Fat border collie Jiffy survives freezing to sidewalk overnight

Fat border collie Jiffy survives freezing to sidewalk overnight

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Monday, December 8th 2008, 9:46 AM
Klein/AP

Jiffy, who was left outside overnight and consequently froze to the sidewalk, was described as a "morbidly obese" dog.

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. - A dog weighing more than 120 pounds survived being frozen to a sidewalk overnight, probably because he was insulated by layers of fat, authorities said.

The "morbidly obese" dog, an aging border collie mix named Jiffy, froze to the sidewalk when he was left out overnight Wednesday, the Sheboygan County Humane Society said. Few dogs could survive the single-digit temperatures, and it was probably the fat that made the difference, shelter manager Carey Payne said.

Jiffy's 59-year-old owner was arrested Thursday morning on suspicion of animal neglect, Sheboygan Police Lt. Tim Eirich said. She told police she tried to get the dog inside but couldn't, and instead checked on him every few hours.

The dog is 11 or 12 years old, Eirich said. Shelter workers poured warm water over Jiffy's back end to unstick him from the sidewalk, Payne said, adding it was too soon to say whether he suffered any long-term effects.

Puppies save three-year-old boy lost in freezing Virginia woods

Puppies save three-year-old boy lost in freezing Virginia woods

BY JANE H. FURSE
DAILY NEWS WRITER

Monday, December 8th 2008, 1:57 PM
Jaylynn Thorpe, 3, with his family.


The two hero puppies who saved Jaylynn's life.

A toddler lost in the Virginia woods was back home safe Sunday thanks to two puppies who kept him warm through a harrowing night of freezing temperatures.

Jaylynn Thorpe, 3, wandered away from his baby-sitter at 4 p.m. Friday and was missing for 21 hours as hundreds of friends, family and law enforcement officials searched for him in the thick woods of Halifax County, fearing the worst.

"The only thing we wanted to do was just keep searching until we found him," Halifax County Sheriff Stanley Noblin told reporters.

Jaylynn's frantic family knew time was not on its side.

"We didn't forget the issue that 17 degrees was almost unbearable," said his father, James Thorpe.

"People all over the State of Virginia was down there looking for that child. For a while there, one time, I didn't know whether they would find him or not," said the child's grandmother and guardian, Katherine Elliot.

Officials said the lost little boy and the two family puppies wandered up to a mile in the dark, even across a highway, but it wasn't until Saturday afternoon that members of the search team found him sitting by a tree, the two puppies nestled against him.

The little boy didn't say anything, according to rescue team member Jerry Gentry, but instead "just opened his arms up like, 'I'm ready to go.'"

"When I first saw him, he was like, 'Momma, I got cold. I slept in the woods last night. The puppies kept me warm.' He told me that ... the dogs slept up against him. And I'm sure the body heat kept him warm," said his mother, Sarah Ingram.

Billie Jo Roach, another member of the search party that found the boy, said the puppies refused to leave his side.

As the child was placed in an ambulance to be taken to a local hospital for examination, "The puppies were watching where he went.

"Where he went, they went," Roach said.

As word went out that the child was alive and well, family members cheered and cried for joy.

"Praise the Lord! Welcome home, Jaylynn!" yelled his aunt, Amy Zimmerman.

Close to 300 people from North Carolina and Virginia joined in the search to find Jaylynn.

"I love you! God bless you," Ingram told the rescue teams.

"I think I just said, 'Thank you Lord' ... for us to have another chance!" said the child's father.

The boy spent Saturday night under observation at Halifax Regional Hospital and chowed down on a double cheeseburger, a hot dog, strawberry ice cream and French fries.

Meanwhile, the furry heroes, their tails wagging, were rewarded with food.

"I definitely call this a miracle," said Noblin.

Two Pups Keep Boy Alive

Puppies Credited With Keeping Lost Toddler Warm Overnight in Woods

A 3-year-old Virginia boy was rescued Saturday after spending the night in the woods with only his puppies to keep him warm.

Jaylynn Thorpe, 3, of Halifax County, Va., was found at around 1 p.m. Saturday about a half-mile from where he disappeared on Friday afternoon after wandering away from his baby sitter's house, FOX affiliate WRAL-TV reported.

