Blue the dog doesn’t have a home. And he apparently doesn’t want one. But the blue-eyed Australian cattle dog has $1,800 in savings, a Facebook page and an air-conditioned dog house.
He also has a lawyer, who is working to get him an exemption from local leash laws so he can continue his free-wheeling lifestyle in southern New Mexico’s lakeside community of Elephant Butte, where he was abandoned as a puppy a decade ago.
Posted in Dogs
Tagged abandoned, Australian cattle dog, Blue, Bluedog, Dog, Elephant Butte, Facebook
Every dog must have a soul, somewhere deep inside
Where all his hurts and grievances are buried with his pride.
Where he decides the good and bad, the wrong way from the right,
And where his judgment carefully is hidden from our sight.
A dog must have a secret place, where every thought abides,
A sort of close acquaintance that he trusts in and confides.
And when accused unjustly for himself. He cannot speak,
Rebuked. He finds within his soul, the comfort he must seek.
He’ll love, tho’ he is unloved, and he’ll serve tho’ badly used,
And one kind word will wipe away the times he’s been abused.
Altho’ his heart may break in two, his love will still be whole,
Because God gave to every dog an understanding Soul!
– Author Unknown
In my recent visit to the Best Friends Animal Society sanctuary, I fell in love with a little dog that I would have loved to adopt. I learned that she had heartworm disease and was scheduled to undergo further treatment.
I’m not familiar with this disease because I live in New Zealand, where the disease doesn’t exist (and so our authorities would not allow her into the country, which was news I was not prepared to hear). Here’s some information on the condition:
Heartworm disease is widespread in the United States but particularly prevalent in the southern states around the Gulf of Mexico (including Texas, where my little dog was picked up).
Mosquitoes help to transmit the infection. The mosquito ingests microfilariae that circulate in the blood of an infected animal and then these microfilariae develop inside the mosquito. When the mosquito bites another dog, the larvae are transferred to the new host and travel through the connective tissues into veins and then travel to the heart where they attach themselves in the arteries and pulmonary blood vessels to feed off the nutrient-rich blood.
Within 3-4 months, the heartworms begin reproducing, releasing microfilariae into the bloodstream, where again they can be picked up by mosquitoes to infect other dogs or re-infect the same dog that is bitten again.
Heartworms can grow up to a foot in length and damage the blood vessels as well as inhibiting the flow of blood. Many dogs with heartworm will not show symptoms but in more serious cases the dogs may have a mild, persistent cough, be reluctant to exercise, show fatigue after only moderate exercise, or have reduced appetite and weight loss. Dogs can die from the effects of a severe heartworm infestation.
There is a drug that can be injected into a dog for treatment of heartworm, but administration of drugs to prevent heartworm is essential in all dogs. Dogs are tested for an antigen to confirm presence of heartworms.
Dogs that are treated for heartworm are injected with a special drug under close veterinary supervision. Dogs must be kept quiet because as the worms die off, their bodies can become lodged in the lungs causing pulmonary embolism. This condition can also kill the dog. Treatment for heartworm is not a full-proof process and comes with risks.
Heartworm disease can affect animals other than dogs. It has been found in coyotes, wolves, cats, foxes and ferrets – but is the dog that is considered the definitive and ideal host.
Dog owners in the US should ensure that they are giving their dog an approved heartworm prevention drug.
You can learn more about canine heartworm disease by visiting the American Heartworm Society website.
A canine heart showing severe heartworm infestation
Posted in dog care
Tagged American Heartworm Society, canine heartworm, heartworm, heartworms dogs, larvae, microfilariae, mosquitoes, prevention, Texas, treatment
Last month, a very special initiative was launched in Los Angeles – NKLA (No-Kill Los Angeles)
This initiative is another to help achieve the goal of the Best Friends Animal Society: No More Homeless Pets.
