A Super Sunday Dog Event: The Bill Foundation's Rescue Bowl

The organization plans to live-stream an adoption event that pits Shelter Dogs vs. Street Dogs.

How many of you tuned into the Bill Foundation's live stream adoption event?

Always searching for new ways to help dogs in need, the rescue organization did something never done before: The Bill Foundation live-streamed its weekend adoption event in Los Angeles. Viewers were treated to streaming footage of wiggly, waggily dogs in need of forever homes as volunteers narrated their individual stories. Thanks to contributions from Ustream and Logitech, the event was a tremendous success, drawing more than 30,000 viewers as well as a deluge of adoption applications. Adoptions haven't been finalized yet (it's a long, thorough process), but it looks like 9 or 10 of the pups will be going to their forever homes.

Check out the recorded video below.

Now the foundation plans its first Rescue Bowl. Twenty to 25 adoptable dogs will get to play in a game of Shelter Dogs vs. Street Dogs. The dogs will be dressed in jerseys, and there will even be cheerleaders to rally their spirits. It's scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 3, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. If you're interested in watching the Super Bowl, you can still do that -- it starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific, 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

You can watch the Rescue Bowl here for free, but you can also donate $5 to vote for you favorite team. All donations go to the Bill Foundation's continued rescue efforts.

The group plans to announce the starting lineup Saturday on its Facebook page; it'll also announce the "winning" team there Monday. There's even talk of a trophy and perhaps an exciting halftime show. 

Photo: Golden Retriever with star sunglasses on football by Shutterstock

View the original article here

Dog Fighting Event in Georgia Is Raided -- By Police Helicopters

Thirty-four people were arrested at the highly organized dog fight, which even had a food truck.

It's time to raise a glass to multiple law enforcement agencies across Georgia, who not only broke up a dog-fighting ring, but did so at a moment's notice with helicopters and spotlights while a dog fight was in progress, saving the dogs and arresting spectators and participants. 

It sounds like something out of prime time TV. On Saturday, authorities investigating the ring learned that a fight was scheduled to go down that night, and they rallied the troops, according to the Times-Herald.com. 

“Our narcotics unit has worked tirelessly on gathering intelligence on the event, and at a moment’s notice, they ‘rallied up’ and met at the training center where a briefing was conducted,” according to Meriwether County Sheriff Chuck Smith in a press release.

The team included members of the Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office, Coweta County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Woodbury Police Department, Greenville Police Department, Spalding County Sheriff’s Office, and animal control.

Then they swept in. First, they set up a perimeter full of officers. Then they brought in the helicopters, shining spotlights on the participants and spectators -- who fled right into the arms of waiting authorities. Suspects who hid in the bushes were located with the helicopter's forward looking infrared, of FLIR, cameras.

In all, 34 people were taken into custody. Authorities also seized more than $28,000 in cash, 26 vehicles of those arrested, five guns, two generators, lighting equipment, the fighting pit, and a catering truck, according to the Times-Herald.com. 

Yes, a catering truck. Express Wings was serving fried chicken and fish to those gathered at the event. 

As for the dogs, authorities found two Pit Bulls, with one injured and bleeding inside a large fighting pit. Animal Control Officer Beth Miller took the dogs into protective custody, and a vet is treating the injured dog with antibiotics. According to Times-Herald.com, one dog is eating again and even gave the vet some kisses. 

Those arrested face a litany of charges: gambling, cruelty to animals, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, theft by receiving stolen property, conspiracy to commit or promote dog fighting, and other crimes associated with the dog fighting operation. 

Via Times-Herald.com and WTVM.com; photos via WTVM

Read the most talked about news on Dogster:

View the original article here

Adorableness in Motion: We Hosted a Muttville Senior Adoption Event at Dogster HQ

We fell in love with the cute older dogs -- and San Francisco did, too.

We admit it: We have a soft spot for Muttville Senior Rescue. So when our parent company, Say Media, needed an organization to join us for an event called Say Gives, it seemed like an obvious choice. 

