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Maremma sheepdogs protect penguins in Australia

Posted on August 21, 2011 | Leave a comment

The Middle Island Maremma Project is a flagship project by the Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Group.

Middle Island in Victoria is home to a Little Blue Penguin colony. The penguins were suffering dearly because of predation by foxes and wild dogs. Between 2000 and 2005, the population of penguins went from more than 600 to only 10.

In 2006, after a suggestion from a student who was familiar with the work of the dogs on a chicken farm, trained Maremma sheepdogs were introduced to guard the penguins. In 2010, the project won the National Landcare Award sponsored by the Australian Government. 87 other competitors were vying for the award.

Maremmas on Middle Island, photo courtesy of Middle Island Maremma Project website

According to The Blue Penguin Trust, blue penguins are the smallest breed of penguin, reaching only 35-43 cm in height and weighing up to a maximum of 1.5 kg. They are found throughout locations in Australia and New Zealand, but are vulnerable to development (often getting run over by cars) as well as predators.

As for the Maremma Sheepdog, they were originally bred in Italy to guard flocks of livestock from the threats of attack by bears or wolves and have strong protective instincts. The dogs have a double coat that is water repellant, so they are able to work outdoors for long periods of time.

Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand

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Posted in special dogs and awards

Tagged Australia, little blue penguin, little penguin, Maremma, Middle Island Maremma Project, National Landcare Award, sheepdog, Warrnambool Coastcare

The dog days of August and other sayings

Posted on August 18, 2011 | Leave a comment

We’re in the Dog Days of August (northern hemisphere), or so my mother always said. So where did this saying come from? Well, it always referred to the hot days of summer when the heat tends to be greatest and with little breeze or wind. And the dog connection came from the belief that Sirius, the Dog Star, was responsible for the weather because of its close proximity to the sun.

What are some other common dog sayings?

Dog and Pony Show used when you are putting on a display to convince people of a product or service; it comes from the traveling circus days when dogs and ponies often shared the show ring

Like a Dog with a Bone when someone won’t let go of a subject, and referring to the possessiveness of dogs when chewing on a bone

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie which means not to talk about things that have caused problems in the past – clearly referring to the surprise you may get when disturbing a deeply sleeping dog!

And of course The Top Dog referring to pack order and the person who is the highest in rank or importance

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Posted in Humor/humour

Tagged dog and pony show, dog days of August, dog sayings, let sleeping dogs lie, like a dog with a bone, top dog

The Dog Bark Park Inn – home to world’s largest beagles

Posted on August 16, 2011 | Leave a comment

In Cottonwood, Idaho, lies the Dog Bark Park Inn. Built by chainsaw artists Dennis Sullivan and Frances Conklin, this bed & breakfast is housed within a large beagle!

The structure is named Sweet Willy and he is accompanied by a 12-foot structure named Toby.

In 1995, the Dennis’ and Frances’ work was featured on shopping channel QVC. They received so many orders, that it took them 18 months to fill them all. And, with the proceeds, they created the Dog Bark Park Inn.

This accommodation is truly unique and a must for beagle lovers and dog lovers of all kinds. There is an on-site gift shop, too, where you can buy the folk style wooden art of the proprietors.

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Posted in dog-friendly accommodation

Tagged beagle, chainsaw art, Cottonwood Idaho, Dog Bark Park Inn

Is your dog right-pawed or left-pawed?

Posted on August 14, 2011 | 1 comment

Research shows that dogs can have a paw preference and it is fairly easy for you to test your own dog.

In 2006, a researcher, Dr Nick Branson, found that the way a dog uses its paws was an indicator of how it reacted to noise. Dogs without a clear paw preference were more likely to be reactive to noises such as thunderstorms and fireworks. He presented his findings at the annual conference of the Australian Veterinary Association in 2007.

