Bark Blog

To Meat or Not To Meat?

I am not a vegetarian, so a story about a culture where people eat dogs really challenges me. I'm horrified at the thought. But I eat beef. I eat pork. I don't eat horse meat. I'll eat chicken, but wouldn't touch crow. My lines seem totally arbitrary or, at least, culturally  determined.  I don't eat duck, rabbit or lamb -- for no really defensible reason other than some gut feeling. Who is to say that eating dogs should be off limits if eating animals, in general, is not?

So I'm wondering, can you love and work for animals and still eat them? I think about the work of Temple Grandin, who is not a vegetarian, but has done much to improve conditions for animals, particularly livestock. I'd like to hear from BARk readers about how you answer this central question. If you eat meat, have you considered it a conflict? If you are a vegetarian, has your relationship with a companion animal played a role in that decision?

Lisa Wogan

Pets Trapped by Volcano in Chile

The fate of approximately 800 dogs and cats in southern Chile is still uncertain. The pets were abandoned when residents of Chaiten were forced to evacuate in the wake of a volcano on May 2. While an Associated Press story reports representatives from the Coalition for Ethical Control of Urban Fauna saying that food is on the way, the Emergency Bureau charged with delivering supplies has not confirmed these reports. Efforts to relocate the pets have so far been unsuccessful.

Lisa Wogan

Illegal Lap Dogs

There was a time when I thought nothing of allowing my dog to be free in the car and stick his head out the window. Then I woke up and realized that if we were in an accident, the rest of his body would go through that window. I would have no one to blame but myself for his injuries, suffering and possibly death. We now use wire crates and seatbelt harnesses to ensure all five of our dogs travel safely.

So you'd think I'd be all rah-rah about the proposed legislation making it illegal for people to drive with dogs on their laps. Frankly, I think attempting to legislate common sense is ridiculous. No one likes to be told they HAVE to do something, like they're five years old. Plus, it's a waste of time and money as the bill meanders through the maze that is our government. Isn't there a better way to educate the public about safe dog travel? I'd love to hear your ideas.

Julia Kamysz Lane

Michael Vick Update

The Atlanta Falcons have drafted a new--hopefully squeaky clean--quarterback, helping to put an end to speculation that Michael Vick would be welcomed back into the lineup after serving a 23-month sentence for his role in a dog-fighting ring.

Lisa Wogan

Cujo the Chihuahua

Cujo the Chihuahua made the front-page news of my local newspaper when a Chicago police detective helped reunite him with his family after being dognapped two months ago. The happy ending made me smile, as well as the name of their other dog and Cujo's best friend, Michelle the Pit Bull.

Julia Kamysz Lane

Happy Pup-Friendly Earth Day

Stain-repellant chemicals from the lining of a dog food bag, phtalates in toys, arsenic-treated deckwood, mercury in cat food--the environment our companion animals inhale, lick and slurp is often loaded with toxins and pollutants. One dog is mad as hell and not going to take it any more. (Although, he's too sweet to put it that way.) On this Earth Day, read Eddie's story and learn more about taking action for animals (and people) to better the environment in your home and beyond.

Lisa Wogan

Cop Shot, Killed Dog Recovering From Back Surgery

A few months ago, I blogged about a suburban Chicago cop who shot and killed a pit bull named Sugar when he entered her home without the owner or roommate present. He claimed he did it in self-defense, because she "lunged" at him. According to all who knew her, Sugar was a sweetheart and friendly with everyone. My guess is that she zoomed over to greet him, much like my own pit bull mix would do, and because of her breed, the cop assumed she was on the attack. So had that trigger-happy cop broken into my home, all five of my dogs would likely be dead, too. The thought is absolutely unbearable, as was the photo in the paper showing the grief-stricken look on Sugar's owner's face when he learned the news.

Tragically, it has happened again, this time in Lakeview, my former neighborhood in New Orleans. On Monday, April 14, police officers responded to a burglar alarm at Dr. Patrick Coleman's house when one of them shot and killed Jax, a 4-year-old Doberman who was recuperating from back surgery. Jax was shot eight times at close range. Jax's sister, a Doberman named Scarlet, was cowering in a corner of the yard when Coleman arrived at the scene. According to Coleman, Jax was in no condition to pose a threat to anyone and his dogs had never been perceived as a threat in the past when officers responded to alarms at the house. The cop's excuse? The dogs had "lunged" at him. The controversy has attracted attention nationwide ... and for good reason.

If you google the words "cop," "shot" and "dog," you'll find similar stories around the country in which a dog was killed by a police officer. Clearly, police departments need to train their officers to respond to dogs in ways that are more humane, such as pepper spray. Jeff Dorson, of the Humane Society of Louisiana, says there are free training programs available upon request. Even though the New Orleans Police Department says the officer did nothing wrong, it would be an excellent good-will gesture toward the public to train officers how to handle companion animals with compassion, not bullets.

