Nose to The Ground FetchDog FetchDog.com

Who will be top dog at North Shore's DogCatemy Celebrity Gala tonight?

2009-11-05T00:00:00Z

Tonight is the 2009 DogCatemy Celebrity Gala, a glamorous benefit and short-film competition to raise awareness and funds for North Shore Animal League America, the country's largest no-kill animal shelter. This is truly the K9 social event of the year, and well-behaved dogs join their owners to...

One more important safety tip for dogs at Halloween time

2009-10-29T00:00:00Z

The Halloween season is lots of fun, with lots of opportunities to see dogs in cute costumes. But this time of year also poses a few dangers to dogs. Please remember to keep chocolate candies out of Spot's reach, as chocolate contains theobromine, which is toxic to dogs. Some dogs are so...

Keeping dogs safe at Halloween time

2009-10-23T00:00:00Z

Scary things can happen to dogs who are left unattended at Halloween time, so please take extra precautions for Spot's safety in the days leading up to the big night, and especially on fright night itself, October 31st. Please don't leave dogs (or cats) unattended in your yard while you're out,...

This weekend, New York dogs are Halloween hounds, hamming it up for Howl-O-Ween

2009-10-22T00:00:00Z

This weekend, New York dogs are Halloween hounds, hamming it up for Howl-O-Ween. For dog lovers, it's not Halloween, it's Howl-O-Ween - and New York City's pooch people are getting a jump on the spooky holiday a week early. This weekend will be jam-packed with fun events, including numerous...

Jack the dog appears onstage again at The Metropolitan Opera

2009-10-15T00:00:00Z

In the opera world, a superannuary is an extra who doesn't talk or sing. And although some dogs can sing - or try to - Fetchdog Friend Jack the Maltese isn't one of them. For Jack, silence is golden, because his job is to remain quiet during the few minutes he enjoys onstage at The Metropolitan...

Mutts get recognition from purebred dog organization

2009-10-08T00:00:00Z

In an unusual move, the American Kennel Club has announced the launch of its AKC Canine Partners Program for mixed-breed dogs and their owners. The goal of the program, which carries a $35 enrollment fee, is "to strengthen the human-canine bond by encouraging training, responsible dog...

A busy weekend of dog-themed events in New York City

2009-10-02T00:00:00Z

As the leaves turn, the calendar is filling up fast with K9 cultural activities for New York City's dog lovers. This weekend, the season gets off to a great start - and if you don't already have a dog, there are plenty of opportunities to adopt one.Tomorrow, Saturday October 3rd from 12-5...

Celebrate World Animal Day with your dog

2009-10-01T00:00:00Z

October 4 is World Animal Day, and FetchDog is proud to celebrate it in honor of our dogs. Launched in the United Kingdom in 2003, World Animal Day is observed each year on the same date.The mission is to celebrate animal life in all its forms; to celebrate humankind's relationship with the...

Veteran New York dog rescuers have their day on TV and in print

2009-09-24T00:00:00Z

Last night, the Manhattan nightclub Touch was the venue for a swank launch party to celebrate National Geographic Channel's newest - and possibly boldest- reality series, "Rescue Ink Unleashed," which premieres tomorrow night. The festivities included a world premiere screening of...

High-tech hope for dogs with lymphoma

2009-09-17T00:00:00Z

The dog doctors at North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine have done it again. This pioneering center of animal medical research, where earlier this year Cassidy, America's first bionic dog was outfitted with a permanent artificial limb, now becomes the first...

Best-selling author Dean Koontz makes radio appearance to promote new dog book

2009-09-10T00:00:00Z

This Saturday, September 12, best-selling author Dean Koontz will appear on Animal Radio, the "most-listened-to" animal programming in the US.Koontz is a frequent guest-host of this popular syndicated animal talk program; this weekend, he returns as a guest to discuss A Big Little Life:...

Adopted shelter dog gets job as Director of Pet Relations for luxury Florida hotel-spa

2009-09-03T00:00:00Z

The newly-appointed director of pet relations at the Vero Beach Hotel & Spa, part of the Kimpton chain of luxury hotels, is proud of his humble beginnings. His name is Oliver, a 17 pound Lhasa Apso, and he was once an orphan at a Miami animal shelter, where he was spotted by the...

Los Angeles forest fire forces evacuation of dog sanctuaries

2009-08-31T00:00:00Z

Acton, California is one of the areas affected by the Los Angeles forest fire. As the 35,000+ acre blaze continues to burn, animal sanctuaries in the area are prepared for the worst while hoping for the best, and have begun implementing plans to evacuate the dogs and other animals in their...

Stylin' shelter dogs over the fashion catwalk in Minnesota

2009-08-27T00:00:00Z

Fashion retailer Maurice's is teaming up with the ASPCA to raise awareness and funds for local animal shelters around the country by producing pet-themed runway shows.During the month of September, more than 700 Maurice's stores in 44 states will host "Rescues and Runways" fashion shows...

Prestigious New York City Museum raises shelter dog to art

2009-08-21T00:00:00Z

This Sunday, August 23, the Museum of the City of New York presents a special program called "Behind the Lens: New York City's Shelter Dogs."Photographer Charlotte Dumas will speak about her portraits of shelter dogs, including several stunning images of sweet pit bulls. These are...

Dog lovers plan historic march on Denver City Hall to protest breed-specific legislation

2009-08-20T00:00:00Z

Next Tuesday, fans of the Pit Bull and dog lovers in general are planning a march on the Denver City Hall. The goal is to demand an immediate repeal of Denver's notorious Pit Bull ban, in effect since May 2005.The Denver Division of Animal Control strictly enforces the ban, and any dog found...

Antiques dealer Carlton Hobbs gives new meaning to the term "dear old dog"

2009-08-18T00:00:00Z

Dear means precious as well as beloved, and the centuries-old wooden carved and lacquered sculpture of a reclining dog at the New York antiques gallery Carlton Hobbs is both. Created in Japan in the seventeenth century, the dog sculpture was acquired by Hobbs under the strict condition that...

Bachelor Prince Lorenzo Borghese unveils fun new reality series - and his co-star is a real dog

2009-08-13T00:00:00Z

It's been three years since reality-TV audiences got up close and personal on "The Bachelor" with Prince Lorenzo Borghese, the handsome entrepreneur behind the "Royal Treatment Italian Pet Spa" collection of dog shampoos and conditioners. Proving that his TV career has...

Trio of top animal organization suing to ensure Helmsley fortune goes to dogs

2009-08-12T00:00:00Z

Three of the country's most influential animal welfare organizations are charging that the trustees of the estate of Leona Helmsley are misdirecting funds despite Helmsley's clear direction that her fortune go to help dogs.Acting together as a watchdog coalition, the Humane Society of the United...

NYC vet aims to reduce the number of unwanted dogs through free spay/neuter

2009-08-06T00:00:00Z

Spay/neuter doesn't often make headlines, but veterinarian Dr. Andrew Kaplan is the talk of the town in his home base, New York City. Many groups offer low-cost sterilization procedures, but Kaplan has arranged to provide free sterilization to all dogs (and cats) whose owners request it.The...

Retired racing dogs up for adoption strut their stuff on "Greyhound Sunday"

2009-07-30T00:00:00Z

The Greyhound is one of the two most routinely abused dog breeds in America (the other is the Pit Bull). Thankfully, many organizations around the country are dedicated to rescuing and rehoming these beautiful dogs from a career of literally running for their lives.If you live in the...

