FirstMyDog

Abused Dog Notices Someone Like Himself, Reaches Out Paw To Comfort Him

2018-07-29T17:01:00.002-04:00

If you've never seen this before, you're gonna want to... 💜

Animals should NEVER suffer by human hands but in reality, it happens more than we’d like to accept. Two dogs,...

http://dogsplenty.me/abused-dog-notices-someone-like-himself-reaches-out-paw-to-comfort-him/

2018-05-24T22:20:00.001-04:00

63-year-old KC woman says 2 dogs attacked her, killed her Yorkie on nightly walk

2018-04-28T12:59:00.000-04:00

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A 63-year-old woman says two nights ago her neighbor's two dogs attacked her and her beloved Yorkie, and killed her four-legged friend.

“He was my baby. He was my heart. He was just so adorable. He was loved by everyone in our neighborhood," Rose Contreras said about her beloved Yorkie Terrier, Champ.

For the last five years, the pair inseparable.

“He was my little baby. He was grand-dog. He wasn’t just a dog, a pet,” Contreras said Thursday during an exclusive interview with FOX4’s Robert Townsend.

Contreras said Tuesday night she and Champ were out for their usual walk around their KC neighborhood when all of a sudden both stopped in their tracks.

“I see the two pit bulls, and I’m thinking, 'Oh, oh I got to do something.' I covered Champ,” Contreras said.

The terrified grandma said her neighbor’s two dogs raced across an empty lot and attacked her and her 10-pound dog.

“When Champ saw them, he had fear of them," she said. "As soon as he saw them he froze. They were not on leashes. They had me on the ground. One of them had Champ in his mouth. The other one pinned me down, and once they got my Champ away from me, they both ran, got him and was shaking him around."

The bleeding, 128-pound grandma, who’s also battling cancer, said the dog just wouldn’t let her right arm go. Contreras now has 20 stitches on her arm.

“Once he bit into my arm I was down, on the ground and just kicking him. I was scared for my life, but I tried to save my grand dog,” Contreras said.

Sadly, Champ died right before her eyes.

“Yeah I’m mad. I lost my grand-dog. I mean I could have died,” Contreras said as her eyes swelled with tears.

Thursday, a woman who claimed she knows the dogs’ owner said the owner wasn’t home. However, minutes later when a Kansas City Animal Control officer drove up, the dogs’ owner suddenly stepped out of the home on Booth Street. The officer gave the owner a “dangerous dog notice” from the city.

FOX4’s Robert Townsend repeatedly asked the owner if he had a comment or if he wanted to say something to Contreras, but the man never said a word as he appeared to be moving from the home.

The manager at Kansas City Animal Control tells FOX4 back on April 5, they received a complaint about one of the dogs roaming in Contreras’ neighborhood. The officer went to the area but did not locate a dog.

In the meantime, the two dogs now seized by the city and are on record for attacking Contreras and killing her dog and have been declared dangerous by animal control.

“I think those dogs should be put down. If they had been on leashes none of this would have happened. I had to bury my Champ in my front yard. He didn’t deserve to die. He was my joy,” Contreras said.

source fox4kc

This English Teacher Brings His Corgi To Work Every Day

2018-04-27T10:35:00.003-04:00

If you’ve ever had Bring Your Dog To Work Day or worked in a dog-friendly environment, you know how much fun it can be. Who wouldn’t want to spend their coffee breaks in the company of some furry friends? Well, one English teacher in Austin, Texas brings his dog to work with him every single day, much to the delight of his high school students.

Banjo the corgi is super-cute and joins his owner Kenneth Snyder in the classroom daily, where we’re guessing he’s pretty popular. Banjo gained a national audience in March when social media manager Sophie Vershbow, a friend of Snyder’s girlfriend, tweeted out a photo of the dynamic duo:

“My friend’s boyfriend is an AP English teacher in Austin. He brings his dog Banjo to school every day. Less teachers with guns, more teachers with corgis,” she wrote.

No matter your politics, that sounds like a sentiment a lot of people could get behind! People on Twitter agreed, and the tweet has now been been re-tweeted nearly 70,000 times.

It looks like a former student totally remembered this dog-loving teacher:

For his part, Snyder was surprised that a simple photo of Banjo and him had gone viral. He said the dog has been his constant companion at school (whose name he declined to disclose for privacy’s sake) for the past four years, and his presence seems to brighten up everyone’s days. “As teachers, we work really long hours and it’s a tough job,” Snyder told The Daily Dot. “So for me, it’s nice to have a mental break or a mindfulness — to look at something that loves you and looks relatively happy and calm all the time. I’d have to imagine that extends to the kids.

” Snyder continued that his school began allowing dogs in the building before he worked there. Everyone works hard to make sure the pets don’t serve as a distraction from learning, and he added that none of his students have serious dog allergies. Banjo is so adorable that he certainly is an incentive not to skip class! I surely wouldn’t have minded a friendly corgi in the classroom during my days as a student. How about you?

10 Designer Dog Breeds That Will Melt Your Heart

2018-04-26T15:35:00.000-04:00

When considering dog adoption, don’t rule out the crossbreeds. Scientific research indicates they’re generally healthier and longer lived than their purebred counterparts. Not to mention, there are some truly adorable combinations out there, like the playful cheagle (half Chihuahua, half beagle), or regal bullpug (half English bulldog, half pug).

The term “designer dog” was first used in the late 20th century, and refers to companion dogs who have been deliberately crossbred from two or more purebreds. Reputable breeders use this technique to reduce the hereditary health problems found in purebreds, while retaining their personality traits. Here’s our list of 16 designer dog breeds that absolutely melt our hearts.

Golden Dox

Heritage: Golden Retriever, Dachshund

Traits: Courageous, loyal, playful.

A golden retriever and dachshund make a golden dox. Friendly and good with children, they’re an ideal family pet.

Golden Doodle

Heritage: Golden Retriever, Poodle

Traits: Intelligent, easy-going, affectionate, active.

The golden doodle is another golden retriever hybrid that’s great with children. They are highly intelligent thanks to their retriever/poodle heritage, but are also generally calm and easy going dogs.

Cheagle

Heritage: Chihuahua, Beagle

Traits: Energetic, playful, tracking, loyal, social.

This Chihuahua and beagle hybrid almost looks like some kind of amazing dog / cat cross-over. Full of energy and easily excitable, cheagles demand lots of play and activity. It’s worth the effort, however, as they make great companion dogs.

Bagle Hound

Heritage: Basset Hound, Beagle

Traits: Tracking, easy-going, playful, social, family friendly.

When you cross a beagle and a basset hound, you get an especially sad looking beagle. They’re also especially adorable.

If you ever consider adopting one, get ready for a tracking dog that’s great with kids and loves to bark at things – constantly.

Beabull

Heritage: Beagle, English Bulldog

Traits: Independent, loyal, playful.

If floppy ears aren’t your thing, maybe you’ll like the beabull. They love lazy days, just like their bulldog forebears. Don’t let your guard down, though. Their beagle side makes them prone to bursts of hyperactivity.

Bullpug

Heritage: English Bulldog, Pug

Traits: Stubborn, affectionate, family friendly, loyal.

Want the most English dog imaginable? Consider adopting a bullpug, also known as a miniature bulldog.

Chorkie

Heritage: Chihuahua, Yorkshire terrier

Traits: Independent, playful, energetic, loyal, demanding, stubborn, protective.

A chorkie is a hybrid of a Chihuahua and Yorkshire terrier. Like its parents, the chorkie is playful, headstrong, and energetic. They demand a lot of attention, but they’ll be a faithful and protective companion to the end.

Chug

Heritage: Chihuahua, Pug

Traits: Outgoing, protective, active, affectionate.

Another Chihuahua hybrid, the chug’s appearance and personality vary widely depending on which characteristics it inherits from its parents. In any case, they’re consistently loyal companion dogs who love exercise, play, and showing affection to their owners.

Chuggle

Heritage: Pug, Beagle, Chihuahua

Traits: Tracking, protective, easy-going.

1/4 Beagle, 1/4 Chihuahua, and 1/2 Pug. That’s the recipe for a chuggle, an adorably somber little hybrid.

Cockapoo

Heritage: Cocker Spaniel, Poodle

Traits: Outgoing, active, energetic, affectionate.

Cockapoos combine the outgoing nature of Cocker Spaniels with the hypoallergenic coat of a poodle, making them popular among people with allergies. They can sometimes be a handful, but are also extremely affectionate and loyal pets.

Understand Your Dog Better

2018-04-19T08:41:00.000-04:00

understanding a dog's body language is essential for building a strong and trustworthy relationship with your four-legged friends this is really important because dogs are a source of limitless positivity do you know what your pet is trying to tell you in different situations our video will help you understand your pet for any other dog don't forget to hit that thumbs up button and share the video with a mate which recently got a puppy let's get started here are 16 useful foods for you to understand your dog better first the dog's tail situation.

#1 dog wags is lowered tail

if the dog wags his tail slowly this means he doesn't understand what's going on the dog is asking you what you want him to do so help him navigate the situation when the dog's tail is wagging rapidly this means he admits that you are in charge situation

#2 the tail is raised in tremors slightly

this means your dog is issuing a challenge to your authority because he considers himself to be in charge of the situation in this case your dog sees himself brave and strong he is in a good mood and trying to say I'm proud of myself I'm feeling great situation

#3 the tail is tucked between the legs

the tuck tail is a sign that the dog is scared afraid of pain or feels uncomfortable most often the dog tucks his tail between his legs but he is really afraid of something or someone however if there are no obvious reasons for concern and your pet tux is pale quite often you should take him to a vet pay attention to the dog's eyes situation

#4 the eyes are wide open and alert

this is how your pet tries to get your attention this means he's challenging you also your dog expects you to respond firmly keep in mind that when you approach an unfamiliar dogs it's better to avoid looking directly into his eyes for dogs staring at the eyes means aggression

#5 here is another situation

dogs twins and blanks this means he's ready to play it's time to throw on his favorite ball or taken for a walk if your dog wins a lot his eyes might be in pain in this case it's better to take him to a vet dog's peers might also tell you something important about your pets move situation

#6 the ears are standing straight up we're inclined forward

the dog is showing you that he's curious and reacting to some new event in his environment this means your dog is paying close attention to everything happening around situation

#7 the ears are flattened against the head

if a sign of the dog is scared sometimes your pet may have only one ear down and most of the times the left one this is how dogs react to unfamiliar people or people they are afraid of if nothing dangerous happens around try to calm down your dog by cutting it in addition take a closer look at your pets face situation

#8 the dogs yawn

this means your dog is grumpy and nervous puppies do this quite often when they're surrounded by big unfamiliar dog but if your pet yawns after you this means he's very attached to you also probably it's just late in time to sleep situation

#9 the dog licks his face

the dog does this when he's stressed or feeling pressure or danger also by this gesture the dog might encourage potential aggressors to remain calm situation.

#10 the dog exposes his teeth

but there is no snarling this means the dog is protecting his territory that's often do this while eating never come closer to an unfamiliar dog actually to any animal while they're eating because they might think you're going to steal their food and finally pay attention to the dog's stance situation

#11 the dog rolls over and exposes his belly

the dog is showing you that to trust you and wants to leave you when you rub your dog's belly after he rolls over he means you show him you're pleased with his behavior keep rubbing dogs love this situation.

#12 dog puts his head on your knee

this means the dog wants to get attention and show that he needs you if your dog touches your hands with his nose you want you to pet him in some cases this means he feels a bit lonely and wants to play for a while situation

#13 the dog puts his paw on your knee

if the dog does it for the very plug look is trying to dominate in this situation trainer suggests looking into the dog's eyes and removing the paws that's how he will understand that you are in charge situation

#14 dog has one front paw raised

this stance means your pet wants to ask you something maybe he's hungry or wants to play sometimes dogs do this when they notice nothing interesting it's typical for hunting dog breed situation

#15 the dogs turns its back

this action means that your four-legged friend trusts you a lot congratulations you become a real friend mr. pet situation

#16 the dog shaped

dogs may shake like they shake off water after a bath as a way of relieving tension probably your dog was in stress or met an unpleasant person or dog we hope now you understand your lovely pets much better we also would love to hear your views on this in the comments below.

source bright-side channel on YouTube

I Photograph Dogs To Show How Unique Every Single Of Them Is

2018-04-18T14:52:00.000-04:00

My name is Elke Vogelsang aka Wieselblitz, I’m a commercial and editorial photographer from Germany. After a very stressful time in life, I decided to change my life for the better and become a professional photographer. I’m absolutely crazy about dogs. Thankfully, as a photographer specializing in dog portraiture, I'm now in the very lucky position to make a living from hanging out with dogs. A dream come true.

It never ceases to amaze me how unique every single dog is. Each and every one of them has its very special character, quirks, and personality. I try to portrait this in my pictures.

You might have come across my series of skeptical dogs, questioning the photographer's sanity. The series "Dogsonality" is an extension to this series adding numerous other facial expressions and moods a dog might show or we might interpret as such.