Dr Branson was quoted as saying,:

“It seems possible that dogs that do not favour one side or the other may be prone to experience intense emotional responses to a broad range of stimuli. Animals with lateralised functions may be able to transfer attention from disturbing stimulus more successfully.” (Source: News Nine)

Now, if you want to know how to test your dog for their dominant paw, here’s how – just follow these tests as demonstrated by Ellie Mae on YouTube:

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Posted in Dogs, research

Tagged dogs, Ellie Mae, left handedness, left-pawed, Nick Branson, paw preferences, research, right handedness, right-pawed, YouTube

Sea burials for your pet

Posted on August 13, 2011 | Leave a comment

New England Burials at Sea offers a special service for pet burials at sea along the US coastline from Maine to Miami.

The most common service is for scattering of cremation ash, although the company also offers organic cotton shrouds for full body burials by enquiry.

The company was founded by Brad White, a self-confessed dog lover and owner of Schipperkes who understands that pets are part of the family.

Ceremonies start at $95.0o. A poem is usually read after the ashes are scattered, followed by flowers or wreaths that are placed on the water. Owners can email a photo of their pet to Captain Brad before their charter so a photo of their pet is included on the sea burial certificate. The burial certificate records the date, time, and latitude and longitude (location) where the ashes were scattered. Many charters are unattended by the pet’s family, but in one case Captain Brad says that over 40 people attended a pet farewell ceremony on his boat.

A quick Google search shows that there are several other firms offering pet burials at sea. They are:

San Diego Burial at Sea

Newport Landing Burial at Sea (Los Angeles area)

A Burial at Sea Maritime Funeral Services (Rhode Island)

Amazing Gracie’s Pet Burials at Sea (San Diego area)

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Posted in dog care, dogs and families, dogs and mourning

Tagged A Burial at Sea, Amazing Gracie's burials at sea, ash scattering, Dog, Los Angeles, maine, Miami, New England Burials at Sea, Newport Landing Burial at Sea, Rhode Island, San Diego Burial at Sea, Schipperke, sea burials

The Saving Lives campaign

Posted on August 9, 2011 | Leave a comment

The Royal NZ Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RNZSPCA) has embraced the philosophy that ‘every life is precious’ and its Saving Lives campaign has a number of platforms to ensure that the lives of animals are saved and that they enjoy a quality of life.

When implemented, each of the platforms is aimed at supporting the goal of saving lives. The platforms are:

Our Animals – Every Life is Precious
Pet retention
Rehabilitation
Desexing
Maximising adoptions
Rescue groups
Foster homes and other volunteers
Saving the strays
Community involvement
Can do!

The Hokitika SPCA has made headlines for achieving a no-kill shelter status, a direction that the RNZSPCA not only endorses, but says that it wants to see replicated throughout the country . Read all about it in this article in the Greymouth Star.

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Posted in dog adoption, dog care, dog ownership

Tagged Greymouth Star, Hokitika SPCA, no kill shelter, RNZSPCA, RSPCA, Saving Lives

Paws and Stripes helping US veterans

Posted on August 8, 2011 | Leave a comment

“A man who is good enough to shed his blood for his country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards.”
– Theodore Roosevelt

Paws and Stripes is a not-for-profit organisation working to place service dogs with US war veterans who are suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury. Through their efforts dogs from shelters are trained to have a new life as a service dog – all at no cost to the veteran.

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has been going on for many years now, and with this the escalating numbers of returning veterans who are suffering from PTSD. Traumatic brain injury is often suffered because soldiers are injured by ‘improvised explosive devices.’ Sadly, insurance companies will not pay to see these men and women given the use of a service dog.

Jim Stanek is the co-founder of Paws and Stripes (along with his wife). He received injuries during his third tour of duty in Iraq and, during his nine months of treatment, he found solace in the presence of service dogs. In May of 2010, Jim and his wife unsuccessfully tried to find a trainer for their rescue dog named Sarge. They founded Paws and Stripes in June 2010 to fill the need for these types of service dogs.

Veterans are able to choose their own dog from a shelter before entering the training programme and part of their rehabilitation is their involvement in the training.

