Adopt a Pet -- New U.S. Postage Stamp

A new USPS 44cent postage stamp set will go on sale tomorrow, Apr 30th.  The 10-stamp series, featuring 5  dogs and 5 cats, is designed to promote pet adoption from shelters.

I hope that the new stamps do inspire people to visit the local shelters if they are looking for a dog or cat as a pet.  8-)

Should A Dog Attack Be Cause To "Put The Dog Down?"

Almost daily you can read about a dog somewhere in the U.S. which had launched an unprovoked attack on a human -- sometimes seriously injuring its victim.  And, occasionally killing a child or an adult.

Many of the attacks can be traced back to neglect or carelessness on the part of the owner -- an unsupervised door, no leash on the dog or a poorly maintained fence/cage.

Besides the person being attacked, there is another loser in the scenario -- the dog.

Owners have a responsibility to teach their dog proper behavior.  However, there are many in our society who want their dog to be aggressive -- it boosts the owner's ego, and status within a variety of sub-cultures!  This opens the floodgate to attacks on innocent victims walking their neighborhood sidewalks or visiting local public parks and recreational areas.

On December 6th, 2009, Terrence Roker was walking with his 4-year-old daughter, Taite, in the Bronx, New York.  Roker tossed his daughter onto the hood of a parked car in an attempt to protect her from an attacking pit bull.  However, the dog was able to grab her foot -- it dragged Taite off the car, slamming her head and body onto the street.  The father then jumped-down himself and began trying to defend his child.

Fortunately, a Parks Department truck passed by and two workers used sticks and mace to rescue the attack victims.  Taite required stitches on both feet and has since had frequent nightmares. The father had one of his legs ripped-open.

The Rokers have since moved to Rockland County to avoid the possibility of coming upon the scene of the attack.

The dog, Snoop, would typically be put down within a few days of such an attack.  However, the 22 year old owner has gotten an attorney to fight against that action -- so far, they have prevented euthanization for 4 months.

The Roker's attorney has stated that he will file a $1 million lawsuit on behalf of his clients.

I wish there was a way to punish the owner for her irresponsibility -- give her some jail time!  What are your feelings?

 NYDailyNews.com is source of the information.

You Have Got to be Kidding Me!!

In May 2009, an Australian restaurant refused to allow a blind patron to enter with his working dog because a worker thought he overheard that the dog was 'Gay' -- Hello, what was that?  Now that is dumb!

The Thai Spice restaurant in Adelaide, Australia, has now been ordered to give a written apology and $1400 compensation to Ian Jolly, 57, for its misconduct.  "The staff genuinely believed that Nudge was an ordinary pet dog which had been desexed to become a gay dog," the owners said in a statement to South Australia's Equal Opportunity Tribunal. 

That is one of the most unusual reasons I've ever read to prevent a disabled person access to a restaurant.

Thanks to The Huffington Post for this news item.

Top Dog Breeds in 2009

According to the American Kennel Club, the top 10 dog breeds registered in 2009 are as follows:

Labrador Retriever German Shepherd Yorkshire Terrier Golden Retriever Beagle German Shepherd Dogs Boxer Bulldog Dachshund Poodle

I like most of the dogs on the above list.  However, the majority are large-breed dogs which I feel should not be kept in apartment or small-yard situations. 

Some are more prone to health issues -- hip dysplasia appears to have a higher incidence in German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and back problems are rather common in the dachshund.

And, some dogs require more maintenance -- the poodle needs its hair trimmed regularly, especially during summer, since it does not shed like most dogs.

My personal Best Dog, the Cocker Spaniel, was at #23 on the AKC list for 2009. My grandfather had a miniature cocker, Butch, and he was a very nice dog.  My cocker, Inky, was an off-spring of Butch.

So, what is your best dog?  And, why?

Man Sentenced for Allowing His Dogs to Starve to Death

A Minnesota man has been sentenced to 30 days in jail for the starvation death of his two Labrador retrievers last April.  The judge also sentenced the felon to perform 100 hours of community service and to pay court costs. 

A veterinarian who had examined the bodies of the dogs reported that they had died of starvation, dehydration and exposure. Reportedly, the dogs had been found in an outdoor kennel and had died only a few days before the police had found them -- and, one dog had partially eaten the other dog.

Personally, I don't think the criminal is being punished enough!  However, if Jacob Joshua McAlister fails to abide by the stipulations of his 2yr probation he could be sentenced to a year in jail -- at least that gets a little closer to the time he should be serving!