ohmidog!

Cooper, a five-year-old chocolate Lab, had such a bad case of separation anxiety he broke through a window, tore out the screen and got himself  wedged in a gate in pursuit of his owner.

Firefighters in San Diego had to cut the wrought iron rails to free him.

“How in the world the dog got his head and shoulders through a 4-inch gap we’ll never know,” Dan DeSousa of the San Diego County Department of Animal Services, said of the Monday incident.

According to NBC 7 in San Diego, Cooper has separation anxiety and doesn’t like to be far from his owner. He’s reported to be doing fine.

(Photo: San Diego County Animal Services)

Delegates of the American Veterinary Medical Association voted overwhelmingly last week to adopt a policy encouraging people to avoid feeding their dogs a raw meat diet.

They they went on to attend the AVMA’s four-day convention in San Diego, which featured a performance by Smash Mouth and a party on the USS Midway — all sponsored by, among others, makers of dry dog food.

A lot of people are finding that a little fishy.

An AVMA wrap-up of the meeting says the new policy — which it notes has “certainly been a controversial topic” — was approved last Thursday.

After discussion, the AVMA House of Delegates approved a slightly amended version of the proposed policy on feeding raw or undercooked animal-source protein diets to pets. Instead of using the words “never feed,” the proposed policy was amended to read “avoid feeding.”

(My mind sees no distinction between the two, other than the latter sounding slightly less bossy.)

While the AVMA has said scientific research is behind the decision, comments on the AVMA website criticize not just the soundness of the policy, but whether the sole reason for it relates to the funding the AVMA receives from big dog food companies, like Hills and Purina.

Said one commenter: “Please know that I will be having a discussion with my vet about membership in the AVMA, which is voluntary. I will make sure she knows that I have NO respect for an organization that bases it’s recommendations not on sound science (there have been NO studies on raw vs kibble diets from a canine health perspective), but on the all mighty dollar. So I’ll take my dollars to a vet that believes as I do, that the AVMA is not an organization to support.”

Another called the policy “nothing more than a Hail-Mary pass for a PFI desperate to hold onto their profits and using every bit of leverage they can to do so (how pathetic the AVMA allowed themselves to be so used). It will, I believe, make spreading the word about raw feeding more difficult in the short term… but the truth will prevail in the end.”

Another commenter, who likes capitalizing for emphasis, wrote: “Why don’t you just LOOK at who the ‘sponsors’ of the AVMA Convention are? On the FRONT PAGE of your ‘newsletter’ brief on the convention is a 1/8 PAGE ad from – who else? PURINA! You are all NOTHING more than PAID OFF CRIMINALS! I hope the Illinois State Attorney General and the IRS see fit to become involved. You are NOT a Non-Profit Organization, you are a SHILL for Big pet Food manufacturers (Purina and Hills in particular) … The AVMA has ZERO credibility and I will NOT patronize any vet who is a member. If that means I have to travel, then so be it.”

You can find more comments directed to the AVMA about the policy here and here.

The final outcome of the vote was 90.9% in favor of the amended resolution, the AVMA said.

According to the AVMA website, all delegates in attendance were requested to disclose any potential conflicts of interest, such as connections to dog food companies, before the vote. The AVMA says that is standard procedure in such matters.

“Please keep in mind that this policy is NOT a ban on raw foods for pets,” the website notes, “and it is not a regulation that requires veterinarians (regardless of whether they’re AVMA members or not) to comply, or even agree with it.

“It’s not a debate on the healthiness of or risks associated with raw foods versus other commercial pet foods. Nor is it an attempt to force a ban or restrict pet owners’ rights to feed their pets how and what they want.”

What is it then, one might ask. To point to the risks of one type of dog food and ignore the dangers of another (like the risks of bloating and the nutritional lack of many a dry dog food) might be a good strategy for fundraising, but it’s not good policy when it comes to consumers and dogs.

The American Veterinary Medical Association next month could give final approval to a policy that discourages feeding pets “raw or undercooked animal-source protein diets” — on the grounds that they are unsafe for dogs, cats and humans.

