Wolf to Woof

Dog set on fire

2012-07-20T12:02:00.003-04:00

This happened not to far from where I grew up, not that I'm proud of it: Dog set on fire in trailer park.

Dog's final moments

2012-07-06T19:16:00.001-04:00

Kudos to photographer Tou Chih-kang of Taiwan for these photos of pound dogs before they were euthanized.

Stoop, scoop and share in Calgary

2012-07-04T17:39:00.002-04:00

Seems like a good use for it. http://www.torontosun.com/2012/07/04/calgary-dog-owners-asked-to-turn-in-their-turds

Chinese dog market

2012-06-29T11:03:00.003-04:00

Can dogs be pets and dinner?
In China, using dogs as human food is part of the culture in some regions as this coverage from Huffington Post shows. The photos, for dog lovers especially, should be skipped.

Dogs and asthma control

2012-06-21T16:30:00.000-04:00

Interesting. This is why my uncle bought me a chihuahua when I was about 8 and troubled by asthma. Here's the article about dogs as pets and asthma.

From the heat into the highway

2012-06-21T14:50:00.000-04:00

Let's remember not to leave dogs inside cars on hot days. You never know when it might lead to him running down a busy freeway. Seriously - happened in Toronto.

Playing Toto

2012-06-16T16:20:00.000-04:00

Met this little terrier after last Saturday's performance of the Wizard of Oz at Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend. Say hello to Tilly in this London Free Press article.

Dog killed by spear-carrying stranger

2012-04-23T14:28:00.001-04:00

Hard to believe this story from Richmond Hill, Ont., where someone speared a toy dog to death in front of the owner while on a walk. Here is a followup video of the attack on Diesel, a six-year-old sheltie.
Maybe our Wheaten has it right, refusing to leave our front yard after being spooked by cap gun shooting kids who just wouldn't quit.

Dog vs. cat

2012-04-03T12:29:00.002-04:00

Church sign for dog owners

2012-03-31T15:03:00.002-04:00

Don't we all.

Off-leash Rottweiler kills leashed terrier in park

2012-03-24T11:02:00.000-04:00

Small dogs, especially when they're leashed and big dogs aren't, can be easy prey, intended or not.
That's why urban dog parks typically have separate areas for small and large breeds.
But what to do in a wild, unregulated and unofficial off-leash area like this one near Highway 401 close to Cambridge, Ont.?
A toy dog being walked on-leash by teens was attacked and later died in a vet's office. According to a story in the local Waterloo Region Record, the rules of the off-leash area are unclear.
What is clear is that the owner of the larger dog did not have it under his or her control, either with a leash or excellent training.
I feel, as most dog owners will, for the owners of Lucy, the fatally injured terrier cross. They lost their pet and face a huge vet bill through no fault of their own.
It reminds me of a smaller incident that happened with our leashed Wheaten terrier on our own street when she was approached and bitten by an off-leash German shepherd.
I wonder if the best thing to do in such situations is to drop the leash and try to divert the aggressive dog?

Jann Arden and her dog get the ‘boot’ from VIA train

2012-03-12T11:00:00.001-04:00

Seriously? Why couldn't VIA move the dog to the appropriate car. Was there a complaint from a passenger with allergies to Jann Arden's dog, or a zealous employee?

Toronto News: Jann Arden and her dog get the ‘boot’ from VIA train - thestar.com:

'via Blog this'

Was dog trying to comfort baby?

2012-02-24T13:36:00.000-05:00

This is a sad story in which a baby was killed by a family's dog. Was the husky trying to comfort the child, but bit too hard? Story in the Toronto Star provides a possible explanation.
And yes, obviously everyone realizes it's a bad idea to leave any dog - or cat - alone with a baby.

Dogs poisoned in Toronto

2012-02-19T09:59:00.000-05:00

Our Wheaten often darts to grab old food or wrappers while on walks in parks and our neighbourhood.
Dogs tempted by some treat may be the victims of a purposeful poisoning in a Toronto neighbourhood, according to the Toronto Star.
It's sad, more so because the dogs who've died are cherished pets of older citizens.

Toronto News: Calling ‘Dr. Dog’: Therapy dog makes the rounds at the Hospital for Sick Children - thestar.com

2012-01-15T22:34:00.000-05:00

Gotta love Wheatens!

Toronto News: Calling ‘Dr. Dog’: Therapy dog makes the rounds at the Hospital for Sick Children - thestar.com

Dogs welcome at shelter

2012-01-15T11:24:00.000-05:00

Gotta like this story in the Huffington Post about dogs now being welcome at a domestic violence shelter in Kansas City, Missouri.
An heroic Great Dane can change minds.

Dog friendly in Dallas

2012-01-09T12:05:00.001-05:00

A hearty breakfast, great coffee and the company of your dog on the patio. What more could one ask for at the Breadwinners Cafe and Bakery on McKinney Avenue in Dallas.

Not dead yet

2011-12-17T16:11:00.001-05:00

Heartwarming Christmas tale of a dog thought to be dead, but came alive the next day before being buried, via Huffington Post.

Ultimate Dog Tease

2011-12-16T00:49:00.000-05:00

If you like dogs, like millions of others, you'll like this video.

Stuart the Salsa Dancing Dog

2011-12-16T00:31:00.000-05:00

The chihuahua we had when I was a boy didn't do this. Not that I'm envious.

Bishop Arts District, Dallas TX

2011-12-10T13:57:00.000-05:00

Spotted this well-behaved bulldog chilling while his owners enjoyed a light lunch at a sidewalk table in the pleasant Bishop Arts District of Dallas, Texas, in November. Well behaved and much admired by passersby.

City dogs

2011-11-17T20:56:00.001-05:00

Lawrence Park is the most dog-populated area of Toronto and pit bulls are rottweilers are popular in Downsview, according to Global TV News.
They've created some cool maps showing where the dogs live in Canada's largest city.
When I was in Toronto recently, I was surprised how many dogs were being walked. Is this the world's most dog-loving major metropolitan area?
Global also finds a trend in naming dogs. Owners are giving them human names - with Max being the most popular. You have to reach to No. 8 before finding a more traditional dog name, Lucky.
Could it be city dogs are a child substitute?

Missing dogs euthanized before owners can claim them

2011-11-15T11:10:00.000-05:00

There's a mix of anger, outrage and sorrow as stories from throughout North America crop up about animal control agencies and humane societies euthanizing stray dogs before owners have a chance to claim them.
The Huffington Post reports a case of an elderly dog put down hours after being found in Virginia. The story goes on to describe other similar incidents, including a war hero dog mistakenly put down in Arizona after a worker took the wrong dog to the procedure room.
In Newmarket, Ont., north of Toronto, Rocky, a 17-year-old husky, was killed within hours of being picked up after a neighbour complained about the dog barking and being unattended. The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) said Rocky was in poor health - a fact disputed vehemently by the dog's vet.
It gets worse. There was no attempt to contact the owners before killing Rocky. OSPCA, according to a column by Sun Media's Peter Worthington, lied about Rocky not have a collar with identification. When Rocky was sent for cremation, he still had his collar with a vaccination tag showing the vet's phone number and a microchip ID was in his shoulder.
We know shelters get overwhelmed and tough decisions have to be made. But there's no excuse for not following up with owners and not keeping picked up animals for a minimum period.

Dragons bark at dog clothing

2011-11-14T12:06:00.000-05:00

Love CBC's Dragons' Den, but thought they were a little nasty to a dog clothing business owner. See for yourselves on episode 8 online here.

Why we buy dogs for our kids

2011-11-13T12:08:00.000-05:00

Now I wish we had a dog when our kids were rug rats.