Dog News

Dog to take witness stand

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Dog takes the witness stand

Believed to be a world first, a dog named Scooby will appear as a witness in a French murder trial.  Scooby is believed to have been with his owner, a 59-year-old woman, when she was found hanging from the ceiling in her Paris apartment.  As such, he is the only “witness” to her death, which police believe was a suicide.  Her family demanded a murder trial.

Scooby was brought to the witness stand in a preliminary hearing to see how he would react to a suspect, and apparently he barked furiously. It is hoped he will be able to collar whoever committed the crime. But not everyone agrees Scooby’s testimony will be all that useful. One lawyer said “Human evidence is unreliable enough, let alone canine evidence.”

Poll

Survey Saturday: Dogs as Escape Artists

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If you’ve been following along this week, you know that I have spent most of the week chasing loose dogs.  In spite of double-gated doors and locked fence gates, my dogs still get loose at least once a week.  I just can’t convince my kids to keep the doors closed.  And, since they are hounds (the dogs, not the kids) , they just love to run!  My gps collars are on order, and I’ll keep you updated on how they work. 

Meanwhile, let me know how you do with keeping your dogs at home by taking our poll (below).

Continue reading Survey Saturday: Dogs as Escape Artists →

Dog News

Dogs and Ike

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With Hurricane Ike approaching the Gulf Coast, doggies.com presents this guide to animal care during a disaster.

As Texans anticipate Hurricane Ike, a Texas AgriLife Extension Service expert said every family with pets should have an evacuation plan that includes them.

“Typically for a family, the first thing on their mind would be their kids,” said Dr. Linda Willis-Williams, AgriLife Extension director for Harris County. “But the pet is part of the family as well, so preparation for that pet is critical.”

Willis-Williams said three areas of preparation are essential: identification, supplies and means of transportation. “It’s hard to say exactly what the situation will be like during an evacuation for a disaster, so the key is to have all the pet’s paperwork prepared,” she said.
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Behavior and Psychology, Dog Fun

Pooch Plunge

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There’s nothing like a big, cold swimming pool on a hot September day.  Especially if you’re a dog!  The Lawrence (KS) Outdoor Aquatic Center recognizes that many dogs just can’t get enough pool time.  Before draining the pool at the end of each summer, they allow dog owners to bring their dogs in for a swim.

 

September 2, 2008 was the date for the sixth annual Pooch Plunge, a fundraiser for the Aquatic Center.  The pool charges $5 admission for each dog, and raises about $1,500 to pay for pool maintenance, which we would imagine involves cleaning lots of fur out of the filters!

 

Observers are allowed in for free to watch the dogs playing in the water.  Apparently, it’s just a hoot!  The three hour event draws as many as 400 dogs, and an untold number of their 2-legged friends.  People are not allowed in the pool during the pooch plunge, but as one lifeguard notes, “I really don’t want to get in the water because it’s pretty filthy by now.”  Lifeguard Vinny Gonzalez of McLouth states he and his fellow guards are there simply to prevent human participation in the event, not to rescue any dogs whose swimming skills are rusty.  He notes, “I haven’t quite had that course.”

 

Pet-related vendors are also on hand, serving dog treats and displaying their wares to the participating dogs and their guardians.

 

This event sounds like a lot of fun!  Wish the pools in my area would follow suit.

 

Until next time,

Good day, and good dog!

 

 

New Dog Products

GPS tracking for your dog

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The Dog Lady is back! Did you miss me? I’ve spent the last 3 days searching for my two runaways – the police brought them home this morning. I’m definitely getting a gps system this weekend, since I can’t convince my kids that the doors need to stay shut.

Keep checking in doggies.com’s dog den for an upcoming article on gps systems for lost dogs. After doing the research for the article, I’ve decided to go with the RoamEO system. It’s more expensive than some of the systems, but I’m not into paying a monthly fee, and I like the fact that I can track up to 3 dogs with one receiver.

I’ll let you know how it works the next time my dogs escape.

Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!

Human or Doggy Nature, Shelters

Too busy for a fulltime pet? Rent-a-dog!

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Dog rentals have grown in popularity for busy people

The rent-a-pet concept has grown worldwide in recent years, despite disapproval from some animal rights advocates. Those in favor of the practice say it helps people understand dogs and learn how to treat them properly.

Dog lovers short on time or space say that renting dogs is a good interim solution until they’re able to commit to a permanent canine companion. Organizations that rent dogs to others feel that people often don’t understand all the work involved in caring for a pet, and their rental solution helps people understand what’s involved in caring for a dog.

Some rescue groups even use the rent-a-pet type program to help with fostering rescues. Not a bad idea, as it helps the dogs and helps potential foster carers decide whether they have what it takes to foster or adopt a dog.

Opponents say it’s mean to pass a dog around amongst temporary families, when they deserve a forever home. Advocates say it improves people’s understanding of dogs and offers a solution where some dogs would otherwise be homeless or euthanized. What do you think?

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