Julia Kamysz Lane

Saving Sabrina

I recently received an update on Sabrina, a sickly stray found wandering the streets of my former home of New Orleans. Sabrina had been suffering from an advanced stage of mange, which left open wounds on her furless skin. What's worse, some idiot had misguidedly poured diesel fuel all over her body to "cure" the mange.

Thankfully, she was rescued by Kim Johnson, a volunteer with Animal Rescue New Orleans, and Feral Cat Consortium, which sponsored Sabrina's vet care until funds could be raised. Kim's networking efforts brought in donations big and small to cover Sabrina's entire $1,300 medical bill. If you look at the before and after photos posted here, it's hard to believe it's the same dog.

In her email update on Sabrina, Kim wrote:

We don't need any more donations for Sabrina, but if you're feeling a bit generous, our animal rescue work continues. I am still working on trapping one dog with an embedded collar and open neck wound, and another dog with what appears to be an older broken leg... Those will both need medical care when I get them. ... [for] a tax deductible option, I work closely with Feral Cat Consortium. They help dogs too. They fronted Sabrina's vet bills until donations came in and they are a 501(c)3 corp. Their mailing address is Feral Cat Consortium, 4 Summer Haven Ct., Madisonville, LA 70447.

Please support any of the local animal rescue groups, and there are many good ones to choose from. ... We can't do it without everyone's help, and we appreciate support of any kind. But most importantly, the animals we help are living proof that the support network works. So thank you, to everyone who does their part, no matter how big or how small, for the animals.

I think Kim's last sentence -- and the "after" photo of Sabrina -- says it all. When people pull together, animals get a second chance.

Julia Kamysz Lane

Woman Bites Stray To Protect Her Dog

Amy Rice of Minneapolis, MN, bit a stray dog to stop its attack on her senior Labrador Retriever, Ella (pictured here). Rice says it was an instinctive last resort. I understand the urge to protect our dogs at any cost, but I don't think I would ever consider biting a dog as a defensive maneuver. What are your thoughts?

Julia Kamysz Lane

Cruel art

Many BARk readers have probably received requests to sign a petition against Costa Rican artist Guillermo Habacuc Vargas in the past few months. Last year, Vargas captured a starving street dog (or paid some children to) and displayed the animal as part of a "work of art" in Managua, Nicaragua. Reportedly, the dog subsequently died of starvation. (I say, “reportedly” because I have fallen into a sort of blogosphere-vortex of incomplete posts, conflicting stories, and Spanish-language reports--which I can't translate--and so have not distilled a definitive version of events. This blog comment from March provides one summary. I’d love to hear an update from someone close to the issue.)

In response, animal rights activists have petitioned for legal action against Vargas for cruelty (so far unsuccessfully), or at the very least, that he be excluded from the Bienal Centroamericana Honduras 2008 (also unsuccessfully). The summary linked above confirms that Vargas will participate in the biennial but not with an animal.

Images from the exhibition--warning: these are hard to look at--leave me wondering: While petitions circulate madly, why during the show did no one take action to save an obviously suffering dog? It reminds me of the Milgram experiment, which revealed that people were frequently willing to inflict pain on others when directed by an authority figure to do so. Was the authority of "art" and the context of a gallery so compelling they overrode compassion?

I hope that the belated concern for this one dog moves beyond merely targeting Vargas and galvanizes  larger, productive action on behalf of the thousands of neglected street dogs in Managua.

Lisa Wogan

Oprah Exposes Puppy Mill Horrors

On Friday, April 4, tune in to Oprah Winfrey's show for an undercover investigation of the horrors of puppy mills. These commercial breeders provide purebred puppies to pet stores nationwide.

The American Kennel Club contacted its community of dog fanciers with pre-emptive concern about Oprah's subject matter. The statement read:

"Dear Fancier: As you probably know, Oprah is airing a show tomorrow (Friday, 4/4) on the topic of "Puppy Mills." While the show was previously taped, we have been in touch with the producers about our desire for responsible breeders to be represented, and they have allowed us to submit a 2 line statement which they said will be incorporated into the show. They have also stated that there is no specific intention to malign purebred dogs or the AKC.

"We will be watching the show along with you and, if warranted, we will respond publicly. However, it is our hope that Oprah's interest in animal welfare will help open up a dialogue on the issue and that AKC and the dog fancy will continue to be engaged."

If AKC wants to demonstrate a sincere interest in animal welfare, it will no longer allow commercial breeders and pet shops to register puppies with AKC and do its part to educate the public as well.

Julia Kamysz Lane

Devoted Dog

One reason to smile on Monday morning: praying Chihuahua.

Lisa Wogan

Struggling Shelter Flooded; Situation Desperate

Last November, Franklin County Animal Control in Benton, Illinois (southeast of St. Louis, MO), burned to the ground, resulting in the tragic death of more than 50 animals. The dedicated shelter staff and volunteers have made do with limited resources ever since. Rather than turn animals away, cats and kittens found refuge in a storage shed and dogs and puppies survived one of the coldest winters on record in outdoor kennels pulled from the ashes. Donations are desperately needed to rebuild, but the shelter is located in a rural area of southern Illinois where public and private funds are limited.

