ohmidog!

Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III said he’s confident police arrested “the right guys” in connection with the death of Phoenix, the Baltimore pit bull who was doused with gasoline and set on fire last month.

But the parents of the boys say their sons weren’t involved.

“They didn’t do it. I would put my life on the line that they didn’t do it,”  the boys’ father, Charles Johnson told WBAL-TV. ”If you’re on fire or anybody else is on fire, you’re going to take off running. That’s probably what the dog (did). Who knows where it was set on fire at.”

“You know, 17-year-olds, they’re going to get into a little something. But they wouldn’t set a dog on fire. I think one of them is afraid of a dog,”  Johnson said.

Bealefeld said today that the pit bull may have been part of a dogfighting operation.

Police charged the two teenagers in connection with the crime, but unexplainedly canceled a news conference yesterday to announce the arrests, according to a Baltimore Sun article

“I understand there are still some concerns about some of the things that [prosecutors] are looking for us to do in continuing with the investigation, but I’m confident that we have the right guys based on all that I’ve heard,” Bealefeld said.

“We got some information in the early stages concerning possible identity of these guys, and then, based on a review of evidence from the scene, we were able to secure another witness who put us over the top,” Bealefeld said.

WBAL-TV identified the juveniles as Travis and Jermaine Johnson, who are twin brothers.

Nice digs, huh? It’s the new “mini mansion” Paris Hilton had designed and built for her dogs. It’s  a smaller version of Paris’ Beverly Hills home, right down to the miniature furniture similar to her own. The lavish doghouse also has air conditioning, “Chewy Vuitton” beds, closets, two floors, a spiral staircase and chandelier, according to the Daily Mail.

Paris has been posting photos of the  puppy palace on Twitter, probably because flauntingmywealth.com doesn’t exist yet. Give it time.

The luxurious house was built for Hilton’s 13 dogs, who include Marilyn Monroe, Dolce , Harajuku Bitch and Tinkerbell.

Writing on her Twitter page, the 28-year-old said: “I have to admit, I may have spoiled them a little too much. But how can I not? Just look at those sweet lil’ faces.”

After nearly seven months missing on the cold mean streets of Middletown, Connecticut, a wayward hound named Lady has been found — but the family that had adopted her before she ran off doesn’t want her anymore.

Not exactly the happy ending of a Disney movie, but it’s not quite as hard-boiled as it sounds. The adoptive family had only had Lady for a few hours when, while on a walk, she bolted.

That was back in November. Ever since then animal control officers have been trying to track her down as reports came in about her being spotted in different parts of town. At one point, she was seen negotiating the rugged terrain of Wesleyan University. Another time she was spotted in a family’s backyard dog house.

Each time, though, according to the Middletown Press, she would elude authorities.

“She obviously has very good survival instincts to last through the frigid winter,” Middletown Animal Control Officer Gail Petras said. “It’s rare we have a dog like this that’s out for so long.”

Petras said those who spotted Lady about town in the first two months — after she was adopted from the Connecticut Humane Society and then fled — reported she was dragging a long, bright pink leash behind her. Later sightings had her pulling a short pink leash. After that, reports had her pulling no leash at all.

In early March, the night before a bad snowstorm, Lady showed up in Ruth and Cliff Drechsler-Martells’ doghouse. They left food for her and, while she’d eat it, she wouldn’t let them near her. When they approached, she ran away.

Over Memorial Day weekend, Lady — a hound mix, about two years old, picked out another house, walked through the open door and curled up on the living room floor. The homeowners, holding a barbecue, assumed she’d been brought by a guest. After all their guests left, Lady was still there. The hound was still wearing her tags from the Humane Society, and her adopters were contacted.

Shocked to hear Lady was still alive, the owners told Petras they couldn’t take her back because they’d gotten another dog in the interim.

The Drechsler-Martells are considering adopting Lady, but aren’t sure she’d get along with their 9-year-old dog.

Petras said Lady loves other dogs; she is spayed and she has all of her shots, and she can be reached in care of Middletown Animal Control at 860-344-3298.

Lest you thought teaching dogs to ride a skateboard was a uniquely American pursuit (see Tyson and Tillman), meet Bazooka, who according to Reuters is Japan’s top, and probably only, skateboarding dog.

The two year-old English Bulldog was immediately taken with the skateboard, according to his owner, Yoshio Ishikawa.

“When he was 5-months old, he saw someone skateboarding in the street, and that must have switched him on,” says Ishikawa, who designs canine clothing.

Ishikawa has Bazooka’s boards custom-made, ensuring that they have no toxic varnishes and are of an appropriate length. “He bites and just keeps gnawing on them, so we’re actually on our 15th custom-made board as of now,” Ishikawa said.