Federal canine agent Freddy was killed in the line of duty this week, during an FBI raid here in Detroit.
Read the story FBI mourns Freddy the dog, 2, killed in raid in The Detroit Free Press. There are links to make a donation, and info on where to send condolences.
Check out this link http://k9pride.com/ to learn more about police, military, and working dogs worldwide.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
About Cesar Millan "The Dog Whisperer"
Do you know Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer?
I confess that I do not know his techniques for training dogs or people (!), have never watched him on TV or read any of his books. I do know that he is immensely popular. Today's New York Times has a really interesting business article about Millan -- his background, how he started business, how it grew.
Check it out: Whispering to Rottweilers, and to C.E.O.'s. It's a good read.
I confess that I do not know his techniques for training dogs or people (!), have never watched him on TV or read any of his books. I do know that he is immensely popular. Today's New York Times has a really interesting business article about Millan -- his background, how he started business, how it grew.
Check it out: Whispering to Rottweilers, and to C.E.O.'s. It's a good read.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Pets, Autism, and Health Benefits of Pets
Just found this great site: Autism Service Dogs of America. I hadn't known there were service dogs for the autistic. Good to know.
Also, check out this interesting Consults blog in the New York Times: Readers Ask: Pets, People and Autism, and the related article Exploring the Health Benefits of Pets.
It's all good reading.
Also, check out this interesting Consults blog in the New York Times: Readers Ask: Pets, People and Autism, and the related article Exploring the Health Benefits of Pets.
It's all good reading.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Dog-Friendly in Southwest Michigan
AR and Quasar and I took a quick 2-day vacation (came home last night). It's sometimes tough trying to find dog-friendly places to vacation, so I just had to tell you about this.
We drove from Detroit to Union Pier, in southwest Michigan. It's a very small town atmosphere, but very relaxing -- wooded and right on Lake Michigan (my favorite Great Lake!). We stayed at Sweethaven Resort, which is less than a mile off I-94, and less than an hour-and-a-half from Chicago. Sweethaven is dog-friendly, and has 5 cottages for rent that sit on 9-acres of wooded land. Your dog is welcome to be on the grounds leash-free. Plus, there's great stuff for people: bicycles and beach furniture, fire pit, plus our cottage had a hot tub!
Equally as great is the very nearby Warren Dunes State Park, which just this year began allowing dogs to run free on the dunes and in one small part of beach. Quasar had a blast, and proved to us that we have all bonded very well (he enjoyed running free, but came when called).
Woods, beach and dunes, bicycling, hot tub ---- and your dog! Who could ask for more? (Well, there's a great Mexican restaurant nearby with excellent margaritas!)
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Police & Show Dogs Die of Heat Exhaustion While in Cars
It's summer and it's hot outside, and the usual accidents happen and mistakes are made in this heat. Specifically, people leave their dog(s) in the automobile thinking that they are safe from immediate ravages of heat, but something goes wrong and the dog dies.
One particular case is the death of a K9 police officer in Georgia, "Rudy." Rudy's partner left him in his police vehicle, with engine hood propped up and air conditioning running, while he went into a meeting for about an hour-and-a-half. However, the engine stopped during that time, and Rudy overheated and died. For more info, read the news article Carrollton K9 Dies From Heat Exhaustion.
Locally, two German Shepherds (both show dogs) were found dead in their crates inside a pickup truck in Eastpointe. The dogs were said to be left inside the truck with the windows open while the owner went into an animal hospital with a third dog. Upon returning to the car a half-hour later, the dogs' owner found the truck window closed and both dogs dead. Police are investigating who might have closed the truck windows. The owner thought the weather that day was mild and fine to leave the two dogs crated in the truck; temperatures that day were in the 70s. For the story and video, click to read 2 Dogs Die in Pickup Truck.
These are two sad cases that highlight no matter how good our intentions are (leaving on the a/c or windows open in "mild" weather), sometimes we don't stop to think about all of the repercussions of our actions.
Best ideas: leave the dogs home, or bring them into the building with you.
One of the interesting things in the K9 news article, is mention of a "canine heat alarm" for police patrol cars. So I did a quick Google search and found a site, one of many that offers a K9 Heat Alarm with features that include dual remote temperature sensors, a special horn-honking feature, and accessories (such as siren notification). Check out AceK9.com for these and related police dog products and services.
