In Soviet Russia, stick fetch you!

Pit Bull Really Wants That Stick [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

I had to break my hand punching the wall just to reclaim my manliness.

Animals Trying To Stay Awake Compilation is a post from: The Inquisitr

Ontario, Canada – A loyal dog waited by its owner for 12 hours after she became stuck in a sinkhole in the woods of Haliburton in Ontario.

Sixty-four-year-old Sandra Van Alstyne was on a morning walk with two-year-old border collie Monty and a frisbee when a misplaced step saw her slip straight into a knee-deep sinkhole.

“I just walked right into it, and there was no way my foot was going to budge,” Van Alstyne told The Star. “The suction was like cement.”

Stranded at the top of a remote hill, Van Alstyne’s shouts for help stood little chance of being heard. Sitting down to prevent herself from going any deeper, the woman waited for somebody else to come along.

As it happens, she was in for quite a wait. The hours began to pass, though at first it wasn’t so terrible. The sky was a clear blue, the temperature pleasant, and the ever-faithful Monty stayed close by.

But soon, it began to snow.

“It was that wet kind of snow, but it only lasted a bit. I was glad when it stopped.” reflects Van Alstyne.

Not that Sandra was ever worried about her safety. Her loyal friend continued to stick by her side throughout the ordeal. “Monty stayed right with me, he just snuggled up to me,” says Van Alstyne. “I petted him and he kept me warm.”

By 5 pm, seven hours after she’d left home, Sandra’s husband was beside himself with worry. He contacted police, and a search-and-rescue mission was launched, with police dogs, officers, and a helicopter all deployed.

When they found an increasingly chilly Sandra with Monty still by her side at 11 pm, it was no easy task for police to get her out. “The police were getting stuck themselves trying to get me,” she told The Star. “This was a really big hole.”

A hospital check-up confirmed Van Alstyne was fine. And Monty?

“He didn’t sleep very well that night, but he finally ate something when I got home. He’s so smart, he’s really a great dog. I could brag about him for hours.”

[Image via Shutterstock]

Dog Stays By Owner Trapped In Sinkhole For 12 Hours is a post from: The Inquisitr

“I swear when I grow up, I will conquer your steps!”

Puppies Vs. Stairs [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Scottsdale, AZ – Arizona is one of the 41 states not to have legally recognized same-sex marriage, but it may be the first to have hosted a same-sex marriage for dogs.

The Saguaro Hotel in Scottsdale has attempted to push the cause for marriage equality by hosting two same-sex canine weddings.

On Thursday night, owners and doggy friends came together for the marriage of Clark and Bailey (both wired male hair dachshund-Pekingese mixes), and Isabel (a female Chihuahua) and Chunk (a female English Bulldog).

While Clark and Bailey have been pals for many years, Isabel and Chunk met on a blind date set up by friends.

A press release confirms the wedding was overseen by a licensed Science of Mind Practitioner, while a dog-friendly wedding cake and a full marital wardrobe for both brides and grooms was provided. It’s even believed two-legged attendees were thrown a few treats.

As a wedding gift, both canine couples were provided with a night’s honeymoon stay at The Saguaro, which prides itself as being a pet-friendly hotel.

Alan Klein, general manager at The Saguaro, said: “We thought this would be a fun way to both support human rights and to let people know that The Saguaro is a pet-friendly hotel.”

Arizonians, are you proud your home state has hosted such a progressive wedding? Sound off in the comments, and don’t forget to leave your best wishes for Clark, Bailey, Isabel, and Chunk!

[Image via Shutterstock]

Arizona Hosts First Ever Same-Sex Wedding… For Dogs is a post from: The Inquisitr

We’re sure these pups got over their issues and went on to live more-or-less happy lives.

Dogs That Just Can’t Handle It Right Now is a post from: The Inquisitr

This dog probably got bitten by a radioactive spider and a radioactive Tony Hawk.

Badass Dog [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Bathtime? You go first, cat!

Dog Pushes Cat Into The Bathtub [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

A new study has found dogs are better at comprehending situations from a human perspective than previously realized.

Researchers in the UK conducted experiments on 84 dogs and found the animals were capable of modifying their behavior depending on the circumstance of their owners.

For example, dogs were four times more likely to steal food they had been forbidden when the lights were turned off and humans struggled to see.

The authors of the study argued it was “unlikely that the dogs simply forgot that the human was in the room” when the lights went off. Throughout the experiments, variations were used to prevent dogs associating sudden darkness with someone giving them food.

Dr. Juliane Kaminski from the University of Portsmouth, who led the study, said:

“[The study is] incredible because it implies dogs understand the human can’t see them, meaning they might understand the human perspective.”

The research, published in Animal Cognition, set out to establish whether dogs possess a “flexible understanding” that demonstrates they understand the viewpoint of a human.

The findings could be important in discovering the capabilities of dogs that work closely with humans such as guide dogs for the blind.

Dr. Kaminski adds:

“Humans constantly attribute certain qualities and emotions to other living things. We know that our own dog is clever or sensitive, but that’s us thinking, not them. These results suggest humans might be right, where dogs are concerned, but we still can’t be completely sure if the results mean dogs have a truly flexible understanding of the mind and others’ minds. It has always been assumed only humans had this ability.”

Your Dog Understands You Better Than You Realize, Suggests New Study is a post from: The Inquisitr

Dogs for the win!

Border Collie Zoe Does Amazing Tricks [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

In case you’d ever wonder what it’s like to be a dog.

Chasecam: Tennis Balls In The Pool [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Because sock-loving canines are too hardcore!

Dogs Like Socks By PSYCHOSTICK [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

A trapeze swinger’s got nothing on this crazy, swinging canine!

Crazy Pitbull Jump! [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

It’s a dog’s life but hey, who’s complaining?

Average Day Of A Dog [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Fairbanks, AK — It’s a Christmas tale to warm the stoniest of hearts: a blind dog finds its owners after spending hours trekking through temperatures that hit 40 degrees below zero.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports how an eight-year-old blind dog from Fairbanks, Alaska walked ten miles through harsh winter conditions to return to her owners, a family that includes three very relieved and happy kids.

Abby, a brown-and-white mixed breed, first went missing during a snowstorm on December 13. Her family, who had raised her from being an animal-shelter puppy, had not expected to see their blind pet again.

