ohmidog!

Dumped into an underground death pit, two homeless dogs named Haley and Hana are rescued and rehabilitated on tonight’s episode of National Geographic Channel’s “DogTown,” proving once again that dogs are a lot more forgiving than us more “intellectually developed” humans.

The dogs are believed to have spent two months in an underground cave in Ethiopia where locals periodically dispose of unwanted dogs, unfortunately while they are still alive. With no food or water, they may have survived by consuming the bodies of other dogs that died in the cave.

Best Friends Animal Society behavior consultant Sherry Woodard works with the former street dogs to help them overcome their fears and improve their social skills.

Also on tonight’s episode are the stories of Hugo, a 100-pound bloodhound, returned to DogTown after seriously biting a family member, and Ava, a golden retriever whose paw has been ripped apart by a coyote trap.

Cassidy, the three-legged dog we first told you about last month, seems to be getting around well on his new prosthetic leg, if the footage in this CBS report is any indication.

Cassidy was missing one of his hind legs when he was adopted from a New York City shelter in 2005 by Steven and Susan Posovsky.

Veterinary Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Denis Marcellin-Little at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine outfitted Cassidy, a German shepherd mix, with his new titanium leg in July — after much trial and error.

“We worked for about a year first to try to design an external brace that was fairly sophisticated, but did not work very well,” Marcellin-Little told CBS .

“There were two removable legs were made for him. Slip-on legs, which he was able to just kick off,” Steven Posovsky said. “At that point, they took out some computer diagrams and said let’s look into this possibility of an osteo-integrated leg.”

Cassidy’s artificial leg is a permanent prosthetic. A titanium rod was implanted into Cassidy’s lower leg bone. Over several months, they fused together. A custom designed carbon fiber foot with a rubber tread for traction screws right on to the implant.

“Now he walks for two, three hours and not a hint of fatigue,” Steven Posovsky said. “Watching him run on the beach is a very emotional thing for me personally. But a lot of tears of joy.”

The Eastern Veterinary Blood Bank is experiencing a blood shortage and has scheduled a series of blood drives to replenish its supply.

To be a blood donor, a dog must weigh at least 35 pounds, be in good health and be between the ages of 9 months and 7.5 years. Dogs weighing 55 pounds or less give a half pint of blood, while dogs that weigh more than 55 pounds give a full pint. Technicians draw blood from the jugular vein, and do not muzzle or sedate donor dogs.

EVBB is one of a few of private blood banks for dogs in the country.

If you and your dog are interested in donating, call the blood bank staff at 1-800-949-3822, or drop by one of the drives. Here’s the schedule:

Read more »

According to the American Kennel Club’s breed standards, a Doberman pinscher should have a docked tail and “cropped and erect” ears — an appearance (above right) of “alertness,” albeit one achieved through surgery, rubber bands, tape and splints.

The altered appearance of the Doberman is one we’ve seen so often that we’ve come to accept it as normal, even though an unalderated Doberman (above left) has floppy ears and a whip-like tail.

Why do we do it — not just to the Doberman, but about 50 other breeds that are still commonly docked and cropped?

Mainly because of the aforementioned standards, based on traditions — barbaric, silly traditions, but traditions all the same.

Docking Dobermans goes all the way back to the man who created them, Louis Dobermann, who mixed a handful of breeds in hopes of coming up with a medium-sized guard dog. Being guards, they needed to look alert. Hence, the tail docking and ear cropping.

With breed standards under fire — primarily those that have led to inbreeding and genetic health defects among some breeds — the practice of docking tails and cropping ears should be re-examined, too 

The American Veterinary Medical Association, which had long recommended against docking and cropping for cosmetic purposes, came down harder on the practice in a new policy adopted last year, calling for them both to removed from breed standards.

The AKC, in response to the AVMA policy change, said that “mislabeling these procedures as ‘cosmetic’ is a severe mischaracterization that connotes a lack of respect and knowledge of history and the function of purebred dogs … These breed characteristics are procedures performed to insure the safety of dogs that on a daily basis perform heroic roles with Homeland Security, serve in the U.S. Military and at Police Departments protecting tens of thousands of communities throughout our nation as well as competing in the field.”

That high and mighty stance came close to painting those who might oppose docking and cropping as unpatriotic. I’m pretty sure letting dogs keep their tails is not going to compromise national security, or lead to more crime.

Read more »

Just in time for April Fools, Toshiba has introduced the PetBook K9 — the world’s first laptop computer for dogs.

With a “delicious and durable organic rawhide casing,” a 3.3 megapixel doggie cam for inter-canine video conferencing and bark to text software (included), the PetBook is protected against saliva by special SlobberGuard technology.

You can find all the details here.

Alfie the German shepherd — deemed a hero in Philadelphia a few years ago when she alerted her owners that their 2-year old son had climbed up on the roof — has been found abandoned, dehydrated and living in the feces-filled basement of an empty house.

Alfie made news 2006 when she barked to alert neighbors and parents about the child on the roof. You can find that account here.

Now she’s been found in the same home — apparently no longer occupied — where she was left to fend for herself.

SPCA officials say neighbors reported hearing barks again from the home. Alfie was found living in the basement with only two bags of food, no water and feces covering the floor. She was 15 pounds underweight and dehydrated, according to CBS 3 in Philadelphia.