To make matters worse, the shelter is now struggling to stay afloat, literally, after days of rain caused flooding. In the words of the shelter director, "PLEASE PLEASE BEG PEOPLE TO HELP US. We've ... been out in the rain for the last two days getting soaked trying to get tarps back up & help all these animals, but the situation is hopeless."

Foster homes are needed most, according to Michelle Parson, President & Dog Program Director of A Caring Place Humane Society in nearby Darien, IL. If you can help, please contact Michelle at (630) 271-9002 or michelle.parson@comcast.net.

Other area shelters are also suffering due to flood waters. The photo above is from the Piedmont Animal Control Shelter, where eight dogs drowned. You can read more here.

Julia Kamysz Lane

They're Smarter Than We Think

Check out the wonderful story on the state of the study of animal cognition with luscious animal portraits by Vincent J. Musi in the current issue of National Geographic (April 2008). The report—which features a pair of smarty-pants Border Collies, of course—explores how more and more we realize "we are not alone in our ability to invent or plan or to contemplate ourselves—or even to plot and lie."

What I found especially interesting was how human cognition science reacts to discoveries in the animal realm. After one researcher complains that folks on the human side constantly raise the bar on what constitutes uniquely human cognition, Virginia Morell writes:

Whenever [animal researchers] find a mental skill in a species that is reminiscent of a special human ability, the human cognition scientists change the definition. But the animal researchers may underestimate their power—it is their discoveries that compel the human side to shore up the divide.

I wonder, why maintaining the divide so all-fired important?

Lisa Wogan

100,000 Dogs Nearly Poisoned

Every year, worldwide, there are approximately 35,000 human deaths caused by rabies. That might sound horrific, but what's worse is that 60% of those rabies-related deaths occur in India alone. This past Thursday, March 6, Indian Kashmir authorities announced its plans to poison 100,000 stray dogs with strychnine in an effort to stop rabies. Thankfully, once the public was made aware of this inhumane solution, authorities were persuaded to work with welfare organizations on a stray sterilization program.

Julia Kamysz Lane

Sponsor A Dog, Save A Cheetah

In the south African country of Namibia, farmers have been caught between cheetah conservationists and and keeping their livestock safe from the spotted predator. So the non-profit organization The Cheetah Conservation Fund initiated a win-win solution. The Livestock Guarding Dog Program provides the farmer with an Anatolian Shepherd puppy who is raised with the livestock and will defend them as an adult. The large, barking dogs deter cheetahs from preying on domestic animals and farmers no longer feel the need to shoot the big cats to protect the herd. You can learn more by clicking on Adopt an Anatolian.

Julia Kamysz Lane

Act Against Dog Auctions

Last year, when a controversy was brewing over a new pet shop in the Chicago area, I was sickened by the naive comments of a dog owner. She had purchased her puppy from a pet store. Because her puppy was healthy and well tempered, she didn't understand -- and therefore, did not support -- criticism of pet shops. Her dog was fine, so what was the problem?

For every cute puppy for sale at a pet store, there are tens of thousands of adult dogs who live in commercial kennels. And I use the word "live" very loosely. A dog deserves more than just being "fed and bred." Two years ago, Mary O'Connor-Shaver attended a dog auction and saw firsthand the neglect and suffering of dogs at the hands of puppy mills.

There has been a long-standing controversy among dog rescue volunteers in regards to dog auctions. Some people believe that saving the life of even just one dog at auction is reason enough to go and bid. Others believe that this act, though compassionate, does nothing to increase awareness of the horrors of dog auctions and puts money in the pocket of the puppy millers.

If you want to help stop dog auctions, please go to Animal House and Ban Ohio Dog Auctions. We might not all agree on how best to shut down this deplorable industry, but increasing public awareness of the puppy mill dog's plight is a good first step.

Julia Kamysz Lane

New hope for shelter dogs

Ever wonder what you'd do with $3 million? Well, The Stanton Foundation has given that sum to the Animal Rescue League of Boston to fund a Center for Shelter Dogs -- with the exclusive goal of improving the welfare and placement odds for dogs in humane societies, animal control shelters and rescue groups. Among some of the goals of the new center will be developing a better awareness of the shelter environment and the disruptive effect of the stress of homelessness and rehoming on dog behavior; improving methods of evaluating and mitigating stress in the shelter environment; and improving strategies for matching dogs with prospective adopters. What a great idea!

Lisa Wogan

Reward or Ransom For Lost Dog?

I'll never forget that horrible day when Jetta's new owner called to tell me that she was missing. We had fostered the beautiful German shepherd for a local rescue group and grown very attached to her. On the very day of the adoption, a friend came over to visit and left the front door open just long enough for Jetta to bolt. Thankfully, someone suggested I contact Sherlock Bones, an experienced pet detective, and he helped us take immediate action. Within hours, we got Jetta back safe and sound.