However, when Abby showed up at the edge of a local musher’s dog yard, she was promptly returned to her owners as the best possible Christmas gift. Tearful mother McKenzie Grapengeter told the Fairbank Daily News-Miner:

“It’s a miracle, there’s no other words to describe it. We never expected to have her to be returned safe and alive.”

The dog was discovered by musher and veterinarian Mark May, who says he first spotted the dog while running his own team on December 19:

“It ran with us for about a mile on the way home before she fell off the pace, but I had a big dog team so I couldn’t grab it. I said, ‘boy I hope it finds somebody’s house.’ “

To May’s surprise, Abby made an appearance at his house the very next day:

“Everybody just assumed it was some kind of scaredy-cat, but there it was in front of the door in our dog lot and it was blind. It was sitting there, all the way from 14 miles on the winter trail down into this neighborhood, I guess by just sniffing, so I picked it up and brought it in.

“No frozen ears, no frozen toes, she’ll probably go back home and it’ll be business as usual. She’s no worse for wear but quite an adventure.”

According to the News-Miner, the search for the dog’s owners was conducted by the local community, who used social media to find the Grapengeter family. McKenzie Grapengeter said:

“We’re so, so grateful for all (the community’s) hard work. They’ve given us the most amazing Christmas gift we could ever ask for.”

Blind Dog Finds Owners After Walking Ten Miles In Alaskan Winter is a post from: The Inquisitr

Service dogs have picked up a new gig: helping to save the lives of individuals suffering from diabetes.

Historically, service dogs have been useful for a variety of purposes. They are often trained to help authorities in drug and bomb searches, aid in rescue missions, or to track suspected criminals. They are also commonly used for medically related issues such as guiding and assisting visually impaired or physically challenged individuals.

According to The Wall Street Journal, there has recently been an upswing in the amount of canines trained to alert individuals to medical dangers. These animals are turning their most useful asset, their noses, into tools that help identify cancer, oncoming seizures, and now diabetes.

Although researchers are not quite sure why, dogs have the ability to sniff out the chemicals produced during low-blood-sugar incidents in diabetes patients. Their keen sense of smell is often faster at sensing dangerous blood sugar levels than modern medical instruments.

This ability can bring some much needed comfort to those suffering with the disease. Parents of children afflicted are especially eager to have such companions.

In an article from KY Forward, one such mother is grateful for the help provided by her daughter Brianna’s furry friend:

“The year-old dog can detect the nitrogen content in Brianna’s breath, or even through her skin, and will “alert” by pawing at her leg if her sugar level either drops or rises to dangerous thresholds.”

The Atlantic Wire estimates that there are currently around 30,000 trained service dogs in the United States.

Would you trust a service dog to aid in the detection of diabetes?

Diabetes Dogs: Furry Friends That Could Save Lives is a post from: The Inquisitr

Earlier today we shared the wonderful story of the trio of SPCA dogs in New Zealand who are being taught to drive a car. Now thanks to The Inquisitr’s reader, Russ Pulcher, who was kind enough to tell us about more amazing animal antics, we proudly bring you the adventures of our four legged friends, as they frolic in the ocean with some very friendly dolphins and even learn to surf.

You may also remember the adventures of Kira, the Black Lab from South Africa who regularly swims with dolphins and works with her human friend, Noleen Withers, as a dolphin spotter. The exuberant pup, who always swims with a life jacket, assists researchers and helps Noleen spot dolphins for tourists who come to the area to see the wonderful aquatic mammals in the wild. Watching Kira swim with patient, kindly dolphins is always an extra treat for the excited visitors.

Dolphins are known for their intelligence and they are thought to be man’s remote ancestors. Scientists believe that unlike man who left the ocean’s and moved to land during the evolution of our species, dolphins actually did the reverse and crawled back into the ocean from the land millions of years ago.

Lori Marino, a neuroscientist at Emory University who specializes in dolphin research, marveled at the talented marine mammals cognitive abilities.

“They understand concepts like zero, abstract concepts. They do everything that chimpanzees do and bonobos (Pygmy Chimpanzees) can do. The fact is that they are so different from us and so much like us at the same time.”

Duke University researcher Brian Hare offered his own unique take on the intelligence of animals:

“Animal intelligence is not a linear thing,. Think of it like a toolbox. Some species have an amazing hammer. Some species have an amazing screwdriver.”

Toolboxes aside, seeing the brave ocean going puppies frolic in the warm waves with their aquatic friends is a truly inspiring sight. The Inquisitr salutes the conservationists and animal researchers everywhere who work so hard to protect the diverse life forms that share this wonderful planet with the human race.

Dolphins Teach Dogs How To Surf And Enjoy The Waves is a post from: The Inquisitr

Has your pup’s name made the list of “most popular puppy names of 2012?”  After analyzing more than 1.26 million names of puppies born in 2012, Vetstreet has compiled its list of top 10 puppy names for 2012.

The names Bella and Max have both actually spent seven consecutive years at the top of their respective lists.  Many actually speculate that the popularity of the puppy name Bella to coincide with the release of multi-billion dollar book and film franchise,  Twilight.  The popular Twilight film series features Kristen Stewart as the lead actress, who plays the role of Bella.

The popular male dog names Bear and Rocky have also both been on the top 10 list for the past 13 years, with Rocky consistently placing in the top 5 during this time.

2012 also trended towards more human names, such as: Max, Buddy, Charlie, Jack, Toby, Daisy, Lucy, Molly, Lola, Sophie, Sadie, Chloe and Maggie. Such anthropomorphism is thought to signify our dog’s ever increasing importance in the family unit, with dog owners truly thinking of their dogs as human family members.

Numerous top female puppy names are also the names of the most au courant fragrances and fashion houses: Daisy and Lola are best selling Marc Jacobs brand fragrances, Chloe is a leading fashion house and similarly named fragrance, and Coco the name of fashion’s leading first lady, Coco Chanel, and the similarly named Chanel fragrance, Coco.

The name Lola actually climbed 3 spots on the list this year to number 5, with the name Coco appearing for the first time on the top 10.

The Top 10 Names for Male Puppies Born in 2012 are:

1. Max
2. Buddy
3. Charlie
4. Rocky
5. Cooper
6. Bear
7. Bentley
8. Duke
9. Jack
10. Toby

While the Top 10 Names for Female Puppies Born in 2012 are:

1. Bella
2. Daisy
3. Lucy
4. Molly
5. Lola
6. Sophie
7. Sadie
8. Chloe
9. Coco
10. Maggie

Inquisitr readers, did your dog’s name make the top 10 this year?

