5 Oscar-Nominated Movies Only a Dog Could Love

The Academy Awards' Best Picture nominees get reshot with all-dog casts -- which is only right.

Oscar night did not offer much for dog lovers, and we felt bad about that, so we're making up for the ACADEMY SNUBBING DOGS by showing you THEFW's hilarious poster series, featuring Oscar-nominated Best Picture films with all-dog casts. 

Hey, why isn't Russell Crowe a dog, too? Anyway, to see the rest of Christine Gritmon's great poster series, visit THEFW. But before you go, revisit the clips of all the nominees who were up for Best Picture, courtesy of the Pet Collective. Yes, these are all starring dogs, too. You know the routine.

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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.

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Could Baby Boomers Change the Face of Dog Ownership?

Not all that long ago in many parts of the country, dogs were just dogs. They slept outside or in the barn or a doghouse, and perhaps only occasionally came indoors. If they lived in the house, it was rare that they had their own bed, much less shared their owners'. Most were loved, but in a different way than they are now; not so much as kids, but as protectors, hunting companions, ratters, and pets who either had a job or could look like they did.

It wasn't a bad life, and you could argue that in some cases, it was a lot more natural than the way some of today's dogs live (stuck in apartments all day, maybe getting out to doggy day care or going to expensive dog hotels when their owners/parents go away). The dogs my daughter and I saw last year in our relatives' small village in Italy lived this life, staying outside their owners' house or in a little shed, eating fresh (and by virtue of the rural life, organic) leftovers from their owners or their neighbors. They weren't coddled, but they co-existed well enough, and generally seemed to enjoy their long days reposing in the grass in the spring sun.

There are still some parts of the U.S. where dogs live like this, but for the most part, there's been a tremendous shift in the way dogs are treated here. A recent survey shows 81 percent of Americans consider their dogs as family members -- a far cry from the backyard dogs of the not-so-distant past.

No one really knows the official dates when dogs started making the transition to being considered real family members, but from my experience in the dog-travel world, I can tell you that it was quickly picking up steam in the late 1980s. I'd gotten my first dog as an adult in 1989, when I was a reporter for USA Today. I was single and had to travel quite a bit. Back then, there were no pet hotels, no doggy daycares, and most of my friends weren't allowed to have dogs. I wouldn't leave Joe in a regular kennel, so I'd usually pack him along.

But as it turned out, there were so few places that allowed dogs that on a few occasions, I had to sneak him into motel rooms. There were no guides to dog-friendly lodgings, and certainly no Internet with dog-friendly sites, so it was a blind crapshoot. If you showed up and asked if dogs were allowed and they weren't, you couldn't very well stay. But if you didn't, you took your chances with being kicked out. That happened to me once, and it wasn't anything I cared to repeat.

Those were the Dark Ages of dog-friendly businesses. But little did I know that was all about to change.

Many Baby Boomers were delaying having children, so dogs often played important roles in their lives. On the other end of the generation, some older Boomers who'd started families young were done raising their kids, and longing for something to fill their empty nests. What better than a loyal, loving, non-college-tuition-needing dog?

As this generation grew up and out with their dogs at their sides, more businesses started allowing dogs. Lodgings found that people given the privilege of a nice room with their dog were among their best customers. Ditto for al fresco restaurants and other businesses. And so began the age of Canine Enlightenment.

While I was still grousing about how few places allowed dogs, I wrote a book on great places to take a dog in California. I really had to scrounge around, but it turns out I wasn't the only one who wanted to see a guide like this. It sold very well, and became the basis of the Dog Lover's Companion guidebook series. The book is in its seventh edition, and weighs in at more than 1,000 pages. There are so many dog-friendly venues that I have to be pretty choosy about what makes the grade.

Over the years, other businesses started catering to the people who treated their dogs as family members. Some Boomers will spare no expense for their dogs. Among the results: High-end dog food and treats; state-of-the-art medical diagnostics and treatments; super-swank boarding facilities; loads of boutique pet stores offering the choicest beds, collars, and fancy duds; and even canine massage therapists and doggy "psychologists."

As Boomers age, dogs are becoming more empty-nest fillers than "first kids." The fiscal result is a record $52 billion we'll be spending on our pets (mostly dogs) this year. 

"Boomers are different, for the most part," according to Bob Vetere, president of the American Pet Products Association (APPA). "What did they call us? Helicopter parents, because we were constantly hovering over the kids. The kids left home and now we're looking to hover over something else. And so we wind up doing it over pets."

