Starving dogs survived on owners' remains

So... the Saskatoon SPCA found 7 dogs alive after the elderly pet owners had died in their home for 2~3 weeks.  The police later found out that the dogs were able to stay alive by eating the remains of their owners!!  (When I found out 5 of the dogs are Shelties, I was like... ewwwwww.....). 

The Saskatoon SPCA now has to determine if the dogs can be adopted or need to be put down (which is sad because the dogs were just acting out of their survival instincts).

I seriously hope they can help these dogs find new homes.  I know this may sound all gross and weird, but I rather be dog food than maggot food...

See complete story via Starving dogs survived on owners' remains - Saskatchewan - CBC News

Granny & loyal dog fight off knife-wielding robber

The footage here captures the moment a 6-year-old hero dog helped his 55-year-old owner fight off a knife-wielding robber – by biting him in the CROTCH!!  So freaking awesome! 

Good job Cane!!









via swns.com

Best Dogs for Men...

Well, according to GQ anyway...

1. Outdoor Man: Australian Shepherd
2. Badass Man: Bullmastiff
3. Popped Man: Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
4. Downtown Man: Brussels Griffon

what?! I can't believe Poodle didn't make the list! ;)

via: How to Choose Your New Best Friend The Rest of Your Life: GQ.com

Dog shows up in CA 1.5 years after running away in CO

This adventurous dog (Buster Brown) somehow traveled from Colorado to San Francisco (1,300 miles from home), then showed up 1.5 yrs later at the Salinas Animal Shelter!

Buster Brown looks pretty healthy from the video, so I'm guessing he's got some amazing survival skills! (Wouldn't it be so awesome if there was a video camera on him this whole time?)  Well, Buster Brown will be on a flight back home later this week to be reunited with his owner.

See full story via 9News.com

ASPCA to provid grant to the Joplin Humane Society in Joplin, MO

The $100K grant will support disaster relief and recovery efforts following the May 22 tornado that killed 130 people and displaced some 850 animals.

Joplin Humane is working hard to keep its web site up to date, uploading photos of all the pets brought to the shelter in the aftermath of the disaster. To see the animals, or to report lost pets or rescue needs, please contact the shelter at 417-623-3642.

via dogster.com

Tornado Dog Crawls Home with Two Shattered Legs...

I don't know how I feel about this story... 

A dog (Mason) who was carried away by a killer Alabama tornado in late April had such a will to make it home that he crawled back to his house with two shattered front legs. It took the terrier mix more than two weeks to get there (I cried....).

Well, Mason's owners were shocked to see him on the front porch of their home, they thought that he'd be dead by now.  So, with all the distress Mason’s owners had been through themselves because of the tornado, they sent Mason to the local animal shelter because they couldn't deal with the expensive medical care Mason would need.  (I totally understand the stress they've been through, but I also can't imaging giving up my injured dog after finding him on my front porch.  I'm not judging... it's been beyond terrible for people affected by tornadoes.)

Fortunately Mason is being well cared for at the Birmingham-Jefferson County Animal Control shelter, and at the Vulcan Park Animal Care Clinic.

“This is probably the most dramatic we’ve seen as far as an injury in an animal that’s survived this long,” said the shelter’s Phil Doster. “For an animal to go through what he’s gone through and not to be ugly, to be happy for any companionship is remarkable. We’re honored to be part of his recovery.”

via dogster.com

World's Most Expensive Dog - A Tibetan Mastiff

Let me just empty my pockets and see if I can find $1.5M for a red Tibetan Mastiff!! Do they even offer life insurance for dogs?  Does this dog need to travel with bodyguards?  Does he poop gold?

"Big Splash," or "Hong Dong" in Chinese

Tibetan Mastiffs are huge and fierce guard dogs that have stood watch over nomad camps and monasteries on the Tibetan plateau for centuries.

They are thought to be one of the world's oldest breeds, and legend has it that both Genghis Khan and Lord Buddha kept them.

More recently, however, they have become highly-prized status symbols for China's new rich. The dogs are thought to be a pure "Chinese" breed and they are rarely found outside Tibet, giving them an exclusivity that other breeds cannot match.

Accordingly, prices have risen from around 5,000 yuan a puppy five years ago to the hundreds of thousands and even millions.

Big Splash, or "Hong Dong" in Chinese, is 11-months-old but already stands nearly three-feet-high at the shoulder and weighs more than 180lbs, according to his breeder, Lu Liang.

via telegraph.co.uk & huffingtonpost.com

Dog Stands By Injured Friend...

Would you do the same for your friend?

3/16/11 UPDATE: CNN and the UK Telegraph have both reported that the dogs have been rescued since the footage aired, and are both receiving veterinary care; the more seriously wounded dog is at a clinic in the city of Mito, while the protective spaniel-type dog is receiving care at a shelter in the same town.

Cat trying to survive... waiting to be rescued on a wall :(

It's heartbreaking watching all the sad news about Japan's multiple disasters :( :( :(

Hang in there Japan!!

via dheenaaoi.tumblr.com

Dog Reunited With His Owner In Japan

Tears...  going to hug my dog now...

via buzzfeed.com

National Disaster Search Dog Foundation

It is just devastating watching all the news about Japan! One disaster after another...  For those who can help - here are some of the organizations that are working on relief and recovery in the region.

