Pup's Surgery Could Help Humans

Raleigh — North Carolina State University veterinarians hope that a high-tech surgery on a little dog could revolutionize treatment for other pets and humans.
Pez, a beagle with a big, toothy grin and plenty of energy, arrived at N.C. State's School of Veterinary Medicine, in September with a big problem: a large hole in the roof of his mouth that made it hard to eat or and drink.
N.C. State's School of Engineering teamed up with the veterinarians to create a titanium plate to cover Pez's hole.
"This was a new case for us," Dr. Ola Harrysson, with N.C. State's School of Engineering, said. "This was something that we hadn't done before."
Engineering students used computed tomography scans to create three-dimensional computer images, and then physical models, of Pez's head.
Veterinarians used the models to practice the surgery, tweaking the methods to ensure a perfect fit before Pez reached the operating table.
"When you can rehearse a surgery, then you have less complication," Dr. Guillaume Chanoit, with N.C. State's School of Veterinary Medicine, said.
Pez rebounded well from the surgery, becoming again playful, happy and healthy, Chanoit said. Pez, whom Sound Pet Animal Rescue found, was living with a foster family while he recovered.
"We are very, very surprised by how fast the healing in the mouth is going on," Chanoit said.
Doctors believe that the pint-sized pup's successful recovery from the cutting-edge surgery could have a big impact on the treatment of animals. N.C. State's School of Veterinary Medicine has already lined up new patients for similar operations, veterinarians said.
"We think there is a tremendous amount of dogs that can benefit from that type of surgery," Chanoit said.
Professors with N.C. State's School of Engineering believe the impact of the surgery might also be felt by humans, such as troops wounded in Iraq.
"This gives us confidence to move on and offer this to humans as well," Harrysson said.
The engineering and veterinary schools at N.C. State have teamed up on other projects, including creating prosthetic limbs.

Urban coyotes on the prowl

Don't let the high lonesome howl of a coyote in the middle of Boston unnerve you. January and February are active times for the area's populations.
"It is not uncommon for coyotes to pass through urban areas, including areas of Boston and Cambridge," said Lisa Capone, spokeswoman for the state's office of energy and environmental affairs. In fact, the state's 10,000 coyotes have been spotted in every city and town in Massachusetts except Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket over the years.
But Mark McCabe, director of animal control in Cambridge said that their numbers are on the rise, at least in his 20 years on the job.
"When I first started, coyotes weren't seen," he said.
Years of development have eaten away at coyote habitat, and years of adapting have made coyotes accustomed to the bustle of city life. In Cambridge, they like to lay low in the Cambridge Cemetery during the day and have been spotted near Antrim Street, Wendell Street and the Third Street areas so far this year.
This time of year is especially active because juvenile coyotes are leaving the pack for the first time, and all coyotes are about to breed, said Tom O'Shea, assistant director of wildlife for the Massachusetts division of fisheries and wildlife.

Spotlight On ... Alicia

First-year dancer Alicia said she could survive on her own in the wilderness (with a cell phone), talked about her various pets and about playing Oscar and Rosita on the Sesame Street Live Tour.MT: First of all, give us a bit of background info.Alicia: I was born in Coon Rapids, and lived there for a little while. Then I moved to Minneapolis and went to a Catholic school there ... So I'm a Catholic school girl. Then I moved to Blaine where I am right now and went to Centennial High School. Now I'm going to college.MT: There we have it. You said your favorite person in the world is your best friend Christine.Alicia: She is. Christine and I have been best friends, since, oh gosh, maybe fifth grade? We've danced together our whole lives. I've from Shoreview and she's from Blaine, so it's maybe five minutes away. Christine is the best. I love her.MT: You're a big nature person, listing fishing and camping as two of your favorite things. How long could you survive in the wilderness without and help or supplies? Alicia: As long as I had my cell phone, I'd be good. I need my cell phone.MT: You can't have your cell phone. That defeats the purpose.Alicia: True. I guess I'd be OK. I could eat the berries and plants. I don't hunt ... I'd fish, but no hunting.MT: What would you do if a Grizzly bear were chilling at your campsite while you were in your tent?Alicia: I'd probably start crying. Definitely hide and be quiet. But if I had my cell phone, I could call somebody...MT: Touché. You're studying to be a veterinary technician. What do you have against animals?Alicia: I started off going to school to be a nurse and then I decided I didn't want to do that. But I've always loved animals - they don't talk back. I decided to go to school, and one opened up right by my house, and they had veterinary technician there. I don't want to call it an animal nurse, but that's pretty much what we are, assisting the veterinarian.MT: Let's hear more about your pets.Alicia: I have three dogs, a cat, and a fish. I have two goldens: Sadie, the mom and Maggie, her daughter. Then I have a Yorkie Poodle, that's Zoey. It's a Yorkshire Terrier (mixed with) a poodle. She's tiny. Really little. Then I have a rag doll cat named Frankie. She's pure white, and supposed to just lie in your arms, but she's a brat.MT: Any of them fight each other?Alicia: Yeah. My cat and my Yorkie Poodle fight all the time. They chase each other around ... it's funny. The cat will bite the dog and the dog will run back ... it's really funny.MT: Changing over to entertainment news: On January 22, actor Heath Ledger was found dead in his apartment in New York City. What was your reaction?Alicia: That was so sad. My mom just came in the room and told me and at first I was thinking, "Who's that?" She said, "10 Things I Hate About You," and I remembered. Oh, my god.MT: Real sad. Apparently, the Batman movie set to come out this summer, in which he played the Joker, is supposed to be terrific. Any other movies you're excited to see?Alicia: Yes, "Strange Wilderness" with the fat kid (Jonah Hill) from Superbad. It looks super funny. It's just them videotaping in the wilderness. There are so many good actors in that. I'm excited to see that. MT: What's been the best part of being a Timberwolves Dancer this year?Alicia: Dancing in front of thousands of people. That's the best thing.MT: Fair enough. It took us a while to get dancer Kristi to admit any pet peeves. Do you have any for us?Alicia: Bad drivers. I mean, I'm probably a bad driver too, but that's about it.MT: You used to dance with the "Sesame Street Live" tour. Is there a sought after character to play? Alicia: They just assigned us randomly. I was Rosita and Grover. I liked them both, and I got to speak Spanish with Rosita. It's a show for little kids where everyone dressed up as Sesame Street characters and we'd use a thing in our hand that we squeezed to opened our mouth up.MT: Why is Elmo so cool, anyway? Oscar, Cookie Monster, Ernie, and Grover all used to be much cooler.Alicia: Maybe because he's so cute. But I didn't get jealous.MT: You also danced on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. Not a bad gig?Alicia: It was great. I auditioned one day and they called a couple weeks later and asked me to come. It was more like I was on vacation and not like I was working. It was just dancing on vacation. Really fun.