They found him standing; he was wet, but the dogs were with him," Jaylynn's mother, Sarah Ingram, told FOX News on Monday. "I was told that the dogs slept with him. They could tell where they slept in the woods."

Ingram said her son slept sandwiched between the two 12-week-old puppies, which officials say helped keep him warm through the 21-hour ordeal.

Jaylynn wandered away late Friday afternoon from his baby sitter, who is Ingram's niece.

"The dogs went with him," Ingram said. "He told me he left that yard going hunting and fishing."

Around 300 people helped search for the missing child, and a command center was set up at the local Baptist church, the station said.

“God really protected the boy," Grace Baptist Church Pastor Dave Kline said. "We are happy that we were able to help.”

Ingram told FOX News that once he was found, her son ate two double cheeseburgers, a hot dog and strawberry ice cream polished off with three Pepsi-Colas.

"He was safely returned," she told FOX News. "And thank Jesus, without a scratch."

Vets fix feline's face after 'cat'-astrophe

Vets fix feline's face after 'cat'-astrophe
Tuesday, Dec. 09, 2008
By RUSSELL CONTRERAS - Associated Press Writer

BOSTON -- Me-ouch! Veterinarians in Boston on Tuesday performed an unusual surgery to reattach the face of a cat they believe was injured by a car's fan belt, probably because she tried to stay warm under the hood.

Edgar, a 4-year-old long-haired feline, went missing from her home in Winthrop for three days last week. When she finally came home, her owner found her in her litter box - with part of her face dangling from her head.

"When her owner saw her face, she passed out," said Elizabeth Kendrick, a surgical technician at Angell Animal Medical Center.

AP Photo - Edgar, a 4-year-old long-haired female cat, is seen with stitches running the length of her face while resting with an Elizabethan collar around her neck following surgery at the Angell Animal Medical Center, in Boston, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008. Veterinarians completed an unusual surgery to reattach the face of the cat that was slashed by a car's fan belt while she apparently tried to stay warm under the hood.

The owner, who asked not to be identified, recovered from the shock and rushed Edgar to an animal hospital.

Remarkably, Edgar suffered no major blood loss nor any permanent nerve damage from her accident. She just needed to have her facial skin stitched back on during an hour-long surgery, according to veterinary surgeon Michael Pavletic.

"And she should be fine after this," Pavletic said.

Besides the skin hanging from Edgar's face, Edgar seemed normal, Kendrick said.

"She was purring and sticking her head up so we could pet her," Kendrick said. "She even tried to chew at her skin. I'd never seen anything like it."

Pavletic reattached Edgar's face using about 35 stitches. She came through the hourlong surgery with no problems, though she looks as though someone punched her in the eye. "She'll need to take some medicine but I don't anticipate her having any problems," Pavletic said.

Bonnie Beaver, a professor of small animal clinical services at Texas A&M University, said such animal injuries are extremely rare since cats are usually killed instantly from car fan belts.

"She may have problems later," Beaver said, "but the cat was saying, "I may have lost this life but, by golly, I have eight more."

Little hope for Chile's highway hero dog

Little hope for Chile's highway hero dog
Tuesday, Dec. 09, 2008
The Associated Press

SANTIAGO, Chile -- Chilean officials say they have lost hope of finding a dog whose attempted rescue of an injured animal inspired worldwide admiration.

Jorge Rivas, operations manager for Vespucio Norte Highway in Santiago, said police and highway workers had searched for the dog several times, "but not any more."

He said too much time has passed since March 23, when a surveillance camera captured images of the apparently homeless dog pulling the body of another, injured dog through busy traffic to the relative safety of a freeway median strip. The other dog, which had been hit by vehicles, died.

Rivas said earlier reports that the incident happened on Dec. 4 were based on confusion with the date the image was first shown on local television.

Hundreds of thousands of people viewed the surveillance images on Web sites and television shows and Rivas said his agency received 15 calls over the weekend from people offering to adopt the dog.

Luis Serey, 59, a taxi driver who often uses the freeway, often says the video "was impressive. This dog is a hero. I hope he gets a new life, a home. He totally deserves it."

Broadcast of the images came on the heels of an animal welfare scandal in the Chilean capital, where officials raided an Animal Protection Society accused of mistreating and killing dogs and cats in its care. Four employees of the society face charges of animal abuse.

