Free Dog Biscuits

Doggy Delightz organic dog bakery is offering free dog biscuits while supplies last. You are not required to make a purchase, or even pay shipping or handling. If you do make a purchase, they will donate part of the proceeds to animal welfare and rescue organizations. Visit Doggy Delightz and scroll down to the very bottom of the page, to request your free dog biscuit sample. The ingredients in the dog biscuits are whole wheat flour, parsley (natural breathe freshener), olive oil (great for healthy skin and fur), organic eggs, milk, yeast, chicken or beef broth, and raw honey. Additional flavors are available with ingredients such as beef/broccoli/cheese, sardines, wheat-free natural with rye, rice, oats, millet, or barley, pupzels (pretzel shaped and fishy flavored).

Pet Disaster Preparedness

The American Veterinary Medical Association has put together an excellent free guide, that can help pet owners be prepared for any type of natural disaster. In my case, I would be extremely resistant to ever leaving my home, but what if evacuation was the only choice? There have been many natural disasters, and animals left behind suffer greatly. No matter what comes, be it natural or man made disasters, there is no way that I will ever abandon my pets. One thing you should know is temporary shelters, like with the Red Cross, they will not allow you to bring pets. It is all kind of depressing to think about, but to be on the safe side, it is better to plan ahead.

Preparedness Before the Disaster
Evacuation Essentials
After the Disaster

In addition, you can find a huge amount of resources with information about disaster preparedness for animal health professionals on the AVMA website as well.

How To Remove a Tick From a Dog

The normal way in which ticks are removed in my house, usually begin with a scream, and then shouting, "Aaaa! Oh no!! CoCo, oh CoCo!!" At that point, I am usually wrestled to the ground, at which time the tick is flung off of me, typically a few feet away. In the chaos, the tick will try to make it's getaway, but never quite makes it. Typically, it will be smashed about 100 times, just to make sure. This is not the recommended procedure.

The recommended tick removal kit would include gloves, isopropyl alcohol, antiseptic for dogs, and tweezers. If you find a tick on your dog, try not to panic, and calmly get your tick removal supplies. With gloves on, take a q-tip and add a drop of isopropyl alcohol around head of tick. This will get the tick to release it's grip. Grasp the tick as close to your dog’s skin as possible, but be careful not to pinch your dogs skin. Then pull the tweezer out, away from your dogs skin, in a slow steady motion. Make sure you remove the entire tick, but do not hurt your dog in the process. After tick removal, apply some dog antiseptic to spot to encourage healing and keep infection away.

Donate Dog Food to Shelters for Free

The Animal Rescue Site exists to raise donations to buy food for dog and cat shelters across the United States. One of the most interesting things about this website, is that you can donate food to shelters without paying any money out of your own pocket. When you visit The Animal Rescue Site, you will see very large purple button at the top of the web page. If you click on that purple button, they will donate .6 bowl of dry dog food to a homeless dog. They even encourage you to visit every day to donate again!

How do they do it? It is really ingenious. Companies with dog related items want to advertise on The Animal Rescue Site, because they get such a high amount of traffic from dog lovers. It gives the advertisers exposure, and they want you to see their banner ads. Therefore, they will happily donate dog food to shelters, whether you buy anything or not.

Dog and cat food donations go to the Fund for Animals' renowned animal sanctuaries (including Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch in Texas and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in California), pet shelters supported by the Petfinder Foundation , North Shore Animal League , and other worthy animal care facilities supported by the GreaterGood.org foundation. 100% of sponsor advertising fees goes to these organizations. Please try to visit, and help feed the homeless animals.

CPR For Dogs

This is the 2nd half, of my dog CPR information. Yesterday we covered artificial respiration in dogs. Artificial respiration must begin as soon as your dog stops breathing. If your dog's heart has stopped beating, CPR must begin immediately. If at all possible, it is better to have one person performing artificial respiration on your dog, while the other person does chest compressions. With two people performing CPR, alternate one breath with three compressions. If you are performing CPR alone, alternate one breath with five compressions.

For Dogs under 30 pounds

Make sure your dog is laying on a flat surface.

Place the palm of your hand on the rib cage over the heart. Place your other hand on top of the first. For small puppies and kittens, you can use your thumb instead of the palm of your hand, and have your fingers resting to the side.

Compress the chest about one inch. Squeeze and release rhythmically at a rate of 80 to 100 compressions per minute.

