July 3, 2008Therapy dog training
Here's a story by reporter Jessica Marcy from today's Roanoke Times about therapy dog training conducted through Star City Canine Training in Salem. I know when I am having a rough day my dogs can make me smile without even trying. Dexter will cuddle up to me on the couch or Coral will lay her head in my hands for me to pet her, and I just can't be in a bad mood anymore. My cat Thai also has a sense for when I am not feeling well. If I am home sick in bed, he will not leave my side. He will even share bed space with the dogs, something he never does normally. Maybe the mayor of Helena-West Helena could use some pet therapy to heal his Grinch-like heart. (See entry below.) July 2, 2008Who let the dogs out? The mayor did.Let me explain some of the editorial decisions I make each day here at The Happy Wag. I often sift through news from wires and on the Internet looking for stories about pets. I usually pass on stories of blatant cruelty because to me they aren't helpful to the people I assume are reading this blog: good folks who love their pets. These stories are usually pretty sickening to me, and I'd rather spare you the same reaction. However, I found this story today, and I will indulge in complete editorial comment as I share it here. I want company in my outrage. On June 11, James Valley, the mayor of Helena-West Helena, a city of 15,000 in eastern Arkansas, decided the best way to deal with the animal control problem was to take the dozen dogs being held in city's the sad, makeshift pound and turn them loose in, ironically enough, St. Francis National Forest. He just dumped them in the woods. Good luck, pooches. See ya. He did not "allegedly" do this; he admits it and stands by the decision. Billions for dogs
Apparently her pet Maltese, Trouble, was not the only canine late hotel heiress Leona Helmsley cared about: she left instructions that her multi-billion dollar estate be donated to benefit dogs. The New York Times reported this morning that Helmsley left a “mission statement,” in 2003 directing that the entire trust, valued at $5 billion to $8 billion and amounting to virtually all her estate, be used for the care and welfare of dogs. The newspaper is citing two people who have seen the document and who described it on condition of anonymity as their sources. These sources told the New York Times Helmsley originally had two goals in mind for her estate after her death: to help indigent people and to provide for the care and welfare of dogs. She later decided to remove poor people from the distribution list. According to the article, even if the resulting total of her estate is at the low end of the estimate — $5 billion or so — the trust will be worth almost 10 times the combined assets of all 7,381 animal-related nonprofit groups reporting to the Internal Revenue Service in 2005. Apparently the trustees, who have been busy liquidating Helmsley's real estate holdings since her death last year, have "fretted about the public outcry that disclosure of its terms might incite." The estate could end up benefiting national groups like the Humane Society of The United States or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, smaller rescue groups, or could be donated to fund veterinary research. (Photo by Jennifer Graylock/Associated Press) June 26, 2008Mandatory spay/nueter law in DallasDallas City Council approved new regulations yesterday that will limit the number of pets per home, require all but licensed breeders to spay or neuter their pets, and limit how long a dog can be tethered outside. 