Most Popular Puppy Names of 2012 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Cambridge, UK – A paralyzed dog can walk again having cells extracted from his nose and implanted in his injured spine.

Ten-year-old dachshund Jasper had to be escorted around in a trolley when his hind legs were paralyzed after being hit by a car. However, to the amazement of owner May Hay, her previously paralyzed dog is now close to being fully mobile after taking part in a random, double-blind study at Cambridge University. Speaking to the BBC, Hay revealed:

“Now, he whizzes around the house and garden and is able to keep up with the other dogs. It’s wonderful.”

Jasper was just one of 34 dogs with paralyzed hind legs who took part in the study, and the results of the research have since been published in Brain, a journal that focuses on neurology.

At the start of the study, researchers collected olfactory “ensheathing” cells from the nose of each paralyzed dog, cultured the cells in Petri dishes for three to five weeks, and then injected them into the dogs’ spines.

After testing the mobility of the dogs on treadmills before and after their treatment, the scientists found the cells had somehow restored mobility and coordination to the afflicted legs. Communication between the brain and the hind legs was not revived, but the results are still exciting doctors. Spinal cord injury researcher Naomi Kleitman told the BBC:

“For those dogs that had the cells, something about having those cells in their spinal cord made them walk better, a little better, but not as if they were never injured. It’s a phenomenon, and we need to learn more about how this can happen.”

The researchers admit they’ve yet to figure out why they saw such success in their study. It is widely believed that olfactory ensheathing cells are unique in being able to communicate between the central and peripheral nervous systems allowing smell signals to travel directly to the brain. They are also known to regenerate whereas other cells in the central nervous system cannot.

While researchers work out how they helped a paralyzed dog walk again, Jasper can get back to the serious business of walks, this time without a harness. You can watch an ABC report of Jasper’s progress below:

Sadly, still no word on whether this could help epileptic dogs.

Paralyzed Dog Walks Again Thanks To Nose Cell Implants is a post from: The Inquisitr

Santa Ana, CA – More than 50 dogs and cats were seized from a home animal service workers described as “filthy” on Wednesday. Nancy Richling, 62, may face animal cruelty charges for the conditions the creatures were living in on her property.

The animal hoarding seizure included 49 flea-ridden cats, many of which were also reportedly plagued by mange and other diseases, according to ABC News. The Santa Ana Animal Services agency allegedly tried to work with Richling for months before entering her home and rescuing the dogs and cats. Some of the animals had eye infections, ear mites, abscesses, and torn corneas, according to the Contra Costa Times.

Animal Services Supervisor Sondra Berg had this to say about the hoarding case:

“There’s a lot of feces and urine, the carpet is completely soaked throughout the house. This is only the beginning of a long process. If they don’t seek help for the illness that they have, then the recidivism rate is 97 percent, so we’re going to be back out here doing this again eventually. ”

Nancy’s neighbors were reportedly very glad to see the animal services workers arrive. Folks living near the animals which were alleged housed in unsanitary conditions were voiced concerns over possible health issues for humans in the neighborhood.

An unnamed neighbor had this to say about living near the Richling residence:

“Our yard is full of fleas right now, and the house, you’ll see fleas here and there. You’ll sit down and a flea will crawl up your arm. It’s a nightmare.”

Some of the rescued cats are feral, posing yet more neighbor concerns about health issues. Berg noted that she and her coworkers had to watch out for one another inside the home because the cats huddled in a fairly concentrated area and often jumped on the rescuer’s back and tried to attack their faces.

All of the cats and dogs taken from the California home will be given medical care at a local shelter and hopefully be available healthy enough for adoption in the near future.

Animal Hoarding: More Than 50 Pets Removed From California Home is a post from: The Inquisitr

“Stoner dogs” are quickly becoming a problem in the state of Colorado, according to CBS Denver. Thanks to the popularity of medical marijuana among those who live in the area, some household dogs are getting high off their owner’s supply. Unfortunately for these canine companions, marijuana doesn’t have the same effect on dogs as it does their human counterparts.

“They basically have lost a lot of their fine motor control, they have a wide-based stance and they are not sure on their feet,” veterinarian Dr. Debbie Van Pelt explained. “There are huge spikes in the frequency of marijuana ingestion in places where it’s become legal.”

Since more people have medical marijuana in their possession than ever before, the chance that these so-called “stoner dogs” could get into their owner’s stash and consume the plant has significantly increased. In one particular case, two canines died after chowing down on some baked good created using someone’s weed.

According to The Huffington Post, veterinarian Dr. Stacy Meola helped put the recent study together. Although it may seem like she has a bone to pick with those who use medical marijuana on a regular basis, Meloa is more concerned with the well-being of the stoner dogs than anything else.

“I just want dogs, kids to be safe. It needs to be treated like any other drug. If you came home with a prescription of vicodin from your doctor you wouldn’t just leave it sitting there,” she explained.

Making sure your four-legged friend stays out of your supply of marijuana is extremely important. As Dr. Barchas points out, weed consumption by household pets can have serious consequences:

“Serious long-term health consequences and fatality from marijuana intoxication are essentially unheard of. However, pets that are exposed to marijuana may display anxiety and disorientation, and are prone to ‘bad trips’. Intoxicated pets may lack the coordination necessary to consume food and water.”

“Intoxication with marijuana appears clinically similar to other, more serious forms of poisoning. However, most animals recover from marijuana toxicity over a period of several hours.”

Although the idea of introducing pot to your stoner dog wannabe may sound like an incredible idea, you may ultimately put your best friend in harm’s way by doing so.

‘Stoner Dogs’ Are On The Rise In Colorado is a post from: The Inquisitr

A US Marine received a hero’s welcome from his very happy three dogs in this video after he returned home from a two-month training mission.

The dogs has no idea their master was waiting for them in the backyard, but, once they realized he was there, the trio of canines responded in the way that only dogs can.

As the New York Daily News describes in yesterday’s edition what happened between the man and the man’s best friends, “The two larger dogs immediately jump onto the soldier’s lap in utter joy as the third, smaller dog frantically runs around in circles at the soldier’s feet.”

This is not by any means the first heartwarming video that shows what happens when a returning service member and his or her devoted canine companion/companions are reunited. This particular video, however, has received nearly 500,000 page views so far.

The emotional bond and affection between humans and their dogs is incredibly strong, but it seems to be especially profound and heartfelt when a period of separation occurs, particularly for military service.

