Join INBOXDOLLARS and earn cash fast

                                                                Join inboxdollars ,You can request payment home or paypal after yu reach $30.00. You can also earn money quickly by answering surveys they have, if you qualify they pay you 1.00 for each survey you answer, and you also can do free offers its not just about reading e-mails you make your earnings much quicker then other paid to read e-mails because you have so many options to choose from, and its not boring. Wait till you get several e-mails and then answer them all at once this way you do not have to answer just three a day, you can answer about 18 at the end of a week sometimes more and finish, till the next week or until you reach your goal. Go and at least see for yourself all inboxdollars have to offer before you decide if its for you , I know I did and it is for me. I joined..THey have lots of fun stuff as well games, and trivia. Go now and see for yourself. Go to http://www.inboxdollars.com/?r=lilyruth

Join now and when ou do you will also be helping us fight against aimal cruelty, so please sign up now just click on the link and check it out and start earning cash today. Thanks










                                                                                                          

Haloween Dog Pictures

Funny Haloween dog pictures This one is dressed in a Hoola skirt.

Halloween Ghost Dogs.....Fight against animal cruelty and help us save a dog by giving a small donation here to buy food and give shelter to the dogs we take in off the street. Share what you have, if you love animals then do give... Source: humor.beecy.net

Purina publishes FaceBook Game for Pet Lovers

  Pet lovers who enjoy the thrill of building and managing fun places on online games will have an opportunity to test their skill on the new "Purina® Pet Resort" game.

Nestle Purina PetCare Company, one of the world's leading pet food manufacturers, is now publishing its new "Purina® Pet Resort" simulation game on Facebook. Players can become the manager of their own virtual pet-themed resort, allowing them to build and operate a fun place to pamper, care for and entertain virtual pets.



The game is Purina's latest effort toward providing online and mobile entertainment and information for pet owners.



"Pet lovers spend a lot of time online and using mobile devices for fun and to enhance the relationship with their pets," said Guy Fish, assistant brand manager, Purina® brand. "Purina® Pet Resort caters to pet lovers who enjoy online games and would like to create a virtual haven for their four-legged friends."



"Resort" owners can purchase a variety of pet-themed stations where virtual pets can be groomed or fed with Purina® brand pet foods and treats such as Purina® Dog Chow® brand Dog Food, Fancy Feast® and Beggin' Strips®. The game focuses on the stations and the resort owners' ability to move up levels by taking care of more pets.



Merscom, a global publisher of Facebook and casual computer games, developed and published "Purina® Pet Resort." Merscom is owned by Playdom, Inc., which is involved in marketing the new game.



Purina recently introduced an enhanced version of its "petcentric" mobile application that is now available for iPhone®, iPad®, iPod Touch® and BlackBerry® users. "petcentric" provides pet owners an engaging mobile experience through location-based utility, entertaining content featuring videos and photos, and relevant pet information.



The new "petcentric" features offer a gallery of top pet news stories and videos every day, and new ways to search for professional pet sitters and pet-friendly places using GPS technology. In addition, pet lovers can rate and comment on pet-friendly locations and add their own favorite places.



Purina also offers a glimpse into the world from a pet's point of view at www.petcentric.com
Before you leave be sure to sgin into our Friends Connect Widget and show you care. Become one of our Friends here on DogCents. Also please leave a donation to help feed and shelter these abandoned dogs we take care of, your help is desperately needed. If you love dogs and hate animal cruelty then click on the Donate Buttons on here and help save a dogs life When you do give a donation we will publish your name and name of your Blog on here and we will make sure all the world wide web knows you donated to help feed and shelter these strays. Thank you   Lilyruth

Check out these adorable ugly-pet-sweater photos!

 

By Kim, shelter outreach

Last week we asked you to send us your ugly pet sweater pics. The results were even cuter than we could have expected! Here are some samples.

Lori Renner writes: "Thank goodness Kasey doesn't fit in this anymore!" (We think Kasey looks adorable!)

Angela M. Shatzer of Carolina Poodle Rescue in Spartanburg, SC, writes: "Here is one of our Chinese Crested dogs at our shelter. She's so sweet. One of our kennel workers call her 'Hot Momma.' She loves to hug her leg all day long."

Megan Goetz writes: "Mrs. Murphy is ready for the holidays! Cheers!"

Amanda Tredway writes: "This is Landon, a Yorkie mix. He is currently up for adoption through PPAWSS, Promoting Pet Adoptions and Welfare in Sulphur Springs (Texas). Thanks, I hope you enjoy!"

