Veterinarians use new tests to check dogs for Lyme disease

'Dogs coach Folkes to quit at season end
Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney,New South Wales,Australia
The off-contract mentor, in his 11th year as the Dogs boss, joins Brisbane's Wayne Bennett, North Queensland's Graham Murray, Canberra's Neil Henry and St ...

Veterinarians use new tests to check dogs for Lyme disease
Marshalltown Times Republican - Marshalltown,IA,USA
By AP MUSCATINE — Bonnie, a furry 11-year-old mixed breed dog, didn’t so much as whimper or flinch when a trip to the veterinarian led to a blood test. ...

I wish men were dogs.
SheKnows.com - Scottsdale,AZ,USA
Misandronist females like to claim sometimes that men are dogs. I disagree. I think, in actuality, men have a lot to learn from dogs. ...

Trenton gone to the dogs
Pictou Country Nova Scotia News - New Glasgow,Nova Scotia,Canada
BY CAIT MCINTYRE For at least a couple of days, Trenton could have been known as dog town. This past weekend, the town’s dog population increased by 192 ...

Should school cafeterias offer foods such as fries, corn dogs and ...
Kansas City Star - MO,USA
Tune in at 8 pm April 24 to KCPT’s “Generation XL: The Food Fight in the School Cafeteria,” part of a yearlong series that looks at school policy and rising ...

Wife accused of stabbing husband over hot dogs
Tampa Bay's 10 - St. Petersburg,FL,USA
An Orange County wife is accused of stabbing her husband after a fight over hot dogs for dinner. Authorities say 28-year old Alfreda Van Bladel made hot ...

Diamond 'Dogs Take Series With 9-4 Win Over USC Upstate
Gardner Webb University Bulldogs - Boiling Springs,NC,USA
Diamond ‘Dog starter Jonathon Ban (2-2) was strong Sunday, working 7.0 innings and striking out six, while allowing just three earned runs. ...

Stray dogs menace in National Park
Hindu - Chennai,India
DEHRA DUN: The Gangotri National Park, nestling in the Garhwal Himalayas and known for its rich biodiversity, is facing stray dogs menace. ...

Dogs Day Downtown On Tap
Springdale Morning News - Springdale,AR,USA
By THE MORNING NEWS ROGERS -- Dogs Day Downtown will be from 9 am to 1 pm Saturday in Frisco Park. The event is sponsored by Main Street Rogers. ...

Dog trumps dad in some families, study reveals
Canada.com - Hamilton,Ontario,Canada
Plenty of people describe their pets as members of the family, but a new study shows that for the most devoted dog owners, Fido outranks some two-legged ...

Comic: Hot Dogs
New Comic : Hot Dogs.
Penny Arcade - http://www.penny-arcade.com/

Absolut Apology to Protect bottom Line
By Big Dog
Big Dog paw fingerprint. “In no way was it meant to offend or disparage, nor does it advocate an altering of borders, nor does it lend support to any anti-American sentiment, nor does it reflect immigration issues,” Absolut said in a ...
Big Dogs Weblog - http://www.onebigdog.net

Content Dogs, Act 1, Scene 1
By static monkey
After taking them out in the second rain storm of the year to pee, they have settled below the chair that the laptop is set on (don’t ask me why it’s not on the desk where a rational person would put it) both dogs are happily nibbling ...
Static Monkey - http://staticmonkey.wordpress.com

If You Get Into An Argument Over Hot Dogs
By eddiebear
Authorities say 28-year-old Alfreda Van Bladel made hot dogs for her husband, Anton, for dinner. Apparently he snatched the plate from his wife. Authorities say that’s when she stabbed him in the shoulder with a steak knife. ...
eddiebear - http://eddiebear.wordpress.com

Should I Use Bird Dogs?
Should I Use Bird Dogs? First things first. What is a bird dog? A bird dog is someone you pay a finders fee to for bringing you a real estate deal. They typically don't get paid as much as wholesalers because they 1) Don't put the ...
RealEstateInvestor » Blogs - http://www.realestateinvestor.com

Raising dogs with a goal in sight

By Susan Chaityn Lebovits | January 20, 2008

Twice a month Gillian walks down the stairs at Carter Memorial United Methodist Church in Needham, sniffing wildly.

