Washington State Addresses Old Dog Laws

March 13th, 2009 by Bella | leave a comment

Washington State law makers are looking to appeal two old laws on the books dealing with the treatment of dogs.

One of the laws in question gives dog owners 48 hours to kill their dog if it is found killing another animal. The other law requires sheriffs to kill any dog running at large without a metal dog tag, between the months of August and February.

The Senate unanimously approved a bill Monday that could repeal both.

The measure now moves to the House for consideration.

Both laws have been on the books since the early 1900s when the health and welfare of livestock was of greater concern to state residents.

Supporters say they are now outdated and just plain cruel.

Under Washington State law, an animal owner can shoot a dog if it bites, chases or kills an animal on his or her property. Dog owners are also required to corral their pets if a livestock owner complains of attacks. But there is no law directly requiring dog owners to pay for the damages their pets inflict.

The bill to repeal the dog extermination laws is Washington State Senate Bill 5200.

Rourke’s Loki Passes

February 19th, 2009 by Bella | leave a comment

Mickey Rourke’s 18-year-old Chihauhua, Loki, died on Tuesday morning.

Rourke’s dog got some praise in his Golden Globes acceptance speech in January of this year.

Rourke, who owns seven small dogs, chihuahua and chihuahua/terrier mixes, was seen carrying his dog on the Red Carpet at the Venice Film Festival last year. He brought his then 16 year-old Chihuahua terrier mix, Loki to the event.

“My dog is very old, she is 16 and she is not going to be around for long so I want to spend every moment with her,” he told Reuters.

Need A Dog? In The UK?

February 15th, 2009 by Bella | 1 comment - leave a comment

I watch Its Me or the Dog, I know British people love their canines, maybe a bit too much sometimes.
But how do you find a dog in the UK? With an estimated 50,00000 dogs in the United Kingdom, how do you find that perfect match.

You may wish to start with Puppies for sale uk if you are looking to buy a specific breed. They also have excellent resources and information for getting a dog that matches your life style.

They have a way to search Dogs for sale, an excellent breed gallery with descriptions and pictures, pet insurance references, a dog guide and links to a Lost and Found pet directory.

For 3 months membership, there is membership charge of £4.99. The insurance resource and breed gallery on Puppies for Sale are free to access, without a membership.

They also have a monthly newsletter and a place for people with dogs the wish to sell to advertise their pooches.

While www.puppies-forsale.co.uk has excellent resources for those looking to buy dogs, some people are into the idea of rescuing a dog. There are many animal rescues in the UK, both breed specific and more general.

The RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) is the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in the world and is one of the largest charities in the UK. Their site is an excellent place to start.

They have an extensive “rehoming” program and the RSPCA Pet adoption guide is posted online.

You may also wish to check out animalrescuers.co.uk While their web design leaves something to be desired, they have great set of links to some animal rescues (not dog exclusive, but lots of dogs links).

www.bluecross.org.uk has some excellent information also. Their 10 rules of Adoption are posted before you can search their available critters.

Please remember getting a new dog is a big responsibility, its not to be taken lightly. Research your options before adding a new puppy or full grown dog to your family. Make sure you have the space, the time, the love and the attention that is required by dogs. Give them what they need and they will return it 1000 fold with the unconditional love only a canine can provide.

Attack Of The Dog Clones

January 30th, 2009 by Bella | 1 comment - leave a comment

Edgar and Nina Otto of Boca Raton, Florida paid a California company, BioArts International, $155,000 to clone their beloved Labrador retriever, who died from cancer a year ago.

The Otto’s had their Labrador, Sir Lancelot’s DNA frozen before his death. Sir Lancelot’s DNA sample was sent to the Sooam Biotech Research Foundation in Seoul, South Korea, which provides cloning services to BioArts. Researchers there put the DNA into an egg, and Lancey was born November 18, according to BioArts.

The Humane Society of the United States released a statement expressing their position against commercial animal cloning.

Given the current pet overpopulation problem, which costs millions of animals their lives and millions in public tax dollars each year, the cloning of pets has no social value and in fact may lead to increased animal suffering,” the organization said on its Web site.

For those looking to replace a lost pet, cloning will not create an animal identical to the one who is gone; cloning cannot replicate an animal’s uniqueness. Cloning can only replicate the pet’s genetics, which influence but do not determine his physical attributes or personality.

The dog clone wars have begun.