See even more adorable pups in ugly sweaters after the jump

Cheyenne writes: "We call her Tubba Lubba because she's such a love hound, but Isabel definitely looks like a chub of sausage in this sweater. I hate to (not really) dress her up, but she's rubbed all the hair off her belly and her armpits ... Really, the sweater is for her own good! My husband hates it because it's pink, but I love it. She looks so cute! But I realized we had to get something more comfortable fitting when her diet didn't work -- it looked like the sweater was starting to cut off her circulation. She gets depressed when I start putting clothes on her -- she immediately gets in her bed and tries to sleep. So now I only "torture" her if it's really, really cold out (and then she doesn't seem to mind so much)."

Megan Fisher writes: "This is my baby Bella! She is a lab/pit bull mix I adopted from the Bowling Green Warren County Humane Society (in Kentucky). We call this her 'Cosby Sweater.' She loves it!"

Be sure before you leave to sign in and join my Googles Friends Connect Widget and become a friend at Dogcents.  Also please goand vote for me at  http://bloginterviewer.com/animals/dogcents-ruth  each vote each day is towards feeding and shelter to dogs who need your help to have better lives. Open your hearts and leave a small donation just click on the Donate Button here. 

Behavioral Problems of Unneutered Male Dogs

Amy Marder, V.M.D.

A few years ago, Bob and Ginny consulted me because their beagle, Max, was "doing embarrassing things." It seems that whenever their female beagle, Betsy, left traces of an oily substance where she'd been sleeping, Max would investigate it carefully, then jump on a pillow and mount it! To be sure, he had first tried mounting Betsy, but she'd snapped at him. He'd also given his owners' legs a few tries, but they'd rebuffed him, too. Bob and Ginny were puzzled; Max had been neutered when he was less than a year old. He shouldn't be doing these things, should he?



I paid a visit to Bob and Ginny's home so I could directly observe the dogs' behaviors. Max was three years old at the time. With his broad head and large chest, he looked much more masculine to me than most neutered dogs. In taking a detailed history of the dogs, I learned that Max had been obtained from a friend when he was a little over a year old. He had been neutered by the friend's veterinarian. At that time, Max had no problem behaviors. Sometime during the next year, he began to lift his leg in certain places in the house and run away every chance he got. When he was about two years old, he began to fight with male dogs. It was shortly after this that the mounting behavior started. Jumping on his pillow after sniffing where Betsy had been sleeping had developed over the past few months.



The Pillow Case

What was stimulating Max to do this? To find out, I rubbed every part of Betsy's body with a paper towel and presented the towel to Max. It was only when I expressed Betsy's anal sacs that I produced the problem behavior. Bob and Ginny confirmed that the fluid I expressed from Betsy looked like the oily substance they had been finding on their furniture and in Betsy's bed. So I had my diagnosis: an unusual attraction to anal sac secretion by a very masculine-looking, macho-acting, neutered dog!



It's not that unusual for neutered dogs to exhibit male behaviors, such as roaming, mounting, urine marking (leg lifting on objects) in the house and fighting with male dogs. Max, however, exhibited all of them, and frequently! Plus, he didn't look neutered. To verify that he had been, I drew blood to have testosterone levels run. To everyone's surprise, Max's testosterone levels were those of an intact male!



At this point, I contacted the veterinary hospital that had performed Max's neuter. The doctor who had done the surgery had left the practice, but the hospital's records revealed that one of Max's testicles had never descended. While this is not unusual, it's very important if this happens that the testicles be removed. If one or both are allowed to remain inside the abdomen, not only will they continue to produce testosterone and cause the male behaviors that Max was displaying, but they also are prone to developing cancer. But in Max's case, the records showed that rather than removing the testicle, the veterinarian had performed a vasectomy!



Peace At Last

My recommendation was to have Max really neutered. Studies show that no matter how old a dog is when he's neutered, the results are the same: testosterone-related behaviors of roaming, urine marking, mounting and same-sex dog aggression decrease or disappear. I also recommended that Betsy's anal sacs be expressed at least once a month so that her secretions would not leak out during sleep.



Max improved after being neutered. The roaming stopped altogether. However, not all of his male behaviors disappeared completely. Occasionally he still lifted his leg in the house and fought with other dogs. Keeping him confined to the kitchen when he was alone and supervising him at other times controlled the urine marking. Walking him on leash controlled the fighting. Bob and Ginny were overjoyed! And last but not least, their pillows lay unmolested on the sofa.



Dr. Amy Marder is vice president of behavioral medicine and head of ASPCA Companion Animal Services.


