Dog Star

Dog Saves Owner By Dialling 911

2008-09-20T05:58:00.000-07:00

By Sky News

A dog whose owner was having a seizure saved his life by calling the emergency services and barking down the line to raise the alarm.

Joe Stalnaker adopted German shepherd Buddy as an eight-week-puppy and trained him to use the phone if he began to have an attack.

Mr Stalnaker, of Scottsdale, Arizona, has suffered seizures for ten years after suffering a head injury during a military training exercise.

So when he got into difficulties, Buddy knew exactly what to do - hit the speed-dial button on the phone for 911.

On the tape of his call, he can be heard whimpering and barking after the operator answers and repeatedly asks if the caller needs help.

Police were sent to Mr Stalnaker's home, and after about three minutes Buddy can be heard barking loudly when the officers arrived.

Sergeant Mark Clark, of Scottsdale police, said Mr Stalnaker spent two days in a hospital and recovered from the seizure.

"It's pretty incredible," Sgt Clark said.

"Even the veteran dispatchers - they haven't heard of anything like this."

Mr Stalnaker's address is flagged in the force's computer system with a notification that a trained dog might call 911 when the owner was incapacitated.

Sgt Clark said Buddy has made two other 911 calls when Mr Stalnaker was having seizures.

Dangerous Dog Treats

2008-09-16T15:12:00.000-07:00

What To Know Before You Treat Your Pup
(Published by www.petsnanny.net)

What pooch does not love getting a treat or two now and then. Dog owners also love giving their dogs treats. If you have a dog then you have a good idea of what your dog likes to nibble on. There are so many treats available these days and they all come in all different shapes, sizes, colors, and consistencies. For every great dog treat, there are those on the market that are not so good. These treats can harm your pet by being lodged in your dog's throat or intestines. This can cause choking or worse. If you love treating your canine friend then you will want to be aware of those treats that can be potentially harmful. Even with treats that are not usually dangerous, you need to supervise your dog when they eat.

Greenies: Most dogs really enjoy these treats. They are advertised as a treats that help clean your dog's teeth. However, you need to be aware that "greenies" can cause choking. This is because dogs eat these very quickly causes large chunks to lodge in the throat. Young puppies should not eat this treat and dogs that are prone to "scarfing" food. If your dog eats these treats, be aware of potential vomiting, bloody stools, and difficulty breathing. If you notice any of these symptoms after your dog has eaten this treat, seek medical attention.

Rawhide Chews: What dog does not love snacking on these chewy treats? Rawhides are good because it cleans your dog's teeth and keeps your dog occupied. However, rawhides are dangerous, as well. Some rawhides that originate outside of the United States may actually be preserved with arsenic-based chemicals that will be ingested by your doggie when he or she chews. For this reason, make certain that any rawhide treat you purchase is processed in the United States where this preservative is forbidden. If you cannot tell where a treat originated do not buy it! In addition, you still need to watch your dog when he her she is munching on rawhides to help prevent choking. Make sure you buy rawhides that are the right size for your dog, too. A small dog needs the smaller sized rawhide treats.

Chocolate: Chocolate is a terrible thing to allow dogs to eat. Of course, sometimes dogs get into candy and cake without your knowledge. Chocolate is toxic to both dogs and cats, so you need to be aware of your dog sneaking chocolate nibbles, especially around the holidays. Chocolate contains an ingredient called theobromine. This acts in the canine about the same way caffeine acts in the human. A little will make the doggie hyperactive, but a huge dose may be fatal. If your dog has gotten into chocolate, you need to look for vomiting, shallow breathing, and irregular heartbeat. A visit to the emergency vet is needed..

Bones: It seems that it is the right of every dog to be able to crunch on a real bone from time to time. Dogs love bones of all types. However, some bones can be dangerous. Both chicken and turkey bones are especially dangerous because they are brittle. When your dog chews on them they can easily splinter and cause choking. Some pork and beef bones can also cause the same problem. Veterinarians agree that the one of the safest bones you can give your dog is a shinbone. If you must give your dog a bone, make sure you supervise your pooch and if he or she shows signs of bleeding, then you should call your vet immediately for some advice.

