Unleashed

Patriotic pets parade for Fourth

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:41:04 -0500

If you're an animal person, the American Visionary Arts Museum's annual pet parade should be a must on your calendar.

More than 80 pets came out -- many sporting their red, white and blue -- for the event this morning. The costuming was as eccentric as you'd expect from the museum. A pup wearing a pickle. Not one but two pugs with the stars and stripes painted (hairsprayed, actually) right onto them. A tortoise that essentially hauled an entire art project on its back.

Check out my first batch of pics. More to come later. Happy Fourth!!

Photos by Jill

First 76 dogs adopted --- FREE!

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 08:00:37 -0500

This sounds like a very Unleashed way to celebrate the Fourth.

Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) is celebrating Independence Day with a Spirit of ’76 promotion. Beginning on Sunday, July 5, the shelter will be waive adoption fees for the first 76 dogs and puppies.

Every dog adopted from the shelter has been neutered and de-wormed; given rabies, DHLPP and bordatella vaccines; and provided with a flea preventative, a general examination, a food sample, and even a month of free health insurance.

“We’re celebrating Independence Day by making this best time ever to adopt a dog,” Jennifer Mead-Brause, Executive Director at BARCS said in a statement. “Our goal is give 76 dogs their freedom from life in the shelter by placing them in wonderful new homes.”

BARCS brought in 2,435 dogs from January 1 through June 30.

Sun file photo of Fouth of July doggies.

Meet Thing 3, my newest furry foster friend

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:35:25 -0500

I'd like everyone to offer a warm welcome to, well, an as-yet unnamed doggie who's going to be spending a little time at my house.

The little poodle mix is a dog I've agreed to foster for a bit. He's from the MDSCA by way of a Pennsylvania puppy mill. How long he stays is up to me, to him, and of course to Leo and Pumpkin. For now he's only been here a few hours.

This little guy comes with some not-so-small issues that the average dog would not. Because he was rescued from a puppy mill, he's extremely fearful. He's timid and pretty much has no idea how to let go and just be a dog. He doesn't know about being petted. He doesn't know about going for walks. When I offered him a treat he just looked at it.

But they said at the shelter that he might be too scared to come out of his carrier. He's already bested the odds on that. He was out exploring literally within seconds of arriving here. And now he's snuggled on some pillows near -- but not in -- the carrier.

What a catch!

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:12:53 -0500

A woman guides her dog to catch a frisbee during a dog show in the northern German city of Hamburg on June 28. ROLAND MAGUNIA/AFP/Getty Images.

Man fights to keep his lemur

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:09:24 -0500

A family who moved into the Lake in the Hills a month ago say they may leave the northwestern Chicago suburb if they are not allowed to keep their pet ring-tailed lemur.

The village board recently turned down the family's request to keep Ringo, who's 5 years old and about the size of a large house cat.

The village gave Troy Evert and April Fox 90 days to either find a new home for Ringo or move out.

Evert says he took Ringo in when a friend rescued him from an abusive owner, and that he tried to find the primate a home at a zoo or a refuge, but none of them would take Ringo because he is considered domesticated.

In this photo taken June 25, Troy Evert, of Lake in the Hills, Ill., plays with his pet ring-tailed lemur, Ringo, in his backyard. Ringo, who's 5 years old, is about the size of a large house cat. AP Photo/Northwest Herald, Amanda Schwengel.

Fantabulous news for Baltimore kitties!!

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:51:13 -0500

With a final rally, the three Baltimore shelters fighting to find homes for 500 cats and kittens in June managed to do it -- and more.

The Maryland SPCA, BARCS, and Baltimore Humane Society adopted a grand total of 573 cats and kittens during the month. In 2008, by comparison, the shelters found homes for 353.

The three shelters, as part of Baltimore 500, offered free adoptions on cats and kittens throughout the month of June to jumpstart their effort. Six vet offices offered free exams to kitties adopted during the promotion.

On Sunday June 28 I visited the MDSPCA and cuddled with an adorable kitten named Tortellini. By Wednesday when I dropped by the shelter again, the kitty was gone, hopefully to a wonderful home. In fact, every last kitten who'd been with Tortellini on Sunday was gone. Too cute to last -- particularly when being offered for free!

Congrats to all the shelters for saving so many kitties!

Sun file photo of a kitten that sort of resembles Tortellini.

Reason #4,576 for not having pet python

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:09:59 -0500

A 12-foot pet Burmese python broke out of an aquarium and strangled a 2-year-old girl in her bedroom Wednesday in a central Florida home, authorities said.

According to The Associated Press, Lt. Steve Binegar, of the Sumter County Sheriff's Office, said the toddler was strangled by the snake in the town of Oxford, about 50 miles northwest of Orlando.

Pythons can kill by wrapping themselves around a human. Paramedics said the girl was dead when they arrived at about 10 a.m.

Sheriff's officials told the Orlando Sentinel that the snake broke out of a glass aquarium overnight, went to the girl's bedroom and attacked her. The owner found the snake wrapped around the girl and stabbed it while others called 911.

Update on Baltimore's off-leash hours quest

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:24:36 -0500

People have been asking Unleashed what's up with the city's effort to establish off-leash hours in Baltimore parks?.

The city promised to do it almost two months ago at the hearing to lower the $1,000 leash law fines.

Well, I talked with Baltimore's parks head Wanda S. Durden for this story. She told me that the city is first looking at off-leash hours in four parks: Riverside, Pattterson Park, Herring Run and Wyman Park. They're thinking about 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the morning and then 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at night.

But first they're planning community meetings in each of those neighborhoods to see how people react to the idea of having off-leash dogs in the park at all -- and then during those times. Meetings to start this month.

