| Pit bulls battle stereotype
Even though the meaty dogs get a bad rap for being aggressive, people are still breeding, adopting and loving them. Like it or not, pit bulls are here to stay in Beloit and their owners couldn't be more proud. Behind every pit bull is its own unique tale.Zack and Pattie Dotson, employees for School District of Beloit, want to break the stereotype of the mean pit bull. They are the parents of a deaf and albino pit bull named Jake.
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Healthy Pets Act could save millions of dollars
These people come to us from animal shelters, rescue groups, law enforcement agencies and veterinarian groups - a wide array of backgrounds united by the common goal of reducing the number of pets needlessly killed each year. But with any high-profile legislation there is always a vocal opposition as well, and in this case, breeders from across the nation have gone on the offensive. They will stop at nothing to defeat this common-sense measure - even if it means calling local Assembly members and threatening them with relocating their AKC National Championship out of Long Beach. These threats were made despite the fact that this bill very specifically and expressly exempts show dogs and animals from out of state. I commend Long Beach-area Assemblymembers Laura Richardson and Betty Karnette, who would not be bullied or intimidated by these unfortunate and undeserved threats.
Sleep with Fluffy? Of course. Take her to the vet? Um, no.
VANCOUVER -- We like to pamper our pets, sleep with them, include them in family photographs and take them to the spa -- but apparently they're not getting many dates with the vet. According to a national survey of 1,150 cat and dog owners conducted by Ipsos-Reid/Pfizer, 35 per cent of dog owners and nearly one-fifth of cat owners include their pets in family photographs, while 82 per cent of cat owners and 68 per cent of dog owners allow their pets to sleep on the bed with them. When it comes to relationships, about 20 per cent of cat and dog owners say they wouldn't consider dating someone who doesn't love pets. .
Donors dig deep to help veteran and his dog
A Chesaning man raising money for an operation for his dog says he's overwhelmed that a news report reached around the world and generated close to $10,000 in about 10 days. Now, the dog has to lose 40 of his 140 pounds before a surgeon will touch him. In April, disabled veteran Richard R. "Ram" Reister, 55, put out fliers around town in which he offered to cut lawns for $10 to raise money for his "best friend." He received one response. But after a Saginaw News report appeared May 12, Reister fielded about 200 calls in two days. His phone is still ringing and donations are rolling in, although the pace has slowed He hasn't counted his pieces of mail but thinks 800 cards and letters is a close estimate. One of the largest donations is from the Humane Society of the United States in Washington, D.C., which is sending Reister $1,000, said spokeswoman Tracey McIntire.
Golden Retriever Foundation donates to canine cancer campaign
The Golden Retriever Foundation has pledged $500,000 over a five-year period to the Morris Animal Foundation's Canine Cancer Campaign. In April, the MAF officially kicked off the campaign, a large-scale, $30 million initiative to cure cancer in dogs within the equivalent of a dog's lifetime of 10 to 20 years (see JAVMA, May 1, 2007, page 1287). The GRF was the first breed foundation or club to pledge a major gift to the campaign. "Cancer is the leading cause of death among Goldens, as it is among many breeds," said David Kinghorn, president of GRF. "We hope that other breed groups will follow our lead and support this important endeavor." Established in 1997 by the Golden Retriever Club of America, the GRF supports research, rescue, and education and has awarded more than $1 million in grants.
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