For Dogs over 30 pounds

Make sure your dog is laying on a flat surface.

Put one hand directly over the top of the other, over the widest portion of the rib cage, not over the heart.

Keeping your arms straight, push down on the rib cage. Compress the chest 25% of its width. Squeeze and release rhythmically and repeat about 80 compressions per minute.

Continue CPR until your dog breathes on his own and has a steady heartbeat.

Artificial Respiration for Dogs

Artificial respiration may be necessary, if your dog ever becomes unconscious. It may be done in combination with chest compressions, which is known as cardiopulmonary resuscitation. If respiratory arrest occurs (your dog stops breathing), artificial respiration must be given immediately to save your dogs life.

The heart may only continue beating for a few minutes after respiratory arrest has occured. If cardiac arrest occurs (your dogs heart stops beating), you will need to get the blood pumping by performing chest compressions. Artificial respiration and chest compressions go hand in hand (CPR), and it is important for every dog owner to learn these procedures. This post is about artificial respiration, tomorrow we will bring it all together with the steps for chest compression.

Artificial Respiration

As soon as your dog has gone into respiratory arrest, you must begin artificial respiration immediately. No time to even get him to the veterinarian, you literally have minutes to save your dog's life.

First of all, you need to lay your dog on his side on a flat surface. Check for breathing by watching his chest or feeling for breath on your hand. In addition, you can check by looking at his gums, which turn blue from lack of oxygen.

Second, check his airway. Open your dog's mouth to see if you can find a foreign object. If an object is blocking the airway, grab the tongue and pull it outward. Many times the action of pulling your dogs tongue will dislodge the object. If not, try to dislodge the object with your fingers, or pliers to grasp it. If the object cannot be reached or pulled out, use the Heimlich maneuver for dogs.

If you do not find anything lodged in throat or have removed item, you can proceed to rescue breathing steps.

With your dog on his side, you will need to lift his chin to straighten out his throat. Use one hand on his muzzle and hold your dogs mouth shut.

Place your mouth completely over the nose and blow gently; the chest should expand. Blow just enough to move his chest (blow harder for large dogs, gently for cats and small dogs).

Wait for the air to leave the lungs before breathing again. Keep going at the rate of about 20 breaths per minute, or one breath every three seconds. Continue breathing for your dog until he breathes on his own.

Continue to monitor the heartbeat, if the heart stops beating, you will need to start performing chest compressions simultaneously, which we will cover in tomorrow's post.

Xylitol (sugar free gum) Deadly to Dogs

Xylitol, which is a sugar substitute in sugar free gum, is deadly to dogs. Xylitol can be found in sugar free gum, cough lozenges, candy, and oral health products. If your dog ingests xylitol, they must go to emergency immediately. A small dog could die from ingesting two sticks of sugar free gum with xylitol, a larger 65 pound dog could die from 8-10 pieces of gum. Within 30 minutes of ingestion, the blood sugar will drop dramatically, and the dog will begin to suffer irreversible liver damage. Medical treatment includes inducing vomiting, and IV fluid therapy.

This is a copy of an email I received today. Please forward this information to anyone that has a dog, so that they will be aware of the effects of xylitol on dogs.

Dog lovers !!!! This is real !!!! Please read. Even if you don't have a dog of your own, this is important information that may save the life of a dog you know. Warning to all dog owners - pass this on to everyone you can. Last Friday evening, I arrived home from work, fed Chloe, our 24 Lb. dachshund, just as I normally do. Ten minutes later I walked into the den just in time to see her head inside the pocket of Katie's friend's purse. She had a guilty look on her face so I looked closer and saw a small package of sugar-free gum. It contained xylitol.

I remembered that I had recently read that sugar-free gum can be deadly for dogs so I jumped on line and looked to see if xylitol was the ingredient. I found the first website below and it was this one. Next, I called our vet. She said to bring her in immediately. Unfortunately, it was still rush hour and it took me almost 1/2 hour to get there. Meanwhile, since this was her first case, our vet found another website to figure out the treatment. She took Chloe and said they would induce her to vomit, give her a charcoal drink to absorb the toxin (even though they don't think it works) then they would start an iv with dextrose.