This seems like a very special organisation combining the involvement of service dogs with shelter rescue – all whilst helping a group of people in need. Visit the Paws and Stripes website to learn more about the programme and how to help. While there, read stories like that of Master Sargeant Justin Jordan and his dog, Dallas (pictured below – photos copyright Paws and Stripes).

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Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand

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Posted in dog ownership, special dogs and awards

Tagged Paws and Stripes, post traumatic stress disorder, ptsd, traumatic brain injury, veterans

PETNet – new pet food incident tracking system

Posted on August 7, 2011 | Leave a comment

This week the US Food & Drug Administration and the Partnership for Food Protection launched a new web-based system to enable real-time information sharing about pet food incidents.

‘Incidents’ are those occasions that appear to be related to defects in pet foods or illnesses brought on because of the consumption of pet foods. The concept is that federal, state and local authorities that are responsible for regulation of the pet food industry and the tracking of outbreaks of disease in companion animals will register information on the voluntary system. If they suspect a trend or suspicious connection with pet foods, they’ll register their information on the PETNet system.

In 2007, there was the huge recall of pet foods contaminated with melamine and when the events were debriefed, it showed that veterinarians were picking up on a trend but had no readily available platform to share their concerns. Regulatory authorities were slow to react. Through the internet, email systems and professional networks, veterinarians were able to get the word out that there was a problem with pet foods, but not in as quickly as they would have if there was a platform such as PETNet.

The Partnership for Food Protection was established in 2008 by the FDA bringing together federal, state, local, territorial and tribal representatives with expertise in food, feed, epidemiology, laboratory, animal health, environment and public health.

This is a list of PETNet project members.

Source: US Food & Drug Administration media statement, 1 August 2011

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Posted in dog care

Tagged dog food, food tracking, incident reporting, melamine, Partnership for Food Protection, PETNet, US FDA, US Food & Drug Administration

Dognapping case in Sydney, Australia

Posted on August 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting on a case of quadruple dognapping in Sydney.

Four of businessman Ian Lazar’s dogs were taken on July 21. They are Goldberg, a miniature poodle, Bella and Lilly, Maltese shih-tzus and Max, a Maltese terrier. $300,000 has been demanded as ransom. Three other dogs were left behind.

Mr Lazar is a colourful character, but he proudly states that his dogs are his babies and that he fought for their custody when he divorced his wife.

A reward is being offered for information that will lead to the safe return of the dogs.

Read the full story here.

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Posted in Dogs

Tagged dognapping, Ian Lazar, Maltese, miniature poodle, Sydney, Sydney Morning Herald

Dogs and grief

Posted on August 4, 2011 | Leave a comment

Dogs are emotional creatures and they often form strong bonds to their owners, extended family, and other dogs in the household. This, of course, is one of the many benefits of having a dog (or more) as members of your pack. Because of these emotional connections, dogs also experience grief when a loved companion dies.

Symptoms of grief can include lethargy, loss of appetite and weight loss. With the grief comes a depression of the immune system, possibly leaving your dog vulnerable to problems like kennel cough (even if they are vaccinated). Being aware of these symptoms is important and when a loss is experienced, extra care and attention are needed to help the dog manage their grief. Things like extra outings to new parks can help stimulate brain activity and keep the dog happy. Ensuring the dog has a solid routine they can rely on is also very comforting. I have even been called in to give grieving dogs a relaxation massage to provide them extra stimulation and help them feel better.

One of the most ‘celebrated’ cases of a dog’s loyalty to its dead master is the story of Greyfriars Bobby. Bobby was a Skye Terrier owned by John Gray, who worked in Edinburgh, Scotland as a night watchman. In February 1858, John Gray died from tuberculosis and his body was buried in the Greyfriars Kirkyard. According to legend, for the next 14 years, Bobby spent most of his time at the grave mourning his master. In 1872, following Bobby’s death, a statue of the dog by William Brodie was erected outside of the gates of the Kirkyard with funds from a local patron.