them to go to a website, so I put a web address on the magnet. If you’re a groomer, you may prefer that they call you instead. In that case, put your phone number on the magnet in numbers as large as you can manage.Pay attention to safe driving and obey all traffic laws. Remember, people do business with people, not companies. They may get turned off if you change lanes without signaling or follow too closely. Be a courteous driver to help build customer confidence.I really liked the quality and fast shipping from MagnetsOnTheCheap.com. They also have another site, www.SignsOnTheCheap.com, if you need yard signs.
Six months without Bliss
Posted on 24. Jul, 2010 by Keri in Dog Bliss News, Uncategorized
It’s been a little over six months since we lost Bliss.
Some of her toys are still here (I’m looking at them now), there’s a big box of unused food and product samples in the garage (they’re headed to a charity, I promise), and I’m still sweeping errant tufts of cottony fluff from corners and under furniture.
I made egg salad today and expected her to come running in when I tapped the eggs on the counter (eggs were her favorite). If I drop a bit of food on the floor, my first thought is still, “Bliss will get that.” I still find myself lunging to close the door when my horrible cooking sets off the smoke detector because she’d tremble for an hour whenever it went off.
I miss her. I go for morning walks, but it seems so stupid. What’s the point of going for a walk without a dog? I’m working from home a lot these days, and there’s no one to talk to, and no fluffball sighing at my feet. And coming in the front door without her telling the whole neighborhood about it just seems… anticlimactic.
Friends and relatives ask me if we’re going to get another dog. I had a dream about a week ago in which my husband asked me to bring the dog in. I started calling for Bliss. He said, “Oh, no, honey. We don’t have her anymore. She died.” He gave me the name of our new dog. I sobbed, “But I don’t know how to call for another dog!” Clearly, I haven’t finished grieving for her and I’m apparently not ready for another dog.
I’ve received some very nice emails advising me to consider starting this blog again. You all are very kind. But the thing is, I don’t have a dog. I’m not a pet owner any longer. I don’t buy dog products, I don’t look at pet blogs, I don’t walk down the pet supply aisles in grocery stores. So really, how qualified am I to continue this blog? How compelling is it for you to read a site called “My Dog Bliss” if there is no Bliss?
But when the site came up for renewal a couple of weeks ago, I renewed it. And I’m here throwing words on a page for whomever might see it. And I know, someday, I’ll get another dog. I can’t imagine life without one.
But for now, I don’t know how to call for another dog.
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Tags: FeaturedFall lawn care the green, organic way for the health of your dog and you!
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Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Do You Protect Your Dog?
A dog training video recently reminded me that my dog sees me as his pack leader. And as such, my job is to provide for him and protect him. I provide for him by feeding him, taking him for walks, getting him to the vet, etc. But — in his eyes — do I protect him?
A dog on a leash is at a disadvantage against an aggressive dog.When small children run up to us wanting to pat him, so I just hang on to the end of the leash and let them rush him or do I ask them to stand still and let him approach them?
When stray dogs approach, do I put my dog at a disadvantage by keeping him on a tight leash or do I try to keep the dog away?
Do I keep my dog tethered on a leash at the dog park or do I take the leash off and let him move around freely?
When we’re on a walk, do I carry a spray bottle, stick, or other means of fending off dogs who threaten my dog?
Our dogs DO look to us for protection, and I think as modern dog owners, we forget that sometimes. I’m going to be more mindful of ways to protect my dog. Not to be an overprotective pet parent, and not to keep my dog from being a dog, but to provide protection when he needs it.
Bad News: Charlie the AmStaff Could Be Euthanized as Early as New Year's Day
San Francisco refuses a rehab proposal for the dog who bit a police horse. David Gizzarelli, Charlie's owner, is fighting to save his beloved pet's life. It's the end of the year -- but apparently not the end of stereotypes against certain breeds of dogs. The San Francisco City Attorney's Office is refusing the save the life of Charlie, the American Staffordshire Terrier who was sentenced to death after attacking a U.S. Park Service police horse in August. That means Charlie, who had no previous incidents of aggression, could be euthanized any time after New Year's Day.AmStaffs, as they're known, resemble Pit Bulls, and we'd really hoped that the year after the death of Lennox -- a dog put to death in Northern Ireland only because he looked like a Pit Bull -- would bring a change in government's inability to look beyond breeds and to the individual dogs in question.On Dec. 27, Deputy City Attorney Margaret Baumgartner rejected an offer from Charlie's owner, David Gizzarelli, to remove Charlie to his Los Gatos home and rehabilitate, train, and practice extreme caution with him. Baumgartner offered no specifics."The city will not return Charlie to Mr. Gizzarelli as it does not believe that there are any restrictions that would adequately protect the public safety," she wrote.Baumgartner and all other city officials have refused for weeks to respond to media questions about the case. The rejection means that Charlie's life can be taken as early as Jan. 1. Gizzarelli and his attorney, John Mounier, will appeal the ruling at a hearing tentatively set for today. The case against Charlie is riddled with problems. San Francisco euthanizes only about 10 dogs a year, most of whom have a long history of aggression or have killed another dog or seriously injured a human. None of those standards applies to Charlie, who was 18 months old at the time of the attack, had no history of aggression, and had never seen a horse before. In addition, evidence suggests that U.S. Park Police Officer Eric Evans, who was riding Stoney the horse, misrepresented and exaggerated numerous facts during a hearing on the incident. And despite the weak and insufficient evidence submitted against Charlie, San Francisco Police Officer John Denny ordered Charlie's euthanasia without considering any options for restrictions such as "red tagging" the dog, a common requirement in San Francisco that would have required Gizzarelli to place a visible tag on Charlie and post warnings on his home. In addition, Charlie would be required to be leashed and muzzled in public for three years. According to Mounier, it is also problematic that Denny investigated the case, presided over the hearing, and ordered Charlie’s death.“He’s wearing two hats in this case,” Mounier told the San Francisco Examiner. “In every other aspect of society, that’s wrong.” Unofficially, the city and county of San Francisco has offered to spare Charlie’s life if Gizzarelli agrees to give up ownership of his dog and pay for his rehabilitation. Charlie now requires behavioral rehab because he has been confined to a small kennel since Aug. 23, surrounded by kennels containing truly vicious dogs. But the city has offered no specific reasons for confiscating Charlie.Gizzarelli has no history of mishandling or mistreating his pet. He has acknowledged his responsibility for the Aug. 6 attack and agreed to pay the $1,200 veterinary bill. The city has not only refused to explain its unprecedented harsh stance against Gizzarelli, but it has also launched a whispering campaign to besmirch his reputation. The city attorney’s office released documents to reporters outlining an argument Gizzarelli had with his stepfather in July that resulted in mutual threats of violence. Gizzarelli was arrested, but no charges were filed. In addition, there are questions about an Animal Care and Control report that claims Charlie showed aggression toward an employee in July, the month before the attack. The report is extremely irregular in that it states in capital letters that Gizzarelli was not to be told of the incident.If the city failed to warn Gizzarelli about the alleged aggressive behavior, they denied him the opportunity to exercise caution with Charlie -- and then the city might be responsible, to some degree, for the attack on Stoney. Gizzarelli said the city’s proceedings against Charlie have been unfairly biased.“ACC and the city of San Francisco stack the deck against Charlie and any other dog or guardian they take a disliking to,” he wrote in a letter to Mayor Ed Lee and ACC Director Rebecca Katz. “The system is rigged and does not offer a fair and impartial chance to a dog or to a guardian.”More than 109,000 people have signed a petition calling for Charlie's life to be spared. Follow the Help Save Charlie Facebook page for up-to-date information; we hope to report back with good news for Charlie and Gizzarelli.
