ohmidog!

The saga of my dog Ace, though already told, may be in for some revision.

My Baltimore Sun series on Ace’s roots — which traced everything from how he ended up in the city animal shelter to the breeds that, according to a DNA test, were in him — originally appeared last year. (You can find the video version of “Hey, Mister, What Kind of Dog is That?” on our dog-umentaries page.)

Now, with advances in technology, were going to reexamine Ace’s earliest chapters. The simple cheek swab DNA test we gave him in connection with the earlier project, which checked for 38 breeds, showed only two — Chow and Rottweiler.

Now, we’re going to try the new and more sophisticated blood test, from Mars Veterinary — the Mars Wisdom Panel MX Mixed Breed Analysis – which can determine the presence of 157 breeds.

As a result, we may find out that there is more to Ace — breed-wise — than we originally thought, perhaps we’ll even find out what accounts for his size, which, height-wise, exceeds that of both of the breeds found in him.

Mastiff, horse and minivan were among the guesses last time around, in addition to the more common ones — Akita (which would explain his curly tail), shepherd and Great Dane (which would explain his size). As it turned out most people were wrong, at least according to the Canine Heritage Test.

This time around, we’re going to ask for guesses as well. Those who can name each and every breed — in the form of a comment on this entry – will win a free ohmidog! hooded sweatshirt.

In addition, we’re checking the DNA of our contest winner, Elliott. To guess his breeds, go here.

The process starts this weekend when the blood of Ace and Elliott will be drawn by Dr. Johnny Slaughter, mobile veterinarian, and we’ll give you updates along the way. When the results are in, we’ll all get together — likely at a bar — to hear the results.

Meantime, guess away. Here’s some info on Ace: He’s 121 pounds (having recently dropped a few), is about as tall as me (5′ 9″) when he stands on his hind legs. HIs tail makes a complete loop — at least when he’s happy. He works, off an on, as a therapy dog, loves all humans, and almost all dogs. He’s an Aries (we think) and likes long walks on the beach, watching birds and curling up with a good book, as long as somebody else is reading it.

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 »

     If you’ve got a mystery mutt — like this one, named Fergus — here’s your chance to unravel a piece of his or her identity.
     Here’s how it works.
     Send in a photo of your mutt, along with your best guess as to what breeds he or she might be made up of, his or her name, where he or she came from, and why you want to know what he or she is a mix of — all in 100 words or less.
     A winner will be chosen based on the photo, the essay, and the capricious whims of our panel of anonymous, non-purebred judges.
    At that point, we’ll arrange for the test (a $125 value) to be administered by Baltimore veterinarian Johnny Slaughter, who will draw the blood at your home (he’s a mobile veterinarian). That will also be at no charge to the contest winner. The contest is limited to Maryland residents.
     When the results come in from Mars Veterinary, makers of the new Wisdom Panel Mixed Breed Analysis, we’ll report them here.

By sending in a photo of your dog, you are consenting to it, and your comments, possibly appearing on the ohmidog! website.

Send all entries to muttsblog@verizon.net, with the words “mutts contest” in the subject line.

If you win, you — like the owners of Fergus — will finally know what your mutt’s made up of; in Fergus’ case, in case you’re wondering, it’s Great Pyrenees, English Setter, Dalmatian, Doberman and Jack Russell Terrrier.

(This is a re-post of an earlier item … Deadline for entries is Nov. 30)

(Photo: Wisdompanel.com)

If you are among those wondering about the news media’s preoccupation with the Obama’s dog choice — amid all the other serious problems our country is facing — join the club.

Also count among its members one Julianne Hancock, a member of the Utah Air National Guard who has served a tour of duty in Iraq. When she got back, she got a dog from a shelter, a mutt named Izzy.  

A steady job, though, was not so easy to find. After losing her civilian job in the commercial lending industry earlier this year, she was having trouble finding new work. She couldn’t afford healthcare. With few other options, she signed up for another tour of duty. She leaves in January.