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How to Stop UnWanted Dog Barking

Humans are tremendously vocal creatures. Despite our own talkative tendencies, we tend not to appreciate "excessive" vocalizations from our dogs. Rest assured, your dog does not feel her barking is excessive. When she barks, she is trying to communicate with you. Learning why she barks is the key to stop your dog from barking.



Depending on the reason for barking and your own training skill level, you may need to consult with a qualified trainer/behaviorist to assist you with the training. For more on selecting a behavior professional, check out the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior guidelines for choosing a trainer.



Why Do Dogs Bark?

Just as there are many reasons humans speak, dog barking occurs for a number of reasons. Here are a few of the most common:



Distance decreasing: Distance decreasing barking can also be considered attention-seeking barking. The dog is barking to communicate with the owner - "pay attention to me!"



Boredom: Evaluate your dog's lifestyle. How much physical exercise is she getting? How much social stimulation through appropriate play with other dogs? How much play does she get with you? Is she getting adequate mental stimulation in the form of both training and problem solving? If your dog is barking because of boredom, consider more physical exercise, more positive training, and introduce new toys and games for environmental enrichment (consider Buster Cubes, Kong toys, kibble hunts, Nina Ottosson toys, marrow bones, chew toys, bully sticks, antlers, etc.).



Frustration: While some frustration barking is boredom barking, not all boredom barking is frustration barking. Often in class, dogs bark when their owners have poor timing or because the rate of reinforcement is too low, the dog is frustrated because the signals are unclear. This dogster thread will help you improve your training skills.



Dogs also bark out of frustration when they are not sure what is expected of them - if you are asking for a behavior in a new environment without sufficient proofing, your dog is communicating to you that further training is needed before she can focus on cue response in that environment.



Separation distress/anxiety: True separation anxiety (destruction to self or property) is a topic beyond the scope of this article. If your dog is injuring herself or destroying your home, please seek the assistance of a behaviorist in addressing the issue.



If you believe your dog has separation distress (limited vocalization, no injury to self or property), consider how long she is left alone - if it is more than eight hours for an adult (even shorter periods of separation are recommended for puppies), find a dog walker or pet sitter to break the day up. Provide her with mental stimulation through puzzle toys, kibble hunts, etc., when she is alone. Greetings and exits should be low key. If her separation distress worsens, consult with a behavioral professional.



Invitation to play: Some dogs bark to say, "Hey, I want to meet/play with you NOW NOW NOW!" (puppy barking frequently falls in this category). These barks are generally high pitched, and are often accompanied by wagging "propeller tails," loose/wiggly body language, play bows and jumping. Ask those who would like to interact with her to wait for calm, quiet behavior before greeting to avoid reinforcing the behavior. Also, click her for looking at people or other dogs/greeting quietly and for quiet or for focus on you despite these distractions.



Distance increasing: Distance increasing barking is a defensive behavior - the dog is trying to ward off potential conflict.



Distance increasing barks are generally low in pitch and may accompany intimidating body language including a stiffly wagging tail, rigid body posture, display of teeth, growling/snarling, snapping, kicking of back feet, etc.



If you suspect your dog is reactive or aggressive, it is best to consult with a qualified professional with experience using counter conditioning and desensitization to rehabilitate dogs as soon as possible.



A full veterinary evaluation including thyroid panel is advised for aggressive/reactive dogs.



(Barrier frustration is included in the category of distance increasing behavior and usually involves barking/lunging on leash or behind/inside of cars, fences, gates, or crates.)



Alert barking: Humans have been selecting for barking in dogs for millennia. This behavior is deeply ingrained in the dog, and is generally not a problem for pet owners unless it becomes "excessive."



As alert barking is generally very self-reinforcing, your best bet is to train an alternative, incompatible behavior ("quiet!"). Here is a great article from Karen Pryor on teaching bark/quiet as a paired cue to bring barking under control.



Can I Stop Dog Barking?

Short answer: No. Surgical debarking is never humane and rarely effective in totally eliminating vocalizations. Dogs bark! You can, however, train your dog to stop excessive barking behavior if you listen to why she barks and respond appropriately with effective, positive training.

