What Would You Do if a Facebook Friend Threatened to Kill His Dog Online?

Luckily for Mark Joiner's dog, people took action -- and the police showed up at his house.

Mark Joiner did a very dumb, very horrible thing on social media the other day, which outraged many and sent the police over to his house in Ceres, California, straightaway. 

Here's what he posted to Facebook.

Yeah, he's said he'd shoot his dog and put her in a hole. Yeah, he's terrible. When people began writing back, he kept up the horribleness: 

Fortunately, dozens of concerned people took these images and posted them to the right place -- the Ceres Police Department Facebook page, which is where we got them. Here's one of the messages someone posted with the images: 

He lives in Ceres, and my wife & I checked with a mutual friend and have discerned that he is not joking about harming this animal. please people, speak up and let him know this is not funny at all. In this age when people post things like this publicly we cannot sit by and do nothing. I am also posting this to all animal advocacy groups in his area. Those of you in the military please reach out to him as well he is clearly in need of assistance and he is a fellow service member.

The Ceres Police Department took all of this very seriously, to its credit, responding to posts that the matter was being investigated. And it was. According to a press release the department sent out later, officers went to Joiner's home to check on the animal, and he assured them that he was only venting. The dog appeared unharmed.

"Ceres Police Department takes animal cruelty very seriously," the release continued. "Maliciously torturing or killing animals is a felony and should be reported to Stanislaus County Animal Services at (209) 558-7387 or local police."

Then the department took to its Facebook page to reassure people that the dog was OK, posting messages like these to concerned citizens:

"Officers have checked on the dog, who is unharmed and the owner assured us he was only venting.""We are happy to see so many people take the time to contact us to ensure the safety of EVERYONE in our community, including our furry residents.""Thank you, the matter was investigated and the dog is okay."Officers even took a picture of the dog and encouraged people to click on it: 

All in all, the department said approximately 40 to 50 reports about the post came in from at least five different states. It's good to see that actions of a bonehead in Ceres aren't ignored by the public. 

All we can hope now is that someone steps forward and offers to take the dog to a better home.

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These Are the Only Fruits and Vegetables I Would Consider Putting in My Mouth

And yes, they're toys for dogs. That's not weird at all. Also, you can win your own set!

Can I share one of my most shameful secrets with you? Fruits terrify me. So do vegetables. 

I'm not being cute -- I have issues putting foods with certain textures in my mouth, and the only way you'll get me to eat a carrot is in soup. My partner has joked about taking me to a hypnotist enough times that I'm starting to feel like he's dead serious. I often tell him to can it, but I know he's just trying to keep me from keeling over dead.

Anyway: dog toys! When our friends at P.L.A.Y. SF asked if we'd like to give away a set of their Garden Fresh plush toys for Valentine's Day, the first thing that came to mind was "Urg, produce, my favorite." But you know what? These might be the cutest fruits and vegetables I've ever seen. (Mostly because they're not real, but that's just me.)

My dog, Mr. Moxie, is a vegetable fan. But he didn't understand what I was up to when I arranged this cornucopia of plush toys next to him for this shot:

When I take a new toy out, Moxie goes absolutely bananas for it. But five toys at once is apparently a sensory overload for a small dog like him, as evidenced by the video clip below:

P.L.A.Y.'s produce toy pack ($40) includes a plump, teacher-worthy apple alongside a pumpkin, zucchini, carrot, and pea pod. Each toy is beautifully crafted -- not a stitch out of place -- and each has a squeaker or two hidden within (Moxie's favorite part).Scroll down to find out how to win a set of your own!

+ Aside from being the cutest, least-threatening fruits and veggies around, these toys are double-stitched and have a two-layer exterior for durability.

+ Like the rest of P.L.A.Y.'s products, they are eco-friendly, and stuffed with dog-safe PlanetFill filler (which is spun from recycled plastic bottles).

+ You can throw them in the washing machine without trouble.