Since we were a nonprofit rescue group, Sherlock Bones didn't charge us for his services. I will always be grateful for his generosity. He told us that it was important to scrape together whatever we could to offer as a specific reward on our flyers because that got everybody -- even people who didn't like dogs -- keeping an eye out for her.

Apparently, Bert Clark of Canada received similar advice. The distraught dog lover offered a $15,000 reward for the safe return of his beloved chocolate Lab, Huckleberry. Clark scoffed at a reporter's suggestion that his reward was "excessive." (I think all of us who read Bark would agree!) Soon thereafter, he got his dog back, but questions remain as to whether Huckleberry was dogknapped and the reward was actually a ransom.

Lost in all of the drama over the reward money is the fact that the dog walker left Huckleberry alone outside a cafe while she went inside for "five minutes" to grab something to eat. If a dog were left in my charge -- and I made a living at it -- you better believe that pup would never leave my sight. Now that Huckleberry is safe, I wouldn't be surprised if Clark tells the dog walker to get lost.

Julia Kamysz Lane

Bad example of the week

When asked why she had 17 dogs, far in excess of Los Angeles’ zoning that permits three-dogs per address, Paris Hilton said: “They keep having babies, and I feel bad about giving them away.” Seems she's really as clueless as we suspected.

Lisa Wogan

Woman Wants Ex's Dog To Be "Axed"

Last night, Anderson Cooper -- reporting live from New Orleans -- and his in-studio substitute, Erica Hill discussed a radio station publicity stunt that went awry. On Valentine's Day, listeners were invited to come down to the Atlanta-based radio station with something that either belonged to or was given to them by an ex and that they no longer wanted. It would then be destroyed in the parking lot with an ax. You'd assume that most people would bring the usual -- old love letters, photos, clothing, stuffed animals, etc. But one woman showed up with her ex-boyfriend's dog! You can see a video of this sweet shepherd mix on CNN. Thankfully, the Humane Society and caring callers intervened, so the dog found a loving home by the end of the day.

Julia Kamysz Lane

PETA No Fan of Best In Show

Animal-rights organization PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is no stranger to stirring up controversy. In the past, some dog owners have questioned PETA president Ingrid Newkirk's canine devotion as a fundraising ploy or worse.

So it comes as no surprise that PETA debuted a provocative ad campaign (one commercial compares purebred dog breeders to the Ku Klux Klan) during Westminster Kennel Club's annual show, the Superbowl of dog shows. You can watch all three commercials through You Tube or the New York Times.

What do you think of the new PETA commercials? Are they fair? Or too over the top?

Julia Kamysz Lane

Beagle me silly

I was tracking the Westminster Kennel Club dog show results for The Seattle Times last night—reporting on any local pups to make good. I figured I’d have to watch another terrier, poodle, or Pekingese take the big prize. I love terriers and poodles and Pekingese, but honestly I longed for a regular dog—without puffballs, or silky long hair, or a wiry muzzle to take the prize. A sturdy, short-haired Average Fido even mutts can raise a paw for. Well, I got my wish, or as close as you're likely to come in a show ring. Last night, a 15-inch beagle named Uno stepped into the celebratory bowl (literally, see this unbearably adorable photo). He’s appropriately named not just for his win, but because Uno is the first beagle to take the crown in the show's 132 year history. Snoopy would be proud.

Lisa Wogan

The Puddles/Panchito debacle

So you’ve got the mayor in a small Texas town who agrees to take care of her neighbors’ Shih Tzu, while they go to a water park for a long weekend. The dog is very sick from chemical treatments for serious flea infestation, and needs an expensive transfusion the family cannot afford. When the family calls to check in, they learn their dog has died. Only Puddles has not died. The mayor has secreted the pup, now named Panchito, at her twin sister’s ranch, about 12 miles outside of town.

When they get home, Puddles’ family is suspicious. The mayor won’t return their calls. Someone sees Puddles at a groomer. An enterprising TV crew videotapes Panchito at the ranch (which the sisters claim was discovered by another woman and dropped off just before the cameras showed up). At one point, the mayor even pretends to be her sister to avoid questions, but is duped when someone calls out “Ms. Mayor.”

The family wants Puddles back, but due to legal machinations he will remain with the sisters until an April hearing. Meanwhile, the 64-year-old ex-mayor (she resigned earlier this month) has been indicted on felony charges that carry up to 10 years. I can’t tell from The New York Times’ front page story about the case if the family was truly neglecting the dog and the mayor was really trying to save her, but there’s no doubt she was pretty ham-fisted about the whole thing. Still if a dog I thought was deathly ill because of mistreatment by his guardian was placed in my care, I might make some pretty bad—in the eyes of the law—choices myself.

Lisa Wogan

Chicago Tribune Loves BARk!

To those of us who love dogs, the success of BARk magazine makes perfect sense. Who wouldn't want to read a smart periodical dedicated entirely to our cherished companions? But it's always nice when non-dog people (or entities) admit that they find it fascinating, too. So thank you, Chicago Tribune, for congratulating BARk on its 10-year anniversary in today's editorial, "That's 70 in dog years."