The large basement is a meeting spot for Gillian and about 20 of her fellow puppies, and their raisers, participating in a Guiding Eyes for the Blind program. The young dogs live with volunteer families for about a year, beginning at 10 weeks of age, and once matured take the organization's "In for Training Test," the canine equivalent of a college entrance exam. Puppies who score well will go to a school in New York, where they are trained to be guide dogs for the blind.

The ones who fall short of the stringent requirements for guide dogs may be chosen for other areas of employment, with search and rescue teams or the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

If the puppies are not invited to participate in any formal education, they can remain with their volunteer families as a pet, although the raisers are not required or expected to keep them.

"Our dogs are purpose-bred dogs," said Linda Damato, with the nonprofit Guiding Eyes organization. "They love to work, and have a lot of confidence."

The O'Connell family of Needham has been raising Gillian for the past year. Next month is her long-awaited training exam.

"I'm very confident she'll be chosen for something," said Jane O'Connell, who has happily juggled the responsibilities of her three kids, husband, and job as co-owner of Take Two Tenniswear, a traveling pro shop. The family also has a 7-year-old Labrador retriever named Maggie.

"My parents were real dog people," said O'Connell. "As kids we would ski at Sunday River - our dog used to run under the chairlift to meet us at the top and we'd all ski down together."

O'Connell's marriage, in fact, can be attributed to a four-legged creature.

Years ago her future husband often spent time with his best friend, who had just gotten married. One day, the couple instructed Brian O'Connell to take their dog for a walk at the Head of the Charles regatta, insisting that he'd "meet a chick."

That afternoon he met Jane. And for a wedding present, the same friends gave them their first dog.

Jane O'Connell learned about Guiding Eyes for the Blind two years ago when she attended a YMCA banquet at the Carter Memorial church and saw a poster advertising the program.

"The following year it caught my eye again and I knew this was something that we could do as a family," she said.

Guiding Eyes for the Blind was founded in 1954 to provide trained dogs capable of enriching the lives of blind and visually impaired people. The school has graduated more than 6,500 guide dog teams. The organization is headquartered in Yorktown Heights, N.Y., about 45 miles north of Manhattan, with its training and canine development centers not far away, but it also has chapters in 11 states. Massachusetts has two chapters, one in Kingston and one in Needham, which draw raisers from across the state and Rhode Island.

It costs Guiding Eyes upwards of $45,000 to breed, raise and train each guide dog.

Most of the puppies are Labrador retrievers, although a few golden retrievers and German shepherds are used. They are selectively bred for a serene disposition, confidence, intelligence, willingness to work, general good health, and ability to take responsibility and initiative.

The organization foots the bill for regular check-ups and vaccinations, and provides a crate. The raisers pay for food. Veterinarians usually pick up medical bills as a good-will service. In some cases the fee can be tax-deductible. The fully trained dogs are donated to their recipients.

Potential raisers are first asked to attend a few classes to get an idea of what's expected. Next, they're required to take a dog for the weekend, to ensure they understand what goes into daily care for a puppy.

O'Connell says there's a huge difference between the behaviors of Maggie and Gillian, who is also a Lab.

"Gillian looks me in the eye when I speak to her, and knows she has a job," said O'Connell. By 10 weeks of age Guiding Eyes puppies already know their name and how to sit and stay down. The raisers are required to have occasional weeklong dog swaps to ensure that the training is consistent.

"The last dog that came to our home was an 8-month-old black Labrador retriever named Jane," said O'Connell. "When I had to go around yelling, 'Jane come, Jane, sit,' I think that everyone in the parking lot thought that I was crazy."

Now that the O'Connells have had a year of Guiding Eyes basic puppy care under their belts, they say that there are a few things that they'd do differently if they ever raise another pet - like not letting their dog sit in the front seat of their car.

"Guiding Eyes has the dogs sit on the floor of the car as soon as they get in," said O'Connell. "My pet Maggie gets in and out of the back seat, jumps around, and has her head out the window - they don't need that."

Colleen O'Connell, a sixth-grader at Monsignor Haddad Middle School in Needham, walks Gillian before and after school and has attended all of the training sessions with her mother and Gillian. Each class lasts for about an hour and includes lessons about stairs, (pups must not bound up and down the stairs, but walk slowly and sure-footed), sitting and staying, as well as tips for the raisers on such topics as nail clipping and ear cleaning.

