Duggan Dogs

Can anyone help?

2010-09-03T19:38:00.003-03:00

Some dear friends of mine saved a young dog from the needle nearly 8 years ago. A male pure bred Springer Spaniel. He was bought as a puppy by a South end woman who got him because he was the en vogue breed at the time. He lived his life locked in a basement and only to be taken out to Point Pleasant Park to be flaunted. After a couple years he was no longer the fashionable breed and the woman was going to have him put down. My friend offered to take the dog off her hands. He was very aggressive towards children and other dogs, even just the sounds of them sent him over the edge. Through training and patience my friends brought him around to be a fairly well behaved dog, although he still doesn't like other dogs or children.

They were married a couple years ago and recently had a baby girl. They were getting along fine, but the dog still showed some aggression towards the baby... but 95% of the time was quite good with her. Then a couple weeks ago the child fell onto the dog and he bit her.

They are going to have the dog euthanized, but called me first to see if another home could be found. I do believe they love this dog, they put so much into him, but they said they just would never forgive themselves if he seriously injured their daughter.

I tried all avenues I know, but no one can take him. He is running out of time. If anyone can help or knows of someone who can help. He would make a wonderful companion for someone. He is loving and a lap dog. He is ten years old but in good health. If you know of any avenues I could pursue please let me know.

Beniot is at it again

2010-05-25T09:26:00.003-03:00

Gail Beniot is at it again!

She is trying to sell her puppies under an alias. She is looking for a home in Dartmouth to set up shop. She is meeting people in parking lots in the area right now and selling sick or unchosen puppies and running off with the money.

Be smart people! Do not buy a puppy out of a van in a parking lot! Get a puppy from a registered breeder on their property, so you can see exactly how the puppies and parents are cared for, or from a shelter. Shelters get puppies too, and you'd be surprised how many benefits there are from getting an older dog.

Research before you buy!

For more info on Gail Beniot:
http://dogkisser.blogspot.com/search/label/gail%20benoit
gailbenoit.ca

Entire Dog Lost, Delta Offers $200 Credit

2010-05-10T12:59:00.000-03:00

http://consumerist.com/2010/05/delta-loses-entire-dog.html

Entire Dog Lost, Delta Offers $200 Credit
By Ben Popken on May 7, 2010 11:00 AM

Where's Paco? Josiah doesn't know, his girlfriend doesn't know, someone at Delta might know. After all, Delta was supposed to load Josiah's new dog on the same plane that Josiah got on. Paco didn't land with them. Frantic, Josiah called around desperately before being told that Paco was safe and sound, being taken care of by Delta employees, who would put him on the next flight out. Paco wasn't on that one either. More harried calls and Delta told Josiah Paco had "escaped" and the best they could do is refund his $200.00 pet transportation fee, but only as a "credit" for future Delta travel. That doesn't do Josiah any good, as he's vowed to never fly Delta again. Here's his story, and more adorable/sad puppy pictures:

UPDATE: Delta Offers $380 Plus 2 More $200 Vouchers For Lost Pooch

UPDATE: Delta spokesperson Susan Elliott says, "This is extremely rare for a situation like this to happen." She says that they are going to be offering Josiah "additional compensation as well as our sincere apology."

UPDATE: Josiah says the dog was vaccinated four days prior to the flight for rabies, kennel cough, and giardia, and given two other drugs, Canigen L Canigen MHA2PPi. He says the vet told him that the dog only needed to be vaccinated 3 days before flying.

It should be noted that the rabies vaccine is not considered effective until 30 days after administration.

However, even if this was a factor, Josiah says he was not asked to show any proof of the dog's shots and Delta personnel told that this would be asked for in customs in Detroit.

“
Hi, my name is Josiah and I recently travelled to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with Delta Airlines, and I am so appalled by them I can't stand it. I booked my flights online, and that part went smoothly, but that's the only good part of my traveling with them. I flew out of Detroit Metro in the early morning of April 24th 2010, and flew to Atlanta to catch a transfer which would take me to Puerto Vallarta. After arriving about an hour late and having to run to catch my plane, they said that they weren't boarding any more passengers, but were taking an extra fifteen minutes to load all the baggage on the plane. When we arrived in Puerto Vallarta I was informed that, along with most people who were on the original flight from Detroit, my baggage never left the Atlanta airport, and I had to wait until the next day to receive all of my clothes and necessities for traveling.

Now, while I know that this isn't too out of the ordinary, and that airlines have baggage delayed quite commonly, the next issue is one that is completely unacceptable and should never happen regardless of circumstances. When in Mexico, my girlfriend and I rescued a stray dog which our hosts said had been seen all over the town. We took him to the vet's, got him all of his shots, an eye infection treated, two baths to clean him from hundreds of dog ticks that were covering his whole body, and gave him the name Paco. After this treatment at the vet clinic, we had to spend multiple additional hours picking more ticks from his body. We soon discovered that this dog was a very lucky find, and that it would be loyal and friendly to my girlfriend and I. It would walk by my side along the beach and along the sidewalks, went to the washroom outside, didn't bark at cars or other dogs, and would sleep on the bed next to us curled up in a ball quite contently. My girlfriend and I were both very excited to take him back home to Canada with us, and we quite readily paid for an airline approved pet carrier and the costs associated with checking a pet on an airplane to travel as baggage, as he was too big to be taken as carry-on.

Everything went smoothly traveling with AeroMéxico from Puerto Vallarta to Mexico City, where we had a five hour layover. We took the dog out so he could go to the bathroom and stretch his legs in-between our flights, and two hours before we departed from Mexico City to Detroit Metro we checked him with Delta for the flight. It took us a whole hour to check the dog because Delta said that the pet carrier we purchased was not big enough, despite the vet who treated the dog saying it was large enough, and it meeting all the criteria such as the dog being able to turn around and stand up. We spent the hour trying to convince the Delta employee that the carrier was large enough, and after seeing two separate supervisors, we had to sign a waiver saying that if my dog Paco received any injuries as a result of the size of the carrier, that Delta Airlines was not responsible.

After the fiasco of the size of the carrier being an issue, they assured us that Paco would be alright and transported safely to Detroit. However, when we arrived in Detroit and waited for twenty minutes at the pet claim, we began to suspect that something was wrong. We spent two hours in the Detroit Metro Airport trying to sort out what had happened to our dog, and we were told that it was never loaded on the plane in the first place, and that it was forgotten in Mexico City but would be cared for by Delta employees and walked, fed, watered, and would be sent on the next flight to Detroit, and then get delivered to my house in Ontario, Canada.

When I called Delta the following day to ask if Paco had been flown to Detroit yet, no one seemed to have any answers or have any idea about the location of my dog. I was shocked. I had been told explicitly that my dog was being cared for in Mexico City by Delta until he could be flown and delivered to me, and now they were telling me that they didn't know where my dog was. I had my host in Mexico call the Mexico City Airport to get some answers, and she spent hours being transferred from person to person, each one having no idea what happened to my dog, she was finally told that my dog had somehow escaped from the carrier and disappeared. I do not believe for a second that Paco escaped from his carrier. It was a very secure hard plastic pet carrier with two locks and a metal wire door, and there is no way a small dog (he looked like a mix of a wiener dog and a jack russell) could scratch or break his way out of it.

If indeed he did somehow manage to escape from the carrier, why would I not have been informed of this in the first place? I was told that he was accounted for and being cared for in Mexico City, then that no one had any idea where he was, and then that he had escaped from the carrier.

There is no excuse for this kind of situation to take place, and I expect that when you pay to have a live animal flown with you to take him home, that Delta Airlines would take every precaution and action needed to make sure that is what happens. My dog is likely either still in his carrier in a corner, having not eaten or drank for over 48 hours, or he is lost in the Mexico City Airport terrified and starving.

The only thing Delta has tried to do to rectify this situation is offering their apology and refunding the cost for transporting a pet ($200.00USD) in a credit to be used with Delta Airlines. I think that this is completely absurd as there is no chance of me flying with Delta Airlines again.

”

That really sucks, Josiah. At the very least, Delta should give that $200 as a full refund. And as commenter tungstencoil points out, try asking them to return to you the dog carrier. It's your property, and making them produce it could force some honesty out of the situation.

We've reached out to Delta for comment.

East Coast German Shepherd Rescue

2010-05-07T08:43:00.002-03:00

There are still some tweaks to be made, and some links that don't work... but I have finally finished the ECGSR site design and have it up and running at their new domain name.

http://ecgsrescue.com/

Nova Scotia Coyote Cull

2010-04-29T08:18:00.003-03:00

So this whole Nova Scotia Coyote Cull is getting under my skin.

Come on! It's bad enough during deer season I have to be scared for my safety and the safety of my dogs. Now you're going to let a bunch of gun-happy yahoos run around the woods shooting animals that look just like my dogs? REALLY?? And not only that, PAY them for the hides?? What year is this again? What country do we live in?

Bounties have been proven NOT to work, over and over and over again. Even the people supporting it seem to admit this. So why then? Why are we doing this. Why are we putting our communities at risk? It makes no sense to me.

If you tend to agree, join the facebook group:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=119982324679715

and write your MLA!
http://gov.ns.ca/legislature/MEMBERS/directory/alpha.html

Seaview Park petition

2010-04-20T14:07:00.004-03:00

Do you use Seaview park? It's our favorite park in HRM, and the only one where we can feel really safe and free.

There is a petition going around to have the off-leash park of the park fenced off from the leashed part, which I think is pretty great.

Check it out!
http://seaviewpark.blogspot.com/2010/04/petition-is-ready.html

Lost dog!

2010-03-25T09:09:00.000-03:00

Dogs available soon

2010-03-18T10:41:00.001-03:00

These dogs should be here at or around April 1st.

Please ask around and crosspost to your lists.

They also need old blankets donated. Any volunteers for the drive to NH?

http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/15929236?rvp=1%3f
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/11448784
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/15738560

Pulled out the day they were supposed to die:
http://www.athenspets.net/?p=9910
http://www.athenspets.net/?p=9914

Saving Raina - update

2010-03-15T13:17:00.008-03:00

Raina was saved. A local Georgia shelter took her in. Good news indeed!

Now of course, I see on my facebook wall so many other dogs in the same place Raina was that are about to be killed. Their time is up as of today.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=14093&id=100000500693168&ref=nf

East Coast German shepherd rescue is trying to find sponsors for any of these dogs, to get them out of there and to Nova Scotia where they'll have time to find the loving home they deserve. If you can afford a few dollars to help one of these pups out please let Leah Parsons or myself know.

Saving Raina

2010-03-12T18:48:00.004-04:00

Raina is a pregnant 2 year old shepherd lab mix. She is currently living in a high-kill animal Shelter in Georgia. This shelter gives each dog 5 business days before they are euthanized.

Raina has until Tuesday. If she is not pulled out of there by then her and her unborn puppies will be euthanized.

Leah Parsons, of East Coast German Shepherd Rescue is trying to save Raina. She needs $135 to transport her to NH, where she can stay with friends of Leah until she can be picked up and brought to NS.