I especially like the dare at the end, in which the editors "defy anyone -- dog-haters and cat-lovers included -- to thumb all the way through BARk without grinning like a border collie. It will make you want to get a dog. Or be one." BARk readers, how do you feel after you read the magazine? Are you compelled to give your dog a big hug? Does it inspire you to try something new with your dog? Or add another pup to the pack? Let us know!

Julia Kamysz Lane

Report from the North

Two weeks ago, a five-year-old husky mix named Lorenzo joined my household. He is one of the many dogs to enter (and now exit) life with Arna Dan Isacsson in Fairbanks, Alaska. I visited Arna last year, and my story about her efforts to rehabilitate neglected and abandoned huskies and to encourage more humane, dog-friendly practices among mushers is in the current issue of Bark (January/February 2008). (In the photo, Lorenzo (left) and another Seattle-bound pup Emman arrive with Arna at SeaTac airport.)

Arna’s trip south to re-home two-year-old Emman and Lorenzo was almost cancelled several times because a pack of wolves was roaming the wilderburbs where she lives. Apparently, reduced snowfall had disrupted the wolves’ normal patterns, and they were preying on cats and dogs in the neighborhood. Arna’s November and December emails about marking territory with scarecrows and urine (her own) and playing music full blast would have been comic if the circumstances hadn’t been so serious. Amateur traps in the woods and errant gunfire being among the many wolf-prevention strategies that posed dangers in themselves. It was a reminder to me of just how difficult her avocation can be. In Fairbanks, rehabilitating and protecting these dogs is complicated by stretches of 40-below days, no running water, and, recently wolves.

Meanwhile, Renzo is bright-eyed, calm and well-adjusted, responsive to commands, a delight on trails (where he bounds like a gazelle) and city streets (about which he knows nothing). In his past are bad patches, periods of neglect, anxiety, boredom, and weeks on the lamb, but his four months with Arna seem to have smoothed these wrinkles and brought out his core healthy doggy self. I’m grateful to her and newly admiring of her work.

Lisa Wogan

Pit Bulls, Dogfights Sell Papers

With all that is going on in the world, my local newspaper decided that a pit bull attack was front-page news. But if you read the article closely, it's clear that calling this a "dogfight" is a misnomer and that if a poodle or golden retriever had been the perpetrator, this likely wouldn't have even made the paper. So here's the letter I wrote to the editor this morning:

"Shame on you, Daily Herald, for sensationalizing a story, deliberately misleading the public, and perpetuating the myth that wherever the pit bull goes, violence follows (“Caught In Dog Fight," 1/29/08).

"This past Tuesday's front-page headline said, “Woman Hospitalized After Pit Bull Attack,” leading readers to believe that the pit bull attacked her. In truth, the pit bull attacked the small dog the woman was walking. She chose to get involved and risk harm. There is an enormous difference between a dog who is aggressive toward dogs (especially small ones that appear to be prey) and a dog who is aggressive toward people. After quoting neighbors’ concerns for themselves, the Daily Herald missed an opportunity to educate the public instead of reinforcing that fear.

"If anyone deserves the public’s wrath, it’s the owner of the pit bull. Neighbors report that he keeps two pit bulls on leashes in a garage. By reinforcing the myth that pit bulls are vicious, the Daily Herald encourages people to perceive pit bulls as monsters, not dogs who deserve attention, training, love and the basics, like a warm place to sleep in this zero degree weather. Had the owner taken the time to socialize his dogs and keep them in the house, this tragedy never would’ve happened."

If space had allowed, I would've shared the story of my mom and my pit bull mix, Shelby. Three years ago, my mom was walking Shelby through my semi-rural neighborhood. A 120-pound Great Pyrenees escaped from the back of a pick-up truck and grabbed 65-pound Shelby by the head and froze. My mom was bitten on the finger trying to protect Shelby, and the Great Pyrenees's owner lost a fingernail attempting to pry her dog's mouth off of Shelby's head.

My mom and the other dog's owner both required trips to the emergency room. Fortunately, they were both going to be okay. We then brought Shelby to the Great Pyrenees's owner's vet. I was absolutely livid when the staff assumed that Shelby, being part pit bull, had initiated the fight. How can the staff at a vet office believe such horrible breed stereotypes? When I told them that Shelby was the victim, they were surprised but unapologetic. Thankfully, Shelby's ear and head wounds completely healed. She still thinks everybody is her friend. If only that were so.

Julia Kamysz Lane

Finders Keepers?

I serve as the Midwest rep for Catahoula Rescue Inc, a national, nonprofit rescue group. Recently, one of our volunteers in Texas was contacted by her vet because a woman brought in a Catahoula puppy she had found. The woman had no intention of looking for the owner, even though the puppy was in good health and had clearly belonged to someone. The vet wanted to alert our rescue in case the original owner was searching for their lost puppy.