Dog day afternoon at the K9 2008 event

IT MAY have been hot enough to fry eggs on the pavement, but a day out is always something a pet looks forward to.
The Malaysia K9 Day 2008 drew more than 5, 000 dogs and dog owners to the Central Park at Bandar Utama on Sunday despite the blazing sun and the muddy field from the previous day's rain.
Dogs of all breeds and sizes were seen trotting obediently with their owners, resting in the shade, cooling off in the lake, or gamely participating in the various contests. According to Puppy.com.my manager K.K. Chong, the event was organised by the company for the fifth consecutive year.
“This is an opportunity for dogs, dog owners and dog lovers alike to spend a day out to have fun and mingle, as well as to promote responsible dog ownership in Malaysia,” said Chong.
The event was also held to herald the start of 2008 as well as to usher the Chinese New Year.
Various NGOs such as the SPCA and PAWS had also set up booths to raise funds for their animal preservation initiatives, creating a carnival-like atmosphere while a vet corner was set up to offer free medical check up for dogs.

There were many activities organised to give the dogs a fun time throughout the day, with the main attraction including the 5th annual Malaysia Dog Beauty Pageant, Dog Microchipping Campaign, and demonstration by the Police K9 Unit.
Entries in the beauty pageant were judged on the shine of their coats, costumes, as well as intelligence and performances.
Other fun games included the Dog Musical Chairs, Dog Ball Retrieve Contest and Dog Rally Run.
As always, there were new activities to add more excitement to the event, namely 'Simon Says', 'Dog Hurdle Race' and 'Dog Triathlon'.
Despite the many activities going on, there were also many noticeable 'sideliners' who preferred to watch the rather than participate in them.

Lo Fung Soo was one of them, preferring to sit in the shade with two of his beautiful six-year-old St Bernards - Roger and Andes - to watch the goings-on around them.
His dogs certainly attracted much attention, and Lo was seen fielding a host of questions from the many admirers.
Meanwhile, those who participated in the events for the first time also had a blast.
“It's a fun event because everyone, especially dogs and dog owners get to mingle together,” said Lee Tze Mei, 13 who entered Pug Jai, her pet Pug into the beauty contest.
Decked in a cute blue costume and headgear, Pug Jai certainly seemed at home on stage.
Daphne Chua, who had attended the dog carnival for two years in a row, finally decided that she and her pretty pooch Cookie were finally ready to take part in the activities.
“It's good that Puppy.com.my organises such events for dog lovers as it is an opportunity to create an awareness on animal cruelty and responsibility. Such events should be organised more often.

Garden advice: Thorny problems

Garden tips and advice from our resident expert Helen Yemm. This week: cultivating woodland and keeping pets from eating the grass

Ian Templar wants to sow a wild-flower seed mixture in his north/north-west facing front garden, dominated by two large oaks and home to a rhododendron and a bed of heather. The ground is very mossy underfoot and the soil typical Sussex clay.

Predator: It's hard to stop cats eating the grass
This description - oaks, moss-invaded grass, acid-loving plants and clay - triggered alarm bells. What kind of mixed flower seeds had he in mind, I wondered. There are wild seed mixtures compiled by all the leading seed companies that are suitable for every situation.
Ian should steer away from the popular meadow mixtures and choose one made up of shade-loving woodland and woodland-edge species, since it is clear that this shady front garden is trying to turn itself into a little piece of woodland.
A suitable mixture from the Organic Gardening Catalogue (0845 1301304; http://www.organiccatalogue.com/) includes foxglove and red campion, both of which I know will do well in a shady patch on Sussex clay.
To give them a good start, Ian should scrape away some of the mossy "woodland floor", loosen the soil and mix some leafmould and sand into the heavy soil to ensure that the seeds take properly. He should keep them watered during dry weather.
The biennials and perennials in the mixture will not flower this year, but the whole project could be kick-started by planting some ready-grown, year-old biennial foxgloves that will be on sale in nurseries and garden centres any time now. These will flower this year and seed at the end of the summer to add to Ian's young colony of woodlanders.
Other plants that would look at home in the dappled shade of the oaks and generally add interest include: little hardy cyclamen, English bluebells, wood anemones, Arum italicum 'Marmoratum' (lords and ladies), the native male fern Dryopteris filix mas and the pretty creeping groundcover, sweet woodruff.
Snowdrops, too, would look good and these will be on sale soon "in the green" for £16 per 100 from specialist suppliers such as Cambo (01333 450054; http://www.camboestate.com/).
Ian could have a lot of fun going really wild - but I do think those heathers might end up looking out of place.
Keep off the grass
My pet cats insist on regularly grazing the numerous ornamental grasses in my garden. How can I stop them? Jilly Taylor, Amersham
It is presumed that cats eat grass to aid their digestion and Weekend's pet expert Pete Wedderburn agreed that there is not much you can do to keep them off your ornamentals unless you create physical barriers. It is up to you to devise deterrents that put them off. Cats being the canny creatures they are, you are bound, unfortunately, to have mixed success.
My own tip would be to put something prickly in their way - I have seen spiky plastic cat deterrent mats for sale in garden centres that would, if placed around particularly favoured clumps, make life uncomfortable for them. Of course, there is that old favourite essential gardening prop of mine, the wooden kebab stick. A small forest of them might well do the trick.
Cats hate snakes, and those rubber joke ones left lying among your grasses can alarm them, as can plastic bottles full of water (the daft things get spooked by their own distorted reflections, I gather).
They also detest the smell of orange peel, so you could try some weather-resistant citrus-fragranced sticks called Cat Repeller Rods from Harrod (0845 402 5300; http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/).
And, of course, there are sonic devices, solutions you can spray on the grass (these will need to be renewed after rain), evil-smelling plants that they won't go near (Coleus canina) and water cannons.
On another tack, you might also try growing them their own pot or two of soft green grass (pet shops sell seeds), so that they concentrate on these and leave your booby-trapped ornamentals alone.
Too many plants
Readers immediately emailed me with good ideas about how compulsive propagator Paul Holloway (and others similarly lumbered with too many plants) could off-load their numerous "babies".
Shan Lancaster suggests that Paul should contact his local Freecycle group. This can be found by Googling Freecycle followed by the name of your local town. Heather Cunild brought my attention to a website devoted to bringing together gardeners with plants to spare: http://www.theplantexchange.co.uk/, while Anne Harris from Farringtons School in Chislehurst, Kent, says pupils are always looking for ways to raise money for charity, and would welcome donations of plants from local gardeners that they can sell on to swell their coffers. I feel sure there must be numerous other schools with similar schemes.
Gladys Clarke tried giving away her surplus plants and found that passers-by seemed reluctant to take them until she put a modest price on each (eg 20p for tomato plants) and left an honesty box. Plants disappeared rapidly and last year she donated £58 to charity.
Clear the decks
At last! People may be waking up to the fact the combination of decking and the murky British winter is not a marriage made in heaven.
With any luck, the fad for obliterating lovely green back gardens under great boring swathes of deck may decline. Once that makeover-newness has faded and proud owners have become bored with sweeping, power-washing and slapping about expensive unguents, gardens full of decking can quickly become a slippery, slimy no-go area for most of the winter.
Emailers Carolyn Monty (who inherited hers) and Rosanne Lyden-Brown (who really likes hers - in summer) are just two "deckists" who wonder how to get around the problem.
Rosanne has so far coped by spreading sand on her deck, which, she says, helps a bit - but defeats the whole object of having all that nice permanently clean surface underfoot. Have I any ideas?
Well, this gives me yet another opportunity to recommend Biotal Algae and Mould Cleaner (http://www.biotal.co.uk/) - a plant-friendly, colourless and odourless water-soluble liquid that, with a single application, will see off the slime from wood, paving stones and garden furniture for several months.
But decking is slippery even if it isn't green with algae, so what then? If you were to staple galvanised chicken wire over the treacherous bits at least you have a safe pathway across it. As always, your suggestions are welcome.
But please, can we then get back to real gardening? In my view, scrubbing decking just isn't.
Write to Thorny Problems at helen.yemm@telegraph.co.uk or Gardening, The Daily Telegraph, 111 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0DT. Helen Yemm can only answer questions through this column or the Gardeners' Forum.

