Y’know, they always that ‘kids say the darndest things’ and very often those darndest things show an understanding and depth that is nothing short of amazing as one little 4 yr old shows us.

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a 10-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.

The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for 4-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

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Pittsburgh police and a North Side woman want to know who would try to kill her dogs by feeding them meat laced with ground up glass and nails.

What an absolute feel good story that I just couldn’t resist sharing! Companion and service dogs have a special place in my heart just because of how absolutely amazing they are, over and above the call of duty.

This wonderful story is about Ilia, a service dog and his person, 10 year old Cole Massie of Los Angeles, CA, who lives with cerebral palsey. Every service dog and their person has a special bond but sometimes those bonds can create miracles….

Recently crowned ASPCA Dog of the Year as part of the 2008 Humane Awards program, Ilia performs service duties like bringing items to Cole in his wheelchair and opening and closing doors. But the pooch also has that special healing touch that can’t be taught. “He provides amazing incentive to Cole during therapies, doctor’s appointments and procedures,” says Cole’s mom, Michelle Massie. “He calms, inspires and motivates my son far better than anyone ever has.”

Or, as Cole sums it up: “I like when he lies next to me in bed at night and we listen to Harry Potter on CD, and that he helps to clean me when I’m in the bath by licking my face and arms. He’s my furry brother and best friend—and a serious bed hog!

This past July, three years after boy and dog were paired by the nonprofit Canine Companions for Independence, Cole was faced with a difficult, but life-changing surgery. “He had walked on his toes, and his feet were totally rolled in,” says Massie. “The operation would allow him to use his feet and free him of the wheelchair.”

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I do have to admit if I were locked up like this pooch was, I’d probably be doing anything I could to get out myself. Talk about a smart dog…. check out the video!

Poochie Prison Break

Unfortunately, there is no good news yet but the search still continues. Media coverage has picked up and there is a reward of $1100 being offered right now.

If you’re not familiar with the story, Ryan Morgan is a 10 year old cancer patient. He was diagnosed with Stage IV neuroblastoma a month before his 6 th birthday.

In July of this year, his parents got him a little dachshund puppy to keep him company and help to keep his spirits up. He named her Dixie. On September 10, thieves broke into the Morgan home and stole the puppy along with many other things, including games that belongs to the child.

The worst thing is that police suspect that the thieves were teenagers who knew the family who were responsible for the theft.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Barrow County, GA Sheriff’s Department at (770) 307-3084.

Please help to get the word out on this. Email it and share it with everyone and encourage them to do the same. Someone knows where this puppy is. Put the pressure on and keep it on!!

Philadelphia Department of Public Health. On September 17, the Health Department issued an open bid for the animal control contract. The new contract will take effect on January 1, 2009. The request for a new vendor explicitly defines animal control responsibilities as “accepting and humanely disposing of up to 30,000 unwanted pets per year.”

Accepting and disposing… ummm…. ok, where is there anything that says they need to facilitate or attempt to facilitate placement of animals in new homes or rescues? All it says is that they have to take them and kill them and get rid of them! This is beyond disgraceful!

PACCA currently holds the contract and has since 2005. Their contract run through June of 2009. When they got the contract in 2005, there was an 11% save rate which means almost 90% of the animals that came in were killed. Now, PACCA working with PAWS (Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society), has increased the save rate to 60%. When you look at what they started with, it’s an incredible improvement! And their ultimate goal is 100%, a no-kill Philadelphia, a city in which a home is found for every healthy and treatable animal.

PACCA has fought to include lifesaving efforts as an integral part of animal control, including: adoption outreach, foster care, volunteerism, collaboration with rescue and shelter partners, and spay/neuter services. Under the City’s new proposal, collecting and “disposing” of homeless animals is all that is required.

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Everyone knew that the PA Puppy Mill Bill, HB 2525, was going to be facing obstacles in the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee but what they are doing it it, amendment after amendment, is going to undo any good this bill could possibly do. And one of the comments, “It will hurt our industry. People will pay more for their dogs and buy from states that can produce more dogs,” made by Sen. John Eichelberger, R-Hollidaysburg, shows just what is really important to these politico jokers! Money, money, money… the hell with the dogs!

Here’s the latest amendments added to HB 2525, they’re really ripping this apart!

• Kennels that have not been cited for violations in the past three years are not required to make the changes required in the legislation.

• Slatted floors would be allowed. The original proposes solid flooring only.