Hero Dog' Pulls Injured Friend From Oncoming Traffic

Monday, December 08, 2008

Azteca America Colorado

A dog is seen rescuing an injured dog from a busy freeway in Santiago, Chile.

Footage from a traffic camera overlooking a busy freeway in Santiago, Chile captured a dog performing a heroic act — pulling an injured friend from oncoming traffic.

The video, from Azteca America Colorado, shows an injured dog lying in the middle of a freeway after being hit by a car, while a rescue dog dodges traffic to run to its side. The rescue dog then drags the severely injured canine across lanes of traffic as cars swerve around it.

No motorists stopped to help either dog, but a highway crew arrives at the end of the video.

The translation of the announcer is as follows:

"These images seen from the surveillance cameras show a very common situation with our overpopulated highways. It is normal for us to see dogs run over. In the video, we can see this dog fighting for his life because he was run over by the vehicle.

"What is very touching is to see the very heroic actions of this other dog who is trying to pull him to the side of the highway. We are going to keep seeing things like this until we find a solution to the dogs living on the streets."

Click here to watch the video. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28148352/

Dog's Owner Refused to Leave His Best Friend

Dog rescued from fire greatly improves
November 13, 2008 at 12:03 PM | Comments (84)



Regis at the American Veterinary Hospital in Oak Park. (Tribune photo by Milbert O. Brown)

The 13-year-old German shepherd mix whose owner died Wednesday after refusing to leave a burning house without him is doing "much, much better" and could be discharged from an animal hospital as soon as Monday, hospital officials said this morning.

John Petrik, 68, who lived alone with his dog, Regis, in a single-family home in the 1600 block of South Lombard Avenue, was the victim of a heart attack, authorities said. Officials said police had to forcibly remove him from the home about 2 a.m. because he refused to leave, saying he didn't want to abandon his dog.

Petrik's brother, Joe, described him as a private man who never married. About 12 years ago, John Petrik rescued Regis at a Cicero intersection after watching the dog get thrown out of the car in front of him at a stop sign. He had cared for the dog ever since, rarely leaving the house because he didn't want to leave the dog alone, Joe Petrik said.

"It was like his child, He was 100 percent devoted," he said. "Outside of normal conversation that's all he talked about."

Petrik suffered the attack in a police car as firefighters went into the house and saved the dog. He was pronounced dead at 2:10 a.m. Wednesday at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Regis, who suffered from smoke inhalation and burns, was placed in intensive care Wednesday at an Oak Park veterinary hospital. This morning hospital officials said the dog's condition had greatly improved, but he would remain hospitalized over the weekend before being turned over to Cicero animal control.

It was a remarkable recovery, said Dr. Cesar C. Agustin, who is treating the dog at American Animal Hospital in Oak Park. When Regis arrived at the hospital, he "wasn't even moving." He was administered antibiotics, fluids and placed under oxygen therapy because he was having trouble breathing, Agustin said.

Regis also suffered first-degree burns on his tail and was treated for flea infestation.

Today, the dog was eating, drinking and moving around, although was still having trouble walking straight, Agustin said. "He's doing much, much better than yesterday," Agustin said. "But let's take it one day at a time."

--Gerry Smith

I Rescued a Human Today

I rescued a human today.

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her.

I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid. As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn't want her to know that I hadn't been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them.

As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone's life.

She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.

Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.

I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.

I rescued a human today.

HELP FIND THIS DOG

Mystery swirls around injured pooch
Humane Society thinks she's stolen

BY JOHN A. TORRES • FLORIDA TODAY • November 10, 2008

Jenna is two years old, has big brown eyes and still drools all over her food.
Advertisementhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

But she has been away from her family for several weeks and may even have been abducted to help train killer dogs. In fact, her real name is not Jenna at all.

She is a Catahoula leopard hound mix found in the Fellsmere area limping, scarred and scared.

Now Vero Beach Humane Society officials are hoping to locate the veterinarian whose unique operation helped give this dog her day.

The pooch was found limping in an area notorious for dog fighting, officials said. But after reviewing X-rays, shelter veterinarian Dr. Elizabeth Bybee recognized the pooch had previously undergone extensive -- and expensive -- lifesaving surgery.

"The surgery would have cost her family several thousand dollars," Bybee said. "It's clear that someone, or some family, really loved her."

Staffers have gotten attached as well, nicknaming the canine Jenna.