As a professional and authority figure, wouldn't the vet also have an obligation to alert the local animal shelter and insist that the woman place a free found classified ad in the paper? I don't know how this woman can live with herself, knowing that her way of thinking ("finders keepers") is as mature as that of a two year old. Not to mention she is possibly causing a lot of heartache to a family somewhere by not giving them the opportunity to claim their puppy. If she's that cold hearted, maybe the threat of possible legal action (say someone recognized the puppy and alerted the family to its whereabouts) would get her attention and make her do the right thing. But it shouldn't come to that.

Have you ever found a dog? What did you do?

Julia Kamysz Lane

The sub-prime loan meltdown burns pets

Last night, Steve Kroft gave the mortgage crisis the 60 Minutes treatment—focusing on Stockton, California, where 4,200 homes are either in default or foreclosure. It was a totally depressing report on how risky loans drove a housing boom that went bust, with the sad perspective of homeowners facing financial ruin and eviction.

What Kroft didn’t mention were the collateral victims—pets. According to a story in Stockton’s daily paper, The Record, foreclosures are creating a secondary crisis for people who cannot find or afford new housing that will allow them to keep their animals. And it’s not just in Stockton or California. Animal abandonment cases and pet surrender rates are surging around the country, in Cincinnati, Toledo, Charlotte, and El Paso.

Volunteers at the Evergreen Animal Protective League (Bark, October/November 2007) in Colorado seemed to have clued into the crisis early. Last summer, they said foreclosures were among the top reasons for pet surrenders in a region hard-hit by the mortgage crisis. (For more than a year, Colorado’s ranked among the highest foreclosure rates in the country.) The Evergreen Animal Protective League steps in with a novel and neighborly solution of temporarily fostering pets until guardians get back on their feet and into a new pet-friendly home.

Lisa Wogan

Is That A Dog Or A Coffee Table?

A few weeks ago, I visited a home as part of the adoption process for our rescue group. This couple was anxious to find a friend for their mixed-breed dog. They told me over the phone that their pup was spoiled rotten. Even so, I was not prepared for the coffee table with a wagging tail that waddled over to greet me. The poor dog was so overweight that he was practically as wide as he was tall. He was only four years old, but he walked and breathed with difficulty, as if he was much older and in poor health.

It reminded me of a recent visit to the dog park. I had joined a large group of people walking around the grassy path. Most of the dogs were running ahead to chase one another and play. But one overweight dog labored to keep up with us. I wondered aloud if she was okay. Her owner assured me that she was "just old" at eight years of age and had joint problems. I was shocked and felt really sorry for the dog. I then asked the owner to guess the age of my Catahoula, who was romping in the field with the "young" dogs. She guessed five years old. I bragged, "He's 10 years old. He competes in agility and does recreational sheep herding." Maybe he just has good genes, but I think the fact that he is in great shape has added quality years to his life.

Canine obesity is literally a growing trend. Take control of your own dog's health by checking out Stop Canine Obesity. Simply fill out the BARC (Body Assessment Rating for Canines) to determine whether your dog could stand to lose a few pounds. You can also learn more about the National Canine Weight Check, offered next month through participating veterinarians.

Julia Kamysz Lane

Georgia (Dogs) On My Mind

Bark subscriber Jayne Glaser wrote to us with a special plea. She serves on the Board of Directors for Saving Georgia Dogs, Inc., a licensed 501(c)(3) animal rescue charity. “Our goal is to save dogs that are in imminent danger of being killed in animal shelters in rural Georgia,” writes Glaser, “many of whom would face death in the terrifying and inhumane gas chamber.” In addition to rescuing shelter dogs, the grass-roots group plans to open a spay/neuter clinic, create a heartworm treatment/prevention fund, offer humane education in local schools, and help women who stay in abusive domestic situations out of fear over what would happen to their pets.

Now Saving Georgia Dogs needs your help. The charity is participating in a contest sponsored by Parade Magazine and actor Kevin Bacon’s Six Degrees Foundation. The winner receives a $50,000 matching grant to help achieve its goals. To learn how your donation -- no matter its size -- can make a difference, please go to Saving Georgia Dogs, Inc. The contest ends January 31st, so hurry!

Julia Kamysz Lane

Littlest Pet Shop Glosses Over Harsh Reality

My three-year-old niece is enamored with the Littlest Pet Shop line of toys. As I struggled to open her latest collection of admittedly adorable creatures, it was all I could do not to throw them in the trash and lecture on the horrors of puppy mills and corporate greed. On its Web site, toy maker Hasbro infers that the Littlest Pet Shop promotes responsibility by allowing children to collect a variety of animals without the um ... responsibility of caring for live pets. Nice marketing spin but I'm literally not buying it. And it pains me to see kids play with a product that only shows one side of the commercial pet industry.

Perhaps Hasbro could add some new locales to its collection for a more well-rounded perspective. How about the Littlest Pet Shelter, where many pet shop puppies eventually end up due to the health and behavior problems that result from poor breeding, malnutrition and lack of socialization? Or the Littlest Commercial Breeder, where purebred dogs are kept in cages and forced to reproduce as often and as long as they are able. Once the breeding pairs no longer prove useful, they can go to the Littlest Pet Auction, available to the highest bidder.