The xylitol causes dogs to secrete insulin so their blood sugar drops very quickly. The second thing that happens is liver failure. If that happens, even with aggressive treatment, it can be difficult to save them. She told us she would call us. Almost two hours later, the vet called and said that contents of her stomach contained 2-3 gum wrappers and that her blood sugar had dropped from 90 to 59 in 30 minutes. She wanted us to take Chloe to another hospital that has a critical care unit operating around the clock. We picked her up and took her there. They had us call the ASPCA poison control for a case number and for a donation, their doctors would direct Chloe's doctor on treatment. They would continue the iv, monitor her blood every other hour and then in 2 days test her liver function. She ended up with a central line in her jugular vein since the one in her leg collapsed, just as our regular vet had feared.

Chloe spent almost the entire weekend in the critical care hospital. After her blood sugar was stabilized, she came home yesterday. They ran all the tests again before they released her and so far, no sign of liver damage. Had I not seen her head in the purse, she probably would have died and we wouldn't even had known why. Three vets told me this weekend, that they were amazed that I even knew about it since they are first learning about it too. Please tell everyone you know about xylitol and dogs. It may save another life.

Tiny Dog Has Been Barking Nonstop For 6 Years

Tiny Dog Has Been Barking Nonstop For 6 Years

Please Sign Petition : Animal Cruelty

I signed the petition "JNU : Dog Butchered Alive". I'm asking you to sign this petition to help us reach our goal of 50,000 signatures. I care deeply about this cause, and I hope you will support our efforts. It is to influence Jawaharlal Nehru University in India to take action against some students that committed a horrifying act of animal cruelty.

The following is a copy of the petition, which involves severe animal cruelty. I would love you to sign the petition, but if you cannot bear to read it, I truly understand. I value my readers on CoCo the Blogging Dog, and I try to stay away from sad stories of animal cruelty, but I am hoping some of my readers will sign this petition.

Warning: The following is a very sad story, if you believe this may be too disturbing, please click back button now.

"On the 8th of July 2008 at 2 am in the morning an 8 year old female dog was butchered by 1 student from JNU , Yoronso (Ph.d student from JNU's School of Social Science, (Centre for Political Studies)) and his two friends in Room #248 in the Kaveri hostel of JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University) in New Delhi, India. She was beaten with a cricket bat and a curtain rod for an hour and then they started to cut her open while she was still alive. Due to the noise and blood gushing out from under the door the people in the hostel got alarmed, and the students and wardens intervened. The dog's name was Kali.

In the year 2006 Kali's aging mother Leela had also died under similar circumstances, when the news of the atrocity leaked out she was labeled as an aggressive dog. unfortunately in this world there is no one to speak for these voiceless animals.

These are not isolated incidents but periodical events which recurrently take place on JNU Campus when street dogs are mercilessly slaughtered. What is most unfortunate and infuriating is that the authorities are aware of these practices and have yet not taken any action against the miscreants.

We want to use this petition to get all institutions across the country to Incorporate laws pertaining to Animal Welfare in their rules and regulations and code of conduct on campuses. Animal abuse should be made a punishable offence by the institution itself. Students should be sensitized about animal welfare during their orientations. The institutions and student bodies should initiate and supervise the ABC program (Animal Birth Control) in and around their campus."

Signature Goal: 50,000

Please sign this petition

Barney the First Dog Stands by President Bush

Barney Photo Courtesy of Whitehouse.gov
That demoncrat Nancy Pelosi has been in the news lately, on CNN, the Washington Post and every major news outlet calling President Bush a total failure. Pelosi stated, "Well, you know, God bless him, bless his heart, the president of the United States, a total failure, losing all credibility with the American people on the economy, on the war, on energy, you name the subject, and for him to be challenging Congress when we are trying to sweep up after his mess over and over and over again." I think Nancy Pelosi is the one losing credibility due to her absolute lack of professionalism. She is good at pointing the finger of blame, yet, can you think of even one positive thing she has done for America? Me either.

It is a good thing President Bush has dogs, he could use some support at a time like this. Nancy Pelosi, I wouldn't expect you to understand, but as long as your dog still loves you, it is impossible to be a "total failure." Dogs could care less about polls, or public opinion. Your dog will love you, and stand by you all the way! Whether you like President Bush or not, you have to respect our first dog, Barney. According to WhiteHouse.gov,

Barney is a much-loved First Family member. Barney loves to play with his soccer ball, his golf ball and most recently has become a fan of playing horseshoes. There are numerous web sites across the Internet devoted to Barney. He has also starred in several "films" available on the White House web site including Barney Cam I (2002), Barney and Spot's Winter Wonderland (2003), Barney Cam II (2003), Where in the White House is Miss Beazley? (Barney Cam III, 2004), Barney has found Miss Beazley (2005), Barney and Miss Beazley's Spring Garden Tour (2005), A Very Beazley Christmas (Barney Cam IV, 2005), and Barney's Holiday Extravaganza (Barney Cam V, 2006), and My Barney Valentine (2007).