Be sure to give a donation to help feed and shelter stray dogs who need your help. Join my Google Friends Connect here and show you care. Also Please Vote for me at http://bloginterviewer.com/animals/dogcents-ruth         Your Votes are important. Take a minute to Adgitize my ads here just click on my ads and help fight animal cruelty. Follow Me on Twitter @lilruth

"Here's Looking at You Kid"

Photo was taken by Animal_Lifeline who is a friend of mine on Twitter. I love this picture and I just had to share it with you all. I knew yu would enjoy loooking at it as much as I did. Is it not cute? such fat jowls, makes you wish you could just grab them and pinch them. Such a Cutie Pie and it does seem like he is looking at you.. ENJOY the picture…..Also a Remnder to you all not to forget to go and vote at http://bloginterviewer.com/animals/dogcents-ruth love dogs? hate animal cruelty? like me? (SMILE) then by all means go right now and VOTE! You can vote each day if you wish!Also plese be sure to sign up and be a friend join my Googles Friend Connect be a friend to DogCents.. Open your hearts and give a donation to help feed these dogs who need your support and love, Our shelter is small compared to all the large ones who also do good jobs but they already have lots of donors so lets get together and give to Save the Dogs and let our voices be heard. Let everyone know we may be a small shelter be we have BIG hearts. Let Dogcents be your project Show you care and Give.  If you love dogs and hate animal cruelty then you would not like this to happen to your loyal pet if he got lost or picked up..Just click on the Donate Buttons here whatever you can give is greatly apreciated. Don't forget these dogs who need your loving helping hand. If everyone who stops by to visit here would just give a small donation so donations of five and 15.00 dollars would grow to bigger amounts. We could do so much good with your donations. So don't wait do it now. We desperately need your help. Thank you.  @lilruth on twitter

Dogs Live Here

If you don’t want to be greeted with paws and swinging tails


don’t come inside because dogs live here.

If you don’t like the feel of a cold nose or a wet tongue,

don’t come inside because dogs live here.

If you don’t want to step over many scattered toys,

don’t come inside because dogs live here.

If you think that a home ought to smell of perfume,

don’t come inside because dogs live here.

If you don’t mind all of this,

you will be instantly loved when you come inside,

because dogs live here.

Author Unknown

I want to thank Sandee from Comedy Plus for her generous donation here to Save the dogs at our Shelter. Her donation has gone towards buying dogfood. Lets give this Special Lady our warmest wishes . Be sure to stop and visit her blog at  http://comedyplus.blogspot.com/  its a visit you will enjoy and be sure to let Sandee know What a special person she is for caring and hating animal abuse.I also want to say to all of you who visit here that as you know I have a serious back problem and sometimes I can't blog everyday due to the pain if I sit for long periods of time but please be patient and know I will be with you all to bring you the latest dog tips. and dog poems and dog home remedies, and funny dog pictures and of  course doggie tales. So don't stop comeing to visit because you can always check out my archives and read some of the good dog tips I have to offer. Please be sure to sign into my Googles friends connect widget and become a friend to Dogcents and Me andIf you wish to exchange inks be sure to leave your link here in comments and I will add yu onto my Blogroll. Subscribe to my readers feeds and get latest dog tips. Also please open your hearts and give a donation to help feed the dogs and give shelter to dogs who were abandoned and deserve better lives. Start the New Year by Caring. If you hate animal abuse show it and help us out. Show you care by helping just click on the  donatie buttons that are on here. Thank you so much. Lilyruth     @lilruth Follow Me on Twitter.

Home Remedies for your Dogs

Many dog owners have turned to natural home remedies instead of store bought products because they are affordable and safe and you can find them right in your home.. Many of these natural home remedies for dogs are quite easy to obtain. For example, do you have garlic in your kitchen? Most people do and use it to cook up tasty dishes but never consider that it is an effective flea repellant.
What about mineral oil, olive oil or almond oil? These are also common household items that can be used for a variety of different purposes. Did you know that they are also effective for treating ear infections or ear mites in dogs?
Do you treat your own skin with Vitamin E? It’s a common way to soothe irritated and dry skin. If your dog suffers from irritated skin as a result of allergies, try applying a bit to their skin to see rapid improvement.

What about oats? They are excellent for adding to your dog’s bath water if he has problems with allergies and as a result spends a lot of time itching and scratching. Just a handful of oats added to your dog’s bath water can help to soothe his irritated skin.

Epsom salts are excellent additives if your dog has problems with his feet. Just add a bit to some water and then soak your dog’s feet. Remember to take care that he does not drink the water.

Natural home remedies for dogs are safe, easy and inexpensive solutions to many health problems that may plague your dog.

Source: Ezine articles

Young 'should not touch animals'

I read this article in the news and thought you all may find it important and also interesting, I know I did.

Microbiologist warns over petting farms
Parents should not allow under-fives to touch animals at petting farms, a microbiologist has said amid E.coli fears involving four sites.

Prof Hugh Pennington said they were the most likely people to touch animals but the hardest to get to wash their hands.