After spending a few weeks trying to find the dog's owner, the emphasis is now to try and locate the vet who performed the specialized surgery. Bybee said the procedure was so unique to the animal that any vet would remember performing the operation.

Details of the operation are being kept secret to ensure she is returned to the right family.

Humane Society officials speculate the dog may have been stolen and then used as practice for the fighting dogs.

"She's too gentle to have been used as a fighting dog but our fear is that she may have been used as what's called a bait dog," said Janet Winikoff, director of education at the Humane Society of Vero Beach.

Officials say that since there is a possibility the dog was stolen, the search may expand beyond Central Florida.

"We are trying to do everything possible to reunite Jenna with her family," said Maria Ramirez, the shelter's animal care manager.

Contact Torres at 242-3649 or jtorres@floridatoday.com.

Pure Bred Beagle Siblings Need Rehoming ASAP!!!

Subject: Pure Bred Beagle Siblings Need Rehoming ASAP!!!
Date: Tue, 4 Nov 2008 09:53:26 -0800 (PST)
From: Lookin' For Animal Rescue
To: lookinforloveanimalrescue@yahoo.com



Everyone:

These two cuties, Abby and Max, have lived with a family in Corpus Christi since puppyhood. Their owner has contacted me, desperate to rehome them ASAP, because she says they have taken to fighting with each other the past couple of months and, she's afraid they'll hurt each other, if not separated. She said the family has decided to give both up, rather than keeping one or the other, because they have two children and don't want to force one of the kids to give up "their" dog. All of this may, or may not, be true, of course but, bottom line is if safe placement can't be found for these two ASAP, they're going to end up in Corpus Christi Animal Control and that WON'T end well.

The information I have for them is as follows: they are 4 years old (on Dec. 19), are sterilized, current on vaccines and heart worm prevention. Both were HW tested negative in April '08, per the owner; get along well with other animals and do very well with children.

Please take a look, crosspost far and wide and let me know if anyone can help Max and Abby. Transport assistance available. Thanks!



Thecia Anne Taylor
LOOKIN' FOR LOVE ANIMAL RESCUE (Rockport,Tx)
361/219-8018
www.lookinforlove.petfinder.com
In memory of Sasha, my most beloved baby girl...my life was forever touched by yours,
which was far, far too short...rest in peace my little one...I miss you so.

Feed Hungry Dogs and Cats

Prairie Wolf - The Fiddle Song

Listen to the midi of Prairie Wolf Song

The webpage -
Prairie Wolf, the Fiddle Song

Dear Dogs & Cats

Dear Dogs and Cats,

The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up.... It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible.

I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years -- canine or feline attendance is not required.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough!

To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit

1.They live here. You don't.

2.If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. (That's why they call it 'fur'niture.)

3.I like my pets a lot better than I like most people. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.

Yours truly,

Your Pet Parents


Disclaimer

Many of these articles were submitted by PetPlace.com pet lovers and the original source is unknown in terms of origin, author or copyright. It is not our intent to infringe on anyone's copyright and if it is done, it is done unknowingly and we would be happy to remove the offending content.

ARE WE ALL CRAZY

ARE WE ALL CRAZY?
by Connie Bowen

Do you find yourself among that rare breed of dog lover whom your friends think have gone just too far in your love for your dogs?

Read on and see if any of these dog lover traits sound all too familiar.

-- You circle the parking lot over and over trying to find that perfect spot for your pooch. You know the one I mean -- not too close to the construction or traffic, in lots of shade on a warm day, and by all means in plain view of the door so that he or she can see all the comings and goings. We wouldn't want our dogs to be too bored or lonely while we're in the market, gym or post office.

-- Even if it's threatening rain, we take our dogs along, thinking we can always wipe out the soggy car later. It's more important that our dogs get a chance to get out and about, even if it means open car windows on a rainy day.

-- We fluff up their beds just one more time, to make sure they're comfy cozy during the night-time hours. And of course, if they should deem our bed more to their liking at 4 a.m., we're happy to oblige with a scoot to the edge, braving cold toes or worse yet, a dangerous fall-off to the floor below.

-- If they ask to be in the bathroom with us during our morning shower, we'll leave the door ajar should they feel an urgent need to leave, even if it means less privacy and a strikingly cold draft.