It's an ongoing project, so stay tuned for more as I never tire exploring the quirkiness and cuteness of our best friends. Enjoy!

#21 Shocked Noodles

#20 Curious Chico

#19 Sniffy Karlo

#18 Intimidated Indiana

#17 Ignorant Dancin

#16 Fido, You Are Adopted!

#15 Panicking Jette

#14 Happy Mailo

#13 Smiling Will

#12 Shy Ernie

#11 Quizzical Bodo

#10 Exuberantly Happy Tabenoka

#9 Very Disappointed Cooper

#8 Flabbergasted Finlay

#7 Pleading Sunny

#6 Compassionate Clooney

#5 Linus - Stepped On A Lego

#4 Confused Kiboyo

#3 Exhausted Carlos

#2 Not So Pleased Ernie

#1 Snobby Scout

These 7 Questions Will Reveal Your Animal Ego

2018-04-16T18:02:00.002-04:00

We all feel like we have an animal that represents our soul. Let's find out yours!

World's Tallest Dog - Meet The Record Breakers - Guinness World Records

2018-03-19T18:23:00.001-04:00

Whether its a person or an animal who dies after you’ve spent a lot of time together, it’s always heartbreaking–this was the case with this beautiful Great Dane from Michigan, Zeus. He won the “tallest dog in the world” title in the Guinness Book of Records in 2012.

Zeus, the powerful black Great Dane with a shiny coat, lived for 5 beautiful years. Zeus passed away in September 2014, but is remembered for his loving nature and huge heart. He was the winner of the title of “the tallest dog in the world” and is featured in the Guinness Book of World Records.

He weighed 165 pounds, and ate 15 pounds of food every week. He was a whopping 44 inches tall and towered over his owner, Kevin Doorlag.

According to the Guinness World Records, Doorlag told a local news site Michigan Live that he would remember Zeus as a ‘wonderful dog’ and that he and his wife would especially miss letting Zeus sit on their laps while the family would grill on their deck.

Michael Whitty, the Guinness World Records picture editor, who met this amazing dog said, “Zeus was the gentlest giant you could ever wish to meet. He had such a mild temperament that even the family cat ran rings around him! A fabulously loving and friendly dog who wouldn’t hurt a fly and loved having his photo taken. He will be greatly missed by his lovely owners and will live on in Guinness World Records history as the Tallest Dog we ever measured.”

Looking at these photos reminds us how incredible and precious this dog was!

Kevin and Zeus having a little dance on the patio

Kitty and Zeus in their home having some dinner together

Nothing like a cool drink of water from the kitchen tap!

Man and dog, a loving bond

This beautiful photo-shoot was made when Zeus was short-listed for the Guinness Book of Records

Gone, but not forgotten! Watch Guinness World Record’s video below!

Source ntdin.

Hero Pit Bull Who Saved a Boy from Being Drowned by His Mother Learns His Fate

2018-03-19T15:16:00.001-04:00

On March 2, 2017, Buddy, a pitbull, rescued a boy whose mother threw him in the river. While this sounds like Buddy would be seen as the hero, the story of his fate that unfolds will surprise you.

The mother of an unidentified 9-year-old boy faces charges of murder and attempted murder after allegedly drowning her 5-year-old and attempting to drown her 9-year old son, according to Daily Mail.

Image Credit: Laura Spurway / Twitter
Margot Stork, the Murray River Council interim general manager, said that Buddy has now been micro-chipped and they are working to get suitable conditions for the dog to return to his owner.

Image Credit: 9 News
Buddy’s owner is working with the Murray River Council and will be in compliance with the Companion Animals Act. According to reports, on March 2nd, the mother of two young boys was trying to drown her children in the Murray River at Moama.

Image Credit: N/A
Buddy saw that the boy was trying to fight off his mother, and jumped into action. He bit the little boy as he was trying to drag him away from his mother. When the woman came after the boy, Buddy bit her too.
The nine-year-old boy survived. His little brother did not. Rangers took Buddy into custody until they could complete an investigation. After he was taken, the dogs’ owners started a Go Petition to get their furry friend returned to them.

Image Credit: N/A
“We are trying to save our dog ‘Buddy’ a pit bull cross who has been seized due to awful circumstances by the council. We are hoping the council can see what this dog was trying to do and let him come home instead of punishing him for the rescue efforts he has done. Please help,” the family wrote.

Image Credit: N/A
The petition drew ore than 50,000 signatures and officials decided to release the dog to his owners. Murray River Council interim general manager told reporters that the dog was released because they found that Buddy was likely “acting in reasonable defense” of the child.

Image Credit: N/A
The grandfather of the two boys also participated in the petition. “I own a similar dog and I know he was trying to save the boys, it’s their nature when they are raised with kids. Let the ones who his actions affected decide. I have one grandson left, because this brave dog took action as required,” said the grandfather to Daily Mail.

Buddy was microchipped and returned to his owners, the Independent reported.
What are your thoughts on this story? Be sure to SHARE it with family and friends on Facebook.

Dog Lead His Owner To A Mysterios Box In The Mountains, Ended Up Becoming A Father

2018-03-19T06:53:00.000-04:00

Sadly, many strays roam the streets of Greece, never knowing what it’s like to have a home or a family to love them. There is also an abundance of abandoned litters of kittens. SCARS, a rescue organization, comes across them all the time. They’ve rescued more than 25 kittens within just one month.

One of the SCARS volunteers has a rescue dog named Aragon. They would take Aragon for walks near the mountains, where many pets – kittens, puppies, bunnies, birds – were abandoned in cardboard boxes. Sadly, hungry foxes usually got to them before rescuers did.

One day, when they were walking Aragon, he began pulling rescuers toward a box. This time, there were kittens still in it! Aragon was hailed a hero. They got to the kittens just in time, because soon enough, they would’ve been eaten by a fox or another animal, just like many of the other abandoned pets were.

Meanwhile, Aragon the dog stepped into the role of their foster dad

They took the kittens in and they were examined and given a clean bill of health. They got round-the-clock care from staff, but the kittens had a very special furry caretaker – Aragon! Aragon became their foster dad, and was so good at it! He snuggled up with them and protected them to make them feel safe and loved. It’s amazing to see dogs and cats getting along so great. Love definitely knows no species!

Guy Posts This Picture Of His New Dog And People Immediately Call The Police On Him

2018-03-14T18:19:00.001-04:00

Diggy, a rescue pup with a goofy smile, was so thrilled by his new owner he couldn’t stop smiling. So when his owner posted a selfie with him on Facebook, he became instantly famous. Unfortunately, his newfound fame would end up costing him dearly. Just days after the post, police swept in to take the Diggy away.

Facebook/Detroit Dog Rescue

In June 2016, after years of hard work as a musician in Waterford Township, Michigan, Dan Tillery and his girlfriend Megan had just purchased their first home. But no home is complete without man’s best friend. So after moving in, the couple set out to adopt a dog. Little did they know, however, they were signing up for a world of hurt.

Facebook/Dan Tillery

“[My girlfriend and I] have been wanting a dog forever, but the place we were renting would not allow dogs. We just recently purchased our first home. All ours. And dogs are allowed,” Dan happily reported to the Oakland Press later that month. As it turned out though, not all dogs were allowed.

Not long after settling in, Dan first set eyes on an adorable two-year-old American bulldog named Sir Wiggleton at Detroit Dog Rescue. After he was found lost and hungry on the streets of Detroit, Michigan, Sir Wiggleton was taken in by the shelter and had remained there for about 100 days.

For both Dan and Sir Wiggleton, it was love at first sight. A goofy picture of the pup with his tongue hanging from his mouth and his head cocked won the Dan over. Without a second thought, Dan agreed to adopt him, renaming him Diggy. At the time, everything had seemed legal.

As Dan’s very first pup, the musician was thoroughly excited to bring him home. He couldn’t get enough of Diggy’s wide-mouthed grin, so he understandably began snapping selfies with the happy dog. But for some reason, just one of these pictures had prompted someone to call the cops on the smiling duo.

The photo seemed innocent enough: it was a selfie where the pair were showing off their signature silly smiles. Both seemed to be over the moon about their new homes and new family. As a thank you to the rescue team that brought them together, Dan shared the photo with Detroit Dog Rescue, underlining the happy perks of adopting a dog.

In just a matter of days, Dan and Diggy’s smiles had won over the Internet. In just a day the picture had garnered 24,000 likes on Detroit Dog Rescue’s page. Not long after that, Dan found himself getting messages and calls left and right from the media. But for every following there will always be haters lurking in the shadows.

The post’s caption read “We know this photo is going to break the internet and we apologize, but we had to share. After almost 100 days in the shelter, Sir Wiggleton just got adopted. Sir Wiggleton and his new Dad are celebrating adoption day with huge smiles all around!”

Naturally, Dan was thrilled with the notoriety going viral brings. And as far as he was concerned, there were absolutely no downsides to it. As a result, it came as a massive shock to Dan when, just a few days after posting the picture, the Waterford Police Department were banging on his door.

Having seen the viral photo, the officers informed Dan that he had violated the Waterford’s ban on owning pit bulls. According to the township, both pit bulls and pit bull mixes are considered to be “dangerous dogs.” Possessing one was a punishable crime. Diggy would have to be returned to the Detroit Dog Rescue, or else.

Dan was convinced that the officers would simply let him off with a warning though. After all, Diggy was no more dangerous than a chihuahua. “When they went to the gate [to] actually see him, he licked their face, was very kind,” Dan explained to WWJ. “They said, we’re dog lovers, that’s cool, he seems like a good boy. Took some pictures of him.”

Even though Diggy’s adoption papers stated that he was an American bulldog, the officers weren’t budging. Lt. Todd Hasselbach of the Waterford Township Police told The Detroit News in June that Diggy didn’t pass the eye test. “It looks like a pit to me,’’ he said. “I’d write a ticket.” Dan had just three days to say goodbye.

Despite the outcry from animal rights activists, the officers said that they were simply doing their job. “From our standpoint, it’s a pretty clear case of an ordinance that makes it clear what’s permissible and what’s not. Our job is to enforce the ordinance,” Chief Scott Underwood of the Waterford Police explained to the Oakland Press.

Unless Dan wanted to pay a $500 ticket or worse, end up in jail, he had little choice. But the same viral photo that caused all this trouble also served as a rally cry, bringing thousands to his aid. People, outraged that the police had the authority to take away such a sweet dog, geared up for a counter-attack.

So while his fervent supporters organized an online petition to free Diggy, Dan prepared himself for a formal hearing on the matter, kicking off a full-scale legal battle. Furthermore, both fronts demanded that the township dismantle the pit bull ban, which would allow Diggy to come back home.

Dan got to work on what seemed to be a pretty clear defense: Diggy isn’t a pit bull, though he may look like one. “My lawyer and I are going to do everything possible to make sure Diggy stays in his home with us, his family.” he posted online. “Thanks for all of your support, guys. I’m not a quitter.”

Sadly though, Diggy’s status remained uncertain for months. Meanwhile, more than 100,000 people signed the petition asking officials to let Diggy off the hook. What’s more, an army of Diggy’s supporters overpowered a landmark town meeting in September. Dan and Diggy certainly had the numbers, but would it be enough?

“People had really invested their emotions into this story, and it’s beautiful to see so many people care about rescue dogs,” said Kristina Rinaldi, the director of the Detroit Dog Rescue. Finally, after a heated debate, they got some good news: charges were dismissed in the 51st District Court, assuring that dog and owner could stay together.

“We get to keep our boy,” Dan wrote in a celebratory Facebook post. “He’s a good boy.” After a long fight, Dan and Megan could give dog with the famous smile the life he deserved. In a landslide victory, the township changed the rules on the pit bull ban. Now veterinarians will be the ones to determine the breed, and not police officers “eye-balling” the situation.

Click The Dog You Love The Most. and it Will Tell You Some Secrets About Your Personality

2018-03-14T08:12:00.000-04:00

While most dog lovers love all dogs, we’d be lying if we said that we didn’t secretly (or in some cases, not so secretly) have a favorite. It’s not that we are selective, but it’s just that certain dog breeds pull at our heartstrings a little bit more than others. With our favorite breed often comes stereotypes, and certain characteristics that many owners hold true. To have a little fun, we’ve come up with a list of some popular dog breeds–so now you can see what your favorite dog breed says about you!

If You Choose 1 - Bulldog

You are charismatic and have a very laid-back personality. You’re not a materialistic person whatsoever, and you enjoy just hanging out with family and friends. You’ve got a great sense of humor and can mesh with just about anybody–but don’t let the niceness fool anyone, you definitely have an occasional grouchy side.

If You Choose 2 - German Shepherd Dog

Smart and very athletic, you aren’t afraid of hard work. People rely on you because you are trustworthy and strong–and very dependable on many levels! Sitting around is not for you, because you are a busy bee that needs a sense of purpose.