One of the commenters on the Daily News website seems to sum it up:

“Animals heal us, animals humanize us, animals give us unconditional love and get so little in return. Encourage respect, kindness and compassion for all of them.”

Watch the touching reunion between the US Marine and his three dogs upon his return from duty:

Are you a dog lover? Do you agree that dogs are man’s best friend?

Three Excited Dogs Welcome Home US Marine [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

National Dog Day is Sunday, a chance for humans to give some love to the canine friends who show unconditional love to them.

The day’s founder, Colleen Paige, said she started National Dog Day as a way to say thank you to dogs for their bravery, dedication and unconditional love. But she had another intention too — helping American learn about the plight of pit bulls.

Paige said:

“I want to focus this year on whats happening with Pit Bulls. It breaks my heart to see the plight of certain breeds like Pit Bulls being slaughtered the way they are in this country, even as puppies entering the shelter. It is despicable and deplorable, especially when dog loving citizens work so hard to pay taxes that support these killing machines, says , founder of the day. Not all shelters are like this, but it seems to be a growing trend. I am not afraid to stand up for Pit Bulls. I’m not afraid to stand up for any animal when they are being targeted and murdered. The tragic thing is that the reason behind the bad rap that the Pit Bull gets, is specifically crafted at the hands of evil people.”

The National Dog Day has the support of company ShakyPlanet, which offered a free eCollectible to anyone who “cares about helping to save shelter dogs,” the company announced in a press release.

For pet owners and animal advocates, National Dog Day is a chance to give canines the love they’ve been giving their people companions.

“It’s a day to celebrate a big part of your family, like Grandmother’s day or Mother’s Day.  It’s dedicating a specific time to give back to somebody or something that’s made a big part of your life,” Mary Anne Richards, owner of a pet store in Missouri, told KPLR in St. Louis reported.

“But I think National Dog Day people go that extra mile to make sure they can dedicate some specific time to give back for what they’ve given to us over the years,” Richards added.

National Dog Day highlights a multi-billion-dollar industry. The American Pet Products Association estimates that Americans spend more than $53 billion on pets each year.

‘National Dog Day’ Gives Thanks To Man’s Best Friend is a post from: The Inquisitr

Doggie OCD is apparently a thing, with scientists observing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder-like behavior in canines, manifesting in ways with which we are already quite familiar — tail chasing was mentioned as a symptom of doggie OCD.

Canine OCD differs from human OCD, obviously, since dogs can’t really engage in OCD-like behavior in a manner in which humans do, ruminating over potentially missed tasks or unpleasant possibilities.

Furthermore, doggie OCD also doesn’t encompass behaviors like repeated paw-licking or checking to see if the dog door is closed hundreds of times, but it does exist, researchers say.

A study published in a late July issue of the journal PLoS ONE examined doggie OCD and how the behaviors are exhibited in man’s best friend. According to the researchers, doggie OCD is characterized by obsessive and compulsive behaviors not totally unlike those of their human companions, and puppyhood trauma as well as biological factors could be to blame.

Researchers also noted how doggie OCD could be ameliorated in more severe cases:

“Interestingly, there are indications that vitamins and minerals have beneficial effects also in human OCD treatment.”

The study of nearly 400 dogs revealed a surprising bit of information about the psychological development of dogs and a propensity toward doggie OCD. Dogs that had been separated from their mothers at earlier ages as pups were more likely to develop the condition than their fellow canines weaned and separated at a later age.

In addition, much as humans with OCD are more socially inhibited, pups suffering from doggie OCD are more likely to exhibit shyness and apprehension of other creatures. Have you noticed symptoms of doggie OCD in your pet?

Doggie OCD Manifests In Ways We Recognize, Like Tail Chasing is a post from: The Inquisitr

The United States diving team hasn’t won a medal in two straight Olympics and hasn’t won a gold since 2000, but that wasn’t always the case.

Back in the 1980s, the United States diving team was on top, thanks to Greg Louganis. Louganis won four gold medals off the three and 10-meter platforms, but has been away from the sport for a time until now.

The Associated Press reports that Louganis is now associated with USA Diving again, this time acting as a mentor to younger athletes, helping them to relieve the stress associated with high-level competition as they approach the 2012 London Olympics. He came on board last year, with not much time until the start of the games.

“”I’m hoping it’s not too little, too late,” Louganis told the AP. “I’m not coaching dives, I’m observing and making recommendations of what I see, of what they may be able to add to enhance their training programs.”

Louganis hopes to share his life experience with the medal hopefuls, sharing that no matter what is going on in their life they can get through it. Lougainis, for example, competed in the Olympics despite no one knowing he was gay and HIV positive. And of course there was the time he hit his head on the platform and still returned to win a gold medal.

“I’ve been to those dark places, but I came up on the other side,” he said. “It gives an opportunity of realizing that there might be something else.”

In the interim between his stepping away from coaching and his return to USA Diving, Louganis has worked in a different type of competition. Yahoo’s Martin Rogers reports that the 52-year old Louganis has been training  pedigree dogs.

While Louganis is hopeful he can help restore some winning ways to USA Diving, he won’t be away from man’s best friend for long.

“I always got on better with dogs than with people,” Greg Louganis said. “I just have a very natural connection with them and you can build these incredible and beautiful relationships. I will definitely be competing with dogs again, it won’t be too long.”

Greg Louganis Back In the Fold With U.S. Diving is a post from: The Inquisitr

Dog owners including the Mawaka family, the owners of Toby, a 6-year-old Boston terrier (pictured above), are suing Nestle Purina and several mega-stores after jerky treats from China sickened and killed their beloved pets.

Recent complaints by pet owners and veterinarians implicated three top brands of chicken jerky treats in causing harm and even death to dogs that consumed the treats. The three jerky treats are Waggin’ Train and Canyon Creek Ranch, both produced by Nestle Purina, and Milo’s Kitchen Home-style Dog Treats, produced by the Del Monte Corp. The Waggin’ Train and Canyon Creek Ranch jerky treats were produced and supplied by JOC Great Wall Corp. Ltd. of Nanjing, China.

The original complaint was filed back in April by Dennis Adkins, 57, of Orland Park, Illinois. Adkins believes that his 9-year-old Pomeranian, Cleo, who died in March, was sickened by eating Waggin’ Train “Yam Good” dog jerky treats produced by Nestle Purina Pet Care Co.