Help protect Washington’s animals from domestic violence

January 28th, 2009 by Bella | leave a comment

American Humane Take Action

January 2009
Help protect Washington’s pets from domestic violence by supporting HB 1148

Imagine a society in which all victims of domestic abuse — including companion animals — are protected.

Each year throughout Washington, countless victims of domestic violence risk their lives to protect their defenseless animals from harm. Research has shown that up to 48 percent of battered women remain in abusive homes out of concern for leaving their pets behind. Yet, sadly, Washington’s current domestic violence law does not protect companion animals.

House Bill 1148 addresses this issue directly. In an effort to stop abusers from harming or threatening to harm companion animals, the bill allows judges to include the animals in domestic abuse protective orders. A protective order is a legal order issued by a court that requires one person to stop harming, stay away from and/or cease contact with another person or, in the case of this bill, that person’s pets as well.

We owe it to the countless domestic violence survivors throughout Washington, and their pets, to pass this bill.

HB 1148 is waiting for a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee. Ask Chair Jamie Pedersen and Vice-Chair Roger Goodman to schedule the bill for a committee hearing and to vote for its passage.

Help raise awareness about this important legislation
Send this message to a friend!

Mickey Rourke and Loki

January 12th, 2009 by Bella | 1 comment - leave a comment

When accepting the Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Drama at the Golden Globes for his lead role of Randy “The Ram” Robinson in The Wrestler, Mickey Rourke thanked the usual list of agent, producers, co-stars, and such…
And then his dogs, both the ones that are still living, and those that are no longer with him.

Sometimes when you’re alone, all you got is your dog and they meant the world to me.
–Mickey Rourke, during his acceptance speech for Best Actor at the Golden Globes.

Rourke, who owns seven small dogs, chihuahua and chihuahua/terrier mixes, was seen carrying his dog on the Red Carpet at the Venice Film Festival last year. He brought his 16 year-old Chihuahua terrier mix, Loki to the event.

“My dog is very old, she is 16 and she is not going to be around for long so I want to spend every moment with her,” he told Reuters.

Most Popular Dog Names

January 7th, 2009 by Bella | leave a comment

The Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), the nation’s largest and oldest provider of pet health insurance, compiled their database of dog names to come up with the top ten dog names for 2008 and then voted on the ten most unusual.

Top names
1. Max
2. Bailey
3. Bella
4. Molly
5. Lucy
6. Buddy
7. Maggie
8. Daisy
9. Sophie
10. Chloe

Most unusual
1. Rush Limbark
2. Sirius Lee Handsome
3. Rafikikadiki
4. Low Jack
5. Meatwad
6. Peanut Wigglebutt
7. Scuddles Unterfuss
8. Sophie Touch & Pee
9. Admiral Toot
10. Spatula

Stealing Dogs For Christmas

January 7th, 2009 by Bella | leave a comment

What is wrong with people?

On December 22nd, Ryan Rickman of Orange County, California and an accomplice entered a Pet City store on Katella Avenue and stole a Labrador retriever pup, priced at $1,300.

Rickman then gave the stolen pooch to his girlfriend as a Christmas gift.

Rickman was arrested after returning to the pet store and attempting to pay for the stolen puppy and booked for investigation of burglary and grand theft.

The accomplice is still at large.

His girlfriend was allowed to keep the dog.

Are Chihuahuas the New Pit Bulls?

January 6th, 2009 by Bella | leave a comment

Hot off the press from the The Dog Daily comes an article from Jennifer Viegas, managing editor for The Dog Daily and author of more than 20 books on animal, science and nature topics asking the question that has been burning inside us all for a long time;
Are Chihuahuas the New Pit Bulls?

Its an excellent article for anyone considering getting a dog, but the article never lives up to its baited title. Viegas goes over some important Pros and Cons of dog ownership, and expresses her concern over the ebb and flow of breed popularity and how ‘popular’ dogs can result in unwanted and abandoned dogs. I was waiting for some statistics about a media bias against chihuahuas and how they were now being considered for Breed Specific Laws. I guess all you chihuahuas are safe for now.

Shoplifting Dog

December 26th, 2008 by Bella | leave a comment

A dog walks into Smith’s Food and Drug in Murray Utah, goes to the pet isle, grabs a rawhide and walks out.

The manager confronted the dog on its way out the door, but decided not to try to stop the Shoplifting Dog.