From the U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA):

In the last 12 months, FDA has seen an increase in the number of complaints it received of dog illnesses associated with consumption of chicken jerky products imported from China. These complaints have been reported to FDA by dog owners and veterinarians.

There are reports that at least 70 dogs have been sickened by such treats, with some dying. Further:

FDA is advising consumers who choose to feed their dogs chicken jerky products to watch their dogs closely for any or all of the following signs that may occur within hours to days of feeding the products: decreased appetite; decreased activity; vomiting; diarrhea, sometimes with blood; increased water consumption and/or increased urination. If the dog shows any of these signs, stop feeding the chicken jerky product.

Or how ’bout not feeding your dogs these chicken jerky products in the first place? Oy.

From section: News by Sean Curnyn
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In an ad released by the animal rights organization “People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals” (aka PETA) a dog with a turkey’s body (or a turkey with a dog’s head) is pictured beside the question: “Kids: If you wouldn’t eat your dog, why eat a turkey? GO VEGAN.” PETA plans to post the ad on billboards near public schools in cities around the country, according to ABC News.

No, PETA, I would not eat my dog for Thanksgiving. And neither, I hope and trust, would my dog eat me for Thanksgiving, or any other holiday observance. But my dog would assuredly and happily eat a turkey, or part of one. And I plan on recognizing my dog’s inherent good sense and good taste by doing the same thing myself.

From section: News by Sean Curnyn
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It’s one of those feel-good stories of the day—I suppose. In Camaguey, Cuba, reports the Associated Press, Yeti the farm dog has not only fed her own litter of pups but has been “adopted” by fourteen piglets who now run to her to get sustenance in addition to what they are getting from their natural mothers.

Apparently this just happened spontaneously and the dog has gone along with it, as have the farm owners who are now reaping whatever meager rewards they may get from the publicity surrounding the phenomenon. [Read more →]

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The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s office has released surveillance video apparently taken during the robbery of a smoke shop in Altadena, California. The 21 second clip (below) shows two masked intruders, one carrying a bag and the other a rifle, running into the smoke shop and loudly demanding “Give me your money.” While the bag is on the counter a Chihuahua runs out barking madly, making one robber back up quickly to the exit in obvious fright, pulling the one with the rifle in front of him as if for protection. The rifle is momentarily pointed at the unfazed pooch. The bag is grabbed again—presumably with some loot in it—and the robbers escape, but the flustered criminals are pursued valiantly down the street by the clearly apoplectic Chihuahua. [Read more →]

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Well, so goes the story from UPI, although it doesn’t really sell me on the full 150 feet part. Of-course, anything is possible. [Read more →]

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In the Albany Township area of Pennsylvania, a deputy sheriff named Kyle Pagerly and his trained police dog, a three year-old German Shepherd named Jynx, were part of a task force of law enforcement officers searching for a fugitive named Matthew Connor. Connor had donned camouflage and taken up position in the woods, in what has been described as a sniper’s nest, bearing a semiautomatic rifle. Jynx detected him and gave the alert to his handler. A shootout ensued, in which both the deputy sheriff and the fugitive suffered fatal gunshot wounds. It is reported that after Deputy Sheriff Pagerly was shot, his dog Jynx attempted to pull him to safety by the leg of his pants. [Read more →]

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At a prison in Monroe, Washington, inmates are participating in a program wherein they train dogs who will become service animals. [Read more →]

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Tax deadline day can be stressful. It’s April 18th this year, so there’s a few more days. Billie advocates getting on top of the paper work early.

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In Duncan, South Carolina, a high drama of life and death played out last Sunday evening. A woman named Chanda Davis was in her backyard, preparing to do some grilling, accompanied by her 2-year old daughter and 12 year-old son. According to her report, two Pit Bull dogs suddenly appeared, approaching her daughter from behind. She told WYFF: “How I got to her so fast is beyond me. I picked her up with one arm and just threw her on top of my car.” Then the Pit Bulls turned on her. [Read more →]

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