This is not to say that you cannot give your dog an occasional treat. That is one of the fun parts of owning a dog. A healthy treat for humans such as a carrot is a good option too. You do need to watch your dog and make sure that your dog is safe when snacking. Always pay attention to what kind of treat you give your dog in case of a recall.

Tips On Buying The Right Food For Your Pet

2008-09-11T20:54:00.000-07:00

by: Derek Rogers

Food is one of the most important necessities in your pet’s life. It provides the nutrients they need in order to grow and develop into mature animals as well as giving them the energy they need each day to enjoy life by your side. There is a vast array of manufacturers that provide food for all animals and it can be a confusing task to decipher all the ingredients, proteins and benefits of each one in order to choose the very best one for your pet.

Depending on the type of pet you have, you will still have to do some research to find out exactly what you should be providing them for their main meals as well as any snacks or treats on the side. You can find a multitude of information on the Internet, from friends or family with similar animals, or even from sales representatives at your local pet shop. When it comes down to the final decision though, you are the responsible one who will choose what you feel is best for your pet, not your aunt or the guy in the pet store.

With the awareness of organic foods for the public in every supermarket and health food store, there has also grown the niche for organic pet food. There are many painstaking efforts that go into providing a balanced meal for your pet that is free of many additives that are not necessary for your pet’s nutritional health and yet are included in many other manufactured pet foods.

Organic pet foods are not always available at every pet store or grocery store where other popular brands are sold, thus making it harder to find for some pet owners. With the increased awareness, organic meals are being produced more than ever, but due to the nature of the process, these types of foods for your pet are generally more expensive than a store-brand bag of dry food that you could pick up at any local corner store. As with any food for your pets, there are positives and negatives to each.

Price is not always an indication of the quality of food, but it tends to be a good guide for the market shopper. If you examine the store-brand plain dry food, you may find the ingredients to list not as many proteins or pure foods like some other popular brands. Additives may be more abundant in cheaper brands, but they can still be apparent in many higher-priced brand name pet foods. Just like you shop for your own health and wellness, be sure to read the labels and shop for your pet’s health and wellness.

There can be side effects to supplying the low-cost alternative food for your pets in some cases. Your pet can develop anywhere from mild to severe health issues that are directly related to the type of food provided. With some cats, liver problems and kidney stones can develop rapidly if not provided with a good quality food each day. You will want to be sure that you are doing everything you can in order to maintain your pet’s health and wellness for years to come.

About The Author
Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who represents a number of UK businesses. For advice on pet food, he recommends Seapets, one of the UK's leading suppliers of http://www.seapets.co.uk/ pet supplies.

Dog and jackal hybrids are perfect sniffer ’dogs’

2008-09-11T00:22:00.000-07:00

Nowadays society is deeply concerned with the safety issues, the flight safety in particular. Despite the technological progress, people can not do without dogs` assistance, as no device is capable of replacing the dogs` scent in search of explosive substances and drugs. Dogs are indispensable for differentiating between different individuals by specific smells. To work efficiently a dog needs excellent scent and ability to learn quickly. It is only in Russia that the unique animals -dog and jackal hybrids - have been bred for this purpose. This effort has been undertaken by Klim Sulimov, Senior Research Assistant, D.S. Likhachev Scientific Research Institute for Cultural Heritage and Environmental Protection.

However, why did the scientists come to the idea of breeding the hybrids? The matter is that wild jackals have a better sense of smell than any dog breeds...read more

Cyrus, the paraplegic dog, now runs circles ‘round the pack’

2008-09-10T23:16:00.000-07:00

By Tessa Salazar
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:56:00 05/25/2008

MANILA, Philippines—This veterinary aide is what one may call a Good Samaritan for hapless animals.

In this dog-eat-dog world, Jeannie Gabasa, 34, has more than once displayed her caring soul as she goes about her job at the Horseshoe clinic in Libis, Quezon City.

Gabasa saved a year-old paraplegic shih tzu named Cyrus from being euthanized, and last week Cyrus received a UK-made dog wheelchair courtesy of British animal welfare advocate Charles Wartenberg.

Correctly fitted to Cyrus’ body, the wheelchair is an ergonomically designed saddle support sling made of lightweight stainless steel and two air-pressurized tires.