If You Choose 3 - Beagle

People know you as being the happy-go-lucky type. You enjoy learning new things and don’t get bored easily–because you can always find something to keep yourself busy. But because you can be overly curious at times, you can get yourself into trouble with your mischievousness.

If You Choose 4 - Dachshund

You’re quirky and there is no one else in this world quite like you! You love being an original and wouldn’t be one to fall in line with others. You are very sociable… and you don’t mind one bit being the center of attention.

If You Choose 5 - Corgi

For those who love Corgis, you are fun-loving, aren’t one to miss a meal, and at times you can be a bit stubborn–but hey, only when you know you’re right about something. People enjoy being around you–because you’re the life of the party!

If You Choose 6 - Poodle

You love meeting new people, and you are well-received by others. Sometimes people might think you have an air about you, and you exude confidence–especially in the way that you walk. But don’t let that refined nature be deceiving, you know exactly how to let your hair down and have a good time.

If You Choose 7 - Rottweiler

You are strong and resilient, but sadly many assume that you are as tough on the inside as you are on the outside. If people take a chance and get to know you, they will quickly learn that you have a gentle spirit and a heart of gold.

If You Choose 8 - Cocker Spaniels

Being alone for extended periods of time is not for you, because you can become lonely easily. You wouldn’t say that you are shy, but you are naturally reserved around those that you do not know. For those that you do, you are very loving–even when you are a bit neurotic at times.

If You Choose 9 - Pug

You are sprightly and full of energy, and there’s never a dull moment with you! People are naturally drawn to you for your playful nature and kindred spirit. Even though you like to play, you’re big on cuddling and love your beauty sleep, too.

If You Choose 10 - Husky

You are a natural born leader, strong, and have no problems showing others the way. Strong-willed and undoubtedly determined, you have no problems getting what you want in life–because you can do it all by yourself! Being active is very much your thing, because you’re not one to be known as a couch potato.

If You Choose 11 - Golden Retriever

For Golden lovers, you are as friendly as can be. Typically you mesh well with all types of people, and you are always happy to meet someone new–because you have no doubt that you will get along as you’re openminded! You would do anything for your family or friends, because that’s the just the sort of kindhearted person you are.

If You Choose 12 - Yorkie

You have a lot of sass, and won’t put up with someone trying to tell you what to do. In other words, you can’t be tamed! You are devotedly loyal to those you care about, and prefer companionship over solitude. You are open-minded, but you aren’t crazy about change.

Dog Who Keeps Barking At Pregnant Owner’s Belly Helps Uncover A Deadly Danger

2018-03-10T11:37:00.001-05:00

Any pet owner will tell you our furry little buddies can pick up on things humans can’t. They have an incredible sixth sense that allows them to detect certain energies and subtle emotions that seem to elude our five senses.

When an English woman named Alhanna Butler found out she was pregnant, she and her fiancé were both ecstatic—but she couldn’t say the same for the couple’s dog. Their Akita Inu began acting strange; she would poke and whine at Alhanna’s belly for hours at a time.

At first, Alhanna ignored the pup’s strange behavior—until she realized she was actually trying to save her life!

Pets seem to have an innate sixth sense that helps them pick up on subtle energies—and dangers—that we can’t. Alhanna Butler and her fiancé, Ricky, of South Yorkshire, England, learned this firsthand with their Akita Inu dog, Keola.

See, Alhanna and Ricky had been trying to have a baby for a while, and they couldn’t believe their luck when they’d finally gotten pregnant. They were excited to start a family, but Keola didn’t seem to agree…

The otherwise peaceful dog began acting strangely. She’d poke and whine and keep her nose pressed against Alhanna’s belly for hours at a time, and she was always lying as close to her owner as possible.

Alhanna had no idea what had gotten into her dog. She decided to ignore the odd behavior, but she would soon realize that was a mistake—and that Keola was actually trying to tell her something incredibly important!

Meanwhile, Alhanna’s pregnancy went off without a hitch, and she was excited to experience motherhood. Although she felt great, it became harder and harder to ignore Keola’s increasingly strange behavior.

Even Ricky noticed that Keola was spending a significant amount of time hovering around Alhanna wherever she sat. At first, the couple just thought it was an odd phase…

In the eighteenth week of her pregnancy, however, Alhanna suddenly developed a sharp pain in her back. It was so strong that she could barely walk. Worried over what this could mean for their unborn child, Ricky rushed her to the hospital.

Oddly, the doctors couldn’t find anything wrong. They told Alhanna she was suffering back pain because the weight of the baby was putting stress on her body. Alhanna believed them, and she went home.

As soon as Alhanna returned home, she logged in to Facebook and told her friends about her situation. Almost immediately, they told her to listen to Keola’s instincts. Even though the doctors couldn’t find anything wrong, the dog was likely sensing a very real problem.

Alhanna’s mother finally persuaded her to go to the doctor for more tests. She was certain Keola’s behavior wasn’t a coincidence. Sure enough, after a series of examinations, Alhanna found out she had a double kidney infection—and she was actually close to death!

Alhanna was immediately placed on a serious antibiotic regimen, and she received all the proper care she needed to reverse her kidney damage. A few weeks after her treatment ended, she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy named Lincoln!

As soon as Alhanna brought her new son home from the hospital, Keola was instantly smitten with her new human friend. It was almost as if she knew how close Lincoln and his mother were to danger the whole time.

Now, Keola spends as much time as she can with her new little brother! Even though she’s a big and powerful animal, she knows exactly how to be gentle when she spends time cuddling up with Lincoln.

At first, Alhanna and Ricky were both a little nervous about letting Keola spend so much time around Lincoln. They monitored the pair, but the pup soon proved that she was more than fit to keep a watchful eye on her little friend.

Amazingly, Lincoln wasn’t frightened at all by Keola. He was able to fall asleep easily whenever she was around, and she loved to give him kisses when he was snoozing. She treated him like he was her own puppy!

Now, Keola and Lincoln love going for walks around their neighborhood with Alhanna and Ricky. As soon as Keola sees Alhanna dressing Lincoln up, she jumps around with excitement because she knows it’s playtime!

Keola even hangs out with Lincoln while he plays in his pajamas. Most dogs don’t have the patience for this kind of thing, but check out this photogenic pooch! She was more than happy to pose with her best buddy.

Keola and Lincoln are truly an inseparable pair, and Alhanna and Ricky are thrilled that they took to each other so quickly. Just look at that grin! There’s no place in the world Lincoln would rather be than sitting next to his four-legged friend.

Alhanna and Ricky have a great life together in South Yorkshire. They have plenty of friends, and now that Lincoln’s in their world, they’re able to bring him along to all of their social events. Their neighbors love his company, too!

Alhanna thinks about her close call with death nearly every day. She can’t believe that Keola’s intuition was correct. Had she believed the initial doctor, she wouldn’t have survived. Keola is truly the cornerstone of this beautiful family, and she’ll always be cherished for it!

This goes to show you that if your animal is acting weird, you can’t always ignore it. Alhanna is sure happy she didn’t!

Share this amazing animal story with your friends below!

Dog Leads Man Into The Woods, Soon Realizes The Reason They’re So Desperate

2018-03-10T07:25:00.000-05:00

Many animals are born with an innate ability to sense impending danger. Some people refer to this as a sixth sense, while others call it animal instinct. Either way, this intuition is invaluable when these animals find themselves in a threatening situation.

When one man was out for a walk with his dogs, he noticed their behavior was becoming more and more erratic. Just as he started to wonder if something was wrong, they began to drag him toward the woods—and he realized he was about to encounter some serious trouble…

We may not quite understand how it works, but animals are born with a strong intuition. They always seem to know when a situation might be trouble or even when someone is in danger. Dog owner Mark White of Wixom, Michigan, knew this better than most.

Mark was recently out for a walk with his two dogs, Belle and Crew, when something bizarre happened. Little did they know was that it would be the beginning of a situation only Belle and Crew could handle…

Mark, Belle, and Crew had been meandering along their usual route through the neighborhood when a man suddenly approached Mark. He appeared to be unsettled and frantic.

The man claimed he was out looking for his wife, a 64-year-old woman named Terry. He said she suffered from dementia and that she was missing. The man wanted to know if Mark had seen anyone fitting his wife’s description while on his walk that day.

Dementia can be a terrifying degenerative disease for those struggling with it. It’s no less frightening for family members tasked with tracking down their loved ones if they accidentally wander off the way Terry had…

Unfortunately, the man’s search was becoming more dire by the minute—the sun was beginning to set. While Mark hadn’t seen the man’s wife, he promised that he would keep his eyes peeled as he and his dogs finished their walk.

Mark was happy to help, but he worried that his efforts might be too little, too late. If it was getting late, how could he see any better than the man? It didn’t help that the road was flanked by dense woods, which seemed to be getting darker the more he stared into them…

Mark continued to walk along with Belle and Crew while keeping a watchful eye on the surrounding area. That was when something odd seemed to overtake his two dogs. They tugged hard at their leashes, and Mark instantly knew that something was wrong…

Belle and Crew dragged Mark toward a wooded area along the side of the road. He realized they must have picked up on some sort of scent. He’d learned to trust their instincts over the years and decided he should take a closer look…

It wasn’t a moment later that Mark caught a glimpse of what the dogs were sensing. “Sure enough, there was somebody sitting in the woods,” Mark explained to police later. “So, we waited for cars to pass by and walked across.”

The person sitting in the woods was, in fact, Terry! After saying hello and trying to make the disoriented woman feel comfortable, Mark escorted her back to her home. It was in the nick of time, too; Terry’s husband was in the process of filing a missing persons report!

The local police were incredibly thankful for Belle and Crew’s keen animal instincts. “The officers were in the process of taking the police report when [Terry] was ultimately found,” Wixom Police Chief Ron Moore said.

Chief Moore was sure to mention the importance of the police and the townspeople working together. “This is a great story, because we value our partnership with our community,” he added. Of course, Belle and Crew played a large role as “members” of the community!

Belle and Crew weren’t the only dogs to help relocate a person with dementia who’d gone missing. Just last year, a Florida police dog assisted in the search for a woman who’d wandered off.

In order for that dog locate the Florida woman, he followed her scent that had been bottled by her family a couple years in advance just in case she ever went missing. Even though it was almost three years old, the bottle was said to work up to seven years!

Just like that dog in Florida, pups are being trained around the world to help better service people with dementia. They grow accustomed to the person’s routine and are able to help them perform everyday tasks, like remembering to eat.

These dogs are even trained to remind the people who suffer from dementia when to take their medications. A sound will trigger them, and the dogs will retrieve a medicine bag with instructions for the patient.

These service dogs’ responsibilities don’t end in the home, either! In fact, they’re being trained to help people outside, too. The only difference between them and seeing-eye dogs is they don’t wear a special vest to denote their responsibility.

These dogs’ collars are equipped with a GPS system and they’re trained to stay by their person’s side at all times. Of course, service dogs aren’t the only ones capable of assisting people in need—just like Belle and Crew proved…

Belle and Crew should really be honored for their service to their community. They helped a frantic man locate his wife—and they even made the evening news for their efforts, too!

It’s a miracle that Belle and Crew tracked Terry down so easily. Their animal instinct was certainly in full effect that day!

Share this incredible story with your friends below!

source honesttopaws.

This Dog Was Moments From Being Euthanized, Then Her Puppies Saved The Day !!!

2018-03-10T06:34:00.001-05:00

Having dogs put to sleep at shelters is not something anyone wants to do. It’s even worse when the dogs comes in with puppies of her own. But it can be difficult to maintain a shelter when the numbers start becoming more than anyone can handle. One such dog was brought in with her two six-month old puppies and were placed on the euthanasia list. No one knew what else they could do.

Until a stroke of luck had the dog removed from the list when she served as a surrogate mother for six other puppies that had been recently rescued. The shelter found an email about a man who was threatening to drown nine pit bull puppies that he had if someone didn’t come to take them. They had to act fast, and when they responded, he brought them all in.

With no mother to take care of, the shelter decided that the dog could take care of them. Since she already had puppies of her own, she was still nursing, and it would solve many problems of having to hand raise a litter of puppies by the staff members.

Four of the puppies ended up going to another rescue shelter. The other five were slowly introduced to the mama dog, starting with the runt. They were wary that she might not take to them, but she licked each one in turn and they took to nursing from her like it was the most natural thing in the world.

It seemed her recent family has been extended by five more, and she hasn’t made any complaints since the introduction. Luckily, her tender loving care kept her off of the euthanasia list and these small pups have a chance at a new life.

This is just magic, isn’t it? I still can’t believe it…

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source topbuzz

New bill criminalizes false service dogs

2018-03-10T06:08:00.002-05:00

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) - From peacocks to bunny rabbits, questionable service animals have made headlines this year, inspiring action from the Minnesota legislature in an attempt to cut back on the practice.

Lawmakers in the Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill Wednesday that would make it a crime to misrepresent a service dog, sending the measure to the full Senate sometime in the near future. Meanwhile, a similar bill in the House Public Safety Committee was tabled to work out legal issues.