The Department of Health (DoH) said it was not changing its guidance - contact was okay if good hand hygiene followed.

Two petting farms in Surrey, one in Nottinghamshire and one in Devon have shut attractions owing to E.coli fears.

Prof Pennington said that parents should not "abandon the idea of visiting" petting farms, but they should "think very hard" about letting children under five touch the animals.

Hand-washing was "absolutely crucial" to protect visitors to petting farms, and under-fives "haven't learned how to do it yet".

It's so good for the children - one would hate to get to the stage where we had to stop them doing it

Miranda Stevenson
British & Irish Association of Zoos & Aquariums
"These very young kids are the most likely part of the population to get complications if they get infected," he added.

But the DoH said its advice remained the same - children could pet animals but should practice good hand hygiene.

"Direct contact is not what presents the risk, it's what happens afterwards. If you use good hand hygiene and other measures, you hopefully shouldn't get it," a spokesperson said.

"Ill health following a visit to an open farm is unusual, even among children, and these risks need to be balanced against the benefits for a child's education and development that arise from contact with animals."

Current guidance was under review following the recent E.coli outbreaks, the spokesperson added.

And Miranda Stevenson, director of the British & Irish Association of Zoos & Aquariums, said there were strict licensing regulations for zoos and there were always either gels or washing facilities were animals could be handled.

"The message to parents is to make sure that children wash their hands or put gel on their hands, after they have handled animals," she said.

"It's so good for the children - one would hate to get to the stage where we had to stop them doing it."

Closed voluntarily

Hundreds of members of the public have e-mailed the BBC News website with the majority expressing opposition to a ban on the petting of animals.



Forty-nine cases of E.coli have been linked to a Surrey farm
Prof Ron Cutler, an expert on infectious diseases at Queen Mary University of London, said more needed to be done to enable children to keep visiting petting farms and zoos.

Operators should think about giving visitors nail brushes to clean their hands after touching animals, he said.

Prof Pennington, who has led inquiries into E.coli outbreaks in central Scotland and south Wales, said: "Clearly I think the public expects that we have a really good look at the guidelines.

"And also to look at the way the guidelines are being implemented - it's all very well having guidelines if people are not following them."

World of Country Life, in Exmouth, Devon, voluntarily closed its petting areas and deer train ride following infections in three children who visited the farm last month - although the farm has not been confirmed as the source.

Rare strain

Four people became infected after visiting White Post Farm at Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire, though no direct link has been confirmed there.

Forty-nine cases of E.coli have been linked to Godstone Farm in Surrey, with its sister farm - Horton Park Children's Farm in Epsom - also closing because of hygiene concerns.

HAVE YOUR SAY To stop toddlers from being able to interact with animals is madness
Jenny Davies, Poole
Read your comments The Health Protection Agency says that, while infection risks are reduced by sites being well regulated and run, there would always be some E.coli risk from farm animals and their environment.

Whether to stay away from such attractions is "a decision for parents based on a balance of risks", its advice says.

Nine children are being treated in hospital with Godstone Farm-linked infections; one is due to be allowed home later on Saturday, with the others remaining in a stable condition, according to the HPA.

Lab tests have identified the most serious E.coli strain, 0157, which can cause serious kidney damage in a small proportion of cases.

There are about 20,000 cases of E.coli reported in England, Wales and Northern Ireland every year but last year just 950 cases in England and Wales were the 0157 strain.

Home remedies for dogs allergic to Flea Bites

Is your dog allergic to Flea Bites? For a home remedy you can feed two large teaspoons powdered yeast daily for large dogs.. Add a small amount of garlic powder to the food you feed your dog even if its just his dry dog food. Do this home remedy daily. Also be sure to use Dawn dishwashing liquid when you give you dog a bath . aDD THE Dawn liquid from his neck down be sure not to get into his eyes and leave the dawn liquid on for five minutes then rinse off real good. These home remdies have worked on my five dogs so I do hope they will be of help to your beloved pets. You can also give a bath to it by adding salt in water. You can also add dried bracken ferns under its blanket. All these measures can help you to kill its fleas.


Be sure to leave your comments or if you have any home remedies you wish to contribute to my blog please submit here. Thank you Lilyruth

Peta commits a Blubber.."EMMMM" I mean Blunder

PETA’s new billboard campaign have been raising eyebrows and ire in Jacksonville, Florida especially among women groups.

A drawing on billboards in Jacksonville depicts an obese woman with the phrase, "Save The Whales, Lose The Blubber: Go Vegetarian."