"We're taught to show them the basics, but we're not trainers," said Jane O'Connell.

Raisers teach the dogs things like how to sit in front of a closed door.

"When we're outside in public, like at Needham Town Hall where the door is electric, Gillian will sit in front of the door until it opens," said O'Connell.

When outside, Gillian wears a "Guiding Eyes" coat. "As soon as the coat goes on, her demeanor is different, and she knows it's time to work," said O'Connell.

Colleen said that ever since Gillian moved in with the family she has been trying to prepare herself for the day that the dog will leave - a time that is fast approaching.

"I know that she's going to go to someone special who needs her," said Colleen. The family acknowledges that having Maggie has helped them avoid pouring all of their emotions into Gillian.

Jane O'Connell likens the experience of raising a potential guide dog for a year to having a child grow up, go to college, and move away.

"I want Gillian to pass her test and succeed; I know that also means giving her up," she said.

For more information on Guiding Eyes for the Blind, visit cdc.guidingeyes.org.

To suggest a subject for a People column, e-mail Lebovits@globe.com.

Horse-killing dogs impounded

January 21, 2008 07:08am

TWO pit bull terriers have been impounded after they attacked and killed a horse in the city of Mandurah, south of Perth.

Mandurah Council spokesman Graeme Davies said the dogs had escaped from their owner's property and killed the horse on a property at Lakelands, in the city's north, about 8.30am yesterday.

The dogs were later rounded up by two council rangers.

Under WA laws, all pit bull terriers must be registered as dangerous dogs and must be restrained at all times, Mr Davies said.

The owner of the dogs will be fined, and the fate of the dogs will be decided at a meeting between the owner and council officers today, he said.

"The owner is cooperating with us. He has allowed us to impound the dogs,'' he said.

"If the owner decides to have the dogs destroyed, that is easy. If they do not, we would have to take them to court and take action against them.''

Chihua-wheels: Disabled dogs get rolling

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. - Three Chihuahua puppies, born without front legs due to a genetic defect, now have what the North Shore Animal League calls "front-wheel drive."

The trio, Venus, Carmen and Pablo, rescued by the League from a Virginia shelter, were equipped with two-wheeled carts that give them mobility, the shelter said in a news release Thursday.

"The three have been practicing getting about and eating using their new, custom-built, aluminum carts," the shelter said. The carts are fastened to the dogs with "Velcro-held polar fleece padding for comfortable body support and lightweight foam wheels."

British police dog handlers bark orders in German

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - Residents in the central English county of Derbyshire may just about be getting used to hearing their local police bark out commands in German.

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - Residents in the central English county of Derbyshire may just about be getting used to hearing their local

Derbyshire police have had to import trained German Shepherd (Alsatian) dogs from Germany because they believe dogs bred in England are no longer suited to police work.

"When they come from Germany they have obviously only responded to German commands, but after a few months they are bilingual," Derbyshire Police spokeswoman Jill Walden said.

It takes a few months before the German dogs get used to commands in English, so handlers must train them by giving the German order first followed by the English translation.

Years of breeding German shepherds as pets in England has made them too tame for police work, British forces believe.

The dogs are no longer considered aggressive enough for police work, like crowd control and keeping dangerous suspects contained, Walden said.

"They are more likely to go and lick you to death than bite you, which is not really a deterrent."

(Reporting by Georgina Cooper, editing by Paul Casciato)

Pit Bulls

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Athena_Louise]Athena Louise

I have had two Pit Bulls. I have written about Bubba, and how he protects Kitty, now I want to tell about Bull-ette. I had heard about Pit Bulls, but never saw one. When Bullette came to us, I took one look at this little dog and figured there was nothing to be afraid of. What I did not realize at the time, was the fact she was still a puppy.

Bullette was one of the sweetest, most loving dog of every dog I have had. Bubba is the other. My love affair with dogs goes back thirty years, so I have had a few. Bandit and Princess were part wolf, and they were, by far the smartest of all. Bullette was very special though.

I had Bullette for about a year and a half and never heard a sound out of her. I thought there was something wrong with her but the vet assured me she was fine.