• If local zoning prohibits outdoor runs, existing kennels are exempted from the requirement for outdoor exercise.

• The amended legislation raises maximum cage height to 30 inches, from 12 inches in the original. It could allow for stacking of cages, and dogs could be kept in rabbit hutches, according to Gardener.

• Rabies vaccinations must be given under the supervision of a veterinarian, rather than by a veterinarian.

• If the temperature in a kennel exceeds 85 degrees, the owner needs only to “make an effort” to lower the temperature. The original bill set a 50- to 85-degree temperature range and would have required air conditioning.

• Kennel owners have a year, instead of six months, to abide by the legislation.

• A Canine Health Board of seven veterinarians would review requests for exemptions to venting, flooring and lighting for breeding kennels.

Wow, doesn’t look like there are going to be many changes once they get through with it, does it??

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This is not the first time that Annette Knight of Myakka City, FL, has been in trouble. She’s been issued 6 animal control violations since 2005. This time Manatee County Animal Services officers found 15 abandoned dogs and cats on her property along with 3 decomposing dog carcasses, one that other animals had been eating. Many of the animals were trapped inside a house that was full of feces.

One of the 8 dogs that were seized, a bloodhound, had to be euthanized because it weighed less than half what it should have and couldn’t even stand.

Despite these horrific findings, on Friday, Judge Robert Farrance decided to give four of the dogs back to Knight pending a final hearing in two months. Unbelievable!!

Knight has a Web site where she claims to run a nonprofit organization called Annette’s Animal Rescue and Sanctuary. Knight’s lawyer, Tracy Lee, said Knight loves animals but gets in over her head.

“The problem is she gets too many of the animals and becomes overwhelmed,” Lee said.

Judge Robert Farrance set up weekly visits to Knight’s home by Sarasota County authorities. He also ordered that no additional animals be possessed, and that the dogs be seen by a veterinarian within a week. Knight must also have a dog door installed so the dogs an leave the house, Farrance said.

Nearly 30 animal advocates who sat in the audience were angered by the ruling.

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Update 3/25/09 – Jail for Man Who Dumped Starved Dog in Donation Bin

See Update – 11/12/08 – What’s Up with Sally, Starved Dog Found in Donation Bin?

Have to admit, I didn’t think I would see this happen but it did and it made my day! You all remember sweet little Sally, short for Salvation, the terrier mix that was found dumped in the metal clothes donation bin in Hyde Park, NY? Well, the actually found the guy who did it!!!

Yup, Gary Lee Rhodes, 28, of Poughkeepsie was the owner of Sally and has been arrested. Rhodes has been charged with one count each of torturing/not feeding an animal, abandonment of a disabled animal and neglect of an impounded animal.

All charges are misdemeanors in violation of state Agriculture and Markets Law.

The arrest was the result of a joint investigation between the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, Dutchess County SPCA Law Enforcement Unit, City of Poughkeepsie Police and the Dutchess County Field Intelligence Group. Sounds like everyone wanted to get this piece of trash!

Dutchess County SPCA Executive Director Joyce Garrity said there is “finally justice for Sally.”

Well, this is definitely a step in the right direction, now we just have to see how prosecution and sentencing goes. I was hoping to see felony charges to be honest and I know that was what some at the SPCA were hoping for as well. That is a disappointment. But I will still be crossing my fingers that there really will be justice for Sally!

And speaking of Sally, what’s she been up to lately and how’s she doing?

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With all the horror stories of the atrocities that man commits against ‘man’s best friend’, it does the heart good when you come across a story of man being just as good a friend to his dog as dogs usually are to us.

Michael Pigott, 52, of Pittsfield, MA, went out mushrooming with Miles, his five-and-a-half -year old, 110-pound English Bulldog about 7:30 Thursday evening.

When he hadn’t returned after several hours his son Ben Pigott made a call to police to report his father missing. State police dispatched a K-9 unit and air patrols. Shortly after 4 am the search was discontinued due to heavy rain and lack of visibility.

About 6:30 am a motorist called police after seeing a man flagging down traffic and of course it was Michael Pigott. The police picked him and Miles up and took them to Pigott’s car.

Seems last night Michale and Miles had gotten a couple of miles into their hike with still about a half hour of daylight left when Miles collapsed. Michael couldn’t lift Miles to carry him due to recent surgery on his arm and he didn’t have a cell phone on him to call for help, if it would have even worked.

“I could hear coyotes howling and had seen a couple bears earlier and opted to get a fire going and stay with the dog overnight,” he said.

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