But pet ownership tends to drop as people retire -- which includes the leading edge of Boomers. It's causing the pet industry to wonder what this means for its future as this massive generation ages, gets into fixed-income mode, and doesn't have the money to expend on its four-legged family members. Sure, Generation X-ers, behind it, are also mad about their pets (whew), but the Boomer generation is so huge that the effects of its aging could shake up the industry.

The pet industry is trying to prevent a downturn in pet ownership by promoting the benefits of pets for seniors. The APPA is a founding sponsor (with Petco and Pfizer Animal Health) of the Human Animal Bond Research Initiative, a nonprofit that promotes the positive role pets play in our health. And what older person doesn't want to do what it takes to keep their health up? Dogs help blood pressure? Bring on Fido!

Of course, even Boomers are not immortal. The pet association can do only so much, and as Boomers start to die off, there may not be the dollars to keep alive all the businesses that support our love of dogs.

The future of dogs-as-family could go many ways. My hope is that our love of dogs will be so engrained that there's no returning to the Doggy Dark Ages; that even though dog owners will be fewer in number, they'll be just as passionate about their dogs. Maybe there will be fewer businesses to support this relationship, but there will be more than enough of them to nurture it without any jarring changes.

And who knows? A whole new industry of pet services could come from this. Mobile vets are already on the increase, and dog-walkers continue to grow in number. As Boomers age, businesses that make it easier for older people to keep their pets with them could have a heyday.

It will be interesting to watch this unfold. As David Sprinkle, research director for Packaged Facts, notes, "Boomers have traditionally been rule-breakers, and pet product marketers are counting on this group to buck the historical trend of sharply lower pet ownership rates among seniors."

Do you think dogs will maintain their beloved status as we grow older? Are you a Baby Boomer? Do you plan to have dogs in your life as long as possible? We'd love to hear from you, so please let us know in the comments. We have something of a dog in this fight ourselves. 

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Could Caring for Dogs Help Panhandlers Turn Things Around in San Francisco?

In a city named after the patron saint of animals and once known as the mecca for hope-eyed flower children, San Francisco is taking a radically humane approach to its panhandling and pet overpopulation problems.

Matt Traywick, a formerly homeless man living in housing in the Tenderloin, carries Charlie home after a walk in the city. Photo by Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle.

The program has been dubbed WOOF -- Wonderful Opportunities for Occupants and Fidos -- and it hopes to help eradicate panhandling by pairing formerly homeless people with troubled dogs from shelters who desperately need handling, training, and good old-fashioned affection to help them find new homes. The human participants receive a weekly $50 to $75 stipend to look after the dogs -- and to cease begging for money in the streets.

Sound a little controversial? Hold your howling and hear me out.

Beginning in August, dogs who have demonstrated themselves to be ideal candidates will be placed with formerly homeless people (folks who have housing but can't seem to break their panhandling habit) who also demonstrate the potential to benefit from the program, and who have been screened and trained in caring for dogs. They will foster the dogs until permanent homes can be found for them.

The bichon mix named Charlie gives Traywick a sense of purpose and responsibility. Photo by Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle.

Since coming to live with Traywick, Charlie has become a much happier, healthier dog. Photo by Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle.

WOOF leads us to think: We know dogs are special, and we know dogs can and do change people's lives.

When yours truly first moved to San Francisco, experienced a bad breakup, struggled to find work, and realized how how hard it can be to make new friends, it proved to be quite a challenge. Several times I wanted to pack up all my things and return to Los Angeles. I eventually found part-time work as a dog-walker, and you know what? It was those wagging tails, smiling faces, and dependency on me that helped give me the stable footing to stand on my own here in a truly remarkable city. More than that, the dogs taught me how to accept myself -- even at my worst -- and to keep trying. I'm so grateful for my four-legged clients, and I know they've benefitted from my loving-but-stern hand on their leashes. I've seen wild, jumping puppies become elegant, mature dogs, and I believe the dogs have seen me go from someone alone in a new city to a confident, happy woman.

So, who knows? San Francisco has always been known as a radical location at the vanguard of progress. This cuteness correspondent is taking an optimistic cue from the canines, hoping that WOOF gets people and dogs to help themselves by helping each other.

Via SFGate

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Let's Talk: Would You Try Zinc Neutering If It Meant Your Dog Could Keep His Man Bits?

I sometimes take zinc gluconate when I feel a cold coming on. And lots of people down the amino acid, L-Arginine, for all kinds of health concerns. But who knew that when you mix the two together, add a little purified water, and inject it into a dog's testicles, it effectively neuters the dog? (Don't try this at home, on beast or man!)

