Which Foods are Toxic to Cats and Dogs?

As people have become more health conscious, so have they been paying more attention to the health needs of the furry members of the family. To this end many animal lovers have become aware that the majority of commercial pet foods contain unhealthy ingredients and have shifted instead to sharing the refrigerator and cupboards. While natural, fresh food is far healthier than byproducts and preservatives, keep in mind that the foods listed below are known to be toxic to cats and dogs because of the different ways animals metabolize them.

Chocolate: Although many people are aware that chocolate is toxic to cats and dogs, it's something that is commonly left on a table or counter top. Dogs may tear into a box of candy when the opportunity presents itself. In large quantities, chocolate causes coma and death. In lesser quantities, it will cause gastrointestinal problems including diarrhea. The degree of toxicity depends on the weight of the animal and the amount and type of chocolate consumed. Semi-sweet and bakers chocolate, for instance, contain more theobromine than regular chocolate, making them even more toxic to animals. Dogs love chocolate, so don't let taste be a test of what is healthy. Anything containing cocoa or chocolate should be avoided.

Grapes & Raisins: Though it isn't clear to scientists just what makes grapes and raisins toxic to both cats and dogs, even a relatively small amount can damage the kidneys. For this reason it's unwise to feed these to your pet, even if small amounts are tolerated. Also avoid giving bits of cookie or other foods that contain raisins.

Garlic, Onions, and Powders: Whether fresh, cooked or powdered, garlic and/or onions can be found among the ingredients of many prepared meals, including baby food. Garlic and onions can be toxic to cats and dogs because sulfoxides and disulfides found in them can damage red blood cells and lead to anemia. Onions are more problematic than garlic, but both should be avoided. If preparing a meal for yourself that will contain garlic or onions, consider preparing a side portion without these ingredients for your animals.

Macadamia Nuts: Macadamia nuts are soft, light-colored nuts often used in cookie recipes. They are considered toxic to dogs because they tend to cause gastrointestinal upsets, lethargy, vomiting and muscle tremors or stiffness.

Mushrooms: Various species of mushrooms are toxic to dogs, and can cause shock and death. Effects will differ depending on the type ingested, but avoid feeding any type. Pluck "backyard mushrooms" that might sprout on the lawn, as these are known to be toxic to canines.

Tomatoes and tomato plants: Tomatoes of all kinds are toxic to cats, as are parts of the tomato plant. Ingesting as little as a cherry tomato can cause severe gastrointestinal upset.

Chicken Bones: Though not toxic, chicken bones can get stuck in the roof of the mouth, throat and intestines and should be avoided, according to many veterinarians. Splinters of chicken bones can also become lodged internally.

Other foods to avoid include raw potatoes, especially those containing green spots; turkey skin; nutmeg; and anything with caffeine, including tea. Alcohol and hops should also be avoided as alcohol poisoning can lead to coma and death. Do not allow your pet to rummage through the trash, as moldy food contains toxins that can cause serious illness.

Since many of the signs of toxicity are similar, call your veterinarian immediately if your pet appears distressed, lethargic or in pain. Bloody stools or vomiting are also possible signs of toxic poisoning. Gastrointestinal problems can lead to gas build-up until the stomach becomes distended or bloated and hard to the touch. This is a painful condition that can cause the stomach to burst if not treated. The good news is that, in most cases, treatment for toxic poisoning can be successful if administered in time.

Feeding cats and dogs a healthy, balanced diet of natural foods as described by many veterinarians today is a great improvement over processed commercial pet food. By following a few simple rules, you can ensure that pets or animal companions can potentially lead longer, healthier and happier lives.

source: wisegeek.com

For more information, see books like, Dr. Pitcairn's New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats.

Computer Learns Dogspeak: Programs Can Classify Dog Barks Better Than Humans, Study Shows

Computer programs may be the most accurate tool for studying acoustic communications amongst animals, according to Csaba Molnár from Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary and his research team. Their research shows that a new piece of software is able to classify dog barks according to different situations and even identify barks from individual dogs, a task humans find challenging.

The aim of Molnár and colleagues’ experiments was to test a computer algorithm’s ability to identify and differentiate the acoustic features of dog barks, and classify them according to different contexts and individual dogs. The software analyzed more than 6000 barks from 14 Hungarian sheepdogs (Mudi breed) in six different situations: ‘stranger’, ‘fight’, ‘walk’, ‘alone’, ‘ball’ and ‘play’.

The barks were recorded with a tape recorder before being transferred to the computer, where they were digitalized and individual bark sounds were coded, classified and evaluated.
In the first experiment looking at classification of barks into different situations, the software correctly classified the barks in 43 percent of cases. The best recognition rates were achieved for ‘fight’ and ‘stranger’ contexts, and the poorest rate was achieved when categorizing ‘play’ barks. These findings suggest that the different motivational states of dogs in aggressive, friendly or submissive contexts may result in acoustically different barks.