Search continues in Portland, Oregon, for missing dog named Veronica

2009-07-23T00:00:00Z

Here's proof that Portland, Oregon more than earns its title of "Dog Town USA": a popular gift store called Funny Bone is renowned for its in-store mascot Veronica, a seven-pound miniature Yorkshire Terrier. Sadly, on June 11th, at about 5 p.m., Veronica went missing and has not...

Loyal dog lovers plan BSL protest in New York City

2009-07-16T00:00:00Z

BSL - the acronym for Breed Specific Legislation - threatens to outlaw certain breeds of dog, specifically the Pit Bull and its purebred cousins, the American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier.But lovers of this controversial canine stand behind their favorite dog with a loyalty...

Broadway Barks raises the curtain on adoptable dogs and "Autographed Hounds"

2009-07-09T00:00:00Z

One of FetchDog's favorite annual events is Broadway Barks, the star-studded dog adopt-athon happening this Saturday, July 11 in the heart of Manhattan's fabled theater district, in Shubert Alley, between 44th and 45th Streets, just West of Broadway. At this special show, seasoned stars cede...

Keeping dogs safe and sound on July Fourth

2009-07-02T00:00:00Z

Along with barbecues and patriotic celebrations, the Fourth of July also brings an alarmingly high incidence of dogs going missing. That's because many dogs get spooked by Independence Day fireworks and run away to escape the source of their stress. So don't let your best...

Dog movie starring Richard Gere gets major buzz at Seattle Film Festival

2009-06-25T00:00:00Z

Tomorrow is Take Your Dog to Work Day and a perfect occasion to commemorate a dog who certainly would have accompanied his owner to the office, if only he'd lived in the right time and place. That Dog is Hachiko, the famous Akita, whose devotion to his owner is the stuff of legend. ...

Vet unveils plan to help dog owners with low-cost spay/neuter services

2009-06-19T00:00:00Z

Veterinarian and FetchDog friend Dr. Diane Levitan has a new pet project: Helping PAW (Promote Animal Welfare), which operates a mobile veterinary clinic. Helping PAW's mission is to bring low-cost spay and neuter services for dogs and cats to pet owners on New York's Long Island who...

Hector the therapy dog has big paw-prints to fill - and fills them neatly

2009-06-12T00:00:00Z

FetchDog friend Andrew "Roo" Yori reports that Hector the Pit Bull, adopted brother of the famous flying-disc-dog champion Wallace the Pit Bull has cleared yet another hurdle on his journey to become one of America's most accomplished and high-profile Pit Bulls. Hector does...

Calling all salty dogs for life-saving yacht party to benefit homeless animals

2009-06-04T00:00:00Z

Tonight, from 6:30 - 9 p.m., the glamorous, 147-foot mega luxury yacht Atlantis will host a fundraising party to benefit two excellent animal rescue organizations, Friends of Animal Rescue and Brooklyn Animal Foster Network. Dog lovers are invited with the irresistibly clever phrase,...

Stars of "The Wiz" co-host dog adoption event tomorrow in New York

2009-05-29T00:00:00Z

Tomorrow at 11 a.m. at City Center, Dorothy and Toto, a.k.a. superstar recording artist Ashanti and a sweet Cairn Terrier named Nigel, co-stars of the new revival of "The Wiz" will make a special appearance on behalf of homeless dogs. The dynamic duo is hosting...

Oprah's fave fashion designer hosts dog adoption event

2009-05-28T00:00:00Z

The fashion world is on a first-name basis with the talented young designer Adam Lippes, whose sexy, smart clothing is a favorite of Oprah Winfrey. Adam's own favorites, meanwhile, are his two beloved Labradoodles, Bidu and Lola. "They help me keep going, and they bring me luck,"...

A fine example of dogs in the decorative arts

2009-05-27T00:00:00Z

In the decorative-art world, dogs turn up in many fine examples of antique furniture and accessories. One dealer that appreciates dog imagery is New York City's Carlton Hobbs. Located in the Former Vanderbilt mansion in Manhattan's Carnegie Hill, Carlton Hobbs sells antiques to the world's...

Fashion designer John Bartlett hosts dog adoption event at NYC flagship store

2009-05-22T00:00:00Z

Award-winning designer and FetchDog friend John Bartlett, also the creative force behind Claiborne, the Liz Claiborne collection for men, is a real fashion hound. His stylish threads are worn by famous customers including actors Kiefer Sutherland and Alan Cumming. But the real celebrity in...

Oprah Winfrey adopts puppy from PAWS Chicago shelter

2009-05-14T00:00:00Z

Making good on the promise she made her viewers last April, that her very next dog would be adopted from an animal shelter, Oprah Winfrey has welcomed home Sadie, a comely Cocker Spaniel puppy with whom Winfrey says she "felt an instant connection."A ringer for the fetching female...

Style goes to the dogs as filmmakers announce Most Fashionable Pug Contest winner

2009-05-07T00:00:00Z

The makers of the documentary "Valentino: The Last Emperor" have announced the results of a contest that had dog lovers around the world holding their collective breath: The Most Fashionable Pug Contest, which was judged by the immortal designer Valentino Garavani...

Get out and walk the dog for a great cause - or two

2009-04-30T00:00:00Z

This Sunday, May 3rd, marks the 18th anniversary of the DogsWalk Against Cancer in New York City's Riverside Park. This non-competitive walk-a-thon and festival features fun contests and raffle prizes, and raises money for the programs of the American Cancer Society (ACS) and its partner, the...

FAO Schwartz and North Shore Animal League Team Up for Annual Tour for Life

2009-04-24T00:00:00Z

Tomorrow morning, FAO Schwarz officially goes to the dogs. The famed New York City destination for toys, beloved by kids of all ages, is teaming with North Shore Animal League America, the world's largest no-kill animal shelter and adoption organization, to help save dogs' lives by hosting the...

President Puppy

2009-04-17T00:00:00Z

Amidst the excitement about the arrival at the White House of Bo, the new First Dog, a black-and-white Portuguese Water Dog, experts are offering valuable advice to help ensure that the presidential pup grows up to be a well-adjusted dog worthy of his new, high-profile position. According to...

Weather can't dampen spirits ASPCA colors New York orange for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month

2009-04-10T00:00:00Z

It's high rain and mud season, so the color orange is a brilliant beacon of visibility, whether it's on a dog collar and leash or a dog toy to play fetch with. And orange also happens to be the signature color of the ASPCA, which held its "Go Orange for Animals" event Tuesday night in...

In North Carolina, a dog named Cassidy becomes first to receive custom, permanent artificial limb

2009-03-30T00:00:00Z

Sunday, March 10 at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Raleigh, a German Shepherd mix named Cassidy became the first American dog to receive a custom, permanent artificial limb. As reported here in 2007, an amputee Belgian Shepherd named Storm became the first...

New dog toy is designed to help match war veterans with assistance dogs

2009-03-20T00:00:00Z

A favorite FetchDog pet charity is Puppies Behind Bars, the unique program that trains prison inmates to raise service dogs from puppyhood, so the dogs can go on to help people in need of assistance. Now, FetchDog and Quabaug Corp.'s Vibram Pet Products have teamed up to raise...

Martha Stewart's puppy and many other dogs die in Pennsylvania kennel explosion

2009-03-11T00:00:00Z

In Lehighton, Pennsylvania, in the Pocono Mountains, an accidental propane explosion killed 17 dogs at a kennel called Pazzazz Pet Boarding that breeds and trains show dogs. Fifteen dogs were killed in the blast, and two more died later.One of the dogs that perished was FetchDog friend...

