N. Ireland  Three dogs attacked police officers during a drug bust on the outskirts of Belfast. One police officer required hospital treatment... Three rottweillers attack police during drug raid [BBC News]

 "A Belgian boarding kennel has opened an indoor heated swimming pool for arthritic dogs..." Swimming pool opened for arthritic dogs [Ananova.com Quirkies]

A guard dog who was once injured by the family cat and who was on duty during several robberies has had the final indignity dealt to him: he was stolen from the house he was guarding...Guard dog stolen from house he's protecting  [Ananova.com]

Related: Security dog led doublelife as thief Yugoslavia A mischievous dog, whose job it was to safeguard a factory, was caught on-camera, squirrelling balls of copper wire away and then burying them in the factory's yard. "The guards had been told by management they would lose their jobs if the crook was not caught, but every morning another ball of wire was missing. To their amazement, after installing a CCTV system, they found the guard dog was taking time off from patrol to go into the storeroom and take balls of wire..." [from Ananova.com]

The real cost of owning a pet: hefty, but worth it: "A year of dog care will set you back $900, and a cat will cost you about $700 annually, according to the Pet Products Manufacturers Association. Owners' neglect in accounting for this expense leads many to relinquish their pets to shelters..." It can be much, more higher, if your pet has a disease or condition which requires treatment or surgery. For example, we've spent over $8,000 on our dog's hip replacements and medical conditions in the last two and one half years. To prevent your nest egg from dwindling, get pet insurance and know what diseases your pet's breed is prone to. Eight tips for cutting costs on often-steep budget item, The price of animal companionship has other tips to help you cut the cost of taking care of your pet... [CBS Marketwatch]