NKLA’s website says “We are a coalition of animal welfare organizations, city shelters and passionate individuals. Led by Best Friends Animal Society, we’re dedicated to ending the killing of healthy and treatable pets in L.A. shelters. Our plan is straightforward. Provide spay/neuter services where they are needed most so fewer animals go into shelters, and increase adoptions through the combined efforts of the NKLA coalition so more animals come out of the shelters and go into new homes.”
In 2011, over 17,000 adoptable animals were euthanised in the Los Angeles area – so the need is great.
If you live in the Los Angeles area and are an animal lover, perhaps you should consider assisting the NKLA movement by donating money, fostering, or adopting.
As the name suggests, a no kill animal shelter is one where all adoptable animals are allowed to live until they are found a forever, loving home. Only severely ill animals, or those that are truly determined to be dangerous and unadoptable, are euthanised.
The concept of ‘no kill’ has challenged the animal welfare sector as far back as the 1970s. An article by Ed Duvin in 1989 in a publication called animalines is reputed to have been a major turning point. The article characterised the animal welfare sector as a ‘slumbering giant’ and pointed to the need for a coordinated national effort with a greater focus on education and the valuing of each animal’s life. It challenged the sector to stop killing animals in the name of mercy.
You can read a reprint of that article here.
I have just had the pleasure of working at the Best Friends Animal Society sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. This is an inspiring leader in the no kill movement and I look forward to bringing you more news about Best Friends and animal welfare in future blog postings.
Posted in animal welfare
Tagged animal welfare, animalines, Best Friends Animal Society, Ed Duvin, euthanasia, no kill, shelter
A research team led by the University of Durham has published a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA). This study shows that today’s modern breeds of dog have little in common genetically with their ancient ancestors.
Dog domestication occurred over 15,000 years ago – and there is still much to learn!
Years of cross-breeding are the major influence on the genetic differences, although the researchers are quick to add that other effects on genetic diversity will include patterns of human movement and the impact on dog population sizes caused by major events such as World War I and World War II.
The research team analysed genetic data from 1,375 dogs representing 35 breeds. They also looked at data showing genetic samples of wolves because other research studies have concluded that the dog descended directly from the gray wolf.
Lead author Dr Greger Larson, an evolutionary biologist, says the study demonstrated just how much there is still to understand about the early history of dog domestication. “We really love our dogs and they have accompanied us across every continent. Ironically, the ubiquity of dogs combined with their deep history has obscured their origins and made it difficult for us to know how dogs became man’s best friend.”
The study also refutes claims of previous researchers that genetic differences in breeds such as the Basenji, Saluki and Dingo were evidence of an ancient heritage. The Durham team’s study shows that these dogs are genetically different because they were geographically isolated and were not part of the 19th Century Victorian-initiated kennel clubs that blended lineages to create most of today’s breeds.
A Saluki (copyright Keith Dobney)
Posted in dog breeds, research
Tagged Basenji, breeds, cross-breeding, Dingo, DNA, domestication, genetics, gray wolf, Saluki, University of Durham, World War I, World War II
Research from the University of Leicester’s School of Psychology has revealed that young people who are more disagreeable are likely to own an aggressive dog.
‘Agreeableness’ means being less concerned with the needs or well-being of others. Such people may be suspicious, unfriendly and competitive as well.
Participants were given personality tests and indicated their preference for different types of dogs . The dogs were independently rated according to how aggressive people perceived them to be. Bull terriers were rated as most aggressive, followed by boxers; retrievers and cocker spaniels were seen as least aggressive.
The study’s results also show a small effect suggesting that those who liked aggressive dogs showed signs of conscientiousness – being careful, reliable and thoughtful about their actions.
Whilst this finding (about conscientiousness) contradicts a long-held perception that owners of aggressive dogs are always irresponsible, Dr Vincent Egan, the study’s lead researcher suggests caution before reading too much into the conclusion:
“These results with Conscientiousness were unexpected, but the effect is a small one, and needs to be repeated in a different group of people. Studies of this kind tend to only look at a restricted age ranges, which may exaggerate findings which do not occur across the entire lifespan, so we believe a stereotype is always true, whereas it may only be true under certain conditions. Our study employed a broader age range.”