One day, when I was still living in the duplex, I was sitting on the couch reading. There wasn't a sound to be heard. Someone in the other half of the duplex dropped something and it made a loud crash. Suddenly I heard this terrible, very scary growl. I looked up and Bullette was standing by me with her back toward me. Her head was moving from side to side as she made this sound. It came from deep within her massive chest. I told her it was ok, but she still went into every room to check it out. Then she came and sat by me, still wary and extremely protective.

Bullette would let anyone and everyone in the duplex, she just would not let anyone leave until I told her they could. She would stand in front of the door and wait for me to say it was all right for that person to leave. Then she would move aside and let them out.

One day, Billy decided to take her for a walk. The next thing I knew - a police car pulled up in front of my half of the duplex, with Billy and Bullette in the back seat. The policeman was very authoritative and demanded to know if this is where they lived. Bullette was a pit and not on a leash, which was against the law, even though Billy had ccc - care custody and control of her. Then a look of awareness came over the officer and he demanded to know Billys' name. When Billy told him - the officer asked if we knew my older son. Billy replied he is my brother. The officer exclaimed - oh my God, you mean there are two of them. I asked if he had a problem with my sons. He said - two of them with a pit for a pet ... how soon do you think you will be moving out of here lady. I answered - when I feel like it. Then I called Bullette and she came to me immediately. The officer said - at least you dog listens - better than you sons do. Oh well. That was the officer's problem, not mine.

The reason I am recounting this story is because of all the negative publicity Pit Bulls have received. Pits use to be considered the best pet a family could have, because of their gentle nature and love of children. Any dog, when mistreated, will turn nasty for survival. There have been more reports of bites from Cocker Spaniels than any other breed. Dalmatians make terrible pets. I do not know if it is their nature or because they come from puppy mills, but will never have one as a pet because I do not trust them. I also do not trust Chows or Akitas, but that is my opinion. I do know I would trust a strange pure bred Pit Bull sooner than any other breed.

Most dogs have to be taught to be aggressive. I was recently walking Bubba when a man walking a young shepherd came down the street. He kept saying to his dog - get that pit, get him. Bubba whined which said lets be friends. The other dog whined also. The owner then hit his dog for not being aggressive toward Bubba, yet Pits are the ones people think are dangerous.

In my immediate neighborhood, there are eight Pits. They all get along, and do not fight. We have red nose pits, blue pits, brindles, Staffordshire terriers, etc. They do not chase the nine cats that live in this area. As a matter of fact, when some of the cats see Bubba outside, they come over to him and rub against him. They instinctively know he will protect them from any danger, just as he protects Kitty.

Bubba has such a gentle nature that many people, who heard about how 'dangerous' Pits are, have changed their minds and told me if he ever fathers a litter of puppies, they want one.

We hear about how people are profiled. It is time we stop profiling Pit Bulls.

Athena Louise http://www.athenalouise.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Athena_Louise http://EzineArticles.com/?Pit-Bulls&id=922742

Scoop That Poop!

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Bev_Storer]Bev Storer

You take your best friend for a walk like a good, responsible pet parent and your best bud does his business on the sidewalk, in the street, or perhaps even right on your neighbor's grass.

Do you carry a plastic bag, scoop, and clean it up? Or, are you one of THOSE PEOPLE... You know? The one who looks around, checks to see if anyone's watching and, if your bud wasn't busted by a suspicious watchful eye catching you in the act, you both trot off innocently on your merry way? Are you one of THOSE PEOPLE? The people that don't clean up after their pet.

Many pet owners do not clean up after their pet. So, you might be asking what's the big deal about a little dog poop? Consider the disease impact that poop can have on your health, your kid's and the public's health!

Dog poop contains bacteria. Many Escherichia Coli (E. coli) colonies to be exact. E. coli is a bacterium that is commonly found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded animals. Most E. coli strains are harmless but some can cause serious food poisoning in humans and are occasionally responsible for costly product recalls.

E. coli is a major pollutant in our rivers and streams. Stormwater runoff generated from rain events and snowmelt picks up many pollutants and toxics from impervious surfaces such as roads, sidewalks, and parking lots. Many rivers and creeks and their tributaries throughout the U.S. have bacteria levels that are periodically above water quality (numerical standards) established to support beneficial uses such as water recreation.

Bacteria are a major pollutant of concern in terms of water quality impairment for freshwater ecosystems besides temperature, metals, sediment, toxics, and nutrients (like phosphorus and nitrogen).