In Los Angeles, excessive dog barking could mean steep fines - or impounding noisy dogs

2009-02-26T00:00:00Z

Barking is normal dog behavior, but for many people it's considered annoying enough to report to the authorities. Now, dog owners living in Los Angeles' Riverside County have compelling new incentive to use any humane means necessary - including positive training methods to stop a dog...

Stump's historic Westminster win is a victory for senior dogs everywhere

2009-02-13T00:00:00Z

Some dog lovers appreciate senior dogs for the experience and grace they bring to everything they do, but too often four-footed seniors are overlooked or outright dismissed, especially at animal shelters. No longer: Striking a blow for seniors everywhere, the young-at-heart dog who...

Glenn Close to talk up Foster Dogs on the Rachael Ray show tomorrow

2008-10-20T00:00:00Z

Dog Adoption is one way to help a homeless dog; but if you haven't got room for a forever dog in your life, there's always the temporary option of fostering a dog. Offering short-term housing to a shelter dog helps free up cage space at our nation's crowded animal shelters, which are seriously...

TV star shines spotlight on shelter dog adoption

2008-10-08T00:00:00Z

Talented TV actresses are harnessing their star power to shine a much-needed spotlight on shelter dog adoption. On Monday, Felicity Huffman of "Desperate Housewives" fame appeared in her role as ambassador for the "Iams Home 4 the Holidays" pet adoption campaign. The actress...

"Gimme Shelter" concert rocks dog adoption in New York

2008-10-07T00:00:00Z

Last night, the Highline Ballroom in New York's Chelsea was the venue for the third annual "Gimme Shelter: Rock and Rescue" concert. Referencing the Maysles brothers' legendary documentary about the infamous 1969 Rolling Stones concert at Altamont Speedway, the concert's goal each year...

After the election, Obama family resolves to adopt a dog from an animal shelter

2008-10-03T00:00:00Z

On Entertainment Tonight earlier this week, Michelle Obama shared the news that, per the promise she and her husband made to their daughters, Malia and Sasha, after the presidential election, her family would be adopting a dog from an animal shelter instead of buying a dog from a pet store.The...

Champion flying-disc dog undergoes emergency surgery

2008-10-01T00:00:00Z

Last night we received the sad news from FetchDog friend Roo Yori that his beloved, champion flying-disc dog Wallace, an adopted pit bull and one of the most talented dog athletes ever, will not be competing in this year's annual Purina Incredible Dog Challenge this weekend.While at...

Animal Care's Central Park Dog Walk gets rained on, but not washed out!

2008-09-29T00:00:00Z

Yesterday was the rain date for the Animal Care 2008 Central Park Dog Walk in New York City, originally scheduled for Saturday. Unfortunately, the weather decided not to cooperate, drizzling even more rain on the already-postponed event.No matter: The event got rained on, but not washed out! Many...

Release of "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" raises concern among dog advocates

2008-09-26T00:00:00Z

The release of the new Disney movie "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" has fans of this diminutive breed concerned that the popularity of Chihuahuas will skyrocket, with backyard breeders and puppy mills going into overdrive to supply anticipated demand for these tiny, tote-able dogs.The...

Shelter Dogs Fundraiser: a FetchDog favorite animal shelter hosts "A Party for the Paws" tonight

2008-09-25T00:00:00Z

Animal Care & Control of New York City, a.k.a. NYCACC.org, one of FetchDog's favorite animal shelters, is having "A Party for the Paws," a gala fundraiser, tonight at the Manhattan club Pressure. An overwhelming number of celebrities have donated items to be auctioned to the highest...

An update on Louisiana's dogs in the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav

2008-09-15T00:00:00Z

The aftermath of Hurricane Gustav left good news and bad for the dogs of Louisiana. First, the good news: FetchDog friends Amanda and Martin St. John of MuttShack Animal Rescue Foundation, which heroically saved some 3,000 animals during Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, arrived in New Orleans...

Dogs make a house a home - shop for your space accordingly

2008-09-08T00:00:00Z

On Thursday evening of last week, this blogger was invited to speak as one of Apartment Therapy's (www.apartmenttherapy.com) chosen panel of experts on pets and design. The event took place at the swank Design Within Reach (www.dwr.com) store in New York's SoHo, and several dogs turned up,...

In convention speech, Sarah Palin references a controversial dog breed

2008-09-04T00:00:00Z

At the Republican National Convention last night, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin presented herself as a small-town outsider. And, as befits an outsider, Palin made an intriguing comparison. Characterizing herself as a "hockey mom," she said, "What's the difference between a hockey...

Checking in with the dog-loving hosts of Sirius Radio's "Morning Living"

2008-08-26T00:00:00Z

Early this morning, this blogger made an appearance on "Morning Living," the fabulous show on the Sirius Radio channel helmed by FetchDog Friend Martha Stewart, basking in the radiant glow of hip, happening host Kim Fernandez (Kim's co-host, Betsy Karetnick, was off on vacation)....

Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps loves his Bulldog Herman

2008-08-20T00:00:00Z

If one were to guess at the dog counterpart for champion Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, one might guess an athletic breed that feels totally at home in the water - a Labrador Retriever, say, or a Portuguese Water Dog. But Phelps, who won eight gold medals at the Beijing games and has...

Tragic trend of police dogs dying in hot patrol cars continues

2008-08-19T00:00:00Z

As reported in the San Diego Union-Tribune, a San Diego police offer was charged Friday in the death of his K9 partner, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois named Forrest. Officer Paul Hubka, a 22-year veteran of the San Diego police department, left the dog in the police cruiser with the windows rolled...

Uno the Beagle makes the transition from Westminster top dog to therapy dog

2008-08-18T00:00:00Z

Uno the Beagle who became the first of his breed to win the coveted Best in Show title at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, has successfully made the transition from pampered show dog to hard-working therapy dog. This summer, Uno completed a six-week Delta Society Pet Partners training...

Dogs bring home burrs on a romp through the woods

2008-08-14T00:00:00Z

I may be stuck in the city on a book deadline, but that doesn't mean my dogs can't enjoy a weekend in the countryside, complete with extended romps in the woods. Of course, when my long-haired dogs return with sticky burrs lodged in their thick fur, I get all the work of country living, and none...

Democratic dog lovers urge voters to "Bark for Barack"

2008-08-11T00:00:00Z

As the final countdown to the Democratic National Convention begins, the Internet is bustling with packs of dogs and dog people offering their support for presidential candidate Barack Obama. Although an AP-Yahoo News poll recently revealed that dog owners favor Republican candidate John McCain...

Study shows dogs have capacity for empathy

2008-08-08T00:00:00Z

A scientific study conducted at London's Birkbeck College shows that dogs find human yawns contagious. Don't yawn now - yawning is common in many species of animal, but catching a yawn is big news. It means the animal who catches a yawn has a rudimentary capacity for empathy.A yawn triggered by...

Rise in dog thefts attributed to weak economy

2008-08-07T00:00:00Z

Dognapping is on the rise, according to the American Kennel Club, which noted three times as many dog thefts in 2008 as the year before - and the year isn't over yet. The organization tracked 30 thefts, as opposed to only 10 in 2007. The disturbing rise in pet thefts may be chalked up to the...

DNA from cloned Pit Bull yields litter of five puppies

2008-08-06T00:00:00Z

As reported here in February, Californian Bernann McKunney was so grief-stricken at the death of her beloved Pit Bull, unfortunately named Booger, that she arranged with a South Korean firm to have him cloned. (Read the FetchDog Nose to the Ground blog post on dog cloning.) Yesterday,...