It's possible to teach children how to take proper care of animals without promoting or glorifying pet shops. Many therapy dog groups, such as Therapy Dogs International (of which I'm a member) and Delta Society offer children an opportunity to interact with a healthy, friendly dog and learn about his needs. Some libraries and schools smartly encourage kids to read aloud to therapy dogs, as a way to improve their reading skills without fear of judgment. Or you could always give them an old-fashioned stuffed animal to hug, pet and feed.

Julia Kamysz Lane

Is Huckabee a hound?

It’s the Republican primary day in South Carolina and voters in both parties are caucusing in Nevada, so I’ve got presidential politics and dogs on the brain. In the spirit of this hybrid thinking, I listened to an appropriate podcast, Oh Behave’s Arden Moore interviewing Vladae Roytapel. If you’ve managed to miss the marketing juggernaut that is Roytapel, he’s packaged as the Russian Dog Wizard and the “Dr. Phil of Dog Training.” I don’t know much about the quality of his work, but what is it about quirky foreign dog trainers with an emphasis on instant results that makes them so popular these days?

Anyway, Roytapel offered a strange but diverting interpretation of some of the presidential candidates in dog terms. Through the eyes of this former KGB dog trainer, Mitt Romney is a big, handsome Great Dane—perhaps a little too aggressive, especially with dogs of the same sex. John McCain is a German shepherd—loyal, good on security, but also aggressive. Roytapel described Hillary Clinton as a cocker spaniel and pit bull mix in a Labrador retriever skin. John Edwards is a poodle. Barack Obama is an Afghan hound. Kucinich a Chihuahua. Huckabee a fox hound. Guliani an Italian greyhound with a strong predator instinct. Says Roytapel, when an Italian greyhound sees something attractive and moving, he goes for it.

For another look at the Mexican Dog Whisperer’s latest rival, see Roytapel take David Letterman for a walk on Late Night.

Lisa Wogan

Bunny update

Last August, I blogged about PetSmart’s ill-advised decision to breed and sell dwarf rabbits. This story has a happy ending. In December, PetSmart released a statement. Here's the heart of the matter:

We consider the test successful because of what we learned from it. However, we failed to meet the business objectives we set, so, at this time, we’re not expanding the test and will not continue to sell dwarf bunnies beyond those already in or planned for our stores.

It’s good news for the critter kingdom, and maybe it’s time to let PetSmart know they’ve done the right thing (after, of course, doing the wrong thing). Still everyone deserves a second chance. 

Lisa Wogan

Dog Poop: Friend or Foe?

We live on a half acre with five dogs. Needless to say, I pick up poop on a regular basis. Despite my best efforts scanning the yard, I occasionally step in poop. This is one of my absolutely biggest pet peeves. Usually, it happens when I need to leave the house in five minutes for an appointment or someone is coming over. The worst time is summer, when the poop is soft and squishy and especially hard to dig out of the stupid little rubber ridges on the bottom of my gym shoe. If you're reading this far, you know exactly what I mean. Perhaps you even engage in "poop talk" with your dog friends.

So who knew that dog poop could help catch a criminal? It seems appropriate that an idiot drunk driver was literally caught in deep doo-doo. Eighteen-year-old Josue Herrios-Coronilla crashed his car into a dog owner's yard. He immediately fled the scene, but not before stepping in dog poop. Police easily tracked the messy footprints and apprehended him. I hope part of his punishment was cleaning his shoes.

Julia Kamysz Lane

My Dog Can Do Laundry

You know that saying that we only use 10% of our brains? Well, the more I learn about dog behavior and training, the more I realize how very little we ask of our dogs despite their clear ability to learn and do more. Connie the Newfie is the perfect example. When her owner, British animal behaviorist Hazel Carter, was stricken with arthritis in her back, she taught Connie how to do everything from untying her shoe laces to doing the laundry. I'm not suggesting we turn our dogs into personal maids, but teaching a dog a new trick can give them the mental stimulation they crave. And if it helps keep my house tidy in the process, what more could you ask for?

Julia Kamysz Lane

Red dog, blue dog

For too long, animals have been mere symbols in presidential politics. From Millie to Buddy to Miss Beazely, dogs, in particular, have been used to conjure warm, fuzzy feelings of virtue, family and loyalty. Never mind the record. It’s frustrating how little attention politicians dedicate to actual animal welfare issues. But if everything from spay/neuter programs and animal fighting to puppy mills and hunting are important litmus issues for you, check out Michael Markarian’s blog, particulary his review of the Republican and Democratic presidential contenders’ records. Markarian is the president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund, which lobbies for animal welfare legislation and works to elect humane-minded candidates to public office. The Republicans, not surprisingly, don’t fare too well. Something Salon.com pointed out a few weeks ago.