Recent bacteria tracing studies in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho indicate that canines (dogs) are a significant source of bacteria contamination to our rivers and streams. Birds were found to be the highest contributor of E. coli followed by rodents, canines, humans, wildlife, agriculture, cats, and unknown sources.

Public outreach, awareness, and education are the best way to deal with this problem. You may have observed "Do Not Feed the Waterfowl" signs at your favorite swimming hole or a "Scoop the Poop" signs and dog-waste bag stations at your Favorite Park or open space.

Dog poop is a serious problem. It can affect the health and sustainability of our rivers, creeks and streams. Next time you are taking your best bud for a walk - do everyone a favor and scoop your dog's poop! Your local waterway, the kids that recreate there and aquatic critters that make it their home will be glad you did!

Bev Storer writes about human and pet nutrition. For more information about healthy and safe pet foods, please visit [http://www.Dog-Food-Zone.com]Ultra Premium Dog Food or for more information about how marine phytoplankton can keep you healthy, visit [http://www.phytoplankton-news.com]FrequenSea with Marine Phytoplankton

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bev_Storer [http://ezinearticles.com/?Scoop-That-Poop!&id=917924 ]http://EzineArticles.com/?Scoop-That-Poop!&id=917924

Train Dogs The Easy Way

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Danette_M._Scott]Danette M. Scott

Training your dog can be as easy as picking up their favorite treat. The best method for motivating your dog to perform tricks, obey commands or reinforce good behaviors is using the Pavlovian theory of conditioned reflexes and applying it to teaching your dog.

Pavlov, was a revered Russian scientist that experimented with food to condition dogs to salivate when a bell was rung. The food was placed before the dogs after a bell was rung and the dogs associated a pleasant stimulus like food, with the ringing of the bell. The food was removed as a stimulus after awhile and the dogs salivated to the sound of the bell alone.

Training a dog using this method, coupled with reinforcing desired behaviors, works well in assisting dog owners to train their dogs. Using treats to reinforce a desired behavior is effective only when the dog is slightly hungry. Do not feed your dog before you initiate training exercises. Here are some important ground rules for using treats to reinforce desired behaviors in your canine:

1. do not feed your dog before training

2. keep lessons short

3. use lots of praise when rewarding desired behaviors

4. use a stern authoritative voice when scolding

5. be consistent

Your dog has many behaviors that occur naturally and can be reinforced both with praise and treats. Sitting is one of the first commands a dog learns to perform from its owner. We'll start with the sitting command. Take your dog to a quiet area that is without distractions. Hold the treat high above the dog's head. The next step is to wait until the dog sits down on its own and at that exact moment say the command, “sit!”. Then give the dog verbal praise and the treat. Do this exercise everyday for no more than 15 minutes a training session. Eventually, the dog will learn his new command and the treat will be removed.

Toilet training can be managed in the same way as above. When taking your dog outside for housebreaking training take its favorite treats with you and begin by waiting until the dog starts to use the toilet and give a command. You can use any command you choose. I'll use the command,”go potty.”

After you give the command to the dog, reward them with the treat and lots of praise. A dog must understand boundaries ,so when housebreaking you must be able to spend time watching the dog when it is inside the home for the eventual “accident”. When the “accident” occurs be right there to scold the dog and take it immediately outside. You will need to wait again for the dog to begin using the toilet. Afterward, use the same techniques of reward and praise. Rewarding good behaviors and scolding undesirable ones are important components of good training using this method.

Aggressive chewing is another issue dog owners may need to address when bringing a new puppy pal into their home. Rewarding the dog both verbally and with a favorite treat when they are behaving is just as important as scolding or punishing bad behaviors. Dogs do need to know when you approve of what their doing just as much as when you are angry and do not approve of their behaviors. For instance your new puppy is aggressively chewing on a bone or biscuit that you have given it. Praise the puppy or dog for doing anything that you approve of. Dogs want to please their owners so they will nearly always try to earn the verbal praise, treats and attention they receive from them.

Humans learn not to do certain things because of the consequences. This applies to good behaviors as well as bad. It is a known fact that emotionally neglected children act in order to receive negative attention from parents. In the minds of these children any attention is better than no attention. Dogs are similar in many ways to children. They want and need lots of attention. Praise, play and pacifiers (treats) are good things to remember when training.