The bills in both houses call for fines up to $100 to be imposed on anyone who gets caught with a fraudulent service dog.

Lawmakers say the legislation is about protecting the disabled community with real service animals, maintaining throughout the proceedings that misrepresenting an animal as a service animal is not a victimless crime—it negatively impacts those with a disability and a real service animal.

photo
State and federal laws define service animals as dogs--and occasionally miniature horses--that have been specially trained to help someone with a disability. However, as time has passed, the subject has become a gray area.

In the past, some owners have been able to sidestep the issue by calling their pets “emotional support animals," despite the fact they have no specific training. The pets are said to provide therapeutic assistance to people with anxiety, depression, mental and psychiatric disabilities.

Without the same rigorous training that service dogs working with disabled people receive, lawmakers say, these animals' behavior can pose a danger in public settings if they were to get overly excited or aggressive.

Source fox9

Panicking Pooch Leads Owner To A Pond – And Spots Someone There

2018-03-10T04:05:00.002-05:00

One day, a woman named Abby Leathers and her rescue dog named Bruce were alone together at home when suddenly, Bruce was behaving oddly. He made it obvious that he wanted to get outside pronto – for some reason. The dog even scratched at the door to get Abby’s attention, and it did not look like he needed a bathroom break either.

The pooch is an alert one!

Eventually, a concerned Abby attended to Bruce’s call, and let him out the door. The troubled and panicky dog proceeded to take off in a fashion akin to a bat from hell once he got an exit, and this alerted Abby that something was really wrong. The woman hastened her footsteps and followed quickly to see what the trouble was.

[Warning] Dog Leads Men To An Abandoned Boat – With A Surprise Underneath!

Bruce had led her directly to a nearby pond, which was cold and dark yet located deep in the woods. Abby immediately spotted an elderly woman who was knee-deep in the water. She had realized that the woman was confused and lost, but could not speak any English.

However, Abby was still able to lead the woman out of the pond successfully. Abby then carefully wrapped her up in a blanket tin order to keep her warm before dialing 911, enabling first respondents to make their way to the pond.

Coincidentally, the woman’s family would call the authorities around the same time to report her as missing. Luckily for the local authorities, they did not have to look far, , thanks to Abby as well as her amazing dog, Bruce!

The Ultimate Guide To Finding The Perfect Dog Just For You

2018-03-09T14:00:00.001-05:00

Dogs are the funniest cutest and friendliest ever they're not called man's best friend for nothing right but with hundreds of breeds to choose from which one would perfectly suit your lifestyle and needs let's find out but first while you're searching for your perfect canine companion also keep an eye out for three bright side light bulbs hidden throughout this video once you've found them all comment the timestamps down below good luck counting down

#12 Guard dogs
a lot of people are looking not only for a friend but also a faithful Guardian in their dog if you're one of those people and you want your pooch to look after your home you should probably consider a Rottweiler Doberman Pinscher or German Shepherd these breeds are natural guard dogs since they don't trust strangers that easily and they'll do a good job at protecting your house now that doesn't mean they won't be funny or cute don't worry they can easily do both you probably won't find a good fit and retrievers though these dogs are usually way too friendly so burglars would be welcome with a wagging tail and slobbery kisses.

#11 Family friendly dogs
if you have a big family full of kids or just welcome to new born into this world it can seem challenging to pick the perfect dog breed of course pretty much every dog loves children but this would be a territory where a Labrador or golden retriever would be completely unbeatable they just adore children and are always ready to play nothing makes them happier than fetching a ball if their size intimidates you consider getting a beagle a Pekinese may not be a good choice though they usually prefer to be the only child in the family.

#10 Athletic dogs
if you lead an active lifestyle and love going for a daily jog you probably wouldn't mind having a training buddy around would you consider getting a pointer or a setter since they're pretty much built for running if you want something a bit smaller a Jack Russell Terrier can be a good choice as well it's not a good idea to get an English Bulldog or a pug they'll most probably struggle from over-exercising steer clear of any large stocky breeds - they may be too heavy and the frequent running can damage their joints.

#9 Lap dogs
what can be better than chilling out on the couch and watching some TV after a hard day's work if you're looking for a furry cuddle buddy who will always be happy to laze around on the sofa with you a French Bulldog or a Maltese is your perfect fit they'll always be by your side up or in your lap whenever you're reading a nice book or watching your favorite TV show any working breeds are usually completely different they require lots of exercise and activity hence the name.

#8 Dogs for busy singles
A lot of people stop themselves from getting a dog because they're constantly out of the house of course generally speaking dogs are social animals but still some breeds deal with being home alone better than others if this describes your lifestyle think about getting a shar-pei or a basset hound retrievers and collies on the other hand aren't a good fit for you because they like and require constant socializing and don't forget that any dog needs love and attention you shouldn't get one if you won't be able to spend at least some time with your buddy hmm maybe you should get a cat most of the cats I know could care less if you're around or not but that's just me you haven't forgotten about the light bulbs have you keep looking.

#7 Dogs for seniors
freshmen and sophomores get their own breeds if you're retired and have decided to welcome a dog into your home a good option for you would be a Boston Terrier a pug or a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel boy that's a name they're affectionate and playful without requiring lots of exercise large dogs however can be a little tricky sometimes they're mostly active and need a lot of attention and a sufficient amount of exercise.

#6 Dogs for an apartment
now if you're living in an apartment there are certain dog breeds that will suit you a bit more than others surprisingly the size doesn't always matter here it's about the dog's temperament if the dog is small it doesn't necessarily mean it'll be happy living in a smaller space consider getting a Yorkshire Terrier or a bulldog if you're interested in chihuahuas you might want to think twice here these dogs are tiny but very active.

#5 Dogs for multi pet households
if you already have pets at home getting another one is pretty challenging and potentially dangerous you have to choose the breed carefully since you surely want all your pets to get along retrievers collies and spaniels are always happy to have company to play with so they'll likely make a great match with your other pets terriers or breeds typically used in dogfighting can sometimes be a bit complicated without a doubt they have beautiful personalities but unfortunately fighter dogs were bred to be aggressive and competitive it's simply in their nature.

#4 Dogs that do well in hot climates
most of us love summer but not all dogs will agree if you live in a place where it's hot most of the year you should think carefully about which dog to get surprisingly many Shorthair breeds would seriously struggle in a tropical climate since tolerance to hot weather depends not only on the coat but on the dog's facial structure and size as well most Terriers can take the heat and they come in lots of sizes at the same time st. Bernards Samoyed and boxers won't feel good in hot weather

#3 Dogs that do well in cold climates
if where you live is the complete opposite of the type of climate we just talked about then your options obviously will be different breeds that prefer a colder climate normally have a thick double coat and more body fat so as you can probably guess a good choice is a st. Bernard Malamute husky or Samoyed they feel right at home in cold temperatures Dobermans on the other hand hate the cold.

#2 Hypoallergenic dogs
now if you're allergic to dog hair you've probably sworn off the idea of ever owning a canine but hold on there for a sec dander which is attached to pet hair is the most common cause of pet allergies schnauzers can be a good choice since they're known for producing less dander than other breeds another good option is a poodle and any of its designer cross breeds like labradoodles spoodle and the list of GMO doggies goes on just know that your allergies may still act up from time to time but overall it won't be as bad as with the other breeds German Shepherds aren't a good breed for you due to their dry skin which results in a lot of dander built up the same goes for a long-haired breeze as well or you can always get the dog you want and then just double down on the allergy medicine like I did.

#1 Dogs for a newbie
getting a dog for the first time ever is both exciting and nerve-racking there are so many breeds to choose from and they're all so cute and adorable if you're new to the dog owning world then a Labrador border collie or poodle will be perfect for you these breeds are very intelligent relatively easy to train and they're not stubborn schnauzers and Terriers require a bit more patience though but they're still great choices the best thing to do is find a good shelter in your area make sure to mention you're a newbie so that they can find you the best fit and next thing you know you'll be coming home with a lucky dog that'll surely become your most loyal friend hey here's my dog meet Riley and here's Riley and his best friend olive the cat they even sleep together this of course breaks all kinds of rules in most of the world regarding pet fraternization but hey we just can't keep them apart so do you already have a dog or are you considering getting one tell us in the comment section below.

Dog Has Been Waiting For A Home For Two Years And No One Knows Why

2018-03-08T16:30:00.000-05:00

After Cesara ended up at a big public shelter in South Carolina, she was quickly put on the euthanasia list because she was heartworm positive. Dog Star Rescue, based in Connecticut, specializes in pulling heartworm positive dogs from South Carolina, getting them better and then giving them a second chance, and that’s exactly what they decided to do for sweet Cesara. She was soon transported to the Northeast, where the rescue set about trying to find the perfect home for her.

That was nearly two years ago, and unfortunately, poor Cesara is still waiting for her forever family.

For two years now, Dog Star Rescue has been working tirelessly to try and find Cesara a home, but for some reason, staffers just haven’t had any luck. Everyone who knows Cesara absolutely adores her, and her struggle to find a family is so baffling to them all.

“She’s been featured on our website, Instagram and Facebook, she’s attended almost every adoption event that’s been held, and she’s had advocates in each and every volunteer that has come to personally know her — yet it’s like she’s completely invisible to the outside world,” Megan Casagrande of Dog Star Rescue told The Dodo.

Cesara absolutely loves meeting new people, and is always bubbly and happy to see anyone who crosses her path. She’s not at all shy or nervous, and is always up for any adventure — car rides, hikes, kayaking, jogging — you name it, Cesara wants to do it with you.

Cesara is not great with other animals and would need to be the only pet in her future home, which staff at the rescue think is part of the reason she hasn’t been adopted yet. She’s also a rather large dog at 60 pounds, and is an American Staffordshire terrier, boxer and bulldog mix, which are breeds that some people can have issues with. Staff at the rescue wish people would just look past all that, though, and see what a truly wonderful addition to any family Cesara would make.

Cesara has been searching for a home for two years now, and her rescuers don’t want her to have to wait even a day longer. She has so much love to give, and just needs a family she can give it all to.

“Cesara has been in our rescue by far the longest and she has become quite the legend,” Dan McCabe, president of Dog Star Rescue, told The Dodo. “There will not be a dry eye in the Dog Star volunteer base when she finds her lifelong human partner(s).”

Dogs Bark To Wake Their Owners at 4:30 Am, Leading Them To Call 911

2018-03-06T17:32:00.000-05:00

When a Michigan couple were fast asleep one night, their two dogs suddenly started barking incessantly at around 4:30 a.m. The husband was forced to get up, and he went outside in the freezing cold to investigate. Immediately, he realized it would have been too late had the alert dogs not gotten him out of bed.

At first, the two Labradoodles, Adam and Eva, just barked madly and tried hard to wake up their owners, Susan and Lonnie Chester.
“Adam and Eva began to get intensely restless in our room where they sleep. And it was definitely out of the ordinary,”.

While unable to get their owners out of bed by merely barking, Adam started to pull Lonnie’s sleeve. He was so persistent that Lonnie couldn’t ignore his pet pooch, and got up to follow the two anxious dogs to the front door. Seeing the dogs pressing against the door and raring to rush out, Lonnie thought there was probably something wrong outside.

The instant Lonnie opened the door, Adam and Eva bolted out. They ran to the driveway, where a woman was lying on the ground. Wearing just a nightgown, the woman was shivering in the icy cold of about 9 degrees Fahrenheit (approx. -13 degrees Celsius) at around 4:30 a.m.

“She looked up at me and said, ‘I’m so cold,’” said Lonnie, recognizing the woman was their 89-year-old neighbor. “I have no idea how long she had been out there. She must have been terrified.”

Lonnie quickly brought the elderly woman inside. The couple wrapped her in blankets and called 911. The paramedics soon arrived and so did the elderly lady’s family, who had been searching for her. They had arrived at the Chesters home in Norvell Township.

Susan estimated their neighbor had been outside for about 20 minutes. “I believe that she will be 90 years old next month I do believe she was confused. And that’s the only reason that happened. I can’t say what her condition was but she had something going on,” she said.

“I do believe [the woman] was led to our house,” she added. “We think she saw the lights on our house and went toward our house because other than [the lights from] our house, it was really dark.”
Susan said the woman had frostbite on one foot, but apart from that, she was doing fine. The woman and her husband will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary this coming spring.

The Chesters were proud of their dogs for saving the elderly woman’s life.

“[We felt] just incredible, just incredibly proud, just amazed at these dogs and how sensitive they are. They just have super sensitivities,” Susan said. “They seem incredibly intelligent to me. They pick up on things, they’re really responsive, and [they’re] really tuned in dogs.”

The interview below!
all right here we go I do find these dogs to be exceptionally intelligent I opened the door even squeeze out Adam ran out and I go oh my god then I looked at this lady there are dogs we have you know saved a life I mean they they really possibly did save this woman's life they just pick up on things so fast and they really pay attention to everything that's going on they are really really important in our lives

Photo Credit: YouTube Screenshot | MLive.
Source NTD TV.