You can visit Barney's personal page and watch his movies at Whitehouse.gov.

Adopting out dogs can be dangerous

Adopting out dogs can be dangerous, if precautionary guidelines are not followed. How often do you invite complete strangers into your home? For many of us, the answer is never. Yet, when we are faced with finding a new home for a dog, this rule usually flies out the window. I was just reading in the news about a man that was assaulted in his own home, for the purpose of stealing a Yorkshire Terrier pup last month. He advertised the dog in the paper for sale, and was contacted by a man interested in looking at the dog. Two men and a woman came to his house, assaulted him with a knife, and took his dog.

The good news is that he is recovering, he has his dog back, and the police were actually able to capture and arrest the assailants. The bad news is, this is not the first time this kind of thing has happened, and I'm sure it won't be the last. I read about something similar, a few months back. A woman advertised in the paper, "puppies for sale". These people held a gun on the woman, not only did they take all the puppies, but the family dog as well. These types of people are obviously not animal lovers, they are stealing expensive breeds of dogs, to sell to the highest bidder.

All I'm saying is, allowing strangers into your home is probably never a good idea. Several months back, I was able to adopt out a stray dog, without ever advertising in the paper or allowing a stranger into my home. My method was through word of mouth. I talked to everyone in my extended family, my friends at work, and all my neighbors. It probably took a little longer to find a home that way, but my neighbor ended up helping me, and we found the most wonderful home for this dog through a mutual friend. An added benefit of not adopting the dog to a stranger, is that I have been able to check on him.

In addition, it is wise to be cautious when advertising a found dog. If the breed is expensive, someone may answer your ad that is not the owner. Even worse, they may answer your ad in order to get in your house under false pretenses. To prevent this from happening, find a unique marking or characteristic on the found dog, that you do not advertise on your found dog ad. Then when someone calls to inquire about the stray dog, you can use this information to determine if they are actually the owner. People that help animals are angels, and are needed desperately, just please be careful out there!

Rescued Dog Gets Paw Prosthetic

A Saluki dog was rescued in the desert of Kuwait a year ago by PAWS, or Protecting Animal Welfare Society. She was in bad shape, with her left hind foot missing, with another leg broken, and suffering from starvation. Thanks to PAWS, this dog now has a chance at life, and a loving home in the USA. PAWS volunteers had to give her food, laced with sedatives, in order to slow her down enough to catch her. This dog was flown for treatment to an orthopedic veterinarian, Dr. Erick Egger, at Colorado State University.

It wasn't at all difficult to find a home for her, as she became best friends and was adopted by Dr. Egger almost immediately. Sally as she is now called, has managed to sit through all of Dr. Egger's classroom lectures at the Colorado University for over a year now. This past year, he has been considering the type of treatment that would work the best for her missing hind paw. Dr. Egger decided on a custom made titanium implant prosthetic, which is similar to that used in human hip replacement. With this type of implant, the bone will actually become sensitive to the prosthetic, and allows for more sensitivity and control.

Sally is now able to walk on all four legs, holds her head high, and wags her tail happily. A few similar leg prosthetic implants have been performed on humans, but is still in research stage, even for humans. "If this works out ... I think it would be a tremendous benefit to people," Egger said. "Often, when we're helping the dogs, we're helping people. Part of what we're doing as veterinarians is helping people."

Hickman, KY City Animal Shelter

This is a sad story, with a happy ending, thanks to someone caring enough to get involved. A local man was disgusted with the inhumane conditions that animals were living in, at the Hickman, KY city animal shelter and he took pictures to prove it.

The kennels at the Hickman, KY city animal shelter were full of feces and had not been cleaned for a week. The dogs had not been fed for two days, and many had no water. The place was swarming with thousands of mosquitos, causing the dogs to itch their skin raw.

Pictures were taken of the conditions of the Hickman, KY city animal shelter and turned in to the city commissioner, Michael Farmer. Upon investigation, the city animal shelter in Hickman, KY was even worse than the pictures. Ok, I promised a happy ending and here it is...