The software could reliably discriminate among individual dogs while humans can not, which suggests that there are individual differences in barks of dogs even though humans are not able to recognise them.

The authors conclude by highlighting the value of their new methodology: “The use of advanced machine learning algorithms to classify and analyze animal sounds opens new perspectives for the understanding of animal communication…

source:Journal reference: Molnar C et al (2008). Classification of dog barks: a machine learning approach. Animal Cognition (DOI 10.1007/s10071-007-0129-9)

310 dogs get anti-rabies shots in Caloocan

Caloocan City Mayor Enrico “Recom” Echiverri yesterday reported that some 310 dogs benefitted from the free anti-rabies vaccination program conducted over the weekend by Rotary Club Sampaguita Grace Park and City Veterinary Office.

Echiverri said the same project will also be held in Caloocan North and is expected to benefit some 1,000 dogs. Read full story on this site..

Dogs prove they don’t deserve to be served as food on table

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Some 90 percent of the male population here eat dogmeat as a delicacy but yesterday, the canines proved to their masters that they are priceless and do not deserve to be served as food on the table.
In a fun show, trained pet dogs impressed the crowd at the Benguet Day celebration with their stunts, talents and "glamor" at a fashion show. Read full story on this site..

3,000 QC dogs receive free anti-rabies shots

By SEL A. BAYSA

More than 3,000 dogs from several barangays in District 1 in Quezon City received free anti-rabies vaccination in the ongoing campaign initiated by Councilor Elizabeth A. Delarmente.
Now on its second year, the campaign seeks to provide dogs within the populated district anti-rabies shot to protect individuals, notably children, from the harmful effect of dog bites.

The Anti-Rabbies Vaccination campaign is being done in coordination with the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and the Quezon City Health Department.
Delarmente or Tita Beth to her constituents, said more than 6,000 dogs were treated to anti-rabbies shots within District 1 last year.

She said, "there is a big probability that the number of dogs wihin the district would have multiplied this year, thus, we decided to set aside additional vaccines for the purpose."

Delarmente, assistant majority floorleader, said that the group-made up of doctors from the BAI and the QC Health office, are conducting vaccination right at the house of pet owners.

Also, she reminded dog owners of an existing ordinance banning dogs from wandering in streets.
Authored by her, the measure directs barangay and community leaders to arrest and lock-up these stray animals in holding areas within the barangay.

Of the 37 barangays in District 1, the Anti-Rabbies team has, so far, visited barangays Platok, Del Monte, Bungad and Salvacion, among others.

American Cocker Spaniel

The American Cocker Spaniel is a breed of dog that originated in the United Kingdom and was brought to Canada and the United States in the late 1800s. American Cocker Spaniels were given their own AKC Stud Book in the early 1900s.

By 1946, the English Cocker Spaniel was distinct enough in type from the "American" variety, that the American Kennel Club established it as a breed separate from the English Cocker Spaniel.

It was given its own Stud Book and that left the "American" type to be known as the Cocker Spaniel in the United States. They are in the sporting breed group of dogs and are the smallest of their group. American Cocker Spaniels were used to flush out birds and prey from the brush so their masters could shoot them.

Color
For North Americans conformation shows Cockers are divided by the breed standard into three varieties: black, ASCOB (Any Solid Color Other than Black) and parti-colors. Black Variety includes: solid blacks and black & tan. ASCOB includes solid colors ranging from silver, to light cream (buff) to dark red and brown and brown with tan points. Parti-colors have large areas of white with another color(s) and must be have at least 10% coloration (not more than 90% white).

Parti-colors include: black & white; black & white with tan points (referred to as tri-colors or "tris"), brown & white, brown & white with tan points (referred to as a "brown tri"), and red & white. Roans are shown in the Parti-color variety and can be black (referred to as "blue roans"), red ("orange roan"), or brown ("liver or chocolate roan"); with or without tan points. In a roan coat, individual colored hairs are mingled in with the white.

Sable coloring is seen in solids or Parti-colors, but no longer can be shown in conformation by the American Spaniel Club, although it can be shown in Canada and in Europe. Merle is a highly controversial pattern, as it is debated whether it is a result of breeding to another breed. Cockers cannot be registered as merles with the AKC. It is not recognized by the American Spaniel Club and cannot be shown in conformation.

Temperament
Their temperament is typically joyful and trusting. The ideal Cocker temperament is merry, outgoing, and eager to please everyone. They can be good with children and usually sociable and gentle with other pets. They tend to be soft dogs who do not do well with rough or harsh training. The popularity of the American Cocker Spaniel led to a considerable amount of irresponsible breeding in an attempt to keep up with the demand.

Health

American Cocker spaniels have health problems including separation anxiety, and the common dog illnesses. Ear infections are also common.