“Her skin is a little bit of an issue now. She has been affected by fleas. She’s got some hair loss,” said PSPCA Veterinary Technician Angela Messer.

The SPCA said the home appears to have been unoccupied for over two months. SPCA officials told CBS 3 Alfie’s owner was cited and fined in 2004 for animal cruelty. Alfie was taken away from her owners, but later returned.

The Pennsylvania SPCA first feared Alfie’s behavior would make it difficult to put her up for adoption, but officials said she is warming up. Offers have been pouring in to put the heroic canine up in a welcoming home.

“Medically she’s OK. She’s still a little scared,” said Heather Redfern with the Pennsylvania SPCA. “We’re going to have volunteers and staff work with Alfie to try and get her to a place so that when she is out of protective custody, we can send her to a rescue or someplace that she’ll have an awesome life.”

Update: The Pennsylvania SPCA reports that Alfie is doing well and has been placed with a foster family.

(Photo courtesy of CBS 3)

   Memorandum

From: Department of Human Control

April 1, 2116

In light of numerous complaints, Rex, director of the city office of Human Control, is reminding canine citizens of local regulations regarding the care and treatment of humans.

1. All humans must be registered and, when in public, must wear the official city tag and be up to date on their shots. While we do not require humans be leashed, owners are expected to be in reasonable control of their humans at all times.

2. Please be sure your humans use the public restroom facilities designated for them, and that they are using them appropriately – especially males of the species. Missing the urinal spreads germs, and is punishable by a 10-biscuit fine. While some members of the council have proposed a 1,000-biscuit fine, we consider that amount exorbitant.

3. Peoplefighting is a felony, whether it is spontaneous or organized, as in the case of what, during the era in which humans ruled the world, was formerly known as war.

4. Constant yelling is not pleasant for anyone, including your neighbors. If your human is unnecessarily loud, please take appropriate steps to modify the behavior. For instance, if your human’s loud behavior is triggered by sporting events, or alcoholic beverage, remove them from his or her environment.

5. While we don’t feel it necessary, as some have contended, to establish segregated areas in our parks for humans, we do ask that you practice common sense and courtesy. Some humans are unexplainedly aggressive. Not everyone likes humans. And some young dogs are frightened by them. Remember, the park belongs to everyone.

6. While humans may in fact be walking two-legged germ factories, they are allowed to enter bars, restaurants and any business establishment that permits them. Guide humans, therapy humans and assistance humans cannot be barred from any establishment or office.

7. As entertaining as they are, humans are not here for our entertainment. Publicly displaying humans, incorporating them into circus acts or holding them up to ridicule is not allowed, unless said human has chosen to be a celebrity. Humans cannot be forced to take part in human racing, or to pull sleds in sporting events of a length of more than 100 miles.

8. If, due to your negligence, your human ends up at the human pound, you will be required to pay a 25-biscuit fee to reclaim him or her and attend a mandatory human training program. Humans will be kept until claimed. In the event a human goes unclaimed, he or she will be put up for adoption.

9. All humans are created equal; discriminating against humans because of their size, shape, sex, age, color, religion, breeding, or how much they drool will not be tolerated.

10. Cruelty to humans is a serious offense, punishable by kennel time. Abusing, neglecting and euthanizing humans is prohibited.

(Inspiration: Hungarian Academy of Sciences study)

(Photo: Mosaic by Jill Beninato, Sitstaysmile.com)

(Photo: Cap from dogsrulegearstore.com)

Bilbo, a lifeguard dog that was banned from a Cornish beach, is returning to duty after hundreds of people signed a petition to get him back.

The six-year-old Newfoundland — a breed renowned for its swimming abilities and water rescues — became Cornwall’s first beach rescue dog three years ago, after passing a series of fitness and swimming tests.

He managed to skirt regulations prohibiting dogs on the beach by sitting in his owner’s beach buggy during patrols. But officials cracked down, and Bilbo — shown on the job in this video from 2007 — was sent packing.

Supporters came to his defense, arguing that Bilbo’s track record should make him a permanent exception to the rule. More than 10,000 people signed a paper petition; 2,275 put their names to one a pro-Bilbo website, and 7,000 joined a Facebook group in support of him. 

Last week, to the delight of his supporters across the world, it was confirmed that Bilbo would be allowed to return to Sennen beach and others where he is credited with having taken part in at least three rescues and indirectly saved scores more from getting into difficulties.

His owner Steve Jamieson, said he was delighted at the decision. Jamieson,  at 57, is Britain’s longest-serving lifeguard.

“The people not just in Cornwall but the whole of the UK have taken Bilbo to their hearts and, in the end, something had to be done about it, Jamieson told The Independent.

To the numerous benefits of dog parks, add this one: a drop in crime.

The city of Gahanna, Ohio is crediting the presence of a dog park with decreasing the number of people loitering or otherwise up to no good at Pizzuro Park.

Known as the Pooch Playground, the dog area opened a year ago,  NBC 4 reported.

Now, the city of Gahanna plans to expand the park, doubling its size and adding more dog-related features. Gahanna Deputy Police Chief Ken Bell said that volunteers who use the park have also helped cut down suspicious activity, reducing the need for officers to patrol the area regularly.