An emaciated female Boxer was found tied to the middle of railroad tracks near Hawkins Avenue and 4th Street in North Braddock, PA, and if not for the luck of an engineer in a passing train seeing her and notifying the police, this story would have a much different ending.

Choo-Choo, as this sweet girl has been named, is recuperating at the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society and already stealing hearts although she does seem to be leary around men.

“We have her hanging out in some of the offices and getting a lot of loving. She’s definitely glad to be inside,” Lee Nesler, executive director of the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society said.

When found, Choo-Choo was starved and there was evidence that she had been eating dirt for want of anything else to eat.

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VPI is always coming out with a list of something when it comes to pets. Based on the info they have on all the pets covered by their insurance, they can compile a lot of stories and statistics and it’s usually pretty interesting stuff.

The latest is a list of the most unusual dog and cat names. A while back they had the most popular pet names and I’ve seen some of their stories about some of the funny predictaments that pets get into but their list of unusual names is pretty amusing. The took a top 50 then narrowed it down to a top ten for both cats and dogs.

Check them out and let me know what you think? Does your pet have an unusual moniker that could compete?

Of course along with some of the unusual names come the story behind the name. Some of those are as funny as the names themselves.

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Yvette Tapia, who was videotaped by a neighbor in July as she kicked, dragged, yanked and tossed her newly adopted little dog, Buddy, had been charged with one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty. Now she got a plea bargain and a slap on the wrist. Unbelievable! Caught on tape abusing a little puppy and she gets probation!

Tapia was sentenced to one year of supervised probation, will have to do 100 hours of community service, has to pay $640 in restitution to a rescue group that has been caring for Buddy and cannot own an animal while she is on probation. Oh, and the community service is to be at the Valencia County Animal Shelter.

Now that’s just great! This woman who has shown a propensity for abusing animals will work around them. Who is supposed to be being punished, her or the poor animals at the shelter? Whose to say that she won’t take out her anger and frustration on some innocent and defenseless animal there? I mean, would you let someone who was convicted of child abuse work in a daycare center?

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A dear friend of mine passed this along to me and when I read it I knew I had to share it. I don’t knew who wrote it but you will definitely feel the connection… that is if you are a true dog/pet lover like myself and so many others who are friends and readers here.

I have three dogs, one is 130+ lbs, he’s a Komondor, loves to play, will pick up the brush when/if I drop it and give it back to me. He has a ghost we call Boo.. he likes to carry Boo around. Great with kids, protective over his family.

A female Weimaraner that is 60+, very pretty, shiny coat, blue in color. Can be protective, but is generally outgoing. Can put a treat on her nose then usually catch it. Sometimes the big dog grabs it before she gets it though.

A 5lb Yorkie, he’s 10 years old, and cranky. Pees in the house if he’s upset, and will occasionally leave other “gifts” for you. Things that upset him are, not sleeping in, rain, other dogs, other cats, not giving him enough attention, anything new in the house, when I’m upset, when I leave and don’t take him, and a few other things. But he does dance for a treat and catch mice and will do agility courses.

My dogs are all neutered/spayed and current on their vaccinations. They get fed holistic food, it seems expensive but is really only $1/day for all them. That’s less than a bottle of soda.

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