-- We plan our dinner outings around their eating habits, begging them to chow down early so that we can sit in comfort at a restaurant awaiting our entrée, awash in the peaceful fog of knowing they're safe at home with full tummies.

-- We wouldn't dream of keeping the TV too loud, the house too warm, or running low on dog cookies, treats and toys.

-- We announce our comings and goings, explaining when we'll be back, how long we'll be gone and what we'll bring them when we return.

All in all, we know what life would be like without our dogs, and we shudder to think of the possibility.

Are you a member of this rare breed of dog lover? If you are, then join the ranks with the best of the best.

Loving Dogs' Time is Running Out

The lady who rescues and cares for these precious fur kin is doing all she can to get the dogs in her care adopted to a loving home. She needs help, and she needs it now.

Thursday, October 16, 2008
Carol is Down to the Wire
We have posted several times about Carol Crocker's situation in Rainsville, Alabama. And we're going to post again.

We were going to post on her today anyway, but instead of writing our own message (who are we kidding, we always write a book regardless), we are going to print a copy of an email received from Heather Ballance, a photographer from Atlanta who has been to Carol's, met and photographed all her dogs. To have Rainsville kill even a single dog will be a knife in the heart of Heather and every volunteer who has been working with Carol to find homes for the dogs.

Heather wrote:
Most you know that I have been involved with helping this amazing woman Carrol Crocker in AL. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, several other rescues & people have been working even harder. Unfortunately its not enough. There are 62 more dogs to go. Per the judge - these dogs can be taken any day and destroyed and we are down to the wire!

This Saturday we will be hosting a open adoption day along with a clean up effort. Please if you are looking for a new furry friend or want to clean up please come, its worth the trip, I promise you!

Please if you can't help or adopt - please share the story. If we can get only 5 dogs this Saturday saved, then its 5 dogs less to die! Thank you!!

Best Friend's story here

Heather's blog here


If you follow the links, you can read more about the work party and adoption day they have planned for Saturday. They need more rescues and adopters to come forward before it is too late for all of these well-cared for and much loved dogs.

We would like to include a message for the "fine folks" of Rainsville, Alabama. You know who you are. You're the ones who are forcing Carol to part with these dogs under a judge's decision. You're the one(s) who set the fire that destroyed Carol's family home and killed a number of her cats and special needs dogs. You're the ones who give volunteers trying to help Carol the cold shoulder and refuse to give directions to her home -- oh, wait, she doesn't have a home; it burned down last November. Whatever happened to small town neighborliness and hospitality?

We don't believe in Karma, but we do believe that it's hard to shovel jackass poop without slinging some on yourself. So, if you fine folks are obtuse enough to shovel jackass poop on others, you're going to be wearing a lot of it yourself.
Posted by Jan's Funny Farm at 4:35 PM
Labels: Animal welfare, Dog, Rescue

Two Precious Dogs Need Loving Home

************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ****

Hello All,

Due to our families limited living space and schedule, I regrettably will need to let go of our family pets (see pictures).

Max is a Miniature Schnauzer that is house broken and loves to run outside when possible. Inside he rather sit at your feet and watch television. He is 3 years old and loves kids.

Patrick is a Shih Tzu (Shitzu) that unfortunately lives up to his name. He is not house broken, and will require some effort. However, he will use the disposable training pads. He is still in his puppy behavior stage. He enjoys playing with other dogs and chewing on toys. He loves being held and gets along with kids as well. Patrick is 1 year old.

Both are male dogs and have never been neutered. Before I take them to the SPCA for Admission, I would like to ask that everyone circulate their pictures to see if anyone would be interested in taking them into their family.

They would be free of charge and it would have to be within the week. @>----

Thanks,
Vanessa


Vanessa M. Ward-Sanders
DP Bid Specialist

Schlumberger - WesternGeco
NAM DP Sales,
10001 Richmond Avenue
Suite 5435J
Houston , TX 77042
************ ********* ********* ********* ********* *******
Tel.: 713-689-2226
Fax: 713-689-1970
Email: vward-sanders@ houston.westerng eco.slb.com

************ ********* ********* ********* ********* *******
Limited Transportation Available.

PLASTIC BAGS ARE DEADLY TO YOUR DOG!

In honor of our precious Ella's memory, I am crusading an effort to let everyone know that this can and does happen and hopefully I can save someone else from the same agonizing pain!