The ordinance was enacted to help animal control officers, who can barely keep up with calls about free-roaming animals, ease the strain shelters, where tens of thousands of animals are euthanized each year, and improve the quality of life for people and pets in the city. According to a report on a Dallas television station's Web site, the city's animal shelter commission chairman, Skip Trimble, insisted that the city must move now to reduce the stray and feral animal population. "It can only be done through sterilization," he said. "If we can't control the flow of water, we'll never stop mopping the floor." The ordinance was passed by a vote of 10-3. Critics of the new law feel it limits the rights of responsible breeders. However, mandatory spay/neuter laws do have significant impact on shelter euthanasia rates; the rate dropped 30 percent after the first year with such a law in New Hampshire in 1994. What do you think? Should government enforce mandatory sterilization and limit the number of pets a family can have? June 25, 2008Racing RussellsI called the Salem Civic Center to confirm that the Jack Russell terrier races, part of the Roanoke Valley Horse Show, are scheduled for Friday night's show. The representative I spoke to could not say what time the dogs will hit the post, but she said it would be after the jumping events. The show starts at 6 p.m. and tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids. Lenore and Brutus: a love storyClick here to read a charming story written by author John Katz ("A Good Dog", "The Dogs of Bedlam Farms") about the budding romance of a Labrador retriever and a neutered ram. Yeah, you read that right, a ram. A male sheep, mascot of many sports teams, emblem on Dodge trucks. Real love knows no bounds. Tiny dog with a big barkOne of the editors forwarded me this story, which was posted on roanoke.com as a news tip by a reader named Dorie in Roanoke: "My toy poodle had 6 pups that are now 5 weeks old. One tiny pup was half as small as the others at birth and according to the vet, didn't have much of a chance to live. She now weighs a just under a pound. Yesterday I had the pups out on the patio watching them play. My sister, who just lost her daughter in a car accident, came by for a while and as she was leaving, I walked her around front. While coming back around the side of the house, I heard a pup scream like I've never heard before. As I ran toward her I heard water splashing. The tiny screaming pup was standing beside the inground water fountain while her sister was fighting for life to get out. I reached in, grabbed the pup and her sister stopped screaming. Had it not been for the tiny pup screaming for help, her sister would have drowned. The tiny pup not only fooled the vet, she saved her sister's life." I'd hold on to that pup if you can, Dorie. She's obviously a good one to have around in a crisis. June 23, 2008The eye of the beholderAll hail Gus, the nearly-hairless, three-legged, one-eyed cancer survivor named the World's Ugliest Dog at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Northern California on Saturday. 
Gus is a Chinese crested, a breed that seems to have an edge in these anti-beauty pageants. Gus, however, brings the breed standard of unconventional appearance to a whole new level. Still, the little guy is a scrapper in the face of adversity: he lost an eye in an altercation with a cat and he lost a leg to skin cancer, a battle he continues to fight. His devoted pet mom, Jeanenne Teed, told reporters she plans to use the prize money for his radiation treatments. Gus will likely be making the rounds of TV shows soon, and the contest itself will televised on Animal Planet this fall. Read the Associated Press story here. (Photo by Associated Press) Greenies give back
The company says this is a healthier alternative to burying pills in human food like hot dogs or my dogs' personal favorite: cheese. My dogs do love Greenies, so this would work for my canine clan. However, my cat Thai does not eat treats of any kind, and giving him a pill requires two people wearing padded sleeves and masks like they use to train police dogs. What works for you when you have to give your pet a pill? June 19, 2008Greatest American DogWe've seen enough humans do crazy stunts to win prizes on reality television shows, so it's time to let the dogs take over. CBS will premiere "The Greatest American Dog" on Thursday, July 10 at 8 p.m. A dozen dogs, and the humans who love them, will live together and compete against each other in games "that put the owners' ability to train their dogs to the test," accordning to a CBS press release. The show is hosted by zoologist Jarod Miller. The winning team will take home a $250,000 cash prize. Check out "That TV Blog" here on roanoke.com (formerly "Idol Times") for weekly show recaps. Click on the video below for a promo of the show.
June 18, 2008A reversal of fortuneTrouble, the pampered Maltese that belonged to the late Leona Helmsley, will have to make ends meet on a greatly reduced trust fund. 
Helmsley, who died last August, left the pooch $12 million in her will. In April a New York judge trimmed Trouble's inheritance to a mere $2 million in a deal worked out between Helmsley's human heirs and the state's attorney general's office. That still should be enough for the 9-year-old dog to continue to live in the style in which she has become accustomed. According to a news report on Reuters, Trouble lives with Carl Lekic, the general manager of a Helmsley hotel in Florida. Lekic is quoted that the money would cover annual costs of $100,000 for full-time security, $8,000 for grooming and $1,200 for food. Lekic is paid a $60,000 annual guardian fee out of the inheritance. Perhaps the pup won't need so many security guards now that she only has one-sixth of the fortune in her paws. June 17, 2008Tanner looks for a new homeI can't imagine how difficult it would be to decide to give up a pet. When we bring a dogs or cats into our family, we plan for those critters to spend the rest of their lives with us. We work on proper behavior, develop routines, and eventually settle in to comfortable co-existence. But sometimes things change and, heartbreaking as it is, balance is forever lost. 