The Fulton County Jailer set up a program for inmates to take care of the dogs twice a day. The inmates have cleaned the Hickman, KY city animal shelter from top to bottom. They have added windows, heat, and even an outdoor fenced in play area for the dogs.

The man that took and turned in the pictures is only identified as a local man. This anonymous man is proof that one person can create a major change for the better. Thank you local man!

Epilepsy in Dogs

Epilepsy is a health condition that affects both humans and dogs. In dogs it is more common with about 5% of dogs suffering from epilepsy, in comparison to 1% of the human population. Some breeds that seem to be genetically disposed to epilepsy are Belgian Tervueren, Dachshunds, German Shepherds, Beagles, Keeshonds, Boxers, Cocker Spaniels, Wire-Haired Terriers, Collies, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Poodles, Irish Setters, Miniature Schnauzers, Saint Bernards, and Siberian Huskies.

Dog epilepsy is only one possibility to consider, if your dog has a seizure. Some other causes can include kidney and liver problems, poisoning, low blood sugar, and even food allergies. There is no test I am aware of that is 100% proof that your dog has epilepsy. A diagnosis is made based on medical history, incidents of seizures, and blood tests. Most veterinarians will recommend drug therapy for dog epilepsy, if the incidents of seizures exceed one time a month. Before giving your dog any drug, it is important to weigh the possible side effects, against the seizures. Many of the drugs used to treat dog epilepsy cause liver and kidney problems, reduced white blood cells, and a variety of other health issues depending on the seizure drug. In addition, the dog epilepsy drugs will only reduce the frequency of seizures, but not eliminate them completely.

To support a dog having a seizure, there are a few things that you can do. Immediately move any objects away from your dog on which your dog could hurt himself. Place something soft under his head like a pillow or towel, and around his sides. You may try to comfort your dog with gentle strokes, but make sure not to get bit, as your dog won't be fully aware of what is happening. Eliminate any loud noises and dim the lights. A typical seizure last only a few minutes, and the dog is back to normal within an hour or so. Immediately after the seizure, your dog may lack coordination, and seem confused.

I wish I could end this post with a happy note, to say that there is some miraculous new cure for dog epilepsy. Unfortunately, there is no cure to date, but research is ongoing. Sending kind wishes to all my courageous dog friends who have battled with epilepsy, and the wonderful humans who have supported them.

DoggySpace.com : A Place To Meet Dogs

A new social networking website, doggySpace.com, may be a great place to find dogs with similar interests. All dogs are welcome to upload videos, photos, and create personal profiles.

DoggySpace.com is brand new, and I have only just registered, and working on my profile as I write this entry. I just wanted to share this with my readers as you can meet other dog lovers, plan get togethers, or just learn about different breeds of dogs.

"It's well known that dog-lovers are a rabid breed, and Doggyspace was created specifically to let them share stories, photos and videos of man's best friend quickly, easily and to a very broad audience," said Doggyspace.com founder, Levi Thornton. "Doggyspace takes social networking to the dogs. It's fun, easy to use and, best of all, is free."

Making Healthy Homemade Dog Food

This is a simple blueprint for making healthy homemade dog food at home. You will need an extra large bowl, as this dog food recipe makes about a gallon. It doesn't take long to make. You need to brown the meat, cook the rice, and chop the vegetables/fruit. Then, mix it all together in a large container. To be more specific: Take a little over 3 pounds of meat, or 9 cups either cooked ground chicken, turkey, or beef, and brown in a skillet. Mix the meat with 3 cups of carbohydrates, such as oatmeal or brown rice. Then add 3 cups of chopped veggies and fruit.

These ingredients can be stored several days in your refrigerator, and heated up at mealtime. IMO, this homemade dog food recipe is much healthier than any commercial dog food on the market. It is all made from human grade ingredients, after all, why feed something to your dog that you would be unwilling to eat?

Dog Related Groups on Meetup.com

Are you interested in meeting other dog lovers, getting animal behavior advice, and even how to train your dog? On Meetup.com, you join a wide variety of dog groups, or even start your own, and it is all free. In the search box, type in "dog" to find groups that are focused on dogs, and find get togethers in your local area.

A few months ago, I joined four different groups on Meetup.com, including The Dog Whisperer, and The Humane Society. You can find many meet up groups to get together in your local area for dog activities. I haven't actually attended any events yet, but they keep me posted. At first, I was hesitant to join because I thought they might pressure to attend events, but they don't.