It's the end of the year -- but apparently not the end of stereotypes against certain breeds of dogs. The San Francisco City Attorney's Office is refusing the save the life of Charlie, the American Staffordshire Terrier who was sentenced to death after attacking a U.S. Park Service police horse in August. That means Charlie, who had no previous incidents of aggression, could be euthanized any time after New Year's Day.AmStaffs, as they're known, resemble Pit Bulls, and we'd really hoped that the year after the death of Lennox -- a dog put to death in Northern Ireland only because he looked like a Pit Bull -- would bring a change in government's inability to look beyond breeds and to the individual dogs in question.On Dec. 27, Deputy City Attorney Margaret Baumgartner rejected an offer from Charlie's owner, David Gizzarelli, to remove Charlie to his Los Gatos home and rehabilitate, train, and practice extreme caution with him. Baumgartner offered no specifics."The city will not return Charlie to Mr. Gizzarelli as it does not believe that there are any restrictions that would adequately protect the public safety," she wrote.Baumgartner and all other city officials have refused for weeks to respond to media questions about the case. The rejection means that Charlie's life can be taken as early as Jan. 1. Gizzarelli and his attorney, John Mounier, will appeal the ruling at a hearing tentatively set for today. The case against Charlie is riddled with problems. San Francisco euthanizes only about 10 dogs a year, most of whom have a long history of aggression or have killed another dog or seriously injured a human. None of those standards applies to Charlie, who was 18 months old at the time of the attack, had no history of aggression, and had never seen a horse before. In addition, evidence suggests that U.S. Park Police Officer Eric Evans, who was riding Stoney the horse, misrepresented and exaggerated numerous facts during a hearing on the incident. And despite the weak and insufficient evidence submitted against Charlie, San Francisco Police Officer John Denny ordered Charlie's euthanasia without considering any options for restrictions such as "red tagging" the dog, a common requirement in San Francisco that would have required Gizzarelli to place a visible tag on Charlie and post warnings on his home. In addition, Charlie would be required to be leashed and muzzled in public for three years. According to Mounier, it is also problematic that Denny investigated the case, presided over the hearing, and ordered Charlie’s death.“He’s wearing two hats in this case,” Mounier told the San Francisco Examiner. “In every other aspect of society, that’s wrong.” Unofficially, the city and county of San Francisco has offered to spare Charlie’s life if Gizzarelli agrees to give up ownership of his dog and pay for his rehabilitation. Charlie now requires behavioral rehab because he has been confined to a small kennel since Aug. 23, surrounded by kennels containing truly vicious dogs. But the city has offered no specific reasons for confiscating Charlie.Gizzarelli has no history of mishandling or mistreating his pet. He has acknowledged his responsibility for the Aug. 6 attack and agreed to pay the $1,200 veterinary bill. The city has not only refused to explain its unprecedented harsh stance against Gizzarelli, but it has also launched a whispering campaign to besmirch his reputation. The city attorney’s office released documents to reporters outlining an argument Gizzarelli had with his stepfather in July that resulted in mutual threats of violence. Gizzarelli was arrested, but no charges were filed. In addition, there are questions about an Animal Care and Control report that claims Charlie showed aggression toward an employee in July, the month before the attack. The report is extremely irregular in that it states in capital letters that Gizzarelli was not to be told of the incident.If the city failed to warn Gizzarelli about the alleged aggressive behavior, they denied him the opportunity to exercise caution with Charlie -- and then the city might be responsible, to some degree, for the attack on Stoney. Gizzarelli said the city’s proceedings against Charlie have been unfairly biased.“ACC and the city of San Francisco stack the deck against Charlie and any other dog or guardian they take a disliking to,” he wrote in a letter to Mayor Ed Lee and ACC Director Rebecca Katz. “The system is rigged and does not offer a fair and impartial chance to a dog or to a guardian.”More than 109,000 people have signed a petition calling for Charlie's life to be spared. Follow the Help Save Charlie Facebook page for up-to-date information; we hope to report back with good news for Charlie and Gizzarelli.Identifying Diarrhea in Multi-dog Households
Many times it is difficult to figure out which dog has loose stool or diarrhea when you can’t watch them every time they go out. A good way to identify the stool is to shave a little bit of different color non-toxic Crayola crayon in each dogs food. The crayon does not break down in the digestive system and you will be able to tell that Sam was given pink crayon and his stool is firm but Abby was given yellow crayon and her stool is loose.
Only use Crayola non-toxic crayons. Other brands may contain lead or toxins.
It's National Holistic Pet Day, a great day to learn more about how your dog can live more holistically!
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Zen Water and Food Dog Dish
Posted on 28. Sep, 2009 by Keri in Dog Bowls & Feeding, Uncategorized
The main feature of this dog dish, besides the awesome interior colors, is its ergonomically correct shape. If you place it in line with your dog’s body, it conforms to the shape of your dog’s mouth. And that makes for a more comfortable eating experience, if your dog is into comfortable eating.
But what I like most about his dish is the little side receptacle for dessert, you know, like those TV dinners where they give you a miniscule rubber brownie or that apple cake with the molten cranberry topping that burns the crap out of the roof of your mouth. Like that, only different.