Planned ignoring can be used to help extinguish some unwanted behaviors in your dog. If your dog begins to jump on you turn away from it and ignore them. Playing too rough or biting can be extinguished by scolding and then walking away from the dog. The dog will soon realize that its positive attention will be removed (negative reinforcement) if it continues to bite or play too rough.

Dog owners should use positive attention, play and edible pacifiers when initially training the dog. The treats can be removed after awhile and replaced with just positive attention in the form of verbal praise, petting and play. When training your dog be:

1.patient

2.positive

3.persistent

4.consistent

Basic psychological techniques like conditioning, positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement (withdrawal of reward) and punishment (scolding) are the basic components of easy methods used by professional dog trainers everywhere. You can use them at home to train your dog the easy way.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Danette_M._Scott http://EzineArticles.com/?Train-Dogs-The-Easy-Way&id=905803

Dogs Who Misbehave - How To Keep Your Dog Happy During the Holidays

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Connie_Ragen_Green]Connie Ragen Green

During the holidays your dogs may begin to show signs of bad behavior. This can be caused by many things. Here are some things that may cause a good dog to behave badly during the holiday season.



Change of schedule - People take extra days off from work, holiday shopping takes up extra time, and there are parties and other events that change the times you are typically at home. Your dog may become confused at this sudden change and may have accidents or become withdrawn. Make every effort to keep to your normal schedule as much as possible.

Change of diet - Preparing special holiday dishes may mean that your dog will get to sample foods he usually does not eat. This can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and other digestive problems.

Change of exercise routine - During this time of year you may be too tired or away from home when you would usually be going for a walk with your dog. It may be tempting to go for a shorter walk or to just let your dog go out in the yard for a few minutes. This can be confusing for your dog and disappointing as well. Walking will be good for both of you so stick with your regular schedule for daily walks.

Different people in your home - Visitors may be coming to stay at your home during the holiday season. Your dog may become aggressive or depressed at the change of faces during this time. Do not force your dog to spend time with strangers. Treat your dog as you would a small child; let them decide when they are ready to get close to someone new.

Different smells and sounds - Christmas trees, flowers, pumpkin pies and spices, music and other smells and sounds will not be a pleasant experience for your dog. Try to keep your home free of excess noise and peculiar smells to make sure your dog is not overly aroused.

Think about these things as the holidays grow near. You would want your dog to enjoy the holidays as much as you, so maintain your typical lifestyle as much as you can during this time.

And now find out even more about training your dog to behave well all the time by visiting http://www.YorkshireTerriersAreTheBest.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Connie_Ragen_Green http://EzineArticles.com/?Dogs-Who-Misbehave---How-To-Keep-Your-Dog-Happy-During-the-Holidays&id=891402

Dog-shooter acquitted of cruelty, convicted of dumping corpses

By Andrew Scott

Pocono Record Writer

January 09, 2008

STROUDSBURG — A former Saylorsburg man was acquitted Tuesday on animal cruelty charges in the December 2006 fatal shootings of his three dogs.

The jury deliberated for about an hour before acquitting Arnold Wheeler, 42, on cruelty charges and convicting him of scattering rubbish for dumping the dogs' bodies off Anchorage Road in Ross Township. For the dumping conviction, Wheeler was ordered to pay a $200 fine and sentenced to 30 days, which he will start serving Feb. 8, in Monroe County Correctional Facility.

Related Stories

• Trial begins for Saylorsburg dog shooter Wheeler
• Dog-shooter considers options after judge upholds cruelty charge
• Is shooting a dog an act of cruelty?

Wheeler said he shot the dogs because he no longer could care for them, couldn't find anyone to take them and couldn't afford spaying/neutering or veterinary euthanasia.

Pennsylvania law allows owners to shoot their pets, but reportedly gives no clearly defined parameters on what constitutes cruelty when using a gun. This leaves local law enforcement and juries to determine what's humane and what's cruel when using a gun.

Arizona group offers $500 reward in Yonkers discarded dogs case

5:01 PM EST, January 9, 2008

YONKERS, N.Y. (AP) _ An animal welfare group in Arizona announced a $500 reward Wednesday in an attempt to find whoever dumped two badly injured pit bulls into a gas station's trash bin last weekend. One of the dogs died.

