Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Miracle of the dog that survived 300ft drop after chasing seagull off clifftop

A dog that chased a seagull off a 300 ft cliff miraculously survived when she landed with a belly-flop in the sea below.

Poppy, a three-year-old springer spaniel, ran off the clifftop in East Sussex so fast she managed to avoid the beach and plunge into deep water, which cushioned her fall.

She then saved herself from drowning by doggy-paddling back to the shore where she calmly waited to be rescued.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Huge news: Guinness sends judge to measure tallest dog

Guinness World Records says Giant George from Tucson is the tallest dog ever on record.

Guinness said Monday that he stands 3 feet, 7 inches tall from paw to shoulder, which is three-quarters of an inch taller than his closest rival — Titan, a white Great Dane from San Diego.

Doggy RIP: Cesar Millan's Pit Bull Daddy passes away

Daddy, Cesar Millan's beloved pet, died peacefully surrounded by family at the age of 16, according to the press wire. Daddy was a key fixture in the National Geographic Channel television series Dog Whisperer. He assisted Millan with his toughest cases, interacting with and calming the most unmanageable dogs with his natural balanced energy.

New bill proposes registry to track animal abusers

The first-ever bill for a statewide registry of animal abusers has been proposed in California, that if it passes would track convicted people akin to the way sexual offenders are monitored. Similar bills have been proposed in Tennessee, Rhode Island and Colorado.

What do you think: Should animal abusers be registered?

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Litter Robot system

What will they think of next; now a robot cleaning system for your cat's litter box.

Scottish Terrier takes Best in Show

Sadie, a Scottish Terrier, completed the triple crown in dog shows Tuesday night by winning the Best in Show title at the 134th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

Monday, February 15, 2010

Pet dog grabs a big award at Westminster Dog Show

A papillon named Jaca, purchased as just a pet, won an award of merit at the Westminster Dog Show. The pet's owner, Tylia Smith, took a chance and entered Jaca because he was so beautiful. So who knows, maybe your furry friend might be the next award winner!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Chilly Dog Safe After Long Float in Baltic

UPDATE TO ORIGINAL STORY (AND WITH A HAPPY ENDING):
Baltic, the spunky dog who floated at least 75 miles (120 kilometres) on an ice floe, has a new owner: The seaman who rescued him.

The Associated Press reports Wojciech Pelczarski of the Sea Fisheries Institute in Gdynia said the decision was made after the dog rejected six people who had claimed to be his original owner. Pelczarski, whose institute co-owns the research ship "Baltica" that rescued the dog and nicknamed him, says Baltic is sociable, affectionate and was getting his first bath since his icy ordeal because his fur was still salty.

The dog's new master is Adam Buczynski, who pulled him to safety from an ice sheet in the Baltic Sea last week.

ORIGINAL STORY:
A frightened, shivering dog was rescued after floating at least 75 miles on an ice floe down Poland's Vistula River and into the Baltic Sea. Now his saviors have to figure out who really owns him.

Four people already have claimed him, but so far rescuers say there has been no wagging tail of joy from the miracle dog they named Baltic. The dog's frozen odyssey came as Poland suffers through a winter cold snap, with temperatures dipping to minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit.

The thick-furred male dog was found adrift last week 15 miles out in the Baltic Sea by the crew of a Polish ship of ocean scientists doing research.

One of the researchers said the rescue was difficult and at one point it seemed the dog had drowned. It was really a tough struggle as the dog kept slipping into the water and crawling back on top of the ice. At one point, it vanished underwater, under the ship, and thought it was the end, but it emerged again and crawled on an ice sheet.

The crew lowered a pontoon to the water and a crew member managed to grab the dog by the scruff of his neck and pull him to safety.

Walking the Walk

Volunteers for the Table Mountain Animal Center (CO) take shelter dogs for walks to keep dogs healthy and socialized. They are part of the PHAT program (Psychology, Health and Training Program).

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Endless Barking

(This was written by someone to the Editor of a local newspaper and it always breaks my heart to hear a dog barking consistently-this says it all):

In the heat of summer, we hear you barking hour after hour! I wonder-do you have shade and water?

In the cold and darkness of a winter night, we hear you barking. I wonder-do the humans you live with not hear you barking?

You live near a church, but the church cannot save you.

What should we do? We do not want you to end up in an animal shelter, but you would have food, water and shelter from the heat and the cold. Your friends would notice the silence and hope you were being cared for.

What are the humans who should be caring for you thinking? Why do they treat you this way?

We hear your bark - for help.

Fidos' Finest, SW Edition

This new edition of hotels that allow pets lists the Broadmoor, a 5 star hotel in Colorado Springs, as just one of the many facilities that is allowing guests to bring their dogs (at $35 per stay, per dog). This guide lists 365 hotels, condos and resorts that welcome (often for a fee) dogs as well as their owners. There's also a bare-essentials list of off-leash dog parks and other parks. "Fido's Finest"(south-west edition) by Bridgette Maxwell, $17.95, info@fidosfinest.com

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

The AKC Welcomes Mutts to their Club

Read how the American Kennel Club will open their performance events of Obedience, Rally and Agility up to mixed breeds on April 1. Mixed breeds will compete in the same classes and earn the same titles as their purebred counterparts.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Iraq GI's missing dog found in Jefferson County, Colorado

It is so heart warming to read about animals that have been reunited with their families:

Heidi, the Iraqi mutt missing since Tuesday, was found safe Saturday by Julie Flint, the mother of 25-year-old Colorado Army National Guard Spec. Shawn Flint, the dog's guardian.

Heidi was found about 8 miles from the Flint family home on South Coors Street near West Quincy Avenue and C-470, Flint said in an e-mail sent to The Denver Post.

"No words can describe my emotions right now," Flint wrote.

Officers at Jefferson County Animal Control were also elated at the good news.

Two to three officers per shift had searched since Thursday for the dog, setting out one cage that they filled with Pop-Tarts and a bowl of mocha coffee in hopes of enticing the pooch inside.

Flint had told animal officials about the dog's love for blueberry Pop-Tarts, muffins and mocha (as well as cheese).

"We talked to everybody about the dog and we're really happy she was found," Officer Sharon Wright said.

Heidi was just a stray pup roaming around the gate of Camp Ar Ramadi, about 70 miles west of Baghdad, when soldiers took her in.

Spec. Flint, a 2003 graduate of Bear Creek High School, took over the care of Heidi soon after he was deployed to the base along the Euphrates River in August. He is scheduled to come home in May, his mother said.

Operation Baghdad Pups, run by SPCA International, helped fly the dog to Denver, but just a few minutes after arriving at her new Colorado home, Heidi bolted out the door, after wiggling out of her collar and leash.

Annette Espinoza: 303-954-1655 or aespinoza@denverpost.com Denver Post staff writer Joey Bunch contributed to this report.