It cost 400 pounds (about P26,000), which was raised through donations in England...read more

Illegal dog trading uncovered in Albay, Philippines

2008-09-10T22:48:00.000-07:00

By Edgar Alejo, Job Belen
Philippine Daily Inquirer

ON March 31, police and officials of the Animal Kingdom Foundation Inc. (AKFI) arrested a dog trader in a buy-bust operation in Tabaco City in Albay.

Senior Insp. Nelson Llaneta, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in the province, said Ernesto Arabe, alias Erning “Ayam” (local term for dog), 42, of Purok 2, Barangay Divino Rostro, Tabaco, was arrested at 7:30 a.m. at the old public market on Juan Luna Street, some 300 meters from City Hall and the police station. Llaneta said at least five dogs were ready to be slaughtered and a dead one was found in the possession of Arabe.

The dogs were confiscated and brought to the city pound in Barangay San Roque for temporary shelter. They were later transferred to the AKFI Rescue Center in Capas, Tarlac.

Greg Quimpo, an AKFI researcher, uncovered the dog trading activities when he posed as a buyer and ordered 10 dogs, one of which was already slaughtered.

Two days earlier, Quimpo left P1,500 as deposit to Arabe and promised to pick up the animals early morning of March 31.

Charged
Arabe was released after police investigation but is now facing charges of violation of Republic Act No. 8485, or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998. If found guilty, he could face a penalty of P1,000 fine, plus imprisonment of not more than six months, Llaneta said. AKFI president Charles Wartenberg, who was with the raiding team, expressed concern over the animal welfare law, which dog traders have ignored until now.

Wartenberg said they were against the indiscriminate transport of dogs. At least 70 percent of dogs being transported die due to suffocation, he said.

“They (dogs) are not only being transported with tied mouths but more so, placed on board the trucks with narrow iron framing that extremely restrains their movements,” Watenberg said.

40 operations
The AKFI, a charitable organization under the (withheld), is registered with the Animal Welfare Division of the Bureau of Animal Industry. It is engaged in the investigation of illegal dog trading in the country as it seeks to protect the animals from abuse and violence.

It has discovered some 40 dog trading operations all over the country since it was established in 2001.

The CIDG arresting team led by Llaneta was also accompanied by AKFI trustee AW, veterinarian Dr. Winston Samaniego, and officer in charge Susan Llanera.

At the time of Arabe’s arrest, the city government was undertaking a massive dog vaccination in line with its anti-rabies campaign. The vaccination started in Barangay Salvacion.

Dangers Of Eating Dog Meat Revealed

2008-09-10T06:11:00.000-07:00

Gavin Gamby-Boulger (Director) from the Wetnose Animal Aid will paid a visit to the Animal Kingdom Foundation (which is part of the) International Wildlife Coalition Trust based in Kent., and met with Charles Wartenberg who has a dog rescue centre in the Philippines.

Charles and the local authorities have now got the backing of the (National Meat Inspection Board) to issue an official statement on the dangers of eating dog meat. This is a very big step forward to banning the use of dog meat completely. If the central government refuses to take notice of their own agency they will surely be under a mass of criticism. Gavin and Brian a vet from London are visiting in March to offer their services free to help out in the AKF centre.

Food poisoning: This new document states that dog meat can give food poisoning producing such unpleasant effects as vomiting and diarrhoea, and in more severe cases the toxins produced by bacteria have secondary effects on other organs such as the kidneys and liver. Eating dog meat is hazardous to the locals with strains of E Coli and other dangerous toxins ever present.

Rabies : Rabies is endemic in Asia and causes many deaths in humans and dogs. The usual cause is by biting and is invariably fatal.

A report was written by Alan Whittaker from the AKF Trustee:

"It's a stench you do not forget. Fear stinks. The dogs, nine of them, had been rescued by the Animal Kingdom Foundation. They were in the back of the truck which was parked in the shade of a police station – the dogs were evidence – and they were being f ed and watered . They were free from the threat of slaughter, but they were a piteous sight. All were salivating in streams. They could not eat, most had their heads were hanging out of the door, and others just lay on the floor, shocked .

They were all in their own individual world of horror at what they had seen. A little fawn and white bitch was making herself as small as possible shaking with fear. She was very traumatized. Many locals eat dog meat but do not realize how it's killed . We do we have seen it many times. Some are hanging on a hook from the ceiling and then burnt with a blow torch."