Our 9 month old Sheltie puppy, Ella, suffered a tragic, sudden, senseless death this past Friday. She suffocated to death on a bag liner that was inside a box of Cheez-its snack crackers. We were out for the evening and someone had left a box of Cheez-its within Ella's reach. She put her head in the bag inside the box to get to the crackers. The bag came out of the box but she couldn't get the bag off of her head. We came home and found her dead from suffocation. It doesn't seem possible, that a dog couldn't get a bag off their head, but they can' t.

I have since learned that this occurs more often than you would imagine. There was also a family whose 6 year old Labrador got hold of a Doritos bag when they weren't looking. They found him dead with the bag over his head, having died the same way as Ella. I also learned from the man that is cremating Ella for us that he has had FIVE other dogs that have died like this in the PAST MONTH! Make sure that ALL PLASTIC BAGS AND BOXES WITH BAG LINERS IN THEM (chips, snack crackers, cookies, cereal, etc.) are WAY out of your pets reach!!!!!!

This tragedy has been a tremendous blow for our family! I have tried to be strong, but the whole scenario has played out in my head over and over and I have been a total mess! I cannot begin to understand the senselessness of this and my heart is absolutely broken! Ella was so young and full of life...an adorable, sweet, smart, loving dog, and her life was cut short way too soon!

Please help me honor Ella and save someone else from this horrific tragedy by passing this email to as many people as you know!

Thank you!

Anne Mackey

adrycecil58 @ hotmail.com

Charlotte , NC

My Hooman's IQ

Free-IQTest.net - IQ Test

Friends For Evermore

An old man wandered aimlessly
On a cold and rainy day
He wished for friends and family
But all had passed away.



He thought he saw a movement
From the corner of his eye
An old and shivering dog lay curled
Beneath the leaden sky.



The old man whistled for the dog
The sad sight made him weep
"Now if he follows me," he thought
This old dog I shall keep.



The old dog raised his shaggy head
With a longing in his eyes
His tail was wagging slowly
As the old dog tried to rise.



Now the two became the best of friends
They were happy and content
Until the old man knew one day
His time was nearly spent.



In his bed the old man lay
His heart was full of fear
For the one that he would leave behind
The old dog...that he held dear.



But the Angels came for both of them
That night as they both slept
For the Angels could not part them
So together they were kept.



They rose on wings together
Up to Heaven did they soar
The old man and the shaggy dog
Friends....forever more.





Author Unknown

Vote YES on Prop 2

AND HERE IS THE REASON WHY... CLICK

Shepp, the German Shepherd Starved in Corpus Christi, Texas

Two People Face Animal Cruelty Charges
More local links from KRISTV.com

KRIS-TV

CORPUS CHRISTI - Two local residents are facing animal charges after a German Shepherd was found tied to a tree of a vacant home and almost dead.

The German Shepherd named Shep was so emaciated that animal care services had to euthanize it.

The dog was found in the backyard of a vacant home on the 4700 block of Cheryl Street on Sept. 16. Shep was found tied up and lying on the ground when animal care workers arrived.

KRIS 6 News was told the dog had been lying on a concrete driveway for so long that he had a wound on his shoulder that went all the way down to his bone from moving around.

The owners of the dog, 44-year-old Daniel Luna and 45-year-old Norma Luna, were arrested Wednesday for animal cruelty and have a $500 bond.

Police said the couple owns the vacant home where Shep had been tied up and abandoned.

"It was bad to see a dog in that condition, where it no longer could help itself and needed somebody to do something immediately for it," Richard said.

Officials said the dog was extremely malnourished. He also had hook worms and was covered with flees.

Veterinarian Dr. Tom House said he was shocked by Shep's condition and that it was the worst case he had ever seen.

"He'd had the collar embedded in his neck. The collar had been removed, but it was infected and there were maggots in there," House said. "The area was an open wound, about three inches wide all the way around, the loose skin underneath was even more open than that."

"It's tragic, it's upsetting, it's frustrating when you do care about an animal, to see an animal in that condition," Richard added.

~~~

I am hoping the two individuals involved get the fullest punishment possible for the crime--and then, it would not be "full" enough--for the present laws against animal cruelty do not come near the "worth" of a soul abused, tortured, starved, and killed by creatures I cannot even call human!

SIGN THE PETITION

~~~

Other links to story:

Two People Face Animal Cruelty Charges

Corpus Christi, Texas - Two Local People Face Animal Cruelty Charges

Animal Cruelty Charges

Dogs Catch Human Yawns

Dogs Catch Human Yawns

Jeanna Bryner
Senior Writer


Spying someone yawning often makes us yawn. Now, a new study shows your canine buddy can catch yawns from you, too.