Vets back annual rabies vaccinations

Quarry the cat gets a shot Monday from Dr. Michael Doherty at Creek View Veterinary Clinic in New Braunfels. Comal County requires dogs and cats to have annual rabies vaccinations.

With so many potentially rabid animals roaming Comal County, local animal experts say it's important for people to get their pets vaccinated.“To me it’s a no-brainer,” said Mark Romple of Canyon Animal Clinic. “I just don’t see the downside of having a pet vaccinated and come in for an exam each year.”The state requires pets to get their rabies shots once every three years, but Comal County Commissioners re-affirmed Thursday that local pet owners must get their animals inoculated on an annual basis.That’s something local veterinarians appreciate, especially given the amount of potential carriers of the disease in the area. “Texas consistently is one of the leading states in number of cases in rabies,” said Dr. Michael Doherty of the Creek View Veterinary Clinic. “This part of Texas leads the state of Texas (in confirmed rabies cases).”Vaccinations are required for dogs, cats and are recommended for cattle, horses and ferrets. A vaccination usually costs $10-15. The vaccine typically used lasts three years, but having the annual requirement also serves to remind people to bring their pets in for their shots and a checkup regularly.“It’s never a bad idea,” said Mitchell Dorpinghaus with Bulverde’s animal control office. “You never know when something is going to flare up.” Comal County boasts a large number of animals known to transmit the disease like coyotes, foxes, raccoons, skunks and especially bats. The county is, after all, home to Bracken Cave and the more than 20 million Mexican free-tail bats that migrate here each year from Mexico, making it the largest assembly of mammals on the planet. Of the 107 possible rabies cases reported in the county in 2006, only five animals tested positive, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.“We are at a high risk because of the county’s bat population,” Romple said. The best way to avoid your pets contracting the disease, other than making sure they’re vaccinated, is to keep them close and avoid interaction with wild animals.“Most skunks and bats usually don’t like to get near people,” Doherty said. “If you’re animals stay close to you, they’re probably going to be less exposed to some of the wild animals that might have rabies.”“Appreciate them from a distance,” added Dorpinghaus. “There’s no telling what they might be carrying.”

Doggy?s Day Out ? All India Champion Dog Show, Bangalore

It is said that every dog has its day. And Sunday, January 20, 2008 was definitely the day for over 450 canines at the KVAFS University, Hebbal campus, Bangalore where the Mysore Kennel Club conducted its 86th and 87th All India Championship Dog Show.
The show began with the inauguration with S T Ramesh, Additional Director General of Police and inspector General of Prisons, Karnataka, Bangalore as the inaugurator and Prof R N Srinivas Gowda, Vice Chancellor, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar was the chief guest.

Commemorating the Platinum Jubilee of the Club and the Golden Jubilee of the Veterinary College, Bangalore, the show saw the participation of over 454 exhibits of 52 breeds walk the ramp competing for top honours in the animal world such as Best of Breed, Best in Group and Best in Show. Apart from dog owners from Bangalore, there were 130 entries from across the country. Pet owners flaunting their wards and dogs strutting their tails in the air was a common sight. Each owner tried to show the other that his pet knew more tricks. Dogs on the other hand were enjoying watching other dogs and sniffing around. Just like humans, some got along well with the other dogs, while some welcomed the rest with growls.
While the show witnessed large participation from common breeds like the German Sheperd, Dobermann, Spaniels, Labradors, Retrievers and Great Danes, what left dog lovers awestruck were rare breeds such as St Bernard, Lhasa Apso, Miniature Schnauzer, Neapolitan Mastiff, Wire Haired Dachshund, Collie, Pekingese and Shih Tzu.
Pugs at the show seemed to be a hit among spectators while the Chihuahuas raised quite a few eyebrows given their very small size.

For the contest, each dog was required to walk before the judges to compete for the best in breed. ?Each breed has a particular way it is to be maintained and here at the show, we judge them on various criteria relevant to the breed?, said Dr S Yathiraj, Dean, Veterinary College, Hebbal, Bangalore. Winner dogs get points that can help them compete for the prestigious ?Dog of the Year? title.
For the 86th show, the Best in Show winners were English Springer Spaniel (Nagaraj Shetty, Bangalore - I Prize), Boxer (Agrani Kennels, Bangalore - II Prize) and Great Dane (Vidyaratan, Meerut ? III Prize). The best puppy at the show was Great Dane (G M Selvakumar) while the Best Bred in India was Irish Setter (N Reghuraj).
For the 87th show, German Sheppard (P A Suresh) won the I prize in the Best in show category followed by English Springer Spaniel (Nagaraj Shetty, Bangalore - II Prize) and Shih Tzu (Vetri Duraisamy ? III prize). The Best pup prize went to German Sheperd (R Shyam, Bangalore) and the best bred in India was again Irish Setter (N Reghuraj).
The panel of judges for the day comprised of internationally acclaimed canine judge from India C V Sudarsan, Mrs Maria Rocio A De Vega and Simon Lu Sim from Philippines, both judges of international eminence in the field of canine sports.
Also at the venue were stalls that sold various pet care products from skin care to food items to pet accessories. For pet owners who love pampering their dogs, shopping was the word. Dog beds, chews of different flavours, colourful leashes, collars with bells were among the numerous items that were up for sale.

Native animal deaths at sanctuary

SEVERAL deaths and staff complaints about the neglect of animals at the Healesville native fauna sanctuary have raised serious concerns about its management.
An investigation by The Age has uncovered many troubling incidents at the 74-year-old sanctuary, amid claims that commercial imperatives were too often placed ahead of animal welfare.
The revelations follow the weekend's disclosure by The Age of allegations of abuse and neglect at Melbourne Zoo, particularly the stabbing of an elephant.
Among incidents raised by Healesville Sanctuary staff was the death of a four-month-old short-beaked echidna that was taken to Phillip Island by a keeper attending the V8 Supercars meeting last month.
The echidna was kept in a vehicle and a hotel room as temperatures rose above 30 degrees. It died the next day.
An autopsy by Zoos Victoria attributed the death to heart failure and an existing condition, but the RSPCA said the echidna should never have been removed from the sanctuary.
"Why was an echidna taken to a motor race? It's not a domestic animal, for God's sake," Victorian RSPCA president Hugh Wirth said.
Zoos Victoria senior veterinarian Helen McCracken said keepers often took animals home at night to maximise care.
Ms McCracken said the animal was left in an air-conditioned hotel room in a climate-controlled Esky.
In the past four years, concerns have been raised by staff about the welfare of animals and the acquisition of animals for marketing and public relations purposes.

