Butch, world's oldest dog, gets in Guiness book of records VA 'His name is Butch. He's a beagle. His title is etched in official Guinness World Records certification and he earned it by living for 27 years. That's something like, um - wait a minute and let me check my math - 189 in human years... His eyes, however, are bright and his tail still wags. He still begs for petting, and as with all beagles, food is a major holiday to celebrate often. On regular occasions he lets loose and does a bit of running about the house...' Dog wins fame after 189 years [Charlottesville Daily Progress]

Man and his pet dog die within minutes of each other in separate highway tragedies Canada 'A Winnipeg man and his pet dog were killed within moments of each other Saturday night when they were struck down by two different semi-trailers on a highway near Kenora...'  The man's dog suddenly jumped out from the car to the highway and was struck by a westbound tractor-trailer unit. When the man stepped out to check on his dog, an eastbound semi-truck hit him. He was pronounced dead at the scene... Winnepeg man, dog, die in highway tragedy [Winnepeg Sun]

The ethics of animals, pets and dogs: do they love, have feelings and what does that mean for humans...  CO Why should we pay attention to pet's emotional lives when scientists have always eschewed the very idea that any species less than human knows the chosen volition of love and free will. Man is unique in his ability to choose and to love, according to modern science... yet several free thinking scientists have found much to ponder in doing the unthinkable...  studying animals, without preconceptions or expectations... and coming to the conclusion that animals do indeed know how to love...  'Marc Bekoff, professor of biology at the University of Colorado, has published more than 175 papers and 15 books related to animal emotions. His most recent book (coauthored by Jane Goodall), released last month, is The Ten Trusts: What We Must Do to Care for the Animals We Love... '  Bekoff sees his hard earned scientific knowledge as a call to action in life: 'respecting all life, teaching children to love and respect nature, refraining from harming life in order to learn more about it, praising and helping those who work for animal welfare, and acting in concert with others...There are alternatives to cruelty, and we should really seek these alternatives...' What do animals feel and why? [Rocky Mountain News]