I have been trying to raise money. So far I have been able to find 9 people who are willing to give $10 each. If you'd like to help Raina and her puppies please let me know!

http://www.athenspets.net/?p=10089

PETA has 97% kill rate in 2009

2010-03-11T09:08:00.002-04:00

Today I sadly must direct your attention to the blog of Nathan Winograd. The 2009 numbers are in, and it's a sad thing indeed. I urge you to post this to every social account you have. Your twitter, your facebook, your blog... People need to know that when they give their hard-earned money to PETA this is what they're supporting.

The numbers are finally in. In 2009, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) impounded 2,366 animals. They killed 2,301 and found homes for only 8. Another 31 were transferred to killing shelters and their fates are unknown. That’s a 97% rate of killing.

http://www.nathanwinograd.com/?p=3116

Lost dog

2010-03-02T14:41:00.002-04:00

Price/Offer $500 reward
Location Eastern Passage
Description Lost puppy on February 26 during the storm.She is a 7 month old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.She is 9 lbs and was wearing a pink collar.We are desperate to have her back home.Thank you.
Contact Detail Andrea Allen 401-0670

From http://catanddogmother.blogspot.com/2010/03/lost-puppy-50000-reward.html

WTF - Boy accused of abusing family cat

2010-01-19T11:57:00.003-04:00

There are no words for this kind of sick. This "boy" should be locked up and in padded room for the rest of his life. There is no cure for this, no amount of therapy can help someone like this.

Boy accused of [sexually] abusing family cat http://thechronicleherald.ca/Metro/1163024.html

More on Vick

2010-01-11T10:07:00.003-04:00

Our society lavishes this man - or should I say monster - with fortune and fame. I don't care how well he plays a damn game, he doesn't deserve the life he has. I can only hope that karma takes a huge pit bull sized bite out of his ass sooner than later.

If I had to spend a day with either Tiger or Vick, believe me, Tiger would win by a landslide. Tiger is just a guy who can't keep it in his pants (aren't most pro athletes like this?), Vick is a blood thirsty monster that gets off on torturing and killing dogs. You know how murderers (i.e. the kind that kill people) start out? By killing animals. But for some reason Tiger's indiscretions are getting way more press than Vick's murders.

"In April 2007, Vick tested several dogs to determine if they had the predisposition to fight and if they were capable of winning. Vick ordered six or eight dogs destroyed because they did not meet his standards. The witness said Vick personally helped drown three or four dogs, a process that took two people to hold the animal’s legs while the dog’s head was held under water. Vick also hung dogs. The witness told investigators Vick, Peace and Phillips “seemed to get an ‘adrenaline high’ when killing the dogs."

http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-falcons/report-michael-vick-got-271212.html

Dog bed research

2009-12-09T09:26:00.003-04:00

So I've been calling the local pet supplies shops, asking about Bowsers dog beds. We want to get Keely and Cash new beds for Christmas. It will cost us a pretty penny, since they're over 100$ each for the XL and we need to get 2. Anyway, pretty much all the local places have then between $130 and $150, which is what I expected since the first one I saw at The Hound was around $130. But one place in the city had a very different price. Bark & Fitz quoted me $229 for the XL bed in a phone message. I am still wondering if somehow the sales girl made a mistake.

SPCA supplies drive

2009-12-08T09:02:00.005-04:00

In case anyone local to me reads this blog:

I am doing a supplies drive for the Metro shelter of the Nova Scotia SPCA. If there is anything you'd like to donate I'd be happy to pick it up.

Have old towels and blankets laying around? How about some Canadian Tire money that's just cluttering up your drawer? Any animal supplies, cleaning supplies, and office supplies would be greatly appreciated! And you don't have to do a thing! I will come to your door and pick it up.

I am taking donations to the shelter on December 17, so please let me know before then!

I and the many homeless pets this Christmas thank you!

For other donation ideas please see http://www.metro.spcans.ca/donations.html

2009-12-05T19:16:00.001-04:00

Season's Greetings!

Keey & Cash go to the groomer

2009-11-27T16:00:00.002-04:00

Cash has never been to the groomer before. They both smell great and look great :) Thanks "The Hound".

NFL announcer

2009-11-26T21:43:00.003-04:00

Flicking through the channels. Giants vrs Broncos is on. Almost immediately after the channel is on the announcer says "this guy is like a pitbull: once he's on you it's hard to get him off". I lost my mind. This guy seriously just used a pitbull analogy announcing a NFL game? Seriously? Insensitive prick.

A picture of Oreo

2009-11-26T13:34:00.004-04:00

Recent tweet by Nathan Winograd (@nwinograd).

A photo reputed to be taken right before the "aggressive" Oreo was killed. You decide: http://pic.gd/9ffc79

It made me very sad and very angry.

Oreo was a miracle dog that became the victim of the very people that saved her from an abusive situation and who were supposed to protect her and take care of her. She was murdered because she was deemed to aggressive to live, even at an animal sanctuary who offered to take her in.

Georgia Dogs

2009-11-23T16:18:00.008-04:00

http://www.nshomelesspets.com/georgia.htm

These beautiful dogs were saved just in time from the gas chambers of the southern USA. If you're interested in adopting one of these lovey dogs, please contact Leah of East Coast German Shepherd Rescue - http://www.nsgsrescue.com/index2.html

I secretly want Bandit for myself... but I know that another dog wouldn't go over too well with the husband ;)

Cash's birtday at the park

2009-11-22T19:34:00.011-04:00

Cash had a wonderful time at the park. He even got a few presents! Lots of people and their pups showed, and Cash was in his glory.

Keely enjoyed focusing on one dog for a few minutes then the next, as she usually does. She was fairly smitten with Rocky.

I even got to meet Gary! The minute I saw him I said "For the love of the Jowl!" Glad you liked my cookies Gary! You are even more adorable in person, I didn't think that was possible!

In case anyone who was at the park and whose doggie got a taste of my gingerbread cookies, here is the recipe by Julie van Rosendaal (printed in Dogs In Canada - December 2008 issue):

Gingerbread men

2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 cup dark molasses
1/4 cup water
1 large egg
2 tbsp canola or olive oil

1. Preheat oven to 350F

2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and ginger. In a small bowl, whisk together the molasses, water, egg, and oil. Add to the dry ingredients and stir just until you have a soft dough.

3. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out about 1/4 inch thick. Cut into gingerbread men or any other shape you like with a cookie cutter, glass rim, or knife. Transfer to an un-greased cookie sheet.

4. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until firm. Let them cool on the cookie sheet, or turn the oven off and leave them inside for several hours to harden as they cool.

Another healthy dog killed by "saviors"

2009-11-17T14:58:00.010-04:00

http://www.petsalive.com/oreo.html

http://www.examiner.com/x-16635-SF-Animal-Shelters-Examiner~y2009m11d16-The-meaning-of-Oreo

http://petsalive.com/blog/2009/11/14/failing-oreo/

Oreo survived after she was intentionally thrown from a 6th story window. She was taken in by the ASPCA, who nursed her back to health, miraculously she recovered from her physical wounds. She was dubbed "miracle dog". Her emotional wounds, however, did not heal. That is when the ASPCA decided to kill her instead of giving her a real second chance at life. Pets Alive offered to take Oreo into their sanctuary. If she could never be rehabilitated from her emotional wounds, she would live her life out on the animal sanctuary. The ASPCA, knowing this option for Oreo, still chose death.

I think what makes this case disturbing to people is that Oreo had somewhere else to go and the ASPCA seemingly didn't even consider that option. Based on the photos and research I did on Pets Alive, it didn't seem like she would have a bad quality of life there even if she couldn't be rehabilitated, and poor quality of life is the reason she was killed. What also makes this case unnerving is that in all the photos in the media of Oero, she looks beautiful and friendly.

I don't really understand why the ASPCA would take all the time and money nursing her back to health from her physical wounds and not try to also heal her emotional wounds, so I can only assume that they did... but I still can't understand why they wouldn't at least give Pets Alive a chance to give Oreo a second chance.

I personally don't agree with euthanasia expect for in extreme cases, mainly when the animal is so ill they are in constant pain.

Slide show: http://www.examiner.com/examinerslideshow.html?entryid=757260

Cash's birthday

2009-11-17T08:50:00.003-04:00

Cash will be two on the 27th. To celebrate we're heading to Seaview park this Sunday (the 22nd) - weather permitting (cold we're fine with, it's the rain Keely can't stand). Please join us there for some fun!

I am hoping I have time to make some dog carrot cake or peanut butter cookies to bring along. :)

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=209671645335&ref=nf

Pet exposure

2009-11-16T10:10:00.003-04:00

I just got back from a quick weekend trip of cross-boarder shopping with my mother and my best friend. Good news: my Christmas shopping is basically complete.

Being in the malls in the states reminded me of something I had since pushed out of my brain (as I noticed it last year when I was there for work), there are pet stores in the malls. These store mostly just sell puppies from what I could tell (I couldn't bring myself to have more than a general glimpse toward the cries). My heart would break any time we neared one of these stores and I would ask my shopping companions if we could turn in the other direction. These stores were just filled with people... and if I was well armed with brochures and pamphlets that applied to the US I probably would have went in there and litter the place with them and high tailed it out of there to avoid a fine.

It all goes back to public education. I bet 95% of those people in that store wouldn't buy their dog from there if they knew the cycle of misery and pain they were feeding. If that wasn't enough, if they knew that a pet from there would almost be guaranteed to be unhealthy and cost them thousands of dollars at the vet.

Then I started thinking about why those stores are so jammed with people looking at the cute puppies behind glass. Then I thought - rescues should do this. Rescues should feature some of their adoptables in a mall behind glass. So much exposure, so much opportunity to educate. I am sure I am not the first to think of this... and I am guessing cost is the one major factor that keeps rescues from doing this kind of thing. In general tho, taking the animals to the people... that's the real key here. Exposure.

Happy Halloween

2009-11-02T10:04:00.017-04:00

People in the neighborhood were so impressed with the dogs being dressed up last year, some even brought them milk bones when they brought their kids trick-or-treating to our place.

Here are some from last year: Halloween 2008

Please help Cookie

2009-10-29T11:28:00.007-03:00

Meet Cookie.
She needs your help!

Cookie is a young boxer who needs a helping hand. Cookie was hit by a car when she
was about 6 months old. Her owner assumed that she was going to die anyway so he
didn’t take her to a vet. Instead, he just left her tied up outside. Cookie had other plans though – she didn’t die. She was left there for a year though. She now has a head tilt and is completely blind from her accident, but is such a sweet, wonderful girl. She has spastic entropian in one eye, which is quite painful. She needs surgery to correct it, or to have that eye removed.

To help Cookie, East Coast Collars is donating all sales proceeds to her until we can
reach this goal. Please visit www.eastcoastcollars.com and place your order now. Cookie needs you! You may also donate by visiting www.boxerrescueatlanticcanada.com.

Cookie thanks you!

awwww

2009-10-26T09:19:00.000-03:00

Can you help?

2009-10-23T11:33:00.000-03:00

From Leah, founder of East Coast German Shepherd Rescue:

Hi Everyone,

I have approximately 10 dogs that we have rescued from High Kill Gassing Shelters in Georgia. Through many collaborative efforts the dogs are now in N.Hampshire but the money for gas has run out. They are safe in a boarding facility via a friend.The dog's vet certificates to get them across the boarder will expire if I do not get the dogs soon. I am BEGGING for a donation of any amount to make sure that these dogs get here to me safe and sound so I can work on getting these wonderful dogs homes. They have travelled far and need to make the final journey. I would like to meet the dogs at the Maine/New Brunswick. To those of you who already gave towards the vetting, I thank you.