Each group has a forum where you can learn more about dog training, animal welfare, events in your area, etc. They have dog rescue groups, breed specific groups, meet up groups for those who work in animal related fields and more. If you have been interested in meeting nice people, or even volunteering to help stray dogs in your area, this is a great place to network!

Real Stray Dog Rescue Caught on Video

Real Stray Dog Rescue Caught on Video. These dogs were rescued by an organization called Downtown Dog Rescue in Los Angeles. You can read more about them at DowntownDogRescue.org

Slentrol : Weight Loss Drug for Dogs

Slentrol, a wonder drug for dog obesity? I just came across a glowing review of Slentrol, a diet pill for dogs, that smelled a lot like an ad. It claimed Slentrol is the newest drug to control weight in dogs, and is approved by the FDA. You can give this diet pill to your dog, it will reduce their appetite, and they will lose about 3% of their body weight every month. If your dog weighs 50 lbs., that is 1.5 lb. weight loss every month, or 18 lbs. in a year. Sounds great, being overweight can pose health risks, but how safe is this drug? It might be healthier to be a fat dog than suffer from some of the adverse reactions reported on the Slentrol website.

ADVERSE REACTIONS:
The adverse reactions associated with treatment with SLENTROL include vomiting, loose stools/diarrhea, lethargy, and anorexia. These adverse reactions were mainly observed during the first month of treatment or during the week after a dose increase. Vomiting was usually mild in severity, of short duration, and resolved with continued SLENTROL treatment. The SLENTROL-treated dogs generally had an increased frequency and duration of vomiting and diarrhea compared to the control dogs. The control dogs received corn oil.

In addition to the adverse reactions listed above, there were other abnormal findings. Many control and SLENTROL-treated dogs had dental disease, abnormal skin and ear findings, and lameness/arthritis. The incidence of these findings were similar in both control and SLENTROL treated groups and most dogs had similar lesions noted pre-treatment. Two dogs in the SLENTROL treatment group developed corneal ulcers. One SLENTROL-treated and one control dog developed signs consistent with pancreatitis. One treated dog developed inappropriate urination and defecation and another treated dog developed polyuria and polydipsia.

A 5 year old Beagle with no medical history of seizures in the SLENTROL treatment group had a seizure on Day 52 of the study. The dog continued to receive SLENTROL until additional seizures occurred 11 and 12 days later. The investigator referred the case to a neurologist and the seizures continued approximately twice weekly. The neurologist found no lesions that support the causality of the seizures.

A 5 year old Dachshund developed a hepatopathy after 82 days of treatment and was withdrawn from the study for vomiting, increased hepatic enzymes, and anorexia. Vomiting continued for a few days after stopping treatment and the dog was hospitalized due to the anorexia. ALT activity levels continued to rise after all clinical observations resolved.

During weight stabilization, vomiting (16.1%) and lethargy (4.8%) were the most frequent adverse reactions associated with treatment with SLENTROL. Other adverse reactions included diarrhea (1.6%), anorexia (1.6%), and ataxia (1.6%).

In the post-treatment period, a 6 year old spayed female Chihuahua, was found dead by the owner 7 days after stopping dirlotapide therapy. The cause of death was not conclusive but did not appear to be related to the dirlotapide therapy.

Some dogs treated with SLENTROL displayed a mild to moderate elevation in serum hepatic transaminase activity early in treatment that decreased over time while treatment continued. Hepatic transaminases generally returned to normal when treatment was discontinued.

source

To each dog his own, but I think diet and exercise is key. It would be nice to have a magic pill to take care of our problems with no effort on our part, unfortunately life doesn't work that way. Slentrol is no exception.

FBI Agent Indicted Cruelty to Animals

Agent Lovett Leslie "Les" Ledger Jr.

Last March, CoCo the Blogging Dog reported about FBI Agent Arrested for Killing Chihuahua Dog. Leslie Ledger, an FBI agent shot a defenseless little animal. This was a beloved pet of a neighbor, this dog was not even on his property, and causing him no harm whatsoever. At first he lied to police, claiming he didn't do it, then finally admitted what he had done.

Update on Leslie Ledger, this FBI agent was just indicted by the McLennan County grand jury this morning on a cruelty to animals charge, a state jail felony, in the killing of this Chihuahua. I am so excited by this recent development, as the last time I checked, there was no further disciplinary action. This case fills me with anger, and I request that he get the maximum. If Leslie Ledger remains an FBI agent, I will lose my respect for the FBI. The FBI should not torture innocent helpless animals, the FBI should not lie. As an American, I expect the FBI to have integrity and represent our best values as a country.