What is Flea Bite Dermatitis? todays articles

Flea bite dermatitis is a skin condition in animals allergic to flea saliva. Flea saliva contains more than fifteen different substances that could provoke an allergic reaction in animals. Flea bite dermatitis can be caused by only one flea, since the bite of even this one flea is able create a severe allergic response and prolonged scratching in animals, read full story on this site..

What is the Best Treatment for Mange? todays articles..

At one time or another, most dog owners will deal with mange. However, all mange is not created equal. There are three distinct types, two of which require veterinary treatment. The disease is caused by mites, and a different species causes each type of mange, read full story on this site..

Search continues into hotel blaze

Fire and rescue services continue to search the remains of a hotel badly damaged by fire.
Link to full story Latest Dog News from K9 Magazine and Content aggregated by Dog Breeder Site of the Phils.

Viagra helps heart condition dog

A sex enhancement drug saves a pet dog from Northamptonshire with a heart condition from an early grave.

Link to full story Latest Dog News from K9 Magazine and Content aggregated by Dog Breeder Site of the Phils.

Sussex Spaniel, today featured dog breed..

The Sussex Spaniel is a breed of dog developed in England. It played a part in the foundations of the Field Spaniel and is very similar in appearance to the Clumber Spaniel. It is used as a Gundog and in Dog Shows.

Appearance
The breed is long-bodied, muscular and heavily built. Its head is broader in the skull than the English Cocker Spaniel and its wrinkled brow gives it a kind, gentle, and sometimes slightly sad expression. The tail is usually docked except in countries where docking is not permitted. Its bones are quite large for a short-legged dog.

Coat and colour
The only acceptable colour is golden liver with hazel eyes. The coat is thick, either straight or slightly wavy and does not curl. The nose and eye-rims must be of the same colour as the coat.

Size
The Sussex Spaniel is short and should be no taller than 13 to 15 inches at the withers. The acceptable weight range is between 35 and 45 pounds.

History
In 1795, Mr. Fuller of Rosehill park, Hastings in East Sussex, England began breeding dogs for a special purpose-Gun dogs to work in districts where the terrain was rough and the undergrowth very dense- which meant that a spaniel was needed which could give tongue or to alert the hunter on his quarry.

This was a trait not desirable in any other spaniel. So Mr. Fuller decided to cross various dogs like the now extinct liver and white norfolk, the Field Spaniel and possibly some early springer spaniels.

The Sussex Spaniel was one of the first breeds admitted into the stud book by the American Kennel Club in 1884. As the name implies, the breed originated in Sussex, England in the 18th century where it was used as a hunting dog. Because of its short legs and narrow body the breed could easily maneuver through the undergrowth, which made it the ideal hunting companion.

The breed lost what little popularity it had in the 1940's. In 1947, only 10 sussex spaniels were registered in the English Kennel Club.
Today this breed is more common in the United States than even in England.

Dog News, Firefighters probe cause of blaze

An investigation involving sniffer dogs is continuing into the cause of a fire which partly destroyed a Cornish furniture store.

Link to full story Latest Dog News from K9 Magazine and Content aggregated by Dog Breeder Site of the Philippines...

Dog News...Third charge over police shooting

A third man is charged following the shooting of a police dog handler at a pub in Lancashire.

Link to full story Latest Dog News from K9 Magazine and Content aggregated by Dog Breeder Site of the Philippines...

Dog News..Man admits new dog fight charge

A man is the first in the UK to be prosecuted under new dog fighting laws, the RSPCA says.

Link to full story Latest Dog News from K9 Magazine and Content aggregated by Dog Breeder Site of the Philippines...

Dog News.. Woman fails in dogs claims damages..

A woman loses a £160,000 damages claim after she was knocked down by a pet Labrador.

Link to full story Latest Dog News from K9 Magazine and Content aggregated by Dog Breeder Site of the Philippines...

Dog News, Rescuers comb NY crane crash site

Rescuers with sniffer dogs and heat-sensing cameras are searching rubble in New York for survivors and victims of a crane collapse.
Four construction workers were killed when the giant crane toppled in Manhattan's affluent East Side.
At least 17 were injured in what Mayor Michael Bloomberg called one of the city's worst construction accidents.
It destroyed a four-storey townhouse and demolished parts of five other buildings.
On Sunday construction crews positioned a second crane to help remove pieces of the toppled crane, and begin removing piles of bricks and debris from the street.
Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said rubble was being painstakingly removed, sometimes by hand, to prevent further collapses.
The crane, which stood 19 storeys high, was being used in the construction of a new high-rise apartment building.

Dog News, Snakes Vault Past Toxic Newts In Evolutionary Arms Race, todays featured articles.