Leah Parsons
East Coast German Shepherd Rescue
www.nsgsrescue.com

2009-10-19T09:25:00.004-03:00

This little girl sounds just amazing. If we were looking for another cat (or two... you wouldn't want to separate her from her brother she loves so dearly) I would be all over this little one.

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13742022

125 German shepherd dogs need your help!

2009-10-08T13:14:00.003-03:00

I just received an email from the lady who runs the rescue where we got Keely:

Hi Everyone,

I am in the middle of co-ordinating a transport of German Shepherds that are going to be euthanized if they are not moved out of Texas by the end of the month. There are 125 dogs and I am trying to take as many as possible. I am doing a mass call out for foster people. If you could take a dog to foster until adopted, it would be great help to us at the rescue.

Please let me know if you can help.

Leah
East Coast German Shepherd Rescue
http://www.nsgsrescue.com/

Please spread the word and help if you can. Fostering is a great way to help an animal without any cost to you (just some love and time).

From what I understand, a rescue in Texas is shutting down and all the animals that were living there are due to be euthanized. :(

Great news!

2009-10-08T08:53:00.003-03:00

Remember this girl?

http://halifax.kijiji.ca/c-pets-other-We-have-Champ-Home-Thank-You-W0QQAdIdZ159843951

Wanted to let those of you who were in contact with us about our lost dog that we have her home!!

Seven weeks ago we were on vacation in Nova Scotia and our dog ran away from Dorthea Drive in Dartmouth. We have been posting ads here on kijiji looking for her and we have heard from so may of you saying you were watching out her our Champ for us. We got a call yesterday from Animal Services that they had our dog! We do not know a lot of detail but apparentyly someone had claimed her for their own and after an investigation they were able to determine that she was our dog and they picked her up from the home. Thank you so much to all who were helping us, special thank you to who ever made HRM Animal Services aware of our dog being in this person's home and a big Thank You to HRM Animal Services for not closing and giving up on our file. Champ made the trip from Dartmouth back home to Oromocto, NB last night. My family is so happy to have her home as is she!!

Curb the separation anxiety

2009-10-07T09:21:00.002-03:00

So we have successfully curbed Cash's separation anxiety. He had never had anything like this, but we left him over night alone (with Keely and the cats) one night and since then he has been somewhat destructive when we're away during the day. I got some advice from the wonderful Yahoo NS dog group and tried a few things. The solution? One word: Kong.

Each morning, the last thing I do before we leave for work is give them both a Kong (most of the time frozen) filled with different things each day. Now they both can't wait for us to leave, and instead of getting upset and anxious about our morning routine and us leaving, they're excited because they're looking forward to the Kong.

Anti-Vick Shirt Barred From Game: Fan

2009-10-02T08:30:00.002-03:00

The United States of America: Land of the free?

Really? Free? As in, freedom of speech? Not from what I see here.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33092383/ns/local_news-philadelphia_pa/

Anti-Vick Shirt Barred From Game: Fan

By Teresa Masterson
NBCPhiladelphia.com
updated 5:49 a.m. ET Oct. 2, 2009

An Eagles fan says that she was stopped from entering Sunday's game at Lincoln Financial Field because she was wearing a T-shirt chastising quarterback Michael Vick , reports philly.com

Broomall resident Kori Martin, 32, says that security guards at the gate would not allow her into the stadium until she turned her T-shirt inside out.

The offending shirt had Vick’s name and number crossed out and the words “Losers fight pitbulls” on the front, as well as “You don’t deserve a second chance,” on the back.

"Not only has Jeffrey Lurie and the Eagles organization supported a dog murderer by signing this convict," the Broomall resident told philly.com, "but now they want to take away my freedom of speech just because I don't agree with them?"

The gate security guards told her that the shirt was offensive to players and that it was banned by a policy that came down from the top, says Martin.

Eagles Vice President of Public Affairs Pamela Browner Crawley told philly.com that she’s never heard of any such policy banning shirts.

Lost dog

2009-10-01T08:45:00.004-03:00

I went on Kijiji to update my dog costume ad, and I saw this:

http://halifax.kijiji.ca/c-pets-other-REWARD-for-terrier-missing-southwest-W0QQAdIdZ157149873

It made me very sad. Over 3 years and they're still looking... if you've seen this girl or adopted/know someone who adopted a female terrier about 3 years ago please take a look. Sometimes lost pets get adopted out and the whole time the owners are looking for them.

I want to go!

2009-09-24T08:39:00.002-03:00

This will show people how beautiful shelter pets are.

The Garland Animal Shelter in Texas is gasing animals - part 2

2009-09-22T13:05:00.003-03:00

The latest on that terrible animal shelter in TX.

http://yesbiscuit.blogspot.com/2009/09/tx-newspaper-exposes-killings-at.html

Using carbon monoxide on such animals is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine for each charge.

On June 1, 2007, five kittens were brought to Garland's Abe Tuggle Animal Shelter and Adoption Center at 9:31 p.m. Shelter records show they were gassed between 9:32 p.m. and 9:43 p.m.

The Garland Animal Shelter in Texas is gasing animals

2009-09-17T12:09:00.002-03:00

Disgusting!

Garland health officials say carbon monoxide and lethal injection by Sodium Pentothal are equally humane.

http://yesbiscuit.blogspot.com/2009/09/garland-shelter-pets-draw-short-straw.html

This should not be happening in a country that deems itself civilized and advanced.

I will not watch the video... I can only imagine, and with my imagination, that's bad enough and makes me want to vomit.

Halloween costumes for sale

2009-09-16T19:07:00.002-03:00

I think I found a buyer for Cash's batman costume. Keely's cheerleader costume is still up for grabs!

http://halifax.kijiji.ca/c-pets-accessories-Halloween-dog-costume-cheerleader-XL-W0QQAdIdZ155606684

Cash wants Keely's Kong

2009-09-16T08:08:00.016-03:00

Cash is completely 100% food driven. He also gobbles down anything he can get as quickly as possible. In this sequence of webcam shots we see Cash has finished his morning frozen Kong (it's sitting on the empty bed), and Keely is still working on hers.

The only Kong Keely will not give up even with such persistence from Cash is one filled with wet dog food (and kibble and cheese pieces). God bless her for being so patient with him... I would think any other dog would have long growled/snapped/grabbed at him by now. She just completely ignores him and continues working on her Kong. He eventually snagged the Kong from Keely.

Gary the dog

2009-09-15T13:11:00.004-03:00

Possibly the best picture of any dog ever in life - (click on it to get the large version to get the full effect)

Gary, Heather's dog. http://www.jowls.blogspot.com/

2009-09-14T11:39:00.000-03:00

What the hell is wrong with people?!

http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/story/1435353.html

Bullet, a yellow Lab shot four times, now recovering at Wayside Waifs

By SARA SHEPHERD
The Kansas City Star

Bullet

There’s no doubt the lucky-to-be-alive dog recovering from four gunshot wounds at Wayside Waifs earned his name — Bullet.

The 2-year-old yellow Labrador mix was found several weeks ago in Caldwell County, Mo., shot once in the head, once in each front shoulder and once in the neck, Waifs spokeswoman Ashlee Parker said.

Safe Haven, a Cameron-based rescue group, took in the injured dog, paid for his medical treatments and nursed him — almost — back to health.

“He’s still a little bit ginger on one of his legs,” Parker said. “You can tell his front shoulder is pretty sore.”

Bullet arrived at Kansas City’s Wayside Waifs on Tuesday. He had X-rays and was neutered Wednesday and currently is not up for adoption, Parker said.

Bullet has a friendly, loving disposition, she said. Officials don’t know who shot him or why.

However, she said, property owners shooting animals that trespass on their properties is “not unheard of” in rural Missouri.

For information on adopting other pets, call Wayside Waifs at 816-761-8151 or visit its Web site, www.waysidewaifs.org.

Found dog

2009-09-11T09:13:00.004-03:00

Update - Owners have been found! They came and picked up the little cutie.

Mark was driving home last night a little after 10 and saw a dog sitting by the side of the road with no human in sight. He turned around and went back (after 4 or 5 cars passed) and discovered the little dog running around in the middle of the road towing a lead behind him. He got him in the Vibe and called me. I called Animal Control and reported him found but said I would keep him here. He's currently on our guest bed where he buried himself under the covers.

He looks like a beagle. He was very recently groomed. Has a collar but no tags. Loves getting in the bed and snuggling. He was found on the Prospect Road. If anyone knows of someone missing a dog matching that description please contact me.

I am going to take him to the vet sometime today and get him checked for a chip. Other than that and calling around to the local vets and shelters not much else I can do but keep him safe, warm, watered and fed. Someone will come forward. He is definitely a loved pet.

Pit bull look-alike spared the noose

2009-09-09T10:17:00.009-03:00

Thank you Lee Anne and the rest of the volunteers of Ador-A-Bull Dog Rescue.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1141619.html

N.S. rescue group saves dog from being put down under Ontario’s breed ban
By PAT LEE Staff Reporter
Wed. Sep 9 - 4:45 AM

Fenway, a small mixed-breed dog, was to have been euthanized in Ontario after being deemed a pit bull. Instead, the dog has been brought to Nova Scotia for adoption by Ador-A-Bull, a rescue group that has found homes for about 30 dogs from Ontario since that province passed its controversial breed ban in 2005.

Given up by her owners because they were going on vacation, little Fenway was tagged to be put down at an Ontario shelter because someone deemed her to be a pit bull, a banned dog in that province.

But thanks to some volunteers working quietly behind the scenes, the young 4.5-kilogram dog was spirited away last week and is now in a foster home in Cape Breton.

Barring anything unforeseen in temperament and health checks, the pooch will be put up for adoption and go to a home in Nova Scotia.

Lee Anne Tibbo of Marion Bridge, who volunteers with the Ador-A-Bull Dog Rescue organization to find homes here and in New Brunswick for breeds targeted in Ontario, is looking after Fenway until then.

Ms. Tibbo, who also runs Boxer Rescue, said she doubts the brindle-coloured dog has any pit bull in her given her small size and pointy snout. Instead, she thinks the young dog may be a whippet mix.

But she said the breed ban in Ontario is so vague that almost any dog can meet the criteria.

"They’re basically classified as a short-haired dog with a square head. But really, that’s it," she said Tuesday.

"It’s very interpretative."

Ms. Tibbo said she and others can’t stand by and watch dogs be put to death because of how they look.

"I can’t close my eyes and pretend it’s not happening," she said.

"They’re going to euthanize perfectly good dogs, and the dogs don’t deserve it."

Ador-A-Bull ( www.ador-a-bull.com) was started in Ontario in 2005 after the province passed its controversial breed ban legislation that covers American pit bulls, American Staffordshire terriers and Staffordshire bull terriers.

The rescue group has since expanded into Nova Scotia to help dogs closer to home.

Ms. Tibbo said they have saved about 30 dogs from being put to death in Ontario, including a lot of puppies, but adult dogs have found new homes as well.

"I would love to not have to bring any dogs from Ontario," she said.

