The Daily Dog

Westminster dog show gets new breeds and viewer interaction on TV

2011-02-14T05:12:00.000-08:00

'A lot of people at home,' says David Frei, 'probably think the dogs at Westminster spend their time lounging on satin pillows and eating doggie bon bons.'

But the approximately 2,500 purebred dogs that will be competing in the 135th annual Westminster Kennel Club show tomorrow and Tuesday at Madison Square Garden harbor a secret, says Frei.

They really aren't much different from the 10 or 20 dogs the average New Yorker passes every day on the street and in the neighborhood.

Full story: Westminster dog show gets new breeds and viewer interaction on TV

New dogs hope to learn old tricks at Westminster

2011-02-14T05:08:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK — Kaffi looked as if he needed a coffee break. Rolling on his back, paws in the air, eyes getting heavy, he was dog tired.

'It's been a long day,' owner JoAnn Secondino said a few days ago after arriving in town.

And the Westminster Kennel Club show hadn't even begun for this Icelandic sheepdog, one of six new breeds this year at America's top pooch pageant.

In all, nearly 2,600 dogs will compete in 179 breeds and varieties. They'll come from 49 states — North Dakota is absent — and from several countries, including Thailand, Brazil, Slovenia and Australia.

Judging starts Monday in the hound, toy, nonsporting and herding groups.

Full story: New dogs hope to learn old tricks at Westminster - WSJ.com

Over 100 in people years: 20-year-old Portsmouth pooch gets a bit of pampering

2010-08-11T05:51:00.000-07:00

"PORTSMOUTH NH— 'Pooh' isn't exactly the spry pup he used to be, but even hard of hearing 20-year-old poodles enjoy a day of pampering every once in a while.

It was for this reason that Pooh enjoyed a trim and nail clipping on Tuesday that has him looking fine as he heads into his 21st year.

Longtime Portsmouth resident Janet Goodreau — the owner of a dog estimated to be easily over hundred years old in human years — said her fuzzy companion is often described as one of the oldest animals brought to his veterinarian or groomer, but she said he remains a playful animal whose longevity might be attributed to a slightly unusual diet and top-shelf treatment."

Full story: Over 100 in people years: 20-year-old Portsmouth pooch gets a bit of pampering - Fosters

Helping our dogs be all that they can be

2010-08-11T05:44:00.000-07:00

"PHILADELPHIA Hannah grabs the tennis ball out of the air, drops it on the floor, and nudges it toward the colorful plastic pins with her nose.

She scores a spare - and a chicken-flavored treat.

Not bad for an 8-year-old yellow Lab who started bowling only a few months ago (albeit eons in dog years) at Doggie Style's Camp Dogwood, the Philadelphia pet boutique and dog care that provides cognitively challenging activities to its four-legged charges."

Bellingham Neighborhoods, Whatcom County Communities | Bellingham Herald

More than 100 puppies rescued from 14 Missouri "puppy mills" will be up for adoption on Long Island this Saturday.

2010-08-11T05:40:00.000-07:00

"PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. (WPIX) - More than 100 puppies rescued from 14 Missouri 'puppy mills' will be up for adoption on Long Island this Saturday.

The dogs are currently under the care of the North Shore Animal League America (NSALA), which announced Tuesday that the dogs from their partner, National Mill Dog Rescue, had arrived. Before they go up for adoption, all the animals will be spayed or neutered and given full medical checkups.

'Puppy mills' are companies that breed dogs for sale to pet stores and are not illegal."

Full story:More than 100 puppies rescued from 14 Missouri "puppy mills" will be up for adoption on Long Island this Saturday. - WPIX

Lucky dogs get love, care at Jo's Hope

2010-08-11T05:38:00.000-07:00

: "A Lexington woman has launched a 'safe haven' for mentally and physically impaired dogs, and she has big plans"
Lucky dogs get love, care at Jo's Hope - Neighbors - Kentucky.com

Factions vie for control of Menifee Valley animal rescue group

2010-04-20T04:41:00.000-07:00

"Will the real president of the Menifee Valley Humane Society please stand up?

For the past three months, two people have been claiming that title. And, the U.S. Postal Service is holding all the organization's mail until it becomes clear who's in charge.

On May 6, a Riverside County probate judge is set to decide which board of directors will receive a check and estate that was recently bequeathed to the animal rescue group."

Factions vie for control of Menifee Valley animal rescue group | Local News | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California

Pet Adoptathon set for May 1

2010-04-10T06:02:00.000-07:00

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y., April 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Saturday, May 1 and Sunday, May 2 more than 2,000 animal shelters around the world will unite with North Shore Animal League America for Pet Adoptathon® 2010, the premiere global pet adoption event. Renowned dog expert Cesar Millan, National Geographic Channel's Dog Whisperer, is the spokesperson for the 16th annual global adoption extravaganza that helps save the lives of homeless pets. Purina ONE® serves as Pet Adoptathon's presenting sponsor.