Snakes don't eat fugu, the seafood delicacy prepared from blowfish meat and famed for its poisonous potential. However, should a common garter snake wander into a sushi restaurant, it could fearlessly order a fugu dinner. The snakes have evolved resistance to the blowfish poison, tetrodotoxin (TTX), by preying on rough-skinned newts, which also secrete the toxin. Some newts are so poisonous that they harbor enough TTX to kill a roomful of adult humans. Why would a small animal produce such an excessive amount of poison? The answer lies in the evolutionary back-and-forth between newts and garter snakes. In a new study Charles Hanifin, a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford's Hopkins Marine Station, and his co-authors say that snakes in some areas may have prevailed in the evolutionary arms race between predator and prey.

Most toxic amphibians in the world

Some populations of newts produce enough TTX to kill thousands of mice or 10 to 20 humans. Ounce for ounce, Hanifin said, they are even more toxic than South America's famed poison dart frogs.
"Some populations of these newts may very well represent the most toxic amphibians on the planet," Hanifin said. The poisonous newts have even killed off humans. The Journal of the American Medical Association reports the case of a 29-year-old man who died after swallowing an 8-inch-long newt on a dare. These incidents aside, the newts rarely harm humans. It is safe to handle the newts with bare hands, since the toxin is not absorbed through the skin.

Escaping the arms race

At first glance, the newt and garter snake populations seem to be evenly matched. The most toxic newts are found in the same areas as highly resistant snakes and areas without toxic newts house only non-resistant snakes. Data on the garter snakes came from Hanifin's collaborators, Edmund Brodie Jr. of Utah State University and Edmund Brodie III of the University of Virginia, who measured snake resistance to TTX by injecting the animals with the toxin and measuring how fast they subsequently slithered. To get a closer look at the snake-newt interaction, Hanifin and colleagues tested 383 newts from 28 locations where the Brodies had previously examined garter snake TTX resistance. Hanifin found that snakes were pulling ahead of the newts in several places. In one third of the locations, the most toxic newt could still be eaten by the least resistant snake. This means that all snakes in the population do just as well regardless of their TTX resistance level and there is no evolutionary pressure for the snakes to develop stronger resistance.

Collecting and testing newts

The newts' toxicity means they can afford to be lax about evading rubber-booted researchers and Hanifin caught most of the animals by hand. He said he did not envy the snake collectors, who chased the rapid-slithering animals through grass and underbrush. Future directions of Hanifin's research include learning more about human disease by exploring the genetics of resistant garter snakes. TTX blocks electrical signaling in nerve cells by stopping up a sodium channel and TTX-resistant snakes have a modified channel that the toxin does not recognize. In humans, defects in similar sodium channels can lead to serious illness, including some types of epilepsy and insight into sodium channel biology could help treat these diseases.

Journal reference: Hanifin CT, Brodie ED Jr, Brodie ED III (2008) Phenotypic mismatches reveal escape from arms-race coevolution. PLoS Biol 6(3): e60. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio. 0060060

Chow Chow, today featured dog breed..

Chow Chow, or Chow, is a breed of dog originating from China, where it is referred to as Songshi Quan (Pinyin: sōngshī quǎn), which literally means "puffy-lion dog." It is believed that the Chow Chow is one of the native dogs used as the model for the Foo dog, the traditional stone guardians found in front of Buddhist temples and palaces.

Appearance

The Chow is a sturdily built dog that is square in profile with broad skull and small, triangular ears that are rounded at the tip. The breed has a very dense coat that is either smooth or rough. The fur is particularly thick around the neck, giving the distinctive ruff or mane. The coat may be one of five colors including red, black, blue, cinnamon, and cream. Individuals with patchy or multicolored coats are considered to be outside the breed standard. Chows are distinguished by their unusual blue-black/purple tongue and very straight hind legs, resulting in a rather stilted gait. The blue-black/purple tongue gene appears to be dominant, as almost all mixed breed dogs who come from a Chow retain the tongue color. This is not to say, however, that every mixed breed dog with spots of purple on the tongue are descended from chows as purple spots on the tongue can be found on a multitude of pure breed dogs.

Today the Chow Chow is most commonly kept as a companion dog. Their keen sense of proprietorship over their homes paired with a sometimes disconcertingly serious approach to strangers can be off putting to those unfamiliar with the breed. However, displays of timidity and aggression are uncharacteristic of well-bred and well socialized specimens. The proper Chow owner will be just as willful and stubborn as the Chow they keep, thus weaker-willed individuals would be best served to evaluate their commitment in controlling an animal who is happy to take over any household.

History

The Chow is a unique breed of dog thought to be one of the oldest recognizable breeds. Research indicates it is one of the first primitive breeds to evolve from the wolf. Recent DNA analysis confirms that this is one of the oldest breeds of dog. From what records survive, some historians believe that the Chow was the dog described as accompanying the Mongolian armies as they invaded south into China as well as west into Europe and southwest into the Middle East during 12th Century, although a Chinese bas-relief from 150 BC shows a hunting dog similar in appearance to the Chow. Later Chow Chows were bred as a general-purpose working dog for herding, hunting, pulling and guarding.