The current lawsuit adds to the complaint six pet owners in states from coast to coast who are suing Nestle Purina as well as Wal-Mart, Target, and Costco, which are three big retailers that sell the jerky treats.

Named as a plaintiff in the jerky treat lawsuit is Elizabeth Mawaka, a pastor’s wife from Hartford, Connecticut, who believes her two Boston terriers, Max and Toby, died after eating the suspect chicken jerky treats. Said Philip Mawaka, 69, Elizabeth’s husband:

“Toby was falling over and crying out in pain and we would give him another treat because we thought we were doing something nice for him because he was hurting.”

The other dog owners included in the lawsuit over the jerky treats include the following pet owners from across the country:

Mary Ellis of Ontario, Calif., who claims that the Waggin’ Train jerky treats she bought in February sickened two of her dogs, Buster and Boomer, both 9, and killed Maggie, 12.
Maria Higginbotham, Gig Harbor, Wash., who contends that Chik n’ Biscuit dog treats sickened her two rat terriers, Bandit, 3, and Kali, 8.
Dwayne and Kaiya Holley of Hempstead, Long Island, N.Y., who say that Waggin’ Train Yam Good jerky treats bought from Wal-Mart led to the death from kidney failure of their 5-year-old Yorkshire terrier, Bootsie, in March.
Deborah Cowan, Perryton, Texas, who believes chicken jerky tenders caused kidney damage that sickened her 8-year-old dog, Rowdy.
Cindi Farkas, of Howell, N.J., who says her dog Chanel, 6, was diagnosed with kidney disease after eating one half of a jerky treat each day for three weeks this spring.

The dog owners are frustrated that makers and distributors of the jerky treats have yet to voluntarily recall the suspect products in spite of three federal warnings since 2007 about possible safety issues and nearly 1,000 reports to the FDA of dogs sickened or killed by the jerky treats.

The dog owners also believe that Nestle Purina, Wal-mart, Target, and Costco have violated implied warranties of safety and healthfulness of the jerky treats as well as violated commerce rules governing sale of sound merchandise.

Says Tamara Ward, an FDA spokesperson in an email to MSNBC:

“FDA is working and discussing with industry and retailers how we can mutually collaborate and share data, scientific exchanges, etc. We are committed to solving the problem and Costco is one of several parties interested in determining the root cause of the illnesses.”

Until a resolution is determined, dog owners can follow the example of Rachael Chambers, a California woman who is protesting after her dog died from eating the jerky treats. As Chambers argues:

“What’s killing these dogs is somewhat of a mystery. It really falls on the distributors of these products to do the right thing.”

Del Monte, the makers of one of the jerky treats, released the following statement after being contacted by Central Coast News:

“Milo’s Kitchen considers the safety of pets our highest priority. Pets are family and we are committed to providing safe, healthy and nutritious treats for dogs. Here at Milo’s Kitchen, we are pet parents too and we understand that the information that has been released regarding the FDA warning about chicken jerky made in China is confusing and concerning. To clarify, all of our treats, including our Chicken Jerky variety, are made with nutritious and quality ingredients that meet the standards and specifications of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). The health and wellness of all animals is very important to us so we have been closely monitoring external testing by the American FDA, the American Veterinarian Medical Association (AVMA) and several animal health diagnostic laboratories, none of which has identified any connection between illness and chicken jerky treats. Additionally, we at Milo’s Kitchen have conducted our own extensive internal testing, all of which has shown our Chicken Jerky to be safe for dogs to enjoy. As is the case with all foods and snacks for dogs, we encourage pet parents to read feeding instructions and to feed with confidence as directed. Each scenario is completely independent and is reviewed on a case by case scenario. Out of respect for our pet owners, we do not share the content of the interaction or the number of interactions.”

However, many dog owners are still wary about the safety of jerky treats. I know that I will not be buying any jerky treats for my beloved pets until the cause of these dog deaths is conclusively determined and the problem sorted out.

Will you be buying jerky treats for your dog anytime in the near future?

Pet Owners Sue Over Jerky Treats Dog Deaths is a post from: The Inquisitr

Here’s a happy way to spend your Sunday afternoon video viewing. This little girl quickly realizes that her big fluffy cat is about to become Corgi nibbles and she jumps into action.

Watch how quickly and fearlessly the little girl picks up her favorite pet, even though the cat is the same size as the little girl.

If her single act of heroics isn’t enough for you the little girl then walks away with the big fluffy cat which is nearly her size as the corgi continues its attempted attack.

This little girl has a future in animal protection.

Little Girl Rescues Cat From Corgi [Happy Sunday Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Just did everything you did, but in an itchy fur coat, hauling eskimo ass.

This Husky in a Meme is a post from: The Inquisitr

Children who live with pet dogs have a decreased risk for respiratory tract infections than children who grow up without a furry friend, says a new study published in the August 2012 issue of the journal Pediatrics.

Another recent asthma study presented at the 2012 General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology discovered that children living in homes with dogs have a lowered risk for asthma due to an exposure to a unique collection of microbes found within dog-associated house dust. According to that study, doggy dust provides protective factors against a common respiratory virus associated with the development of asthma in children, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

The present study discovered that children living with dogs had fewer cases of respiratory tract infections and symptoms including less frequent otitis or ear infections than their dog-less counterparts.

In the study conducted by researchers at the Departments of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Kuopio University Hospital in Kuopio, Finland, the researchers followed 397 children from pregnancy onward, studying the frequency of respiratory tract infections and symptoms together with information about dog and cat contacts during the first year of life.

Of 397 children participating in the study, 245 (61.7 percent) had contact with a dog and 136 (34.3 percent) had contact with a cat during the time period of the study.

The children who lived with a dog or a cat during the study were significantly healthier in terms of respiratory tract infections, having fewer weeks with cough, otitis, and rhinitis, than children who did not have a contact with a pet at home. Children with pets also needed fewer courses of antibiotics than children with no cat or dog contacts.

As the researchers conclude:

“According to our results, dog and cat contacts during early infancy may be associated with less morbidity in general (indicated as more healthy weeks) and concomitantly may have a protective effect on respiratory tract symptoms and infections.”

Additionally, living with a pet dog  showed a more significant protective role against respiratory tract infections than living with a pet cat. However, although weaker than dog ownership, cat ownership seemed to also have an overall protective effect for the health of infants during the first year of life.

The researchers speculate that the reason that children who live with dogs have a decreased risk for respiratory tract infections is that “animal contacts could help to mature the immunologic system, leading to more composed immunologic response and shorter duration of infections.”