On Saturday, May 1, participating shelters will open their doors for this important weekend event. Pet Adoptathon events have taken place in shelters located in every time zone around the world, and in 2009 over 20,000 pets were saved. The first Pet Adoptathon, in 1995, began as a North Shore Animal League adoption event, with the goal of finding homes for each pet in the shelter. Encouraged by its success, the Animal League invited shelters worldwide to participate in Pet Adoptathon. Sixteen years since its inception, Pet Adoptathon has helped find loving homes for nearly 300,000 animals.

Spokesperson Cesar Millan, who has helped dog owners world-wide, is a supporter of shelter adoptions, saying, 'Millions of many wonderful animals end up in shelters each year, and adoption provides these animals their second chance at life.' He added that he would like to convey a sense of contribution and appeal to the inner need for humanitarianism. 'The act of adopting a dog creates balance and completeness in our lives by fulfilling the need in every human of contribution, if only for a moment. Really, who is saving who?'

Pet Adoptathon promotes the adoption of mixed-breed pets, known as Mutt-i-grees™. These animals represent the majority of shelter pets; unfortunately they also make up the majority of the pets that are being euthanized. Mutt-i-grees rallies 25 million mixed-breed pet owners in the U.S. to encourage adoption of mixed-breed pets and to help end puppy mills that perpetuate animal cruelty and euthanasia. Participating shelters and rescues are official Mutt-i-grees partners to help spread the word about these wonderful unique adoptable animals. Learn more about Mutt-i-grees by visiting www.Muttigrees.org.

Dogs can suffer tooth pain

2010-04-10T05:56:00.000-07:00

"IT CAN be hard to resist letting your pooch polish off the scraps from your plate, or giving him the odd biscuit as a treat. But poor dental health is one of the biggest undiagnosed problems in dogs and cats, according to local vets. They say around a quarter of pets have serious teeth problems, which can sometimes lead to life-threatening illness."

Pets: Dogs can suffer tooth pain - Edinburgh Evening News

Puppy mill owner, employee out on bail

2010-04-10T05:47:00.000-07:00

"Guilford County, NC -- The owner and an employee of a kennel subject to a puppy mill investigation are out of jail on bond."

Sheila Savage, owner of Rush Kennel in Pleasant Garden, and Robert Landreth, an employee at the facility, both face 12 counts of animal cruelty.

Rush Kennel Customer Euthanized Sick Dog | digtriad.com | Triad, NC | Local

FREE Emergency Dog Halter

2010-04-10T05:39:00.000-07:00

From Instructibles: "I came up with this idea one day when I was taking my dog out for a walk and found out that she had chewed off her halter. What I did was made a temporary halter using just the leash. You can make this out of any length leash. Here are the pictures showing how to make it."

FREE Emergency Dog Halter

'A phenomenal dog': Owner, SPCA mourn pit bull rescued from Michael Vick's dogfighting ring

2010-04-07T05:16:00.000-07:00

"When Red first came to Monterey County, having a family and a home was foreign to the 6-year-old pit bull. 'He didn't know what to do with a [pet] door or what a ceiling fan was,' said Beth Brookhouser, SPCA for Monterey County director of community outreach.

Red was one of three pit bulls rescued from football player Michael Vick's dogfighting operation in Virginia. He spent his life in a kennel. This week, Red's owner and the SPCA are mourning his death."

'A phenomenal dog': Owner, SPCA mourn pit bull rescued from Michael Vick's dogfighting ring | thecalifornian.com | The Salinas Californian

From Rags to Riches, Doggie Style

2010-04-07T05:13:00.000-07:00

"The canine co-stars of the touring production of the Broadway hit 'Legally Blonde The Musical' are Humane Society pups, now living the life of luxury. Frankie the chihuahua plays Bruiser, Elle Wood's pampered pet in Legally Blonde The Musical. According to stage manager, Chris Danner, he and his understudy, Roxy, are the real stars of the show. 'When they walk out of the stage door like everybody else, they get the most attention,' Danner tells CNN."

From Rags to Riches, Doggie Style - Tonic

Officers investigate puppy mill

2010-04-07T05:10:00.000-07:00

"ATHENS, AL (WAFF) - Officials are investigating an illegal puppy mill where more than two dozen dead dogs were stored in a freezer."

Officers investigate puppy mill - WAFF.com: North Alabama News, Radar, Weather, Sports and Jobs-:

US Postal Service launches “Adopt a Shelter Pet” stamps on Ellen DeGeneres Show

2010-03-17T08:15:00.000-07:00

USPS will unveil its “Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet” sheet of commemorative stamps today, kicking off a major 8-week promotion with an appearance by PMG Jack Potter on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.