Some people see the measure as a proactive and well-reasoned stance, aimed at making our dogs and ourselves safer.

Some see it as meddling.

And some see it as a conspiracy.

I, not being a dog food expert, fall into the middle ground — those vast numbers of folks who are highly confused by our dog-feeding options, puzzled over what truly is best for our dogs, befuddled by how so-called experts can be telling us exact opposite things, scared by anything from China, fretting over what we can afford, and, all the while, wondering how something like dog food has managed to become the volatile topic it has.

Emotions about dog food, given all the scares and recalls of the past decade, sometimes seem to run nearly as high as those in the abortion debate, and proponents of one kind of food or another are just about as firmly entrenched in their beliefs.

My dog Ace thrived on a raw diet the two years he was on it. His coat was shinier, his health was good, his stools were less massive, leading a layman like myself to belief that, as its proponents claim, it was a more natural choice for his species, and one he seemed to absorb something from, unlike kibble, which just seemed to go in one end and out the other.

(We switched back to kibble and canned when we entered a refrigerator-less phase of life, and haven’t gone back on raw for budget reasons.)

Even without Ace as a customer, the raw diet has continued to grow in popularity — probably at least in part because of all the issues surrounding other forms of dog food, which, we’d point out, the AVMA hasn’t felt a need to take a stand on.

Next month, at its meeting in San Diego, the AVMA House of Delegates will be voting on a policy discouraging feeding pets a raw diet, based on scientific studies that have shown raw meat, unless it has been subjected to a process that eliminates pathogens, can be contaminated with Salmonella, Campylobacter, Clostridium, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus.

These infections can sicken pets and pet owners alike, and even be life-threatening, the AVMA says.

All that is true enough. Then again, it’s also true of the hamburger meat you bring home from the grocery store. Read more »

A record was set at the 7th annual Surf Dog competition in San Diego — 17 dogs riding one surfboard, according to this CNN Ireport.

Fifty dogs took part in the competition at Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition in Imperial Beach.

A TV network just for dogs?

One part of me asks why? One part asks why not?

Dog TV – which offers programming not about dogs, but for them – is a fledgling project, now airing only on a trial basis in San Diego. But there are plans to make it available, at a fee of $4.99 a month, across the country by the end of the year.

Add one more exhibit to the growing pile of evidence that dogs are turning into humans. (It’s when they get their own cell phones, and start putting us on hold, that I’ll really begin to worry.)

In all fairness, given the number of channels for humans that allow us to watch people cooking and redecorating, shooting and stabbing, courting and breaking up, or just generally making fools of themselves, shouldn’t dogs get at least one … on which to watch other dogs … generally behaving in a far saner manner?

I think my opinion on Dog TV depends entirely on the programming — that’s a sample of it above — and whether it can somehow manage to operate on a higher plane than human TV.

I’d hate to see dogs subjected to all the evils of television — its addictive nature, its intellect-lowering content, its reality shows. I’d hate to see dogs become couch potatoes. I’d hate to see dog owners start relying on the television as babysitter, or as a substitute for attention.

But the folks at Dog TV, which is based in Israel, seemed to have done at least some of their homework, and put together some footage that — while not exactly edge of one’s seat stuff — does actually have some redeeming value, unlike, say, “Jersey Shore.”

The programming — now being enjoyed only by dogs who subscribe to cable through Time Warner or Cox Media in San Diego —  falls into three categories.

“Stimulation” programs show exciting animations, moving objects and frolicking animals, with camera movements and sounds and frequencies aimed at encouraging dogs’ playfulness, even when they’re sitting home alone.

“Exposure” programming aims at getting dogs used to those noises and situations they may face in life — crying babies, ringing doorbells, thunder, the mailman, riding in a car. It doesn’t bombard the dog with those things, but works them into the plot lines, or what there is of them.

“Relaxation” content — the example at the top of this post — is designed to relax the dog, reduce stress levels and keep him calm through soothing music, sounds and visuals.

