High-tech laser eases surgery for vet CA Lasers make neutering, spaying and removing cancers safer surgery. [Riverside Press Enterprise] (oh crimmony... ewwww ... this vet uses his new handy, dandy laser for declawing cats, the equivalent of cutting off the finger at the first joint... )

E3: Dog's Life for Elite mastermind UK A virtual game for dog lovers: assume the role of Jake, the dog, and embark on a virtual reality adventure, complete with 'Smellovision.'  See and smell the world through a dog's eyes. Story plot: you, as Jake, must sniff your way across the USA to find your girlfriendl, Daisy (presumably another dog). (release date: Autumn, 2003)

'Sony announced a brand new title over E3, a PS2 game that will be developed by David Braben, the veteran designer behind the legendary Elite. Dog's Life is an unusual adventure in which the player actually assumes the role of a dog, called Jake, and begins a voyage across the USA to find pal Daisy...' [Ferrago.co.uk]

Hmmm... life viewed at knee level, getting run over by cars on freeways, sniffing dog butts and other indiscreet areas, sniffing posts... yes, we need that game.

(Note: very few references on the web about this game: here is a translated page of gamecult's preview, which makes for hilarious reading...

"The principle of Dog' S Life finally will enable us to touch finger all that makes the magnificence be a dog, these animals equipped with irrepressible impulses which consist with renifler any dustbin or any séant. Already presented like Large Theft Car in the dogs, Dog' S Life will make you follow the traces of Jake, a banal dog, which seek to find its bitch, Daisy. Because it is him also subjected to the impulses of its condition, Jake will lose much time in the streets, in the search of indices to find its câline. It will be able in particular to ask its congeneric to achieve some objectives for its cause, which will make it possible to pass from time to others in the skin of a chihuahua or from another model. Jake will be able to also wander without goal in the city by making filths with the passers by, in all the directions of the term..." [gamecult translated]

Want to see some pictures of it... go here (a dozen photos)

Heelwork To Music Competition Takes Big Steps UK [K9 Online]

How to tell if your pet has arthritis Australia "A veterinarian is the only person qualified to make a correct diagnosis and provide advice on effective treatment. A clinical exam may include X-rays and blood tests..." [Ninemsn]

(Personally, if you suspect your dog has arthritis, get it to a vet right away. There are treatments to prevent the degeneration that causes bone destruction and eventual hip replacement surgeries. And there are medicines and complementary therapies to alleviate the dog's pain. When we adopted our dog, we never suspected he has arthritis; our vet diagnosed it first. Most dogs are stoic and  will put up with a lot of pain... so get your dog to a vet anyway... just in case.)

Why does my pet shed? NC A vet explains why pets shed hair and what to do about it... [News 14 Carolina]

Our dog sheds and sheds and sheds... our collection of brushes rivals any grooming salon. In general, one of the best tricks is to wet the brush before you brush the dog (and keep wetting the brush). The brush will pick up more dirt and the dog's hair won't break. Wipe the dog down every day with a wet microfiber towel (that will pick up much of the dirt) before brushing. There is also a special 'shed-x' treatment which involves vacuumming the dog for three hours with special tools. I haven't tried it yet... next week, perhaps... (A grooming saloon specializing in shed-x treatment wants us to try it). Actually, I can't fathom putting our dog through that kind of torture (he doesn't especially like getting brushed...), even if he feels better afterward. Brushing him is less stressful than getting him stripped of excess hair...

Kids should learn to pet a pit bull NY [Syracuse Online] (even better... teach a pit bull to be nice to kids... )

Animal rights group raps wolf plans [Casper Star Tribune]