The Ritzy Rover
$26 – $32
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Tags: FeaturedTuesday, January 8, 2013
Chilled Doggie Smoothies - a yummy, cool, healthy treat for your green dog!
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“Pet ID for Me” State Driver License Pet Tag
Posted on 30. Sep, 2009 by Keri in Bliss Approved, Dog Accessories, Dog Tags & Jewelry
Bliss and her Pet ID for Me magnet
Bliss and her Pet ID for Me magnetSo, Bliss was driving around the city the other night (as she does), checking out the studs at Dolores Park, blaring Snoop Dogg, and was pulled over by SFPD for rolling through a stop sign (or as we like to call it, a “California stop”).
This might have been a problem for any other dog, but Bliss whipped out her Pet ID for Me, a pet ID made to look like your home state’s driver license. The creators, Jason Harnum and Andrew Gallagher, have crafted these pet tags out of durable waterproof laminate, and all states are available. The ID includes your little rebel’s name, address, phone number (I’ve blurred those bits out), date of birth, and other identifying information. A 2 x 3 magnet with the same design is included free with your pet tag order, so you can post your pet’s outstanding traffic tickets on the refrigerator.
The cops let Bliss off with a warning, but I think I’ll take her keys away just to teach her a lesson. You have to draw the line somewhere.
Pet ID for Me
$20
P.S. Keep refreshing their home page until you see someone familiar.
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Tags: FeaturedThe 7 Most Memorable Dog Stories of 2012
What canine news caused the most buzz -- good and bad -- this year? Read on. Some were heartwarming, some were sad, and some were evil -- but they all made an impact. Here's our list of the most memorable dog stories of 2012. When the Belfast City Council went ahead and killed Lennox the dog under the UK's Dangerous Dog Act, we were shocked. As we wrote in July, "Nobody could save him. Not the Save Lennox Campaign, not social media, not Twitter, not Facebook, not political pressure by Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson, not the efforts of celebrity dog lovers like Victoria Stilwell, not an online army, not physical protestors swarming Belfast and British and Irish Consulates in New York, not worldwide vigils, and not your thoughts and prayers." Apparently, all the city council needs is its own "expert" to proclaim your Pit Bull-style dog (even if it is a Bulldog Lab mix, like Lennox) dangerous, and authorities can kill the dog. Has anything changed since then? Not in Belfast. In fact, the city council delayed sending the ashes back to the owner, and it still has not returned Lennox's collar. However, the Lennox Campaign is up and running, calling for an end to breed-specific legislation and protesting around the country. For its part, the Belfast city councuil recently drew up "proposals for new dog control orders that would ban dogs from playing fields, playgrounds and cemeteries and prevent anyone from walking more than four dogs at a time in public," according to the Belfast Telegraph. When we last caught up with Kabang, the hero dog who lost her snout when she jumped in front of a motorcycle and saved two little girls in the Philippines, she had just arrived at UC Davis for expert medical care to close her wounds. Nearly a year had passed between her accident and the trip to the university's veterinary clinic, and Kabang had gone from gentle family dog to fearless protector to folk legend to worldwide cause célèbre. It took a lot of hard work by a lot of people -- and a lot of donations -- to bring the dog to the U.S. to get the care she so desperately needed. But it hasn't been easy going. Right after she arrived, doctors discovered a vaginal tumor and heartworm. Five weeks of chemo later, the cancer was gone -- but then they had to address the heartworm, whose treatments are expected to end a few weeks from now. After that time, if all goes well, doctors can finally address Kabang's wounds and see what surgeries will benefit her. However, there are no plans for her to receive a prosthetic snout. Follow the story at UC Davis. In early October, the world discovered that Michael Vick was once again a dog owner via the Internet -- or rather, via an absentminded tweet and a very sharp observer. In early October, we wrote about Michael Vick's dumb Twitter experience, in which he posted a picture that contained a box of Milk Bone dog biscuits, which he later deleted, replacing it with the the same image without the dog biscuits. Someone, however, made a screenshot (someone always does). The Internet erupted, and Vick was forced to speak on the issue, and he did so in a cowardly way, through a statement released by his publicist. He said he owned a "pet" (he must be scared of the word "dog") which was "well cared for and loved as a member of our family." There's been silence since. Presumably noting outrageous is going on -- certainly there's been no more Twitter photos. Let's hope the dog has burrowed into Vick's damaged soul and started changing it. The photo of John Unger cradling his dog Schoep in Lake Superior touched everyone, sending the moment across the web and making Schoep a hot commodity on the interview circuit. How did it come to be? As Dogster assistant editor Liz Acosta wrote in August, "When John learned that his canine companion had developed severe arthritis and might not have much longer to live, John turned to water therapy to help his friend. The warm summer temperatures of Lake Superior and the weightlessness of the water were the perfect combination to help Schoep relax. Knowing that Schoep's end might be near, John asked his photographer friend, Hannah Stonehouse Hudson of Stonehouse Photography, to snap a few photos." The rest, as they say, is history. But while the media fervor has died down, Schoep's condition has improved, thanks to all the donations from well-wishers, which has allowed Unger to give the dog the very best care. He is 19 years old and doing fine -- in fact, he "recently he climbed the climbed the steps to Unger’s cottage on his own for the first time in recent memory," according to Duluth News Tribune. Follow his progress on Schoep and John's Facebook. From our July 18 story: "Before they head off on summer vacations, many French people dump their dogs at shelters before they leave. It's a despicable practice, but before you get outraged, think a moment: How many abandoned dogs do you think there are? Dozens? Hundreds? Thousands? Tens of thousands?" "How about more than 100,000? Every summer. Now you can get outraged."Sadly, we learned that dumping dogs in shelters prior to vacations is a cultural thing, so ingrained in the day-to-day that the French SPCA launches a huge campaign at the beginning of every summer, with giant posters in the Paris metro screaming messages like, "Animals can't cry, they just suffer in silence. Don't leave your pet this year." Has it been working? Not really. Anne-Claire Chauvancy, of Foundation for the Assistance of Animals, sadly observes, "This campaign has become almost banal and just seems to mark the beginning of summer." We'll know come July, in any case. After Anthony Joseph Ortolani abandoned his German Shepherd near the top of 14,000-foot Mount Bierstadt, near Denver, due to weather conditions -- and then did next to nothing to rescue her, except calling the sheriff's office -- a group of Internet strangers swung into action. Prompted by Missy's photo, another hiker (not Ortolani) posted on a climbing site, they rallied to save her. And they did, heroically, braving extreme weather and carrying the dog down in an improvised backpack to do so. When we left this story, the dog's fate was mired in the court system, with the rescuers and Ortolani laying claim to the dog. Then Ortolani was hit with an animal cruelty charge, death threats, and perhaps a bit of guilt? He surrendered the dog to one of Missy's rescuers, a condition that was not technically part of a plea bargain (he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge), but was indeed a part of the discussion over it, according to the Denver Post. At first, it didn't seem real: A dog had been living in a cemetery in the Cordoba province of Argentina for six years, sleeping on his former owner's grave every night. Then the story got really weird: Apparently, nobody brought Capitan to the cemetery in the first place. Nobody showed him where it was. He had simply turned up there one day and refused to leave. Somehow, the dog had figured out where his owner had been laid to rest. "We had never taken him to the cemetery, so it is a mystery how he managed to find the place,” said the owner's wife, Veronica Guzman. “I’ve tried to bring Capitan home several times, but he always comes straight back to the cemetery,” said Damian, Guzman’s 13-year-old son. “I think he’s going to be there until he dies, too. He’s looking after my dad.”And the cemetery staff is looking after Capitan, we learned after the story came out. Hector Baccega, the cemetery’s director, says that the staff and been feeding the dog and taking care of him. Good work, everyone.