One particular case is the death of a K9 police officer in Georgia, "Rudy." Rudy's partner left him in his police vehicle, with engine hood propped up and air conditioning running, while he went into a meeting for about an hour-and-a-half. However, the engine stopped during that time, and Rudy overheated and died. For more info, read the news article Carrollton K9 Dies From Heat Exhaustion.
Locally, two German Shepherds (both show dogs) were found dead in their crates inside a pickup truck in Eastpointe. The dogs were said to be left inside the truck with the windows open while the owner went into an animal hospital with a third dog. Upon returning to the car a half-hour later, the dogs' owner found the truck window closed and both dogs dead. Police are investigating who might have closed the truck windows. The owner thought the weather that day was mild and fine to leave the two dogs crated in the truck; temperatures that day were in the 70s. For the story and video, click to read 2 Dogs Die in Pickup Truck.
These are two sad cases that highlight no matter how good our intentions are (leaving on the a/c or windows open in "mild" weather), sometimes we don't stop to think about all of the repercussions of our actions.
Best ideas: leave the dogs home, or bring them into the building with you.
One of the interesting things in the K9 news article, is mention of a "canine heat alarm" for police patrol cars. So I did a quick Google search and found a site, one of many that offers a K9 Heat Alarm with features that include dual remote temperature sensors, a special horn-honking feature, and accessories (such as siren notification). Check out AceK9.com for these and related police dog products and services.
Monday, August 17, 2009
2008 Pennsylvania Dog Breeding Law Closing Down Puppy Mills
A 2008 "Dog Law Restricted Account" by the State of Pennsylvania is now effecting positive change for dogs in that State; it's said that this recent law is one of the strictest dog breeding laws in the nation.
"The law increases minimum cage sizes, requires veterinary care and exercise periods, and bans wire flooring...," according to today's New York Times article 2008 Law Leading to Crackdown on Pennsylvania Puppy Mills (please read for more details and to download a PDF copy of this dog breeding law).
Perhaps this is a law we could see other states adopt and enforce. I'll look for a copy of Michigan's dog breeding law (if there is one) and will post it or a link to it in the near future.
That the Professional Dog Breeders Advisory Council has decided to sue Pennsylvania for violating the federal Constitution just highlights the fact that they care nothing about the welfare of dogs and everything about making $$$ regardless of abuses they engage in. Really sad.
This is not to say that all dog breeders are "bad," but rather that there needs to be strictly enforced regulation and accountability for those that deal in propagating animal life.
"The law increases minimum cage sizes, requires veterinary care and exercise periods, and bans wire flooring...," according to today's New York Times article 2008 Law Leading to Crackdown on Pennsylvania Puppy Mills (please read for more details and to download a PDF copy of this dog breeding law).
Perhaps this is a law we could see other states adopt and enforce. I'll look for a copy of Michigan's dog breeding law (if there is one) and will post it or a link to it in the near future.
That the Professional Dog Breeders Advisory Council has decided to sue Pennsylvania for violating the federal Constitution just highlights the fact that they care nothing about the welfare of dogs and everything about making $$$ regardless of abuses they engage in. Really sad.
This is not to say that all dog breeders are "bad," but rather that there needs to be strictly enforced regulation and accountability for those that deal in propagating animal life.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Michigan Animal Care Network & Michigan Animal Adoption Network
Informative article in today's Detroit Free Press about the nonprofit Animal Care Network of Pontiac and Inkster (a sister group of the Animal Adoption Network).
Click on this post title to visit their web site.
Read the article Prowling the streets for pets in distress for information about the groups, how to care for dogs and cats, and what you can do to help.
According to the Freep, low-income Pontiac and Inkster residents can request pet supplies or assistance from the Animal Care Network. For Pontiac, call 248-678-2756 anytime. For Inkster, call 248-545-5055 weekdays from 9 a.m. to5 p.m.
Click on this post title to visit their web site.
Read the article Prowling the streets for pets in distress for information about the groups, how to care for dogs and cats, and what you can do to help.
According to the Freep, low-income Pontiac and Inkster residents can request pet supplies or assistance from the Animal Care Network. For Pontiac, call 248-678-2756 anytime. For Inkster, call 248-545-5055 weekdays from 9 a.m. to5 p.m.
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