"Seriously, there are enough here. But I do it to protect the dogs."

Last year, Ador-A-Bull famously helped a dog named Rambo find a new home in Nova Scotia after its Ontario owner sued the province to have him freed from a kennel before he was put down.

"He’s doing wonderfully," Ms. Tibbo said of Rambo, who was marked for death because he looked like a pit bull.

"He’s one of my favourites."

She said in Fenway’s case, her owners dumped her at a shelter as they were getting set to go away on holiday.

"They decided they would get a new dog when they got back from vacation," she said.

Fenway was thought to be a six-week-old pit bull puppy, but Ms. Tibbo believes she is older than that.

"I don’t know how old she is at this point, but she’s not growing very much. She could just be a small dog." she said.

"But she’s healthy and happy."

Ms. Tibbo, who has five dogs of her own, plans to get Fenway DNA-tested to nail down the breed "to prove a point."

Over time, Ador-A-Bull volunteers have built up relationships with some shelters in Ontario, which will tip them off when there’s a dog destined to be put down because of the breed ban.

"Rather than euthanize them, they’ll give us the option to test them," she said.

"We can’t save all of them, but we’ll take the best of the best."

The shelter will then release the dog to the rescue group on the condition that it is adopted outside of Ontario.

"We have a few foster homes who will hide them and then we get them out (of Ontario) as soon as possible," Ms. Tibbo said.

She said potential adopters are well screened before they can receive a dog from the group.

( plee@herald.ca)

Seperation anixety

2009-09-09T08:31:00.005-03:00

Cash has developed a mild case of separation anxiety.

We went to Mark's brother's place (about 4 hours away) for about 24 hours to meet our newborn nephew. This is the first time I think we've left the dogs overnight 'alone'. We have left several other times, but they were always staying at a day care, at a friend's place, or someone has stayed with them in the house. Ever since then he has had odd behavior when we are away from the house. He gathered up anything he could find of ours - including my digital camera and all our remotes - and put them on his bed. He chewed up the camera bag and in the process damaged our camera. All our remotes have teeth marks in the now.

I know what you're thinking - we're dumb for leaving that stuff in his reach. Well he has never done anything even remotely close to this before, so why would we even think of hiding those kinds of things from him?

I have been given some advice from the yahoo dog group (best thing I ever did was join that group).

Today I am trying the frozen Kong thing. Where you give the dog a frozen Kong treat (takes a lot longer for them to get through than a regular Kong filled with stuff). So far he is 100% distracted. He has also stolen Keely's Kong, which is typical. She probably lost interest in it pretty fast and he took advantage of that. Food is not her thing.

I guess Cash's supper will have to be cut back some tonight. The Kong has oatmeal in chicken broth, with a scoop of peanut butter and some kibble. Then frozen in the freezer overnight. Yummy!

Here is where I got the recipe. There are lots more to try!
http://www.geocities.com/joan_sinden/kong.html

Missing Dog

2009-09-04T22:12:00.005-03:00

http://halifax.kijiji.ca/c-pets-other-Still-Missing-W0QQAdIdZ153114872

This poor girl went missing in the Dartmouth area. Please keep an eye out.

If you have seen her or know of someone who has recently adopted a new dog who looks like these pictures, please help me bring her home!!
Her name is Champ and if you call her by this name she will respond. She is just over 6 years old and very friendly. My husband, I and our three young kids really miss her!

Featured Adoptable: Ace

2009-09-04T11:20:00.006-03:00

I haven't done one of these in a while, but this girl really caught my eye when I was trolling through petfinder (I really need to stop torturing myself, our house is full - ha!).

Her name is Ace and she is just beautiful!

Petfinder profile id: 14482764

Currently at: NS SPCA Metro Shelter

"Ace has the most beautiful eyes and a temperament to match! Friendly and affectionate, Ace loves meeting new friends. Ace was returned to the shelter when his owner could no longer care for him, but we''ve been told that he was pleasure to be around and good in the home. He has a lot of energy, like any husky should, but he has as much love to match!

Ace is up-to-date with routine shots and spayed/neutered."

Cash and strange behavior

2009-09-04T10:15:00.005-03:00

So lately Cash has been acting strange.

We went to Cape Breton to see our new born nephew and left the dogs at home (they have a 2 year old and now a new baby and have banished their own two dogs to her parents' home - that is a whole another entry - so I am sure they wouldn't take kindly to our two 80 pound babies running around). We only stayed one night, and were gone a total of 24 hours. My parents checked in on the dogs several times while we were gone.

This was the first time that Cash has ever been left 'alone' over night. Ever since then he has had some odd behavior while out.

When we went back to work on Tuesday I watched helplessly via webcam as he took my digital camera off the automan and started chewing on it. He then took one remote at a time off the couch and chewed them a little on his bed. I then decided I better go home to stop the uncharatistic destruction and potential harm he might cause to himself.

The next day I had considered putting him in his crate (he was crated while we were out until he was about 8 months or so, so he is used to the crate and sometimes still gets in it when he wants quiet time). But I thought I'd give him the benefit of the doubt and let him loose again (of course I hid the remotes and other small electronics). I watched him again as he took some papers off the automan and a bunch of coasters off the side tables. He didn't chew them up, just put them on his bed. He has continued this behavior ever since (in the webcam screen capture you can see some coasters between the bed and some paper above Keely's head).

I'm not sure why he's doing this exactly. I am guessing he is upset that we left him and has yet to get back into his comfort zone?

When I get home each day I gather the things off his bed and put them in their rightful place. Each time I hold the object out to him and he hangs his head and won't look at me or the object in my hand.

Vancouver woman fights to get dog from rescue agency

2009-09-02T15:38:00.003-03:00

If this were my dog I would be suing this shelter.

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/yahoonews/story/701180.html

Well isn't that nice. Because you listed him as the wrong breed and Animal Control didn't return her phone call she's a bad owner and not worth looking for anyway? This is ludicrous in my opinion. Sure, there probably is a "better match" for this dog than his original owner, but that is probably true for almost any dog! My Cash, a year old black lab, isn't perfect for me because he developed joint problems and can't accompany me on my long evening walks anymore, does that mean he should go to someone else with a more sedentary lifestyle because they would be a "better match"? I also think only 3 days is WAY too short a time, especially when Animal Control doesn't offer much help and they almost never get the breed of the found dog correct (I know, I lost my Keely for 24 hours after she jumped out a window when scared by thunder).

I really feel for this woman. I do understand the shelter's position in a way, but they certainly aren't helping themselves in the way of PR. I'd say 90% of dog owners are pretty ignorant to what truly should be done to care for their dog, half the time it's because they listen to their vet unconditionally. The shelter representative said in the email that she "appear(ed) to have treated him lovingly", so maybe if they are that concerned a mandatory class would be in order, instead of denying her the return of her dog.

If Michael Bryant was a pitbull

2009-09-02T15:07:00.001-03:00

If Michael Bryant was a pitbull…
http://www.dogsincanada.com/blog/?p=500

2009-09-02T08:25:00.001-03:00

Stray dogs master the subway

2009-08-21T12:25:00.001-03:00

WOW. I mean the subway confuses me sometimes... very cool.

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_3438747.html?menu=

Stray dogs master the subway
Scientists in Moscow say stray dogs have learnt to use the subway to travel to the city centre in search of food.

Biology professor Andrew Poyarkov said he had seen several dogs unaccompanied on the city's underground rail system, reports rupor.org.

He claims the dogs travel into the city centre, where they can more easily find food, each morning and travel back to where they live each evening.

"They do not just go to the subway station, they actually board the trains," he said.

"They seem to have learnt how long they need to stay on the train to leave at the right station.

"Sometimes they fall asleep and miss their stop. Then they get off take another train back to the centre."

Dr Poyarkov said he had also noted the same dogs waiting for a green light to cross the road.

He says they have somehow managed to pick up habits from humans and is investigating the phenomenon.

Dog costumes for sale

2009-08-21T10:22:00.005-03:00

I am selling our dogs' costumes from last Halloween.

Here are some photos of them in their costumes.

Here are the kijiji ads for the costumes:

http://halifax.kijiji.ca/c-pets-accessories-Batman-dog-costume-L-W0QQAdIdZ150221855

http://halifax.kijiji.ca/c-pets-accessories-Cheerleader-dog-costume-XL-W0QQAdIdZ150224188

Can't wait to show you what they're being this year! Their costumes came in the mail yesterday. :)

A great link to do something with

2009-08-20T15:14:00.003-03:00

I got the following link from YesBiscuit.

Here are the Eagles sponsors. Maybe a few million letters would make them at least think about Vick playing on the team they give millions.

And here is a post from John Sibley complete with some of the sponsor twitter accounts! :)
http://foryourentertainment.blogspot.com/2009/08/more-contact-info-for-philadelphia.html Tweet tweet away!

Road rage suspect is a pit bull - update

2009-08-20T09:19:00.006-03:00

The dog I posted about this this blog entry: Road rage suspect is a pit bull - was euthanased :(

I'm not sure how, since a judge is the only one who can decide if a dog is so dangerous it should be killed. I was told that if the owners surrender the dog to Animal Control and agree to have it killed, Animal Control will do just that. Very sad indeed. :(

I think there should be a law against using breed names to describe a mixed breed dog. What the heck is a "pit bull" anyway? Just a mutt that has a certain look. If my block headed black lab was white I bet people would call him a pit bull. It just adds fuel to a fire that shouldn't even be burning.

So what's next for this family? Will any changes be laid? Now will they just go out and get another large mixed breed dog? Will this same scenario just happen all over again. Even the woman who was bit said the dog wasn't vicious and it was the owners fault.

I hope, that before I die, we see dog owners pay for their mistakes, not their dogs.

Police shoot pit bull

2009-08-19T09:21:00.005-03:00

Even more fuel for the fire...

http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1138265.html

This also sparks an interesting discussion. In the article near the end it reads: "Police officers have so far not called for banning of aggressive dogs by convicted criminals."

At face value this seems like a good idea, but I have seen/read about rehabilitated criminals becoming wonderful dog owners and the dog actually helping them in their rehabilitation. I know some prisons actually have inmates raise puppies that are to be rehab dogs, and that it has a very positive effect on the inmates. So, is passing a law banning convicted criminals from owning dogs a good idea?

Police shoot pit bull

By GORDON DELANEY Valley Bureau
Wed. Aug 19 - 4:46 AM
Mounties had to shoot a dog after one of their officers was viciously attacked and injured by a pit bull during a drug raid Tuesday in Annapolis County.

Armed with a search warrant, RCMP officers were entering a house in the small village of Lawrencetown, when they encountered an angry pit bull at the front door and another at the back door.

Members of the force’s emergency response team, the Annapolis street crime unit, and other officers arrived to search the house on suspicion that the occupants were dealing drugs.

An undisclosed amount of cocaine was seized in the house. A 32-year-old man and 30-year-old woman were arrested at the scene. Charges of possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking are pending.

The unidentified police officer who was attacked by the dog was taken to hospital, treated and released. The officer needed about eight stitches to seal the wounds, RCMP spokesman Const. Les Kakonyi said in an interview.

Officers shot the dog that attacked, but were able to subdue the second pit bull without injury.