The results suggest domestic dogs have the capacity for a fundamental form of empathy, the researchers say.

The phenomenon, called contagious yawning, has been found only in humans and other primates such as chimpanzees and is thought to relate to our ability to empathize with others. Past studies, however, involved yawning within one species at a time, so for instance chimps that triggered other chimps to yawn and humans prompting yawns in other humans.

Shaggy line-up

Researcher Ramiro Joly-Mascheroni, a psychologist at Birkbeck, University of London first tested the phenomenon in his dog, a Labrador. Immediately upon yawning himself, Joly-Mascheroni's dog immediately yawned. And sure enough, tests on friends' pups showed similar results.

For the new study, the furry cast included a wide range of dog breeds from a Greyhound to a Staffordshire Bull Terrier to a Dalmatian. In total 29 dogs went through two testing scenarios each lasting five minutes, one in which a human (not the owner) called the dog over and while keeping eye contact with the dog he or she would act out yawns that included the vocal portions.

In the non-yawning scenario, the human went through similar motions, except he or she didn't yawn vocally and instead just opened and closed their mouths.

During the yawn sessions, 21 dogs (or 72 percent of them) yawned, while no dogs yawned during the non-yawning scenario. That's compared with 45 percent to 65 percent found from past studies in humans and 33 percent found for chimpanzees (in chimp-to-chimp studies).

In addition to yawning, the dogs showed similar reactions to human yawns. "In the yawning condition, we found the dogs reacted pretty much in the same way," Joly-Mascheroni said. "They all acknowledged the yawn in some way either by dropping their ears or turning their heads away."

Catching the Z's

The researchers aren't sure why dogs catch the yawns from us. In fact, scientists don't yet understand contagious yawning in humans.

"There are theories that seem to think that we used to transfer this information of 'I am tired' by yawning when we didn't have language," Joly-Mascheroni told LiveScience.

In this same way, humans could be transferring sleep info to dogs. "It would be interesting to find out what other information we transfer to dogs or to any other animals that we are not aware of," he added.

In past studies, research team member Atsushi Senji, also of the University of London, has shown a possible link between empathy and contagious yawning in autistic children, the researchers said. Autism is a developmental disorder in which individuals often show impaired social interaction, problems with communication and a lack of empathy, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. This previous research showed that autistic kids don't "catch" yawns from others, Senji said.

And so the new results in dogs, published online in August in the journal Biology Letters, could mean man's best friend has the capacity for a basic level of empathy.

American Staffordshire Terrier, Braveheart, Needs a Home ASAP!

American Staffordshire Terrier, Braveheart, Needs a Home ASAP!

If anyone knows of a home contact;
Jan Karpel

Does anyone know anyone that can take in this precious boy????

Our Pets & Our Application
www.ourfurryfriends.petfinder.com


--- On Tue, 9/16/08, Jan Karpel wrote:
Dear Folks,

Generally you find me crossposting and/or requesting help for other rescues or individuals. For the first time, I am asking, believe it or not, for myself.

Braveheart is a beautiful loving roly-poly deaf American Staffordshire Terrier (or "pit" in the American vulgar) who loves children, adults, cats, dogs, etc.



When he was first found in Oklahoma, he was starving and exhausted, yet would run away at the slightest hint. With perserverance and patience, animal control was able to bring him to their shelter. He so captivated the volunteer staff that they could not euthanize him.

And that's where I came in. I have paid for his vetting, and with the help of good friends and colleagues we sent him to a boarding facility in Oklahoma where he has turned into a well-fed and loving dog that has captivated his boarding staff.

I'm not looking for funds, but we have now run out of money. I am looking for either a rescue or a kind and loving individual or family to take Braveheart into their homes. If you know ASL (American Sign language that is great) but not necessary. I have placed two deaf pitties in wonderful families and they are extraordinarily intelligent. They depend upon visual facial expressions and will watch their owners intently to understand what is needed. One dog, Augustus, now merrily brings his leash and halter in his mouth to his mom when he would like to go for a walk. They rarely, if ever, bark since their world is silent.