The results of this study support the theory that contact with animals is important during the first year of life, possibly leading to better resistance to respiratory tract infections during childhood. A dog really is man’s (or baby’s) best friend!

Would you adopt a pet dog to help lower your child’s risk for respiratory tract infections during infancy?

Risk For Respiratory Tract Infections Lowered In Children With Dogs [Study] is a post from: The Inquisitr

A city in Japan is considering a novel tsunami-warning system based on animal behavior.

Officials in the southwestern coastal city of Susaki have proposed that a study is conducted on whether the rapid lowering of water in wells or chickens squawking loudly for no obvious reason can foretell an imminent tsunami.

As deputy mayor Yoshihito Myojin told one regional broadcaster late last month:

“They may not foretell a future disaster in a perfectly accurate manner, but the most important thing is to analyse such data thoroughly.”

In Japanese society, tales of abnormal animal behavior and other unusual natural phenomena have long been thought to be precursors to an incoming disaster. Such behavior may include the unconventional movement of fish, or cats fleeing their homes. Yet little actual science has been carried out to test such ideas.

In April, a number of experts warned that a 115-foot tsunami could be on the way to Japan’s eastern coast following a massive earthquake in the Pacific Ocean. Worst case scenario projections such as this were revised following last year’s disaster.

The Japanese tsunami of March 2011 was triggered by a 9.0-magnitude tremor off northeastern Japan. The disaster saw more than 18,000 people lose their lives.

Japanese City May Watch Animal Behavior For Early Signs Of Tsunamis is a post from: The Inquisitr

A baby boy and 58 dogs have been found abandoned in a rundown home in Springtown, Texas. The child, aged just one year old, was found in a room surrounded by animal waste.

Five people have since been arrested over the incident. The sheriff’s office reports that cops are set to charge the infant’s mother, grandmother, grandfather, and two uncles with child endangerment and/or various animal cruelty charges.

The owner of the home, one Teresa Weldon, was arrested on Friday on an outstanding warrant for allegedly writing a bad cheque. However, she could now also face possible child endangerment and animal cruelty charges.

Endangering a child is a felony under the Texas Penal Code, and punishments can range from less than two years in jail for a state jail felony to up to 20 years in prison for a second degree felony. Fines up to $10,000 can also be applied.

Authorities told local reporters that the infant and 58 dogs removed from the property were living in “alarmingly unhealthy” conditions. The sheriff’s office adds that two of the dogs were euthanized not long after the raid, and that five other puppies later died. Sad, sad, sad.

The property was reportedly strewn with filth and dog faeces, and many of the animals on the site were restricted to living in stacked crates without adequate food and water.

Baby Boy And 58 Dogs Found In Texas Home is a post from: The Inquisitr

Pictures of dogs on leashes, dogs posing and other various works of dog art are all the rage at the moment with “dogs only” art auctions popping up after the Westminster Dog Show and around various cities in the United States.

Not only is dog art all the rage, the recently interest in the movement is helping drive up the price of popular works of dog art with two auction records set in 2012 for the popular dog artist William Henry Hamilton Trood (1860-1899) who’s “Dejeuner”  sold for $194,500. The other record was for Trood’s “Hounds in a Kennel” which featured a selling price of $212,500.

Dog art is so big these days that the Bonhams’ Dogs in Show & Field auction is devoted solely to the art form. In the meantime the William Secord Gallery in Manhattan is the only gallery in the United States devoted solely to dog art. William Secord tells Newser:

“We have had an increase in visitors over past years, but also a substantial increase in sales compared to this time last year.”

From now through March 24 the gallery is selling 150 dog pieces that were provided by Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge to the Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison, N.J.

High priced dog art isn’t a new art form, a 6-by-7-foot portrait of a Newfoundland sold for $3.6 million in 1999, that painting was created by George Stubbs (1724-1806).

Other famous works of dog art have also managed to sell for large sums over the last several years. American painter Cassius Marcellus Coolidge (1884-1934), known for his works of dogs playing poker had one painting sell for $602,500 at the Doyle Auction House in New York.

While some auction houses feature paintings of cats they are generally in short supply and sell for low prices.

Are you surprised to learn that dog art has become such a hot commodity in recent years?

[Image via ShutterStock.com]

Dog Art Is All The Rage, Inspires Dog Only Art Auctions And Record Purchases is a post from: The Inquisitr

With every new reality <cough> show that hits our televisions, with every new tabloid show that sets to expose the seedy underbelly of the rich and the famous we proclaim loudly that television is going to the dogs.

Of course dogs have very little to do with our proclivity for questionable TV watching but that old saying may be taking on a more valid meaning with the announcement that DOGTV will be launching on the Cox and Time Warner networks in San Diego this week.

The reason behind the network apparently is those ‘stay-at-home’ dogs needing some sort of relaxing, stimulating and behavior-improving time and what better way than with 3 to 6 minute segments of specialty television just for them.

Calling themselves the first cable network for dogs DOGTV CEO Gilad Neumann said in an ABC News interview

“Dogs that are left home alone for a few hours everyday tend to be very lonely, they develop behavioural issues, they are bored, they are stressed and leaving the TV on with proper content gives them comfort. It relaxes them, it stimulates them at times,”

Here is a video with Prof. Nicholas Dodman, Program Director of the Animal Behavior Department of Clinical Sciences at Tufts University, trying to explain why DOGTV is a great idea, I’ll leave it up to you though to figure out whether you should be laughing, banging your head against the keyboard, or thinking “why didn’t I think of that”.

via WTOP

With new channel TV really headed to the dogs [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Prince William and Kate Middleton just added to their young family – though not in the way recent rumors may suggest. Nope, Wills and Kate’s family member is instead of the four-legged variety: a months-old pup.

Following speculation they had adopted a chocolate Labrador retriever, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the latest royal dog was actually a male cocker spaniel. The couple were snapped walking with their new pooch on a wet and windy Newborough Beach last month (above).

The curmudgeonly so-and-sos at the Palace won’t release the name of the dog (goodness knows why – security protocol?), or explain why a cocker spaniel was chosen. All we proles were really told was that the male pup came from a litter through a family connection. Expect a lucrative magazine cover shoot of Will and Kate’s new furry friend any time soon.

The royal family and dogs have always gone hand in hand, of course. Prince Charles and Camilla adopted a Jack Russell Terrier named Beth last year, but easily the most famous royal dogs are Queen Elizabeth’s corgis.