These included:

■ Karak jnr, a red-tailed black cockatoo and Commonwealth Games mascot that was removed from the nest and hand-reared for media opportunities. The practice of taking dependent chicks from their parents is opposed by the Bureau of Animal Welfare guidelines, except in extreme circumstances.

■ Several other dependent chicks, including three eclectus parrots and a yellow-tailed black cockatoo, were purchased from private breeders to be hand-reared for the Parrots in Flight attraction.
■ Parrots kept in small, pet shop-style cages.
■ An eclectus parrot, Princess, decapitated by a wedge-tailed eagle when they were kept in the same open-flight enclosure.
■ Four feather-tailed gliders escaped from their enclosure, found dead in a rubbish bin.
■ Fifteen finches starved to death after being denied access to food.

When former prime minister John Howard announced in 2004 that the endangered south-eastern red-tailed black cockatoo would be the official Commonwealth Games mascot, Healesville Sanctuary was quick to recognise a marketing opportunity.

Shelter aims to curb bad habits

DELAWARE, Ohio -- A few new tricks could be a dog's ticket out of the kennels at the Humane Society of Delaware County.
Many of the dogs surrendered by their owners come with behavioral problems, whether it's barking too loud, jumping too high or chewing too much.
Training pets how to mind their manners improves their chances of being adopted, and that's the philosophy behind a new volunteer-driven program at the shelter.
Dog Behavior Task Force volunteers work one-on-one with animals each week, using praise and treats to teach them basic obedience commands such as sit, quiet and stay.
"Our goal is a zero return rate," said Wade Beane, shelter director. "That every dog that gets adopted out stays in that home."
Unwanted behaviors are one of the biggest reasons pets end up in shelters, according to the American Animal Hospital Association.
"That's definitely the case a lot of times, where they get a dog or a cat and don't know how to adapt them to a house," said Jason Merrihew, spokesman for the Colorado-based association.
The Delaware County shelter houses 22 dogs of all sizes, from Tinsel the Chihuahua to Star the Saint Bernard. During the past few months of training, veterinary technician Angie Bockover said she has noticed the dogs acting calmer while in their kennels and barking less.
One of Bockover's goals in starting the program was to calm the atmosphere on the adoption floor. "It's just so stressful here, being in a cage and being around all the other animals," Bockover said.
The dogs compete for attention from visitors, often jumping and barking, which can make it difficult for prospective owners to envision the pets behaving differently at home, Bockover said.
Volunteers focus on encouraging animals' good behavior and ignoring the bad.
Such training also helps shelter employees and volunteers get to know the dogs in their care a little better. It uncovers any unwanted habits before they are placed in a new home, said Lisa Wahoff, director of the Franklin County Dog Shelter, which runs a similar volunteer program for its 320 dogs.
"It's helping them help the dogs be more adoptable," Wahoff said. "People are always afraid to adopt what they don't know."
The Humane Society of Delaware County is seeking volunteers for all programs, including the Dog Behavior Task Force. An orientation meeting is scheduled for today at 10 a.m. For more information, call 740-369-7387 or visit http://www.delawarecohumanesoc.org/.

Man charged over dog's fiery death

ARLINGTON — Police have charged a 26-year-old man over the death of Spike, whose burnt remains were found near his owners' home in Arlington.
Adam Scott Pigue of Mazourka Drive was issued with four Class C misdemeanor citations; he is the only suspect in the case.
It appears that Spike had somehow been able to get out of the yard of owner Ronnie Villaire, according to police. He was struck by a vehicle and killed.
Pigue told investigators that he found the pet Pomeranian dead in his frontyard and debated how to dispose of the dogs remains.
Pigue claims that he was intoxicated when he decided to burn Spikes remains. Information from a veterinarian and the physical evidence supports Pigues account.
Animal Cruelty charges would not apply in this case since evidence supports that Spike had died before he was burned.
Pigue will appear before the Arlington Municipal Court.

There’s a lotta love for this lurcher

WHEN Bobby the lurcher gave chase to an errant squirrel on Hampstead Heath it ended, against the odds, with 45 stitches and a near-death experience for the three-year-old hound.In fact, were it not for the kindness of strangers, says owner Jonathan Fingerhut, Bobby would have bled to death from the appalling injuries he sustained trying to jump the spiked iron railways near Kenwood House a fortnight ago.Fingerhut children Asher, 13, and Nicole, 8, could only watch in ­horror as Kenwood staff and passers-by rushed to help the family pet, hanging by his back legs with a severed artery.A passing jogger took his T-shirt off and wrapped it around the leg to stem the flow of blood.Mr Fingerhut, from Lawford Road in Kentish Town, said: “If the people at Kenwood had not done what they did he would have died. These people just walking along acted without thought for themselves and saved a much-loved family pet.”Bobby was rushed to Beaumont Animal Hospital in Royal College Street where doctors spent four hours operating to save his life.Now Bobby, adopted from Battersea Dogs Home two years ago, is back at home and ­walking again – albeit a little gingerly.Mr Fingerhut said: “The vets at Beaumont can’t believe he survived. When he goes in for check-ups he gets a hero’s welcome – it’s like Top Gun.”“He’s not out of the woods yet but he’s on the mend – he’ll live to chase another squirrel.

Bulldog Muscles Its Way into AKC's List of Top 10 Most Popular Dogs in America

Bulldog Makes the List for First Time in Nearly 75 Years; Labrador Retriever Continues to Fetch Top Spot