Welcome to the world of zinc neutering, or as it's sometimes called, zeutering. Many hope it will be a cheaper, safer, and more appealing (to some) alternative to the surgery male dogs currently need to guarantee they won't procreate. I don't know if it also takes away the urge to procreate, or if it eliminates the sometimes more aggressive/macho behavior intact male dogs can have, but it definitely seems to be highly effective at sterlization.

Measuring a dog's scrotum to calculate how much of the Neutersol will be needed to sterilize the dog. No worries; the dog is sedated.

Within a month of this injection, the dog can't be a daddy. He can go about his business with all his parts still attached. No one, with the exception of other keen-nosed dogs, will be the wiser.

Neutering by Neutersol injection (the commercial name for the zinc, amino acid, and water solution) recently received regulatory approval in the U.S. for dogs from 3 to 10 months, and will officially launch later this year. About 300 dogs have been zeutered here already. It's been approved in Mexico, Columbia, and Boliva for a while now.

There are plenty of benefits to this form of neutering: The injections are far less costly and time consuming than traditional surgical neutering, which is a huge boon for cash-strapped shelters. It also appears to be to safer, since the sterilizing surgery - even on male dogs - is invasive, and can have complications.

Some people prefer Neuticles to the neutered look In addition, it will probably also win over people who are hesitant to neuter their dogs because they think man dogs should look, well, manly. A while ago we did an article on fake testicle implants called Neuticles. There are still lots of people who want their dogs to go au naturel - sometimes for esthetics, sometimes because they don't want to alter their dog in any way. Neuticles are surprisingly popular in certain circles. I wonder if Neuticles people are concerned about the effect of Neutersol on their business?

As advantageous as the injections can be, I can see some people balking. After all, most of us are used to seeing male dogs with nothing hanging out down/back there. People are so accustomed to seeing neutered dogs that when the occasional dog bounces by with his bits still there, they can be downright grossed out by the sight. The dog may as well be wearing the testicles on his dewlap. "That's disgusting!" a friend whispered to me when an intact dog passed us by recently when we dined at an outdoor cafe.

And many people make assumptions when they see an intact male dog. They may think the owner wants him to be a cool, manly dog. They worry that the dog could be aggressive, or at least kind of jerky. They may scoot their still-young unspayed girl pups away as fast as possible. (There's no flag to tell the world "No Worries - This Dog Has Been Zeutered." Vets do put a little tattoo on the belly to ID the dog as sterile, but it's not exactly visible to passersby.)

At Dogster World HQ, we're really curious what our readers think about this. Would you have your dog get the injection? Or would you still want the full-on chop-chop? Or nothing at all? Do tell, and let us know why/why not! Let's talk! this is going to be fun!

Here's an interesting video about the procedure. If you don't like watching injections, especially injections into the nether regions, you might want to skip through part of it. The segment starting at about 4:30, with the veterinarian squeezing and touching the dog's privates in a park, is just a little oddball. I wonder if anyone passed him by while he was doing that (admittedly necessary) exam? I'd have picked up my pace and started whistling and looking skyward...

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Could a Dog Derail Mitt Romney’s Presidential Campaign? Newt Gingrich Hopes So

A man in South Carolina tries to steer people away from voting for Romney

In 1983, Mitt Romney packed the station wagon with his family to drive from Boston to their vacation home in Ontario, Canada. The dog came too, only he didn’t ride in the car. The Irish setter, Seamus, rode in a kennel strapped to the roof.

Romney had built a windshield for the dog, but the dog did not seem to enjoy himself. Partway through the 12-hour drive, one of Romney’s sons noticed brown goopy stuff coming off the top of the car. Seamus had had diarrhea, likely from the stress of bombing down the highway at 60 mph. Papa Romney’s solution? At the next service station he took the contraption down, got the dog out, hosed everything off, put the dog back in, and continued on his way.

An interesting article on the ABC News website talks about the physics of the situation — in other words, how uncomfortable it likely was for Seamus. Between the extra pressure exerted on him (equivalent to having an extra three pounds of weight on his head) and the wind whipping around the windshield at unpredictable velocities, it was probably a very stressful ride for the pooch. (There’s no word about where the dog rode on the return trip.)

Oh, and from what I’ve read, the dog didn’t get a bathroom break. Well, not one at speeds under 60 mph at least.

The issue came up in the last presidential election, and now Newt Gingrich — clinging on for life in South Carolina —  is bringing it up again in a big way. His people have created a new web ad called For the Dogs. Check it out below. (The dog part comes a little bit into it and continues to the end)

If Romney had owned up to the fact that it was a stupid idea by a busy family man who didn’t know better in that day and age — and it was a different world for dogs back then — maybe wouldn’t be taking the hits he is now on various blogs and forums. But he has defended his actions, saying Seamus enjoyed it up there, and joked that it was better than riding with his kids. And in the video above, he says the dog was in an “airtight” kennel. It’s not easy to breathe in an airtight anything.