Did You Know That.....

• Japanese law requires that every champion AKITA be declared a National Art treasure that comes under the government's protection...
• When Sir Isaac Newton's dog knocked over a candle and set fire to the records of years of experiments, the great scientist was a model of masterly restraint: saying: Oh, Diamond, Diamond, thou little knowest mischief thou hast done, ' before setting to work to make good the loss.
• Eleanor E. Ritchey, heiress to the Quaker State Refining Corporation, passed on her $4.5 million fortune to her 150 dogs when she died in Florida in 1968. The will was contested, and in 1973 the dogs received $9 million. By the time the estate was finally settled, its value had jumped to $14 million but only 73 of the dogs were still alive. When the last dog died in 1984, the remainder of the estate went to the Auburn University Research Foundation for research into animal diseases.
• The Flea tapeworm infects 70% of dogs. As the name implies, this worm goes through a developement stage in the flea. Infection occurs when your dog grooms itself and swallow an infected flea.
• Jake the bird dog saved the life of a lady rancher Lou Dean Williams of Vernal Utah, in 1973. Miles from home, Williams was pinned under an all-terrain vehicle which when it flipped over. Her loyal Jake at first refused to leave, but finally dashed for help growling and pulling at the pants of ranch hand Juan Morales. He followed Jake and rescued the injured rancher. ' You should have seen the hug i put on that dog..'
• Lord Byron (1788-1824), honored the memory of his beloved Newfoundland, Boatswain; who was born in the province of Canada in 1803 - by erecting a monument to him at his family home, newstead Abbey, in Nottinghamishire, where the dog died in front of the poet in 1808. Byron's inscription contains one of the most moving tributes ever address to a departed dog:

"Near this spot are deposited the Remains of One who possessed Beauty without Vanity, Strenght without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity and all the virtue of man without his Vices.'

This Praise, which would be unmeaning flattery if inscribed over Human ashes, is just tribute to the memory of Boatswain...

• In the 1990's the life expectancy of a dog in the developed countries is 11 or 12 years. Improved veterinary care and better feeding practices have steadily increased this figure which at the turn of the century was seven years old.
• To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs..

by: bruno parungao

Therapy dog, todays featured articles...

Therapy Dog refers to a dog trained to provide affection and comfort to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, mental institutions, schools, and stressful situations such as disaster areas. The concept of a therapy dog is often attributed to Elaine Smith, an American who worked as a registered nurse for a time in England.
Smith noticed how well patients responded to visits by a certain chaplain and his canine companion, a golden retriever.
Upon returning to the United States in 1976, Smith started a program for training dogs to visit institutions.
Over the years health care professionals have noticed the therapeutic effect of animal companionship, such as relieving stress, lowering blood pressure and raising spirits, and the demand for therapy dogs continues to grow.
In recent years, therapy dogs have been enlisted to help children overcome speech and emotional disorders.
The concept has widened to include other species, specifically therapy cats, therapy rabbits, and therapy birds..

Genetic Cancer Link Between Humans And Dogs Discovered

Cancer researchers at the University of Minnesota and North Carolina State University have found that humans and dogs share more than friendship and companionship -- they also share the same genetic basis for certain types of cancer. Furthermore, the researchers say that because of the way the genomes have evolved, getting cancer may be inevitable for some humans and dogs. Their findings are published in the journal Chromosome Research, in a special edition on comparative cytogenetics and genomics research. Genomes are divided into chromosomes, which act as nature's biological filing cabinets with genes located in specific places.
"Many forms of human cancer are associated with specific alterations to the number or structure of chromosomes and the genes they contain," Breen said. "We have developed reagents to show that the same applies to dog cancers, and that the specific genome reorganization which occurs in comparable human and canine cancers shares a common basis."
More specifically, Breen and Modiano found that the genetic changes that occur in dogs diagnosed with certain cancers of the blood and bone marrow, including chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), Burkitt's lymphoma (BL), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), are virtually identical to genetic abnormalities in humans diagnosed with the same cancers. According to Breen and Modiano, dogs are good research subjects because they develop the disease spontaneously, and many of the modern breeds have developed over the past few hundred years using restricted gene pools. This selective breeding has preserved the genetics of a breed. It has also made some breeds more susceptible to certain cancers. These factors, coupled with the high degree of similarity between the genomes of dogs and humans, provided the researchers with an opportunity to compare the genomes and study the evolutionary genetic changes associated with cancer.

Hybrid Human-Animal Embryo Research Approved In The UK

Two research groups in the United Kingdom have been given permission to use hybrid human-animal embryos in research which aims to lead to the development of new therapies for debilitating human conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and stroke. Newcastle University stem cell scientist Dr. Lyle Armstrong, who is based at the North East England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI) at the International Centre for Life in Newcastle, has received a licence from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to carry out research using human-animal cytoplasmic embryos. Another group -- the Stem Cell Biology Laboratory Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, at King's College London -- has also received a research license by HFEA to carry out research using hybrid embryos.

