News on dogs from around the world
Winston-Salem, NC - "There's a day care in Winston-Salem where you won't find children. That is, the two-legged kind. The patrons at Ruff Housing Doggie Daycare drool, bark and wag their tails. The business, on Witt Street, provides 6,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor play space for dogs in a cage-free environment..."
"It took the success of 'Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World's Worst Dog' by John Grogan, which has bounded to the top of best-seller lists, to expose a secret not easily given up by dog owners: Their dogs are often bad dogs. 'I held my dog up as the world's worst dog,' Grogan said. 'But I've heard from hundreds and hundreds of people who can match my story point for point.' Marley -- the indelible rascal of a yellow Labrador retriever that placed himself at the core of Grogan's family despite always seeming to have some household object in his jaws or heading down his gullet -- has so resonated with readers that Grogan has received thousands of "that darned dog" letters..."
Atchinson, KS - "In the battle to save dogs from euthanasia and cut down on stray animals, animal control officials agree it’s an ongoing struggle with no end in sight.
Berthoud, CO - "Happy Tails Dog Ranch opened its “doggie daycare and boarding” services Monday, with their Grand Opening scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 25. Located on a beautiful 20-acre ranch on WCR 1 between Berthoud and Longmont, the new daycare facilities provide pups with a home away from home..."
Lexington, KY - "Animal tricks -- stupid or otherwise -- were not invented by David Letterman. Indeed, the Medicis -- over-the-top dog people, even by Renaissance standards -- supposedly had a dog that cleared the dishes and poured vino without spilling. And arguably for as long as dogs, cats and other creatures have shared our hearths, humans have delighted in any behavior that offers a glimmer of kinship..."
Scotland, UK - "The docking of dogs' tails in Scotland is to be completely banned under legislation now going through Holyrood. The Executive had said working dogs would be exempt from the ban on tail docking proposed in the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Bill..."
Rutherford, CA - "California vintners are going to the dogs in their fight against a new pest menacing state vineyards by training golden retrievers to sniff out the grape bane.
Danville, KY - "Mother Nature fooled me again! I was gloating over our mild winter, when - Brr, it got cold. This creates a perfect excuse to talk about winter and cold weather problems for pets. As I have said before, if you are going to walk your dog after a snow, be sure to wash or at least towel dry his feet when you return home. The main reason for this extra work is the chemicals people spread to either melt the snow and ice or at least the make it less slippery. These chemicals can burn the dog's pads causing the animal to lick his paws. If he ingests enough of these chemicals, he will probably get sick..."
Tallahasee, FL - "A proposed bill that would allow pet owners to bring their dogs with them to outdoor portions of Florida restaurants passed through a House committee this afternoon.
"What if you woke up every morning and found nothing on your to-do list? Sure, it might be paradise for a week or two, but it is very likely that boredom would soon strike hard and deep putting a real dent in your zest for life. Our dogs come from a long line of working animals. They have only been house pets for a very brief snippet of their evolutionary lifetime. As man's helper, dogs were bred for specialized jobs. Terriers cleared out the vermin, sporting dogs brought in the hunt, working dogs protected property, and sheep dogs moved sheep..."
New York, NY - "When it comes to bonding with their dogs, some pet owners will stop at nothing. The latest trend is teaching dogs to be dance partners. The Early Show's resident veterinarian, Debbye Turner, reported on the phenomenon that's known as canine freestyle..."
Everett, WA - "Animal tricks - stupid or otherwise - were not invented by David Letterman.
St. Peters, MO - FETCH! Pet Care, America's largest and most sophisticated pet care franchise offering professional pet sitting and dog walking services, today announced it has launched a new location in St. Peters, Missouri to provide St. Charles County residents with unsurpassed pet care services. This new franchise marks the 30th FETCH! Pet Care location that, in aggregate, now service over 400 cities and towns throughout California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, New York and North Dakota..."
Hudson, FL - "Authorities have sought custody of 93 cats and dogs found in a filthy, crowded mobile home in Hudson, Fla., a report said..."
Madison, WI - "Holly Dieckman-Radloff’s beloved basset hound, 10-year-old Zoey, is fat. She tips the scale at up to 85 pounds, although her owner knows she should weigh about 55.“She’s kind of a steroid baby. She was put on prednisone because of allergies, and it increased her appetite. That kind of started it, that and her owner liking to give a little extra, because I felt I was depriving her,” said Dieckman-Radloff, 46, who has owned Zoey since puppyhood..."
Neptune, NJ - "Fido want to stroll? Fluffy want to join him? With the new trend in pet-friendly strollers — including double-decker varieties — sweeping the Shore, that's an invitation more and more animal companions are hearing on a regular basis.
Chillico, OH - "I went to the animal shelter last week to find out about adopting a pet.
St. Louis, MN - "Not even temperatures in the teens could keep the thousands of dog lovers from kicking off St. Louis Mardi Gras in leather and tutus.The usual crowd, which numbers about 8,000 dogs and nearly 10 times as many humans, bundled up for the 13th annual Beggin' Strips Krewe of Barkus Pet Parade to walk with their pretty pooches or snap pictures of their favorites..."
New Zealand - "Sheep dog triallists have joined the clamour of protest against micro-chipping farm dogs, saying they have already experienced the technology and do not want a bar of it..."
New York, NY - "The Hotel Pennsylvania, which calls itself the World's Most Popular Hotel, is where the doggies stay (with owners, handlers and other admirers) during the annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Of 1,700 rooms in the hotel, 1,000 were occupied this week by dogs - 1,100 dogs. Unofficially called the "Dog House" for two days, the hotel has no weight limits on dogs. So if you're a Yorkie or an Irish wolfhound, it doesn't matter. You're welcome..."
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia - "Beginning next month, City Hall through its Vector and Animal Control Unit will be conducting a door-to-door search for unlicensed dogs..."