This elderly Lab mix is now looking for a retirement home that does not include young children. Here's part of the e-mail I recieved yesterday: "His name is Tanner, he weighs about 80 pounds, and he gets along great with people and other animals. He is neutered and housebroken and lives indoors. He listens well, knows all common commands and is a great watchdog. His owners don't want to put him in a shelter because, well, he's 10 years old." If you know anyone who would like to meet Tanner, please let me know and I will pass the information on to his family. June 13, 2008Take your dog to work dayNext Friday, June 20, is officially Take Your Dog to Work Day. 
According to the Web site, the day "was created to celebrate the great companions dogs make and to encourage their adoption from humane societies, animal shelters and breed rescue clubs." Since that's exactly where I adopted all three of my pooches, I agree they would all be excellent ambassadors and if my co-workers saw what great dogs they are, they would run out and adopt a sweetie of their own. I have had all three of my dogs in my office at one time or another for very brief visits, but I doubt even my most persuasive argument would convince my boss to let me bring just one of my pooches to work for a whole day. The point is moot anyway: I am out of the office next Friday for a weekend in Nashville. But in case you would like to give it a go at your workplace, here's a Letterman-style top ten list of reasons the Web site suggests you use to convince your boss to let you participate: 10. The squirrels in the neighborhood deserve a break. Good luck and post a comment if you plan to participate or if you have experience with taking your dog to work. June 9, 2008A new home, and name, for JumperJumper, the orange tabby kitten who took a header off the Memorial Bridge in Radford last month to avoid capture by an animal control officer, has found a new home. 
The little guy was adopted by Becky Hawke, the city's spokeswoman, who has a soft spot for "Garfield" look-a-likes. She renamed the kitten Geronimo, or Mo for short. Mo now shares a home with two other kitties and a dog. Click here to read the whole story. June 6, 2008What's in a name?Well, ridcule if you happen to be the poor shlub who is lambasted in this blog entry on mentalfloss.com for naming his cat Tail-less. No wonder the poor kitty ran away and is now the subject of hand-drawn wanted posters. Reading this made me think of this commercial: What is the worst name you have ever heard for a pet? June 5, 2008Dogs too unpredictable for a park?We interrupt this week's blog entries about Adopt a Cat month to discuss dogs and dog parks, kind of a hot topic here in Roanoke these days. There was a letter in today's Roanoke Times from a reader in Radford who said she believes that dog parks are inherently unsafe for both pooches and people. The letter writer takes the position that dogs are too unpredictable to get along in groups and will by nature react negatively to each other. "Regardless of our love for our dogs and any amount of training given them, I can never see a time when different breeds of dogs can be turned loose together in harmony," she wrote How then do we have so many mutts, I wonder? Okay, that was my snarky comment of the day. But I do respectfully disagree with the writer. Dogs are pack animals and a well-socialized dog will naturally enjoy a romp with other dogs. It is healthy for a dog to have contact with people and other dogs; that's what prevents a dog from becoming frightened in new situations and reacting on the instincts that the writer describes. And for pooches with homes that do not include a spacious, fenced-in yard, a dog park is the best place to run off the excess energy that also causes behavior problems. A well-exercised dog is a happy, calm dog. But I can see where a dog whose last contact with other canines was when he left his littermates may have problems. To the pet parents of such dogs, you may want to refrain from visiting a dog park or introduce your dog slowly to the experience. But I think it’s unfair to dismiss out of hand the possibility that other dogs will enjoy the experience of running and playing. I do hope the letter writer takes her Boston out for some nice long walks, hopefully in a park. Dogs need grass beneath their paws and fresh air in their lungs. Matchmaking made easyJune is National Adopt a Cat Month. If you are thinking about adding a purring string-chaser to your household, keep in mind that, much like dating, you need to appreciate the quirkiness of each cat's personality before you can grow to love the kitty. To help prospective pet parents find their canine soul mate, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals uses the "Meet Your Match" program to most closely match people and dogs. You can take the quiz online at the Roanoke Valley SPCA Web site, and then it will show you pooches that are likely to be a good fit for your family. 
