Dangerous dog law bites Seattle dog owners WA When does the law go too far to protect people from dangerous dogs? ... when the danger is not in the dog... but in the law. An editorial by Carole Watts calls for Seattle dog owners to fight the new 'dangerous dog' law which can allow the government to seize and hold a dog for months, based on an anonymous complaint. [Seattle PI] Related: I love my dog

Step by Step, Scientists Track Mystery Ailment. 'The relentless spread of SARS, severe acute respiratory syndrome, in Hong Kong and mainland China has confounded the public health system.' There are three cases in Virginia as of last Saturday:

'Known coronaviruses cause the common cold and are suspected of causing diarrheal and other intestinal illness in humans. Though pesky, the ailments are rarely fatal. But in animals, coronaviruses can cause devastating illness among cats, dogs, chickens, pigs and cattle. Hardy coronaviruses can survive outside the body for up to three hours, allowing a contaminated object to spread infection. The suspect coronavirus has not been identified previously, and for now it is hard to know how deadly it will become...'  By Lawrence K. Altman, M.d.. [New York Times: Health]

Pepper's fund to fight canine lymphoma A heart rending story about Pepper, the shetland sheepdog, who endured ten months of treatment and $13,000 of chemotherapy to treat his canine lymphoma. '...dogs [and pets] are not disposable commodities. They’re family members and they’re for life' [Reno Gazette Journal]

Tick season deadly for dogs without protection [Yahoo News] More than you ever wanted to know about ticks and the diseases they transmit.  Related: Preventing tick bites (great site for tick bite prevention and tick bite treatment)

During tick season, we:

• don't walk the dog(s) in tick infested areas (we learned this the hard way: even with topical treatments, our dog managed to get nabbed frequently by ticks... ugh)
• check the dog for ticks every day (see above); feel his coat, his face, his armpits, look in his ears, everywhere...
• keep the dog brushed and clean (you'll find the ticks more easily)
• got dog a lyme disease vaccine  (we live near many deer and tick infested parks)
• use a monthly topical application to kill ticks and fleas on the dog
• employ a special tick removing spoon (which works handily... got it at a pet supply store) and wear surgical gloves. I've never had luck with tweezers.

Vet answers your most embarrassing pet questions: AZ  'Why is my dog dragging his butt on the floor (all the time)?', 'Why does my dog think feces are dessert treats?' [Arizona Central]

Related: The Pet Lady: 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: ..." [Seattle Weekly]; Dog Secrets (Is it safe to kiss a dog?; Why is my dog so gassy?; The most dangerous dogs to kiss; Stopping the dog's mounting behavior, Should your dog take Prozac?... )

What to do when your dog's a certified nut case... Dogs suffering disorders do odd things  ... If your dog is driving you crazy with embarassing scooting, incessant tail chasing, or licking, don't hesitate to take it to a veterinarian (first) and dog behavior trainer (second). Your dog may have a medical condition or an obsessive compulsive disorder, which when left untreated can mentally cripple a dog... Related: Dr. P's Dog Training Library - Behavior  Problems (a long comprehensive list of online resources: including 'Pets that drive you crazy')

SF's animal shelter: where underdogs have more than a chance CA San Francisco, a city noted for its tolerance and acceptance, also boasts an animal shelter which gives three-legged dogs, deformed animals and older dogs more than a chance for a better life:

'... People [in San Francisco] have a deepened sense for the underdog because they know what it is like to be outcast. This has really created a lot of people who want to help animals. For example, if I have an animal at Animal Care & Control that has only three legs and one eye, I can get 500 people sending in money and standing in line to adopt that animal...  10 years ago, it would probably have been killed, but today I can't find enough of those to go around. Animals that are deformed or deaf or maimed -- believe it or not, they're the easiest to place, because they tug at your heartstrings. Aesthetics has nothing to do with it...' [San Francisco Chronicle] (Cats don't fare as well, however.) Related: San Francisco Animal Care & Control

Did Cruft's Best in Show: Danny, the Pekinese, have facelift? UK If so, Danny loses his title for last year's most prestigious award in the international dog show world: Supreme Champion, Best in Show at Cruft's. Only three weeks after being crowned 'Supreme Champion', Danny has aroused suspicion of other competitors who say the Pekinese owes his winsome appearance to a secret 'nip and tuck' cosmetic surgery. His owners flatly deny any facelift procedure, saying Danny's surgery for a throat infection prior did not alter his appearance:

'Danny, the Pekinese who beat 20,000 contestants to be crowned Supreme Champion at Crufts on March 9, faces an investigation, The Times reported yesterday. Nips and tucks are banned under the show's strict rules and winners found to have gone under the knife can be stripped of their titles, the event's organisers, the Kennel Club said...' [Daily Telegraph] Related: Danny is top dog, Scandal tails show's victor, Britain's top pooch in facelift row