Also, some wonderful canine heroes are also out there helping with the search and rescue efforts.  The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation is a non-profit organization, partnering rescued dogs with firefighters and other first responders to find people buried alive in the wreckage of disasters. To help turn a rescued dog into a rescuer and bring this crucial resource to the nation - see SDF site for more info.

Dog heists highlight need to keep a short leash on your pets to prevent thefts

via sfexaminer.com

Salley Chan left her beloved dog Lola in her car last Tuesday while she grabbed a quick bite to eat in the South of Market neighborhood, when Salley and her boyfriend returned to their car (parked near Bryant and Eighth streets), they found the rear window smashed and the 9-pound animal missing.  Read full story...

I can't even imagine how devastated Salley is!  Have you seen Lola?  Please help them reunite!

Here are some helpful tips from Petplaces.com on how you can guard your pet from abduction:

• Don’t leave your dog outside when you’re not around.
• Never leave your dog unattended. It takes only a moment for someone to untie him and lead him off.
• Be aware, and make sure your neighbors are aware, of the problem of pet theft.
• Never allow your dog to roam free in the neighborhood, for everyone’s sake.
• Never leave your dog unattended in a car.
• Always make sure he wears a collar with ID tags. You might want to consider implanting a microchip under his skin.
• Keep recent photos of your dog, taken from different angles that clearly show coat type and coloring, close-ups of the face and any exceptional physical characteristics.
• Keep all your proof-of-ownership papers (adoption, breeding contract, bill of sale) in one place to prove ownership.

Pit bulls rescued from 'horrific' Oakland home

It's just sad that anyone would do this to animals...

Oakland animal care officers were struggling this week to find homes for dozens of pit bulls rescued in one of the largest animal cruelty busts in decades.
"It was horrific, absolutely terrible," said Oakland police Officer Sarah Whitmeyer, who helped lead the raid on a squalid East Oakland home. "The smell was so bad even a mask didn't help. All of us were coughing and trying to breathe."

Read more via: sfgate.com

Pessimistic Dogs See the Bowl Half Empty

See full story via Discovery News.

• Dogs may be optimists or pessimists, new research suggests.
• Pessimistic dogs appear to be more prone to engage in unwanted behaviors, such as barking and destruction.
• Both behavioral and drug therapies are available to help affected dogs.

Now, a new study reported in the October 12th issue of Current Biology, a Cell Press publication, suggests that this kind of separation anxiety occurs most often in dogs that also show "pessimistic"-like behavior."

Dogs Join Fight to Save Rhinos in Borneo

Good job Storm & Thunder!! (I love working dogs).

"With less than 40 rhinos left in the state of Sabah on the island of Borneo, field staff from WWF turn to man’s best friend to help track rhino movements. It’s a notoriously difficult task, due to the rhinos’ solitary lifestyle and large ranging area. This technique has been used successfully in Cat Tien National Park in Vietnam and is being tested by WWF’s Borneo Species Program. The dogs are trained to search for rhino dung. Samples found are recorded and sent overseas for DNA analysis. The two new recruits, Storm and Thunder, are finishing their training and will be used in the field in the coming months." Story via WWF.

The Danger of Discounted Pet Drugs - NYTimes.com

"The United States Food and Drug Administration has issued a consumer alert to pet owners, warning them about the dangers of buying discounted pet drugs online.

Reputable online pharmacies can help pet owners save money when they purchase prescription drugs, just as they can help people get their own prescriptions filled. However, legitimate companies always require a prescription from a veterinarian before filling an order for pet drugs."

See full story.

Nonprofit helps pet owners cope with emergency vet bills | Seattle Times Newspaper

"It's a pet owner's nightmare.

Your dog or cat is sick or injured and you don't have the money to pay a veterinarian for treatment. Euthanasia or giving away your best friend become the only options.

The recession and unemployment have made that scenario a reality for more pet owners, animal-care experts say. " See link for full Story...

Living | Nonprofit helps pet owners cope with emergency vet bills | Seattle Times Newspaper

Learn more about the United Animal Nations programs. You can also donate to the UAN for those who can help.

The Truth about Dog and Cat Food

You are what you eat... I think I eat a pretty healthy diet & I also prepare fresh meals for my dog everyday without questionable ingredients (yes, I'm one of those crazy pet owners)... All I want is for my naughty dog to live a long and healthy life.

I don't like to tell people what they "should & must" feed their animals but if you do care what goes into their tummies like me, here's some interesting info... read your labels...

A just released video of AAFCO* (Association of American Feed Control Officials)'s president finally admitting, on camera, that it’s allowable (and, in fact, fairly common practice) for "rendered pets" to end up in some pet food...

So what else can be rendered and made into “meat and bone meal”? Euthanized pets, road kill, expired grocery store meat (including the packaging), kill floor detritus, dead stock… etc. GROSS...

* AAFCO is the regulatory body that sets guidelines for pet food and pet food ingredients in the USA. They could quite easily ban the use of rendered pets as acceptable for inclusion in pet food – but they don’t... some pet food companies use the cheap protein count that comes from rendered meat and bone meal.

Hero dog to be reunited with soldier he saved

Awwww... I think the Rufus and Target are going to be super spoiled for the rest of their happy lives.
Hero to be reunited with soldier he saved - NYPOST.com

World’s first ice cream truck for dogs rolls out

Ice cream truck for dogs?! YES!! I know my dog would love it... but he might just turn into a fat cow in no time! see full story.


Thanks A.B. for the story :)