They have officially released a statement that says:

A new PETA billboard campaign that was just launched in Jacksonville reminds people who are struggling to lose weight — and who want to have enough energy to chase a beach ball — that going vegetarian can be an effective way to shed those extra pounds that keep them from looking good in a bikini. [....]

Anyone wishing to achieve a hot "beach bod" is reminded that studies show that vegetarians are, on average, about 10 to 20 pounds lighter than meat-eaters. [...]

"Trying to hide your thunder thighs and balloon belly is no day at the beach," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "PETA has a free ‘Vegetarian Starter Kit’ for people who want to lose pounds while eating as much as they like.

Hmmmm…while I admit that PETA’s ad campaigns have always been controversial, they never have targeted a specific group of people like this.

And being a fat woman myself, seeing a close replica of what I look like in a red polka-dot bikini beside the word “WHALES” is offensive – too much hidden marketing psy-chol-o-gy sh*t right there people.

But then, I’m not one who easily gets hurt or offended so there. If it encourages “whales” to convert and lose weight, I’m all for it. But there will still be a few polka-dots who will think otherwise. Source: Peta ad campaign

Dog Walker who died loved life

The family of a man who died in a collision with a car while walking his dog at night have paid tribute to him.
Gary Turner, 43, died following the crash in Murlande Way, a cul-de-sac in the Vale of Glamorgan village of Rhoose at 2220 BST on Thursday.
His family said he was a well-known character who "loved life and everything to do with the outdoors".
South Wales Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision to contact them on 101.
It involved a green Daewoo Lanos car.
In a statement Mr Turner's family said: "Our brother Gary Turner was tragically taken away from us and will be greatly missed by all he left behind, especially his partner, his children, nieces and nephews.
"He had time for everyone and was very popular and will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him."
Officers are also keen to hear from people who saw Mr Turner's movements before the collision. Source: Internet News

Northern Ireland Shamed by Treatment of Death Row Dog, Bruce

The comments coming from around the world on the desperate plight of Bruce, a dog condemned to die by the law for no other reason that the way he looks, have brought shame to the United Kindom for its continued use of breed specific legislation. As Bruce’s deadly situation has captured the attention and worry of dog lovers all around the world, it offers a sad and embarassing glimpse in to a law which has taken innocent lives ever since its inception in 1991.
The UK is currently (rightly) in uproar about the deaths of two police dogs, left to swelter in a parked car on one of the hottest days of the year. But their deaths are heavily and shamefully outnumbered by the countless corpses of dogs who have been intentionally killed by the UK Government.
If you are a British politician and you sit idly by as MILLIONS of pounds of tax payer’s money is sloshed up the wall trying to enforce a law that even the enforcers accept is literally impossible to maintain - never, ever try and claim to be an animal lover if you refuse to act and use your influence to remove breed specific legislation from the statute books NOW.
If you are a tax payer, you have a RIGHT to demand your money be well spent. The 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act has:
NOT reduced dog attacks
NOT saved lives
NOT been possible to implement
NOT been properly administered (because it can’t be)
NOT been effective in any way, shape or form
and now is NOT even attempted to be defended by the legislators responsible for it
Bruce’s life still hangs in the balance. But what’s not in question any longer is that the United Kingdom can never, ever claim to call itself a nation of animal lovers if it intends to systematically kill dogs for NO other reason that what their parents were or what they happened to be born looking like.
If you weren’t aware, two perfectly legal dog breeds can (and do) produce offspring which are deemed illegal.
For example, a Boxer x Staffordshire Bull Terrier can produce a ‘Pit Bull type’ as can any number of other combinations. And so our response to that occurence should be what? To kill the dogs?
Our dangerous dogs laws are not only ineffective, costly and downright cruel - they are a national embarassment. Just take a look….
The RSPCA, USPCA, British Government and Northern Ireland Assembly ALL continually urge the public to place appropriate value on animal welfare.
What sort of example are they setting if they kill this dog when the offer for him to live legally in Eire is on the table?
What role model is government projecting when it kills WITHOUT NEED?
PLEASE do the right and humane thing and save this poor creature who has already suffered so much when he has done nothing wrong. We only ask that he be allowed to go where it is legal for him to be and not be killed senselessly. There is absolutely no reason that this can’t happen as it would cause no one harm for him to leave. We ask you for sweet Bruce.
I am appauled at a country that shows such indifference towards animal. This dog has a place to go to live out his life free. Haven’t they tormented this animal long enough. Are the egos of the judges/Ministers in Ireland so large that it overshadows the heart.
There is no justification in killing this dog Bruce.Are you ashamed of the fact that through your ill equipped holding system and obviously ignorant and insensitive staff Bruce has suffered both mentaly and physically.Do you not want the extent of your neglect to become common knowledge IS THIS THE REASON FOR THE DESTRUCTION ORDER. As part of the UK you should adhere to common scense and parden this dog who at least has a bolt hole.
I can’t believe people still cling to the bigoted “it looks like a pit so it must be dangerous” ignorance. How would you like to be jailed because “you’re Irish so therefore you must be IRA”? Stop generalizing and let that dog go home to his family. HE DID NOTHING WRONG!
And voters, I’d take a second long, hard look at such arbitrary and uninformed officials; you need to elect someone who knows a hawk from a handsaw.
What the hell kind of country are you running over there ?Im from the United States and have always loved Ireland.Have been there many times, since I married and Irishmen. I will tell you this. I will never return until the BSL law is overturned. It is unjust and downright awful.To allow this to happen to an innocent , is outrageous.
FREE BRUCE IMMEDIATLY!
Well that is it for me. I had a trip booked for Ireland in the Fall. I will take the loss of my non refundable ticket. As long as there are BSL laws , I will not visit. Will also advise all my friends and family to also stay away from Ireland.I can’t imagine any country that would make a poor dog suffer like Ireland has made Bruce suffer. He’s a living creature, for Gods sake man, if you keep on this barbaric road, your children might be next, because he’s lousy in math or some sort of crap like that ...Author Details Ryan O'Meara