What do you think, Dogsters? Would this affect your vote? Why or why not?

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I’m Writing a Book on Soldier Dogs, and Could Use Your Help!

Jake was not happy when he learned that Dutton Penguin wanted a solo head shot of me. He has grown used to always being at my side for my dog-writing photos. So we let him sit at my feet and we cropped him out. He'll never know. (Photo: Laura Altair Hanson)

My professional life is going to change dramatically for the next several months, Dogsters. I’m giving up all my freelance writing and editing jobs — except my Dogster blog! — to take on a very exciting new project: A book called Soldier Dogs, about incredible four-footed troops and their handlers.

I’ve been reading books on war dogs and dogs in history for a long time, and I’ve been writing about these amazing soldier dogs whenever possible. I am in awe of their feats, their loyalty, their enthusiasm for the job, and all the high-tech trappings used by some dog/handler teams.

So when literary agent Deirdre Mullane contacted me about writing a book on military working dogs (MWDs) after it came out that a dog was a vital part of the Navy SEAL raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound, I went right to work on the book proposal. It was the perfect fusion of my journalistic background and my fascination with these extraordinary dogs.

With very helpful guidance and editing from Deirdre, and the super agenting skills of my regular agent, Carol Mann (they decided to co-agent the book), we ended up with a bidding war among publishers last week. Once I spoke with Dutton Penguin executive editor Stephen Morrow, I knew I had to have him as my editor. I was thrilled when this worked out, and we’ve embarked on this remarkable project together.

The book is going to be a tremendous amount of work in a short time, but I am thrilled. The end result is going to be riveting. Soldier Dogs will look at every facet of military working dogs’ lives, and will tell engaging true stories of the extraordinary courage of dogs under fire, and the soldiers who share their fate. The book will explore the heroism and heartbreak of these faithful four-legged warriors and their devoted handlers.

Here’s how you might be able to help:

I’m looking for really interesting true stories about these dogs and their handlers — stories that demonstrate the deep bond between them, or exciting stories, or anything that help shed light on how they live and work together.

Sergeant Martinez and his dog, Argo II, practice an "over the shoulder hold" that helps build trust (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Allen Stokes)

If you know any military dog handlers (past or present, although present handlers will likely have to get the OK to speak with me) who have intriguing stories to tell about their time with their MWDs, I’d love know more about them, and to be able to communicate directly with the handlers. If they are not available for whatever reason, I could talk with their parents or spouses. You can go to my fledgling Soldier Dogs website and click on the “Contact” button to leave a secure message for me.

I’m also looking for people who adopted retired military dogs – especially people who still have the dog.

Note: Please don’t leave detailed information in comments below, as I might not be the only person writing about this topic right now! That said, I greatly welcome general comments below. If you don’t feel like heading to my website to contact me, you can leave a comment below simply asking me to contact you; I can view email addresses on my end, so I’ll email you back.

Please feel free to send this message out on Facebook,  interest groups,  and any veterans’ groups, local military organizations, or anywhere you think there might be stories. And while you’re out there, come on over to my Facebook page and Like it if you like!

I’ll be providing updates there as the project moves along.

Thank you!

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Could You Be the Next Pet Blogger Apprentice?

Do you have a fun, creative writing style, work well in the WordPress blog format, and love being both behind and in front of the camera? Yes? Then you may be a great candidate for the next Pet Blogger Apprentice for Lu & Coco organic dog grooming supplies.

It’s a great opportunity that will get you some hot exposure via a $500 blogging contract with Lu & Coco. You’ll even get an article published on the very popular dog website, Dogster! (Have you heard of it, Dogsters? ) And as the next Pet Blogger Apprentice, Lu & Coco will send you to BarkWorld Expo in Atlanta this fall. BarkWorld is the social media conference for the pet industry. (Dogster is a sponsor of BarkWorld, so we know it’s worth your while.)

How it works (taken directly from the Pet Blogger Apprentice contest page):

1. You’ll start by liking us on Facebook, then head over to YouTube to create & upload a 30 second or less video telling us why you are THE Next Pet Blogger, and finally complete your entry form by Friday, May 13, 2011.
2. Team Lu & Coco will review all applications, select the 2 best submissions and notify the selected contestants by May 23, 2011.
3. The 2 contestants will then compete for 3 weeks with various tasks as such as social media, traditional media assignments, marketing & promotions and finally via “man on the street” interviews.
4. All of your assignments will be uploaded to the Lu & Coco blog for voting – the great news is that you can campaign for votes from your own community!
5. After the 3 week competition, June 6, the blogger with the highest amount of votes from the community and votes from Lu & Coco will take home the prize!