“I heard Mr. Obama tell Malia and Sasha that they earned their puppy on election night,” Hancock wrote in an open letter to Obama posted on The Daily Kos. “Izzy will be looking for a family. Any interest?”

Read more »

     Last year, when doggie DNA testing hit the market, I tried it on my shelter mutt Ace, as part of my research for this story, and found out the answer to the question everyone asked:
    “What kind of dog is that?”
     Of the 38 breeds the early versions of the test checked for, only two showed up in Ace — Chow and Rottweiler.
     The tests, as we reported last month, have come a long way since then.
     In the latest version, The Wisdom Panelâ„¢ MX Mixed Breed Analysis, which came out this week from Mars Veterinary, the presence of 157 breeds of dog can be detected through a blood sample.
     So we’re going to check Ace again, and see if the results come out differently than they did a year ago when we used the Canine Heritage test, which is administered by a cheek swab.

And ohmidog! is going to give one of you a chance to find out what’s in your mutt, too — for free.

Mars Veterinary has agreed to send us two free kits (one for me, one for the winner of the ohimdog! What’s in Your Mutt contest.) Tune in tomorrow for the contest details.

According to Mars, the new test is 90 percent accurate, and the information gained from using it — in addition to satisfying your nagging human curiosity — can help you work with your vet to refine and develop the way you feed, train and care for your pet, as well as help identify health problems to which your dog might be prone.

The new test detects 153 of the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) 158 registered breeds, plus four breeds that the AKC considers foundation stock.

Among the new breeds checked for are Komondor, Neapolitan Mastiff, Otterhound and Black and Tan Coonhound.

In addition to making the new test available in stores and through veterinarians, Mars is sending  dogs owners that had the earlier version of the test performed between Sept. 22 and Oct. 20 a free updated report that will include the new breeds.

Those who tested their dog before Sept. 20, 2008 can contact customercare@marsveterinary.com to request a new analysis. If any of the new breeds appear, a new report will be sent out for $25, to cover the cost of printing and shipping the updated report, the company.

(Photo: Ace as a pup)

(Tomorrow: contest details)

Despite reports that they won’t get a dog until spring, the Obamas continue to be inundated by solicitations — mostly from humane societies saying “take my dog, please.”

Those include an offer from Obama’s birthplace, Hawaii, where a board member of the Hawaii Island Humane Society suggests a “poi dog,” would be a most appropriate choice — especially in light of Obama recently characterizing himself as a “mutt.”

“A poi dog is considered a mix,” said the board member, Scott Dodd.

At least 200 dogs are available for adoption on the Big Island, and many more are waiting at other Hawaiian shelters. Most of them are mixed breeds, according to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

Poi dogs — though the term has come to be used to described mixed breeds — are actually an extinct breed that came to Hawaii with Polynesians when it was settled more than 1,000 years ago.

The dogs lived among the tribes, and were taken care of by female tribe members, some of whom nursed poi puppies believing it would give them more protective instincts.

Because of their vegetarian diet, poi dogs, became fat and lazy and it was not uncommon for them to live among domesticated hogs, according to dogbreedinfo.com. Like hogs, they were sometimes eaten.

In the 19th century, other dogs began to breed with the poi and purebred poi disappeared. The Honolulu Zoo attempted to reconstruct the breed, but failed.

President-elect Obama referred to himself as a “mutt” yesterday, but said that, when his family picks a dog, they won’t necessarily adopt a mixed breed.

Obama indicated that, while the family would prefer a shelter dog, his daughter’s allergies may require they get a hypoallergenic breed.

“This is a major issue,” Obama said a press conference. “I think it has generated more interest on our website than just about anything.

“We have two criteria that have to be reconciled,” he added. “One is that Malia is allergic, so it has to be hypoallergenic … There are a number of breeds that are hypoallergenic. On the other hand our preference would be to get a shelter dog. But obviously a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me. Whether were going to be able to balance those two things is a maior issue in the Obama household.”