Second Hand Smoke Can Kill Your Dog

The American Legacy Foundation(R) is challenging pet owners to quit smoking for their pets during the month of April, which kicks off Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. A growing body of research shows there are no safe levels of exposure to secondhand smoke — for humans or for animals. And one new study shows that nearly 30 percent of pet owners live with at least one smoker — a number far too high given the consequences of exposure to secondhand smoke (”SHS”).

“Secondhand smoke doesn’t just affect people,” said Dr. Cheryl G. Healton, DrPH, President and CEO of the American Legacy Foundation(R), the national independent public health foundation dedicated to keeping young people from smoking and providing resources to smokers who want to quit. “While most Americans have been educated about the dangers of smoking to their own bodies, it is equally important that pet owners take action to protect their beloved domestic pets from the dangers of secondhand smoke.”

An estimated 50,000 Americans lose their lives to secondhand smoke annually and 4 million youth (16 percent) are exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes. A number of studies have indicated that animals, too, face health risks when exposed to the toxins in secondhand smoke, from respiratory problems, allergies and even nasal and lung cancer in dogs and lymphoma in cats. In addition, the ASPCA, one of the largest animal rights groups in the U.S., lists tobacco smoke as a toxin that is dangerous to pets.

“Nicotine from secondhand smoke can have effects to the nervous systems of cats and dogs,” said Dr. Sharon Gwaltney-Brant, Medical Director of the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center. “Environmental tobacco smoke has been shown to contain numerous cancer-causing compounds, making it hazardous for animals as well as humans. Studies have shown increases in certain types of respiratory cancers in dogs that live in homes with smokers. In addition, exposure to secondhand smoke has been shown to cause many of the same harmful inflammatory changes in the airways and lungs of dogs as their human counterparts. For these reasons, owners should not expose their pets to secondhand smoke in order to minimize the risk of their pets developing lung disease or cancer.”

According to a study published in the February 2009 edition of Tobacco Control, 28 percent of pet owners who smoke reported that information on the dangers of pet exposure to SHS would motivate them to try to quit smoking. These findings, coupled with the research on the effects of SHS exposure to animals, signals a new front in the public health community’s battle to save lives from tobacco-related disease.

In order to better protect dogs, cats or other pets, the foundation and ASPCA recommend that smokers — who often consider their domestic pets a part of the family — “take it outside” when they are smoking. The foundation also provides resources and information to smokers who want to quit for their own health through a national campaign called EX(R), including a Web site for smokers who are quitting just for their pets:

– EX encourages smokers to approach quitting smoking as “re-learning
life without cigarettes”
– The resources from the campaign help smokers consider the “triggers”
that make them want to smoke each day. The program is based on helping
people understand that if they can get through each part of their day
without a cigarette, they can quit for good.