To enter, leave a comment below to telling me about a phobia of your own ... or a food you absolutely will not eat.

I will pick my favorite answer next Thursday, Feb. 21, at noon PST and contact the winner via email. You'll have two days to respond or I'll choose another winner. (Sorry, that's just how it goes!)

Creating a Disqus profile and avatar just takes a minute and is a great way to participate in Dogster's community of people who are passionate about dogs. Please note that if your Disqus account doesn't contain a valid email address, you can't win because I won't be able to contact you. That's the worst! So, pretty please, check your account.

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Dog Backpack or Life Jacket: Which Would You Choose?

Hey, Jake here! You can enter to win a spiffy new dog backpack or life jacket by following the directions at the bottom of this post. But first you should read my article, because it's pretty awesome.

I love getting packages in the mail. Even when boxes that arrive aren't for me, it's fun to tear through the cardboard and get to the contents. Then Maria eventually comes back downstairs to retrieve the packages, and wow! The way she reacts, you'd think I'd done a leg lift on the Queen Mother. 

So imagine my excitement when three packages arrived in the last couple of weeks with my name on them. It was like it was Christmas, only without the "Jake! Did you eat the gingerbread house?!" kinds of comments I hear all season.

Using my handy, built-in box cutters, I made quick work of the cardboard. Maria realized that the items these companies sent me as a perk of my work for Dogster formed a theme: summertime fun. So she decided I would review them (a dog backpack, life jacket and flying saucer) to earn my keep. It's the least I can do to repay her for all the flip-flops I'll shred this summer.

We'll start with an item that looked pretty great from the get-go: An Outward Hound Pet Saver Life Jacket. This model is a nice chartreuse, and it's really well constructed, with a secure, wide body strap on the bottom, which closes with Velcro tabs. It's made extra secure by buckle straps. This puppy ain't falling off.

I can swim super well, but I do go on boats occasionally, since we have a sea captain in the family. Sometimes I get a little too excited, and people have to do everything they can to keep me from jumping into the drink. Maria said this would be a really handy item.

It looks so good on the Outward Hound catalog model. Check it out.

So Maria, my girl Laura, and I went to a nearby pond for my own model shots. They put it on me and then started laughing. I bet no one laughed at that gorgeous creature above. Check out the picture of Laura laughing so hard she was almost drooling.

Very funny, Laura. Yeah, verrry funny!

Wow, not exactly star treatment! I was a bit confused as to the source of their merriment. This life jacket is super comfortable. I walked around and didn't even notice it was on. Didn't seem funny to me at all. I was beginning to get vaguely annoyed at being the pond clown, as you can see.

What?? Whaaaat?

As I was standing there perplexed, Maria brought the camera close to my bulging chest and took a photo. Ha ha, very funny.

It seems I'm just so well-built that the giant black tummy/chest strap was not coming close to Velcro-ing shut. It's supposed to have significant overlap, but the two sides weren't even shaking hands. I'm just "special," Maria says. She had thrown out the packaging, so we don't know if it's a large or extra-large. I am hoping it isn't the latter, because I would feel a little portly if i can't even fit into an XL.

OK, embarrassing.

This little issue didn't stop me from trying it out in the pond. I can swim without a life vest just fine, so I knew it wasn't going to be a problem. Plus the dual buckle straps, when adjusted to their largest setting, fit around me and held it on super securely. I felt pretty great swimming in it, and I look pretty great, too, don't you think?

I give the Outward Hound life vest four paws up for its comfort, style, and quality construction. I think any dog who isn't a strong swimmer and is around pools or docks or on boats this summer should talk their people into getting one. Just make sure you measure his or her girth correctly when ordering. It's fine when June is busting out all over, but not so good when your chest and belly are ....

The next present I opened was another Outward Hound product. This time, it was an Excursion Dog Backpack (product page here). The first thing I noticed is that it was powder pink. A lot of people think I'm colorblind. I'm not. And a lot of people think I'm a girl. I'm not. The company must have seen one of my prettier pictures and sent this my way.