"There were two pit bulls, and one of our emergency response team members was bitten," Const. Kakonyi said. "They weren’t minor injuries, they were quite serious."

The dogs were there for a specific purpose, he said, noting that protective dogs are sometimes used by criminals to keep people away.

"I think our members are probably seeing more and more of that as time goes on, especially when you’re dealing with individuals who are perhaps associated with organized crime or heavily involved in the sale of drugs."

Const. Kakonyi said such individuals want to protect their property. "And often times, they’ll use an aggressive dog to protect their interests."

He added it’s cheaper than having a security system.

Const. Kakonyi said it’s disturbing, especially in a small community like Lawrencetown, a mostly rural village in the Annapolis Valley. He said the dogs also pose hazards for others, like mail carriers and people delivering the newspaper.

"These are vicious dogs and they’re there for a specific reason," Const. Kakonyi said.

"In our situation, the members were able to protect themselves, but the average citizen coming up to the house is putting himself in harm’s way."

Police officers have so far not called for banning of aggressive dogs by convicted criminals.

"It’s not really our aim or mandate to effect that kind of change," Const. Kakonyi said.

"Our job is to enforce the law and to do these types of operations. But would we like to not have to encounter these types of incidents during our investigations? Of course."

Road rage suspect is a pit bull

2009-08-18T08:53:00.004-03:00

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Metro/1138003.html
Road rage suspect is a pit bull
'Big dog' hauled away by cops after cyclists attacked
By DAN ARSENAULT Crime Reporter
Tue. Aug 18 - 4:46 AM
A Halifax Mountie pulled his gun on a man Saturday while trying to seize a pit bull that allegedly attacked three bicyclists in Prospect.

Officers were called to the area of 2396 Prospect Rd. at about 11 a.m. when a woman was allegedly knocked off her bike by Mercedes — a young, adult, mixed-breed female. The dog then punctured her foot with a bite.

John Bobbitt, who lives near the scene on Prospect Road, saw some cars stopping on the road that morning and went to take a look.

"They were helping a lady out of the gutter," he said Monday.

The woman was in his neighbour’s ditch and the dog owner was pulling the light-coloured animal away by the collar, he said.

"It was a big dog," he said.

As for the woman, "I think she was more scared than anything else," he said. "That’s to be understood."

She was taken to hospital for treatment.

Mr. Bobbitt said the neighbours moved in within the last year.

The police had not yet arrived at the scene when a second reported attack took place. A husband and wife were biking past when the dog charged and bit the back tire of one of the bicycles, according to RCMP.

When the RCMP and Halifax Regional Municipality Animal Control Services arrived on the scene, they allegedly saw the dog charge at another cyclist, trying to bite at his leg and back tire.

Animal services got control of the dog and put it in one of their vehicles to be taken away.

RCMP spokesman Cpl. Joe Taplin said an officer, who had removed his gun out of fear of the dog and re-holstered it later, took his weapon out again when an agitated man at the house picked up a hammer.

"The homeowners weren’t very co-operative with police or HRM animal services," he said. "They were more or less yelling for us to get off their property. It appeared that they were going to try to hammer the door of the HRM bylaw truck."

Cpl. Taplin said an officer talked the man out of taking action and the man wouldn’t be facing charges.

Asked how the dog got loose after the first incident, he said, "That’ll all be part of the investigation."

The police will work together with animal services staff to determine what charges, if any, should be laid in the matter, he said.

Mr. Bobbitt said he didn’t know of the dog misbehaving previously. Ed Holt, another neighbour, said he’s never seen the neighbour’s dog or any others running loose in the area.

"I hear him barking once in awhile, but I’ve never seen him," he said.

Andrea MacDonald of animal services said the dog is in a kennel at the SPCA in Burnside. She said the dog is not a purebred and they refer to it as a red-nosed pit bull, which is how the owners registered the animal.

She said their investigation is still underway, so she didn’t know what will happen to the dog.

"We don’t have the authority to determine whether it gets euthanized or not," she said. "A judge will have to decide."

( darsenault@herald.ca)

Just wonderful. More fuel for the fire against pits. I wouldn't be surprised if some politician tries to use this incident to try to introduce a breed ban to further their career! Grrrrr

I don't know the people involved, they live in my neighbourhood, but they're new to the area... and I must say, obviously psychos. I mean taking out a hammer to break out your dog while the police are there? Also... how did the dog get loose again after the first incident?? AND their neighbour said they NEVER saw the dog in the year they lived there? What? Did they not let their dog outside?

I assume this dog will be ordered to be euthanized, which is very sad. I can only hope that with that order also comes the order for that family to not be allowed to own pets. They clearly don't know how to handle a dog, or the laws surrounding it.

Review - Pedigree Breath Buster Biscuits

2009-08-12T10:18:00.007-03:00

Pedigree Breath Buster Biscuits for Dogs
Cash's rating:

Keely's rating:

Cash has "soft gums" whatever that means. Anyway, his breath is rancid because of it. He gets food and fur stuck up underneath his gums on a constant basis. Someone recommended Breath Busters, so we gave it a shot. They worked okay for Keely, but she just has your run-of-the-mill doggie breath. For Cash's extreme bad breath however, they did very little. They must taste great though, because they both sure do like to eat them!

The only thing that helps Cash's breath (and teeth) is a daily run in with the electric toothbrush, much to his displeasure.

Poor kitties!

2009-08-11T11:49:00.002-03:00

All I can think is that we need MORE media coverage about shelters and animals.

Today I read in the chronicle herald that a mother cat and her two kittens were tied up in a box and thrown in a water filled ditch. Awesome.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/1136497.html?FORM=ZZNR5

I was talking to a friend of mine's girlfriend this weekend. I hadn't really talked to her much before. We got on the topic of pets and she said she'd like a dog some day when she had more space. Eventually it ended with me explaining why you should NEVER buy your dog (or any animal) from a pet store. She was totally unaware of this, and probably would have went to the pet store to get a dog.

We need more media coverage, we need to educate. Education is the only way I see us getting anywhere close to any kind of solution. If we had more and more stories like this in the news maybe it would just start to become common knowledge.

6 best Halloween costumes for doggies

2009-08-06T13:43:00.003-03:00

I was searching around, wondering what to dress my pups up this year for Halloween... and I came across this little article. Hilarious!

http://puppyintraining.com/the-6-best-dog-costumes-on-the-internet/

What happened to Michael Vick's dogs...

2009-08-05T10:23:00.001-03:00

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/magazine/12/22/vick.dogs/index.html

A very good read. Surprisingly I didn't read this until now. I applaud the author.

Doggie daycare dreams

2009-08-05T08:18:00.002-03:00

The perfect building just went up for sale. The one I've been dreaming about ever since I got the dream to start my own doggie daycare/hotel. If only I had the money/a business partner... this could be one amazing doggie hotel! It's right on a lake too!

Summer BBQ

2009-08-03T10:46:00.008-03:00

Cash and Keely joined us at a friend's BBQ. This was the first time they both came with us somewhere with so many other people, children, and dogs. We weren't too sure what to expect... but they were great! I overhead several times people commenting on how well behaved they were. :) I thought for sure Cash's focus would be shot, but he was actually even better than Keely! I guess his short puppy attention span is getting better, he's growing up! I was such a proud mom :)

Here are some pictures.

Parking lot scene

2009-07-31T09:37:00.001-03:00

This morning, in the parking lot I sometimes park in for work, I pulled up to an open cat carrier. I parked. Inside the carrier was an empty can of Frisky's cat food. I'm not sure what it all means or if I should report it to someone.

What to do if your cat goes missing

2009-07-31T09:36:00.001-03:00

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Search/1134182.html

A great article about what to do if your indoor cat gets outside.

Doors, children, and pets

2009-07-22T14:36:00.004-03:00

Had an interesting conversation with a coworker of mine today.

He was telling me that his brother's cat was killed last night, after he got outside (he was an indoor only cat) and was hit by a car. He got outside because their 3 year old son opened the patio door. I felt very bad for the poor cat.

We launched into a discussion around how to prevent that from happening. I suggested putting deadbolt locks on the doors, but in a high location so that children couldn't reach them. My coworker thought that was a bit unreasonable, at least for older children, as they want to go in and out so often and you'd have to be constantly locking and unlocking the door for them. He seemed to think it was basically inevitable, that the child is going to leave the door open and pets are going to get outside. I find this conclusion unsatisfactory. Should our pets be in danger because a child is incapable of being trusted to close doors? I don't think so. I'd be interested to know what other people in this kind of situation do to prevent their pets from getting outside unsupervised.

Keely found on youtube

2009-07-22T09:19:00.007-03:00

Very cool!

Today I got an email saying someone had commented on our youtube video of the dogs playing in the snow ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2XVnQ6znjw ).

"Is that keely from East coast german shepherd rescue? I know this is going to sound wierd, but my dog is named after her.. I fell in love with your dog on the website, she is my dream GSD. We werent in the position to have a GSD at the time. But when I got my current dog, I named her Keely. :P"

Isn't that hilarious? Someone found Keely in the vast space of the internet! Guess she made an impression on more than just us!

I sometimes wonder if her original owners ever look for her online, and if they did, if they'd find this blog or our youtube channel.

Rottweilers are bad dogs

2009-07-15T14:17:00.003-03:00

Rottweilers are horrible mean big bad dogs and should be banned right?

HA! What a joke.

Yeah, she's very scary alright. Just more evidence against breed bans!

http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1132087.html

Rottweiler makes purrfect mother
Family dog nurses litter of abandoned kittens
By GLEN PARKER
Mon. Jul 13 - 4:46 AM

Jasmine, a 10-month-old Rottweiler, snuggles up with one of her adopted kittens. (GLEN PARKER)

BRAMBER — Am I a cog or am I a dat?

If five-week-old kittens are capable of putting thoughts together in their little minds, that may be what three of them are thinking today in Bramber, Hants County.

They have been blissfully nursing from Jasmine, a 10-month-old Rottweiler.

Ashley Hood, a real estate agent, found the three abandoned kittens in a barn while she was showing an empty house in the area. When she brought them home, her Rottweiler took over the role of mother.

"The day after Ashley brought them home, Jasmine was on the kitchen floor with all the kittens snuggled around her," said her husband Shawn. "The kittens tried to nurse, but it was a couple of days before she started nursing them."

"The vet told us it is very, very unusual that Jasmine is making milk for the kittens," Mrs. Hood said.

The two females have found a new home nearby and the male will stay with the couple and their two sons, Brayden, 4, and Austin, 2.

The new owner of the two female kittens has called to report the kittens have quickly taken to their own family dog.

"Jasmine doesn’t seem to miss the other two kittens at all," said Mrs. Hood.

"We decided to keep the male. He kind of grew on us."

Not surprisingly, many have become smitten about this story of lost kittens.

Besides the interest from the local media, the story of Jasmine and the nursing kittens found its way into newscasts in the United States.

"There are a couple of Internet blogs about her — one as far away as St. Louis," Mrs. Hood said.

Is she likely to bring home any more abandoned kittens?

"No. In this case, I kind of had to. I couldn’t leave them there. But I’m actually allergic to cats."

So who will blame these three little kittens if they have an identity crisis?

Someday, they might even have their own little kuppies. Or would they be dittens?

