In the last ten years, contrary to much-publicized estimates of the number of dog bites in the United States, the nation has seen stunning decreases in the actual number of reported dog bites. Dog safety education programs, better understanding of canine behavior, increased awareness of the importance of spaying and neutering animals, and the creation and enforcement of leash laws have contributed to this decline.

Continuing research by the National Canine Research Council has revealed that, contrary to much-publicized estimates of the number of dog bites in the United States, the actual numbers of reported dog bites across the country have been falling over the past three decades. In the last ten years, in particular, America has seen stunning decreases in reported dog bites, Dog safety education programs, better understanding of canine behavior, increased awareness of the importance of spaying and neutering animals, and the creation and enforcement of leash laws have contributed to this decline.

Metropolitan areas across the nation, from Philadelphia to Minneapolis to Los Angeles, have experienced drastic decreases in the number of reported dog bites. Chicago has seen a substantial drop in dog bites, from almost 12,000 reported cases in 1978 to about 2,000 cases in 2007. New York City, which recorded over 30,000 dog bites per year in the 1970’s, reported fewer than 6,000 per year for each of the past seven years.

Even postal workers, who have high rates of exposure to unfamiliar dogs, have enjoyed a new level of safety around dogs. Nationally, about 3,200 mail carriers reported being bitten by dogs in 2006, a significant reduction from 6,708 reports in 1973.

Much of this is the result of increased recognition that humane treatment can effectively reduce canine aggression, of increased awareness of the importance of spaying and neutering animals, of the implementation of dog safety awareness programs, and of the enactment and enforcement of leash laws.

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Norman Seemann’s pal of 10 years, Whiskey, a boxer mix dog, is dead because this man, 23 yr old Michael Jones of Oakland Park, FL was annoyed with its barking. It interfered with his studying so on Jan 19th, while the dog was just sitting there, not barking or anything, Jones took advantage of the “opportunity”, took aim with a .22 pellet rifle and shot the dog in the neck.

Whiskey, severely wounded and in pain, ran around then made his way back into the house through a dog door, where he bled to death on Seeman’s bed.

“There wasn’t anything [Whiskey] did wrong to anybody,” said Seemann, 31, a self-employed handyman who also owns a pit bull mix named Pink. “For him to be shot and bleed to death like that was just a cruel way for him to die. I loved this dog and he loved me.”

Though he initially denied the accusations, Jones turned his rifles over to police for examination and a necropsy showed pellet fragments.

When Jones finally admitted to shooting the dog, he told Sheriff’s Detective Scott Erdelyi he felt the dog got “what it deserved.” He also said that there’d been an “ongoing feud” about barking and the dogs continually sticking their heads through the fence and that the barking interfered with his studying.

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Damn all irresponsible and stupid dog owners!! You’ve done it again! A breed specific legislation ban has been passed in Livingston County, MI.

Pitbull breeds, which tend to be the highest population in many shelters county wide will no longer be adopted out in Livingston County, they will be killed!

Because of two incidents where two people were mauled in Iosco Township last September, the director of the Livingston County Animal Control has been working for stricter laws for “bully breed” dogs.

“If I did nothing, I couldn’t look at myself in the morning,” Anne Burns, director of the Livingston County Animal Control, said.

Burns proposed a policy which discontinues adoptions of Staffordshire Terriers, American Bulldogs, Pit Bull Terriers, and American Pitt Bull Terriers from the shelter.

“I’m not banning pit bulls by any means,” Burns said. “I’m just not going to adopt them out to the community that could be a potential for extreme harm.”

Although residents packed the the meeting last nite and owners with bully breed dogs lined up outside to show how social and friendly the dogs could be, the County Board of Commissioners passed the new legislation.

Not only will pitbulls not have a chance of adoption in Livingston County, if they’re found wandering loose and taken to the pound, dogs without and ID would be killed in four days. Dogs with ID would have seven days and their owners would face fines and possibly even criminal prosecution for having a dog at large.

Under the new rule, any stray, unlicensed dog considered dangerous or a bully breed that is picked up or surrendered to animal control faces possible euthanization. If it does not have a “collar, license, MDA tattoo or other evidence of ownership,” the dog will be held for the state-mandated period of four days, “or seven days, with evidence of ownership,” the resolution states. If not claimed by the owner, who must show proof of ownership and pay the required fees, the dog will then be euthanized.

Breeds affected by the new rule include pit bull terriers, American pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, American bulldogs, mixes, or any aggressive dogs. The resolution defines an aggressive dog as one which has an “observed or historical behavior that makes the animal a danger to the health and safety of people or other animal(s).” (MLive)

BSL in Livingston County, MI - Pitbull Adoption Ban The new ban will go into effect immediately. Burns says at this time there are no ‘bully breed’ dogs in the shelter and although she has not counted up the animals that come in by breed, she estimates that 5 percent or fewer of the dogs that come in qualify as a “bully breed” or “aggressive dog” as defined in the policy.