The commemorative sheet of stamps continues a half-century tradition of Pet rescue stampspromoting attention and awareness of national social issues. The set features photographs of 10 shelter pets adopted through the Animal Welfare Society of New Milford, CT. The stamps go on sale April 30 following a first-day-of-issuance (FDOI) ceremony at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in Hollywood.

The Postal Service is working with DeGeneres — a well-known advocate for pet adoption — and Halo, a pet food company she co-owns. As its contribution to the 8-week “Stamps to the Rescue” promotion, Halo will donate 1 million meals to animal shelters across the country. “This is a subject I am extremely passionate about,” said DeGeneres. “By working together, we can find good homes for millions of adoptable, homeless and abandoned pets.”

In addition to Potter’s appearance on the show, USPS is participating in the promotion with posters and counter cards in Post Offices. From April 30 through May 14, USPS will promote shelter pet adoption with a special cancellation on its automated equipment.

“These stamps continue a 50-year Postal Service tradition of bringing attention to serious social issues of the day — one letter at a time,” said Potter. “Our hope is these stamps will encourage pet adoption and promote humane and responsible pet care.”

Anticipating the popularity of the series, the Postal Service has printed 300 million stamps — 15 million sheets — and is prepared to print more if 7.5 million sheets are sold by the end of May.

Starting today at 9 a.m. ET, information on the stamps and promotion events is available on usps.com and also stamps to the rescue.com, a microsite developed to promote the stamps.

Source: USPS Newslink

Scottish Terrier Named Sadie Is Best in Show at Westminster

2010-02-17T04:08:00.000-08:00

"Sadie, a four-year-old Scottish terrier, broke the losing streak for favorites at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Tuesday night when she was named best in show."

New York Times

Walks benefit you and your dog

2010-02-15T05:58:00.000-08:00

"Best-friend walks keep your dog healthy, but they can also help you get in shape. Walking is simply good medicine — for both you and your pet."

Postbulletin.com: Rochester, MN

Dogs, owners relax before annual Westminster Kennel Club show

2010-02-15T05:51:00.000-08:00

"Tense show dogs and their owners did their best to de-stress yesterday, enjoying a full range of canine-oriented spa treatments before the start of the annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show today."

Dogs, owners relax before annual Westminster Kennel Club show - NYPOST.com

Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show starts tonight

2010-02-15T05:41:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK -- Since 1877, there have probably been a lot of years where Westminster Kennel Club fans savored the show’s results and wondered ahead: what can we do for an encore?

The Westminster Kennel Club’s 134th Annual All Breed Dog Show in 2010 will certainly be another one of those years at Madison Square Garden, especially after the very visible, impactful winners in the past two years in particular.

In 2009, Senior Citizens everywhere celebrated the victory of Stump, a wonderful Sussex Spaniel that became the oldest dog ever to capture Best In Show at the World’s greatest dog show. Stump was 10 years, two months and nine days old, more than two years older than the previous age record holder.

Making his win all the more remarkable was the fact that he had nearly died a few years earlier after retiring from the show ring, and that he had not been shown in nearly four years. He quickly became a cover story for AARP magazine.

It was “Beaglemania” in 2008, as a Beagle named Uno was crowned Best In Show. The dog show’s loudest crowd ever at the Garden made the first win ever for a Beagle one of Westminster’s most memorable wins. Uno went on to make countless public appearances, visit the White House and ride on a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Stump and Uno were the most recent, but certainly they were carrying on the wonderful legacy established by great dogs like Remedy (1907, 1908, 1909), Brucie (1941, 1942), Bang Away (1951), Storm (1952, 1953), Gossie (1960), DJ (1971, 1972), Pepsi (1983), Shannon (1984), Hatter (1987), Kirby (1999), Mick (2003) and the many others who came before.

So, bring on the script writers. What can happen in 2010?

As always, it will be a wonderful collection of show dogs, with all the great dogs in the same place at the same time, the only time that happens each year. They’ll be strutting their stuff in front of another sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden, in front of millions of television viewers watching it live on USA Network, and in front of millions more on the Internet.

What greater inspiration can there be than to know that everyone in the sport – and then some – are watching. The dogs and their people seem to sense that, and great performances by great athletes abound.

It will take two days to work through the 2,500 dogs that begin the competition at the breed level in 173 different breeds and varieties. In 2010, three breeds newly-recognized by the American Kennel Club will compete at the Big W for the first time ever: the Irish Red and White Setter in the Sporting Group, and the Pyrenean Shepherd and the Norwegian Buhund in the Herding Group.

At the conclusion of the dog world’s greatest event, the seven winners in the Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding Groups will meet in the final countdown.