You can get more details about the contest and the prizes by going to the contest overview page.

C’mon Dogsters! We know there are some great candidates in our midst! Start making your videos now so you can up load ‘em in plenty of time for the May 13 deadline. When you do, come back to this post and leave a comment with the link so your fellow Dogsters can cheer you on!

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Noisy Dogs Could Be Killed

If you live in Adelaide, Australia, and have a bark-prone dog, that dog could face the death penalty if the city council approves a harsh anti-barking proposal.

Some council members and residents feel the current law doesn’t have enough teeth. The radical new proposal calls for the removal of noisy dogs whose owners are not present when the authorities come knocking. Dogs who are not picked up within an allotted time could be killed, according to a Discovery article.

Those who are subjected to the incessant barking of a nearby dog are glad for the chance at silence.

“To all the whingers who live by the motto ‘dogs bark – thats what they do’ – yes they do, and they drive the rest of us mad when you let them,” one commenter wrote. “Keep them quiet, keep them inside, whatever, just don’t let them ruin everyone elses right to peace & quite.”

But many in the community are outraged, saying the proposal is utterly inhumane, and devalues the lives of pets.

“…these ideas are over the top and there are a lot of vulnerable people, the elderly and those on low incomes will lose their companion pets,” Residents and Ratepayers Association president Kevin Kaeding told Adelaide Now. “The councils are just trying to make it easier to destroy these animals.”

Anyone who has been on the receiving end of a dog who barks at night or all day can understand how hard and frustrating it can be. But the death penalty? Dogsters, do you have a dog who barks too much? What steps have you taken to keep the peace? And if you’ve ever been driven batty by an incessantly barking neighbor dog, have you tried to do anything about it? By sharing your experiences, you could help others with similar problems. Bark back! (But not too loudly…)

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Dog Found in House a Month After Fire – Could Your Dog Survive?

Lola getting care at the vet's after her harrowing ordeal

After a major fire badly damaged a home in Boston, the family dog, Lola, could not be found. Her owners assumed she had either run away or been killed in the fire.

But when one of her owners went back to the home yesterday, she made an amazing find: “…she actually heard this scratching from behind the door and she related to us that she had to break down the door, and she discovered Lola there. So Lola had been living in this locked property for about a month, ” Brian Adams, of the MSPCA, said in a report on WHDH.

She rushed the long-haired dachshund to the vet, where she’s getting hydration and other care for her woes. Amazingly, Lola may be going to her new home as early as today. There was no word from Lola’s owner, but we can only imagine she was overjoyed — and maybe kicking herself a little for not going back to the house sooner.

How did Lola survive? Would your dog be able to survive if something happened and he were left alone in your house for a week or two or a month? I guess that’s why I’ve heard people say to always leave the toilet lid up, since it’s a ready source of water. (And many a dog’s dream of the best tasting water in the house.) I wish Lola could divulge her survival secrets. Please share your contingency plans, or your ideas for how your dog could get by in a similar situation.

Here’s to a speedy recovery — both physical and mental — from Lola’s terrible ordeal!

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Man Could Get 9 Years For Killing Dog in Front of His Kids

Michael Tessmer

As the prosecution tells it, Michael Tessmer, of Oconomowoc, Wis., came home with his two kids in February 2009 and found that their 3-year-old labradoodle had urinated and defecated on the floor. Instead of feeling bad that the dog couldn’t get outside when she needed to go, he kicked her — 10 times — in front of his then 11-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter. The dog died.

It wasn’t until the boy wrote “My dad is a killer,” for an after-school program assignment that the authorities investigated. The defense for Tessmer, now 54, says it was not his intention to kill the dog, and that the dog could actually have died from rat poisoning, which also causes hemorraging. (What a coincidence that would have been!)

The defense also claimed that the boy did not really suffer mental harm from seeing his dog kicked to death. But the prosecution  says the boy could not sleep at night for months after the incident, and had nightmares about it when he did sleep. (And what about the girl? I can find nothing of her in any stories.)

According to WHLB Radio, A jury on Monday found Tessmer guilty of both killing the animal and causing mental harm to a child. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 9. He faces up to nine years in prison. (Sounds like he has a different set of people looking into his future than the man who threw his neighbor’s dog onto a busy highway near Chicago and got off with a $100 fine…) I’ll keep you posted.

A Labradoodle, like the one who died at the other end of her owner's foot (Photo: Flickr photostream of Estoril)

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