Animal control in a tail spin Texas "In five years, two cats can turn into 75,000 easily. Plus cats won’t stay in the yard like dogs will." Aha ... that explains why Animal Control can't keep up and why spaying and neutering is the cornerstone of any animal control program. Now, if only those stray cats would stay out of our yard....

Keep the dog: it keeps you happy. Washington DC Washington Post: "In a study of children with autism and other pervasive development disorders, University of Washington researchers found that including a dog in therapy sessions led children to be more verbal and more engaged with therapists. Some of the most consistent findings link companion animals with enhanced physical, mental and emotional well-being. One of the first such studies, conducted in 1977 at the University of Maryland, followed 92 patients with heart disease for a year. Patients with pets outlived their counterparts without pets." What we've known by instinct, is finally being proved out by science: that our pets help us connect to happiness and nature...

Invisible Fences The Animal Doctor from the Washington Post weighs in on electronic fences. Usually electronic fences require a dog to wear a special device or collar to relay the shock when the animal tries to cross the invisible fence. I know of a friend who couldn't use them because his dogs were too intelligent and resourceful. They chewed each other's collar off and then escaped easily from his yard and frolicked all over the neighborhood. They were accomplished escape artists and could dig, climb and chew their way out of just about any yard...

Dog loses kidney in spaying surgery When a veterinary surgeon operates on your dog, you should be able to trust him. Apparently, the surgeon who spayed the Philpot's dog didn't feel it was a big deal when he had to remove a kidney in a 'slip of the knife' accident. He never told the dog's owners...

Police officer says police chief stole his dog Pittsburg A police officer accused his police chief of stealing his dog. The accusing officer has resigned from his job  and is going to the media to get the dog back. Meanwhile, he says his former boss threatened him with retaliation for taking his case to the news...

Dog abuser keeps dog Kingston, Canada A dog beater was allowed to keep his pit bull, even after witnesses described how the dog yowled from the beatings he gave it. Protestors called to ask that authorities remove the dog, but the decision stuck...

K9 dog knows the scene of the crime Funny story about a K-9 dog who was absolutely loyal and perfectly trained. However, when commanded to enter a building he was familiar with ....