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Well, it’s that time of year again! Warm weather is prime tick time and disease carrying ticks are going to be plentiful and hungry.  There are a number of diseases you need to be on the look out for.  Prime examples are the following:

Lyme Disease
Transmitted by the deer tick and western black legged tick, the most common visible signs of Lyme disease infection are recurrent arthritis and lameness that lasts for three to four days, sometimes accompanied by loss of appetite and depression. Dog owners should be aware of these additional signs: reluctance to move or a stiff, painful gait; joints that are swollen and warm to the touch; pain in the legs or throughout the body; fever; fatigue; and swollen lymph nodes. Lyme disease signs may come and go, vary in intensity from mild to severe, and mimic numerous other conditions. Renal failure may occur in severe cases. In many dogs, the signs are not apparent or may not appear for several months after infection. Although Lyme disease has been found throughout the United States, infections are most frequently diagnosed in the northeastern, mid-Atlantic and north-central states, as well as California.

Canine Ehrlichiosis (E. canis)
Canine ehrlichiosis is commonly transmitted by the brown dog tick and can be found throughout the United States, but more frequently in the southwestern and Gulf Coast regions. Canine ehrlichiosis has three phases of symptoms - acute, subclinical and chronic. Dogs experiencing the acute phase may demonstrate symptoms that include fever, discharge from eyes and nose, lack of appetite, depression, weight loss and swollen lymph glands. The subclinical phase can last for years, and dogs may never show any obvious symptoms. The chronic phase can be either mild or severe. When mild, the disease appears to mimic a vague illness and dogs show signs of obvious weight loss. When severe, signs include eye disease, spontaneous nosebleeds, retinal bleeding and swelling of limbs. Severe cases that go undiagnosed and untreated can end in death.

Canine Anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum,
formerly Ehrlichia equi)
Sometimes referred to as dog fever, or dog tick fever, canine anaplasmosis is transmitted by the deer tick - the same tick that transmits Lyme disease. Canine anaplasmosis symptoms are often arthritis-like with multiple painful joints. Some canine anaplasmosis-infected dogs run a high fever, accompanied by lethargy, inappetence, vomiting and diarrhea. Neurological signs, while infrequent, may result in seizures and neck pain. Although minimal geographic data is currently available about the disease, its common host, the deer tick, can be found throughout the United States, primarily in the northeastern, mid-Atlantic and north-central states, as well as California.

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When most people bring home their cute new puppies, the furthest thing from their minds is the stressful time of teething. Just as with babies teething, puppies will want to chew on everything they can get their mouth on. This can lead to total destruction if you’re not prepared and don’t know how to handle it. There are tried and true ways to help prevent this from happening and to help you and your pup get through the teething period with ease.

Many people bring home their new pup and leave them out to romp around the house when they’re not home. Inevitably, this leads to chewing on shoes, books, socks, the couch, and any number of other things. The best way to prevent destructive chewing is to crate train your puppy.

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Dogs have been making great companions for centuries now. They are loved by all ages. Everyone has their own preference as to what dog best suits their lifestyle. When choosing a dog, this is an important aspect to consider, especially for seniors. Having a four legged friend can be comforting and can bring much joy to an older person. Studies have proven that having a dog around, improves the overall wellbeing of seniors. They can have someone to share their love with. Even nursing homes have grabbed onto the idea of having animals visiting or even living in the same venue.

What are the best picks for seniors though? The two most important areas to consider are the size and temperament of the canine. Smaller dogs tend to be less maintenance and easier to handle than larger ones. Smaller dogs are also beneficial for seniors because they make great lap dogs. Below are some top choices of breeds for seniors.

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Unwanted barking is one of the most common behavior problems in dogs. It is normal for dogs to vocalize and bark from time to time but many times this behavior escalates much to the frustration of many dog owners. There are many causes of unwanted barking. First you must determine why your dog is barking before you can begin a program of retraining. You may need help from your animal behaviorist or veterinarian to do this.

One cause of unwanted barking is attention seeking barking. You may have inadvertently reinforced this behavior if as a pup your dog barked a lot and you gave him attention to try and stop the behavior. As an older dog, he may be exhibiting this behavior because he is left alone for long periods of time, does not have appropriate stimulation or exercise, or is an active dog that needs to have a job to be happy.

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1. Blaming your farts on me…not funny.
2. Yelling at me for barking… I’M A FRIGGIN’ DOG YOU IDIOT!!
3. How you naively believe that the stupid cat isn’t all over everything while you’re gone. (Have you noticed that your toothbrush tastes a little like cat?)
4. Taking me for a walk, then not letting me check stuff out. (Exactly whose walk is this anyway?)
5. Any trick that involves balancing food on my nose…stop it. Read more… »