NEW YORK (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) January 16, 2008 -- Today the American Kennel Club® announced that the Bulldog, a popular sports team mascot and one of the most recognizable and iconic purebred dogs, has muscled its way into the 10th spot on the organization’s annual list of the most popular breeds in America according to 2007 AKC® registration figures. The Labrador Retriever retains the title of “Top Dog”— a position it has now held for 17 consecutive years.
Helvetica, sans-serif; TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://www.akc.org/" alt="Link to website">This is certainly not the only scam to be aware of, but it is a common one “This is the first time the Bulldog has made it onto the top ten list since 1935,” said AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson. “This breed appeals to a very wide range of dog lovers so it’s no surprise that it is a favorite amongst AKC’s 157 breeds. The Bulldog is both docile and adaptive, and can thrive in small or large homes. It’s an excellent all-around family pet.”
The Bulldog was first recognized by the AKC in 1886 – just two years after the organization’s founding – and was most popular in 1915* when it peaked in 5th place. The breed’s popularity ebbed and flowed throughout the mid-20th century, but since hitting a low of 41st place in 1973, its ranking has steadily increased.
2007 Most Popular Dogs in the U.S.
1. Labrador Retriever
2. Yorkshire Terrier
3. German Shepherd Dog
4. Golden Retriever
5. Beagle
6. Boxer
7. Dachshund
8. Poodle
9. Shih Tzu
10. Bulldog
FRAUDULENT FIDOS
Unfortunately the Bulldog’s popularity – and irresistible appearance as a puppy – is often taken advantage of. Earlier this year the AKC and the Better Business Bureau issued a warning about Internet scams that often used photos of Bulldog puppies to lure in victims. Commonly, the scammer —posing as a breeder— places an ad offering a free or inexpensive puppy and then requests via email that shipping fees be wired. After the money is sent, the dog never arrives and the scammer is never heard from again.
“This is certainly not the only scam to be aware of, but it is a common one,” says Peterson. “Because of the emotional investment, consumers are more vulnerable to being taken advantage of when it comes to a cute, cuddly puppy than with any other purchase. Not only is it important to find the breed that’s right for your lifestyle, it’s just as important to take those extra steps and find a responsible breeder. A great resource is http://www.puppybuyerinfo.com/.”
PET PREFERENCES: TOP 50 CITIES
The AKC looked at the Top 10 breeds in the nation’s 50 largest cities. Some highlights:
The Bulldog is most popular in Los Angeles where is it currently ranked 2nd right after the Lab.
Despite having one of the world’s most beloved and renowned Bulldogs as the mascot for its state college sports team – University of Georgia’s “Uga,” – Atlanta is one of the few cities in the nation that did not include the Bulldog in its Top 10.
The Poodle and Dachshund, who each once enjoyed the top spot in Manhattan (2006, 2005 for the Poodle and 2004 for the Dachshund) now share a tie for 3rd place, ousted by America’s top choice, the Labrador Retriever.
Detroit, Knoxville, Miami, Honolulu and Orlando are the only cities that do not have the Labrador Retriever in the top spot. Detroit and Miami favor the German Shepherd, Orlando puts the Yorkie in 1st place, Honolulu the Golden Retriever and Knoxville the Boxer.
Salt Lake City is the only city to place the Shih Tzu in one of its top two spots. It moved from 3rd in 2006 to 2nd in 2007.
The only cities to not have the Yorkie on their lists are Buffalo, Milwaukee and Des Moines. And, Des Moines had the most unique list of all 50 cities, considering that it shared only four dogs with the national Top 10.
The Miniature Schnauzer, which was displaced on the national list this year by the Bulldog, still claims top dog status in Oklahoma City where it ranks 3rd, higher than in any other U.S. city.
San Francisco and Los Angeles were the only cities in the nation to include the French Bulldog in their Top 10 lists.
PET PREFERENCES: 1997– 2007
Some of the most notable recent trends include:
The Miniature Schnauzer was bumped off the Top 10 list in 2007 to make room for the Bulldog.
The Yorkshire Terrier held steady in 2nd place, after making news last year by displacing the Golden Retriever and German Shepherd.
The Havanese, a small dog with a coat type that is a good choice for people with allergies, has enjoyed the greatest surge in popularity since 1997, increasing 994%. It now ranks as the 37th most popular breed.
Other small dogs (under 20 lbs.) that have gained popularity in the past decade include the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (+406%), the French Bulldog (+404%) and the Brussels Griffon (+157%).
Large dogs with notable increases are two Swiss breeds -- the Bernese Mountain Dog (+74%) and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (+127%) -- as well as the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (+130%).
Breeds on the decline include the Rottweiler (-81%) and the Dalmatian (-96%). Many breeds of Asian origins are also waning in popularity: Chow Chows (-84%), Pekingese (-79%), Akitas (-76%), Lhasa Apso (-75%), Chinese Shar-Pei (-73%) and Shiba Inu (-38%).
PET PREFERENCES: 1915 – TODAY
The AKC has maintained registration statistics of AKC recognized breeds for nearly a century. Some highlights:
The Beagle is the only breed that has consistently been included in the Top 10 list since 1915. It reigned as the most popular breed from 1954 to 1959.
Poodles enjoyed a long reign as the most popular dog for 23 years (1960–1982), the longest any breed has held that position consecutively.
Cocker Spaniels ranked number one from 1936-1953 (replaced by the Beagle in 1954). Cocker Spaniels made a comeback and were number one again from 1983-1990, making them the dog with the longest total reign in the top spot at 25 years.
The Toy group has been steadily on the rise since the 1970’s, when it made up only 12% of the registry versus 23% today.
The Working group peaked in the 1990’s at 17%, most notably due to the Rottweiler being in the Top 10 at that time, including several years in 2nd place.
Dog lovers can see and learn more about all of their favorite breeds on Saturday, February 2 when the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship — where country’s top dogs compete for $225,000 in prize money and the title of “National Champion” — airs on Animal Planet from 8-11pm.
*First year AKC Registration Data was captured.
The American Kennel Club, founded in 1884, is a not-for-profit organization which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function. Along with its nearly 5,000 licensed and member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. More than 20,000 competitions for AKC-registered purebred dogs are held under AKC rules and regulations each year including conformation, agility, obedience, rally, tracking, herding, lure coursing, coonhound events, hunt tests, field and earthdog trials. Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Companion Animal Recovery and the AKC Museum of the Dog. For more information, visit http://www.akc.org/.

Ron Paul, Who Needs Him?

I asked a cow once what she thought of Ron Paul. She told me to moo-oo-ve. I was surprised by rude the response. Looking down, however, I quickly realized that I was probably standing on her lunch. So, I moved off the patch of green grass. Then, I again asked Betsy what she thought of presidential candidate Ron Paul. Her tale twitching and looking at me with those big brown eyes, Betsy answered: "Ask the people in the house, I don´t vote."Okay, that was a fair answer. People like those in the house do have an opinion about Ron Paul. Besides being generational family farmers, they are nearly fanatical about supporting Ron Paul for president. When asked why? Speaking in unison, they say Paul has been attempting to protect the small farmers´ rights in Congress, but protecting them from whom. Typical of the federal government, federal and state governments give their legal and economic backing to the big factory farms. In the name of national security, the feds are seeking to force all farmers and pet owners to register the purchase, sale, and other information about every animal with the federal government. The National Animal ID System (NAIS) is the response of egalitarian and corporate-minded politicians to the bird flu epidemic that originated at factory farms in Asia. Ron Paul proposed legislation to defund the program because it is only beneficial to large industrial farm operation but is a prohibitive burden to small and medium sized farms. The initial cost to taxpayers is at least $33 million. In November, Paul co-sponsored "The Family Farm, Small Business and Home Tax Relief Act," which guarantee the estate tax rate will remain at 45% while increasing the estate tax exemption amount from $2 million to $3.5 million. More important is the $8 million exemption applicable to small businesses and family farms. For most farmers, this bill is nothing to get excited about today, but it does offer assurance that the fruit of their labors will belong to their children tomorrow.