Dr Egan’s study has been published in the journal Anthrozoos.
This time, the cause of concern is salmonella contamination. Salmonella is a zoonotic infection, meaning it can be transferred to humans too.
Salmonella infection in dogs causes gastroenteritis, septicemia, and spontaneous abortions. Humans usually experience vomiting, diarrhea and fevers. It’s not pleasant.
The best prevention is to wash surfaces in the kitchen after feeding your dog and to ensure you wash your hands after handling pet foods.
The brands currently under recall are:
Solid Gold Health Products for Pets, Inc.
Wellpet LLC
Canidae Pet Foods
Apex Pet Foods
Natural Balance Pet Foods
The Kirkland Signature products included in the recall are:
It’s hard to know if some of these foods are available in New Zealand (Canidae definitely is) because some foods are imported in smaller quantities. If you are feeding one of these foods, stop immediately and check with your supplier for more details on the recall.
This website from the FDA gives all the latest information on pet food recalls.
Posted in dog care, dog nutrition and labelling
Tagged animals, C, Canidae, Diamond, food, Natural Balance, pet food recall, salmonella
Here’s an example of democracy in action in the city of Nelson on the South Island of New Zealand.
The Council consulted on revisions to its dog bylaws and dog owners responded about the unnecessary restrictions.
On 3 May, the Council announced “Nelson City Council has responded to submissions on its Dog Control Policy and Bylaw Review by developing a new proposal based on feedback from submitters.”
Deputy Mayor Ali Boswijk said, “Ultimately, the dog bylaw we are proposing will take a default position where dogs can be off-leash everywhere, except areas which are identified as prohibited or on-lead.”
“Hindsight is a wonderful thing and perhaps we should have spent more time talking with the wider community before we drafted the original Statement of Proposal. This is a good learning for us and something we will take on board in future.”
The new summary of Council’s preferred direction for the Dog Control Policy and Bylaw:
In addition, Council is looking at establishing a dedicated dog park at Saxton Field where dogs can exercise off-lead.
Well done to the Nelson City Council for recognising that its constituents wanted something else for dogs and their owners and well done to all who submitted on the dog control bylaw.
If you don’t participate in your local community to represent your interests and the interests of dog owners in general, be prepared for restrictions that will inhibit your ability to socialise your dog and enjoy their company in public places.
Perhaps a lesson for dog owners elsewhere in NZ and overseas?
Posted in dog ownership, regulation
Tagged dog bylaw, dog control, dog park, exercise, Nelson City Council, New Zealand, off lead, off leash
Researchers at Emory University have published new research into canine cognition. Entitled Functional MRI in Awake Unrestrained Dogs, the paper outlines findings of research that required two dogs to remain motionless in an MRI machine.
Yes – that’s right. Motionless. The two dogs were outfitted with special ear muffs to protect them from the noise of the MRI and trained to rest their heads on a chin rest inside the machine. As the MRI took scans of the dog’s brain activity, hand signals were used to show the dogs whether there was or wasn’t a food reward.
This is a first-ever study on awake dogs, rather than those that have been sedated. Importantly, part of the animal ethics of the study was to ensure the dogs were willing participants.
The findings show a definite brain activity response when the hand signals indicated a food reward. Those dogs are paying attention!
The lead researcher, Professor Gregory Berns, says “We hope this opens up a whole new door for understanding canine cognition and inter-species communication. We want to understand the dog-human relationship, from the dog’s perspective.”
Professor Bern’s dog Callie in training in a mock-up of the MRI scanner (copyright Emory University)
Listen to Professor Berns talk about this project in the Emory University YouTube video:
Posted in ethics and pet rights, research
Tagged animal ethics, animals, behavior, behaviour, brain scans, Callie, canine cognition, dogs, ear muffs, Emory University, MRI, Professor Berns, research, science, thinking, thought, youtube video
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