Archive for February, 2008

Dogs That Tangle With Cactus And Porcupines Pay Dearly For Their Curiosity

I live in the desert southwest of Arizona and my dog has gotten into some nasty scrapes with Cholla cactus (just about the worst there is due to the tiny little spines you can't even see and the risk of infection), Prickly Pear cactus and even bumped up against a rather large Saguaro cactus. I thought those things were bad until I saw these pictures of a bull terrier that got into a wrestling match with a porcupine (the match was declared a draw!). A friend of mine sent me these pictures which are amazing. Supposedly this dog was in his backyard in southern California, minding his own business (yeah, right!)….until this porcupine invaded his territory. 

This dog may have been upset at the intrusion of another animal in his domain but even a smart dog like a bull terrier should know he is no match for a porcupine. Jeez, how would you like to be the guy that had to pull out all of those needles? I guess we have to give this dog credit for sticking (ha!) up for his home and property but it turned out to be a bad decision.

A Dog That Resembles A Pin Cushion With Four Legs

A veterinarian sedated the dog (I sure hope so), and then removed a total of 1,347 porcupine quills!The good news is the dog survived – the bad news is that there is a naked porcupine out there freezing his *** off! Lets hope they both learned a valuable lesson.   

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Faith – an inspiring dog with the sweet face of a canine angel. I see similarities between special needs humans, especially children, and dogs with special needs. They both seem to have this glow from within and in other ways seem blessed. It's a wonderful story that has been making the rounds of Oprah and Montel, tugging at the heart-strings of all who see it. Watch the video and then visit Faith's website.

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Make A New Years' Resolution – For Your Pet

The new year (2008) is just over a month old but according to Denise Flaim, author of the Animal House column in Newsday it's not too late to make a few resolutions for the improvement of our pet's lives. Flaim, a Newsday staffer since 1994, covers companion animals, but she herself claims to be owned by two Rhodesian Ridgebacks. Involved in breeding, lure-coursing, obedience, agility and therapy-dog work, Denise is also the historian of the Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States.

I would be among the first to agree with Denise that anything we can do to provide a longer and healthier life for our pet – we should do, and happily. You can't measure the joy a pet can give you every day but sometimes we get so caught up in our routines that we forget that we are responsible for the life of an animal that depends on us for it's very survival. Sometimes I just look at my dog and say a prayer for his well being. I almost lost him once to neglect by his former owners and I plan to spend the rest of his life making up for it. I think Denise is right on the money. Here are some "pet resolutions" you should think about:

Resolve to feed your pet a better diet. Forget about the mass-marketing from commercial pet-food companies that have the bucks to get that pretty bag of questionable ingredients and fattening fillers to eye level in the supermarket. Do like I do and shop for your pet at a local feed store. Not only will you find that your pet is welcome there but you will find their staff to be a heck of a lot more knowledgeable about pet nutrition than that kid in the grocery isle. The nutritious food you buy there may end up costing you a bit more but won't you feel better knowing that your pet eats as well as you do? Doesn't it stand to reason that all living creatures benefit from fresh, hydrated, whole foods. (more…)

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Congressional Medal of Honor Winner- Or Hoax?

According to a story circulating on the Internet, that slobbering reject from a Ceasar Millan obedience class is Brutus, a military K-9, stationed at McChord Air Force Base. And believe it or not, he is supposed to have won the Congressional Medal of Honor, during a tour in Iraq. My friend Ken, a retired police officer, sent me this image and the accompanying story but when I saw the picture I did a double-take! Unless I was completely mistaken, I had seen this dog before – in person!

Claiming that he is part Boxer, part British Bull Mastiff, tipping the scales at 200 lbs, the perpetrator of this urban myth, (who remains anonymous and yes, unfortunately, this story did turn out to be a hoax) insists that this is the tail of a heroic dog and his Air Force master. (Ironically, this dog is an actual K-9 hero after all – just not in the way this story portrays him). (more…)

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One of the many things I look forward to on Sunday mornings is to relax in my favorite chair, Sunday paper spread out before me and a fresh, steaming hot cup of my favorite coffee in hand. My dog Duke lays down beside me with his favorite dog toy nearby while I scan for the latest articles in pet news. Duke is naturally more interested in the stuff about dogs but he enjoys news about all pets. .

With a full pot of java standing by I begin by reading the national news in the front page section, gradually working my way through the troubles of the world, local news and lastly sports because you never know which section a pet story will pop up in. My dog is only so patient so I have to read quickly.

I love to see what’s offered in the Pet classifieds, with special attention paid to the dog section and I always save the best for last, USA Weekend Magazine. There is always something of interest to pet owners with articles and reviews of things like dog collars, pet grooming, dog food, dog beds and all kinds of dog supplies. If my timing is good, I can make the coffee last until I finish reading Duke the latest pet news. (more…)

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