Canine Monkeypox Advisory, Skyler Hits the Beach, Baseball Goes to the Dogs, and More!

An Italian greyhound in France caught Monkeypox from his human, raising the possibility that other animals could get infected, too. photo: Getty Images

Monkeypox in Dogs: CDC Issues New Guidelines After Report of Human-to-Canine Transmission

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has updated its monkeypox guidelines for pet owners after a suspected case of human-to-dog transmission was found in Paris. Under the new guidelines, people with monkeypox should avoid contact with all animals, including pets, domestic animals, and wildlife to prevent spreading the virus. 

Per the CDC, if a person with monkeypox did NOT have close contact with a pet after symptom onset, friends or family members in a separate home should be asked to care for the pet until the infected person fully recovers. Close contact includes petting, cuddling, hugging, kissing, licking, sharing sleeping areas, and sharing food. 

Pets who DID have close contact with a symptomatic person should be kept at home and away from other people and animals until 21 days after the most recent contact. If possible, infected people should not take care of exposed pets themselves, but should ask another household member to care for the animal until the person is fully recovered. 

Do NOT wipe or bathe an exposed pet with any chemical disinfectants, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or other products such as hand sanitizer, cleaning wipes, or other industrial or surface cleaners. Also, do NOT surrender, euthanize, or abandon pets just because of an exposure or potential exposure to monkeypox. 

Monkeypox typically spreads through direct contact with infectious rashes, scabs, or bodily fluids, but it may also be transmitted from respiratory secretions during physical contact such as cuddling, which most of us do with our dogs, or by contact with towels or bed linens. The potential case of human-to-dog transmission involved a 4-year-old Italian Greyhound who belonged to two men in a non-exclusive, cohabiting relationship. The couple reported that they let their dog sleep in the bed with them, but they did not allow the dog to have contact with other pets or people after the onset of their own symptoms.

Please check the CDC website for updates as scientists continue to learn more about the monkeypox virus.

In the meantime, keep a close eye on your health, as well as your dog’s, and be careful out there.

Source: washingtonpost.com

Skyler is the new World Surf Dog Champion. photo: @skylerthesurfingdog

Skyler Hits the Beach! Meet the 2022 World Dog Surfing Champion

Skyler, a Queensland Heeler from Santa Cruz, was crowned the new World Dog Surfing Champion, snagging top honors at last month’s contest at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica.

Skyler and her person, pro surfer Homer Henard, also placed first in the Human/Dog Tandem event. Other winners included Faith, a 10-year-old Pit rescue, who took first prize in the Large/XL Dog category, and Carson, a Terrier mix rescue who won in the Small Dog group.

The annual canine surfing contest, which also offers pet adoptions and a yappy hour, is more than just a fun day at the beach. A portion of the proceeds helps support nonprofits that benefit dogs, surfing, and the environment.

For a complete list of winners (along with some pretty cool surf dog merch), visit surfdogchampionships.com

Source: huffpost.com

Tucker is living his best life as the official clubhouse dog for the Seattle Mariners. photo Seattle Mariners

Baseball Goes to the Dogs: Mariners Up the Ante with Clubhouse Pup Tucker

Last spring, the San Francisco Giants added an English Sheepdog named Willie to its roster to serve as an emotional support dog at the team’s minor league training camp.

Not to be outdone, the Seattle Mariners have now adopted a clubhouse dog named Tucker, a 4-year-old rescue Lab mix who’ll be a regular at major league home games this fall and might even join the team for a road trip or two.

Tucker came to the majors by way of OkanDogs, a rescue center in Cashmere, Washington, where Mariners manager Scott Servais and his wife Jill have volunteered. Word has it he’ll enjoy an unlimited supply of slightly used baseballs in his new position – heaven on a plate for any Lab mix.

So will the Giants’ minor league Willie be moving up to the majors any time soon? Stay tuned, sports fans.

Sources: mlb.com, thefarmersdog.com

“Luna” is the top dog name according to the humans at Bark.co. photo: Brie Passano

The Name Game: Everyone’s Looney for Luna

A new study by food-and-toy purveyor Bark found that Luna is currently the most popular dog name in 35 states, including California, followed by Bella, Max, Cooper, and Daisy.

Of the remaining 15 states, only two – Hawaii and Mississippi – had most popular dog names that weren’t among the Top 10 nationally. The Aloha State went with Kona (ranked 55th nationwide), while a majority of Mississippians chose Sadie for their pups (ranked 11th).

Bark’s number crunchers also broke down some popular names by breed, leading to the totally worth it revelation that the top name for Shih Tzus is Gizmo.

The company based its finding on 10 years of Bark subscriber data that included 3.2 million dogs. Could be that Luna’s just the most popular name among humans who are willing to pony up for a monthly subscription to BarkBox.

Sources: ktla.com, dailypaws.com

Lucky Find: Senior Dog Trapped in Cave for 60 Days Makes It Out Alive

Here’s a new one from the happy endings department. Two months after she went missing, a 13-year-old Poodle/Hound mix named Abby was found alive - at the bottom of a pitch-dark Missouri cave, 500’ down a steep and narrow passageway.

A few weeks shy of her 14th birthday, Abby was able to survive almost 60 days in the cave, but she was so weak she couldn’t walk after finally being discovered by a group of spelunkers on a family outing. “She was just lying there curled up in a ball,” caver Gerry Keene recalled. “She lifted her head and looked at us, but she didn’t respond to verbal commands. She looked like she was pretty close to being done.”

With the help of another caver, Rick Haley, who was trained in cave rescues, they were able to get Abby onto a blanket and ferry her out the narrow passageway in a duffel bag, an hour-and-a-half ordeal.  Her rescuers believe she must have fallen into the cave through a sinkhole or some other hidden entrance, as there were paw prints everywhere indicating she had initially tried to get out before hunkering down to survive on her own body fat.

Now reunited with her family, Abby has started to regain her weight as well as her voice, which she apparently lost barking for help. She’s also wagging her tail again.

“It’s amazing how she’s springing back,” says her relieved human Jeff Bohnert. “She’s acting like herself again.”

Source: apnews.com