ASPCA cops make arrest in case of abandoned puppy dog

2008-08-04T00:00:00Z

As reported in the New York Post, the ASPCA's Humane Law Enforcement division - the famous cops of Animal Planet's "Animal Precinct" - have an arrest in the case of an abandoned puppy left to die on a New York City sidewalk. On July 25, HLE arrested Russell H. Hobbs of the Bronx...

To honor shelter and rescue dogs, North Shore Animal League America declares today "DOGust the First"

2008-08-01T00:00:00Z

The actual birth dates of most shelter and rescue dogs are unknown, but every dog deserves a birthday - and a birthday party with plenty of spectacular dog toys and dog treats - maybe even a whole treat jar full. So North Shore Animal League America (www.animalleague.org), the world's...

A pair of traveling Malteses raise awareness of shelter dog adoption

2008-07-31T00:00:00Z

Lulu and Lolly are a pair of pampered Malteses who made the journey from an animal shelter to a life of first-class luxury. Transcending their humble beginnings as "trendy" purebreds whose first owners abandoned them after their novelty wore off, the rescued Malteses are now lending a...

Travelers make plans to help dog rescue far from home

2008-07-30T00:00:00Z

Inside/Out, (www.theinsideandout.com) whose tagline is "Journeys for your inner self in the outdoors," is renowned for developing "Humanitourism" trips that combine altruism with guided adventure travel, with the goal of promoting longer-term relationships between communities...

Dog art adorns Hamptons decorator show house

2008-07-29T00:00:00Z

Dog art expert and FetchDog friend William Secord has loaned seven dog paintings, plus a bronze dog sculpture and several walking sticks with dog-head handles, to the formal living room of the Hamptons Cottages and Gardens Idea House, a decorator show house in Sagaponack, New York. The...

North Shore Animal League promotes adoption of Pippin, a dog left homeless when her owner died

2008-07-28T00:00:00Z

As previously reported, an elderly New Yorker's death in her apartment left her two beloved dogs traumatized and without a home (read more about the homeless dogs). The pair faced an uncertain future at a crowded municipal animal shelter until the lady's neighbor stepped up to foster one of the...

Rachael Ray launches dog charity

2008-07-28T00:00:00Z

As reported by Associated Press, celebrity chef Rachael Ray has founded a non-profit organization called Rachael's Rescue to help at-risk animals. The group's first beneficiary will be a terrier mix named Spirit. Spirit made headlines earlier this month when a man was caught on videotape...

Verizon Wireless TV commercial has dog lovers in an uproar

2008-07-24T00:00:00Z

A new TV commercial for Verizon Wireless has drawn the ire of dog lovers. In the spot, a young man climbs over a fence into a junkyard to try to get to an LG cellular phone, awakening two sleeping Pit Bulls guarding the yard. As the guy gets close enough to touch the phone, he just misses the...

Summer brings epidemic of dogs dying in hot cars

2008-07-23T00:00:00Z

Leave a dog in a parked car in summer, you run a very real risk that the dog will die. It can happen to any dog in any car - even a cherished police dog in an air-conditioned patrol car. In Mulberry, Florida, K-9 officer Sam Diesel, the partner of Police Officer Sara Movahedi, died in the...

Dog Car Safety: Proposed legislation will require safety while traveling with dogs

2008-07-22T00:00:00Z

A recent survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturing Association indicates that approximately 80 percent of dog owners don't restrain pets (with dog seat belts or portable dog crates) when traveling with dogs in vehicles. Like humans, dogs sustain injuries when unrestrained, and can also...

Protecting your car interior from your traveling dog

2008-07-17T00:00:00Z

Need incentive for keeping your car's interior as spot-free as it is dog-friendly and dog-safe? After the engine, the interior is the most second important consideration when trying to re-sell the vehicle. Here are some tips for protecting the car interior from your traveling dog. Install a...

Bideawee invites talented dogs to enter dog talent contest

2008-07-16T00:00:00Z

The tremendous popularity of CBS's hit show Greatest American Dog has inspired a new competition, a dog-centric version of American Idol whose goal is to discover dormant dog talent. Bideawee, (www.bideawee.org) one of the country's oldest humane organizations, has announced Star Pet 2008, a...

Turning car rides into dog-training opportunities

2008-07-15T00:00:00Z

If you're planning a long-distance drive with your large dog, and Spot has a habit of forcing his way up to the front of your car while you're driving it - not to be encouraged, as it can be extremely hazardous - it's time to brush up on some good manners training so your upcoming car trip with...

Beijing's designated Olympic restaurants ordered to take dog meat off the menu

2008-07-15T00:00:00Z

According to AP, dog meat has been struck from the menus of officially designated Olympic restaurants, i.e. restaurants catering to spectators of and participants in the Olympic Games, and Beijing tourism officials are telling other outlets to discourage consumers from ordering dishes made from...

Small dog breeds get some major bad press

2008-07-14T00:00:00Z

According to London's Daily Mail, a study published in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science has found that smaller dog breeds are more genetically predisposed toward aggressive behavior than large dog breeds - including several widely feared ones. The study revealed that the...

Disney's newest canine character is a dog named Bolt

2008-07-11T00:00:00Z

Did anyone ever stop to wonder if Rin Tin Tin the famous German Shepherd or Lassie the famous Collie believed their own press, trotting off the set each day thinking they actually were the heroic dog characters they played onscreen?Obviously, the creative team behind Bolt, Disney's next...

Dapper dog collectibles add moxie to Madison Avenue

2008-07-09T00:00:00Z

Walking and window-shopping along Madison Avenue, New York City natives and visitors alike are bound to be enchanted by the display at Daum, which is dominated by three charming dog-head figures made of black lead crystal.The fanciful figures take the form of a Labrador named Gaspard, a French...

Cash-strapped airline increases charge for transporting dogs

2008-07-08T00:00:00Z

As reported in the New York Post, U.S. Airways eliminated free snacks in coach class on all its domestic flights starting June 1. The airline will, however, continue to offer complimentary soft drinks. Besides leaving travelers hungry (especially if they forget to bring along their own nuts,...

Leona Helmsley's bequest to her dog ignites lively debate

2008-07-07T00:00:00Z

Yesterday's "Ideas & Trends" column in the Week in Review section of The New York Times expounded on the late Leona Helmsley's bequest to her beloved dog, a female Maltese named Trouble. Helmsley's provision of $12 million for Trouble in her will, and gift of nearly $8 billion in...

Independence Day is the #1 day for lost pets

2008-07-02T00:00:00Z

According to Pets911, July 4th is the #1 day of the year for lost pet reports. Dogs especially get easily scared by the noise from fireworks celebrations, and tend to bolt from sheer fright - and go missing. If you plan on attending an Independence Day fireworks display with your dog, please...

Dog lovers voice concern for Anne Hathaway's left-behind lab

2008-06-30T00:00:00Z

Dog lovers are concerned that Get Smart star Anne Hathaway, who smartly dumped boyfriend Raffaello Follieri shortly before he was arrested on fraud charges, appears to have left her best friend behind in the split. According to the New York Post, the dog, a chocolate lab named Esmeralda, is...

June is Adopt-A-Cat Month, says American Humane

2008-06-30T00:00:00Z

June has been designated Adopt-A-Cat Month by the Colorado-based American Humane Association. Dog owners who entertain fantasies of having a peaceable kingdom at home, where canines and felines coexist happily ever after, are sure to hightail it to their local animal shelter to give a...