Dr. Armstrong says: “The award of the HFEA licence is great news. We initially applied for approval to use cow eggs as a means to understand the way they can convert skin cells into embryonic stem cells. Finding better ways to make human embryonic stem cells is the long term objective of our work and understanding reprogramming is central to this."
"Cow eggs seem to be every bit as good at doing this job as human eggs so it makes sense to use them since they are much more readily available but it is important to stress that we will only use them as a scientific tool and we need not worry about cells derived from them ever being used to treat human diseases," he said.
"Now that we have the licence we can start work as soon as possible. We have already done a lot of the work by transferring animal cells into cow eggs so we hope to make rapid progress.”

Baguio Dog, Dagul, Won US Animal Award, todays featured articles..

The dog that saved his master's life at the height of typhoon Chedeng just won the Lewyt Award for Heroic Compassionate Animals of the North Shore Animal League of America. The winner for the month of September, is Dagul, the well-publicized dog who warned his master, Wilmar Castillo, of a mudslide that was about to devour their home at Dominican Hill. If not for the timely warning of Dagul, Wilmar could have been trapped inside their house (which was totally buried by the landslide).
It is recalled that on June, amidst the strong rains and winds of typhoon Chedeng, Wilmar was singing in their karaoke, when Dagul kept on barking near their door. Wilmar ignored Dagul, and instead proceeded to his room for a late nap. Dagul did not stop, instead, he followed Wilmar to his room, barking incessantly. Thinking that somebody might be outside, Wilmar opened their main door and proceeded outside to see what was going on. Just when he was a foot outside, an avalanche of mud toppled their house, and Dagul was trapped inside. Luckily, Dagul was well and alive when he was rescued the day after.

Dagul and his family's home after the landslide. Dagul's price money will be used to help rebuild it. Dagul's heroic story was read by animal lovers in America who in turn got in touch with Linis Gobyerno's Executive Director, Freddie J. Farres, to work on a nomination for the much coveted monthly award in the US. Thus, on the first week of June, the nomination was immediately forwarded to a first level judge, the Editor of the Animal People Newspaper, Merritt Clifton, who in turn endorsed the same to the upper level judges. On June 27, Friday, Clifton informed Linis Gobyerno, that Dagul was chosen as an awardee for the month of September.

Dagul's owner, or shall we say, family will receive a monetary award in the amount of US$500.00. The formal awarding, according to Clifton, will be held in Hong Kong, during the Asia for Animals Convention, in which North Shore Animal League of America is one of the sponsors. The Castillo family are so happy and thankful that Dagul was chosen. Willy, the head of the family, said that the money will be used to rebuild their house (even if it would mean a small shack). To this date, the family lives in a garage, courtesy of the family of former Mayor Andres Bugnosen. The Castillo's related that the DSWD has only promised them the amount of Php2,500.00 as assistance.
It is seldom that the Northshore Animal Welfare League America gives the award to an animal outside of America. However, Clifton said to Farres that Dagul was chosen because the judges believe that the hero dog's exemplary deed can be utilized in the fight against the dog meat trade in the country, more particularly Baguio and the Cordilleras. Linis Gobyerno took on the fight against dog meat trading since last year. Farres said that it is an ambitious project, but with the help of every animal lover worldwide, the illegal practice can be considerably reduced if not stopped.
There's one thing that makes Dagul's story unique. The 6-year old Dagul, as related by Wilmar and his father Willy, was a former stray. He is an askal (asong kalye) or mongrel. Dogs, even askals, according to Dr. Anatalia Castrence, Dean of BSU College of Veterinary Medicine, are 50 times more sensitive than humans, which explains how Dagul was able to know the danger that would befall his master. His story and heroic deed thus proves that askals should not be regarded as useless, dumb dogs, much more end up in the food chain. Besides, they just might save your life.

Neapolitan Mastiff, todays featured dog breed..

The Neapolitan Mastiff is a large, ancient dog breed that can be traced back to about 168 BC. This massive breed is often used as a guard and defender of family and property due to the protective instincts and their fearsome appearance. The breed is reported to have been used for fighting against Lions in the Colosseo and other ancient Roman arenas.

Appearance
Neapolitan Mastiffs are characterized by the loose skin over their entire bodies, with wrinkle and folds on the head; and a large dewlap. Some breeders produce Mastino with vast amounts of skin and wrinkle, large bone size and this is known as W.H.A.M meaning Wrinkle Head And Mass, while others detest this type preferring a more lean athletic appearance. There are 4 coat colors; Black, Grey(Blue), Mahogany and Tawny(blonde) , each color may also come with reverse brindling appearing as brown silver or beige. They can sometimes also have white on the chest and feet, males also on the sheath of the penis. White anywhere else on the body is a fault. Ears can be cropped or uncropped though since January 1st 2007 it is now banned to crop ears or dock tails in Italy as it is in the rest of Europe.
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC) standards, male Neapolitan Mastiffs should measure 26–31 inches (66–79 cm) at the withers, weighing approximately 150 pounds (70 kg)(200 in really large males), whilst females should be 24–29 inches (61–74 cm) and weigh around 110 pounds (50 kg). Body length should be 10-15% more than that of the height.