     What manner of beast is this?
     You’ll just have to keep reading to find out, but feel free to formulate your guess as you continue.
     This is Otis, chosen as a finalist for dog of the year in a contest sponsored by Mars Veterinary, makers of the Wisdom Panel, a DNA testing kit that tells you what breeds are in your mutt.
     Determining a dog’s breeds through DNA has come a long way in the year since I swabbed inside the cheek of my dog Ace, sent the sample to the company’s lab and learned that Chow and Rottweiler were the primary breeds he’s made up of.

Not a shepherd, not an Akita — as most veterinarians guessed, but a Chotweiller. It was a tale told over five days, in the pages of the Baltimore Sun, and in an online documentary, “Hey, Mister, What Kind of Dog is That?”

Back then, the test I used cost $65, and tested for the presence of 38 breeds.

Today, most doggie DNA tests cost twice as much, use blood instead of cheek cells, and can determine which of more than 130 breeds are in your mutt.

Their usefuleness and accuracy are still debatable, but, according to a report in the Cleveland Plain-Dealer last week, the tests seem to be catching on.

In November, Petco will introduce its Canine Heritage Breed Test in Ohio stores. The test — it’s the predecessor of the one I used — has been available online and in limited markets since July, and sales have surpassed expectations, a company spokesman said.

Meanwhile, Mars Veterinary, which estimates that half the country’s 70 million dogs are mixed breed, expects a growing market for its Wisdom Panel MX test.

The companies saying knowing what’s in a mutt’s mix can help diagnose and treat medical problems that arise in its lifetime.

Critics say, while that information could prove useful, there are probably better investments for you doggie dollar — such as good food.

The Wisdom Panel test from Mars (the company, not planet) can detect 134 breeds. It’s performed by veterinarians, as drawing blood is required. About 4,000 clinics offer the test. Company officials say the test has an 84 percent accuracy rate.

Okay, back to Otis. To see what breeds turned out to be in him, click here.

Criminal charges were dismissed Monday against a Seattle area woman who registered her dog to vote, according to the Seattle Times.

Jane Balogh, 67, a grandmother and Army veteran had registered her Australian shepherd-terrier mix as a voter to protest lax standards for voters to prove their identity and citizenship. She used a utility bill in the dog’s name — Duncan M. MacDonald — as identification.

A King County District Court judge dropped a misdemeanor charge of making a false or misleading statement to a public servant, based on Balogh’s completion of the terms of a plea agreement reached in September 2007.

She paid $240 in court costs and completed 10 hours of community service at the Tacoma Rescue Mission.

According to the Times, Balogh made no attempt to hide the deception, telling a number of elected officials what she had done and putting a pawprint instead of a signature on an absentee-ballot envelope.

She didn’t try to vote using the dog’s registration.

A pit bull mix at shelter in Reno discovered a box full of abandoned kittens while being taken for a walk by shelter volunteers.

And, after one of the kittens darted away, Angel, a 2-year-old female boxer and pit bull mix, tracked it down. All six kittens, described as frightened and hungry, returned with Angel to the Nevada Humane Society’s shelter

Shelter spokeswoman Diane Blankenburg credited Angel with saving the kittens.

Angel was on a walk with Frank Gomez and his 9-year-old stepson Joel Fontes when it became obsessed with something in the bushes and refused to move on.

When the volunteers looked into the bushes, they found a box full of 3-week-old orange tabby kittens.

Angel is currently up for adoption but the kittens won’t be available for about four to five weeks, Blankenburg said.

“Angel is a sweet, playful dog who can now add hero to her repertoire,” Blankenburg said. “Angel, herself a rescued dog, has paid back six-fold by rescuing these six little abandoned kittens.”

(Photos courtesy Nevada Humane Society)