The unsung heroes of pet rescue CA "In California the Pet Rescue Society consists of volunteers who serve as foster families for the cats and dogs that wind up at the Arlington shelter. On Saturdays, the Pet Rescue crew is present at the shelter throughout the day to answer questions and help with adoptions..."

These unassuming people have placed many hundreds of animals in loving homes. Our own dog was rescued by the SPCA of Prince George's County in Maryland and they placed him in foster care with volunteers for over three months. Nobody who has met our dog can even fathom how he was passed over for adoption and  yet, he was. Somehow, we are the lucky owners of an amazingly gentle, wise and  perfect dog (well, he does eat flowers...).

The Pet Lady: I think my dog is a lesbian WA A dog news columnist tackles the hardest and most delicate of questions... "Dear Pet Lady, I think my dog is a lesbian. I consider  myself a very tolerant person, and I do not in any way consider her "defective" or love her any less for it. Still, I have a few questions: ..."

The canines that bind MD It isn't all bad news out there; some people actually revel in their dogs' antics. And a story provides light summer fare for delighted pet owners everywhere... "if you want quality time with the neighbors, you've got to get out early -- 6:00 a.m. is just about right -- to meet and greet their dogs and catch up on all the news in these animals' fast-moving social lives. There's Chip. (Names have been changed here not to protect the innocent -- the dogs -- but their at times not-so-innocent owners...)" [via Newstrove.com]

Couple plans an allout dog party on July 4 MD "Party animals Richard O'Neill and Jan Macdonald make no bones about it: Come July 4, in Chestertown, it'll be a dog day afternoon. The proud owners of the Imperial Hotel in historic downtown Chestertown and one lucky Airedale terrier, will hold their fourth annual July 4th birthday party in honor of their dog, Katie... " [via newstrove.com]

Humane Society says summer heat kills and there are NO EXCUSES Toronto

Today in DC, the heat wave is so bad that we have 'Code Red' conditions (air quality is unhealthy for breathing). And our dog is allowed out only to relieve himself. When the sun goes down and things cool off, we'll take him out for a short walk. He doesn't want to go out either. Yet, we saw dogs everywhere when we went to shop for groceries and it was not a pretty sight: they were panting and their owners were struggling with them. It's not worth it to force your dog to exercise when it is overheated. Don't do it: your dog may have a brain stroke or even die in these conditions.

Hot Weather tips from the Humane Society

 Do not leave pets outside on hot days. Keep your dog indoors with fresh water and ventilation.
 Take dogs for walks only early in the morning and later in the evening, when it is cooler.
 Pets (even dogs) are susceptible to sunburn, so limit your pet's exposure and  consult your veterinarian about a suitable sunscreen.
Watch out for hot pavement and beaches. Pets' paws are sensitive and burn easily.

Pets suffering from heat intolerance may exhibit a reddish or purple tongue, increased panting, glazed eyes and convulsions that can lead to collapse and possible death.
 If you suspect your pet is suffering from heat stroke or exhaustion, remove your pet from the heat and place in a cool area. Gradually immerse your pet into warm (not hot) water, then slowly cool the water. Be sure a veterinarian examines your pet.

If it's too hot for you, it's too hot for your dog.

[ Source: PR Newswire via Rocketinfo.com ]

Best Animal Cruelty Task Force in USA Arizona "The Animal Cruelty Task Force of Southern Arizona has been named winner of the annual Pet Protector Award grand prize by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Friskies PetCare Co. Inc..."

And Dog News is not surprised at all. We reported earlier that Arizona takes a nononsense approach to Animal Control. If it wasn't so darn hot there (we have a chow who'd just die in the heat) and dry and far away from everything on the East Coast, we'd move there. It must be the Arizona air and the wide open spaces that makes them so kind and efficient.

On June 28, we reported: When dogs attack Arizona Tucson Animal Control takes a no-nonsense, well ordered approach to dog attacks, with laws that  penalize the attacking dog and owner, if negligent. To begin with, The Tucson Police Department only gets involved in dog bite cases if there is a criminal element. The focus begins with ensuring safety and welfare, including medical attention to the victim. Laws to discourage owners from permitting their dogs to roam freely include:  "If your unleashed dog bites a leashed dog, he is deemed "destructive" and the owner is given a fine from $200 to $25,000. If your pet attacks you, you must report it to Animal Control. If an animal owner is issued a citation, the person bitten can ask for restitution to pay for medical bills and property damages..."