The Neapolitan Mastiff is fearless and extremely protective of its home and family. They prefer to be with their family and to remain in and around the home always. They are not a dog to go and wander off. As a guardian breed it is very wary of strangers but usually on seeing that their master is relaxed they soon accept them. The Neapolitan Mastiff rarely barks unless under provocation, renowned for sneaking upon intruders as opposed to alerting them of their presence first. As a breed the Neapolitan Mastiff can be extremely stubborn, but learns things very quickly. Once it understands what its master wants, it obeys.
The Neapolitan Mastiff is not a breed for everyone and certainly not a dog for beginners. Children should be taught to respect these dogs. Neapolitan Mastiffs should be well socialized at an early age either at ring craft or puppy clubs organized by your veterinarian to avoid over-protectiveness. They will be very protective even with extensive socialization. Additional protection training is unnecessary because they are natural guard dogs and always have been. Obedience training is very important in this breed. The Mastino is generally very tolerant of pain due to the breed's early fighting background and the fact the skin is loose on the body. They also are renowned for drooling especially after drinking or if they get excited.

History
The Neapolitan Mastiff is a descendant of the Molossus. Not many decades ago, "molossian of Epirus" was still a term to be found in some Greek glossaries on dog breeds, I think more so than others as a term of historical reference. Epirus was one of the states of Ancient Greece, between Corfu and Pindus, neighboring Albania and Molossia or Molosside, whose inhabitants in the fourth century BC provided them with the reigning dynasty. It was described by Oppiano as a dog of large size, snub-nosed, truculent with its frowning brows,v not speedy but impetuous, fighter of great courage and incredible strength, to be employed against bulls and wild-boar, undaunted even when confronted with a lion. Quite clearly Oppiano here is precisely referring to the Molossian. Then Oppiano alludes to the corrugations of the skin in the area of the forehead - another characteristic peculiar to the Molossian.
The Romans, who in 168 BC defeated King Perseus of Macedonia - and who also made Albania one of their provinces in 148 BC - imported dogs of great power from those very areas into Rome, which were instantly called Pugnaces Britanniae as they were so ready to do battle against any wild beast. It was frequently used in the Roman arenas pitted against lions, bears, and gladiators for entertainment. Strabone wrote in about 30BC, that it required four molossians to confront a lion.
As dogs of war, they fought alongside the Roman legions, and in this way they were spread throughout Europe. Eventually the descendants of the Roman Molossian splintered into several different Mastiff breeds known across Europe

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, todays featured dog breed..

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small breed of dog usually considered one of the toy dog breeds. It is a small spaniel with substantial silky coat of moderate length, often with a mild wave, and long ears. Four colours are recognized. The breed originated in the 20th century, though has its roots in the older King Charles Spaniel of the Restoration.

Appearance:
Build: Small, balanced
Weight: 13-18 pounds (5-8 kg.)
Height: 12-13 inches (30-33 cm.)
Coat: Silky, sometimes with a slight waviness
Color: Blenheim, tricolor, ruby, or black & tan
Head: Proportionate to body
Teeth: Scissors bite
Eyes: Large, round, but not prominent and set well apart; color a warm, very dark brown; giving a lustrous, limpid look, with dark rims and cushioning under eyes contributing to the soft expression.
Ears: Set high, but not close, on top of the head, with leather long with plenty of feathering
Tail: Well set on, carried happily but never much above the level of the back
Limbs: Parallel
Feet: Compact with well-cushioned pads
Life span: Median 9-14 years

The Cavalier (along with the Pug) is perhaps the largest toy breed: though clearly a lap dog, fully-grown adults tend to fill one rather amply. It is nonetheless quite small for a spaniel, with fully-grown Cavaliers roughly comparable in size to adolescents of more conventional spaniel breeds. Breed standards call for a height between 29 and 33 cm (12–13 inches) with a proportionate weight between 4.5 and 8.5 kg (10 and 18 lb). Unlike most other spaniels, the Cavalier has a full-length tail well-feathered with long hair, which is typically carried aloft when walking.

Coat
The breed naturally grows a substantial silky coat of moderate length. Breed standards call for it to be free from curl, with a slight wave permissible. In adulthood, Cavaliers grow lengthy feathering on their ears, chest, legs, feet and tail; breed standards demand this be kept long, with the feathering on the feet cited as a particularly important feature of the breed.
A cavalier's coat may be beautiful, but, because it can be long, it is very important to keep it well groomed. This can be done by yourself, or you can hire a professional groomer. If the coat is not properly cared for, the dog will shed quite a bit. Daily brushing is recommended to ensure that the coat does not get matted and that foreign objects, such as grass and sticks, do not become entangled in the feathering. It also should not be bathed more than twice a week otherwise it may cause skin irritation.