Offers of more reward money also were coming in to the offices of the Westchester County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, its police chief said. Chief Ken Ross said the amount would be announced after sources are checked.

The dogs were found Sunday among the refuse at the bottom of a BP station's trash bin in Yonkers. Bloodied and punctured, they were victims of dogfighting, having either been defeated or used as bait, officials said.

Pepper Spray - Protection Against Bears, Dogs, and Other Animals

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Barry_L_Jenkins]Barry L Jenkins

Pepper spray has a long history of being used as a reliable self defence tool by law enforcement, civilians, and sportsmen. This non-lethal tool requires no physical contact and allows the victim to adequately protect themselves without resorting to force.

Pepper Spray for Aggressive Dogs

A well-known veterinary message board recently posted a note from a woman regarding pepper spay use. It seems that this woman was out walking her own leashed dogs when she was attacked by three, unleashed animals.

This woman and her animals got away without fatal injuries, but there are too many similar situations where the victims are not as lucky. Loose, aggressive dogs are a serious threat that leaves many people feeling helpless.

The first targets of these animals' attacks are usually other domestic animals and small children. For this reason, most vets and safety officials do not recommend sending children out alone to walk the family pet.

Everyone who has lost a beloved animal to an aggressive dog, or who has suffered their own injuries, will tell you that if there was something they wish there was something they could have done.

Even more frightening is the fact that aggression in domestic animals can be caused by rabbis, a dangerous and potentially lethal disease spread to humans by infected animals.

One of the easiest solutions for protecting yourself, your pet, and your children from aggressive dogs is to carry a small canister of pepper spray. With one quick spray you will able to deter the attacking dog and return your family to safety.

Pepper Spray for Hunters

Hunters are one of the most loyal consumer groups when it comes to pepper spray products. This is because they recognize the simplicity of the product and appreciate its reliable protection.

Your first thought may be "why don't the hunters use their guns?" Of course the hunters are carrying weapons, but their guns are not actually a reliable source of self defence when a bear attacks. Instead, hunters carry two forms of protection - the gun for when they are hunting the bear, and the pepper spray for when the bear is hunting them.

In fact, statistics indicate that human-bear encounters are less likely to result in a person's injury when firearms are not used.

Pepper Spray in Coyote Country

There are some areas of the country where wildlife and human life come in close contact every day. In these areas people rely on pepper spray to protect themselves should the wildlife get too close for comfort.

If you live in an area where wolves, coyotes, or bears are a dangerous threat, then you are likely living in fear every time you, your child, or your pet ventures outside. A simple and effective way to protect yourself would be pepper spray. This tool ensures that should a wild animal attack you will be able to deter it long enough to return your family to safety.

Whether you are in the market for pepper spray, or are simply gathering information for a future purpose it is important that you seek out reputable merchants. A great place to look is bljsselfdefense.com/pepper_spray_mace.html. This company offers a wide variety of items, including tasers, and provides consumers with education on self defense. In addition to the online resources, BLJ Enterprises supplies its customers with personal attention to help ensure that they receive the self defense tool that is right for them.

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Livestock Protection Dogs

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ba_Kiwanuka]Ba Kiwanuka

Livestock guarding dogs and livestock herding dogs both fall under the umbrella category of sheepdogs, but it is important to understand that these are two very different dog breeds. Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGDs) were developed and bred to protect livestock from predators such as: wolves, jackals, coyotes, baboons, leopards, bears etc. Herding dogs on the other hand were developed and bred to...well, herd!

Livestock guarding dogs date back several thousand years and even as far back as 2000 years ago were a common sight in many parts of the world. Though many of these working dogs were considered until recently as rare breeds in the West, the truth is there are and have been millions of these dogs plying their trade of protecting livestock all over the world. In fact the protection of livestock could well have been one of the first primary uses mankind had for dogs.

It is not unreasonable to hypothesize that livestock guarding dogs originated from the Middle East especially when one considers that is from there that livestock was first domesticated. Following this pattern of thought it is not unreasonable either to state that livestock protection breeds may be several thousands of years old though they certainly wouldn't predate the first domesticated animals (sheep; circa 8000 years ago). There are plenty of historical references and drawings of livestock guardian dogs dating back thousands of years.

