Policeman's ex-girlfriend allegedly poisoned pet dog PA A twisted tale of treachery, suicide, involuntary manslaughter, dog attacks and alleged murder includes a great Dane, poisoned with anti-freeze and then put down after the dog suffered in agony. The woman who allegedly poisoned the dog must appear at a preliminary hearing alleging animal cruelty... [Pittsburg Channel]

Dog grooming: how to keep the dog 'paw'fectly groomed [Better Homes and Garden] If your dog smells like garbage, it's time to bathe her. Our dog spent half his day today at the groomer's and the other half doing Pets on Wheels errands. Now he's whupped, splayed out on the floor in a doggie stupor, sleeping so soundly that he didn't have the energy to intercept the mailperson who dropped the day's mail on his head (he sleeps under the mail slot in the front door).

Trade in dog meat unfazed by rise in rabies Manila  Despite the Animal Welfare Act outlawing trade in dog meat, despite  publicized raids on vans filled with suffocating dogs (destined for dog meat butchers), despite a rise in rabies and other diseases, Manilans relish their dog meat. Some think of dog meat as an aphrodisiac while others say the act of eating dog meat is good revenge on dogs who pass on rabies... 'Only tribes that have a cultural history of eating dogs are exempted from the [Animal Welfare Act]. Many tribes in Cordillera butcher dogs to ask blessings from ancestors and appease their gods...' [Manila Times]

Mad dog savages postal worker's face UK A family pet ripped loose from its chain and charge a postal worker as he delivered mail... 56 stitches later... [The Sun] In a US study, most people whose dogs had bitten a postal worker said that their dog was tame and would never bite. Related: Postal worker loses nose to dog LA A letter carrier was attacked by two dogs who ran out an open front door while she walked on the sidewalk. She backed away, fell and the pitbull bit her face while the german shepherd-mix pulled on her pants leg. "Nationwide [in US] , 3,000 letter carriers have been bitten this year, up 15 percent over last year." [San Diego Union Tribune State News];  FY 2001 Total Recordable Dog Bite Accidents by Postal Service; Is it really dog vs. postal carrier?

Body of missing boy found with faithful dog by his side OR [KTBV.com 7]

Elusive black dog a legend in his own time VA To some, a stray black dog remains a mysterious good omen, a protector of sorts:

"There's something noble about this independent spirit," said Julie Weissend, who called animal control about this dreadlocked chow a year ago, with the usual frustrating result.  When it comes to Black Dog, "things have really gotten abstract," Weissend adds. "People have really been emotional." [Times Dispatch] (a must read)

Feces-hurling couple charged with littering MI [Star Tribune] (How not to settle a grudge.)

Dog Humor Sometimes dog humor is like spam: you keep getting the same dog joke in your email, over and over. What dog owners really need is a  one-stop archive devoted to dog humor. The Dog Lady saw the need and filled it [link]

Humane Society Offers Free Pets for Military Families IN

'Operation Companion' brings furry friends together with families who are missing their loved one. “We are hoping they can find some comfort by coming down and adopting a pet, whether it be a puppy a dog, cat or kitten,” said Elizabeth Duncan, Morgan County Human Society. [Wish]