I have thanked you all time and time again for your incredible generosity and compassion. So could you please crosspost out and have all replies sent to me: jankarpel@yahoo.com. I am blessed to have contacts across the United States, so as always, a home visit and vet reference is required. Thank you, all!

Jan

Meet Molly - She's a Grey Speckled Pony

MEET MOLLY...SHE'S A GREY SPECKLED PONY

Meet Molly. She's a grey speckled pony who was abandoned by her owners when Hurricane Katrina hit southern Louisiana . She spent weeks on her own before finally being rescued and taken to a farm where abandoned animals were stockpiled.

While there, she was attacked by a pit bull terrier and almost died. Her gnawed right front leg became infected, and her vet went to LSU for help, but LSU was overwhelmed, and this pony was a welfare case. You know how that goes.

But after surgeon Rustin Moore met Molly, he changed his mind. He saw how the pony was careful to lie down on different sides so she didn't seem to get sores, and how she allowed people to handle her. She protected her injured leg. She constantly shifted her weight and didn't overload her good leg. She was a smart pony with a serious survival ethic.

Moore agreed to remove her leg below the knee, and a temporary artificial limb was built. Molly walked out of the clinic and her story really begins there.

'This was the right horse and the right owner,' Moore insists. Molly happened to be a one-in-a-million patient. She's tough as nails, but sweet, and she was willing to cope with pain. She made it obvious she understood that she was in trouble. The other important factor, according to Moore , is having a truly committed and compliant owner who is dedicated to providing the daily care required over the lifetime of the horse.

Molly's story turns into a parable for life in post-Katrina Louisiana . The little pony gained weight, and her mane finally felt a comb. A human prosthesis designer built her a leg.

The prosthetic has given Molly a whole new life, Allison Barca DVM, Molly's regular vet, reports.



And she asks for it. She will put her little limb out, and come to you and let you know that she wants you to put it on. Sometimes she wants you to take it off too. And sometimes, Molly gets away from Barca. 'It can be pretty bad when you can't catch a three-legged horse,' she laughs.

Most important of all, Molly has a job now. Kay, the rescue farm owner, started taking Molly to shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers. Anywhere she thought that people needed hope. Wherever Molly went, she showed people her pluck. She inspired people, and she had a good time doing it..

'It's obvious to me that Molly had a bigger role to play in life,? Moore said. 'She survived the hurricane, she survived a horrible injury, and now she is giving hope to others.'

Barca concluded, 'She's not back to normal, but she's going to be better. To me, she could be a symbol for New Orleans itself.'

This is Molly's most recent prosthesis. The bottom photo shows the ground surface that she stands on, which has a smiley face embossed in it. Wherever Molly goes, she leaves a smiley hoof print behind.



Forward this and share it with all of the animal lovers that you know.

Odin, the White Bengal Tiger

Meet Magnificence!



These incredible photos of a White Bengal Tiger named Odin.



Odin is six years old and 10 feet long from tail to nose. Odin lives at a Zoo in Vallejo, California.



Odin with his British trainer Lee Munro.



Odin was hand-raised at the zoo. And after he was weaned, his British trainer Lee Munro discovered his remarkable skill.



When a lump of meat was thrown into a pool of water, Odin would happily dive in after it.



'He makes a funny face - and it's actually to close his nostrils to stop the water from going into his nose.'



Not all big cats enjoy the water but for Tigers from the hot climate of South-East Asia it's one way to cool down.

'Plus they hunt in and around water. They're an ambush predator so they wait for prey to come down to the water. When you actually see him dive underwater he looks so graceful. Odin loves the water and he loves food,' he said. 'Not all big cats will dive and swim underwater even for meat treats.'



Munro said tigers were the most powerful swimmers out of all land-dwelling animals.

Tragically, within our lifetimes, zoos might be the only places left to see these magnificent animals.

A century ago there were about 100,000 tigers in the wild. Now there are just 2,500 adults, with the Bengal variety almost extinct. None has been seen in the wild since the last white tiger was shot and killed in 1958.



White tigers are the most rare. They get their white color from an unusual and extremely rare genetic combination.

I hope you enjoyed these photos as much as I did!

A Deer, Dogs, Humans, Canada

A Deer, Dogs, Humans, Canada...