Another family farm bill proposed by Paul was legislation permitting the sale of unpasteurized milk. Many people prefer to purchase unpasteurized milk from local family farms because it contains more healthy nutrients. According to Paul, research by individuals reveal local unpasteurized milk is just as safe as mass produced pasteurized milk. These are a few reasons why all Americans need Ron Paul for President. He has been opposing unconstitutional and harmful federal policies for many years. Unlike other candidates whose campaigns are being funded by big money special interests, Ron Paul has proven he will look out for the constitutional interests of all Americans, not just those with the big bucks and some power. Friends and supporters of local family farmers are excited about having a man in the Whitehouse who actually defends the rights of the traditional family farmer. This city dweller thinks the rest of us should as well. Betsy does.While I was reviewing my notes aloud, Betsy, who must have overheard me, waddled over and told me to tell you to ´moo-oo—ove and vote for that man.´ I think she meant for us to vote for Ron Paul in the coming primaries. Maybe we should take that smart cow´s advice.

Confusion over new pet vaccinations

No one likes taking a pet dog to the vet and wincing as your "best friend" gets a shot.
But vaccinations are critical for animal health and some are required by law.
However, those laws have changed, leaving many owners confused.
So who's calling the shots?
They dominate the sidewalk at this Arlington dog-wash, sometimes by the hundreds.
Pets and their people, waiting on low-cost vaccines.
"$7? Can't beat it," said one person in the line.
"It's a lot cheaper to do it here than it would be for the vet!" said another.
"People come here to get their pets protected, they don't just come here necessarily to get shots," said veterinarian, Johnny Todd.
Twice a week - vets and techs offer $7 rabies vaccinations and other shots and tests, if required.
Veronica has brought "Rocky" in for the first time.
The cost here is half or a third what it would otherwise cost.
But just as problematic as cost - according to some animal experts - the confusion over what vaccines are required - and how often.
"There is a lot of misinformation out there among the general public," said Professor Bonnie Beaver, a professor at Texas A &M Vet School.
In Texas, rabies shots were required annually.
Now, because of improved vaccines, they're required once every three years.
"I haven't heard about that," said Dustin Music, a dog owner.
"So people go to their vets, and they get all these shots done and the vets not going tell you not to get everything done if it's not necessary, because they want your money. So people get their pets over-vaccinated for sure," said another dog owner, Ebony Danek.
There is a sizeable mark-up in vaccines when given in a vet clinic.
But most vets say - equally as important - is the check-up a dog receives at the same time.
"As each vet is trying to weigh out the risks in their endemic area, versus the potential side effects," said veterinarian, Jennifer Lavender.
Dr. Jennifer Lavender recently found a life-threatening condition on a dog when it came in for a required vaccine.
"And we found a congenital heart murmur on that puppy and now he's slated for surgery at A&M," she added.
Legal vaccine requirements vary.
Some municipalities still mandate an annual rabies vaccination, regardless of state policy.
Add to that the variations in other so-called "core" vaccines for hepatitis, parvo and distemper.
And the opinions fly.
"Some veterinarians take the position that it's not gonna hurt the dog to give these extra vaccinations, and let's err on the side of precaution... but twice as much isn't necessarily as good," said Don Praeger from the Arlington Humane Society.
"There are some studies that indicate that it can cause an increase in sarcomas which are cancerous tumors," he added.
He - like some owners - administers non-rabies vaccinations himself - to be certain his border collie Rolex doesn't get too much.
But even that can be problematic, if the medicine has not been handled properly.
"Most of the cases of disease that we see are... in animals that have been vaccinated by their owners," said Professor Beaver.
Still, most animal science experts say the vast majority of dogs are better served with regular vaccines - administered on a case-by-case basis by veterinarians.
Factors like age, lifestyle and geography all play a part.
Older dogs don't need most vaccines.
Puppies do.
Hunting dogs need more protection than indoor, urban dogs.
Like humans, each dog needs customized care and each vet needs clients.
And each veterinarian needs to make money, but can - in partnership with an owner - provided critically-important preventative care.
Prevention and a slight prick to keep hounds healthy.

Major headway seen in control of stray cats

THE Doha Municipality’s trap-neuter-return (TNR) programme has treated about 12,000 cats so far and is going strong, Gulf Times was told.Dorothy Smit, who helps run the Qatar Cat Coalition (QCC), which co-ordinates TNR, explained that the programme needs the continued and full co-operation of landlords and residents.The aim of the programme is not the eradication of the feral cat population in Qatar, but rather its stabilisation. There are an estimated 50,000 feral cats in the country.“The cat population actually serves a great purpose in that they control the numbers of insects and rats,” she observed.Volunteers can get involved in the TNR programme, implemented and carried out by the municipality with government funding, by contacting Smit.

Residents who are growing tired of the noise and mess made by cats on their compounds, and animal-lovers alike, could contact Smit who will provide traps so the cats can be neutered and returned.The reason the cats need to be returned, as she explained, is that if they are released elsewhere they attempt to return to their original territory, and this often results in the cats being run over and killed.“Also, an empty compound will only become inhabited with more, un-neutered cats, and so it is better to return the neutered cats which can create a stable population,” Smit said.The municipality also humanely euthanises any unhealthy cats that would otherwise spread infection and disease, creating an unhealthy population.“The number of cats that have been euthanised so far is in line with internationally recognised guidelines for this sort of a programme,” she said.Asked if she believed that the cat population would stand in 10 years, Smit said that Qatar would be in line with European countries which have run similar programmes, and that the cat population would be nearer 10,000 in total.Smit is very hopeful that what has become a problem because of past inadequacies, is solvable, but also recognises the fact that it will take a concerted effort and concentration of resources to make a significant change. “Before this programme, the municipality poisoned stray cats to control the population, which actually does more harm than good in terms of numbers in the long term. And the act of poisoning the cats is despicable and should be punishable,” she said.There have recently been reports of landlords taking the cat issue into their own hands, and laying out poisoned bait in their compounds, but this is highly dangerous, and in fact sets back the TNR programme, because new cats always replace those that have moved on or been killed.Smit recommends that anyone who finds evidence of this practice going on should acquire photographic evidence and leave the bait, which only specialists should touch. Smit, who was once the chairperson of ‘Feline Friends’ in Abu Dhabi, says that although there are more difficulties trying to re-home abandoned animals here, the effects of the TNR programme, and the outlook in Qatar is far advanced compared to other Gulf countries. “Qatar is very forward thinking in this matter, and the free assistance by the government is an indication of this, and there are also plans to introduce a similar programme for dogs.”However, the lack of legal guidance on these issues is a problem. There are certain laws in place to deal with animal welfare, but they are archaic and fail to support the work the people are trying to do here. “At the moment, poisoning feral cats is not actually illegal,” said Smit, “but a new law is being investigated, and hopefully it will soon be a punishable crime.”She said that “although the government is willing and able to help this programme for free, the country does require some sort of Animal Welfare or RSPCA organisation.”“This is to protect and safeguard the rights of animals, provide legal guidelines and assistance, and also educate people here on the subject of pet-owning and other issues,” she added.Anyone wishing to get involved with QCC can call Dorothy on 5880142, or e-mail her at dorothysmit@hotmail.com