Powerful PSA spreads message against dog-fighting

2008-06-26T00:00:00Z

A powerful new PSA with an anti-dog-fighting message depicts several different breeds, including a few Pit Bulls, a Rottweiler, and an Akita. Through impressively subtle animation, each dog appears to speak with a different human voice, recalling how he or she was kept in chains and forced...

Best-selling dog author John Grogan has another book in the works

2008-06-25T00:00:00Z

William Morrow has announced that John Grogan, best-selling author of Marley & Me, the movie adaptation of which will make its screen debut this Christmas, has a prequel in the works. The new book, titled The Longest Trip Home, will go on sale nationwide October 21. According to a press...

Polish poster art depicts a FetchDog Top 20 dog movie

2008-06-24T00:00:00Z

Here at FetchDog, we appreciate a great movie about a dog - and a great movie poster as a work of art in its own right - as much as the next cinephile. But did you know that the art of movie posters flourished in, of all places, Poland? Polish posters designed from 1947 forward took...

North Shore Animal League America's adoption event finds homes for about 40 animals

2008-06-23T00:00:00Z

At Friday's big adoption event staged by North Shore Animal League America, some 40 animals found forever homes in under six hours. It's compelling proof that star power helps fuel successful shelter adoptions. That's because the big draw at the event - besides the adorable animals, of...

Actor Richard Belzer appears at pet adoption event urging political animals to adopt

2008-06-20T00:00:00Z

Starting at noon today at the Petco location on Manhattan's Upper East Side, Law & Order: SVU star Richard Belzer will unveil his newest character: Uncle Sam. He's got an urgent call to action: "We want YOU ... to adopt!" In this historic "Paw-idential" election year,...

Dogs need weekends, too

2008-06-19T00:00:00Z

That's the fetching slogan for Discover Boating, a public awareness effort managed by the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the trade association representing the U.S. recreational boating industry. The campaign promotes the nautical life with a charmingly buoyant video that's been...

Amsterdam to lift 15-year ban on Pit Bulls

2008-06-16T00:00:00Z

In a significant victory for opponents of breed-specific legislation, the Associated Press reports that the Dutch government promises to lift a 15-year ban on Pit Bulls because the ban did not result in a decrease in dog bite incidents. The decision is based on the advice of a commission of...

Glenn Close talks dogs on ABC's "The View"

2008-06-16T00:00:00Z

Glenn Close made an appearance today on ABC's "The View" to talk about dogs in general and FetchDog in particular. Despite being in a bit of a quandary the day before about what to wear, FetchDog's favorite actress looked gorgeous as ever in a silver suit and black heels as she...

Finally, a positive image for the pit bull

2008-06-13T00:00:00Z

The Pit Bull has such a negative reputation in the media that it's noteworthy when a successful company perceives this widely misunderstood dog as an asset - and chooses the dog's image as its branding signature. That's just what Pit Bull, maker of performance products and accessories for...

The New York Post honored for dog reporting at Lewyt Luncheon

2008-06-12T00:00:00Z

At yesterday's Lewyt Humane Awards Luncheon at the posh Garden City Hotel, North Shore Animal League America presented The New York Post with its Media Award of Distinction. Accepting the award on behalf of the Post were Kieran Crowley, who covers Long Island for the paper, and FetchDog's...

A long-awaited dog movie finally appears on the horizon

2008-06-11T00:00:00Z

Fans of the phenomenal best-seller Marley and Me have been counting the months, days, and hours until the Christmas 2008 release of the book's long-anticipated film adaptation. Finally, that date has grown closer with the release of the movie's abundantly cute official trailer. In it, a...

Movie about Tintin and his dog Snowy in the works

2008-06-10T00:00:00Z

The subject of boys and their dogs is always timely in the world of film, where Stephen Spielberg will direct a live-action version of Tintin, the hugely popular Belgian comic books chronicling the adventures of a boy named Tintin and his white terrier, Snowy. IMDB lists the 2009 movie's...

Being a good neighbor to dogs in need

2008-06-09T00:00:00Z

What would you do if an elderly lady in your apartment building died, and her dogs wound up at an overcrowded urban animal shelter, where they were in danger of being killed just for lack of cage space? This is an all-too-common scenario. But New Yorker Rima Bien was determined not to let...

Shelter dog inspires new PBS TV series

2008-06-05T00:00:00Z

One of the many wonderful things accomplished by dogs is helping kids with challenging tasks such as learning to read. Through its outreach programs, Bide-a-Wee has found that therapy dogs do this simply by being a confidence-building, non-judgmental audience to children as they read...

Tatum O'Neal grief-stricken over the death of her dog

2008-06-04T00:00:00Z

Actress and Rescue Me star Tatum O'Neal, arrested for buying crack and cocaine from a vagrant in downtown New York City, told The New York Post that she's grateful for the intervention of police - and that what made her break the law was grief over the death of her dog at age 16 three weeks...

At the Simpson-Wentz wedding, the ring bearer was a dog

2008-06-03T00:00:00Z

At the May 18th wedding of Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz, the groom's Bulldog, Hemingway, did ring-bearer duty. Further keeping things all in the family, Ashlee's sister, Jessica, was the maid of honor, and the non-denominational ceremony was performed by the Simpson sisters' father, Joe....

A newcomer to the dog run grabs the spotlight

2008-06-02T00:00:00Z

At the dog run yesterday, all eyes were on a handsome, blue-gray 6-month-old pup who looks like a creature from a prehistoric cave painting. And that's precisely what he is: a Thai Ridgeback, an ancient breed that is very rarely seen outside of his native country, Thailand, where for centuries he...

Dog killed by stray voltage on New York sidewalk

2008-05-28T00:00:00Z

As reported in the New York Daily News, a 7-year-old Siberian Husky named Sebastian was killed by stray voltage while out for a walk Sunday night in Queens, New York. The dog lifted a leg to pee on a light pole, and was killed by a jolt of electricity. Sebastian's owner, Celia Sing, a civilian...

A wedding for dog lovers

2008-05-27T00:00:00Z

Now is the time for all June brides to be nailing down their wedding plans, if they haven't already - and for wedding invitees to finalize what to give the happy couple, if they haven't already. Here's the ultimate solution for dog lovers looking to do something creative: make a donation to...

Documentary in the works about celebrity dogs

2008-05-27T00:00:00Z

As reported last week by the New York Post, producer Daryl Roth, a force to be reckoned with in the world of the New York stage (and founder of the Daryl Roth Theatre), is at work on a new pet project: a documentary about the relationship between celebrities and their dogs. Among the talent...

Iron Man has a very doglike robot

2008-05-21T00:00:00Z

In the new movie Iron Man, based on the Marvel cartoon, Robert Downey Jr. plays Tony Stark: weapons manufacturer, U.S. defense contractor, extremely entitled son of privilege, world-class playboy. He's a cocky alpha dog if there ever was one. But a visit to Afghanistan, where he's injured...

Ohio legislator proposes ban on pit bulls

2008-05-21T00:00:00Z

The sad plight of the pit bull might get even sadder if one Ohio legislator gets his way. The web site of the Animal Law Coalition reports that Ohio State Rep. Tyrone Yates proposed a bill yesterday, H.B. 568, that would prohibit the ownership of pit bulls in the state of Ohio....

Dog lovers do their homework before donating to animal-welfare groups

2008-05-19T00:00:00Z

The Business section of yesterday's New York Times led with a fascinating profile of an internet porn entrepreneur. It's a long read, but for dog lovers who haven't got time, the takeaway is: Do your homework before donating money to animal-welfare groups. Donated funds should go where they...