The idea, founder Gilad Neumann explained in a Bloomberg report  about the new network, is to give dogs something to watch and do while their owners are gone.

“Veterinary associations like the Humane Society and the ASPCA have been recommending for dog owners to leave the TV or radio on when they leave their dog home alone for many hours,” said Neumann. But that, he says, could lead to your dog watching something inappropriate, such as fireworks or gunfire.

Dog TV, which calibrates the colors of video footage to suit dogs’ limited vision, went on the air Feb. 12 after four years of dog-market research. Jasmine Group, the Israeli production company behind it, hopes to expand across the United States by the end of the year and then internationally.

“We’re constantly doing …  focus groups … for dogs,” said Neumann. “We’ve noticed, for example, that dogs are not thrilled about barking on the channel, so we’ve removed almost all barking.”

The programming is inexpensive to produce, with the video shot either in San Diego or Israel and there being no actors to pay. The content is scheduled so that dogs can watch soothing videos, followed by stimulating ones.

The channel’s creators are planning to attract advertising to their website, but say they aren’t yet sure how to integrate it into their programming, since humans aren’t really expected to watch it. (As we reported earlier, advertisers, too, have been experimenting with commercials aimed at dogs.)

One of Dog TV’s veterinary advisors, Nick Dodman, of Tufts University, says it’s unlikely dogs will be riveted to the set when Dog TV is on.

“One thing that people shouldn’t expect is for their dog to sit, as we do, in front of the TV and stare at the screen for hours and hours,” he says.

In other words, they’re smarter than that.

A dog found shot on an Indian reservation is slowly recovering, and the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians has donated $2,500 to help pay his medical bills.

Chance, a retriever mix about 18 months old, is being cared for at the San Diego County Department of Animal Services Shelter after being found on the side of a road on the reservation, according to Fox 5 in San Diego

“We are very proud of the Viejas tribal family member who first discovered Chance on the side of the road and called authorities for help, the Viejas tribal firefighter who responded first and provided aid to Chance, as well as the veterinary professionals who saved this dog’s life,” tribal chairman Anthony Pico said

“This shooting goes against everything Viejas stands for and we will do everything we can to make sure Chance eventually gets to a home where he can know the safety, comfort and love that he deserves,” Pico said.

A single bullet passed through Chance’s lungs and his treatment included four days in an oxygen chamber.

The dog was found Feb. 20 by a woman who spotted him from her car. Animal Services is investigating the shooting.

The tribal contribution will go into the Animal Services Department’s Spirit Fund, which pays for veterinary care beyond what the shelter can afford. The dog’s owner was located and surrendered him to the county.

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in the case, and San Diego Animal Advocates is offering an additional reward up to $2,000 for information leading to a conviction. Anyone with more information is urged to call county Animal Services at 619-236-2341, or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

(Photos: San Diego Department of Animal Services)

Chispita is home!

And by now, maybe, Arlene Corona has put some clothes on.

The woman who donned a bikini to bring attention to her lost dog has been reunited with her Chihuahua, NBC in San Diego reports.

And while the news outlet seems to question why Arlene remained in her bikini, at the intersection, holding a sign seeking the return of her dog for hours after the dog was found, there are multiple explanations for that.

Corona’s mother picked up the white Chihuahua around noon Tuesday at the Carlsbad animal shelter.

As of  3:45 p.m, the bikini-clad Corona was still at the intersection.

Taking a few jabs from Internet commenters about that, Corona – who continued her bikini vigil even after a man who claimed to have the dog texted her photos of his genitals – offered an explanation in a Facebook post: Read more »

Here’s the story of Slim, as documented by Jenn Aldridge, the human who, with help, gave the one-time fighting dog from Georgia a happy home in San Diego.

Like many a sheltered dog in need of help, Slim ended up on Facebook, along with a report that indicated his days were numbered.

Jenn, who had three other pit bulls — all rescues — saw the photo and couldn’t forget it.