Lisa Wogan

Dog Food Company Pays $3.1 Million Settlement

Two years ago, a New York veterinarian deteremined that her client's dog died due to tainted dog food. Soon thereafter, Diamond Pet Foods recalled 20 varieties of dog and cat food. The food was contaminated by aflatoxin, which naturally results from a fungus often found on corn. (For a list of ingredients to avoid and why, go to The Dog Food Project.) Diamond admitted that its plant in South Carolina failed to do internal quality testing and agreed to pay a $3.1 million settlement toward victims' expenses, including veterinary bills. Owners whose dogs died are eligible for up to $1,000 (a laughable number considering how priceless our canine companions truly are). For more info or to make a claim, go to Diamond's Recalled Pet Food Settlement Web site.

Julia Kamysz Lane

Keep Your Dog Safe From Predators

Over the past few weeks in the Chicago area, small dogs have been under attack by hungry coyotes and even a red-tailed hawk. In all cases, the dogs had been left outside unattended in order to go potty. The carefree days when a dog could roam freely -- or even for just a few minutes to take care of business -- are long gone. Take the time to escort your dog outside, on leash. A small inconvenience for you could literally save your dog's life.

Julia Kamysz Lane

Was Your Dog Naughty Or Nice?

Did your dog get a special gift for Christmas? My husband and I tend to spoil our four dogs all year long (that's our pit bull mix, Shelby, at left), so for Christmas, we stick to simple stocking stuffers like treats, tennis balls and a toy. According to the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, Americans spent $48.7 billion on their pets in 2007. To put that into perspective, IRMA spokesman Peter Gill said, "That exceeds the gross domestic product of 120 nations."

If you went overboard with buying gifts for your dogs, please consider donating a few items to your local shelter. Many homeless dogs would enjoy treats, toys or just some attention. At this time of year, it seems like everyone is rushing around trying to do one more thing. If you have a few minutes, grab that extra carrier or package of treats and stop by the shelter. I promise it'll feel better than crossing every single item off your to-do list. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Julia Kamysz Lane

Holiday Bummer

I was depressed to read about a policeman shooting an off-leash dog in a Bedford-Stuyvesant park earlier this month. I heard about it through NYCdog—a New York City off-leash advocacy group. The dog, a three-year-old named Diamond, was running toward the cops “wagging her tail” when one of them shot her in the chest. After two days in critical care, Diamond is on the mend.

Based on the story as it was reported in the New York Post, I agree with advocates who say the cops overreacted. (Although I doubt they’ll be on the hook for this incident.) But I have a second—potentially less popular—takeaway: guardian responsibility. Dogs who romp off-leash must have excellent recall skills; shouting “she’s not going to hurt you” isn’t a substitute. There are lots of compelling reasons your dog needs to come when called, and, for city slickers, trigger-happy cops is just one more.

Lisa Wogan

T.G.I. Friday's In Doghouse

Earlier this month, Laura Greenberg and her family went to a suburban Chicago T.G.I. Friday's to celebrate the disabled teen's 17th birthday. A manager refused to seat them because of Laura's service dog Dawn. Company policy, claimed the manager, stated that as long as an able-bodied adult was along, the service dog could not come in. Clearly, someone needed a refresher on the American Disabilities Act. It's one thing for the manager to be ignorant, but to go to the trouble of making something up? Unbelievable!

The Greenbergs complained about the incident to T.G.I. Friday's and insisted on an apology. The restaurant went a step further and donated money to two important charities: 1) the Laura Greenberg Foundation (c/o Glenview State Bank, 800 N Waukegan Rd, Glenview, IL 60025), which was created soon after her brain injury in 1997 to help with medical expenses; and 2) Canine Companions for Independence, a nonprofit group that trains assistance dogs and matches them with disabled people.

Julia Kamysz Lane

Does Rabies Vaccine Last Seven Years?

Thanks to a grass-roots effort of dog lovers who raised much-needed funding, the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine is conducting the first long-term challenge studies on the canine rabies vaccine. Dr. Ronald Schultz, Chair of the Department of Pathobiological Sciences, is overseeing five- and seven-year challenge studies that will determine how long the rabies vaccine truly immunizes dogs. For more info or to learn how you can help your dog be healthier, go to the Rabies Challenge Fund.

Julia Kamysz Lane

Slain Soldier's Dog Goes Home

Until I read this story on CNN, I never pondered what happened to a military K-9 partner if the handler died. Since these dogs require an enormous amount of training, I would've guessed that they were assigned to a new handler and went back to work.

Of course, the bond between a dog and his person is priceless. Wouldn't a dog like Lex, who worked and lived with 20-year-old Marine Cpl. Dustin Jerome Lee every day, need time to grieve? Is it fair to expect this 8-year-old German shepherd, who was wounded in the line of duty, to return to work? Lee's family didn't think so and pleaded for their right to adopt Lex. Nine months after their son was killed, Lee's parents will bring Lex home Dec. 21 to Quitman, Miss. I can't think of a better Christmas present for Lee's family and their son's devoted dog.

Julia Kamysz Lane