Some were heartwarming, some were sad, and some were evil -- but they all made an impact. Here's our list of the most memorable dog stories of 2012. When the Belfast City Council went ahead and killed Lennox the dog under the UK's Dangerous Dog Act, we were shocked. As we wrote in July, "Nobody could save him. Not the Save Lennox Campaign, not social media, not Twitter, not Facebook, not political pressure by Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson, not the efforts of celebrity dog lovers like Victoria Stilwell, not an online army, not physical protestors swarming Belfast and British and Irish Consulates in New York, not worldwide vigils, and not your thoughts and prayers." Apparently, all the city council needs is its own "expert" to proclaim your Pit Bull-style dog (even if it is a Bulldog Lab mix, like Lennox) dangerous, and authorities can kill the dog. Has anything changed since then? Not in Belfast. In fact, the city council delayed sending the ashes back to the owner, and it still has not returned Lennox's collar. However, the Lennox Campaign is up and running, calling for an end to breed-specific legislation and protesting around the country. For its part, the Belfast city councuil recently drew up "proposals for new dog control orders that would ban dogs from playing fields, playgrounds and cemeteries and prevent anyone from walking more than four dogs at a time in public," according to the Belfast Telegraph. When we last caught up with Kabang, the hero dog who lost her snout when she jumped in front of a motorcycle and saved two little girls in the Philippines, she had just arrived at UC Davis for expert medical care to close her wounds. Nearly a year had passed between her accident and the trip to the university's veterinary clinic, and Kabang had gone from gentle family dog to fearless protector to folk legend to worldwide cause célèbre. It took a lot of hard work by a lot of people -- and a lot of donations -- to bring the dog to the U.S. to get the care she so desperately needed. But it hasn't been easy going. Right after she arrived, doctors discovered a vaginal tumor and heartworm. Five weeks of chemo later, the cancer was gone -- but then they had to address the heartworm, whose treatments are expected to end a few weeks from now. After that time, if all goes well, doctors can finally address Kabang's wounds and see what surgeries will benefit her. However, there are no plans for her to receive a prosthetic snout. Follow the story at UC Davis. In early October, the world discovered that Michael Vick was once again a dog owner via the Internet -- or rather, via an absentminded tweet and a very sharp observer. In early October, we wrote about Michael Vick's dumb Twitter experience, in which he posted a picture that contained a box of Milk Bone dog biscuits, which he later deleted, replacing it with the the same image without the dog biscuits. Someone, however, made a screenshot (someone always does). The Internet erupted, and Vick was forced to speak on the issue, and he did so in a cowardly way, through a statement released by his publicist. He said he owned a "pet" (he must be scared of the word "dog") which was "well cared for and loved as a member of our family." There's been silence since. Presumably noting outrageous is going on -- certainly there's been no more Twitter photos. Let's hope the dog has burrowed into Vick's damaged soul and started changing it. The photo of John Unger cradling his dog Schoep in Lake Superior touched everyone, sending the moment across the web and making Schoep a hot commodity on the interview circuit. How did it come to be? As Dogster assistant editor Liz Acosta wrote in August, "When John learned that his canine companion had developed severe arthritis and might not have much longer to live, John turned to water therapy to help his friend. The warm summer temperatures of Lake Superior and the weightlessness of the water were the perfect combination to help Schoep relax. Knowing that Schoep's end might be near, John asked his photographer friend, Hannah Stonehouse Hudson of Stonehouse Photography, to snap a few photos." The rest, as they say, is history. But while the media fervor has died down, Schoep's condition has improved, thanks to all the donations from well-wishers, which has allowed Unger to give the dog the very best care. He is 19 years old and doing fine -- in fact, he "recently he climbed the climbed the steps to Unger’s cottage on his own for the first time in recent memory," according to Duluth News Tribune. Follow his progress on Schoep and John's Facebook. From our July 18 story: "Before they head off on summer vacations, many French people dump their dogs at shelters before they leave. It's a despicable practice, but before you get outraged, think a moment: How many abandoned dogs do you think there are? Dozens? Hundreds? Thousands? Tens of thousands?" "How about more than 100,000? Every summer. Now you can get outraged."Sadly, we learned that dumping dogs in shelters prior to vacations is a cultural thing, so ingrained in the day-to-day that the French SPCA launches a huge campaign at the beginning of every summer, with giant posters in the Paris metro screaming messages like, "Animals can't cry, they just suffer in silence. Don't leave your pet this year." Has it been working? Not really. Anne-Claire Chauvancy, of Foundation for the Assistance of Animals, sadly observes, "This campaign has become almost banal and just seems to mark the beginning of summer." We'll know come July, in any case. After Anthony Joseph Ortolani abandoned his German Shepherd near the top of 14,000-foot Mount Bierstadt, near Denver, due to weather conditions -- and then did next to nothing to rescue her, except calling the sheriff's office -- a group of Internet strangers swung into action. Prompted by Missy's photo, another hiker (not Ortolani) posted on a climbing site, they rallied to save her. And they did, heroically, braving extreme weather and carrying the dog down in an improvised backpack to do so. When we left this story, the dog's fate was mired in the court system, with the rescuers and Ortolani laying claim to the dog. Then Ortolani was hit with an animal cruelty charge, death threats, and perhaps a bit of guilt? He surrendered the dog to one of Missy's rescuers, a condition that was not technically part of a plea bargain (he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge), but was indeed a part of the discussion over it, according to the Denver Post. At first, it didn't seem real: A dog had been living in a cemetery in the Cordoba province of Argentina for six years, sleeping on his former owner's grave every night. Then the story got really weird: Apparently, nobody brought Capitan to the cemetery in the first place. Nobody showed him where it was. He had simply turned up there one day and refused to leave. Somehow, the dog had figured out where his owner had been laid to rest. "We had never taken him to the cemetery, so it is a mystery how he managed to find the place,” said the owner's wife, Veronica Guzman. “I’ve tried to bring Capitan home several times, but he always comes straight back to the cemetery,” said Damian, Guzman’s 13-year-old son. “I think he’s going to be there until he dies, too. He’s looking after my dad.”And the cemetery staff is looking after Capitan, we learned after the story came out. Hector Baccega, the cemetery’s director, says that the staff and been feeding the dog and taking care of him. Good work, everyone. Check Your Claudia’s Canine Cuisine and Nature’s Deli Items
Claudia’s recalls two Hound Cakes; the FDA warns against Nature’s Deli Chicken Jerky Dog Treats.