“Because there are so many local dogs needing help, normally I would not rescue an out-of-state dog, but I couldn’t get his emaciated picture out of my head,” she told ohmidog!

“Knowing he had no chance because of breed specific legislation in that county of Georgia, I told my best friend we have to go get him and she said, ‘ok, let’s do it !’”

They flew to Georgia last May, but learned he was not healthy enough to fly. Instead, after getting two rescue groups involved — one in California and another in Georgia – they managed to get Slim placed in veterinary boarding care for treatment of his heartworm and another tick borne disease.

“It was all quite complicated,” she said. “We had to get a rescue here get approved by a rescue out there, to pull him on their behalf, if that makes sense. It was down to the last hour getting it all done. I heard about him on a Sunday and by Wednesday, he would have been in the landfill, dead.”

In June, they returned to Georgia and flew Slim home to San Diego.

There, Slim joined Jenn’s other dogs — Kyra, Teddy and Daffodil. Now about  three years old, Slim is 46 pounds, up from the 32 pounds he weighed when she met him.

“I like to share his story because the average person still thinks that a game dog (fighting dog) is vicious to humans …quite the contrary,” said Jenn, who hosts a pit bull meet up group in San Diego that works to improve the image of the breed.

“Their loyalty was exploited and used against them,” she said. “Sadly, only about one of every 800 pit bulls will make it out alive of a shelter in the United States – yet selfish people continue to breed them.”

When posting flyers around her neighborhood failed to lead to the return of her missing Chihuahua, Arlene Corona — desperate to reunite with her dog, Chispita — took bolder action.

For three days, she stood in a bikini at a busy intersection in La Jolla, holding up a sign seeking her dog’s return, and pointing out she was on a hunger strike until Chispita was found.

By Friday though, the only lead had come from a guy calling himself Merl, who was sending her messages, some highly personal photos and pictures of a dog he claimed was Chispita, who he promised to return in exchange for sexual favors.

Needless to say, Corona has dropped the bikini idea.

Chispita, who is on medication for epilepsy, went missing more than a week ago, according to NBC in San Diego

When no one responded to her flyers, Corona decided to attract more attention by holding a sign about her lost dog while wearing a bikini at the intersection of Genesse and La Jolla Village.

“My heart is just to not [going to] give up hope,” said Corona. “I’m stressed out and I’m depressed but I just feel like somebody is going to return her, you know?”

On Friday morning, she received an email from a man who identified himself as Merl, and who went on to email her a photo of a Chihuahua and some photos of his genitals.

Corona realized the picture wasn’t her dog, and decided to ignore the man. Later, though, she received a text from a different number from someone claiming a neighbor was beating Chispita. When she called the number, the man on the recording identified himself as Merl.

Here’s hoping Chispita gets found, and that authorities track down creepy Merl, too.

Human DNA found underneath a dogs claw helped build the animal abuse case against a San Diego man accused of beating his girlfriend’s three dogs to death.

Patrick Caleb Land, 25, was sentenced Friday to five years and four months in state prison.

“These crimes were committed with callous violence and a serious punishment is warranted,” Judge Charles Rogers said.

The maximum possible sentence was eight years, but the judge took into account Land’s guilty plea, that Land was born to a drug-using mother and that he was beaten in his youth by an adoptive mother, according to 10 News in San Diego.

According to prosecutors, Land called his girlfriend Natasha Strain last year and told her that he had come home to find Josh, her 8-year-old Golden Retriever mix, dead.

Three weeks later, he called her again to tell her that he had found her other two dogs, Jackie, a 9-year-old white shepherd mix, and Pikanik, a 50-pound mixed breed, dead in a bedroom.

No necropsy was performed in the first case, but a veterinarian determined the second two animals were beaten to death.

Prosecutors said there was evidence of attempts to suffocate the animals, and that the defendant’s DNA was found under one of the dogs’ nails.

At a preliminary hearing, a roommate of the couple testified that Land sometimes complained that Strain spent more time with her dogs than she did with him.