These dog collectibles are hot stuff

2008-05-16T00:00:00Z

As any dog-fancying collectibles hound knows, vintage items that depicts dogs are a must-have. Now, thanks to one antiques hound's dogged persistence, exquisite examples of a dying art form are alive and well - and available to those of us who are fools for vintage dog paraphernalia. On her...

The little dog that roared

2008-05-13T00:00:00Z

The September release of the Disney movie Beverly Hills Chihuahua is several months away, but already city streets are decorated with dynamically-designed promotional posters featuring the imposing image of a larger-than-life Chihuahua with the legend "Heel." Meanwhile, YouTube...

Uno the flying top dog

2008-05-12T00:00:00Z

Since winning the top-dog title at Westminster in February, Uno the Beagle has been one jet-setting pet. He flies across the country so much, he's looking to outdo Underdog for sheer amount of time spent in the air. Uno has racked up an impressive number of frequent flyer miles on Midwest...

At the dog park, dogs and their doppelgangers

2008-05-07T00:00:00Z

A recent picture-perfect day at the dog park included meeting (or in DD's case, leaping aerobically over) a group of extremely friendly dogs, many of whom closely resembled their people. Exhibit A: Rana the blue Weimaraner, who is the canine equivalent of her person: slender, dark,...

Dog lovers who like pigeons are a breed apart

2008-05-05T00:00:00Z

In crowded cities like New York, dogs and pigeons cross paths on a regular basis. In fact, you can usually gauge the force of a dog's prey drive by how attentive s/he is to these ubiquitous bobble-headed birds. My former foster dog Syd used to go airborne after pigeons (fortunately he never...

Meet a dog named Harpo who needs a home

2008-05-01T00:00:00Z

How does a dog get a distinctive name like Harpo? In the case of a pink-nosed, sweet-as-sugar female pit bull temporarily named Sweetie Pye, pulled last weekend from Animal Care and Control of New York City, she gets it by playing a squeaky toy as if it were a musical instrument. An adorable...

A boy's fetching poem about his dog

2008-04-30T00:00:00Z

On this, the last day of National Poetry Month, FetchDog friend Raphael Pierson-Sante, age 8, gave us this minimalist free verse about his dog Nelly. Look out, New Yorker poets: this pre-teen polymath does his own drawings, too. If I Were My Dog If I were Nelly, I might not...

Raised with dogs, kids grow up allergy-free, German study finds

2008-04-29T00:00:00Z

We already knew that dogs make kids happier and more confident, especially when tackling such challenges as learning to read - now we have scientific proof that dogs actually make children healthier, too. As reported by Reuters, a team of scientists in Munich has found that having a dog in the...

When Oprah Winfrey talks, dog advocates are all ears.

2008-04-28T00:00:00Z

As reported here earlier this month, Winfrey admitted to being so moved by her special correspondent Lisa Ling's investigation of abuses at puppy mills on The Oprah Winfrey Show that she is "a changed woman." Winfrey's late Cocker Spaniel Sophie and Golden Retriever Gracie were...

Celebrating dogs as all-American as baseball

2008-04-27T00:00:00Z

"We made a giant baseball card to pass out to the fans at this Sunday's Zephyrs game at New Orleans' Zephyr Field," reports FetchDog friend Ken Foster. "It's the annual Bark in the Park event, with special seating for people with dogs and proceeds going to the Lousiana...

On TV tonight, Jack the dog goes operatic

2008-04-24T00:00:00Z

FetchDog friend Joanna Doster gives us the heads up that her magnificent Maltese Jumpin' Jack Flash, a.k.a. Jack, will appear in tonight's telecast of Puccini's Manon Lescaut, a lavish production of the Metropolitan Opera. "Jack - excuse me, Jacques - is presented on stage to the lead,...

On visit to NYC, dog is thrown off bridge, survives

2008-04-23T00:00:00Z

Yesterday, Animal Care and Control of New York City took in a handsome pit bull that had been thrown off a bridge in upper Manhattan and left to die. The dog sustained serious injuries, suffering broken teeth and multiple fractures, but is expected to recover. Happily, the shelter - which already...

Dog lovers celebrate Earth Day

2008-04-22T00:00:00Z

For dogs, every day is a celebration of the Earth and its pleasures - especially terriers, who love to commune with earth by digging in it. But today we humans have designated Earth Day, so many dog lovers are celebrating by doing one small thing to help ensure the longevity of our home...

Queens dog shelter seeks generous benefactor ASAP

2008-04-21T00:00:00Z

On April 4th, Queens animal shelter Bobbi and the Strays learned it had placed number 20 out of 973 shelters across the country in ZooToo's nationwide Shelter Makeover Contest, making it a finalist for the contest's top prize of $1 million - and the only shelter in the New York metropolitan area...

Dog rescuer responds to cruel "art" exhibit with kindness

2008-04-18T00:00:00Z

New York dog rescuer Deborah DiIorio, like many animal lovers, was sickened to learn of the sadistic "art" exhibit in which an emaciated stray dog was deliberately tethered to a wall and starved while gallery visitors watched and...

Veggies help overweight dogs get slim, fast

2008-04-16T00:00:00Z

Now that my white pit bull Angus has successfully shed his excess tonnage, whittled his waist, and maintained his fighting weight for several months straight, my sable Border Collie Sheba has managed to go and wreck her girlish figure, surreptitiously supplementing her high-protein, grain-free...

Stray dog deliberately starved to death in sadistic "art exhibit"

2008-04-15T00:00:00Z

Animal lovers were outraged to learn that self-described "artist" Guillermo Vargas, a.k.a. Habacuc's entry last September in Costa Rica's Bienal Centroamericana Honduras, a.k.a. Visual Arts Biennial, a.k.a. Bienarte, was an injured, emaciated stray dog he took off the street in Managua,...

Laika, first dog in space, honored five decades later

2008-04-14T00:00:00Z

As reported by Associated Press, last Friday Russian officials unveiled a monument to the space pioneer who made the ultimate sacrifice in paving the way for human exploration of the cosmos. Laika, a 2-year-old female mongrel, was the first living creature to go into orbit, an experiment to see...

Guarding dogs' safety, indoors and out

2008-04-10T00:00:00Z

Living with dogs inevitably makes one concerned about hidden dangers to dogs and other safety issues. As Spring rapidly becomes less of a date on the calendar and more of a glorious season in bloom, safety in the garden is also a timely top priority, from the POV of protecting dogs from toxic...

The little dog shelter that could

2008-04-07T00:00:00Z

One reason animal shelters don't get a lot of traffic is many people fear that visiting will be a downer. To combat this widespread misperception, and to help solve the crisis of pet homelessness, Zootoo devised a brilliant plan: sponsor a nationwide Shelter Makeover Contest. The winning shelter...

Oprah vows to adopt her next dog from an animal shelter

2008-04-03T00:00:00Z

As major as her talent is for talking, here's proof that Oprah Winfrey is also big on listening: For some time now, advocates of shelter animals across the country have pleaded in letters, emails, and blog postings that Winfrey consider adopting a homeless dog instead of buying from breeders. And...

Brunfelsia plant is toxic to dogs, ASPCA warns

2008-04-02T00:00:00Z

Now there's a new hidden danger for dog lovers to be concerned about: According to a study by Dr. Safdar Khan, veterinary toxicologist for the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center, Brunfelsia, a favorite of many gardeners, may cause life-threatening illnesses in dogs and cats. Also known as...