The Iditarod Is Worse Than A Nightmare For Dogs

2018-03-05T11:45:00.001-05:00

Infected neck wounds. Starving newborn puppies. Shivering dogs chained to thin plastic barrels.

These were the conditions shown in a series of chilling photos released in October that were taken at a dog kennel owned by four-time Iditarod champion, Dallas Seavey.

The photos, which were taken by a former employee, showed conditions that were unacceptable to some mushers, vets and handlers involved in Alaska’s sled dog industry. But they weren’t surprising — because such treatment is entirely legal.

A dog lying in hay at Iditarod musher Dallas Seavey's kennel in October 2017 | Humane Mushing

Sled dogs are considered livestock, which exempts them from the animal welfare laws that protect household pets. When an animal control officer inspected both of Seavey’s properties after the photos surfaced last fall, he wasn’t hit with any violations.

But instead of accepting the current system — which has allowed some mushers to operate glorified breeding mills, provide minimal to no veterinary care to sick or injured dogs and even kill dogs who are no longer fit to race — some mushers and animal advocates alike are speaking out.

And in the process, an industry at the backbone of the state’s identity is under massive pressure to change.

"People can go out into the woods and shoot their dog for whatever reason."

The dog yard at Dallas Seavey's kennel in Willow, Alaska | PETA

Speeding through the freezing Alaskan wilderness on a dog sled at 14 miles per hour, it’s not difficult to see the draws of mushing — and why it has become a sport so popular that thousands flock to Alaska each year to watch its reigning spectacle: the Iditarod dog sled race.

The 1,000-mile race, which begins on Saturday this year, was founded in 1973 as an event to test the endurance of top mushers and rekindle the then-declining tradition of dog sledding.

But with the introduction of corporate sponsors, increased prize winnings and more participants, critics of the race say it’s developed a dark side that allows accomplished mushers to submit their dogs to cruelty despite having enough money — and knowledge — to provide decent care.

A dog with an oozing, infected neck wound at Iditarod musher Dallas Seavey's kennel in fall 2017 | PETA

One critic is experienced Iditarod musher Zoya DeNure, a former model who fell in love with the sport after meeting a woman in her home state of Wisconsin who had a sprint racing kennel.

“It was amazing to just get on a sled with the dogs and be so free,” DeNure told Us. “I worked with a four-dog team and we’d do little sprint races. But I wanted to learn what it was like to be an Iditarod musher.”

DeNure moved to Alaska in 2002 to work as a handler at a kennel. There, her boss taught her the ropes of professionally training and caring for sled dogs for long-distance racing. She said most of her days were spent tending to the dogs — preparing fresh meals, keeping them clean and getting them ready for training or exercise sessions.

But in mushing, according to DeNure, not everyone agrees on how the dogs should be treated.

A dog with scratches on his face on the sidelines of Iditarod 2017 | Humane Mushing

“One of the most important things he showed me was that mushers have to care about their dogs,” DeNure said. “We have to put the effort in to build special relationships with them and give them everything that they need to live comfortably and happily. He always said, ‘We’re their coach, but we’re also their friend.’”

DeNure met her husband, John Schandelmeier, a musher, a year later and they soon founded a kennel of their own. John had already won the famed Yukon Quest twice, and had been racing for 30 years. Their kennel now consists of 55 dogs, many of whom are rescues from other mushers.

Living within the center of the Alaskan dog sledding community, DeNure soon realized not everyone had high standards of care for their dogs. Sometimes she heard mushers on the sidelines joke about what they’d do to their dogs who didn’t perform well in races.

Musher Zoya DeNure racing with her team | Zoya DeNure

“The dogs have no legal protection here,” DeNure said. “People can go out into the woods and shoot their dog for whatever reason. Sometimes that might be injury, sometimes it’s because they’re too old to race. They’ll make remarks like, ‘This guy isn’t running so well, we’re gonna get rid of him,’ as if he’s a piece of furniture or a machine. And these people are lauded in the public eye.”

Although some rescue groups exist for retired sled dogs, such as The August Foundation for Alaska’s Racing Dogs, some mushers choose not to adopt out their dogs. While it’s unclear where the dogs end up, DeNure said it’s likely they’re killed — or “culled” as some describe it.

A mass grave where sick puppies were reportedly buried after succumbing to disease at Iditarod musher Dallas Seavey's kennel last fall | Humane Mushing

This is something that has been happening for decades within the industry, DeNure explained.

“At any given time, some kennels will have 100 dogs and they’re all between the ages of 2 and 7,” she said. “So what happens to the old dogs?”

At some kennels, the pressure to produce a successful team comes at the cost of overbreeding. Kennels will breed multiple female dogs throughout the year, which gives them a larger pool to choose from once the dogs are old enough to start training — but also lots of extra puppies.


Puppies with Pedialyte-soaked sponges stuffed in their mouths for nutrition at Iditarod musher Dallas Seavey's kennel last fall. They allegedly later died. \| Humane Mushing

Many dogs who aren’t cut out for racing are killed.

“Performance culling is undoubtedly taking place,” DeNure said. “We’ve had handlers from other kennels interview with us for a job here and have heard a lot of horror stories. People are traumatized by what they see.”

Sebastian Schnuelle is a German-born musher who has raced in multiple Iditarods, and currently lives in Alaska with his 15 sled dogs.

Like DeNure, he is critical of mushers who cull their dogs when they are too old or injured to run. It’s a musher’s responsibility to plan for their dogs’ entire life, he said, and not just when it will be convenient.

Dogs geared up for training at an unidentified kennel in Willow, Alaska | Sled Dogs

According to Schnuelle, the culling of dogs when they are old or injured is a telltale sign of an irresponsible kennel. He puts a focus on planning for his dogs once they don’t want to run anymore — so that they can easily move on to live in a home full-time.

“It’s my obligation to house train my dogs, so when retirement age comes, I can say, ‘If you take Libby, she won’t eat your couch or pee in your house,’” Schnuelle told Us. “Life planning is part of responsible dog ownership. A dog who has raced thousands of miles with proper care develops into an incredibly confident, good dog. They make wonderful pets.”

“They’re only seen as dogs and nothing else.”

A dog inside a plastic barrel-turned-doghouse at an unidentified kennel in Willow, Alaska | Sled Dogs

Although former sled dogs make great pets, not every musher in Alaska sees them this way — and since the state’s animal care laws reflect this, dogs can live in squalor.

Former musher Ashley Keith will never forget how she felt when she got her first glance behind the scenes. Raised in New York, Keith traveled to Alaska in 2003 to work at the kennel of Mitch Seavey — the father of the musher who was investigated under cruelty allegations after the photos of his kennel were released last fall.

“I was gonna be trained to one day run his puppy team in the Iditarod,” Keith told Us. But she soon changed her mind when she saw the condition of his dogs. “It was financially and emotionally heartbreaking for me when I realized that it was not something I could support,” she said.

At the kennel, Keith remembers there being around 200 dogs — many of whom were puppies and youngsters. All the dogs lived outside on short chains attached to barren dog houses. The only close interaction they had with one another was when they were being trained or running a race.

Another dog at Iditarod musher Mitch Seavey's kennel during Ashley Keith's visit in 2003 | Ashley Keith

“The dogs had pretty much chewed through the houses from boredom and lack of socialization,” Keith said. “The houses were not insulated and didn’t provide protection from the wind. A ton of them had exposed nails sticking out of them and none of them had straw inside. It was November and we were in Alaska, so it was freezing ... But Mitch told me, ‘Their coats are so thick, they don’t need it.’”

There was one dog who was clearly sick when Keith got there, and since one of her main responsibilities was feeding the dogs, she soon noticed he hadn’t eaten for two or three days. He was never identified by name to her, but Keith named him Frank.

Frank would only walk standing on his tiptoes and appeared to be having abdominal troubles, Keith said. It was evident he was in pain, but with so many other dogs to look after, management didn’t get him any medical help.

“I urged everyone that he needed to go to the vet,” Keith said. “On that third day that Frank didn’t eat, Mitch put him in his truck. When he came back, the dog was nowhere to be seen. He killed him.”

The dog whom Ashley Keith named Frank | Ashley Keith

After just two weeks of working at the kennel, Keith quit.

“I wish I could’ve stayed to expose more of it,” Keith said. “But even then, it’s technically impossible for there to be legal violations when the dogs aren’t even [legally] protected. They’re only seen as dogs and nothing else.”

Years later, Jane Stevens, another handler who worked for Mitch Seavey, witnessed him brutally attack a dog just 10 days before the start of the 2011 Iditarod.

The musher, who was only later identified as Mitch Seavey, kicked and stomped on the dog with full force, and punched him with closed fists as the dog lay on the ground. Stevens recalls seeing the dog pulled into the air by his harness and thrown back to the ground repeatedly.

Exposed nails on a doghouse at Iditarod musher Mitch Seavey's kennel in 2003 | Ashley Keith

“Personally, I have never witnessed such a violent attack on a living creature before,” Stevens wrote in an open letter, which was published in the Whitehorse Daily Star. “The image of that explosion of anger and physical force of one man on a smaller animal is burnt to my memory.”

She reported it to Alaska State Police — but the other two witnesses there that day were afraid to step forward to provide their own testimony. The matter was never formally addressed by police or the Iditarod Trail Committee (ITC), the body that governs the race.
---- “You put them on the chain and they’ll cry for days.”

Dogs at Iditarod musher Mitch Seavey's kennel | Sled Dogs

In recent years, as some mushers come forward to campaign for higher welfare standards, the Iditarod has also faced scrutiny from animal welfare organizations for the living conditions some dogs face while they’re off the trail.

In the 2016 documentary “Sled Dogs,” director Fern Levitt explored multiple kennels in Alaska and Canada that keep dogs in conditions less than worthy of man’s best friend.

Camera crews visited some of the industry’s most notorious offenders, where dogs were shown chained to crude doghouses with very little room to walk or interact with one another. Conditions were filthy.

A dog eating out of a rusty metal can at an unidentified kennel in Willow, Alaska | Sled Dogs

In one location, a dog could be seen with his head buried in a rusted metal can fixed to his doghouse, presumably filled with food or water. In another, an open lot was filled with rows of dogs on short chains as far as the eye could see in the middle of heavy snow — with plastic barrels as their only shelter.

To Levitt, the conditions were heartbreaking.

“There’s no logic to thinking that animals are able to survive and thrive at the end of a chain for their entire lives,” she told Us. “At one kennel we visited, the handler actually wanted us to film a puppy being put on a chain for the first time. He said, ‘You put them on the chain and they’ll cry for days.’ I know at some point he must have gotten involved with this because he loves dogs. But taking a step back and watching that happen makes you really think how someone could think it’s OK.”

A large wound on a dog's neck from his collar at Iditarod musher Dallas Seavey's kennel last fall | Humane Mushing

The ITC has a different take. Chas St. George, chief operating officer for the ITC, denies the abuse claims made in “Sled Dogs,” calling them “unjustified libels” and “grossly irresponsible falsehoods.”

He cited Mush with P.R.I.D.E., a program every musher is required to join that outlines welfare standards, as an example of ITC’s commitment to the well-being of sled dogs. Critics of the program say it is purely nominal and hasn’t been active for years.

“The ITC honors the sled dogs that participate in the Iditarod and takes every step to ensure the canine athletes are given first-rate care and treated with respect,” St. George told Us.

A sled dog shivers outside during a snowstorm at Iditarod musher Mitch Seavey's kennel | Sled Dogs

Sled dogs, who are usually breeds like Alaskan huskies or malamutes, have a clear biological advantage over other types of dogs, allowing them to withstand the conditions presented during sled races or sled pulls. During the Iditarod, teams usually race through blizzards with whiteout conditions, subzero temperatures and forceful winds that can cause windchills to reach -100 °F.

Advocates of chaining year-round argue that the dogs are designed to withstand freezing temperatures and live comfortably outside — but others counter that it’s not a humane practice.

A thin dog chained to a plastic barrel at Iditarod musher Mitch Seavey's kennel | Sled Dogs

“The mushers who do this want to say that sled dogs are different than other dogs, since that allows them to care for them at a lower level,” Keith said. “As long as mushers continue to make these dogs seem like they need less physical and psychological care than what the pet dog lying on the couch needs, the abuse will go on.”

While many U.S. states have laws that ban chaining dogs, others provide particular guidelines that must be followed (in Michigan, for example, dogs are only allowed on a tether if it is at least three times the length of their body). But some states don’t have any restrictions at all, including Alaska, Colorado and Minnesota, all three of which are home to dog racing or sled dog tours.

A dog on a chain howling at Chocpaw Expeditions, a popular sled dog tour company in Ontario, Canada |
Sled Dogs

Both DeNure and Schnuelle chain their dogs, stating that it is an effective way to manage a large number of them. But they also say that dogs should be given time away from the elements, exercised multiple times per day and kept on long enough tethers to interact with the other dogs. Adequate food and shelter and cleanliness of living quarters are also priorities, they say.