– The campaign features www.BecomeAnEX.org, a state-of-the-art Web site
with interactive tools and information to help smokers prepare for
quitting by developing a personalized plan. The EX Web site offers a
virtual community and forums where smokers can share stories and best
practices about their quit attempt.
Source: K9 Magazine

Funny picture of the day

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Useful Home Remedies for Dogs Dry Itchy Skin and Other Skin Ailments

Dog skin problems seldom give rise to emergency situations. If you are regular in your pet care and look for changes in the skin and coat for dog or cat dandruff, canine or feline acne, and skin lumps and lesions, there is every reason to believe that you will have enough time at hand to consult your veterinarian about it.
The skin and coat of a pet is the best indicator of any underlying condition that may be brewing inside your dog’s body. Given that your dog cannot communicate minor discomforts to you, the skin proves to be the best indicator and early warning for problems to come.
It has been observed that itchy skin, paw chewing, constant licking and allergies in dogs have become more common than ever before. Diets, digestive enzymes, dietary supplements and essential fatty acids are used for long term treatment of itchy skin in dogs. There are also some home remedies that you can effectively use for short term treatment:
For hot spots, prepare a mixture by dissolving two aspirin tablets in one tablespoon of rubbing alcohol. Take another cup of warm water and dip a tea bag in it. Mix the two and let it cool. Shave the hair around the hot spot, and apply the mixture with a cotton ball and use as often as required. You can follow it up with a cortisone spray or cream that is available over the counter.
Allergies are the most common cause of itching in dogs. Allergies may be caused by contact with an allergen causing multiple crusty lesions that are extremely itchy. Give your dog a cool bath for ten minutes to relieve itching. You may add colloidal oatmeal in the bath.
For itchy feet, mix Epsom salts in cool water. Dip the dog’s feet in the water for 5-10 minutes, ensuring that he does not drink it.
Ear mites in dogs often cause excessive scratching in areas around the ears. Soak a cotton ball in mineral oil and gently swab the ear canal. This will remove the ear mites but only temporarily.
For insect bites, use water mixed with baking soda to relieve the itch.
Flea collars are not advisable for use over a long period. If your dog tends to catch fleas often, a diet that includes yeast and garlic is an effective way of keeping fleas at bay.
An itchy skin often leads to canine and feline hair loss if the itch is not attended to in time. In addition, itchy skin is almost always a precursor of an underlying or hidden medical condition. Home remedies can, at their best, provide only temporary relief. They can provide comfort to the dog for some time and give you some adequate time to arrange for expert consultation. Source: Tess Thompson

Home Remedies for Arthritis in Dogs

Dogs that suffer from arthritis are going to need the help of a veterinarian. Not only that the condition can be very painful for them – it can also restrict your pets from living their normal live. Whenever dog arthritis strikes, it is a must that you try to alleviate the pain associated with it with the use of the right medicines.

Exercise is very important for dogs with arthritis. While exercise forces your dog to move and possibly worsen the condition of the cartilage, it does them good in such a way that regular movements triggers the release of a lubricating fluid for the joints. These fluids can help greatly in the joint’s regular movements.

There are many things a dog owner can do to help relieve the arthritis pain of his pets. While cure and remedies play a very important role, there is little you can do to fully treat the disease. The only solution to dog arthritis is the proper management of the disease. Try to keep the symptoms of the disease show far and in between.

Let the veterinarian assess the current condition of your dog. There are several over-the-counter medications for dog arthritis that needs to be administered to your pet in order to achieve immediate relief. There are also natural cures and medicines that you can adapt to keep your dog in the pink of health at all times.

However, prevention is always better than cure. Safeguarding your pet’s health is still the best way to fight dog arthritis and other similar diseases. Older dogs need all the attention they need. Dogs have a regular lifespan of 15 years. And so if your pet is 10 years old and above, it is at a high risk of arthritis. As its owner, you should know the things you have to do to ensure that the disease and the pain would occur as rarely as possible. Surce: The Web

Dog Grooming- Hair Brushing

Dog grooming is one of your dog's basic needs and an important part of dog ownership. Just like people, dogs need physical maintenance to look and feel their best. Generally, a dog’s grooming needs depend on the breed and hair type. If your dog has a skin, ear or nail condition, follow your veterinarian’s instructions regarding grooming your dog. It is also important to use the appropriate grooming tools. Here are some dog grooming basics to remember.

A dog’s minimum brushing needs depend on hair type. Choose the right tools and follow these guidelines.

Long-haired dogs usually require daily brushing to prevent matting and tangling of hair.
Medium-haired dogs may be prone to matting and tangles and should be brushed at least weekly.
Short-haired dogs can typically go up to a month in-between brushing.
Regardless of hair type, you can brush your dog daily - especially if he enjoys it. More frequent brushing during shedding season can help prevent hair build-up and excess shedding.