But what about the kitties like Cash, who is waiting for a home at Angels of Assisi? ASPCA behaviorist Dr. Emily Weiss is developing a Feline-ality program for SCPA shelters that will help kitties make a dream match, too. The program is currently being used in 45 shelters nationwide. The program assesses individual behaviors in cats based on confidence and sociability. The final score for each cat places him or her into personality types, which can then be matched with the potential adoptive family that fills out a questionnaire about their lifestyle and home environment. A highly social and confident cat is a "leader of the band." A more hesitant and less boisterous kitty is a "private investigator," a likely label for my daughter's cat, India. The middle-of-the-road feline is the most common personality type: the "personal assistant." This would be my cat Thai, who is convinced I cannot function in the bathroom, read a book or magazine, or type on my Mac without his help. How I ever styled my hair, got through college or surfed the Internet before he came along, heaven only knows. While this test is not available locally yet, you can certainly ask questions of the shelter workers who spend time with the kitties and are able to observe their personalities. Spend plenty of time with a kitty you are thinking about bringing home. The more thought put into the adoption the less like the cat will be returned to the shelter. June 3, 2008The swimsuit editionDear Readers, Let's talk about swimwear for dogs, shall we? 
Let me say that, in the winter, my dogs wear jackets when they go outside. I like a cute, appropriate costume on a dog at Halloween. I have plopped Santa hats and reindeer antlers on my pets' heads at Christmas, and I know if I had a female pooch with long hair, there might even be an occasional bow. But I am here to say the only thing a dog needs to wear near water is a life jacket, and that's only if you are boating. Please don't subject your dog to the humiliation of a bathing suit, and if you do, please don't tell me about it. Seriously. Thanks! June 2, 2008Final solution proposed in OhioWhen we added little Storm to our family, I knew there would be some issues with reactions from people who do not understand his breed. I even knew there would be places we could not live if we ever had to relocate because of bans on pit bull terriers. I had no idea that could include the entire state of Ohio, home of the headquarters of the company for which my husband works currently and I worked for more than 20 years. State Rep. Tyrone Yates, D-53rd district of Ohio, introduced House Bill 568, Sec. 955.111 last week. It has been sent to the legislature's State Government and Elections Committee. Here is the text of the bill: 
"I think eliminating vicious dogs is as important to reclaiming our cities as controlling gun violence and making sure our young people are going to school," Yates is quoted on myfoxcleveland.com. "My bill is considered draconian by many people, but it starts a discussion we have to have in this state." The Humane Society of the United States and the American Kennel Club, seldom in agreement on very many legal issues, are both opposed to this bill and are mounting campaigns against it. I plan to send a letter to Yates, the author of the doggie version of the Nazi's Final Solution, asking him to withdraw this bill and not punish innocent dogs and their families for the deeds of human criminals. Since I am not an Ohio resident I really don't think my letter will carry much weight. I believe bills like this set a dangerous precedent and infringes on the rights of law-abiding citizens. Right now it is pit bull terriers that are targets. There is already breed specific legislation in place in other states, counties and cities that bans not only bully breeds, but rottweilers, Dobermans and German shepherd dogs. One can only wonder what breed is next. If you know anyone who lives, and votes, in Ohio, please consider asking them to reach out to their legislators and do to this bill what Yates proposes to do to family pets: kill it without question. May 30, 2008SWoCo kids help St. FrancisHere's a link to the blog on the SWoCo Web site and a great story about kids raising money for St. Francis Service Dogs. SWoCo, by the way, is short for SouthWest Roanoke County. If you live there, check out the Web site for useful information on what's going on in your neighborhood. And if you live anywhere else in the Roanoke Valley, click here to find news on your community. May 21, 2008Leader dog training in Blacksburg