Poems about dogs are not doggerel

2008-04-01T00:00:00Z

April is National Poetry Month, established in 1996 and now the world's largest literary celebration. To mark the occasion, tonight the Academy of American Poets hosts its sixth annual benefit, Poetry & The Creative Mind, at New York's Avery Fisher Hall (for tickets, go here).At last year's...

Dogs avoid harm in fire on Manhattan's Upper East Side

2008-03-27T00:00:00Z

Last night I got the scare of my life when, walking home, I noticed huge, black clouds of smoke billowing over my block. Picking up my pace to a run, I raced home, where my dogs had been left unattended for about three hours. A three-alarm fire had broken out on the top floor of the building two...

Clearing away obstacles to dog adoption

2008-03-26T00:00:00Z

With the nationwide foreclosure crisis landing large numbers of dogs in already overcrowded animal shelters, adopters and foster homes are urgently needed now more than ever. And yet, many people resist bringing home a dog because of the lingering stigma that animals introduce mess into a pristine...

Kong toy saves senior dog at Mississippi animal shelter

2008-03-25T00:00:00Z

The Humane Society of South Mississippi made history as the animal shelter where director Joe Camp ended his nationwide search for a mutt to star in the 2004 sequel to his 1970s classic of canine cinema, Benji. Now the shelter is making headlines again as the location of a Hollywood-style...

Missing dog championed by Howard Stern returns home safe

2008-03-24T00:00:00Z

Let it not be said that notoriously sharp-tongued Howard Stern doesn't have a soft spot when it comes to dogs. Last Wednesday, when New Yorker Jessica Kurland called in to Stern's radio show, frantically describing how she tied her 3-year-old Bulldog, Clara, outside a Manhattan supermarket, then...

A puppy named Obama campaigns for a change ... of address

2008-03-21T00:00:00Z

The speech on race that Sen. Barack Obama delivered Tuesday in Philadelphia has inspired author, animal advocate, foster caregiver, and FetchDog friend Carole Raphaelle Davis to name her most recent rescue Obama. He's a small, black, mixed-breed pup, approximately eight months old and 14...

Mixed-breed dog is star of 29-Second Film Festival winner

2008-03-20T00:00:00Z

There are short films and really, really short films. As reported in the Kansas City Star, the winners of the paper's 29-Second Film Festival have been announced, and Best Drama honors went to a mini-movie called "Canine Clarity." "Joe Gleason's existential portrait of man and dog...

Animal shelters hope more people will consider fostering dogs

2008-03-19T00:00:00Z

As reported here, the nationwide foreclosure crisis has resulted in more and more dogs abandoned outside, or surrendered at animal shelters where they face the very real risk of being killed for lack of cage space. But animal shelters say there's a simple thing each of us can do to help...

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day and dogs

2008-03-17T00:00:00Z

Every year, New York's 69th Regiment proudly marches up Fifth Avenue in the St. Patrick's Day Parade with a handsome pair of Irish Wolfhounds. Today is an important day for the Army National Guard unit, which adopted St. Patrick as its patron saint and the Wolfhound as its regimental mascot. By...

Making News: A Boy and His Dog

2008-03-14T00:00:00Z

That's the ironic title of a fetching flick released in 1975 that co-stars a young Don Johnson as Vic and a shaggy mutt named Tiger as Blood (Jason Robards also stars). Based on "Vic and Blood," a raunchy sci-fi story by Harlan Ellison, the R-rated cult movie is definitely not...

Foreclosure dog crisis takes toll on animal shelter workers

2008-03-13T00:00:00Z

As reported here Friday, the staff at animal shelters across the country are witnessing heartbreaking scenes of separation as more and more dog owners are forced to surrender family pets due to home foreclosures. The stress is felt not only by the anguished owners and traumatized dogs, but by the...

Visionary vet and humanitarian extends her reach of influence

2008-03-12T00:00:00Z

Yesterday, PetWatch Animal Hospitals, Inc. announced the appointment of veterinarian Dr. Diane Levitan as Chief Medical Officer. The appointment is part of the firm's plan to broaden its network of top-notch 24-hour emergency, critical care, and referral hospitals for animals, with a view to...

Honoring the earliest women veterinarians

2008-03-11T00:00:00Z

In his excellent new book, Tell Me Where It Hurts, Dr. Nick Trout of Boston's Angell Animal Medical Center notes that in 1903, Mignon Nicholson became the first female vet in the United States, "whereas nine years earlier, Aleen Cust became the first woman to be accepted as a student of...

Tourists stay home rather than travel to places that endanger dogs

2008-03-10T00:00:00Z

Normally, when American dog lovers plan a trip, their priority is keeping the family dog safe, whether by protecting Spot with a sturdy carrier or automobile safety harness or, if he's staying behind, arranging the best possible accommodations with a pet sitter or at a boarding facility. But...

Home foreclosures leave more and more dogs homeless

2008-03-07T00:00:00Z

As noted here in January, the nationwide mortgage crisis has victimized thousands of family dogs, and continues to victimize many more. From Minnesota to Massachusetts, pets are left behind on abandoned properties to fend for themselves. The luckier ones are taken by their owners to animal...

Justice for Edna

2008-03-06T00:00:00Z

That was the message printed on T-shirts worn by several people who turned out for yesterday's rally outside the Verizon headquarters in Philadelphia. They, and several members of the press, were there to hear Bill Whiting speak about his dog Edna, who went missing on Halloween night 2007. On...

Philadelphia dognapping suspect in custody

2008-03-05T00:00:00Z

On Friday, Philadelphia police apprehended a 15-year-old named Victor Rodriguez and took him into custody. Rodriguez is the suspect sought for the telephone calls he made to William Whiting, making terroristic and extortionist threats while allegedly torturing a dog he claimed to be Whiting's pet...

Dog artist works overtime to help homeless pit bulls

2008-03-05T00:00:00Z

FetchDog friend Heather LaHaise has been burning the midnight oil paints, working overtime to portray pit bulls awaiting adoption at animal shelters. Her latest creation is a portrait of a Jersey boy named Lucky, one of the adorable adoptables at New Jersey's Bergen County Animal Shelter....

The fine art of pit bull rescue

2008-02-29T00:00:00Z

Dog artist and FetchDog friend Heather LaHaise knows a cute canine when she sees one, and was inspired to paint Tickles, an adoptable pit bull currently in the care of the excellent rescue group Bobbi and the Strays. With her portrait, LaHaise was able to capture the pit's more pensive side...

The why and how of pit bull rescue

2008-02-28T00:00:00Z

In animal shelters across this country, pit bulls constitute by far the largest percentage of adoptable dogs. The trouble is, because of their "vicious" reputation, gentle, family-friendly pit bulls are most often the last to be adopted. Most never make it out of the shelter. It's...

Dogs and figure skates: don't try this at home

2008-02-26T00:00:00Z

Julie Szabo (no relation to this reporter) is a brilliant blogger and sometime skater who knows better than anyone how to navigate the rink as well as the 'net. On her blog, she makes note of a Japanese advertisement for Aero chocolate candy that features figure skating star Mao Asada sharing the...

With "No Country for Old Men," a dog star is born

2008-02-25T00:00:00Z

At last night's Academy Awards, host Jon Stewart quipped that the talented Cate Blanchett is so versatile, she even played the Pit Bull in "No Country for Old Men." However, while Blanchett is indeed incredibly gifted, as are the Oscar-winning directorial duo of Joel and Ethan Coen...

