Berliners love their dogs ZW "To the [people] in the city of Berlin, a dog is more than a pet. It is a companion..." The author argues that perhaps Berlin's modern society needs a reprieve from "the vacuum created by [crowded] urbanism, its attendant individualism" and associated loneliness. “You can count on a dog for faithful partnership rather than on a whimsical fellow human being.”  In contrast, security remains the top reason for a owning a dog in rural Zimbawbwe; that and its helpfulness in hunting game. It seems urbanism hasn't yet infected Zimbawbe... [The Daily News: Zimbawbwe]

Blind man denied guide dog Norway "Authorities have denied a blind man a guide dog, saying the blind man is not physically fit enough to keep the dog in top condition. .. 'It becomes a kind of negative spiral - without being in shape he can't get a guide dog and without a guide dog he can't get in shape...'  "[Aftenposten]

Dingo keeps lost girl, 3, warm during night WA "A lost 3-year-old girl likely survived a cold night (40 degrees fahreinheit) in the hills by snuggling up to the family's pet a dingo named Tip." She was found unharmed Wednesday after disappearing Tuesday night. The rescuer who found her by spotting the Dingo first: "I was just getting ready to come down for lunch and a little dog popped its head up, and there was the little [naked] girl, sitting under him. That dog is the hero..." [Seattle Post-Intelligencer Local News]

Boating gear for dog safety "Pupgear has introduced a fold up "Doggydocks" for use on boat platforms.  In addition, Pupgear has added a line of water related canine sports gear, including life vests and boat booties that prevent dogs from slipping and scratching boat finishes..." ( ... wonder if those boat booties are comfortable for indoor dogs on wood floors? We could have used them...) [PR Web] Related: Designer wear for dogs

Missing pet therapy dog, Happy, returns to work NV  Happy, a little Lhasa Apso, "has returned to Carson City care center where she brought joy" to [both] Alzheimer's patients and staff." While missing, Happy managed to keep doing her therapy work ... with one of the boys who took her in when she appeared at a convenience store; he had a heart condition and she captured his heart... [Nevada Appeal]

Dog releases truck brake; truck runs amok WI A tiny dog, left alone in a flatbed truck, managed to crash the truck, and "hit two parked cars, clipped an oncoming car and ripped through a tree." The police did't cite the dog, but they probably wanted to...  (check out the photo of  an itty bitty, fluffy dog smiling innocently)   [Channel 3000 via Romensko's Obscure Store]

Related: Motorcycle crash blamed on dog Chattanooga Ouch. A motorcylcist filed a $350,000 lawsuit against a couple over the crash he says he suffered when their dog ran out in front of his motorcycle...  'My dogs were driving' excuse not credible (original link expired) AU In early June, A man pulled over for speeding by a police officer, next almost hit the officer writing him up with a ticket. He blamed it on his dogs: "caused by one dog pressing on the car's accelerator, as the other dog moved the gear lever into drive..." Fat chance. [Australian Broadcasting Corporation South Australia New]

(Hint to dog chauffeurs: A comfortable seat belt [designed for dogs] may not only save its life but also prevent the dog from driving away with your car...)

Our dog saw his vet yesterday and his hips are a-okay (whew... we were worried); the vet said he severely sprained his hind knee -- he's never done that before. Both his hip surgeon and his vet had always said his knees were in great shape prior to his surgery (almost four months ago). The poor dog slipped yesterday on our repolished wood floor (I've never polished them before) and yowled in pain. Our vet put him on a two-week regimen of totally restricted exercise: none, except to go out to the back yard on a leash when he has to relieve himself. Our vet said these injuries are quite common; I thought his hip had been injured, but our vet said it looked really good and the dog has built up some muscle on it already. He gets another checkup in two weeks. 

Instead of walks, he will go for car rides in the evening. He loves to ride in the car, stare at people, smile at them, and lean on the car door with his seat belt on. I will be more careful in the future; slippery floors are verboten; we don't want to put him through any more surgery or pain. He's been through enough already; in his short life, he's been abandoned, placed in a shelter, fostered for three months (where he became very attached to his foster parents) and then adopted by us. Because of severe arthritis, he has received two total hip replacements in the last two years. He needs a break, that's for sure.