The breed has four recognized colours:

• Blenheim (rich chestnut on pearly white background)


• Tricolour (black and white with tan markings on cheeks, inside ears, resembling eyebrows, inside legs, and on underside of tail)


• Black and Tan (black with tan markings)


• Ruby (rich reddish-brown all over)

Parti-colours are the colours that include white: Blenheim and Tricolour. Whole-colours have no white: Black and Tan, and Ruby. The Blenheim is the most common colour.

Temperament
The breed is highly affectionate, and some have called the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel "the ultimate lap dog" or the "love sponge" of dogs. Most dogs of the breed are playful, extremely patient and eager to please. As such, dogs of the breed are usually good with children and other dogs. A well-socialized Cavalier will not be shy about socializing with much larger dogs. (However, on occasion, this tendency can be dangerous, as many cavaliers will presume all other dogs to be equally friendly, and may attempt to greet and play with aggressive dogs.) Cavaliers will adapt quickly to almost any environment, family and location. Their ability to bond with larger and smaller dogs make them ideal in houses with more than one breed of dog. Cavaliers are great with children to seniors making them a very versatile dog. The breed is most comfortable in areas with a temperature of 30-85 degrees.

Ace the Wonder Dog, todays featured dog..

Ace the Wonder Dog was a German Shepherd that acted in several films and film serials from 1938 to 1946. His first appearance was in the 1938 Lew Landers film Blind Alibi. He is considered by many critics an attempt by RKO Pictures to cash in on the success of Warner Bros.' canine sensation, Rin Tin Tin.
After making several program pictures for RKO, Ace moved to Republic Pictures for several more projects, before moving to Columbia Pictures for a role as The Phantom's sidekick "Devil" in The Phantom film serial in 1943.
His declining popularity meant that most of his appearances after RKO's initial burst of "Ace" publicity were for Monogram and the Poverty Row studio Producers Releasing Corporation. In 1945, he appeared as "Rusty" in The Adventures of Rusty, the first of Columbia's eight "Rusty" films. He did not reprise the role in any of the subsequent installments.
Ace is just one of a number of "Wonder Dogs" in the history of fictional dogs. Others include Rin Tin Tin (billed during his 1930 radio show as "Rin Tin Tin, the Wonder Dog"), Pal the Wonder Dog, Rex the Wonder Dog from silent films, and another unrelated Rex the Wonder Dog from DC Comics.

Famous and fictional Chihuahuas, worlds smallest dog.

Boo Boo, a 4-inch (10.16 cm) tall long-haired female chihuahua who weighs only 1 1/2 lbs. (675 g) was named the World's Smallest Living Dog by the Guinness Book of World Records in May 2007. Records are determined by height from toe to shoulder. Boo Boo, who weighed only one ounce at birth, succeeded another chihuahua named Ducky who stood 4.9 inches. (Ducky in turn had succeeded Danka Kordak of Slovakia, yet another Chihuahua who measured 5.4 inches tall.)

Afghan Hound, todays featured dog breed...

The Afghan Hound is a very old sighthound dog breed. Distinguished by its thick, fine, silky coat and its tail with a ring curl at the end, the breed acquired its unique features in the cold mountains of Afghanistan, where it was originally used to hunt wolves, foxes, and gazelles. Its local name is Tāzī (Persian: تازی). Other alternate names for this breed are Balkh Hound, Baluchi Hound, Barutzy Hound and Kabul Hound. The Afghan Hound is tall, standing 24 to 29 inches (63-74 cm) in height and weighing 45 to 60 pounds (20-30 kg). The coat may be any colour, but white markings, particularly on the head, are discouraged; many individuals have a black facial mask. Some are almost white, but particolour hounds (white with islands of red or black) are not acceptable and may indicate impure breeding. The long, fine-textured coat requires considerable care and grooming. The long topknot and the shorter-haired saddle on the back in the mature dog are distinctive features of the Afghan Hound coat. The high hipbones and unique small ring on the end of the tail are also characteristics of the breed. The temperament of the typical Afghan Hound can be aloof and dignified, but happy and clownish when playing. The breed has a reputation among dog trainers of having a relatively low "obedience intelligence" as defined by author Stanley Coren. The Afghan Hound has many cat-like tendencies and is not slavish in its obedience as are some other breeds. The Afghan hound has a leaning towards independence. Owners should not be surprised if their Afghan hounds sometimes choose to ignore commands. Although seldom used today for hunting in Europe and America where they are popular, Afghan hounds are frequent participants in lure coursing events and are also popular as show dogs.