Dog Vote : John McCain for President

The media circus and powers that be have finally narrowed down two choices for the 2008 Presidential election. We can choose between John McCain or Barack Obama. Along the way, I have admired the words of Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul. Dennis Kucinich is a vegan, and is outspoken for animal rights. I believe he is a good and kind hearted person. Ron Paul is sometimes irreverent, makes us reconsider the status qou, and values freedom above all. Two good men in my book, but I think the rest of the US is reading a different book than I am.

Therefore, CoCo the Blogging Dog is forced to make a choice between John McCain or Barack Obama. This has been particularly difficult, as I do not strongly support either candidate. After much thought, I have decided that John McCain will get my vote. This is primarily due to the fact that John McCain is a dog person. As an Arizona Citizen, he is a long time supporter of the Arizona’s Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. John McCain has several dogs living in his home. In addition, he has two turtles, a cat, a ferret, three parakeets and 13 fish.

John McCain has had many pets before considering running for president, it's not for show. He obviously cares about animals, which says something about his character. On the other hand, Barack Obama has no pets, but has claimed if he becomes president he may get a dog. Obama seems to say many things, depending on whatever audience he may be catering to, at that moment. This has been a very tough decision as I am not crazy about either candidate, but I would rather trust the person that likes dogs.

Stolen Dog Found on Craig's List

Cordell and Cori Hazard from Spanaway, WA. came home to find there two dogs missing. Either their house had been broken into, or the dogs had somehow figured out how to open the front door. They immediately began searching the neighborhood for their pug "Samson" and their Great Dane "Baby". The Hazards contacted the Humane Society, and put out a missing dog ad on Craig's List, all with no luck.

One month after the dogs were missing, Cori Hazard happened to be browsing on Craig's List. She came across a picture of her Great Dane, with her Pug in the background. The Hazards Great Dane was being offered for $150. in the Craig's List ad. They immediately wrote to the poster pleading for their dogs back offering a no questions asked return. The Craig's List poster claimed he had already given away the Great Dane, and the Pug belonged to a friend of his.

The Hazard's were able to track down the person that purchased "Baby" the Great Dane, and reimbursed him for the price he paid for her on Craig's List. They were extremely happy to have "Baby" back with them, but it is bitter sweet since they may never get "Samson" the pug back. The police have been notified and have questioned the Craig's List poster, but he is claiming that he simply found the two dogs. At this time, no charges have been filed. If you have any information in this case, please contact the Pierce County Sheriff's Department.

Cute Pictures of Puppies

Cute Pictures of Puppies

Low Cost Dog Spay and Neuter Resources

Need to get your dog spayed or neutered, but can't afford it? Getting your dog spayed or neutered is an important responsibility of pet ownership, and alleviates a great deal of suffering caused by the pet overpopulation. 9.6 million unwanted animals are killed in the US, each and every year, because there are not enough people to adopt them. Many regular veterinarians charge several hundred dollars, which makes low cost spay and neutering programs a great option.

A recent experience I had with a low cost spay and neuter clinic, was prompted by the capture of a feral cat. This cat kept hanging around my house, every time looking worse with injuries, and hearing a neighbor threaten to poison him. After catching him, I called my regular veterinarian who advised me the cost to neuter would be about $250. I love animals, but CoCo the Blogging Dog isn't rich. I have an excellent veterinarian, and I will remain a faithful client for the more serious stuff, but $250 for a cat neuter?

So I start Googling low cost spay and neuter and found a great one in my area to take Mr. Stray kitty to. I called and they were very nice, and told me that considering he is a feral cat, they would allow me to take him in the very next morning. They said they don't make appointments, and just advised me not to feed him after midnight and make sure to have him there G-d awful early the next morning. I arrived there in a room full of about 25 other families bringing their animals in for the surgery. They have you fill out a form, and give you the option of taking home pain killer, and ask if you would like to get your animal vaccinated as well. The neuter was about $25, then with the extras I chose, the grand total was about $45, which is a far cry from the $250 at my regular veterinarian. You just leave your cat or dog there, then come back about 4 pm to pick up. For these prices you do not have to be low income. However, if you are, they are programs to get free spay and neuter vouchers for low income.