Claudia’s Canine Cuisine has issued a recall on two products due to "to the potential to contain mold," according to a tweet by Petsmart. The products are Dog Candy Fruit Hound Cake (7.5 ounce) and Dog Candy Blueberry Hound Cake (7.5 ounce).
These are products are sold at Petsmart. If you have any questions about this voluntary withdrawal, please call Claudia’s customer service line at (501) 851-0002 or email Irma@claudiascaninecuisine.com.
Claudia's Canine Cuisine does not actively maintain a website, so Petsmart's Twitter account was the companies' chosen route of communication. It is unusual; we've never heard of a Twitter-only announcement of a recall, and we're not huge fans of it. Claudia's Canine Cuisine does have a static web site, which presumably could be updated with the info.
In another matter related to dog food, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning people not to feed their dogs Nature’s Deli Chicken Jerky Dog Treats with a lot code of BESTBY061913DEN, because they might be contaminated with Salmonella. The treats are made by Kasel Associates Industries Inc. and were sold at Costco stores in the Denver area. The treats come in three-pound bags.
Kasel is not doing a voluntary recall on this particular lot -- rather, the FDA is warning people not to eat any bags from it. Kasel did do a voluntary recall on another lot of Nature’s Deli Chicken Jerky Dog Treats in October, but it refused to voluntarily recall this latest lot for reasons that are unspecific.
Kasel's actions are unusual, because last month the FDA tested a retail sample from this lot, which tested positive for Salmonella. Whether Kasel is disputing these findings or simply ignoring them remains to be seen.
Photo: Party animals by Shutterstock.com.
Terrible: Death Sentence Upheld for Charlie the AmStaff
The San Francisco dog attacked a police horse but had no history of violence. His appeal is rejected.A San Francisco court has upheld a dog's death sentence, and we believe it's wrong. An American Staffordshire Terrier named Charlie had been sentenced to die because he attacked a mounted patrol horse named Stoney during the summer. The attack left Stoney with injuries to his leg and belly.Still, Charlie had no history of aggression, and his owner promised to comply with any conditions the court put forth. But on Wednesday, San Francisco Superior Court Judge James Robertson II denied a writ that was filed by Charlie's owner, David Gizzarelli. That writ had triggered an automatic stay, giving Gizzarelli an opportunity to appeal the decision to put Charlie down.The San Francisco City Attorney's Office, which represents San Francisco Animal Care and Control, is arguing for Charlie's immediate euthanasia, claiming his aggression is beyond reasonable intervention because of the Aug. 6 attack.Gizzarelli says he and Charlie were in an off-leash area of Crissy Field and that his dog had never seen a horse before. He insists that Charlie had an unfortunate but typical reaction to charge and bark at Stoney, and he says it was a one-time mistake that could be easily corrected if the judge had given Charlie a chance.At the time of the attack, Charlie was 18 months old and had no history of aggression. Most dog behaviorists contend that dogs, which are predators by nature, will have an aggressive reaction the first time they're confronted with prey animals such as cows, horses, and deer. This reaction, according to behaviorists, is common and quite within the boundaries of rehabilitation.What has not been examined and certainly not explained by City Attorney Dennis Herrera is whether the U.S. Park Service had properly trained Stoney and whether Park Service Officer Eric Evan, who was riding Stoney at the time, had any experience in responding to the likelihood of a charge by a young dog such as Charlie.What is certain is that Stoney, who was a retired thoroughbred racehorse, did not react in the way a trained police horse should have. A trained police horse would have stood its ground until the dog had exhausted its initial, excited reaction. This is a fact well known by the San Francisco Police Mounted Patrol, which has encountered similar situations in which dogs become excited by the presence of a horse.But Stoney reacted by throwing her rider and fleeing, which further excited the dog to chase her. Park officials must admit Stoney's reaction could not have been unexpected given that racehorses are given to skittish behavior. The incident further raises the question of whether the U.S. Park Service selects patrol horses based on their policing skills or for their public relations showmanship.There are other unanswered questions such as why Charlie was initially declared "not aggressive" by Animal Control Officer John Denny, who days later reversed his opinion and ordered the dog's death. The flip-flop suggests political influence, which might be easy to expose given the controversial political stance of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area against dogs. In January, U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier chastised the National Park Service after a park ranger was promoted after wrongfully Tasering a dog owner. Furthermore, the GGNRA has been criticized for moving to reduce the number of park areas that allow dogs.All too often government officials order the euthanasia of dogs to expedite their own political agenda. If that is the case with Charlie, government officials could be facing a tremendous backlash. For example, more than 90,000 people have signed a petition calling for a second chance for Charlie, and many of them have contributed money to hire an attorney to represent Gizzarelli in his quest to save his beloved dog. If the city attorney's office is not absolutely sure of its argument, it could harm the ability of the city to protect residents from real threats.To follow Charlie's case, follow the Help Save Charlie Facebook page. Look for follow-up stories in Dogster.