Katherine Baker of Blacksburg recently brought home a yellow Labrador puppy. Baker has named the puppy Jackson. She will teach Jackson house manners, basic obedience and expose him to the world. And sometime after the first 12 to 15 months of Jackson’s life, Baker will give the puppy back. Baker is a puppy raiser for Leader Dogs for the Blind, a group based in Rochester, Mich., that trains and places leader dogs with blind people like Eddie Walker of Roanoke. “We would not be able to provide Leader Dogs at all if it weren’t for volunteer puppy raisers. Right now we have about 400 puppies in 22 states and Canada growing up learning about the world around them. The exposure that the puppy raisers provide is an intricate part of the dog’s extensive training needed to become a leader dog,” Beverly Blanchard, puppy program development manager for Leader Dogs is quoted in a news release. May 20, 2008Might as well jump
Did you see the story about Jumper, the little kitten in Radford that's down to eight lives already in his young life? Drivers called animal control in Montgomery County last Thursday afternoon about a kitten who was wandering on a heavily traveled bridge. As he was about to be apprehended by an animal control officer, the tiny orange tabby decided he wasn't going to taken alive and dived off the US 11 bridge onto a tennis court 80 feet below. Dubbed Jumper by the staff at West End Animal Clinic, the little guy suffered only a couple of scratches from his steep leap. Jumper should be released to the Montgomery County Animal Shelter later this week for adoption. After we read about Jumper's big day, my husband jokingly suggested that the New River Valley shelter should stock up on homeless orange tabby kittens, call them all Jumper, and they will all get adopted immediately. Okay, a little unethical, but any idea that gets more homeless kitties a home is a good one to me. Good luck, Jumper. Keep your four paws on the ground, please. Photo by Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times May 16, 2008Breeder guilty of neglect and crueltyBy Donna Alvis-Banks/ The Roanoke Times A Carroll County business owner who was the target of a puppy mill sting by animal rights advocates was found guilty today of animal cruelty and neglect charges in a Hillsville courtroom. Junior Horton won't serve any jail time and plans to appeal the convictions. Horton, who operated Horton's Pups in Hillsville where more than 1,000 dogs were discovered in November by local authorities acting on a tip from the Virginia Partnership for Animal Welfare and Support, had been charged with 14 counts of animal cruelty, 25 counts of animal neglect and one count of failing to obtain a license tax for 125 unlicensed adult dogs. Horton had kennel licenses for 500 dogs. Many of his stock were very young puppies that were not yet licensed. The charges were brought after veterinarians examined dogs taken from Horton's Pups on Nov. 2. At that time, Horton agreed to surrender a large number of animals to authorities. More than 700 dogs were released in what the Humane Society of the United States called the largest dog rescue operation in the country. Most of the animals were taken to various shelters and private homes for care while awaiting adoption. Veterinarians working with the animal welfare advocates filed reports to the office of Carroll County Commonwealth's Attorney Gregory Goad. The charges accused Horton of depriving dogs of necessary food, drink, shelter or emergency veterinary treatment, and of failing to adequately house, feed, water, exercise or care for animals in his possession. Dog gives blind man new persepctiveBy JoAnne Poindexter/ The Roanoke Times
 Eddie Walker is no stranger in his Northwest Roanoke neighborhood. Sixteen years ago, the legally blind veteran was collecting flags for an Avenue of Flags on his street. He then donated the flags to his neighbors who purchased a $35 pole to display them. Walker, 78, recently completed a 26-day, live-in training program at Leader Dogs for the Blind Foundation in Rochester, Mich., before bringing Usher, a black lab, home earlier this month. May 15, 2008Dogs vs. Cats: Can't we all just get along?