Which leads me to the most important part of this post, where to find the low cost spay and neuter clinics. A great resource is Spay USA, no matter where you live in the USA, they will find a low cost spay and neuter program in your area. If it is not already printed on their website, you can email them, and they will email you back and let you know where to go for spaying and neutering. On Love That Cat, they have a list of every state in the USA, just click on your state to find low cost spay and neuter programs. If you would rather go to a regular veterinarian, Friends of Animals has reduced cost spay and neuter certificates you can purchase to use at all participating veterinarians. On same page at Friends of Animals, it allows you to input your email and zip code, and they will email you back with a listing of all participating veterinarians in your area.

Spay or neuter your dog and cat

Spay or neuter your dog and cat. 9.6 million animals are put to death in USA shelters each year. This is just in the United States, these figures do not include other countries. Every year we have 9.6 million more animals, than we have homes for. This means that all 9.6 million animals are killed, and then another 9.6 million animals comes to take there place next year.

The killing goes on and on, for the simple fact that they are homeless. It is hard to fathom that number. 9.6 million living, thinking, beautiful animals are put to death for lack of a home. This has become the norm. It is almost unquestioned by our society, as if it is somehow acceptable. It is not acceptable in a civilized society. Killing cats and dogs for the crime of taking up space should never ever be considered acceptable. What if they simply shut down government controlled dog shelters? With the money they save, they could open a free spay and neuter clinic. Have a free spay and neuter clinic in every city with no hoops to jump through, just get every cat and dog in that city spayed or neutered. No need for shelters and killing, because practically all the animals would be spayed or neutered.

The issue of so many unwanted dogs and cats in the US is overwhelming and sad. I will do some research, and will post some low cost spay and neuter programs and resources soon. Thank you for visiting CoCo the Blogging Dog!

Cruelty in Dog Cloning

I'm still waiting...
Heh. Yesterday I was talking about Lou Hawthorne, CEO of BioArts International. On the Mutts blog, someone suggested BioArts International should consider donating some money to dog shelters. You can read that post here. Lou has not replied to that question, I keep checking but nada zilch nothing. In the meantime, I have been doing more research into dog cloning. It seems that the Humane Society of the United States and the American Anti-Vivisection Society are strongly against dog cloning. One thing I did not fully understand is the amount of animal cruelty involved in dog cloning. If you would like to find out more facts about dog cloning:

American Anti-Vivisection Society and Humane Society of the United States Release Report Warning Consumers of Problems with Pet Cloning. "Buyer beware" is the message of The Humane Society of the United States and the American Anti-Vivisection Society to consumers and pet lovers as dog cloners yesterday announced their plans for an Internet auction. In a new report, Buyers Beware: Pet Cloning Is Not for Pet Lovers, The HSUS and AAVS highlight the animal suffering, questionable claims, shoddy science and dubious background of certain players in the pet cloning scheme.

Click here to view the press release.
Click here to view the executive summary.
Click here to view the report.

source

Golden Clone Giveaway ~ We Have a Winner!

The Golden Clone Giveaway is a contest sponsored by BioArts International, to win the chance to have your dog cloned. According to Mutts, BioArts International announced the dog cloning winner last monday. It is for a German Shepherd named Trakr, who is a hero for his work in search and rescue, at the world trade center on 911. Good dog Trakr, CoCo the Blogging Dog salutes you and appreciates your contribution. At the same time, Trakr's clone will not be Trakr.

While I was on the Mutt's blog, I found that Lou Hawthorne, the CEO of BioArts International commented on the blog to clear up some "misinformation" posted on Mutts. BioArts International mainly disagreed with some statements regarding RNL Bio, the other commercial dog cloning company. Lou Hawthorne CEO of BioArts, stated that RNL Bio is not the authorized agent for dog cloning, and that they are black market dog cloners. In addition, he stated they sent a cease and desist letter to RNL Bio on June 30, 2008. But the most profound comment I read on the Mutts blog was another poster addressing the CEO of BioArts International, he said,

Lou,

Have you considered donating some of your profits to shelters to help homeless animals?

Sorry, but when there are so many animals in need, I have a real problem with cloning to make new ones. As much as I adore my dog, when he goes, I'll be at the shelter saving another one.

I do make an exception in the case of endangered species.

BioArts International has not responded yet...
Still waiting...

Cute Welsh Corgi Puppy

Cute Welsh Corgi puppy