When 11 p.m. on February 16 rolls around, Best In Show Judge Elliott Weiss of Eagle, Idaho, will step into the center of the ring and crown the Westminster winner as America’s Dog for 2010.

For that great champion, the legacy will have only begun.

The 134th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show airs on USA Network live on Monday and Tuesday evenings, February 15 and 16, from 8 p.m. – 11 p.m. ET.

Lone wolf plays with dogs

2010-01-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

"Each winter Romeo the black wolf descends from the hills of Alaska's Tongass National Forest to play with domesticated dogs on their winter walks. For the past six years, wildlife photographer John Hyde has been following the friendly animal. And gaining the huge wolf's trust has allowed him to take these intimate photos."

Lone wolf plays with dogs - Telegraph

Mississippi: Suspected Puppy Mill Burns to the Ground

2010-01-12T05:48:00.000-08:00

"When Tunica County Humane Society Director Sandy Williams arrived at the scene of a burning trailer Monday, she says there were dogs everywhere. She went to work, trying to save them.

'When I got here, he was cowered in the corner in the back of his dog house,' she says as she points to a small poodle she rescued. 'The bedding was on fire around him.' Two dogs died in the fire. Williams, firefighters and others managed to save 34 others. 'It's been an emotional day.'"

Suspected Puppy Mill Burns to the Ground - WREG:

'Dog chapel' founder, artist dies

2010-01-10T05:45:00.000-08:00

"Folk artist Stephen Huneck, whose whimsical paintings, sculptures and woodcut prints of dogs celebrated his love of animals and won him a worldwide fan base, has died. He was 60. Huneck, of St. Johnsbury, committed suicide Thursday in Littleton, N.H. His wife said he was despondent after being forced to lay off employees at his Dog Mountain studio and dog chapel."

'Dog chapel' founder, artist dies: Times Argus Online

Dying pit bull 'bait dog' rescued from park in Boston

2009-12-16T17:20:00.000-08:00

"A dying pit bull was rescued from a wooded area of Hyde Park in Boston on Tuesday night. After receiving a call about a dying dog, rescuers rushed to the scene to discover a canine in terrible shape. The officer who found the dog claimed it was the worst case of abuse he’s seen in 35 years, and assumed she would have died within the next hour or two if they hadn’t found her.The Animal Rescue League is offering a reward of $3000 for anyone with information leading to the arrest of the people responsible for Turtle’s condition. Those responsible face up to 5 years in prison and a $2500 fine."

Dying pit bull 'bait dog' rescued from park in Boston

Yes, Virginia, pet stores and puppy mills love Christmas

2009-12-16T17:13:00.000-08:00

"Christmas is traditionally a time for joy, celebration, good food — and unfortunately, pet store puppies. The uninformed and impulsive pet store puppy buyer would be shocked to see where these puppies come from."

Dunn County News

IDEXX introduces test for canine and feline H1N1 influenza virus

2009-12-10T03:42:00.000-08:00

WESTBROOK, Maine, December 8, 2009—IDEXX Reference Laboratories introduces its latest RealPCR™ test for canine and feline H1N1 influenza virus. The IDEXX H1N1 Influenza Virus RealPCR™ Test is offered in response to concern about the spread of this disease, helping veterinarians diagnose and manage patients with suspected respiratory infection.

Also referred to as swine flu, H1N1 was confirmed for the first time in October as the cause of death of a ferret. H1N1 infection has since been confirmed as the cause of respiratory disease in a number of cats and ferrets, which are believed to have contracted the virus from their owners. While there is no evidence these pets spread the virus to other animals or people, the potential exists for the H1N1 virus to infect companion animals, including dogs, as a result of close contact with infected family members.

"The clinical signs of the H1N1 virus are likely to resemble other canine and feline respiratory infections," said Christian Leutenegger, DrVetMed, PhD, FVH, Regional Head of Molecular Diagnostics at IDEXX Reference Laboratories. "Offering the H1N1 Influenza Virus RealPCR Test with the Feline Upper Respiratory Disease and Canine Respiratory Disease RealPCR™ panels will help practitioners identify and differentiate multiple causes of respiratory infection for improved diagnosis and patient management."

Veterinarians should consider running the H1N1 Influenza Virus RealPCR Test on patients with suspected respiratory disease or those with suspected H1N1 infection. Given the short shedding period of influenza viruses, samples should be submitted for testing within 7 days of the onset of clinical signs to avoid false-negative results. Test results are typically available within 72 hours.

The IDEXX H1N1 Influenza Virus RealPCR Test is included with the Feline Upper Respiratory Disease (URD) and Canine Respiratory Disease (CRD) RealPCR panels at no additional cost. A stand-alone test is also available. For more information, call our internal medicine specialists at 1-888-433-9987, option 4, option 2, or go to www.idexx.com/pcr.