And so earlier this week, the Muttville-mobile descended on Dogster, bringing with it some of the cutest senior dogs we've ever seen. Knowing that Muttville alum Beasley is somewhat of a star 'round these parts, Muttville board member Patty Staton brought some of her star senior Pekingese.

Including -- but certainly not limited to -- Buddy!

Buddy is a cause célèbre here at Dogster. With his "customized" countenance, Buddy first ambled into the heart of Community Manager Lori Malm, who refers to the elderly lap dog as Beasley's boyfriend. You might be familiar with Managing Editor Vicky Walker as Catster's resident Cat Lady, but even she could not resist Buddy's unique charm.

Buddy looks kind of perfect in her arms, right?

(Don't worry, we called her husband and began working on him.)

Also representing the Peke pride was Maylee, a slightly younger Muttville adoptable, who had enough spunk and energy to make up for Buddy and Beasley's more low-key personalities.

Amid the flurry of lap dog fervor, our Assistant Editor Liz Acosta was drawn more to Tess, an older hound dog with a sweet disposition who wanted to just chill out in the shade. Liz doesn't judge smaller dogs, but she has a penchant for the bigger pups, having grown up under the protection of Akitas.

We set up a table outside the office and passed out Muttville fliers and Dogster stickers. Editor-in-Chief Janine Kahn took a pause from her work to join us in talking to people and raising awareness about the value of adopting senior dogs. (Associate Editor Keith Bowers would have been out with us, but he's busy working on a brand new Cat Dandy column for Catster -- you're going to love it!) 

At day's end, we were sad to see the Muttville crew pack up and go but glad we got to spend a little time with them. We hope we persuaded a few people that, sometimes, it's better to adopt an older dog than a puppy. If you're interested in following or helping Muttville, visit its website and Facebook page.

Photos by our multitalented Liz Acosta, who would like to remind you to follow us on Instagram.

View the original article here

What Would You Do If Your Dog Ate the Tickets to an Event You Were Dying to Attend?

Russ Berkman had won four Masters tickets to a practice round at the Augusta National. These are like gold to an avid golf fan. You can guess what happened next.

Imagine hugely looking forward to an event, and then discovering your dog ate the event tickets, which are pretty much not replaceable.

Russ Berkman had won four Masters tickets to today's practice round at the Augusta National. These are like gold to the avid golf fan. Of course, if they'd been gold, this story would end right here. No, unfortunately the tickets were a paper product, attached to string necklaces.

The Seattle resident returned home from a shopping trip and found an unsettling scene.

“When I walked in the house, I noticed there was a few strings on my hardwood floors that appeared to be the strings on my Masters tickets,” Berkman said in an interview on radio station KJR. He looked at Sierra, his Greater Swiss mountain dog, and realized she had eaten the tickets as an appetizer.

Not wanting to have to fish out the remains of the tickets from the business end of Sierra several hours later, he opted to try to get them out of her in a slightly less gross way. He had her drink a combo of hydrogen peroxide and water, which acts as a non-toxic emetic. She threw up. Fortunately she hadn't eaten anything too recently (which may be why she went for the tickets!), so Berkman didn't have to sort through truly yucky stomach contents.

Sierra had really done a number on the tickets, shredding them into tiny little pieces before swallowing them. Berkman sloshed through the vomit and collected some 80 pieces, which made up about 70 percent of the actual tickets, and did his best to piece together the tickets. He took a photo as evidence, and contacted the Masters ticket office. 

Good thing Berkman didn't have to wear this ticket At first, the people he spoke with were incredulous. But fortunately, someone there knew what some dogs do for a hobby, and the tickets were reissued. He and three friends will be out there today, wearing their shiny new tickets around their necks. They'll surely be among the most grateful attendees. 

What would you do if your dog were to eat an irreplaceable ticket to something you were dying to attend? Would you make her throw up, or wait patiently for any undigested shreds to emerge from the other end and go on a little treasure hunt? Or would you just hope you could convince the ticket office that your dog really did eat your ticket, even though they've probably heard that more than once?

Photo of Greater Swiss Mountain Dog via Shutterstock

Sources: Golf Channel, Yahoo Sports

View the original article here