Initially I was embarrassed. I took a bite from a big yogurt container and tried to hide my face from the paparazzi.

Then I realized: Hey, I am a manly dog! I regularly wear a pastel floral collar, and it doesn't bother me at all. It just sort of makes my manliness shine out extra strong all around it. A pink dog backpack wasn't going to be a problem, either. Real men can wear pink backpacks! 

And I'm happy to tell you that it's another really comfortable, secure product. The torso straps are padded, so the thing didn't bug me at all. The pockets are roomy, and there's even a poop-bag dispenser. How many humans can say that about their backpacks?

The last product I tried out was a Kong Saucer flying disk. It's the usual Kong red rubber, and that alone gets me pretty excited. Maria threw it for me once, and the flight was perfect. When I caught it, it was delightfully gentle on my mouth.

I loved it. To death. Maria got distracted by a visitor, and I absconded with it. When she came looking 15 minutes later, the Kong Saucer was in 138 separate bits. Laura counted. Maria gave me the "OMG you did a leg lift on the Queen Mother" face again. (I warn her that her face is going to stick like that, but she pays no attention.)

Most normal dogs will really enjoy the Kong Saucer for its intended purpose. If your dog is normal and not "special" like me, go get one.

And now for how to enter the contest. It's easy, 'cause I'm a simple guy. Just leave a comment below saying if you'd like to win a doggy backpack or life jacket. We'll do a random drawing for a winner for each. Please leave your comment by Friday, June 15, at noon Pacific time. You must have a valid e-mail address attached to your Disqus account for commenting. If we draw your name, PetSmart, which is supplying the winners with their fun prizes, will contact you to find out your dog's size and your shipping info.

Good luck -- and have a great summer!

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We Wondered When This Would Happen: First Class-Action Lawsuit Filed Over Chicken Jerky

"Who in their right mind would feed something to an animal that has an FDA warning?" distraught owner of dead dog asks.

We've been writing about the potential deadly effects of chicken jerky made in China for years. Every time we do, we're deluged by readers who share their own heartbreaking tales of their own dogs who have either died or been made extremely ill from the jerky treats.

So the news from Chicago of the first class-action lawsuit against a couple of jerky-related companies isn't a big surprise. The only surprise is that it didn't happen sooner.

Chicago-area resident Dennis Adkins has filed the federal lawsuit against Netle Purina Petcare (makers of Waggin' Train chicken jerky) and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., where he bought the treats. He says his Pomeranian died of kidney failure shortly after he started feeding them to her. His other Pom, who did not get any of the treats, was perfectly fine.

Last fall the FDA cautioned consumers -- and not for the first time -- about feeding their dogs chicken jerky products (also sold as chicken tenders, strips, or nuggets) made for dogs. "In the last 12 months, FDA has seen an increase in the number of complaints it received of dog illnesses associated with consumption of chicken jerky products imported from China," the advisory stated. In 2007 the FDA put a cautionary warning on the products.

Adkins said he had no idea about this, and that he never would have thought of looking on the package for a warning. His suit claims that Nestle Purina was aware of more than 500 cases of dogs dying or becoming extremely ill after eating chicken jerky treats made in China.

"Who in their right mind would feed something to an animal that has an FDA warning?" Adkins said in a Chicago Tribune story. "I would not buy the product."

The federal lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for people who believe their dogs were harmed by the treats. It also calls for an end to the sale of the treats.

Nestle Purina is not going to take this sitting down. "We believe the claims made in the suit to be without merit and intend to vigorously defend ourselves. We can say that Waggin' Train products continue to be safe to feed as directed," a Nestle spokesman said.

The suit could expand to include other companies. Because the FDA has not yet found any reason for the illnesses, it may be a tough one to win. But who knows what will be found out during proceedings. It will be an interesting and important suit. I'll keep you posted.