Then there are those of us who have integrated households of humans, hounds and kitties. We identify ourselves as a petting zoo, but I digress. According to a study by Ball State University (alma mater of David Letterman and my sweet husband), most pet parents see themselves as either a dog person or a cat person based on the perceived personality characteristics of canines (friendly and submissive) and felines (independent and dominant). But don’t be fooled by stereotypes, BSU researchers warn. “There are friendly cats who want to be around their guardians all the time and dogs that don’t crave constant attention,” professor and personality researcher Lucinda Woodward is quoted in the news release. The study, based on surveys and interviews with 266 college-age pet parents, found that the fit between the personality of the individual animal and the individual human, rather than the pet type, is the best indicator of companion attachment. Continue reading "Dogs vs. Cats: Can't we all just get along?" » May 12, 2008Downtown dogsI enjoyed reporting the story about living downtown with dogs that appeared in The Roanoke Times Extra section on Saturday. 
I actually had more sources than I could fit coherently into 30 plus inches of newsprint, which in journalism is a pretty nice problem to have. Every downtown dweller I chatted with about pooches, including Robert Natt who is seen here with his dog Scofield, referred me to at least one other person who could comment about the lifestyle of the urban pet family. But I think that's probably true of most neighborhoods: the families with dogs get to know each other. We know Rosie, the Lhasa apso across the street, Bitsy the Austrailan shepherd two doors down, her next door neighbor Bailey, a Maltese, and of course Pepper and Biscuit, the two Scottish terriers who live next door to us and race our greyhounds along our shared fence. And we are acquainted with all the families of these pooches that our hounds count as their playmates and friends. Dog people know each other. Do you find that your dog helps you get to know the families of other dogs you meet in the park or on walks in your neighborhoods? Aren't pooches the ultimate conversation starters for the humans at the other end of the leashes? In an time when it seems we all feel so disconnected with our communities, dogs are a great way to get people together. May 8, 2008Driver kills dog, then sues ownersA Minnesota man is suing the family of a dog that he struck and killed with his 1997 Honda Civic for damage to his vehicle. Jeffery Ely was driving near Cloquet, Minn., the night of Jan. 4 when he struck Fester, a 13-pound miniature pinscher. Fester was killed instantly. Ely is attempting to recover $1,100 from Nikki Munthe, Fester's owner, for damage to his car, lost wages from time spent having the car repaired, and of course, court costs. According to a Fox News report, Nikki Munthe said she was letting her other dog into her house when Fester bolted through the open door. She was unable to stop him before he ran into the path of Ely's car. "We would have never let him off-leash because we're so terrified of this road," she is quoted. That does not matter to Ely, who is quoted saying he has compassion for the Munthe family, but they are responsible for their dog and thus, the damage to his property. The Munthe family has filed a countersuit seeking $2,400 for the loss of Fester, the cost of replacing their pet, and for wages they have lost due to court appearances. As much as we would all like to think we can control our pets and keep them safe, there are times when an animal acts out of its own instincts and does something random, like bolt into a street. While I don't think you can really blame a driver for not being able to avoid a pet running in the path of a car, it seems beyond vindictive to try to make the grieving family of the pet pay for the damage to the car. That's not my idea of compassion. What do you think? Is this something you could see yourself doing? May 7, 2008Driving under the influence...of something furryAssemblyman Bill Maze of Visalia, Calif., would like to limit distractions for drivers in his state. Maze's perception of a highway hazard: lap dogs. 