“I always tell people, we treat our dogs like family,” DeNure said. “We have an indoor dog barn that holds 42 dogs and each has a spot with hay for them to cozy up for the night. We also have a cabin that our handlers stay in, and they take in another handful of dogs at night.”

At Schnuelle’s kennel, each dog comes right inside the house at night to lie on the couch and relax.

Sebastian Schnuelle's sled dogs inside his home | Sebastian Schnuelle

During the day, however, the dogs are tethered — something Keith and Levitt sharply oppose.

“When mushing, you have a lifetime commitment to your team,” Keith said. “To me, that means involving them in everyday aspects of your life, not keeping them outside on a chain as a tool to benefit your own finances.”

The owner of a former sled dog herself, Keith argues that chaining often sets dogs up for failure in a home setting after a lifetime of running, training and living outdoors — especially when dogs aren’t given time off their chain to interact with people indoors.

“If the dogs live outside their whole lives and their owner never brings them in, then you’re dealing with a terrified senior dog who has no idea how to walk on linoleum, climb stairs or deal with noises from a microwave or TV,” she explained. “It is really, really hard to find people to rehabilitate these dogs.”

“It’s like an Iditarod Mafia”

A memorial, at the Balto statue in New York City's Central Park, for the five dogs who died during the 2017 Iditarod | Ashley Keith

In the 2017 Iditarod, five dogs died — two during the race, and three after they crossed the finish line. The unofficial death toll since the race’s start in 1973 tallies at 152.

Eric Jayne, a traveling vet who practiced in rural Alaska from 1999 to 2009, witnessed mushers racing their dogs when they were sick on multiple occasions — sometimes to the brink of death.

“It’s so isolated out in the wilderness and the dogs get very exhausted,” Jayne told Us. “I’ve seen many teams shooting out bloody diarrhea — and at that point, any sane veterinarian would say, ‘All right, the race is over.’ But not all of them will.”

The race’s path passes through remote Alaskan villages that typically don’t have access to veterinary care for their animals, so when sick sled dogs have layovers in these villages, the resident dogs can catch illnesses.

A dog at an Iditarod checkpoint chewing on her bloody back leg and tail | Sled Dogs

“The notion to let dehydrated, weak, stumbling dogs with bloody diarrhea continue on in the race — as a veterinarian — is insanity,” Jayne said. “And then they allow these dogs to be parked next to other [native] dogs in the villages who are left to deal with the aftermath after the mushers pack up and leave. My biggest concern has always been the disease.”

Since the Iditarod hosts over 50 dog sled teams each year, consisting of over 1,000 dogs, the race has a team of veterinarians who are hired specifically to give health checks to dogs and provide vet care in the case of an injury.

They also perform the autopsies of any dogs who die during the race — but since they’re hired by the Iditarod, Jayne suspects some causes of deaths are not accurately reported.

While some deaths are indeed isolated incidents, others stem from systemic issues — such as carelessness by the people hired to supervise dogs at checkpoints during the race.

Dogs taking a break to eat during the 2017 Iditarod | Sled Dogs

During the 2013 race, a 5-year-old dog named Dorado was dropped off at a checkpoint by his musher after he had begun showing evidence of exhaustion or injury. Dorado and 30 other dogs were chained out in the cold unsupervised — and the following morning, Dorado was found dead buried under a snowdrift. His necropsy showed he had suffocated under the weight of the snow.

“There should be an independent body out-of-state investigating each of the deaths of these dogs,” Jayne added.

Keith echoed these sentiments.

“I don’t believe the Iditarod can ever be humane,” she said. “I’m not against mushing or racing at all, but I am against this industrialization of the sport.”


An emaciated sled dog at an unidentified kennel in Willow, Alaska \| Sled Dogs

Last year, for the first time in the race’s history, four sled dogs tested positive for the opioid painkiller tramadol, which is banned for use before or during the race.

While the ITC initially kept the musher’s identity a secret, it was later announced that the drugged dogs belonged to Iditarod champion Dallas Seavey. He posted a rant on YouTube after the scandal broke, claiming that an animal rights protester must have slipped his dogs the drugs without his knowledge in order to undermine him. He has chosen to not participate in this year’s race.

Hundreds of supporters flooded the comments. While some speculated that a competitor could have slipped Seavey’s dogs the drug, DeNure and Jayne are skeptical. They say the Iditarod’s tepid response shows how untouchable the sport’s top racers are.

A dog at an Iditarod checkpoint wearing a leg brace | Sled Dogs

“No disciplinary action was taken,” DeNure said. “It’s prohibited to have dogs test positive in this race, and if it were any other sport, Dallas would be banned for life.”

Exceptions like this aren’t unusual, DeNure and Jayne said. When the photos of neglected dogs at Dallas Seavey’s kennel surfaced last fall, authorities reportedly gave his staff a full day’s notice before visiting the property to investigate the alleged abuse.

When asked, St. George, of the ITC, said the committee had no plans to take a harsher stance on punishing violators of the committee's own anti-drugging regulations in the future. “While it is the responsibility of the ITC to uncover these findings, it is up to mushers to ultimately care for their respective dog teams and if there is cause to suspect wrongdoing by outside parties, to bring charges or an investigation through local law enforcement,” he said.

Since mushing is so ingrained into Alaskan culture, Jayne explained, it can be outright dangerous to speak out against the race or top mushers — and that fear silences people who would otherwise speak out about instances of cruelty or cheating.

“It’s almost suicide to go against the Iditarod in Alaska,” he said. “It’s like an Iditarod Mafia. You’d be in physical danger.”

Robert Redington, grandson of Iditarod cofounder Joe Redington, acknowledges the crowd as he begins the 2017 race. | Mike Kenney/ITC

In part, that’s because the multimillion-dollar race is a huge tourism asset for the state, and it can be a financial windfall for the competitors as well. The average musher spends upwards of $15,000 to compete, and the winnings are proportionally high.

In 2017, first-place prize winnings for the race tallied in at $75,000 — supported by corporate sponsors like ExxonMobil, Jack Daniels and Coca-Cola.

Last year, the National Humane Education Society wrote an open letter to these sponsors to encourage them to end their financial support of the race due to dog deaths and the poor living conditions some dogs are forced to live in off the trail.

Between the “Sled Dogs” film, cruelty investigations into kennels and last year’s Seavey doping scandal, the pressure has mounted enough that major companies such as State Farm Insurance and Wells Fargo have rescinded their sponsorships.

Abuse not unique to Alaska

The kennel for Chocpaw Expeditions, a popular sled dog ride attraction in Canada | Sled Dogs

While Alaska serves as a main mushing hub, the sport is also popular in Europe, throughout Canada and even in some other U.S. states such as Colorado and Montana.

In areas where mushing is popular, a tourism industry often pops up providing tours that offer rides through the forest on a dog-pulled sled.

This sector of the mushing community made headlines in April 2010 when an employee of a sled dog tour company in British Columbia executed 100 sled dogs — he had reportedly been instructed to do so after a downturn in ticket sales following the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

A pile of dead dogs discovered in Willow, Alaska | Sled Dogs

Robert Fawcett, the general manager of Howling Dogs Tour Whistler — and, incidentally, then-vice president of the Mush with P.R.I.D.E welfare program — shot and stabbed the dogs to death, reportedly in full view of other dogs who awaited the same fate. They were thrown into an open grave, and one dog who had been shot but survived the injuries was found crawling among the others days later.

As in the racing industry, the killing of surplus dogs occurs in some touring kennels as well, Levitt said.

A dog howling on his chain at Chocpaw Expeditions in Ontario, Canada | Sled Dogs

The same year Fawcett notoriously killed the dogs in British Columbia, Levitt visited a kennel in Ontario named Chocpaw Expeditions — where she saw the dogs being kept outside in a muddy field on chains. Many were continuously pacing back and forth, which is a common sign of anxiety in stressed animals.

Without a second thought, she asked the owner if she could take one of the dogs home.

“They said that they had 30 dogs they were about to retire, but if they couldn’t get homes for them then they would be culled,” Levitt said.


Fern Levitt with her late rescued sled dog, Slater \| Fern Levitt

Levitt went home with 9-year-old Slater, a male sled dog who had lived his entire life at the kennel on a chain.

“He was afraid of human touch and didn’t know how to play with other dogs,” Levitt said. “He was deprived for so many years. He’s the reason my documentary exists.”

“It was like no one noticed how bad of conditions these dogs were in.”

Dogs pacing in front of their doghouses at Windrift Adventures in Ontario, Canada | Dylan Blake

Expecting a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, Canadian couple Natasha Guerriero and Dylan Blake purchased tickets to go on a sled dog tour late last month at Windrift Adventures, another popular touring company in Ontario.

They had a great time on the tour — but when they returned to the kennel to visit more of the dogs after the sled ride, their outlook on the experience quickly changed.

Over 100 dogs sat chained to crude doghouses in the snow, and their living quarters were covered in feces and urine. Because the chains were so short, the dogs had no choice but to sit in their own waste. Dozens of the dogs were skinny or limping, or had open sores on their bodies.

That’s when the couple began filming.

A dog approaches Dylan Blake at Windrift Adventures in Ontario, Canada | Dylan Blake

“The dogs were absolutely filthy and went to the bathroom right where they stood,” Guerriero told Us. “As we went over to pet them, the guy who worked there said, ‘I wouldn’t get too close to them; they don’t get washed very often.’”

Guerriero and Blake came across a dog who was limping and had an injury on his front leg, but when they tried to address it with the owner of the kennel, their concerns were ignored.

“It was like no one noticed how bad of conditions these dogs were in,” Blake told Us. “As soon as me and Natasha saw the injured dog, we yelled back to the owner saying, ‘Hey, this one is hurt!’ She just told us that he tends to put on a show when people are around for attention and that it was nothing. The dog was clearly in pain and being out in the cold wasn’t helping.”

Dylan Blake

The couple continued walking around the property and noticed that some of the older dogs were kept toward the back. It was clear these dogs didn’t get much human interaction, Blake said.

“We were in the back by ourselves and one dog was literally hugging Natasha like he was a human,” Blake said. “Many of them had their tails down when we walked up to them. It was clear they wanted love but were very timid and nervous.”

Dylan Blake
After being contacted by Guerriero and Blake, the Ontario SPCA launched an investigation into the treatment of the dogs at the kennel. As of February 2, the SPCA was establishing care standards for the dogs including insulated shelter and veterinary care. It’s unclear whether the dogs will be seized.

As in Alaska, the chaining and culling of sled dogs is legal in Canada.

“They think we’re a bunch of tree-huggers because we like our dogs.”

A skinny dog at an unidentified sled dog kennel in Willow, Alaska | Sled Dogs

Following what had been a year of controversy for the sport, DeNure and her husband approached the ITC last fall to request that a series of required care standards be put in place in order for mushers to compete in the race.

“Mushers who are so-called champions are killing dogs left and right behind the scenes,” DeNure said. “Those are the people who are supposed to be leaders within the sport. This type of stuff has been going on for decades — and they think we’re a bunch of tree-huggers because we like our dogs. We finally approached the ITC and said, ‘You’ve gotta take a stand.’”

The couple met with race officials for two hours to outline suggestions for kennel standards and recordkeeping procedures they believe would better regulate the sport and protect the dogs. They discussed things like housing requirements, kennel size, vet care requirements and on-site care.

A dog sitting atop his doghouse at Iditarod musher Lance Mackey's kennel | Sled Dogs

On December 1, 2017, the ITC announced that it was developing the framework for a “Best Care” kennel management program that will be overseen by an advisory committee of people within the mushing community, including Schnuelle. The group hopes to implement the standards in time for the 2019 race.

According to St. George, of the ITC, this new program is a continuation of Mush With P.R.I.D.E, which was established in 1991. He said the new guidelines will show the public that mushers are already “innovators” in animal welfare and to “raise awareness that mushers are committed and dedicated to the well-being of the canine athletes.”

“[Our] main goal in establishing the Best Care kennel management program is to increase efforts for a standard of excellence where Iditarod mushers have a platform to educate the public on new social normals around animal care,” he said.

A doghouse with soaking wet hay inside at Iditarod musher Dallas Seavey's kennel last fall | Humane Mushing

But others are hoping the new guidelines will manage to reform existing standards, rather than work as a PR initiative.

“I think mushers saying, ‘We need to show people what we do is good’ is not acceptable anymore,” Schnuelle said. “We need to change our ways — and if you’re willing to be part of that change, then we have a future.”
---

A dog inside her plastic barrel doghouse at the kennel for Chocpaw Expeditions, a popular sled dog tour company in Ontario, Canada | Sled Dogs

After Keith’s harrowing experience at the Alaskan kennel, she got involved with animal rescue in Cortlandt, New York, near where she grew up, and eventually became a state-licensed animal cruelty investigator. She’s now involved with the rescue and rehabilitation of sled dogs — and shares her home with a retired one named Squirrel.