All Locked Up, No Place To Go

BRANDON - It doesn't take much to get a dog to wag its tail - a pat on the head, a kind word, a run or a walk in the fresh air.
The dogs that end up at the Hillsborough County Animal Services shelter on Falkenburg Road don't always get those little extras. There's only so many staff members to care for the thousands of abused, neglected or abandoned dogs and cats that stay at the shelter each year.
Its operators hope caring animal lovers will help. Under a new program, volunteers are being welcomed to the shelter to help care for the animals.
Using a combination of resources from animal support organizations, recruits are trained to walk dogs, socialize with cats, clean animal cages, launder blankets and escort people interested in adopting a pet through the maze of cages.
The program, which is in its sixth month, is improving the animals' quality of life and their chances for adoption. Previously, about 10 percent of the shelter's animals were adopted each year and the remainder euthanized. During the first three months of the volunteer program, adoptions were up by 51 percent, in part because volunteers help the animals become more attractive to prospective owners.
About 200 volunteers have signed on to help and contributed more than 6,000 hours so far at the shelter, which houses about 500 to 800 animals on any given day.
Karyn Ringhaver of Apollo Beach volunteers at least one day a week, walking dogs, cleaning cages, laundering animal blankets and performing other duties.
"I love animals. That is why I am here," she said. "There's so much work to do, and they are so understaffed here. I would come every day if I could."
The recent bout of cold weather meant the animals needed more blankets, and there were large piles that needed washing in the hallway of the wing where Ringhaver volunteers.
"Have you ever seen so much laundry?" she asked. Working with two other volunteers, Sue Green and Alyce McCathran of Apollo beach, Ringhaver said by the time the volunteer team wraps up its shift, each dog has enjoyed a walk and has a clean cage, a clean blanket, a treat and a toy.
Marti Ryan, coordinator of community relations for Animal Services, said more volunteers are needed, especially on weekdays.
Money to pay the salary for volunteer coordinator Cathy Carr and other efforts to increase adoption rates comes from a grant from the ASPCA's Mission: Orange and the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. Other agencies working with Animal Services are the Animal Coalition of Tampa Bay and No More Homeless Pets, a coalition of individuals and animal welfare groups.
The ASPCA has committed up to $200,000 to the county for three years with a goal of increasing the homeless pet adoption rate to 50 percent by 2010.
Volunteers can help in a number of ways, Ryan said. They can photograph new arrivals and post the pets' pictures on the shelter's Web site, bathe and groom them, feed them, match animals at the shelter with descriptions of lost pets, assist with veterinarian services and walk and socialize dogs and cats.
"A dog that is clean and well-fed and exercised is happier and will show much better to prospective new owners," she said.
"Having a volunteer who knows the animals and who can escort families looking for a pet to the right one is a big plus," Ryan said. "This is a huge place with hundreds of animals."
Jackie and Joe Osborne and their son Jake, 14, of Valrico, are regular Saturday volunteers at Animal Services. Jackie Osborne, a dog obedience trainer for the past 15 years, supervises Joe in handling larger dogs. Because of an injury, she can't handle the large animals.
The family got involved in animal volunteer work when the older son, Robert, 18, volunteered at a no-kill animal center while the military family was living in North Carolina.
Robert Osborne works with a veterinarian, but the rest of the family has taken up volunteering at Animal Services.
"Jake does the escorting of civilians to the back areas. Because he has been around dogs his whole life, he knows what kind of dog a family might like," Jackie Osborne said. "We do this because we love animals and because we feel it's important to help the communities we live in," she said.
"People need to give Animal Services a chance. They are not the old dog pound. And they are doing the best they can. There is so much work to do, and they are understaffed."

The British Stand Up Paddle Boarding Association is launched

Pets seem to instinctively know exactly where they are going when you put them in your vehicle and they respond accordingly.

Some hate the vet so much that they freak out even before you make it two blocks from the vet's office.
And, when taking your dog in the car to go to the park, it seems as though it can tell and gets really excited.
Some pets love travelling in cars and others turn into characters from Pet Cemetery when they so much as look at a vehicle.
Regardless of the type of pet you have and its fondness for travel, safety is very important.
Especially if your animal freaks out while you're driving, there are many safety factors to consider.
We've come across some great tips for making the best of a pet and owner road trip.
Whether you're heading out to the vet, or across country, you don't want to be remembering the trip because of something bad that happens to your furry loved one.
Take the time to make the right decisions and protect your pet like you would your child.

Zoo fears as polar bear eats cubs

German zookeepers in Nuremberg will bottle-feed a four-week-old polar bear and rear it away from its mother after concerns the mother would eat her cub, officials said Thursday.

The cub, which doesn't yet have a name, was being cared for at Nuremberg City Zoo, where it was resting under heat lamps and is drinking formula.
"It's gaining weight, it's very hungry, it drinks a lot of milk," said Alexandra Foghammar, a spokeswoman for the city. The zoo announced Thursday that the cub is female.
Wednesday, the zoo said keepers decided to take the cub away from its mother, Vera, because the mother was showing signs of being upset and confused, taking her baby in and out of the animals' enclosure.
"We were 100 percent sure that the baby was going to die if we didn't take it away from her," Nuremberg zoo director Dag Encke told Time magazine. "This would have been a death verdict for the cub."
The zoo confirmed earlier this week that its other female polar bear, Vilma, had eaten her two offspring. The zoo said it feared Vera would do the same, so it took her cub away as a precaution.
Since then, the cub is thriving in the care of humans, but Vera seems to miss her cub, Foghammar said.
"The mother is a little bit nervous," she said. "She walks around and is searching for the baby, but the responsible persons for the zoo say this is normal. It will continue for three or four days. It's a normal situation."
The zookeepers are pondering whether to bring another adult bear, possibly the cub's father, Felix, to the zoo to help Vera overcome her loss, and are seeking another small bear to serve as a companion for the rescued cub, Time reported.
The zoo said a keeper entered Vilma's enclosure Monday and noticed that her two cubs were nowhere to be found.
The zoo said it assumes Vilma ate her young because she believed the cubs were sick, though zookeepers say the cubs were last seen on Sunday and appeared in good health.
But Foghammar told Time that the separation of the bears was bad for the "principle of wildlife conservation" at the zoo: "Now the cub will not grow up to act in a natural way, just as the mother lacked the experience to bring up a cub."
The plight of the cub follows the case last year of Knut, a cub rejected by its mother at Berlin Zoo who became the focus of a media frenzy after animal rights campaigners called for it to be killed, claiming it had become too dependent on humans.