Dogless Dog Movies

2008-02-22T00:00:00Z

This past week, counting down to the Academy Awards this coming Sunday, FetchDog's Cinematic Dog blog has been celebrating movies with dogs in them, whether the four-footed performers have starring, supporting, or walk-on - even swim-on - roles. But there's one division of this...

Music for a dog's ears only

2008-02-20T00:00:00Z

What if they recorded an album only dogs could hear? It's a high-concept conundrum worthy of the late, great John Cage - but it's also a very real CD called "A Very Silent Night" that's recorded at a frequency registered only by canine ears. The CD was released last December as a...

Cloned dog could create copycat controversy

2008-02-19T00:00:00Z

Cloning dogs is a hot topic again, as the Korean firm RNL Bio gears up to fill its first consumer cloning order, in partnership with the team of scientists that in 2005 successfully produced Snuppy, an Afghan Hound and the world's first cloned dog. On February 13, Reuters reported that the...

Multiple Oscar nominee Glenn Close recommends dog double feature

2008-02-18T00:00:00Z

When asked what's her favorite movie with a dog actor, multiple Oscar nominee and Lively Licks blog host Glenn Close replied, "Old Yeller was one of the movies that made the biggest impression on me as a child. Actually, Old Yeller and Sounder are good companion pieces that bookend each other...

Saving Uno the Beagle's shelter dog cousins

2008-02-15T00:00:00Z

Now that the Top Dog in the country is a Beagle named Uno, kids of all ages will be clamoring for their very own Snoopy dog. But there's no reason to buy one - that Beagle feeling is easy to love, and even easier to adopt. (Cheaper, too.) Literally thousands of Uno's less-fortunate distant...

Uno the Beagle stops traffic in Times Square

2008-02-15T00:00:00Z

Escorted by his handler Aaron Wilkerson, Uno the Beagle left New York City this morning, headed home to South Carolina. Uno appeared just the tiniest bit sleepy-eyed after his grueling round of media appearances that ended with this morning's photo opp at NASDAQ in Times Square. This...

FetchDog Astrologer charts Uno the Beagle's dog stars

2008-02-15T00:00:00Z

We consulted our favorite zodiac authority, Patricia Weiss, about America's favorite canine and Westminster champ, Uno the Beagle, whose birth date is May 5, 2005. "It's no accident that a remarkable Taurus hound with the fortuitous name of Uno won the coveted title of Best in Show,"...

Westminster Dog Show winner Uno the Beagle Unleashes Beaglemania

2008-02-14T00:00:00Z

Each year, the breed that wins Westminster experiences a spike in popularity thanks to the high profile of "America's Dog" on TV and in newspapers and magazines. But the Beagle, already a perennially popular breed thanks to Snoopy of Peanuts fame, will now be a bona fide rock star. And...

Rabid political animal Ann Coulter has a soft spot for Uno the Beagle

2008-02-14T00:00:00Z

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is a bi-paw-tisan affair, so Uno the Beagle has constituents on all sides of the philosophical fence. It's a little-known fact that rabid right-wing pundit Ann Coulter is a sucker for a sweet Beagle, her favorite dog breed since childhood. Here's what the...

Numero Uno Dog Artwork Spotlights Museum Quality Beagles

2008-02-14T00:00:00Z

The handsome hound named Uno who took top dog at Westminster has a smile that could launch a thousand ships and a hearty "Arrooo" that could wake the dead. If you're tempted to adopt a Beagle but now is not the right time for you, there's no shortage of Beagle artwork to own and feast...

FetchDog sniffs out Uno the Beagle 2008's Westminster Kennel Club winner

2008-02-13T00:00:00Z

He smells like a 15-inch Beagle and he looks like one too. A very fetching Beagle, at that. Millions of viewers watching the finals of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show last night on USA Network were rooting for Uno, a.k.a. Ch. K-Run's Park Me in First. That's precisely what Best in Show Judge...

Ethnic dog affinity at Westminster

2008-02-12T00:00:00Z

At Westminster yesterday, I fell hard for a Pharaoh Hound. But today, faced with several drop-dead-gorgeous Vizslas, I'm reminded why I've always adored this sleek sporting dog. It's the exquisitely alert expression that gave rise to the Magyar saying, used to describe people as well as pets,...

Pointing toward a Westminster winner?

2008-02-12T00:00:00Z

Sniff the zeitgeist and you'll smell a Pointer. At Westminster, this noble Sporting breed is, quite literally, everywhere you look. That's because the aristocratic profile of a famous 19th-century lemon-and-white Pointer named Sensation graces the official Westminster logo, showing off his perfect...

The fine art of Pointing

2008-02-12T00:00:00Z

There are economic indicators, so why not artistic indicators? Art experts agree that, if a certain canine breed has a history of being depicted more often in valuable artworks than any other breed, it's safe to assume that breed is an enduring favorite among dog lovers. And right now, all...

High-Maintenance Hounds do Westminster

2008-02-12T00:00:00Z

And by do, we mean hairdo. The breeds that require lots of pre-show primping - namely, the ones with white hair - can't afford to get groomed immediately prior to show time. That would be, um, cutting it too close. Nor can they afford to sit around and gather dust after their Westminster coiffures...

A Terrier named Charmin charms' em at Westminster

2008-02-11T00:00:00Z

You've read about our favorite Sealyham Terrier, Ch. Efbe's Hidalgo at Goodspice (call name Charmin) here before. Well, we sure can pick 'em: We're over the moon to report that Charmin won Best of Breed today at Westminster, and is proceeding to the Terrier Group competition, to be televised...

The veterinarian in the dog-show ring

2008-02-11T00:00:00Z

She's not attending to the medical needs of the Westminster champions - she's handling her own champ, a slinky Saluki called Millie (Ch. Shakara's Red Dancer). I ran into Christine Klein, a vet from New Hampshire, as she was offering Millie a chance to pee in the benching area's...

Finding a new dog breed to love at Westminster

2008-02-11T00:00:00Z

It's funny how you can spend ten years covering Westminster and overlook a dog as spectacular as the Pharaoh Hound. But one look at Ch. Hallam-Churuka's-Limited-Edition, call name Elliott, of Orange County, California, and I was a goner. This handsome guy is a courser on his way to becoming...

When Westminster champions fly

2008-02-11T00:00:00Z

Ever wonder how champion dogs from far, far away are transported to New York City's Madison Square Garden for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show? By airplane, of course. But in brutal cold such as New York is experiencing this week, many airlines flat-out refuse to fly dogs. What to do if you're...

At Westminster, an underdog and a champion

2008-02-11T00:00:00Z

Here at Madison Square Garden this morning at 8 am, Ring Two will be the venue for the American Staffordshire Terrier competition. Terriers are normally favorites to win Top Dog at Westminster - that is, provided they are small, wire-haired, cute, and cuddly-looking. While many dog lovers...

A champion Bull Terrier with big paw-prints to fill

2008-02-11T00:00:00Z

What a pleasure it was to meet Ch. Sarafina of Bullful the Joker in person for the first time today at Westminster. Dog-lovers around the world are on a first-name basis with Sarafina's dad Rufus, the great Bull Terrier Ch. Rocky Top's Sundance Kid, who won Best in Show at Westminster in...

Backstage at Westminster, a lot of hot air

2008-02-11T00:00:00Z

Right about now, I need to go to the bathroom - but I fear that if I do, I might miss out on something to blog about. At least I have a choice in the matter. But one Afghan hound just couldn't wait when nature called. The aisles in the backstage benching area are so clogged with pedestrian...