A San Francisco court has upheld a dog's death sentence, and we believe it's wrong. An American Staffordshire Terrier named Charlie had been sentenced to die because he attacked a mounted patrol horse named Stoney during the summer. The attack left Stoney with injuries to his leg and belly.Still, Charlie had no history of aggression, and his owner promised to comply with any conditions the court put forth. But on Wednesday, San Francisco Superior Court Judge James Robertson II denied a writ that was filed by Charlie's owner, David Gizzarelli. That writ had triggered an automatic stay, giving Gizzarelli an opportunity to appeal the decision to put Charlie down.The San Francisco City Attorney's Office, which represents San Francisco Animal Care and Control, is arguing for Charlie's immediate euthanasia, claiming his aggression is beyond reasonable intervention because of the Aug. 6 attack.Gizzarelli says he and Charlie were in an off-leash area of Crissy Field and that his dog had never seen a horse before. He insists that Charlie had an unfortunate but typical reaction to charge and bark at Stoney, and he says it was a one-time mistake that could be easily corrected if the judge had given Charlie a chance.At the time of the attack, Charlie was 18 months old and had no history of aggression. Most dog behaviorists contend that dogs, which are predators by nature, will have an aggressive reaction the first time they're confronted with prey animals such as cows, horses, and deer. This reaction, according to behaviorists, is common and quite within the boundaries of rehabilitation.What has not been examined and certainly not explained by City Attorney Dennis Herrera is whether the U.S. Park Service had properly trained Stoney and whether Park Service Officer Eric Evan, who was riding Stoney at the time, had any experience in responding to the likelihood of a charge by a young dog such as Charlie.What is certain is that Stoney, who was a retired thoroughbred racehorse, did not react in the way a trained police horse should have. A trained police horse would have stood its ground until the dog had exhausted its initial, excited reaction. This is a fact well known by the San Francisco Police Mounted Patrol, which has encountered similar situations in which dogs become excited by the presence of a horse.But Stoney reacted by throwing her rider and fleeing, which further excited the dog to chase her. Park officials must admit Stoney's reaction could not have been unexpected given that racehorses are given to skittish behavior. The incident further raises the question of whether the U.S. Park Service selects patrol horses based on their policing skills or for their public relations showmanship.There are other unanswered questions such as why Charlie was initially declared "not aggressive" by Animal Control Officer John Denny, who days later reversed his opinion and ordered the dog's death. The flip-flop suggests political influence, which might be easy to expose given the controversial political stance of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area against dogs. In January, U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier chastised the National Park Service after a park ranger was promoted after wrongfully Tasering a dog owner. Furthermore, the GGNRA has been criticized for moving to reduce the number of park areas that allow dogs.All too often government officials order the euthanasia of dogs to expedite their own political agenda. If that is the case with Charlie, government officials could be facing a tremendous backlash. For example, more than 90,000 people have signed a petition calling for a second chance for Charlie, and many of them have contributed money to hire an attorney to represent Gizzarelli in his quest to save his beloved dog. If the city attorney's office is not absolutely sure of its argument, it could harm the ability of the city to protect residents from real threats.To follow Charlie's case, follow the Help Save Charlie Facebook page. Look for follow-up stories in Dogster.Help your dog have a safer, healthier and calmer 4th of July!
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Monday, January 7, 2013
Why the “Dog Days” of Summer?
They are named after Sirius, the Dog Star, one of the stars in the constellation Canis Major.
During this time of year, the Dog Star gets very close to the sun. Long ago, people thought that was the reason it got so hot.
How to shop for a green, eco-friendly dog car.
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Goodbye, little Bliss.
Posted on 22. Jan, 2010 by Keri in Dog Bliss News
We said goodbye to Bliss on Monday.
Bliss’ health had been steadily declining since Thanksgiving. One by one, we saw her lose the things she loved: playing catch with her stuffed toys, going on walks, and even rolling over on her back to receive belly rubs. Just getting up and down became increasingly difficult and painful for her, and maneuvering stairs was out of the question. We fashioned a make-shift sedan chair out of a cardboard box so we could carry her up and down the stairs to our backyard. She hated it.
Still, her appetite was good, and her spirit was intact. It was hard seeing her body turn on her. She still wanted to do all of her fun Bliss things, but they only caused her pain and frustration.
We tried new pain medication. It helped a little, but not much. She cried all day and all night. I moved to the couch and stayed with her every night so my husband could get some sleep, but she could be heard all throughout the house. It was physically and emotionally draining for all of us.
Then on Sunday at about 3:00 am, she started panting. The panting turned to whining which turned to crying which turned to something I could only describe as screaming. It was horrible. I tried comforting her, but nothing worked. I sat helpless as my little girl endured something that must have been excruciating. I gave her an extra dose of her pain medication, though she wasn’t due for another 12 hours. It eventually seemed to take the edge off and she dozed off into a fitful sleep.
We knew then it was time.
Monday morning, I gave her extra pain medication to help make her as comfortable as possible, and made an appointment for that evening. I’m still not sure how I found the strength to make that phone call.
Bliss and I settled in for a “girl day” of bad TV and good snacks. She had as many cookies and Greenies as she wanted, and about an hour before the vet arrived she had another dose of pain medication along with her favorite dish: scrambled eggs and shredded cheese. My husband arrived home in plenty of time to give her lots of attention and ear rubs. She was having one of her “good” days; clearly still uncomfortable, but not in the kind of pain we’d seen before. Of course, this was probably due to all the extra medication, but it was making it extra hard to see our decision through. We wavered, but then remembered the screaming, and knew we had to do it.
The vet arrived right on time. He was kind, compassionate, and everything you’d want from a vet in that situation, but nothing could buffer us from the horror and grief of watching that lovely creature, our beloved friend, companion, and family member, slip away from us. That memory will haunt us forever.
And now there is a gaping hole in our family, one that can never be filled. Sure, we could get another dog, maybe even another Keeshond. But Bliss was a once-in-a-lifetime dog. There was something about her that, as my husband said, transcended “dog.” So smart, so happy, so funny and good-natured, and everyone who met her recognized it immediately. Not a mean bone in that body. Never once growled or snapped. Always happy to go where you’re going. Always happy to be where you are. And always, always providing unconditional love. There’s no getting Bliss back.
We already miss her terribly. No longer does she herald our arrival home with her “inside voice” of baroos and howls. No more jumping on our son’s bed to gleefully awaken him. No more bows and high-fives. And no more soft sighs when she settles in for the night, the sigh that lets us know that all is well in the world.