(gparker@herald.ca)

Interesting discussion about banning breeding

2009-06-24T07:53:00.006-03:00

In one of my online dog groups someone posted about a new by-law they're trying to pass in Uxbridge, ON. This law would make it unlawful to breed at all without a license. Some are calling this law anti-dog, now I haven't read the law so I can't say if I'm for or against it. However, I do see some benefit to this type of law, if it's done correctly. Anything that makes it harder for puppy mills to operate and for backyard breeders to operate, is good in my books. And if the law made it impossible for pet stores to sell puppies, even better.

Many dog loving people in my group were for this kind of law, but some were also against it. One person is very much for this kind of law, and actually thinks that no one should be able to breed because there are too many homeless dogs in shelters already.

I thought this was an interesting take. If they banned breeding of all dogs, even for a year, the amount of dogs in shelters would probably decrease quite a bit. But the consequences to enforcing something like that... to not allow people the choice between a shelter dog and a well bred puppy from a reputable breeder (any other choice is no choice at all in my books). There are many reasons to get your dog from a shelter, but there are also many reasons not to, and to get a puppy from a reputable breeder. We have one of each.

For an inexperienced dog owner, a shelter dog may just be too hard to deal with. Shelter dogs can come with a lot of "baggage", and that's not to say they all do, or that those problems aren't surmountable, just that for an inexperienced dog owner it may be too much to handle and that dog could end up back at the shelter (and now with more heartbreak and baggage) in the matter of a week or two. I also think that someone with small children or who plan on having a baby in the near future, may not want to get a shelter dog. Yes there are lots of dogs out there who need a home right now that would do wonderful with children... but you don't have that safety net (false as it may be) of bred for good temperament. You often don't have any idea who the dogs parents are, and where they came from. This can also be relevant for possible health problems. Well bred dogs are less likely to have health problems, but of course any dog can get sick at any time. Just like people.

I know there is always going to be a counter argument for any reason to buy or not buy from a breeder. The thing of it is, should we really go as far as to ban all breeding? What would happen once all the shelter dogs were adopted? Would we just start the cycle all over again? Would there be anyone left to breed? Would we actually loose purebreds all together. It's possible. The longer we went with a breeding ban, the older the purebreds would get. I also think the interest in dogs would also decrease. Dog shows without purebreds? Dogs would just become what they were so many years ago... a pet and nothing more. Some would argue that that's a good thing, some would not.

Everyone is looking for that quick, clear cut solution. But from where I stand, there is no such thing to be had. The only true solution is compassion and education... and well, those things don't just come over night.

Maybe we could start by enforcing the laws we already have... and stopping things like the sale of dogs in pet stores and online. Perhaps give incentives to the public to buy from a reputable licensed breeder or shelter. All good ideas, but none will be that quick fix we're all so conditioned to want in this instant gradification society we now live in.

A few suggestions from a loving dog owner…

2009-06-15T11:48:00.003-03:00

With all this talk of dog legislation lately, I thought I'd stand on my soap box for a couple minutes...

Our current legislation regarding dog ownership does not work. I have a few ideas, and I really think that with these 2 changes the happiness of pets and the safety of the public would be greatly increased.

1. Make it illegal to obtain a dog from an unlicensed breeder. Make it illegal to sell a dog without a license. Also extend this to pet stores (i.e. pet stores cannot get a license to sell dogs). It would be nice to also see this for cats as well. In order to obtain a dog breeding/selling license, the person must first complete and pass a course. All buyers of the animals will be required to fill out an adoption form, and the seller is allowed to refuse to sell to anyone for any reason they see fit. It would also be required that if the buyer, for any reason, needed to give up their pet, that it must be released to the seller ONLY.

Now, I know this would cost taxpayers money, not only to run the courses and licensing, but also to enforce the law. However, the fee for the licenses would pay for most of that, and the money taxpayers would save because of fewer animals in shelters and fewer legal incidents regarding pets would be significant.

2. Make it mandatory to spay/neuter your pet except for certain exceptions (i.e. breeding/showing – you would require certain documentation for this). All sellers of dogs would require that proof of spay/neuter be presented within the first year of ownership. To couple with this would be low cost spay/neuter, which would probably mean spay/neuters would be government subsidized.

This would be extremely important for cats. Again, this would cost tax payers money, but imagine how many fewer cats would be in shelters if everyone spayed/neutered their cat! Do I think it’s responsible to not get your cat altered, no, but I also can understand people not wanting to shell out $400 at the vet for a procedure that is not required to save the cat’s life. Also, unaltered dogs make up the majority of bite incidents.

Are these suggestions perfect? No. I wish we didn’t need laws like this, but we have proven over and over again that we do. Dog bite incidents, over crowded shelters, people using their own methods to kill their unwanted pet/pet’s offspring. These things would not happen if everyone was a responsible pet owner, but we need to face facts, not everyone is and not everyone will be no matter how much education we enforce on them. Some people still see dogs and cats as “dumb animals”, and own them for all the wrong reasons. We need to make it much harder for these people to get those animals, and we need to make it damn near impossible for people looking to breed to make a “quick buck”. To me these laws would be more effective than BSL and lower cost to the tax payer. These laws would also be less infringing on peoples’ rights. Instead of the government controlling what kind of dog you can own, they’re controlling that you must get them altered.

A really great blog entry

2009-06-15T09:35:00.001-03:00

http://dogkisser.blogspot.com/2009/06/reply-to-comment-about-pit-bulls-being.html

SCC will not hear appeal of Ontario's pit bull ban

2009-06-11T18:20:00.003-03:00

This is a black day for Canadian dog owners.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090611/pitbull_ban_090611/20090611?hub=Canada

Not only is there zero evidence to back up the Ontario Appeal Court's conclusion, BSL actually wastes tax payer's money. For more information on dog bite research click here.

Breed Bans are Economically Wasteful. Not only are dogs needlessly being killed because of them, but they are also wasteful financially. A new study commissioned by Best Friends shows the high economic cost of breed bans, without the corresponding public safety benefit. The study demonstrates that breed discriminatory legislation tends to exhaust limited resources in already under-funded animal control programs by flooding the system with potentially “unadoptable” dogs due to the ban. It is not that the dogs themselves are dangerous. The vast majority (roughly nine out of ten) are healthy, friendly, or treatable. It is that the legislation declares them to be “unadoptable” and slated for execution. Costs to regulate or ban the animals can run into the millions and provide no help to prevent dog bites. At a time when communities are declaring bankruptcy, this is yet one more reason why breed ban should be abandoned. Click here for more information.

http://www.nathanwinograd.com/?page_id=166

2009-06-11T13:20:00.001-03:00

An excellent blog entry by Nathan Winograd:

http://www.nathanwinograd.com/?p=1247

This addresses BSL and killing in animal shelters... and the studies that prove No Kill is possible and BSL is a bunch of BS.

Guysborough-Sheet Harbour

2009-06-09T19:52:00.002-03:00

A win for dog owners. Hines comes in last in the MLA race for Guysborough-Sheet Harbour! No to BSL!

A majority government? NDP??? Wow... I hope they do extremely well... if they do it could mean more NDP votes across the country. This is a huge win for them, I hope they don't screw it up!

NS votes 2009

2009-06-09T11:51:00.002-03:00

A post by Joan that all residents in the riding of Guysborough Sheet Harbour should read: http://dogkisser.blogspot.com/2009/05/lloyd-hines-and-provincial-election-in.html

As a responsible dog owner, I urge you not to give your vote to Liberal Candidate Lloyd Hines.. and I'm usually a huge Liberal supporter.

Outside cat enclosures

2009-06-05T13:16:00.003-03:00

Here's a link to some pretty swanky outdoor cat enclosures.

http://www.catsofaustralia.com/cat-enclosures.htm

(Thanks to http://catanddogmother.blogspot.com/2009/06/pussy-cat-pussy-cat-where-have-you-been.html)

I can't wait to make one of my own, it will probably be a while until I get that chance. The plan? Our deck is currently ground level, and we want to lift it up to the main level so that we can access it from the dining room. Once that is complete, I am planning on fencing in underneath the deck and putting a little cat door in one of the windows that would be inside the enclosure. It wouldn't be an eye sore in our yard, and it would be a safe place for our kitties to enjoy some outside time (right now they are stickily indoor cats).

Parents complain about dogs being unleashed in off leash park

2009-06-01T15:38:00.000-03:00

http://www.halifax.ca/RealPropertyPlanning/OLPS/index.html

HRM has recently received complaints concerning dog owners who are abusing their off leash privileges at the Robert Drive off leash sport field.[...]

Complaints have also been received concerning dog owners who have unleashed their dogs while children are playing in the field.[...]

I don't get this. You're a parent and you complain because there are dogs off leash in an off leash park??? I'm not saying kids shouldn't be allowed in the park too, I just don't see how this is a valid complaint. It doesn't say parents complained about aggressive unleashed dogs in the park while their children were playing, it just says unleashed dogs.

If you don't want your children around unleashed dogs then don't take them to an off leash park! Period.

If they can't handle that then maybe it shouldn't be both an off leash area AND an area for children to play. I'd hate to loose an off leash area in the city, but it's better than them all eventually shutting down because parents aren't supervising their children around strange dogs and a kid gets bitten, and then all the parents rally up against all dog parks. You don't think that would ever happen? Look to Ontario. A kid gets bitten by a pit bull type dog, so the province bans all pit bulls (pit bull isn't even a breed!) Oh it can happen. Politicians want to appeal to the biggest mass of voters, and I think parents of human children outweigh parents of furry children.

Swimming & black flies

2009-06-01T09:15:00.006-03:00

Summer is coming and the dogs are itching to get into the water. Yesterday was a beautiful day so I took the dogs down to the lake where I used to swim as a kid. They had a blast (I so wish I brought my camera). Splashing around, swimming, chasing sticks, Keely carrying around rocks. At one point, Keely took Cash by the collar and lead him around the rocky beach.

We had to leave about a half an hour earlier than I had planned on however, because of the massive black flies that started their attack on my face and neck. The dogs seemed fine, but they were mostly wet and running around like fools. Me, just standing there in my hoodie, didn't stand a chance. So I called the dogs back through the path, cursing myself for not bringing bug spray.

In the back yard back at home it was a different story. The poor dogs were getting eaten alive, and I had to bring them inside, which was a shame on such a beautiful day.

Just a reminder... don't put anything with DEET on your pets! They will lick it off their coats and it's poisonous.

Instead try citronella, or maybe childrens deet free bug spay (sparingly on those bare spots the flies just love). I've also been told to try lemon, tea tree oil, rosemary, and even Listerine.

I was also told to try boiling citrus peels (lemon, orange, etc) and after they have cooled, rub the the water into the coat during the final rinse at bath time (don't do this with cats though, it's poisonous to them!)

I'll let you know if any of these "home remedies" work.

Ruffian has been adopted!

2009-05-29T09:29:00.003-03:00

Our only ever foster has been adopted... and lucky for us, he's not too far away.

Mark's parents adopted Ruffian last night. I am waiting to hear how his first night went. I am really happy because I know how well they're going to treat him and I get to see him whenever I want. Mark and I were already commenting on how much we missed him, last night. He definitely has a way of pushing his way into your heart, that's for sure.