Motorists cited for driving while petting could face a $35 fine. Maze said he was prompted to draft the bill when he saw a woman with three dogs in her lap while she was driving. He insists the bill is a safety measure and not in response to celebrities like Paris Hilton, who has been photographed often with a pooch in her lap while she is behind the wheel. California law already mandates that animals must be secured in the back of an open bed pick up truck. Our hounds are far too big to climb in our laps, especially with a steering wheel in the way. I admit that, although I know it's a risky thing to do, we do not crate our dogs in the car. Our small SUV would not accommodate a crate large enough for both pooches, and they usually travel as a pair. They hang out on giant pillows in the back half of the vehicle. What do you do when you travel with your dog? Secure the pup in a car harness, carrier or crate, or just let him or her go au natural in the car? Do you find it distracting to have your dog near you while you drive? Give the golden gift to help petsA promotion from Ukrop's grocery store can help you help the Roanoke Valley SPCA. Ukrop's shoppers who used their UVC card between Feb. 4 and March 29 will find Golden Gift Certificates in the mail this week. These gift certificates can be donated to the RVSPCA or another local non-profit organization. The more certificates a non-profit collects, the bigger its share will be of the $400,000 Golden Gift from the Richmond-based grocery chain. The deadline to donate is June 14. May 5, 2008Double duty this weekBear with me this week, readers. In addition to taking care of the Wag, I am minding the store over at "Idol Times," roanoke.com's "American Idol" blog, while its owner, Wendy Maxey is on vacation. And I blog in addition to my full time job. So, if click into "The Happy Wag" and see a posting about song choices and who got voted off, I must have had a Paula Abdul moment, will correct the error shortly, and return you to news and commentary about dogs and cats. 
If you are a fan of the show, wander over to "Idol Times" and join in the discussion. Just don't disparage Taylor Hicks. I am far too sensitive to be the target of the militant Soul Patrol. For the record, I like Hicks, who I understand has goldfish for pets. (Photo by Fox/AmericanIdol.com) May 1, 2008Logo contest winner announcedNewVaConnects announced the winner of the logo desgin contest for the dog park at Fishburn Park last night. The winner was Christina Owens, with honorable mentions to Julie Felton, Francis Jennings and Tara Lilly. To see all the designs, click here. Dog park fundraiser must have been a hitMy hubby picked me up from work yesterday and we fully intended to go to the Cocktails for a Cause fundraiser at Trio Bistro and contribute to raising money for a fence at Fishburn Park. 
I went online and donated money to the cause this morning. You can too if you click right here. I will try to catch up with some of the event coordinators today and get details on the logo. If you attended last night's event, post a comment and let us know how it went. April 29, 2008Chihuahua delivered to mayor's doorstepA mail carrier in Irving, Texas, made a rather unusual delivery this past weekend when he placed a box with Chihuahua puppy inside on the mayor's doorstep. 
According to a story in the Dallas Morning News, postal employee Philip Smith admitted he acted out of frustration with local animal control officials when he scooped up a free-roaming Chihuahua placed him in a cardboard box with a note including Smith's name and phone number, and left the box on Mayor Herbert Gears' porch. Smith contends that he has complained about the puppy wandering loose in his neighborhood, and animal control failed to correct the problem. After the pooch "made sexual advances" toward a neighbor's dog, Smith took it upon himself to relocate the amorous canine. He is quoted as saying returning the dog to his owners seemed pointless, since they continued to let the dog run loose. So he decided, since the mayor once told residents that if they had a problem, they could contact him for help, he would put the problem squarely on the mayor's doorstep. The mayor said he found the box with no dog inside and called police. The next day, the dog did show up on the mayor's porch sporting an injury to his leg, possibly an animal bite. Gears took the pooch to a vet who said the dog should make a full recovery. "There is no excuse for doing something like that," Gears is quoted in the article. "I don't care how many complaints you have. That's going over the top." The article did not give an age for the pup or say who has current custody him. Irving police and the U.S. Postal Service are investigating the issue. Personally, even though I could almost sympathize with the guy's frustration, I don't think it's humane to endanger a puppy to make a point. What do you think? If animal control fails to correct a situation, do you think its right to take the matter into your own hands? (Photo by WFAA-TV staff, Dallas) April 28, 2008A really good dog
(Photo by Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times) |