We can’t possibly repay her for all the joy she’s given us. And the one small consolation we have for deciding to end her life – especially when she was having a good day – is that we stopped the pain. We opted to make it harder on us so it would be easier on her. We removed all possibility of repeating that horrific, painful night and let her go in peace and comfort.
I’m not exactly sure where dogs go and what memories they take with them. But my hope is that, wherever she is, she’ll remember that her last day on earth was stormy and wet, but she was dry and cozy at my feet. I hope she’ll remember all the treats, and all the pets, and the great big bowl of eggs and cheese brought right to her. I hope she remembers us, at the last moments, holding her and telling her she was a good girl, good girl, good girl.
And I hope, above all, she’ll remember that she was loved.
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Tags: FeaturedMake a homemade felt dog Christmas ornament!
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Product Review: Flush Doggy Poop Bags
I have been trying to figure out what to do about the stinky trash can that results from disposing of dog poop. If I put the poop pickup bags in a trash can in the yard, I can barely stand to go out there, and I keep thinking my neighbors – who don’t own dogs – can smell it. Plus, it attracts flies and other bugs. If I keep the poop in a trash can in the garage … well, let’s just say that I live in Texas, and the temperatures are warm for nine months out of the year, with summertime temps reaching well above 100 degrees. By the time our once-a-week trash pickup comes, the garage reeks so bad that the smell has begun to spread to the house and the neighborhood.
I didn’t used to worry about it so much. I hate to admit this, but since we adults did not use the back yard, we would just pick it up before the mowers came every week. But then we added three small children and a puppy who finds these piles to be irresistible (if you catch my drift), so now we have to clean up as we go. I love having a clean yard all the time, but what to do with the poop?
It seems to me that there are three options for disposing of dog waste that you pick up on walks or in your yard.
A composter like the Doggy Dooley. Cons are that you have to dig a huge hole to put it in and our ground is very hard; you have to add water every day, you have to buy and add enzymes periodically, some customers still complain of strong odor, and some say that the plastic does not withstand extreme heat and sun.Collect the waste in pickup bags and dispose of them. Cons are a strong, unpleasant odor, flies, and a not-so-earth-friendly substance that accumulates in landfills.Flush the dog waste with biodegradable bags.I can’ t believe I had never thought of flushing my dog’s waste down the toilet. But then I found Flush Doggy, the eco-friendly, flushable dog poop bags. These white bags are the same size as other poop bags I have tried (10.75? x 8.5?), so they can handle anything my big dogs put out. They’re water soluble, so they won’t clog toilets or pipes. Yet they don’t fall apart if you use them on walks. They’ll stay intact for about an hour, so you have plenty of time to get your little package home before the bag dissolves.
There is an art to flushing the bag once you’ve picked up the poop, however. The first time I tried, I backed up my toilet. The reason? Air got trapped inside the bag, creating a large object that wouldn’t go down. The packaging does come with instructions for avoiding this:
I have discovered my own method for flushing. I flush the toilet and the bowl begins to fill with water. I hold the bag over the water. When the water begins to go down, I drop the bag right over the hole and down it goes. I have not had another problem since I started doing this. The suction takes the bag down, ridding it of any air that’s inside. Perfect!
Flush Doggy bags are not recommended for septic systems. The company, http://www.flushdoggy.com, sells them for $19.99 for 100 bags. I have also found them on Amazon. There are other manufacturers of flushable waste bags, so you can find one that you like. Here are the ones I have been able to find:
Is house cleaning harming your dog?
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Sunday, January 6, 2013
Bliss is Dogster’s “Dog of the Day”
Posted on 31. Dec, 2009 by Keri in Dog Bliss News, Uncategorized
Oh hey! Bliss is “Dog of the Day” on Dogster! Bliss would like to thank all of her fans who helped make this happen (though she doesn’t really know how it happened).
Check her totally out on Dogster!
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New Furminator Combs and Brushes
Hello!!! Its been a crazy, busy 4 months around here. I have been traveling alot, been out of the country 3 times and moved. Hence the reason I haven’t been around much, well, not at all. Things have calmed down and I hope to stay put for a while. I’ll write about my adventures soon.
Unfortunately, while on my travels the Saints had what is affectionately known as a seasonal “coat blow” and my husband and son did not brush them and they got matted. Really matted on their tails. Sadly, too matted to brush it out and I had to trim up some of their lush tail hair and Im heartbroken. Much to my dismay, tail hair doesn’t grow back as quickly as regular coat fur and this just adds insult to injury from the hotspot incidents way back in the winter. One lesson I can hopefully pass on to those of you with long tailed dogs, please please please make sure you regularly brush out your dogs tails. Some dogs need it daily, some every few days. It doesn’t take much time. Just a few strokes through the hair with a good brush or comb while you are sitting in front of the tv. Not only will it keep the hair from knotting, but it will also serve as some much coveted snuggle time for your dog. They love nothing more than being touched and stroked by their owners. This is a significant bonding activity.
So fast forward to now… The dogs have been professionally groomed to put me back to square one and blow out the coat. I found a new groomer closer to my new place, 4 Paws and a Tail. I absolutely love them! They did a great job on the saints and at a significantly lower cost than my old place. I was a little hesitant to change places since I have been going there for years and they are familiar with the boys. They keep raising their prices each time I go in and the last time they didn’t do a very good job (ok horrible job) and I had to take Rufus back to have him blown out and brushed again because it was such a crappy job. So I decided to change.
Professional grooming is costly and time consuming. Its a special treat for me and I usually only take them in two or three times a year. So, I take care of them myself the rest of the time. Having a few good brushes/combs makes a huge difference when grooming your dogs yourself. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with different functions for different coat lengths. For my saints, a comb with long wide set bristles works great.
Furminator is known for for their deShedding “furminator” tool – I have one and used it with great success for years (see post). I was so excited to find out they had expanded their line of grooming tools to include combs, slicker brushes, curry combs, undercoat rakes, nail clippers and grinders plus a vacuum accessory to attach the furminator de-shedding tool to your vacuum to suck the hair up as its being removed! PAWSOME!!! I used the “grooming solutions” link on their website to determine what tools were appropriate for my dogs and after answering 4 simple questions about the size of my dogs and their coat type it gave me 4 suggestions of tools that would work for my guys. For the DOG – GIANT (90LBS+) – 2+ INCH HAIR LENGTH – SILKY HAIR it suggested the Large Soft Slicker Brush and Large Finishing Comb, which I got and as an “also recommended” the Long Hair Giant deShedding tool (which I already have) and the Dual Brush. I figured I’d stick with the first two recommendations and if I liked them I’d purchase the Dual Brush later on.