Shelters near US forest fires take in pets  Thousands of pets have been displaced by the wildfires in Arizona and the numbers are growing... To help contact: Arizona Animal Shelters: http://www.saveourstrays.com/arizona.htm  [from abcnews.go.com]

Corporate America trading up to dog sitting jobs Pet Sitters International research showed that the largest percentage of new dog sitters traded in their management jobs for professional pet sitting. Most said the career change allowed them to return to core values that included a love of animals and the desire to earn a living by doing something they enjoyed... [PR Newswire via iWon via Rocketinfo.com]

Wonder how many Enron and Worldcom executives are now starting doggy daycare businesses because they would no longer have to bilk people out of their life savings. Let's hope Pet Sitters International screens former Enron executives out and  let them start dog poop pickup businesses instead.

 "In a 1999 survey of pet owners, the American Animal Hospital Association determined that 87 percent of pet owners include their pets in holiday celebrations, 94 percent have photos of their pets on display and 84 percent refer to themselves as their pet's "Mom" or "Dad." There are an estimated 146 million cats and dogs in the United States, and their owners spent more than $29 billion dollars on their 'fur children' last year." Source: Pet Sitters International

Montreal apartment crisis squeezes out dog owners.  Montreal In Montreal, it's 'chuck the doghouse, or no home for you' if you're a  dog owner. "Montreal's worst housing crisis in memory can be seen in the frightened eyes of hundreds of abandoned pets. Inside the city's main adoption centre dogs stared wearily at visitors Tuesday appearing to gauge if the person was friend or foe. The younger ones barked squealed cried and shook in a play for attention..." [via Rocketinfo.com]

Contraceptive implant cools pooches' passion "An Australian biotechnology company has invented a contraceptive implant for male dogs that also calms them down." [from Anova Quirkies via Newsisfree.com]

Police remember dog partners NC When it comes to loyalty, the police force of Highpoint know they can trust their K-9 counterparts  to be there for them through thick and thin. So it only seemed fair to remember the dogs who served them well in a ceremony of appreciation. "They are more than just dogs to us handlers," said Officer Tim Tonsor, the department's dog trainer, in opening the service. "They are our companions, the officers' last resort and the citizens' savior..." 

Since everyone knows a dog or has a dog, Dog News has international appeal. We all battle the same problems: dog poop, dog abuse, dog bites, dog laws, shelters, etc. As Dave Winer of Scripting News said yesterday: "..It's the massive number of people distributed over the planet that can cover a story as the shrinking budgets and conflicted interest of the pros constrict the amount of news they can carry. It's circulation and distribution. Blogs are bypasses for information, like the Internet routes around outages, just at a higher level.." That's why we're seeing an intersection of the news with blogs: blogs are a wonderful adjunct to the news; they can amplify the news and point people to important news, precisely because blogs are  fresh,  timely, and totally hooked into current news.

Nettavision has written a short review, here  (To translate  Nettavision's news site, go to Intertran (free translation between 676 language pairs on your desktop; If this keeps up, I'll have to invest in NeuroTran, a translator which is desktop driven and language aware; find it at Intertran) and I want to learn some languages. Now if they (Intertran) could only translate dog.

Nyheter for hunder
Av: Bjørn Tore Øren 03. jul 11:15

Dog News er et nettsted som spesialiserer seg på - ganske riktig - hunderelaterte nyhetssaker.

Hunder sliter like mye med lesing som de gjør med metaforer, så dette nettstedet er vel først og fremst rettet mot hundeeiere. Dog News saumfarer Internett daglig på vegne av denne målgruppen, og serverer dem en jevn strøm med vofserelaterte nyhetslenker.

Noen eksempler godt DogNews-stoff er denne på alle måter forbilledlige artikkelen om Border Collier, sakset fra The Boston Globe, og denne sjokkerende fortellingen om en hvalp som ble mikrobølgegrillet og stukket med kniv... men overlevde. Vi merker oss også at det britiske politiet er i ferd med å gå undercover i sin kamp mot hundemøkk i det offentlige rom. [Til DogNews] 

 Nettavision, news you can use, even if it's about crazy dog abuse or dog poop. They care too.