Sources: Chicago Tribune, Bloomberg

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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

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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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A New Rhode Island Law Would Boot Dogs From Drivers' Laps

The cuties are too much of a distraction, kind of like cell phones, say the Rhode Island bill's proponents.

Lap dogs are awesome. But no so much when you’re driving.

At least that’s the notion fueling a bill introduced to the Rhode Island House Judiciary Committee. If it ends up passing, the legislation will make it illegal to drive with a dog on your lap, at least in the nation’s smallest state.

The future for lap dogs in R.I.? Similar legislation is being considered in Tennessee.

A recent AAA survey found that 21 percent of dog owners allow their dog to sit on their lap while they (the owners, not the dogs) drive. It would be recipe for instant disaster if I were to allow 90-pound Jake to do sit on my lap on a drive – or any time, really. But I can see the temptation for people with tiny dogs whose mission in life is to hang out on laps and enjoy life.

In 2008, California actually passed a law banning dogs in drivers’ laps, but then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed it because it wasn’t “high priority” among 95 other pieces of legislation he had to consider. That legislation had been dubbed the “The Paris Hilton Bill,” and was inspired when a lawmaker saw a woman driving with three dogs in her lap.

While some little dogs and their people probably love the camaraderie of sharing the driver’s seat, I can definitely see where it could be a hazard. A friend of a friend was driving with her Yorkie, and the dog plopped onto the floor when they were driving down a steep San Francisco hill. Part of him ended up under the brake. She was able to use her emergency brake to avoid getting out of control while heading down the hill, but it could have ended tragically.

Since we have so many readers with all sizes of dog and all forms of opinion, I would love to get your input: Do you drive with your dog on your lap? What do you think about the practice? Is driving with a dog on your lap as potentially hazardous as some think, and as my friend’s friend demonstrated? Are you for or against this kind of “lapislation”?

Sources: Los Angeles Times, Newser.com

Unlapped lap dog photo via Shutterstock

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Uggie Is Psychic: Correctly Predicts “The Artist” Would Win Best Picture

Uggie, in acrylics, on the eternal red carpet. My 15-year-old daughter painted this for me on a 7-by-7 canvas while I was out of town covering the Golden Collar Awards in Los Angeles on Feb 13 and 14. The best Valentine's present! (Painting: Laura Altair Hanson)

The Artist swept five Oscars last night at the 84th Academy Awards, including one for Best Picture. I loved this film, and was happy to see it do so well — especially after meeting Uggie, the movie’s scene-stealing Jack Russell terrier, at the Golden Collar Awards earlier this month.

The semisilent (great music!) French movie  was up against some stiff competition, but I shouldn’t have been surprised that it won: Uggie predicted that The Artist would win. He did so on the Jimmy Kimmel show, with the aid of hot dogs over the movie posters of all the nominees. Uggie is retiring from the big screen, but I see a job for him as a stock market advisor. Or at least a racetrack tipster.

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Woman’s Dog Chases Away Robber — What Would Your Dog Do?

Would your dog get his hackles up if someone threatened you? (Photo from the Flickr photostream of corsi photo)

So you’re walking down a quiet street one night with your dog. Suddenly someone approaches you, threatening you with a gun, knife, or simply a command to hand over your wallet — or worse.

I’ve occasionally wondered what Jake would do in this situation, since I’ve had to walk him late on plenty of occasions. Sometimes I think he’d wag and wonder what’s going on, smiling as I handed over any valuables. But lately I’ve come to think that if Jake felt my fear, if it “dumped down the leash” as they say in military dog circles, he might do something about it. And 90 pounds of protective yellow Lab is not to be taken lightly.

A fellow San Franciscan found out the answer to this question just after midnight yesterday. She was walking her dog in the Bernal Heights neighborhood when an armed man approached and told her to put up her hands. She did. He took her house and car keys. (She probably had nothing else on her, if she was just taking her dog for a little bathroom stroll.)

By this point the dog — whose breed, age, and name were not revealed in any news stories — decided this guy was a problem. He started growling. Police say the robber backed away, and was about to run when the dog bit his leg. The injured robber ran off. He still had the woman’s keys, but at least the incident stopped there.