Keith also founded Humane Mushing, an organization that advocates for the reform of standard practices within the sledding industry. While many animal welfare organizations call for the abolishment of the sport altogether, Keith advocates for stronger legal protections for the dogs.

Dogs with visible ribs at an Iditarod checkpoint last year | Sled Dogs

“Change needs to come from legislation,” Keith said. “So many people don’t realize that these things happen and that they’re completely legal. We just need to keep talking about it until it can’t be ignored.”

While Levitt fears the Iditarod’s Best Care program is just a method to appease the public, DeNure is hopeful that it could become the first step to a new generation of mushing. But even though animal advocates and forward-looking mushers disagree in some areas in the fight for sled-dog reform, they all believe that serious change is needed — and soon.

A dog peeking out of a barren doghouse at Iditarod musher Joe Redington Jr.'s kennel | Sled Dogs

“It’s like some people here are 20 years behind,” DeNure said. “Dog sledding is under the microscope right now — it’s time to take care of your dogs and do the right thing. And not just because the world is watching.”

Source TheDodo.

Dog Canine Development and Anatomy

2018-03-02T19:13:00.002-05:00

Where did dogs evolve from; We don't know. Many theories, including the one that a dog was once a domesticated jackal, have been discredited. In the years I have been investigating this question, I have yet to come up with a satisfactory answer. It is known, however, that dogs did not evolve from wolves, but rather both evolved from some common ancestor. To put it another way, a wolf is to a dog what a chimpanzee is to man. The latter did not "descend" from the former. Each pair represents the end products of parallel evolution. But all breeds of dogs do belong to the same species, as was recently proved when a dachshund bitch gave birth to a healthy litter sired by a St Bernard!

When a dog gives birth to a litter of puppies, she does all the training, instilling them with the basic techniques of survival, until they're about six weeks old. Then it's time for you to take over.

Naturally, if a puppy has been taken from his mother before that time, it's up to you to be both mother and trainer.

If the newly separated puppy cries, the old trick of placing a ticking clock and hot-water bottle nearby will probably calm him down.

But not because he associates the ticking with her heartbeat and the heat with her body warmth. A dog's body temperature naturally falls during sleep (as does ours or any warm-blooded animal's), and a small puppy's body volume is often too small to retain much heat and keep him from getting chilled. You'll see that puppies in a pet shop window usually take naps under, around, or atop other sleeping puppies all piled together like a bin of discount goods. Being next to another warm body simply helps the sleeping dog regulate the fluctuations in his body temperature. There fore, the hot-water bottle makes your puppy more comfortable.

As for the ticking clock, it simply provides a regular, constant, familiar, and comforting sound, and helps to mask other small noises that might unnerve him if they were heard in an utterly quiet room. A puppy is used to constant fuss and racket from his brothers and sisters, and the sudden silence and solitude of his new home affects him much as a first 16 night in the country affects a lifelong city dweller, who becomes grateful for the chirp of crickets.

In estimating a dog's lifetime, most people count seven "people" years for each year of a dog's life. But I feel that the first year of a dog's life is the equal of fifteen human years. At the age of one, your dog is an adolescent, still learning his limitations and not yet physically mature. This accelerated development emphatically points out the difference between a dog and a child. At three months, a dog can understand much more than a baby of the same age. At sixteen weeks a dog is able to sit, stay, lie down, and heel on command. No human baby can possibly master so many responses so quickly.

By age two, he's added nine more "human" years. He's now sexually mature, and grows only in strength and general savoir-faire. After the age of two, he ages at the rate of five "human years" a year. The years from two to five see a male dog grow from a young stripling to a mature, dominant animal. He's smarter now, mentally and physically, and by age five, he's reached his peak, in full control of himself and his environment. This is prime time for the male dog. By this time the owner should know him pretty well and have figured out his quirks and idiosyncrasies, and the dog has learned to accept what the master lays down vice versa. The dog retains his peak until about age seven (forty-nine "human years"). And then, though his physical strength tapers off, his mental capabilities do not, and he becomes "a smart old fox." By this modified timetable, a fifteen-year-old dog (not an uncommon age) is not a canine Methuselah, but about eighty-nine in human terms, which is not an uncommon age for anyone to reach.

Owners question me about the normalcy of their dogs. What is normalcy? Years of study make the answer available. Each dog is unique, of course, but certain patterns repeat constantly, making problem solving less of a labyrinth than it could be. Circling, for example, is usually normal. Dogs walk in circles for various reasons.

It is instinctive before defecation and before bedding down, since in the wild, it's far more comfortable to beat down the prickly grass before lying or squatting. Dogs also circle when about to fight or play-just to get into an advantageous position or to expend nervous tension.

Show me a dog who's in a bad way, and I can usually show you a master who's not observant, who can't see the obvious.

A great majority of people feel a dog is helpless since he can't talk. When your dog is in pain, he can most certainly tell you. Dogs have a way of moping around, coming up to you and nudging you.

Although they can't tell you where it hurts, their behavior patterns do alter.

An abnormal dog is simply one who acts odd to the practiced eye.

I don't claim to be qualified in medicine, all I am is an animal trainer. However, I do refer people to veterinarians who are able to tell if the dog is physically healthy.

Dogs are living creatures and should be treated with concern. One client called to say his dog had been hit by a car. I told him that he ought to see a veterinarian who, in this client's case, lived just down the block. Half an hour later, I dropped by to check, and found the owner still puttering around while his dog-whose leg appeared to be broken was apparently suffering acute pain.

Common sense is good for about 75 percent of all dog problems, but for the remaining 25 percent, you have to know a little about biology, chemistry, and sometimes plain natural history. For example, one worried owner complained about a rapidly growing tumor in his dog's ear.

I checked it out and found that the "tumor" was in reality a blood-gorged tick, which I quickly pulled off. The bump's gray color matched that of the dog's skin, and the owner panicked. What had happened was that the animal had recently romped through some long, country grass and picked up some ticks. (By the way, never apply a lighted cigarette to dislodge a tick. It's too easy to injure your dog.) A normal dog's anatomy has a few features that may seem decidedly abnormal to the novice owner. For one thing, most owners soon notice that a dog's skin fits him very loosely. A basset hound's soulful gaze is partly the result of his facial skin being too large for the skull-hence the drooping eyelids. This is primarily a defensive adaptation. Unless another dog can get a grip on the underlying muscle, the bitten dog can still maneuver within his skin for a better position. For the same reason, a dog's skin is provided only lightly with blood vessels. When a dog's skin is laid open, he will bleed only slightly unless, of course, the underlying tissue is damaged.

Similarly, his skin is provided with only a sprinkling of pain receptors. Many people are surprised to learn that our sense of touch comprises at least five sub-senses: sensitivity to pressure, temperature (heat and cold), and pain, among others. A dog's skin is relatively insensitive to pain. To get an idea of what it feels like to be inside your dog's skin, pinch the fold of wrinkled skin right over your elbow as hard as you can. This pinch, which would bring sharp pain to other parts of your body, produces only a mildly uncomfortable sensation. Your elbow takes a great deal of abrasions and abuse, and there's no point in having your "alarm system" constantly jangling. However, the muscles and bones immediately beneath your elbow are exquisitely sensitive, as you learn whenever you hit your funny bone. This is your body's way of saying that an injury to the skin in this area is standard wear and tear, but an injury that reaches any deeper is worth knowing about.

So it is with your dog's skin. If you decide to punish him by hitting his flank with a magazine, the blow may be about as troubling as a pinch on your elbow.

Your dog has a higher tolerance to pain and a lower awareness of it than you do. For example, a man with a bad leg will still favor it when he crosses the street to meet a beautiful girl he hasn't seen in months. A dog with an injured leg will race right across to get to a bitch in heat. The dog's desire is simply stronger than his aversion to pain, and so he puts it aside.

You must remember that pain is not a deterrent in itself, not even to human beings. One anthropologist passed out a number of safety pins to members of an aboriginal tribe who'd never seen such things before.

A short time later he returned to find the native children gleefully inserting the pins through their lower lips! The pins couldn't have been comfortable, but the novelty and excitement of discovery were more compelling than physical distress.

All dogs have a layer of fat beneath the skin that provides all the insulation they need for cold weather. And some dogs have a double coat consisting of long silky hairs and a woolly undercoat. A dog's skin has another unique feature, a total absence of sweat glands. This is an evolutionary adaptation to aid the dog in hunting game. With no sweat glands, the dog's body odor is far less distinct, so that other animals will have trouble locating the dog by scent alone. Even a filthy dog smells cleaner than a well-groomed horse, for instance.

But now that a dog no longer hunts for a living, his lack of sweat glands are less of an advantage. Heat will bother him much more than it would you. Dogs have a natural instinct to dig, to hide something, to find something, or just for the pleasure of digging. On a very hot day, a dog will often dig holes in the ground under bushes to find a damp layer of the earth, protected from the sun's rays, to lie in and thereby cool himself off.

Many pets die each summer from being left in parked cars. If he has no way to cool himself except by panting, a dog's body will soon heat up. If he goes to sleep, his metabolism-and hence his internal body temperature-will be lowered. But if sleep is impossible or ineffective, he may go into shock-a natural response to put the brakes on metabolism, but one that can be fatal to the dog.

Dog Training and The Love Fallacy

2018-03-02T16:25:00.000-05:00

One of the chief reasons we have difficulty understanding dogs is, paradoxically, because.they've been associated with us for such a long time-so much so that we take them for granted.

The first evidence of dog's association with man is found at the Mesolithic site of Star Carr in England about 9500 B.c when the dog's superior sense of smell probably directed man to within bowshot of food animals.

Recently in the ruins of Pompeii the lava casts of the bodies of a little boy and his huge dog were found. On the dog's bronze collar was the still legible inscription: "This dog has saved his little master three times once from fire, once from drowning, and once from thieves."

The dog had obviously tried to rescue his master once more. * Very few domestic animals were found in the archaeological excavations of Pompeii.

Animals instinctively know of impending catastrophe, and obviously most of the dogs fled before the eruption occurred. The night before the San Francisco earthquake in 1906, dogs barked strangely. Horses snorted and stampeded minutes before anyone realized what was going on. In the mountains of Sicily, people leave their houses should the dogs suddenly exit.

* In England,medals and trophies are awarded for canine bravery. One is the National Canine Defense League Medal, the dog's version of the Victoria Cross. Swansea Jack, a black retriever, saved twenty-seven people from drowning at the Swansea Docks and was awarded the dog's V.C. Chum was decorated by the Duke of Gloucester for bravery in saving two people from a fire. The dog was sixteen years old.

John Garfield once turned down a film role which required him to mistreat a dog. "Slapping women, robbing kids, yes, but the public would never forgive anyone who kicked a dog."

One of my most unforgettable clients was a man in his forties who had built a towering reputation in New York's manufacturing community.

Midway through his executive life, he acquired a Newfoundland puppy.

He found that he had barely enough time to play with the dog when he came home in the evening. Most owners would compromise with such a p full schedule, but not this gentleman. He retired from his enormously successful business and moved away from his family. During the winters he and the Newfoundland went to live in Florida, where he served as a cabana attendant. In the summers he came north again, to tend bar and have the full day to spend with his dog.

For seven years he relished his full-time companionship, never missing his previously wealthy life. Then tragedy struck; the Newfoundland became ill with a spine problem. Over $ 10,000 was spent on surgery and recuperation kennels, but the dog was still unable to walk. His owner hired physiotherapists to take the dog swimming each day in the surf-but to no avail, and eventually he had his pet put to sleep.

Heartbroken, the man no longer had any "excuse to keep on with his nomadic existence”. He went back to his old line of work, and in a few short months, he had turned a few inventive ideas into a fortune. This brought him no particular joy, but his success was a thorn in the side of his competitors who retaliated-if you can call it that-by leaving another lovely puppy literally on the doorstep of his brownstone. And indeed, he became so involved with his new pet that again he left his business to spend his waking hours with a four-legged companion.

An unhappy majority of the population work at jobs they don't like, taking orders from others, forced to hold back their emotions.

When they return home in the evening, their only emotional outlet is through their family or their pets. Those who live alone have no immediate family, so they use the dog to balance the day's ledgers either by being nice or being nasty. When they realize that the animal will accept them with no backtalk, they usually look forward to coming home and enjoying their animal. I always remind owners that the ultimate one-to-one relationship is with another person. But if a man wants to take a walk after supper to relax and do some heavy thinking, who does he choose to take along-his wife, his kids, or the dog?

People can tell a dog anything, be inconsistent and ill-tempered, and still be assured of faithful love. Some people tell me that if it weren't for their dogs, they couldn't have gotten through moments of stress. When I'm bothered about certain things, I find it relaxing just walking and playing and even talking to my dog. My wife finds pleasure holding her dog in her arms and dancing with him to some good music. I hate to admit it, but if I had to choose between saving my dog and a total human stranger, I would probably save the dog.