Rovers could be free to roam as council unleashes canine plans

SYDNEY'S parks are going to the dogs. The City of Sydney is considering allowing the furry, four-legged creatures to run around unleashed in 50 of its parks and reserves at any time of the day.
The proposal has delighted inner-city dog owners who want to be able to exercise their pets close to their homes. But others are upset about the potential for increased numbers of dogs rummaging through private picnics, leaving faeces on public grounds and attacking people.
Canines can presently play freely in only 21 of the city's 350 parks, with dog owners forced to schedule their pets' exercise times before 8am or after 6pm in all but two of these areas.
The proposed changes would extinguish the time restrictions and add a further 29 areas, including Cook and Phillip Park, Rushcutters Bay Park and the parklands along the Glebe foreshore, to the list of places where dogs can roam without a leash.
However, children's playgrounds and food preparation zones, such as barbecues, would remain off-limits to dogs. Restricted breeds, such as American pit bull terriers and Brazilian fighting dogs, would have to be leashed and muzzled in public places.
The Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, said extra off-leash areas would have numerous benefits, including a decrease in uncontrolled barking.
"Additional off-leash areas for exercising and socialising dogs are particularly important in the city where people tend to live in apartments and terrace houses with limited private open space."
More than 15,000 dogs and cats are registered within the City of Sydney region. Twenty dog attacks were reported in the last financial year. The Department of Local Government says about 70 per cent of attacks occur in public areas, but only 6 per cent of these happen in parks.
The council has received more than 250 submissions about the proposal, which is open for public comment until February 1. The split between those in favour and those against it was about 50-50, a council spokesman said.
A Redfern resident, Gina Fairley, said the council was giving preference to dogs over people. "Our public parks are shared zones. The concern is that they no longer become really a shared zone. The priority is given to an animal over pedestrians, the elderly, the disabled and children."
She said she recently attended a picnic at Rushcutters Bay where a dog snatched food out of her friend's child's mouth.
"This young four-year-old was quite traumatised and the owner of the dog accused us of giving [the dog] a chicken bone which could catch in the dog's throat."
People walking dogs in Glebe yesterday were largely supportive of the council's plan. "Most of the dogs around here are pretty well-trained … so there will be no problem there," said Justin Demovic, who takes his dog, Mia, for a walk once or twice a day. "She hates being on the lead."

ANIMALS MUSTN'T BE LEFT DUMPED

Cheltenham Animal Shelter is furious pet owners are treating animals like objects after record numbers were dumped at its doors last year.More than 1,000 dogs and cats were left in 2007 and it has 65 unwanted pets at the moment.Manager Tony Bell fears the number will increase as people get rid of unwanted Christmas presents.From January to November 2007, 752 dogs and 217 cats were left at the shelter. This is up from 649 and 116 in 2006. The number of dogs dumped has now risen to 820 and as space runs out Tony said the shelter will have to make tough decisions about putting animals down.

He said: "You get a lot of old pets dumped before Christmas as people plan to get new animals, and then after Christmas when people get animals they don't want."The next peak is when people go back to school and work and realise how much work is involved in looking after a pet. Then, in April andMay, when the animals reach adolescence and become more of a handful we receive a lot."People treat animals as disposable. Like a toaster or ironing board, when it's no longer what they want they throw it away and buy a new one."Tony said people are open about their reasons for dumping their pets, and rarely have a good excuse."One person said they had their house redecorated and the dog no longer matched, I couldn't believe it. As animal lovers we just can't understand this selfish, heartless mentality," he said"It's got to the point we sometimes refuse to take the animals and make the owner take responsibility."People need to seriously consider years of care and vets' bills."Once an animal's more than three years old it's hard to rehome, and after six, almost impossible."Cheltenham Animal Shelter is a charity. Its annual running cost is £500,000.n Anyone wanting to take on a pet that needs rehousing should call the centre on 01242 523521.

Have dog, will travel (but safely)

Debbie Lustig suggests ways to prevent a driving holiday from going to the dogs.
During the holiday season, dogs will journey to the furthest corners of the country on trips with their human owners and it's up to us to ensure they travel and arrive safely.
Restraint
There are no laws about restraining dogs in cars in Victoria, although they must be tethered when in utes and trailers.
Vet Shaun Wynne from the Whitehorse Veterinary Hospital recalls a man and woman who had been in an accident several years ago: "They had glass injuries on the forearms and head, and brought their dog in before they took themselves to hospital. The dog sustained a back injury. It hadn't been restrained."
And Kim, a vet nurse from Mount Waverley Animal Emergency Centre, says: "We see dogs jumping out the window that's wound down too far, getting injured by jumping from a moving car. It happens every couple of months, depending on the season."
Dr Wynne thinks the safety message is getting through. "One of the things we're finding is that there is generally less trauma to dogs because people are looking after them better," he says. "We sell a lot of harnesses."
Harnesses are also available at pet shops and vet clinics.
Dehydration and heat stress
These are serious problems for dogs, which are less effective at controlling their body temperature than us. A dog pants to cool down, but if it doesn't drink enough water, it will begin to dehydrate.
Dogs can also become heat stressed, which is simply high body temperature. Generally dehydration comes with it, but it doesn't have to.
If left in a hot car, a dog can suffer heat stress in as little as 15 minutes.
"Your dog can be dead by the time you find it if it's there for long enough," a vet warns. That's regardless of the dog's size. "It's all about ambient temperature, so if it's 40 outside, it's 60 in the car."
Affected dogs pant quickly and are lethargic. If heat-stressed, they need to be seen by a vet immediately. Breeds with pushed-in snouts (boxers, pugs, bulldogs, etc) are at higher risk of heat stress.
Provide your dog with plenty of water, especially during summer - they should drink 60-100 millilitres of water per kilogram of their bodyweight per day.
Lightweight canvas bowls are ideal for travelling dogs, and there's an ingenious bottle available that inverts into a pan and, when squeezed, decants water.

Abandoned poodle left in cold on side of road prompts attention to animal care in bitter cold

UTICA - The Stevens Swan Humane Society took in a small dog this morning that was left out in the cold. Now the shelter is looking for its owner, or any information about the dog.

The staff at Stevens Swan says the small poodle was found stranded on the side of the road inside a hand bag. The dog now seems to be fine, but the shelter is looking for some answers.
A small poodle, possible poodle-mix was found in a hand bag on Whitesboro Street early Wednesday morning. The man who brought the dog in says he was driving and noticed the bag moving on the side of the road.
The staff says they aren't sure if the dog was meant to be abandoned or if it was an accident.
"If you do own the dog, we need to see proof of ownership of the dog, which means we need to see rabies vaccination tags, that kind of thing," said Kathy Contino-Turner of the Humane Society. "We will keep him for 5 days and if no one claims her she will be up for adoption."
Since tonight will be bitter cold, the Humane Society has offered some tips to help keep your pets safe:
*They say provide outdoor pets with a dry insulated pet house. In fact, bring them in tonight even if its just the garage.
*They want to remind everyone to clean up all the spills, especially in the driveway where anti-freeze could leak.
*Pets that are used to being indoors need to have their beds elevated off the floor.
*Finally, they say cats often nap on peoples engines. So before you start your car knock on your hood or honk your horn. Then wait a few minutes before starting the car.
As for the abandoned poodle, he saw the doctor on staff at the shelter, and seems to be in good health.
If you have any information you can call the Humane Society at 738-4357