Good dog, whoever you are!

So it got me to wondering if you have also wondered whether your dog would ever take matters into his own paws in this kind of situation — or if any of your dogs have ever actually acted on your behalf. Let us know! I’m sure there are some dogs who would lick a bad guy to death, but I’ll bet there are many who would really be there if need be.

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Cujo – Rabies Vax Would Have Prevented That

Its that time of year again.  Fall, Halloween, scary movie marathons and hot apple cider.  Fall is always my favorite time of year.  Although I suffer from raging fall seasonal allergies, its so pleasant to be outside, the air is usually dry and the sky is usually blue.  This year, not so much. Its been wet and gloomy, but luckily my allergies have been kept to a dull roar.

Since the weather has been so cruddy and we have been relegated to staying inside I’ve been watching horror movie marathons on tv non-stop.  I have already seen my most/least favorite twice this year.  Yep you guessed it, Steven King’s epic psychological horror Cujo.  Its my favorite for the obvious, it’s about a beautiful Saint Bernard, but is my least favorite because this whole sordid tale could have been easily avoidable had the idiot farmer not been such an irresponsible pet owner and made sure Cujo was inoculated against rabies.  I know you must be thinking that’s a very over generalized statement, but it’s completely, 100% true.

Cujo, the story of the idiot who didnt rabies vaccinate his dog

I think most people were busy at the concession stand buying snacks during the previews or still flipping through commercials and managed to miss the first 3:45 of the movie where the beautiful, sweet Saint Bernard is frolicking through the sunny fields, playfully giving chase after a bunny. (I mean seriously, what Saint Bernard worth their keg wouldn’t take the opportunity) And of course the most crucial 5 seconds of the whole movie where the dog’s nose is bitten by a rabid bat.  They only remember the subsequent melee that happens next, resulting in the deaths of a multitude of people.

The movie is scary has hell and has resonated with people for decades (yes decades, the movie came out in 1983).  It has instilled fear of Saint Bernards in many people.  I see this fear quite freqently when I take my boys out.  People shriek ”oooh Cujo”.  Gee, ha ha!  Very original, like I’ve never heard that one before.  They are still missing the point.  The dog was rabid.  Something like this should NEVER happen.  The US requires, by law, that all dogs and cats be vaccinated for the Rabies Virus.

From Wikipedia Rabies (From Latin: rabies, “madness”) is a viral disease that causes acute encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) in warm-blooded

animals. It is Zoonotic (i.e., transmitted by animals), most commonly by a bite from an infected animal. For a human, rabies is almost invariably fatal if post-exposure prophylaxis is not administered prior to the onset of severe symptoms. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death.

The rabies virus travels to the brain by following the peripheral nerves. The incubation period of the disease is usually a few months in humans, depending on the distance the virus must travel to reach the central nervous system.Once the rabies virus reaches the central nervous system and symptoms begin to show, the infection is effectively untreatable and usually fatal within days.

Fortunately, the U.S. has been successful in eliminating a particular kind of rabies – known as canine rabies – that is responsible for rabies spreading from dog-to-dog.  However, canine rabies has not been controlled in many regions of the world, further threatening the health of humans and animals in these areas. Some areas of the world have problems with large numbers of stray dogs, which can often come in contact with wild animals that have rabies. This often causes an increased number of rabid animals that have the potential to transmit the virus to humans.
The good news is that people can easily take steps to help prevent and control rabies.

More than 90% of all animal rabies cases reported to CDC each year occur in wild animals. The main animals that get rabies include raccoons, bats, skunks and foxes.

One of the best ways to protect yourself and your pet is to avoid contact with wild animals. Do not feed or handle them, even if they seem friendly.  Unfamiliar animals that are often thought of as pets, such as dogs and cats, should also be avoided. These animals are often in contact with wildlife and can also transmit rabies to humans.