What do you think? Does that sound like a reasonable start? Would love to hear from you as I know TONS of people are interested in this.....

Sun file photo of Canton Dog park.

Bo Obama enjoys Congressional luau

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:00:55 -0500

Aloha! U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, first lady Michelle Obama, Malia Obama and family dog Bo arrived on June 25 at a luau for members of Congress and their families on the South Lawn of the White House. In a celebration of the president's home state, the South Lawn was decorated with tiki torches and palm huts and the meal prepared by famous Hawaiian chef Alan Wong. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.

Fraidy cats (and pups) on the Fourth?

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:12:57 -0500

While Fourth of July revelers love the thrill and spectacle of a fireworks display, animal experts advise that the rocket's red glare might be too much for some dogs and cats.

We've got some advice for you, but first, for a story, the Sun is also looking for some people who'd be willing to talk to a reporter about how their pets react to fireworks. Comment to the blog and we'll get your information to the right person. Thanks in advance for sharing your tales of woe!

North Shore Animal League America, the world's largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization, these tips to help your pets have a better chance of enjoying Independence Day:

1. Never take your pets to a fireworks display:

Fireworks displays can be great fun, but not for your pets. The loud noises and bright lights can terrify an animal. Even the best-behaved dog may react with fear and try to flee from the scene, which could lead him into traffic or get him lost.

2. Give your pets a safe and quiet retreat:

Fourth of July festivities can frighten an animal, so it's important to provide a safe and quiet place to relax. Whether you secure a room of the house or blanketed crate, they should have someplace "den-like" in which to retreat. Draw the curtains to block out the lightshow, and try putting the TV or radio on at a low volume as a distraction or as company for them if you go out. Make sure to KEEP THEM INSIDE for their protection.

Slip and fall? Blame the kitty

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:17:35 -0500

It's official: That pet IS going to be the death of you.

A new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that supposedly innocent dogs and cats are causing a lot of falls. Thousands of them, in fact.

The CDC crunched injury numbers logged from 2001 through 2006 and found 86,629 falls involved a dog or cat. The agency says falls are the leading cause of nonfatal injuries in the country.

* In most of the cases, 88 percent, it's fair to blame the dog. Most injuries also happened when dogs were involved.

* Females were twice as likely to be hurt than males.

Mischa Barton canoodles dachshund puppy

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:06:17 -0500

Gossip alert. Mischa Barton has been spotted smooching someone new! The British born actress kissed a smooth coat dachshund dog, as she attended the official opening of the Harrods Summer Sale with Harrods store owner Mohamed Al Fayed in London on Saturday. AP Photo/Simon Dawson.

Top pet-friendly companies named

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:00:55 -0500

Which businesses are the most pet-friendly? Petside.com ranks the top 5 employers most welcoming of pooches:

1. At Printing For Less, 15 percent of the 160 workers bring their dogs to work on any given day. "Our dog-friendly policy helps staff morale, builds camaraderie among employees, aids in creating a more productive work environment, helps stimulate employee creativity, and offers a great social catalyst for relationship development between coworkers," says Jessica Cooper, marketing manager at the Montana-based commercial color printing company.

2. Procter & Gamble's Pet Care division, located in the greater Dayton/Cincinnati area, allows its employees to take their dogs to work everyday. All dogs and workers are greeted each morning by Euka, a Labernese (a cross between a Labrador Retriever and the Bernese Mountain Dog), who holds the title of vice president of K9 Communications. "Having a dog or several dogs at work really sets the tone for a relaxed work environment and promotes socialization," says Kris Parlett, P&G Pet Care spokesperson.

Pugs, Pekingese, Shih-Tzu at risk for dog flu

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:45:28 -0500

After all this talk of bird flu, it appears the dog's have a little something to worry about too --- especially those of the smooshed nose variety.

Check out this interesting New York Times story that talks about why certain breeds are more at-risk to get sick and also about the new flu vaccine that was just approved last week:

There is a new flu virus going around. It initially looked quite lethal, and caused panic. Now it is clear that it has killed relatively few victims — and many of those have underlying conditions. It is particularly dangerous to be the possessor of a pushed-in nose — that is, to be a Pekingese, a pug or a Shih-Tzu.

It is the H3N8 dog flu. The virus, scientists believe, jumped from horses to dogs at least five years ago, but it has never infected a human. Last week, the United States Department of Agriculture announced that it had approved the first vaccine for it.

While fears of a flu pandemic among humans have shifted from the lethal H5N1 avian flu to the relatively mild H1N1 swine flu, the H3N8 canine flu has been a quiet undercurrent in the United States, rarely discussed except among veterinarians and dog owners in the few areas where it has struck hard: Florida, New York City’s northern suburbs, Philadelphia and Denver.

So that's where Jackson's Bubbles is!

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:35:56 -0500

People magazine has solved the mystery of whatever became of Michael Jackson's famous chimp, Bubbles. The magazine reports:

With all the discussion surrounding the shocking death of Michael Jackson, people have wondered whatever happened to his beloved chimpanzee Bubbles. It turns out, the chimp is alive and well and monkeying around in a Florida primate sanctuary, PEOPLE has learned.

The 26-year old chimp, who lived with Jackson in the late 1980s, has spent the past four years at the Center For Great Apes, home to forty-two chimpanzees and orangutans.
"He's a very sweet and nice chimp, he really is," says sanctuary director Patti Ragan. "I've seen him go to the drinking fountain, start to take a sip of water and then, when he hears one of the younger ones coming, he'll step back and let them have a sip."

File photo.