Check the daily listings in the newspapers lost-and-found column to see how much the average dog can mean to its owners.

And once a dog is adopted into the family, no expense seems too high to be justified. An interesting example of this occurred to a New York couple, each of whom was extremely wrapped up in a career. They acquired a collie and since neither was able to walk the animal on any regular schedule, a professional dog walking service was hired. When the husband complained about the bills, the wife told him simply, ,It's too late. “The dog is already part of the family."

The status conscious will pick a breed that's very showy and obviously very expensive: a saluki, Afghan, or Russian wolfhound. The dogs that New York's -swinging singles pick are all very good measurements of what the owners want you to think of them. But the owners who worry me are those who choose certain breeds to compensate for their own deficiencies.

Some people want very aggressive dogs because either they are, or want to be, aggressive people. Specifically, I find that many owners themselves are physically shy and feel put-upon. So they choose a dog who's anything but. The most common problem, of course, is that the shy master finds it difficult to control an animal he has already decided is 46 stronger' than he is.

Many people consider their dog a human being, or at least a creature who appreciates the same luxuries we do. Who hasn't seen households with covered-up chairs for the dog's comfort, televisions turned to a certain channel "for the dogs"?

On Park Avenue, there's a poodle who lives in the utmost of style.

He has steps up to his bed so that he doesn't have to jump. A rubber mat lies under his sheets, which are changed daily by a maid hired especially for this purpose. The poodle is fed pits, caviar, and champagne, and has a tailor-made wardrobe. His mistress doesn't want to inhibit him in any way.

A middle-aged woman called me to check on what supplies she would need for a weekend trip to the Poconos. When questioned what she had already added to the carload, she listed dog deodorizer, foam cushions, food, water bowls, chew bones, toys, a spatula, and a New York Times.

My question was where was she going to rest up the next weekend after unloading the car. (When I went on a 13,000-mile camping trip, I took four dogs, one wife, two sleeping bags, and one tent.) Thumb through your weekly magazines and see exactly how people are expected to say "I love you" to their dogs. A sample list: uitton's 14-inch pet tote $150.00 Madeira wicker carrying basket 14.50 Breath Sweet hard rubber ball 3.00 Breath Sweet hard rubber pull ring 3.00 Grooming rake 1.65 Oval brush 2.80 Wicker igloo wlred plaid cushion 18.00 Stainless steel trimming shears 15.50 Roiled natural leather leash 9.00 Plaid wool coat 10.00 Non-tarnish all aluminum foodlwater dish 5.00 Ceramic bowl 3.00 Oster stainless steel aiijet Mr dryer 36.00 Wooden handled wire grooming brush 2.80 Wire "slicker" brush 2.50 Metal comb 2.50 Rubber shampoo brush 1.90 Grooming mitt 5.00 Gold-plated chain leads 7.00 Braded collar bellfrom India 1.00 Braided leather kad 5.00 For people who get really involved with dogs as family, there's Our Puppy's Baby Book. The book includes sections for all those things you'd want to remember about your child: early snapshots, birth date, first paw print, feeding charts, health records, handling instructions, family trees (actual or imaginary), famous firsts like barks, fights, trips, dog shows, ribbons and so forth. There's even a section for people he has met, i.e mailman, paper boy, !milkman, grocer.

These canine indulgences obviously give the owner more pleasure than the dog, and what's wrong with that? When a person starts treating a dog like a human being, however, he often begins thinking of him as one. And this is where the owner/pet relationship begins to break down.

I asked one new client for a list of the things he felt were wrong with his dog. Naturally I expected a string of bad habits, such as not sitting on command or chewing the rug, but the man took me too seriously and submitted a list of human problems. He asserted he could tell that the dog was emotionally disturbed by the way he ate his food, by the way he walked down the street and played, and especially by the way his stool came out. The man said that his dog had no ambition, no motivation, was emotionally unhappy, didn't work well in groups and had severe jealousy hang-ups.

Many owners say that their dog reacts a certain way because of some human trait that they are used to dealing with. An enthusiastic hair dresser was explaining his difficulty in housebreaking his Doberman: "He's exactly like I am. Stubborn, uncontrollable, and totally erratic."

One psychologist asserted that his dog "only responds in group therapy." In reality the dog stopped chewing up his master's shoes simply because of all the new attention that the "encounter group" lavished on him. Once the group began meeting elsewhere, the dog was thrown on his own again and resumed chewing out of boredom.

One client had trouble reconciling the fact that his poodle wouldn't come to him. He felt the poodle was rejecting him and demonstrating it in this way. The dog was trained to come long before his master got over his rejection complex.

One woman was actively involved in weekly visits to her psychiatrist who was convinced that radical confrontation was the way to mental health. He told her to scream out whatever her problems were. The poor dog who had to listen to all of this Sturm unddrang was a wreck. I advised her to scream at her husband if she felt the need, but not at her dog.

Then there's the lady who thought her dog was suicidal. Every day the dog went out on a glass-doored patio, looked around, and came back in. Finally, the dog broke through the glass door, wound up with severe cuts, and he was immediately taken to a veterinarian. His owner now told the vet that the dog was in shock. His cuts were not bleeding much, and when people are in shock, they don't bleed. The veterinarian thanked her for her diagnosis and asked her please to wait outside.

The dog was in no way suicidal, I pointed out, but a victim of circumstance. He was locked up every day, and was taken out only once.

He simply wanted out. He went to the glass door, not expecting to find it shut. The family was particularly neat and had cleaned the glass hours before.

Human beings walk through plate-glass doors all the time. This dog simply did the same. I told the owner in no uncertain terms that her dog's life was in her hands. It was up to her to see that he was walked at least four times per day, and to make sure that safety bars were put on the doors.

Yet another lady wanted to know if there was a dog IQ test. I informed her that a dog's intelligence has nothing to do with how well he's trained. If the feat required of him is reasonable, he can probably accomplish it. Don't ask him to push the elevator buttons, because he's not manually dextrous, but to come when called is not too much to ask!

I often hear statements such as "I tell my dog he's doing something wrong, and he goes right on doing it. But then, he's a Leo, and must have his own way." Whenever I hear something to this effect, I feel sure that the dog is spoiled rotten. It's sometimes easier to relate to a client through his or her fantasies.

Giving human characteristics to dogs is not advisable, and even though at times he almost appears human, a dog is not programmed to respond to human psychology.

In the wild a strong male can have his pick of females. In your home his sex life has to be curtailed and controlled. In the wild he can lift his leg and move his bowels as many times and in as many places as he wants. In your home there are schedules and specific places where he must go. In the wild he can run free. In your home he must learn to walk on a leash. In the wild he can bark and howl at the moon. But you have to think of the neighbors.

A small proportion of dog owners go through life not training their dogs in simple canine terms. As a result, they put up with a lot of nonsense. One psychologist let his great Dane take over the whole apartment. I walked in to see all the chairs covered, rugs kicked back, and clothing strewn all over the room. "Well," says the embarrassed dog owner, "he likes it that way."

"But," I asked, "Do you like it that way?"

"I get used to it."

One dog chewed up a complete room, so the owner gave him the room, saying, "It's his. He likes it. He can have it."

I am seldom surprised by the many ways in which a dog can adapt to man. What does startle me is the ways in which owners adapt to their dogs. One family felt that they couldn't possibly train their dog not to chew or urinate in the house. So they had their living room installed with a lovely wrought-iron gate to protect the corner with their choice belongings. In cases like this it's hard to determine whether it's the owner or the dog who's being confined for bad behavior.

Untrained dogs should have certain areas where they do belong, as well as offlimit regions. One particularly congenial Manhattan woman with just such a dog called me a meanie for wanting to place restrictions on him. She felt her dog should be allowed complete run of the house. But a week after her new shag rug arrived, she had boards installed across the living-room doorway.

One doctor encourages his spaniel to jump up and nuzzle his hand.

Without knowing it he could be training the dog to bite. The dog has taken to knocking mailmen and milkmen down the front steps, and the doctor's wife says that "if he weren't so pretty, I'd get rid of him."

This family has no real concept of what's happening to their dog. In any case, it's pretty hard to perform surgery with only one hand.

There's a lady whose Afghan refuses to come when she calls him. So whenever she takes him out to the park for a run, she comes prepared to wait for him usually all day!

She can't make any other appointments. "He usually comes back around four o'clock," she guarantees.

One particular owner claimed his dog was really well-trained. For some reason, he never seemed to notice him barking, biting, chasing other dogs and children, and being a general nuisance.

Another client informed me that his German shepherd was thoroughly housebroken. "He only messes in the house once a day, only chews things I don't need anymore." Other than that, he'll be the first to admit, the dog is perfect.

A woman once called me in for a visit, complaining that her animal was a barker, a biter, and generally obnoxious. But her husband felt he was in complete control of the dog: "I have no problem with him."

To demonstrate, the man opened his car door and the dog obediently jumped into the back seat on command. However, as the owner settled himself in the driver's seat, the dog began barking furiously. The owner turned in his seat and said, "Now be quiet," in a firm voice.

His dog bit him on the nose.

Every family claims to love its dog. But what is love? What seems right to you isn't necessarily right for your dog. Many people proclaim that they give their dog total freedom out of love, but what about discipline?

That is part of love too. He needs the discipline of someone saying no, as well as praise and rewards when he does things properly.

Certain individuals say, "You'll break the dog's spirit." Some are afraid that disciplining the dog will make the animal feel unloved.

This is the exact same reason they refuse to discipline their children, and often have the same kind of obedience dilemmas with them. In one case the daughter of a client told me that her family had once had another dog that they couldn't housebreak. "Mommy was afraid he would wet on the rugs, so she made us keep him in the bathroom all the time."

Dogs and children both want and need to be disciplined. They crave the security this kind of authority affords them. As long as reprimands are not overly harsh and don't become a way of life and are balanced with a lot of affection and tender loving care, your dog should develop into a well-trained and happy pet.

Some owners find their dogs are just too much trouble. They lose their patience in training and give up. I get lots of calls from people who thought (and rightly so) dogs were for fun, but somehow just can't cope with the details of ownership. "Do you want to buy a dog?" they inquire politely. "He's four years old, and we want him to have a special, healthy home."

I ask them why they want to get rid of the dog. Among the many answers I get, the most common is "We're moving."

To where? "None of your business." There's no whimper of care in the conversation, just a pretense for finding a "nice home." Someone wants to get rid of a potentially marvelous pet that just hasn't been trained properly.

There are many strays wandering the streets day and night, looking for food and shelter. Where do they come from? All too often they are the unwanted victims of "love" substituted for discipline. That "nice home in the country" often turns out to be some deserted area where the owner can dump his pet to forage and fend for himself, without too many witnesses to make him feel guilty.

You can see your dog running in his dreams. It's almost as though he sees or chases a rabbit, or is in pain. it's safe to bet he dreams just as we do. But remember your dog is not a person! Never confuse his life with yours. You are a breed apart, and you must accept him as a dog and train him as such. This brief fact is the key to years of rewarding relationship with your pet. And to train him properly, it's absolutely vital to understand his basic makeup-how he thinks, what his body demands of him, what he responds to, and what instincts have made him the way he is.

Dog Leads The Police To His Owner For Help

2018-02-28T14:38:00.000-05:00

To man's best friend and some quick police work a local woman is alive a German-Town police officer was on call when he saw a dog running along Fond du Lac Avenue yeah you know he tried to catch it but the dog that dog was on a mission to get some help Click next to continue reading this amazing life-saving store.

good boy Peter right this is an emotional tale of john boys love for his owner he's very protective over over my mom that was evident early this morning when john-boy was found running around the Autumn Ridge neighborhood off of County Line Road.

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he stood there and barked for a little bit and then I rolled down my window and called to him and then he kind of wag his tail and got a little more friendly until I got out of the car and then he ran a little bit.

john-boy had a plan for officer Gonzalez I got to believe that at this point yeah he sure did he pointed me in the right direction.

the three-year-old lab led the officer up the street to this house where his owner crystal was unresponsive thumped over in a chair outside her front door still in her pajamas.

to be honest with you I thought she was dead and when I went up she was obviously very cold to the touch their lips were blue but I was able to determine it she was breathing in had a pulse and I had called for assistance and my partner was very close so together we got her in the house(officer added) minutes later Crystal's daughter and sister received the emotional call.

basically what he told me is he said that they thought that she was dead so it was it's hard but thanks to John boy's loyalty the daughters tears are tears of joy as she meets her mom's angel for the first time.(owner he brings back).

crystal does have a heart condition and this morning's temperatures were dangerously cold so she remains in the hospital tonight where doctors are running some tests but her daughter tells us that she's stable and looking forward to meeting officer Gonzalez when she gets home.

as for john-boy an interesting fact here he was adopted and returned three times by different families before ending up at Crystal's home and so her daughter says that it was just all meant to be back to you guys.

Dogs are so wise. What would we do without them?

Feel free to share this wonderful story if you love dogs, too!

Source Fox6 News.