The monarch’s love of corgis began in childhood. King George VI introduced the first corgi into his family in 1933, a dog named Dookie. A young Princess Elizabeth got her very own corgi, named Susan, a few short years later, and bred the dogs until 2009 – indeed, many of the corgis in the Queen’s family have Susan as their ancestor. Yes, even the royal dogs are born into a life of privilege.

Will and Kate’s New Puppy Breed Revealed is a post from: The Inquisitr

If this doesn’t touch your heart, you have a heart of gnarled, twisted oak.

Over the weekend, the Los Angeles Times reported on the discovery of Petunia, an 11-year-old dog who went missing from her home in Virginia when she was three.

Yep, that’s eight years (56 in dog years!) Petunia spent apart from her family, but just as amazing is the distance she managed to travel in that period. See, Petunia was found in California, over 3,000 miles away in an animal shelter. You may commence baaaaawing … now.

Authorities said that Petunia went missing around Thanksgiving in 2003, and was never found despite an expansive search. Yet the American Staffordshire terrier (a breed that can live until 16 or 17) recently showed up at an animal shelter in Sacramento, California, where she was registered as a stray.

And just to make sure it is her, a scan of a microchip found in Petunia linked her to Virginia-based veterinarian clinic in Virginia. The clinic was contacted by the California animal shelter, and in turn got in touch with Petunia’s owners. Who, I imagine, had a bloody good baaaaaw themselves.

The aim now is to get the intrepid mutt home for Christmas. It’ll be a long and perhaps lonely trip for Petunia, but the California animal shelter is on the case. Man, who wants to be at that reunion?

See also: More happy endings!

Dog From Virginia Found in California, Eight Years After Going Missing is a post from: The Inquisitr

When it comes to pets I guess I am rather pedestrian since anything beyond cats and dogs belongs out in the wild or possibly a zoo. Throughout my life I have had both cats and dogs as family pets and can attest to the fact that they can make your day feel a little better when chilling out with either (or both) by your side.

However the idea of going to a cat cafe to get my daily dose of feline comfort strikes me a just a little strange, however it would seem that residents of Tokyo feel differently as cat cafes are becoming all the rage among the upwardly mobile citizens.

Granted Japan has always had a rather weird obsession with pets. After all this is the home of the mobile pet cremation service and the dog washing machine but cat cafes?

It seems that in order to even enter one of these shrines to kittydom you first have to go through a cleaning ritual and then through an education room where you learn the finer points of interaction with the furry felines in the cafe.

Once you are done with that you are introduced to a roomful, meaning hundreds, of cats that were reclining in comfie chairs, couches, or just wandering around mingling with the rather large number of people that  can be visiting one of these cat cafes at any given time.

Of course you can relax and enjoy a fine cup of coffee and a snack all the while enjoying the comforting purr of a cat just sitting there waiting for you to pet it.

I think I’ll stick with my dog Ruby and a walk in the park for my calming time of the day.

via Fast Company

You to can be a crazy cat person but without actually owning any cats is a post from: The Inquisitr

If you’re a fan of dogs you’ll be a fan of this good news, officials in China have cancelled the Jinhua Hutou Dog Meat Festival, an event that claims the live’s of 5,000 dogs each year.

Served up as the main dish at the 600-year-old event the eating of dogs began in the 14th century when army general’s would order that barking dogs be killed and eaten so as not to give up their location to enemy forces.

The tradition was cancelled after a web campaign from animal-rights advocates drew unwanted international attention after graphic images from past festivals were shown. Images included cooked dogs and leftover carcasses.

According to the People’s Daily one animal-rights blogger wrote:

“I’ve seen the dogs being stabbed, strangled, and even beaten into comas and thrown into boiling water.”

One Chinese blogger however stood up for the practice, noting:

“I personally think dog meat is like alcohol. They are both components of our ancient Chinese culture.”

Are you happy to see the needless slaughter of thousands of dogs cancelled? I’m pretty sure enemy forces can use satellite imagery these days to find their enemies.

China Cancels Dog Meat Festival is a post from: The Inquisitr

When viewing an image like this, it’s hard not to believe cats are the superior species.

Dog, You Aren’t a Waffle is a post from: The Inquisitr

It never ceases to totally amaze me how we, as human create some of the most incredible things that can change the world forever.

Then we get something like – the Dogbrella.

Even worse, this isn’t just someone having fun with Photoshop. Nooo, you can actually spend your hard earned money and get one of those silly assed things.

via DVICE

[Moron Dept.] Dogbrella, what else to say? is a post from: The Inquisitr

A study in the medical journal Emerging Infectious Diseases has come to a startling conclusion- on the subject of pets at bedtime, you cannot has. Or at least, you should strongly reconsider.

Dr. Bruno Chomel is a professor of a field that apparently exists called zoonoses, working at the University of California School of Veterinary Medicine at Davis. He co-authored the study, and says letting your pets in your bed is “not a good idea.” Most of the press focused on the report centers on dogs because, I’m assuming, telling a cat to stay out of anywhere isn’t really seen as a worthwhile pursuit.

Dr. Chomel says that out of the 250 horrible diseases that jump from other animals to human ones, 100 happily live in or on domestic pets, and there are the requisite horrifying examples to bolster the advice:

In one case a 69-year-old man, whose dog slept under the covers with him and licked his hip replacement wound, came down with meningitis. Another incident involved a 9-year-old boy who got plague, a potentially deadly bacterial infection, from sleeping with his flea-infested cat.

Other infections transmitted to people after sleeping with their cat or dog, kissing them or being licked by the pet include: hookworm, ringworm, roundworm, cat scratch disease and drug-resistant staph infections, the report said.

To recap: sleeping with pets can revisit the plague upon humanity. But before you go phoning up shelters, the same experts say pet ownership’s health benefits outweigh the risks. And pets aren’t the only villains in this scenario. Another expert quoted on the subject says that a cat owner gave his poor kitty H1N1 last season.

Study: Pets in your bed could make you sick is a post from: The Inquisitr

When they say it’s a dog’s life they aren’t kidding especially when it comes to some of the doghouses that are available for your spoiled pooch. Just about every single one of these doggie mansions would be enough to make a homeless person jealous. Hell they almost make me jealous.

These first ones are from a company in Germany called Best Friend’s Home and more specifically from their Hundehäuser line of doghouses.

