ohmidog!

The Walsh family in Cape Town, South Africa, was wondering where all their pacifiers were going. Even with two young daughters, age 1 and 3, they couldn’t figure out how so many (13) disappeared so fast.

This week they found the culprit, their 6-month old Bull Terrier, Stella, who had swallowed each and every one.

That’s how many a shocked veterinarian discovered in the dog’s small intestine and stomach during an operation on Tuesday.

Stella’s veterinarian, Kati Plumstead, said Stella had been lethargic for a few months and couldn’t keep her food down. To finally find out was wrong, she X-rayed Stella’s torso and did not find anything unusual. But when she physically examined the dog, Plumstead felt something in Stella’s abdomen. With that, she did some exploratory surgery.

“I wasn’t quite sure what I was dealing with. I checked the rest of the abdomen and pulled out one dummy (that’s what they call them in South Africa). But then it was like dipping into a lucky packet. I pulled out another, then another and on it went,” she said.

On Wednesday, when Plumstead brought out the container of pacifiers to show the Cape Times newspaper, Stella immediately perked up and lunged towards them, nearly gobbling one again.

Her owner, Peter Walsh, said they had suspected the dog might have gotten a pacifier or two, judging from her droppings, but they had no idea a collection was forming inside her.

Stella is recovering at the vet and is expected to be discharged soon.

A sad story just got a little sadder.

Bob Emery, the Hurricane Ike relief worker who died while trying to rescue three dogs trapped on an interstate highway, appears to be headed for a pauper’s funeral.

The 54-year-old repairman lived alone on Big Pine Key, Fla. He had a trailer with a view of the sea and was apparently estranged from family, the Houston Chronicle reported.

“We are trying to locate family to notify them of this person’s death,” said Beverly Begay, chief investigator with the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office. If no family is found, and no one claims the body, it would be given a pauper’s burial, Begay said.

The three dogs Emery was trying to reach when he was struck by a motorcycle and killed were rescued by Houston animal-control officers and returned to their families.

Emery’s, meanwhile, has yet to be found.

“He lived in Big Pine alone, and didn’t have a wife or girlfriend that I know of,” said Sandy Downs, whose husband knew Emery for about five years. “I’m having trouble tracking down the rumor he had two older daughters.”