E.B.D. Carry-all on sale!

2009-05-22T13:24:00.005-03:00

So I've been drooling over this bag for a while. It's called the E.B.D. carry-all.

https://www.ribbonsandbow-wows.com/default.aspx

Thing is it's 50$ plus 25$ shipping plus God knows what in over the boarder fees. I just can't justify the cost.

Today I got a coupon code in my email for 50% off!

50% off E.B.D.s*
Coupon code: Memorial
ends 5/25/09
*does not apply to embroidery or wholesale

Should I get it? The color I want is on backorder. You can even get matching poop bags!!!

Stanley!

2009-05-20T15:22:00.003-03:00

About Stanley: Please help us find Stanley a home! He is an all-white neutered and declawed male cat who is at least 10 years old, and he is deaf. He was brought to the Jordan Branch Veterinary Clinic as a stray to be euthanized, but this sweet boy stole the staffs' hearts and they decided to give him a second chance. After months of care and treatment (including a surgery to remove his thyroid), Stanley is in foster care and ready to go!

He is a real gentleman that will follow you quietly around until you sit down, and then will tap your arm until you pick him up to put on your lap where he will then stay for as long as you'll let him. He would be a FABULOUS companion for an elderly shut in! He gets along fine with other cats (once the initial days of growling and hissing are over), but would do fine in a single-cat household. Because he is deaf he can be easily startled, so he would be happiest in a home without children and a lot of action.

From petprojects.ca

Petfinder profile: http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=12819855

Update on Ruffian (our foster cat)

2009-05-20T13:50:00.004-03:00

Ruffian has been trying, without success, to befriend our two cats. He runs right up to them, they usually hiss, swat, and run away, leaving poor Ruffian without anyone to play with. This was an eye opening experience for me. Looks like if we ever want to add another cat to the mix we'd have to get a kitten. Moxie accepted Baby (12 weeks old) after about a week of slow introduction... it doesn't look like things go the same with an adult cat. Ruffian is also male, so that could have something to do with it as well.

The good news? A few days ago we took Ruffian to visit Mark's parents. They adore him. Mark's mom has a soft spot for orange tabbies. They want to adopt him! Seems Ruffian's charm was not lost on many people we know. Anyone who has met him loves him. In fact a couple we had over one evening last week wanted him but were unsure about integrating him into their home with 3 cats. A few nights later I had some friends over. One of them loved Ruffian very much. He already has 4 cats in an apartment, so he told his mother about Ruffian (she has 1 cat) and she was ready to adopt him too! Looks like Ruffian, once homeless, now has many people looking to give him a good home.

Ruffian is our first foster, and as wonderful as he is, we're not sure about fostering again. It's hard on the heart, but more so, our cats just don't want to accept a new adult cat, and that makes for stress in the home. I don't want to put my own pets at risk. Stress seems to effect animals even worse than humans, and often manifests itself as physical illness.

However...

Mark and I have been discussing for a while the idea of a cat sanctuary. When we sell this house, and build a new one we plan on building a cat sanctuary right into the basement of our home. I even drew up a draft of how it should look. Basically it would be something similar to what Petcetera has.

Here is my first draft of a plan.
http://www.angelaportfolio.com/CatSanctuary/

With a set up like this, we could foster multiple cats! Oh to dream... It will be a few years before we're in the position to build our dream house (complete with cat sanctuary) but I love thinking about it now.

Don't expect animal act to change soon - Ashfield

2009-05-15T13:05:00.001-03:00

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/search/article/666723

Published Thursday May 14th, 2009

Changing federal legislation is a slow process, says Fredericton's member of Parliament.

Keith Ashfield said he understands people are looking for changes to the country's animal cruelty laws, but stresses such alterations can't happen fast.

"It's a long and cumbersome and arduous task to change federal legislation and we have to find ... some sort of way we can do that," Ashfield said. "It's not particularly easy."

The call for changes has been a hot issue since an elderly Minto man was cleared earlier this year of killing five small dogs with a hammer. The man was trying to prevent the SPCA from seizing the animals.

In Canada, animals are considered the property of the owner and can be disposed of accordingly, providing it doesn't cause unnecessary pain, suffering or injury.

Ashfield earlier this year said he was committed to seeing animal cruelty laws modernized.

Recently, however, he has been criticized for being quiet on the issue.

Ashfield dismissed comments by Ontario Liberal MP Mark Holland that he's been instructed by the Prime Minister's Office to back down.

"(It's) absolutely the furthest thing from the truth. I have never, ever had a discussion with the prime minister on this issue," Ashfield said.

Holland has introduced a private member's bill in the House of Commons on the property issue, but it has yet to make it to Parliament. He wants the Conservatives to put forward its own bill based on his, since government initiatives generally advance more quickly.

Ashfield said Holland's bill goes too far and impacts fishermen and farmers.

The animal cruelty bill has been on the books since the late 1800s.

Ashfield said he's undecided whether he will talk with Holland about his bill, as he initially intended to do.

"I believe it goes too far. I am not sure if chatting with him would make a difference," Ashfield said.

Holland said politics has entered the equation and he has no idea why.

"I think this is an issue where we have to set aside partisan differences and do what needs to be done," Holland said. "I think the direction from the Prime Minister's Office is pretty clear."

The Ontario MP said he disagrees that changes to federal legislation take time. Other criminal justice legislation has been passed quickly, he said.

Holland said there's a constituency lobbying to stop new legislation because it could curtail other activities, such as hunting or fishing.

"I am not out to block my own right to fish," Holland said.

"That's being used as a smokescreen."

Ashfield, meanwhile, said Ontario recently proclaimed legislation to address the issue of domestic cats and dogs.

Bill 50, which came into effect March 1, creates new provincial offences and imposes stiffer penalties for those convicted of animal abuse, including jail time, fines up to $60,000 and a potential lifetime ban on owning animals.

"If we can make that happen here and, over the course of time, we can make some changes in the federal legislation ... that's basically what I am trying to work at right now," Ashfield said.

Dogs eating RAW and more on Ruffian

2009-05-11T08:15:00.005-03:00

The dogs had their 3rd RAW meal this weekend. This time it was pork (last 2 times it was chicken). Keely had a harder time with the pork ribs but she kept on it and eventually ate it all. Cash had no problem.

They already know when it's RAW feeding time and they both get SO excited. They see me walking toward the deck with a plate in my hand it's all tail wags and bouncing.

I'm surprised at myself too. I don't eat a lot of meat, no red meat at all, and find raw meat pretty disgusting. So I am surprised I have been able to handle not only preparing the meat for them (ie touching it!), but watching them eat it.

What we do for the love of our pets.

***

On another note, our foster Ruffian is doing great. He doesn't hide anymore. We walk in and he's usually up on the bed or on the window ledge watching the birds and the dogs play.

He really wants to come out and see the other cats. Yesterday I left the door open a couple times and our more accepting cat walked right into the room while Ruffian sat next to me on the bed. She walked around and sniffed a lot, once Ruffian moved towards her she froze up and hissed and walked out. The good thing is that she still seems interested, and she often goes to the door now and sniffs underneath. I put their food dishes right outside Ruffian's door to try and coax them near and to help have positive association (food!) with Ruffy's scent. As always, Ruffian has been completely polite, no growling or hissing, and he moves very slowly around the other cats... he really knows how to handle himself around new cats.

Ruffian has also been checking out the dogs. Last night Keely was in the hallway, I asked her to sit, and I opened Ruffian's door and let him come out. He slowly walked up to Keely and they touched noses. Ruffian seemed pretty unsure and backed away (Keely didn't move an inch, she loves to just stare at cats).

So all in all I think we're making progress. I really hope that if Ruffian is with us for an extended period of time that he doesn't have to spend it all in the guest bedroom. I think with patience and with working slowly, he can eventually come out and be a part of the family, we just have to get our cats (mostly Moxie, aka the Queen) to come around.

We have a foster

2009-05-09T09:45:00.021-03:00

This is Ruffian. He is staying with us for a while until he can find his forever home.

Ruffian is staying in our guest bedroom. At first he hid under the bed. Oddly enough he didn't seem scared, just comfortable under there. If you could reach him he would rub his face over your hand, purr, and flop around. After a few hours of Mark and I being in and out visiting, he came out from under the bed for some pats and love, and even some laser pointer fun.

Our two cats have had turns at the door for hissing and general sniffing. Keely, our shepherd also caught a good look of our little border. Ruffian looked back and wasn't quite sure what to make of it... he's never seen a dog before. He hasn't hissed or growled yet, he's being very polite.

He is a very sweet, big, beautiful boy. He's got a wicked strong headbutt, and loves to be rubbed and snuggled.

Please pass the word around about Ruffian. He needs a good, cat loving home, with humans that can show him lots of love and attention.

Petfinder: http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=8002355.

Help find a home for Ruffian by Wednesday

2009-05-08T10:11:00.008-03:00

An email I recieved from Sonya Higgins, the founder of Healing Animal SCARS - Sonya's Cat & Animal Rescue Society.

Ruffian needs a home ASAP - he is coming back from foster this week and cannot enter the infected rescue workshop , due to the distemper outbreak. Check out his profile here http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=8002355 and tell everyone who loves cats that he is about to become homeless! Foster or adopt this lovely boy.

This poor guy has been in and out of homes, and under the care of SCARS since 2006. Please, if you know anyone who would be willing to open their heart and home to this guy (foster or forever) let Sonya know. He only has until Wednesday.

Keely being silly

2009-05-07T08:08:00.006-03:00

Keely was being silly last night. I think she's going a little stir crazy. This weather has been limiting their outside time. You see... Keely is a bit of a princess and doesn't like the rain. In fact, it takes coaxing just to get her to go out to pee when it's raining, and she comes right back to the door whining when she's done.

CBC News video

2009-05-05T18:02:00.000-03:00

Heroic pets honoured

http://www.cbc.ca/video/popup_nlp.html?http://www.cbc.ca/mrl3/8752/news/features/dick-4-hero090505.wmv

Baby's sister?

2009-04-28T12:06:00.008-03:00

Today I was on the NS SPCA website checking to see how the content was going, and where I would need to make fixes (I created their new website). On the side panel was a little petfinder gadget like what I have on here, but I was surprised by the face staring back at me. It looked like our Baby, but obviously couldn't be. I clicked on it, and I was again surprised to find this little girl, Zeta, is at the Yarmouth SPCA, the exact place we got Baby.

I showed Mark, and he was equally surprised. Is it possible she's related? I called and asked about her. She is about the same age (they don't know her exact age) and she was at the shelter before but then had to be returned. She doesn't have extra toes like Baby.

Mark and I are going to discuss this tonight. It's possible we'll put in an application to adopt her.

First raw meal

2009-04-25T10:11:00.002-03:00

Well I fed our dogs their first raw meal today. I've been getting a lot of advice about how to help with their bad breath and teeth problems. The overwhelming response was to feed raw, or at least a raw meal here and there. Since there is no way we could afford to feed raw all the time right now, I decided to do one raw meal a week.

I did tonnes of research, joined email groups, talked to people who feed raw. Everything I could. I concluded that chicken is the best thing to start with, and that any part of the chicken could be given to your dog. So when we went for groceries there was a club pack of fresh chicken legs on sale. I bought them and froze them.

