Fire mask for dogs March 18, 2010 - BLOOMINGTON - From our friends at Pantagraph.com

Vicki Sloat is an animal lover extraordinaire.
By day, she works as a pet groomer. She goes home to a house full of animals owned by herself and her niece.
“Animals have been a part of my life ever since I was a little girl,” said Sloat, who loved to sit in the “super-duper” dog house her father built for Lady, the family hunting dog.
So it’s no surprise Sloat was instrumental behind a gift of six pet rescue masks for the Bloomington Fire Department.
“There are a lot of animals out there,” said Brad McCollum, public education officer for the fire department. “Smoke is what gets them. We can confine the fire but smoke gets throughout.”
Firefighters have successfully saved pets with oxygen masks designed for humans but McCollum said masks designed for pets are made...Read More!

Animal Adoption Gets Stamp of Approval

Dog stamp

March 18, 2010 - From our pals at Change.org

The pet adoption message is coming soon to a post office near you. On April 30, 2010, the U.S. Postal Service will release the latest installment in its social awareness series — "Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet." Joining the USPS for the campaign are Ellen DeGeneres and Halo Purely for Pets, a holistic pet product company.

The Stamps to the Rescue website doesn't sugarcoat the issue's importance: "We want more Americans to know about the millions of shelter pets that need good homes. Nearly half of the animals that enter animal shelters are euthanized. Many of these cats and dogs would have made a wonderful pet ... if only given the chance." The campaign is well-timed with the...Read More!

2-Legged Dog Finds Home

2 Legged March 29, 2010 -- From our friends at ABC (WAPT) in Jackson, Mississippi

Deuce, the two-legged dog may not have made it without Michael Mason. Mason rescued Deuce's mother from the streets of Jackson when she was pregnant. “I think it was just a sign from God that she found me,” Mason said. “We kept the puppies and found a home for the others and I kept Deuce.” When Deuce was born, he had just his two hind legs. “God made him like this,” Mason said. “He doesn't know the difference.”

Mason works at the Mississippi Animal Rescue League and said he sees dozens of stray dogs come in every day. “I have several dogs I’ve taken in and tried to find a home for. I can’t even count,” Mason said. MARL Director Debra Boswell said the overpopulation problem...Read More!

Humans are reason for most canine problems

Training March 29, 2010 -- From our pals at Statesville.

Experienced dog trainer Jason Purgason said the most of the problems between man's best friend and their human companions rests squarely on the people.
Purgason, owner of Highland Canine in Harmony, talked about dog behavior and training at a seminar Monday night at Troutman Elementary School.
The common problems people experienced with their dogs, from behavior issues to overeating, are the fault of the owners, he said.
"We see a lot of fat dogs, and that's purely a manmade problem," he said. "You don't see overweight canines in the wild."
Purgason said a lot of other problems stem from people picking the wrong dog to not addressing their dog's mental needs to lack of socialization.
"People don't understand what the breed characteristics are," he said. "They purchase dogs as an impulse buy, and a lot of those dogs end up at shelters or in rescue groups."
Matching a dog with the owner's lifestyle is crucial. "Some dogs need a lot of exercise. Others are happy lying at your feet. And there are certain breeds that are not particularly good with children," he said.
One of the mistakes people make in getting and taking care of...Read More!

New Study Says Origins of Dogs in Middle East

Wolf March 23, 2010 -- Worldwide

As reported in The New York Times, a new study conducted by humans shows that wolves first became "domesticated" into dogs in the Middle East. Before this research, humans thought dogs "joined the party" in Asia.

"Humans figured this out using old dog bones, wolf bones, and something called 'genes'," said LoLLy Maltese, a resident of Austin, Texas. "Personally I've got issues with that. I don't care if the bones were left a kajillion years ago. It's rude to dig up somebody else's belongings."

Further concerns were raised...

Dogs Help Kids Read!!

Dogs help read March 15, 2010 -- Binghamton, NY

From our friends at Channel 12 in Binghamton, NY --- Local libraries are turning to man's best friend to improve kids reading skills. The Books and Reading Canine program, or Bark9, began its spring session at the Broome County Public Library. It allows children to read to dogs to improve their reading and communication skills. Kids pick a book then pick a dog to listen as they read.

The program uses registered therapy dogs who are tested for health, safety and temperament. Organizers say it helps kids feel more confident. "It's pretty neat. It's interesting to see because someone children are petrified of dogs but they are amazing readers but they don't like to read out loud. And other children like dogs but they don't necessarily...Read More!

RESCUE MALTESE TAKES ON DOUBLE TROUBLE

Esther March 12, 2010 - Washington, DC

Esther, a darling Maltese who recently adopted a family in Washington, D.C., faces a special burden in her pack: 9-year old twin human boys who are perpetually confused about who's who and are thus having a hard time learning to come when called.

"I'll bark, 'Max!'" Esther said. "But SAM will come running. Or I'll bark 'Sam, come!' -- only here comes Max." Esther paused to shake her head sadly. "I worry all the time about their future. How can they get jobs if they can't remember who's who?"

Esther has been working tirelessly with the boys, and on the whole maintains a positive and hopeful attitude.

But she admits to sometimes thinking, "I'm going to spend the next one hundred years trying to straighten these two out."

When asked if perhaps it was her barking causing the confusion, Esther appeared stunned.

"I am a terrific barker," she said crisply. "I feel quite confident ...

Origins of Puppy Bowl Revealed!

Groundbreaking Investigative Journalism from LuluAndLolly.com

February 7, 2010 --- U.S.A. -- Wondering how the Annual Puppy Bowl, featured nationally on Animal Planet, got started?

Sports fans, wonder no more.

The raucous event — which features bunny cheerleaders, hamsters operating a balloon-cam, and adorable canines currently willing to take applications for adoption, was developed seven years ago by canines who were “sick of getting psyched ...