If you see an animal acting strangely, report it to animal control. Some things to look for are:

General sicknessProblems swallowingLots of drool or saliva (exception, Saint Bernard Drool lol)An animal that appears more tame than you would expectAn animal that bites at everythingAn animal that’s having trouble moving or may even be paralyzed

Sometimes, people may come across a dead animal. Never pick up or touch dead animals. The rabies virus may still be present in the saliva or nervous tissue, especially if they have only been dead for a short time. If you see a dead animal, call animal control to take care of the animal’s body.

Make sure to take your pets, such as dogs and cats, to the veterinarian each year. A veterinarian can make sure your pets are up to date on their rabies shot, which can protect them from getting rabies.  Talk to your veterinarian about spaying or neutering your pet. This helps cut down on the number of unwanted and stray animals. These animals often do not have their rabies shot and are in close contact with wild animals.

Rabies vaccinations are required by law in all 50 states. The first vaccination is good for one year. In most states subsequent vaccinations are good for three years.  However there are some states (such as Alabama and Arkansas) they are only valid for one year. Please check with your vet to determine the legal requirements in your county and state. Vaccinating your pet for rabies may literally save its life. Aside from it being a horrible and painful disease, an unvaccinated pet who bites a human being, even by accident, is subject to long quarantine periods or even death for the purpose of testing for rabies infection. Are you willing to take that risk?

Most county Health departments/animal control offer low cost rabies vaccination clinics.  Check with your local county auditor for availability of these clinics.  In addition, Petco and other large chain pet suppliers offer clinics through out the year.  Contact your local store for availability.

No matter where you live, rabies can threaten your family’s health. Fortunately, there are things you can do around the home to help reduce the risk of getting rabies.

Keep your pets indoors. When a dog goes outside, make sure an adult is there to watch it and keep it safe.Do not feed or put water for your pets outside and keep garbage securely covered. These items may attract wild animals or stray animals to your yard.Teach children never to handle wild animals or unfamiliar domestic animals.

 Feel like being scared? Buy CUJO on Amazon

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How Much Would You Spend to Save Your Dog?

A new survey reveals that 10 percent of dog and cat owners would be willing to spend more than $3,000 on medical procedures if it would help save their pet’s life. (Would a cat owner have to do this nine times?) Some 15 percent would spend between $1,000 and $3,000. And 61 percent would spend between $100 and $1,000.

Doing the math (stay with me here), 10 + 15  + 61 = 86. So 86 percent of those surveyed are willing to spend $100 or more to save their pets. Does this mean that 14 percent wouldn’t even spend $100? Am I missing something? (Math is not my best subject, so I truly welcome some insight into these figures. Maybe I am misinterpreting?)

Regardless of the exact numbers, when I read the survey results I thought of my fellow Dogsters and wondered what the results would be if I put the question out to you: How much would you be willing to spend on your dog if medical treatment would save its life? When finances are limited, it’s a terrible question to have to face. For some, it may be a matter of choosing to pay rent or to save their pet. For those with more resources, the sky might be the limit. I know a woman who spent $50,000 to keep one of her dogs alive an extra year. The dog lived pretty well that year, and she doesn’t regret the expenditure for a moment. I know how much you all love your dogs, but is there a limit? Does it have anything to do with the quality vs quantity of life?

BTW, the survey was sponsored by Kroger, the nation’s largest grocery retailer. Why would a grocery chain sponsor a survey like this? I think it’s because Kroger now offers pet insurance. I guess the point is that if you have insurance, you don’t have to worry quite as much if you ever have to make a decision about what kind of life-saving care your dog should get. Do those of you with pet insurance agree?

(Photo from the Flickr photostream of Doglington. Lucy, the dog in the photo, had a terrible urinary tract infection at the time, with high fever and a lot of pain. Her owner, Lisa, realized later that putting her on faux fur was not a great idea with her fever. I hope Lucy healed fast after the meds kicked in. BTW, I got this background info from Lisa’s appealing blog, Left Coast Cowboys.)