I first tried out the Large Soft Slicker Brush. I really liked it because it is double-sided and split down the middle allowing the brush to contour along the dog’s body for more comfort. I’ve tried slicker brushes in the past and they can be somewhat uncomfortable for the dog because they are so rigid along the curves of the shoulders and hips. With the middle-slit design (which I have never seen before) it allows the brush to glide over these areas reducing the pressure on those spots yet still grabbing the loose hair, lots of hair! I was able to remove the hair from the slicker brush easily with a comb for quick clean up. Those of you that have slicker brushes know how hard they can be to clean up, this was a snap (and no bristles pricking under your fingernails trying to wrestle out that hair!).
I also got one of the Large Finishing Combs. The ergonomically shaped handle (I know, buzzword, but holy cow its so comfortable in your hand!) I tossed out my other comb after using this one because I was able to use it for a really long time with out it hurting the knuckle of my middle finger. I normally get that ouchie divot if I use the other straight, hard-plastic handled ones too long. No such problem! Both tools have a ruberized and rounded handle that fit comfortably in my hand. Because it takes so long, comfort is key when brushing/grooming a giant dog.
I give both tools an A+ and definitely recommend them!
Take a look on their website at all the cool new things they have on the market. I just spied a Fur Dry – The Wet Dog Solution, drying wrap…. its a microfiber wrap to use after swimming, bathing or grooming that draws the water away from their coat. It comes in several sizes including the GIANT size for my guys and how can I resist ording it when they have a saint bernard modeling it on their site? How cool is that?! Im so getting a pair for the boys!
Study: Puppy Mills Are Selling Thousands of Dogs Online
“The Internet is the Wild West of puppy mills," says the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
A scathing new report from the International Fund for Animal Welfare finds that puppy mills are doing a massive business through online puppy-sale websites. How bad is it? Each day, the report claims, hundreds of thousands of puppy-mill puppies are advertised online.
“The Internet is the Wild West of puppy mills. It’s a 24/7 unmonitored, anonymous marketplace, the world’s largest marketplace," Jeff Flocken, director of the IFAW office in Washington, told the Huffington Post. "It’s very difficult to monitor and therefore easy for sellers to circumvent laws."
On one day in July, nine investigators from IFAW and 16 volunteers tracked ads on six sites known for high-volume puppy sales: Animaroo, DogsNow, NextDayPets, PuppyFind, PuppyTrader, and TerrificPet. They also scoured three more general-interest sites: Craigslist, eBay Classifieds, and Oodle.
They found 733,000 puppies for sale out of nearly 10,000 puppy ads. Investigators determined that 62 percent of those ads were from puppy mills. How do they determine whether an online ad is from a puppy mill?
According to HuffPo, "Investigators used a variety of factors ... including if the seller screens potential owners, if puppies under eight weeks old are offered, and if the same puppy is advertised as a different puppy elsewhere."
Other criteria include whether sites have no-refund or -return policies, whether 20 or more puppies are simultaneously advertised, whether the seller offers registration papers, whether ads include slogans such as "Easter Pets" or "Christmas Pets," and whether it appears that images of puppies have been digitally placed into different settings.
Flocken also said that another sign is whether the seller will let you visit the kennel: “Never buy an animal unless you can see the facility in which it was raised.”
The report went on to break down the sellers themselves, as well. Animaroo was the worst offender, with 85 percent of the ads seeming to come from puppy mills. Next was PuppyTrader (64 percent) followed by DogsNow (62 percent), NextDayPets (61 percent), PuppyFind (55 percent), and TerrificPets (44 percent).
Needless to say, you should never buy a puppy from any of these sellers.
When confronted with the evidence, Dean Hamill, president of PuppyTrader.com, told HuffPo that he bans breeders who receive a complaint "with merit."
"Breeders of bad reputation are usually found out quickly with this type of feedback," he said.
He also disputed the report: "The writers even admit to the report's likely inaccuracy by using their criteria to come to a conclusion that the advertisers were to be classified as only 'likely a puppy mill.'"
With the report, IFAW aims to increase consumer awareness and keep websites from posting ads from puppy mills. The group held a press conference in Los Angeles with actor Ben Stein.
“Consumers opting to purchase puppies over the Internet are duped into believing they are buying from reputable breeders,” Stein said. “The cute puppy images shown on many seller websites hide the heartbreaking reality of the overcrowded and unsanitary conditions in which the dogs are housed.”
To see the full report, click here.
Via the Huffington Post
Watch out for the blue-green algae, it's toxic and dangerous!
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Is your dog's stainless steel bowl radioactive?
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Saturday, January 5, 2013
Good News for Kabang, the Hero Dog Without a Snout
She can add cancer to the list of adversities she's survived. She's a step closer to surgery at UC Davis.
It looks like 2013 is shaping up to be a pretty good year for Kabang, a dog from the Philippines who almost made the ultimate sacrifice when she jumped in front of a motorcycle to save her owner's daughter and niece. The dog lived, but the top half of her snout was destroyed, leaving her with a disfiguring and potentially life-threatening injury. When the vet suggested it might be easier to have the dog put down, owner Rudy Bunggal refused, citing the dog's incredible heroics.
Project Kabang rallied around the dog, raising enough money to transport her to the United States to receive the best care possible at the University of California, Davis. But her struggle was far from over.
It turns out Kabang was also suffering from cancer. However, a round of chemotherapy infusions seems to have beaten the disease, putting Kabang one step closer to her reconstructive surgery. The hero dog is also receiving treatment for heartworm. She's already received her first dose of medication and is expected to receive the second in January.
Once cleared, Kabang will undergo surgery to close her gaping wound. Surgeons are planning two to three procedures. The first will concentrate on dental work, extracting teeth and protecting exposed roots. Then doctors will close the wound, restoring nasal functions. Currently the exposed boney structures of Kabang's face are at high risk for infection. Despite the daunting road ahead, vets at Davis say that Kabang "has come through everything very well. Her appetite is still good. She's still bright and happy."
If all goes well, Kabang might be returning to her family in May or June, where we are sure she will receive a hero's welcome.
Via San Francisco Chronicle
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