No burial yet for man who wanted backyard burial next to dog FL When you want to be buried next to your dog in your backyard, you know somebody's not going to like and it may not happen. Rick Georges may have had nine wives, but he's not getting buried with his favorite pit bull, if his children have any say in the matter and he's still at the funeral home, waiting in his coffin... [CNN.com]

Dog expert at darts UK A border collie, also a regular pool player, likes to assist his owner's dart play in the local pub. (The photo of Blue the dog playing darts is priceless.) [Shropshire Star]

Dog Days of Summer: "Detector Dogs" Sniff Out Smugglers National Geographic takes an indepth look at the K-9 battle against the war on drugs... [National Geographic News: Animals & Nature]

Dogs come and go and come back again. It must be a conjunction of the planets because the news is full of 'lost dog ' stories, and the stories don't all end well: Lost coon dog and lost opportunity: Cody O'Connor's coon dog, Herbie disappeared by jumping a 4 foot fence. Since Herbie disappeared the "light has gone out," she said. "They cannot be without each other." ; Missing guide dog reunited with owner, a heartwarming story about a yellow lab, Bridget who slipped her collar and ran away for 17 hours, without any id at all;  Sun reader finds puppy: a Canadian puppy, 7 month old Cassius, was attacked by a pit bull and disappeared for 3 days, reunited with family;  and of course, the dog who reappeared for his grooming appointment.

Microchip implants are invaluable aids for the lost dog. When a dog's collar is removed, the dog's identification disappears, but that's not the case with the tiny microchip which is usually implanted between the shoulder blades. Tattooing is also very helpful: it discourages theft and the dog is permanently identified. Dog thieves steal dogs from yards and sell them to animal labs: tattooed dogs are not valued because labs would find out the dog is stolen. The best deterrent dog theft is to supervise it when it's outdoors and to never, ever leave a dog alone in a car.

If your dog is stolen, there are organizations to help: Last Chance, SherlockBones, Paw Rescue

Dog bones aid study of  human disease UT New research unravels the science of bone formation in dogs thanks to the legacy of the Portugese waterdog, a breed which has well documented bloodlines. A new study, by University of Utah researcher Dr. Lark discovered genes responsible for canine skeleton formation and which may be the basis for the wide variations in dogs today, from pitt bulls to bull mastiffs. "Techniques used in the new study, Dr. Lark says, could advance knowledge about a host of human ailments, including hip dysplasia and retinitis pigmentosa..." [Dallas Morning News]

Giant Mastiff mauls policeman UK A giant mastiff  mauled a policeman as he tried to make an arrest in Liverpool. Luckily, five other policemen came to his aid; all suffered injuries. Mastiffs can weigh between 150 to 185 lbs... [IC Network]

Cop resuscitates 'dead' dog MA "Cinnamon, the pit bull terrier, was technically dead and her owner was "hysterical" when Officer Thomas Richmond arrived at the scene of the accident (a car hit Cinnamon in the chest) last Wednesday."  He quickly performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the dog, "alternately pressing on her chest and breathing into her muzzle"... and the dog opened her eyes and started breathing..." [Reuters CNN]

If you want to learn CPR for your dog, some dog rescue organizations (Humane Society) give classes in emergency first aid for pets. Related: Disaster Preparedness – Have You Planned for Your Pets? (pet disaster preparedness tips from The Humane Society of the United States) [Newsmax]

Dog vanishes, reappears at grooming appointment UT Can dogs tell time? Apparently one dog can. Frankie, an Australian shepherd mix, disappeared during the fourth of July fireworks celebration and  then reappeared at her groomer's for her scheduled grooming at 8:00 am the next day... [Standard Examiner]

Candice Bergen 'debunks' Pet Psychic Candice Bergen recounts her visit with Animal Planet's The Pet Psychic host, Sonya Fitzpatrick: "Sonya has tremendous presence," she said, "but we had lots of dogs there for her to talk to and I was kind of hoping for specifics... but nothing." [TV Guide News Gossip ]

Hmm, I'm not so sure. Maybe Candice should have used the "portable lie detector" (only $39) written up by Xix at Geeknews @ Teoti.com:   

"You've been in this situation before. You’re talking with someone…and you don’t know how truthful they're being with you. Can you trust them? Too much may be at stake. You need some way to check their honesty. But how can you do that? Introducing Handy Truster. A portable lie detector, Handy Truster can make all the difference when it really counts. Using advanced integrated circuits, Handy Truster can scrutinize vocal patterns, concentrating on how a person enunciates. A person’s voice is like a mirror. It reflects excitement, tension, stress…all of these elements are crucial in determining the truth of what they're saying. Gimmick or trustworthy companion..."

Lawyer convicted in dog attack unapologetic CA "It seemed like everyone in the courtroom wanted to hear her apologize." After all, Diane Whipple died a gruesome death and after over a year of waiting, maybe just maybe Marjorie Knoller would express some regret. Fat chance...  [San Diego Union Tribune State News]

Man uses dog ruse to abduct 6-year-old girl CA "A 6-year-old girl was kidnapped Monday in a residential area of Northern Orange County by a man who asked her to help him find his dog, police said."  She was last seen kick and screaming as he forced her into his car... [SignOn San Diego]

Shady deals for guide dog charity UK "This is a unique opportunity to obtain sunglasses previously owned by your favourite celebrity, whilst raising invaluable funds for guide dogs." Even Elton John is donating sunglasses. The online auction runs until August 6 at the www.guidedogs.org.uk website.[Evening Standard]

Hero dog evicted from home FL Three days after rescuing his owner, Mike Moss, from a trailer fire, Scooby, the hero dog was evicted for being too heavy (over 25 pounds). The Moss family were forced to  return Scooby, a lab mix, to the Humane Society where he was promptly adopted by another family. He will be missed by the Moss family. 'Rheumatologist Wayne Riskin attributed Mike Moss' remission to Scooby, saying, "The dog was his motivation for walking" and "this pet has been trained for his special needs." ' [Sun Sentinel via Obscure Reading Room]

'Stinky old dog' changed a life CA  Who would have thought that a little black labrador puppy could turn your life upside down  and determine your career changes in life. Life took a different turn for Garrett Schlief when he brought Sandy, a black lab home. "One day she was lying at my feet, and I looked down at her," Schlief said. "It dawned on me right there that I wouldn't be the person I am today or in the career I'm in today had it not been for her. She defined who I was. I wanted to tell her story . . . our story"... [San Diego Union Tribune Sports]