Walking the line ...between animal rescue organization and 'animal collector' DE Some of the worst cases of animal neglect occur in the most unlikely of places. When the very people who originally rescued animals become their unintentional, neglectful jailers, you wonder what went wrong. It turns out the road from animal rescue to animal cruelty by neglect is paved with good intentions and a lack of resources:.

'Intent on saving some of the estimated 18,000 to 20,000 unwanted dogs and cats euthanized each year in Delaware's four shelters, some who run rescue operations can find it difficult not to take in too many animals...rescuers can succeed only if they recognize their limits on space, money, time and energy.' [News Journal] Related: 'Like out of a horror movie'

Prosecuted couple applied skin cream to distressed dog  UK Do it yourself medical care had devastating consequences for one unfortunate dog. 'It is totally unacceptable to not take an animal to the vets when it is clearly in distress...' [Luton Today]

Police officers learn mouth-to-mouth resuscitation for K-9 dogs CA There is nothing more distressing than seeing a pet's life ebb away and not being able to do something to save it. With first aid training, officers hope to save their canine partner's lives in such emergencies.

 "...we would do anything for these dogs. They are our partners and sometimes our best friends and we're not going to sit around and let them die." Officers from across the Bay Area learned how to give their dogs first aid for gunshot wounds, stabbings, heart attacks, snakebites and cuts...' [Contra Costa Times]

Multiple therapies aid pets with cancer TX Many vets combine immune boosting complementary therapies with standard cancer treatments (ie, chemotherapy). [Dallas Morning News]

FOR DOG LOVERS: Army Master Sgt. saves tiny abandoned puppy in Iraq [Free Republic] (great photo... and amusing commentary ... this is not an endorsement of other people's opinions and prejudices.)

RSPCA 'heartened' despite emergence of 'squish' videos UK 'This year that saw the emergence of UK-made 'squish' videos, featuring small animals being slowly and deliberately crushed to death...' Even so, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says the number of people committing cruelty to animals has fallen... [Ananova.com] (Photos accompanying the article are heartbreaking  and a good reason to support the SPCA. Our dog is a rescue from the ASPCA, the American counterpart of the SPCA.)