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Puppy kindergarten: What playgroup would your pup be in?

Housebreaking tips, anyone? Or do ya’ll have completely housebroken puppies already?

No matter how many dogs you’ve owned and no matter how good you are with dogs, there’s no replacement for socialization and going out to partake of the big world. That’s why puppy kindergarten is so important for puppy development, not to mention great photo opportunities.

After lengthy waits for puppies from responsible breeders, two of my friends each ended up with puppies who were born one week apart: Olivia, a lovely and earlicious German Shepherd dog with a wise face, and Niles, an adorable, fluffy miniature schnauzer with natural ears. Their owners decided they should go to puppy kindergarden together. The puppies met before the first class when they got into the same car (different crates).

For these two puppies, there were no less than five women with them at their first day of school. I wanted to stand at the bus stop and wave at them as they left home to go to school. I don’t think anyone cried. Oh wait, I did. It was the perfect antidote to living with a beloved geriatric.

I have never been to puppy class before because I generally adopt adult rescues, and I have to say it was just about the cutest thing I have ever seen. Seriously. Dogs of every size, color and activity level seemed to be there, all in darling, sweet, miniature baby form with puppy breath, puppy faces, and sharp little puppy teeth.

The best part of class was play time. The instructor, a lovely woman from Patricia McConnell’s Dogs’ Best Friend, said that they would break the puppies into three play groups based on their personality and activity level.

“Some dogs like to play football, and some prefer to have tea,” she said.

She also said that over the course of the class some puppies would switch back and forth between those three levels and people shouldn’t worry about it. Don’t worry, be happy…it’s puppy school!

The football players, including Olivia, went outside where there was a wading pool with water. The average-activity puppies, which constituted the largest group and included Niles, goofed around in the large sectioned-off area of the main room. The two or three puppies who preferred to have tea went to the small sectioned-off area. It took a while for the tea puppies and the average puppies to get going.

Outside, the football players were rocking. There was a Labrador, and there was a wading pool with water – need we say more? Olivia didn’t go in the pool, at least not when I was looking, but she chased the lab around and was clearly having a great time.

Niles took a moment to get into the spirit of playtime. “Really, I’m supposed to go out there without you? And do what, exactly?” He eventually did get himself into the crowd, although it also may have come to him. One of the puppies skittered across the linoleum like a wind-up toy.

The tea party had a hard time getting started, as you can imagine. It’s hard to party hearty from between mom’s legs, but the people stood close together.

The first change was a puppy who came in from the footballers to the average group, but ended up playing too hard for the average guys and thus had to play on a leash. One of the average guys went for a cuppa tea. Eventually another dog was removed from the footballers, but so late in the game that she just stayed outside standing behind her people.

Next week everyone will know what to expect, but none of the dogs will be any less enthusiastic. After all, they’re puppies!

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It’s What if Cats and Dogs Had Opposable Thumbs Day! What Would Your Dog Do?

I just got word from Dogster editor Janine Kahn that today is “What if Cats and Dogs Had Opposable Thumbs?” Day. That’s a new one on me! If Jake had opposable thumbs, he would probably figure out the fridge and freezer thing pretty quickly. I think he’d also learn to drive, so he could take himself to his favorite parks when I’m too busy. I would only ask for a little help opening jars of spaghetti sauce in return for the car keys.

How about you? What if your dog did have opposable thumbs? Would this be a good thing or a disaster in the making? What would he or she do?

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Who Would You Rather Kiss on New Year’s Eve: Your Dog or Brad Pitt?

Angelina Jolie might prefer to kiss Brad Pitt, but dog owners in an AKC survey would rather pucker up to the family dog ((Photo: Getty Images)

Move over, Brad Pitt. Most dog owners in a new AKC survey would rather pucker up to the family dog on New Year’s Eve than to Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie.

How about you, Dogsters? Come New Year’s Eve, who would you rather kiss? Brad/Angelina or your best four-legged pal?

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