When one thinks of livestock protection dogs typically certain breeds spring to mind. Such breeds include the following:

Anatolian Shepherd Dog

Kangal Dog

Akbash Dog

Caucasian Ovcharka

Great Pyrenees

Tibetan Mastif

Kuvasz

Komondor

Maremma Sheepdog

Polish Tatra Sheepdog

Tibetan Mastiff

Sarplaninac

Size And Appearance

The above list is certainly not an exhaustive one and though some of the breeds are quite well known others are not. A striking feature of most livestock guarding dogs is that they tend to be larger in size than most other canines. This actually shouldn't come as too much of a surprise since these canines were bred to ward off predators some of which attain considerable size such as bears and wolves. Another notable feature about livestock protection dogs is that very often they are white (a characteristic more commonly found in European based breeds). There're a number of reasons to explain the tendency to favor white in these dogs ranging from plain superstition to the age-old myth that white embodies purity of strain.

Most local shepherds contend that they prefer white dogs because they blend in with the flock and thus are harder to detect by any marauding wolves or other predators. Another argument along this line of thinking is that the shepherd is less likely to mistake a white livestock guardian dog for a wolf at night and thereby accidentally club it to death. However, whatever the argument, the fact remains that a good number of livestock guardian dogs are white in color which fact probably owes credit to selective culling of litters by local shepherds more than anything else.

Livestock guarding dogs tend to have large litters an aspect that bears an obvious economical burden on the shepherd. Not only is it economically unviable for the shepherd to keep all the puppies, the female dog will naturally tend to be somewhat derelict in her livestock protecting duties for the simple fact that she has a large litter of puppies to attend to. Culling by shepherds tends to favor white puppies for all the above listed reasons, which process (known as postzygotic selection--refining a natural breed) ultimately leads to generations that breed pure for the desired white coat.

Another driving force motivating culling in favor of white puppies is sales to tourists and foreign breed fanciers who are more willing to pay top dollar for snow white puppies. That said, there are plenty of livestock protection canines that are not white and one interesting feature of several regional breeds is that their coat patterns often have a tendency to mirror that of the livestock they guard. Thus for example the Kangal Dog in appearance has a light dun to fawn-gray coat with a black mask head; this pattern unsurprisingly mirrors the features of the sheep found in the region. Undoubtedly the reason why the Kangal Dog breeds pure for these traits is probably because local shepherds favored those animals that displayed such features.

What Defines A Good Livestock Guardian Dog?

Generally speaking the bigger the dog the better it will be as a livestock protector. Ironically the impact of increased size is not so much to ward off predators but rather to ensure that the dog can endure the hardships often encountered by these working dogs. In those countries and regions where shepherds still embark on seasonal migratory treks with their flocks covering huge distances, the toll on the animals (both the sheep and the dogs) can be tremendous.

A bigger dog has the advantage of not only being able to cover greater distances more easily than a smaller counterpart (larger stride), the bigger dog will also be able to endure food scarcities better because it has greater fat reserves. A large dog also has an added advantage; it can endure harsh, cold weather far better because of less heat loss thanks to its lower surface-to-volume ratio.

Certain dog breeds are obviously better suited to the task of protecting livestock than others due to selective breeding for desirable traits over hundreds if not thousands of years. For this reason, innate livestock protecting canines tend to be:

Independent minded (what some describe as aloof or stubborn);

Wary of strangers:

Dog unfriendly;

Territorial; and

Very protective of their wards.

These are all desirable traits in working dogs employed in the livestock-protection profession and such genetic-based traits are what constitute the "nature" component of the "nature vs. nurture" equation. External factors that influence the behavior of prospective flock guardians (nurture component) include the timely socialization of puppies with their future wards so that they ultimately bond as the dogs primary social companions.

Dogs that make the best LGDs are those individuals that are properly socialized within the critical period (normally from 4 - 16 weeks in canines) and also possess the correct genetic makeup for the task. In other words, inherent livestock-guarding dog breeds that are timely socialized with their future livestock wards will make better guardians than timely socialized dog breeds that lack the innate LGDs genetic makeup. [http://www.dog-breeds-spot.com]Livestock Protection Dogs

Ba Kiwanuka is the webmaster of http://www.dog-breeds-spot.com/

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