I gave them each one leg frozen (to help discourage gulping - something else I learned!) this morning instead of kibble. I wasn't sure what to expect. I thought maybe they wouldn't know that it was food, but they sure did! It was nice out so I took them out on the deck and sat with them while they ate. It was actually fun to watch. They were having fun eating! Keely actually usually needs coaxing to eat. It didn't take them long to eat their leg, and they were licking the deck afterward. I noticed Keely was immediately energized. She ran over to me looking for affection, tail wagging (rare occurrence, she is an 'all business' type of dog). Then her and Cash ran around in the yard playing for a bit.

As long as no one gets sick or anything today/tomorrow, I think I will keep this up. I'll feed chicken for a while, and then maybe move on to other types of meaty bones.

Trustees Begin to Parcel Leona Helmsley’s Estate

2009-04-23T09:11:00.003-03:00

I think this is ridiculous. They should honor her wishes, instead they're just giving the money to whomever they want. It's no one's right to say one cause is more worthy than another. It is whatever is closest to your heart, and obviously dogs touched Mrs Helmsley's heart in a very significant way. People who don't own pets may not understand her wishes, but that doesn't give them the right to disregard them. She was not some crazy senile old lady, she loved her dogs and wanted to make life for other dogs on this planet better. She also wanted her money to help the poor. Instead they gave most of it to medical research, so that pharmaceutical companies can come up with expensive drugs that no poor family could ever afford.

(To see my full rant on this go to http://angryangela.blogspot.com/2009/04/rant-41-your-will-youre-dead-we-dont.html)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/22/nyregion/22helmsley.html?ref=nyregion
By SAM ROBERTS
Published: April 22, 2009

The first $136 million from the hotelier Leona Helmsley’s disputed multibillion-dollar estate has been distributed, trustees announced on Tuesday, but the bulk went to medical centers instead of dogs.

Only $1 million of the estate, valued at about $5 billion, was donated to the care of dogs, which Mrs. Helmsley had designated as her primary beneficiary.

“This is a trifling and embarrassingly small amount,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States. “Mrs. Helmsley’s wishes are clearly being subverted.”

After Mrs. Helmsley’s death in 2007, it was revealed that she had drafted a mission statement four years earlier listing two specific priorities for the distribution of her estate. The first was helping the poor, which she struck from the document a year later. The second was to provide for the care of dogs, although she added “and such other charitable activities as the trustees shall determine.”

In February, a Manhattan judge ruled that the trustees had sole discretion in disbursing her assets and that the entire estate did not have to go to the dogs.[...]

Two pieces of good news!

2009-04-22T09:38:00.002-03:00

Retrievers are retrieved
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/1117823.html

A PORTERS LAKE man’s lost-dog tale has come to a happy end.

For days, Gary Renou frantically searched for Josh and Storm, his much-loved black Labrador retrievers that went missing last Friday from a Halifax Infirmary parkade.

Desperate for news of his pets, he turned to The Chronicle Herald, Saturday to offer a $5,000 reward and promised "no questions asked" if the animals were returned.

In the end, it was his own tireless effort that found the dogs, hungry but in good condition.[...]

AND

[...]Today is a great day for Janet - a victorious day - today she becomes the ONLY LEGAL in home doggy day care on the peninsula of the Halifax Regional Municipality[...]

http://dogkisser.blogspot.com/2009/04/thanks-to-kyra-in-home-doggy-day-cares.html

2009-04-20T12:18:00.002-03:00

Porters Lake man frantic over lost dogs

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/1117423.html

[...]The two dogs, black Labs named Josh and Storm, were in a black Toyota 4Runner SUV that went missing Friday from the parkade at the Halifax Infirmary.

Gary Renou is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for the animals’ safe return —no questions asked.[...]

Josh is eight years old and weighs about 40 kilograms, he said, while Storm is 1½ and weighs about 30 kilograms. Both animals are licensed and have tags on their collars.

The younger dog had a microchip implanted in case he was lost.[...]

The truck is a 2006 model and has a sunroof and grey leather interior, Mr. Renou said.

This is my worst nightmare. I feel so sad for this man. If anyone has any information please come forward.

Very informative read

2009-04-17T08:19:00.004-03:00

We all know the PETA crew were a little on the nuts side right? Well do you know their real agenda? They're more than just a little bit extreme.

http://www.nathanwinograd.com/?p=907

"This followed a staggering 97% kill rate for animals in 2006, despite millions of animal loving members, a world-wide reach, and a budget of tens of millions of dollars. It followed the killing of 1,942 out of 1,960 cats they impounded. It followed the deaths of 988 out of the 1,030 dogs they impounded. It followed the killing of 50 of the 52 rabbits, guinea pigs, and other animals they took in. It followed the killing of the one and only chicken they impounded."

"Then came the 2007 numbers showing a 91% rate of killing—the killing of 1,815 of the 1,997 animals they impounded. And so I reran the blog. And now we have the 2008 figures and the slaughter—the needless, senseless, evil slaughter—continues with an equally staggering 96% kill rate. A paltry seven dogs and cats were adopted. A paltry 34 were transferred to an SPCA whose fates are not known. And out of 2,216 dogs and cats impounded, the rest were systematically put to death by PETA."

"Not only does PETA not acknowledge the right to life, they have rejected it saying that they “do not believe in right to life,” as it relates to dogs and cats."

Dog’s bark alerts family to escape fire

2009-04-15T13:06:00.000-03:00

http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1116657.html

By MONICA GRAHAM
Wed. Apr 15 - 5:41 AM
NEW GLASGOW — The Westaway family escaped from their burning home early Monday morning with their lives and the clothes on their backs.

If not for their dog Brutus, they might not have escaped at all.

The 30-month-old mixed breed dog barked at 12:30 a.m. to awaken Lila Westaway, who had fallen asleep on the couch with her four-year-old son. The house was already filled with hot smoke.

"It was that hot that my hair got scorched," Ms. Westaway said Tuesday as she explained how she woke up her 15-year-old sister and her son and told them to go upstairs to wake up her husband. "I was very scared."

Accompanied by Brutus, Ms. Westaway tried unsuccessfully to douse the flames in the dining room with water. As the rest of her family ran out the back door, she and the dog got out the front. The other family pets — two chinchillas, a golden gecko, three fish, a hamster and a mouse — died in the fire.

The family lost their clothes and Ms. Westaway, about to graduate from the plumbing program at Nova Scotia Community College in Stellarton, lost most of her tools.

The flames destroyed the dining room area of the 117-year-old Stellarton Road home and smoke went through everything including their hair, the dog’s fur and anything potentially salvageable.

The radiant heat was so great that a bag of clothing in a separate room burst into flames. The Douglas fir panelling burned intensely, but the building is structurally sound, New Glasgow Fire Chief Russ Mosher said. Since the batteries had been removed from the smoke detector in the kitchen area, only the dog was left to save the occupants, he said.

"If it wasn’t for the dog, I fear there would have been a fatality," he said, adding that the fire acts as a reminder to ensure homes have working smoke detectors.

The Westaways stayed with family for one night and the dog went to East River Animal Hospital where he was checked over and washed. The family moved Tuesday to a hotel that is happy to take Brutus and expected to stay until Friday, Ms. Westaway said. It will be a bit harder to find a more permanent place to rent, she said, as most don’t accept pets — even heroes like Brutus.

Although protective of the family, Brutus doesn’t normally bark much and he was quiet even when firefighters came to the burning house.

"The firemen patted him and called him a good dog," said Ms. Westaway as she selected a new toy for Brutus to replace one burned in the fire.

"I should be buying him a steak."

(mgraham@herald.ca)

Cash's teeth cleaning

2009-04-14T13:06:00.003-03:00

Cash's teeth cleaning was today. He is all done.

Our vet said he has very sensitive gums. She said 1 in 500 dogs have gums as sensitive as his. She also said he has pockets in his mouth that collect plaque and food bits, and that's what's causing his horrible breath. She also is putting him on antibiotics for ten days, as he has a small infection. They also gave him morphine, ugh. He's going to be a mess... it's also going to cost a fortune! We need to start thinking about taking our pets outside of the HRM for vet visits. Even with that travel time and gas money, we'd still come out spending less and get the same or even better care.

Honda rolls out dog-friendly version of the Element

2009-04-13T14:17:00.005-03:00

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fpposted/archive/2009/04/09/honda-rolls-out-dog-friendly-version-of-the-element.aspx

How cool!

Point Pleasant Park

2009-04-13T11:08:00.004-03:00

Went to Point Pleasant Park on Friday with the dogs. It was so nice out that morning and the dogs haven't been to a park since the winter started. They were so excited and happy, and they didn't have much focus, so they weren't off leash at all while we were there. There were plenty of dogs there off leash and almost all were well behaved.

We did have a run-in with an older man who had two older dogs. Not sure what their breed was. They look like beagles, but have a long body and are low to the ground. Some kind of hunting breed. Anyway, both his dogs were off lead and legging behind. One of his dogs started following Cash, and of course Cash wanted to play with him. Mark kept walking with Cash, trying to ignore the other dog, when the owner finally noticed and started yelling to his dog and then yelled to us "He's gonna bite!" Well, he didn't, and eventually the dog left Cash alone. My question is, why do you have a dog that is known to bite other dogs off leash in a dog park?? And to go even further, why are you not paying better attention to said dog? Especially after you see two dogs walk by.

Ugh. Some dog's owners.

Finally

2009-04-09T15:46:00.001-03:00

Gail Benoit gets jail time for 2007 assault
Benoit, Bailey each fined $1500 for animal cruelty

http://www.novanewsnow.com/article-324175-Gail-Benoit-gets-jail-time-for-2007-assault.html

Cash's teeth update

2009-04-07T18:45:00.008-03:00

So I think Cash will be fine, but I'm keeping the cleaning appointment since he definitely has tarter buildup on his back teeth.

I searched through the Yahoo dog group that I am a member of and found that (one of my favorite) posters suggested using a child's electric toothbrush for better cleaning and that their dog liked it more than a regular toothbrush. Now, I figured this was a long shot, but what the hell. I went to the drugstore this afternoon and bought a seven dollar Wolverine electric toothbrush (it was either that Sponge Bob, or Brats; Wolverine is much cooler). So after supper this evening, when everyone was calm, I came over to Cash and showed him the brush, turning it on for a few seconds now and again. He jumped back at first, but was throughly interested in it. A while later I laid down with him on his bed and got out his Turkey flavored dog toothpaste. I first just let him lick it off the new toothbrush, then I put it on his teeth without turning it on, and finally I turned it on. At first he didn't like it, or was scared, either or. But after a couple minutes he was fine with it (although I think it tickles when I do his front teeth).

The conclusion?

A children's electric toothbrush is 1000 times better and easier to use on a dog than a manual dog toothbrush. I don't know about Cash liking it more, but I found it a lot easier to brush his teeth. I even got in behind those back molars which I don't think I've ever successfully done before!

I also noticed his gums weren't bleeding as much when I was brushing this time, which leads me to believe they are healing some. Yay! He also doesn't seem in pain like he did the last few days. I am hoping once the vet teeth cleaning is done I can keep up his oral health much better with this new fancy toothbrush and some meaty raw bones once a week. Any one know a good butcher?