Hundehäus Cubix: The Modern Doghouse

Hundehaus Farm Dog House

Hundehaus Fairytale Dog House

Hundehaus Alabama Dog House

Now from a company called Beyond The Crate we get these fine example of doggie architecture:

Celebrity Hacienda Dog House

Brick Estate Dog House

Colonial Dog House

English Cottage Dog House

If your pooch is more inclined to spend their time indoors then this offering from DenHaus might be up your alley.

Townhouse Indoor Dog House

Then for the times when you go on vacation and don’t want to leave Fido out of all the action try this offering from Wannekes

Luxury Caravan Dog House

10 dog houses a homeless person would fight for is a post from: The Inquisitr

If you honk at a dog in the street, be prepared to risk the consequences.

(via NextRound)

Dog 1, Car Owner 0 is a post from: The Inquisitr

While I am sure that more than few of the animals depicted here would have a few choice words to say about being subjected to all manner of embarrassing poses one just can’t resist sharing some great images of our furry friends in Christmas garb.

Even animals can get the Christmas spirit is a post from: The Inquisitr

This is a young girl with more heart than some people I have known.

Kayleigh Crimmins of Newport News might be young but she sure seems to have a plan to try and make sure that police dogs have the same protection that their police handlers do. To do this she has been selling her toys on Craigslist and using the money to buy canine bulletproof vest which she then donates to police departments who need them.

Her most recent purchase will be going to a Newport News sheriff’s department police dog named Vader.

There was round of applause at Tuesday night’s Newport News city council meeting for a local girl taking action and getting results.

Kayleigh Crimmins has been raising money to buy bullet resistant vests for police dogs.

This one will go to a Newport News sheriff’s department K-9 called Vader.

This is the fifth one she has bought with money from selling her toys on Craigslist.

“I think she is amazing I think she is determined I think she loves dogs, and there’s no end to this she’s made that very clear,” says Kayleigh’s mother Lee.

Source: WTKR.com News

Kayleigh has also started a new project called Cans for K-9′s to help raise more money.

Young girl sells her toys to buy police dog’s bulletproof vests is a post from: The Inquisitr

An interesting study is underway, funded by the Department of Defense, looking into whether or not dogs help sooth soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. This is only one of the many medical research projects that they are pouring millions into.

The study will be conducted by research psychologist Craig Love through the Walter Reed Army Medical Center along with Joan Esnayra the founder of Psychiatric Service Dog Society. Dogs used by the Society have been assisting people with a variety of mental illnesses since the late 1990′s with about 10,000 dogs in use at this point.

Love and Esnayra surveyed 39 people with PTSD who were teamed with psychiatric service dogs.

Eighty-two percent have reported fewer PTSD symptoms since they have had the dogs, and 40 percent said they were using fewer medications.

“The longer the team had been together, the more likely they were reducing symptoms and medications,” Esnayra said.

But the researchers said they had often faced skepticism from the scientific community about the value of the dogs.

“It’s too touchy-feely,” Esnayra said.

That didn’t deter the Defense Department.

“Sometimes the scientific community is conservative,” said Capt. E. Melissa Kaime, director of the Defense Department’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs.

“Where there’s a good idea but not much data, we’re willing to take a risk.”

Source: KansasCity.com – Defense Department finances study that pairs dogs with troops suffering PTSD

picture courtesy of Garvey Scott

Could dogs help soldiers suffering from PTSD? is a post from: The Inquisitr

I am a dog lover but even this is stretching things a little too far if you ask me. The idea of being willing to rent out the whole business section of a plane for a four hour flight just so you favorite pooch won’t suffer the trauma and anguish of flying cargo is just plain silly. It would seem though that for an Israeli it was a small price to pay to have her dog next to her for the flight from Paris to Israeli.

The woman identified as Rivka, told the Channel 10 television network Wednesday afternoon, she could not bear the thought of her eight-year-old boxer dog being placed in a cage in the cargo hold of the plane for the duration of the flight.

"He is my baby, and I asked El Al to rent out the business section and paid $32,000 to ensure my dog, Or (light in Hebrew), would be able to sit next to me for the entire flight," she told the television.

Source: UPI :: Woman flies business class with pooch

I wonder if It’s A Dog’s Life was the in-flight movie?

$32G’s to rent plane’s business section for a dog is a post from: The Inquisitr

Meet Sara, a happy dog with an interesting quality: she likes park swings.

According to her owners, Sara has been enjoying swings for about 4 years now and “goes absolutely crazy when we mention going to the park.” Did we mention that Sara is awesome as well.

Enjoy:

Happy dog likes swings (video) is a post from: The Inquisitr

Horses aren’t the only furry creatures vying for human affections this week.

Like a case we told you about earlier this month, 21-year-old Laszlo Arsenio Horvath was arrested this week in Orange County, Florida- accused of loving his dog so intensely it had to be put to sleep. From local news:

The arrest affidavit for Horvath says animal services got a tip from a caller that the young man was abusing his dog at his home on Darlin Circle near Bithlo. An officer caught up with Horvath and told him to take the dog, an 8-year-old Whippet named Silvy, to a veterinarian.

Horvath did as told and brought the injured dog in for treatment. But Horvath refused treatment for the injured dog when he was informed of the cost and abandoned his pet with the vet. Had he just shelled out, he probably wouldn’t be nationally famous right now. However, the dog’s doc assessed her injuries to be too severe, internally and externally, and Silvy was put down the next day.

When questioned, Horvath became emotional and told officers he was “lonely.” Bail was set at $1,000, and Horvath is prohibited from contact with both domestic and farm animals.

Accused puppyphile: “I was lonely” is a post from: The Inquisitr

I’m not sure where these are available, but they certainly add that extra spice…or should that be mustard the next time you take your dog for a walk.

New in dog fashion for 2009: hot dogs is a post from: The Inquisitr

Veterinarians in Missouri who noticed a unusual gray area in an X-Ray of a dog’s stomach and operated had an interesting surprise: 15 pacifiers, a bottle cap and a piece of a basketball.

2 year old Bulldog Lulu’s owners David and Jennifer Swart said their 18-month-old daughter’s pacifiers kept disappearing and they kept buying more.

According to reports, when Lulu showed an interest in the pacifiers, they took her to the vet, who then made the discovert.

The vets saved the pacifiers, but unfortunately they were reusable as they’d turned black from Lulu’s stomach acid. The $808 surgery cost was covered by Veterinary Pet Insurance.

How Many Pacifiers can a Dog Swallow? Try 15 is a post from: The Inquisitr