ohmidog!

As the owner of a dog who has an entire hardware store chain named after him (well, OK, maybe the hardware store chain came first), I can appreciate a dog made out of nuts, bolts, screws and other assorted doodads.

The pooch above, and below, is the work of Portland, Oregon artist Brian Mock, who specializes in pieces made out of found and recycled objects.

His series of D.O.G (Done out of Garage) sculptures is no exception.

“I’m intrigued by the challenge of creating something unique, fun, and inherently curious,” Mock says on his website. “I merge imagination with technical skill by incorporating unusual found objects and everyday items into one-of-a-kind pieces.

His works include abstract wall art and freestanding sculptures, such as auto art and welded works produced from found objects and recycled metals.

I think they’re pretty cool, and so does my dog, Home Depot. Just kidding. His name is Ace.

(Photos from brianmock.com)

A federal court will hear the case of a woman who claims her constitional rights were violated when police in Milwaukee shot her 7-year-old mutt four times in 2004.

The case of Bubba, a Labrador/springer spaniel mix, appears to be the first such case of its type to go to a federal civil rights trial in Milwaukee, where it is set to begin before a jury this week.

Bubba’s owner, Virginia Viilo, sued the city and two police officers in in 2005, claiming her constitutional rights were violated when an officer fired shots into her already-injured dog.

Over the past decade or so, Milwaukee police have shot more than 400 dogs in the line of duty, according to court records, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported. About 25 of those, including the shooting of Bubba, were fatal.

Read more »

The Portland Oregonian, in a Sunday editorial prompted by several recent dog attacks, called for laws classifying all pit bulls as “potentially dangerous.”

“We don’t favor a total ban on pit bulls: Some have good dispositions and can be wonderful animals if well-trained. However, we do think Oregon should reconsider breed-specific laws, rather than treating pit bulls as if they were puppies,” the editorial said.

Under the current Multnomah County ordinance, any dog can be classified as “potentially dangerous,” but only based on its behavior. Owners whose dogs are classified as “potentially dangerous” can be required to take extra steps to protect the public, such as getting liability insurance and attending obedience school.

The newspaper called for pit bulls to be automatically classified as potentially dangerous, then allowing owners to take steps to get their dogs declassified through the already established procedures.

In other words, if you’re a pit bull, or possibly a Rottweiler, you’re guilty until proven innocent.

The editorial cites misleading figures – then makes the same knee-jerk conclusion a lot of jurisidictions have been making.

Fortunately, the paper’s pet blogger sees it differently and provided some balance, and more than a few online commenters (at the bottom of the article) are pointing out the fallacy of breed-specific legislation.