Courageous Canines on the Move, Whose Dog Is This?, Good Chews/Bad Chews, and More!

Here To Help: Courageous Canines on the Move

Courageous canines deployed once again to grim scenes near and far last month. On the natural disaster front, dog teams from around the globe began landing in Turkey and Syria just hours after a massive earthquake struck that region. Lending a hand to the Turkish volunteer rescue group GEA were search dogs from El Salvador, Germany, Mexico, Qatar, South Korea, Switzerland, the United States, and even war-torn Ukraine. The California-based National Disaster Search Dog Foundation trained 7 of the 12 dogs deployed from the U.S.

Meanwhile, in the latest human-made disaster, a team of Golden Retrievers from Lutheran Church Charities were on the job at Michigan State University, providing comfort to students traumatized by the recent school shooting at that campus. “It’s sad that so much of this is happening,” said dog handler Nancy Borders. “I don’t understand it, and I don’t know what it’ll take to stop it. But we’re willing to be there whenever needed.” Many of the dogs at Michigan State had already served in the aftermath of other mass shootings.

Bay Woof is grateful these dog teams stand at the ready, especially for unavoidable natural disasters like earthquakes. But given the seemingly endless string of mass shootings…come on, people, can’t we do better by each other?

Sources: aljazeera.com, cbsnews.com

Hades (posing here with his family) had been living among a pack of coyotes in the Nevada desert for at least six months before he was rescued by concerned residents. photo: Animal Foundation

Whose Dog Is This? Canine Custody Fight May Not Be Over

A white Bull Terrier mix nicknamed Ghost made national headlines recently when he was captured after living with a pack of coyotes in the Nevada desert since at least last July. But shortly after his spotted mug showed up on news feeds everywhere, the Cabadas family of Las Vegas stepped forward, claiming that Ghost was, in fact, their beloved dog Hades who had gone missing.

Unfortunately, the pair of women who trapped the dog refused to give him up, prompting a tense visit from the family that ended with the police being called. While the officers determined that no crime had been committed, they couldn’t decide who the dog belonged to and ultimately turned Ghost/Hades over to a local shelter, the Animal Foundation, to resolve the ownership dispute.

After examining photos and videos, as well as documentation showing that the family had indeed searched for Hades, the Animal Foundation sided with the Cabadas family. “There was plenty of evidence this was their dog,” said a shelter spokesperson, noting that the dog’s bond with the family was also obvious. “As soon as he saw his family, he ran right over to them….He just kept jumping into everyone’s arms.”

That emotional reunion notwithstanding, the women who originally rescued Hades from coyote life say they’ll continue to fight for custody. Thankfully, unlike humans, most dogs are too smart to go to law school.

Source: usatoday.com

The experts decided it may not be such a bad idea to share food with your dog. photo: Pexels

Good Chews, Bad Chews: Are You Going to Finish That?

Who hasn’t given in to those adorable puppy-dog eyes begging for a taste of something tempting from your plate? Now a Finnish study of over 7,000 dogs finds that puppies who ate table scraps, leftovers, and raw foods as young dogs experienced fewer gastrointestinal problems later in life than did pups raised solely on dry kibble.

Puppies who consumed a non-processed diet including red meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, and berries were 22% less likely to develop stomach problems down the road. Puppies who ate human food leftovers were 23% less likely to do so.

While that’s great news for our favorite chowhound – or, as we like to call him, the pre-rinse cycle – the findings weren’t all good. Alas, the study also linked those ever-popular rawhide chews to canine tummy troubles.

As yummy as this research sounds, remember to consult your own veterinarian before making any significant changes to your pup’s diet. No harm in waiting - we’re pretty sure you’ll have some new leftovers next week.

Source: smithsonianmag.com

Delaware typically chooses a new state dog each year. Senate Bill 37 would make rescue dogs, regardless of their breed, the official state canine in perpetuity. photo: WBOC

Rescue Me! Delaware Looks to Shelters for Official State Dog

Lawmakers in Delaware are pondering a law change that would make the rescue dog, regardless of breed, the official state canine in perpetuity.

Until recently, Delaware had a one-year term limit for State Dog in an effort to give different breeds a shot at those coveted bragging rights. But in 2019, the rescue dog - all rescues, any breed - was named the official state canine for the first time, deposing the noble Golden Retriever. That change seems to have stuck, and the current bill would simply make the title permanent for all rescues.

Delaware, also known as The First State, earned its nickname as the first of the original 13 colonies to ratify the U.S. Constitution. This latest move to honor shelter pups could make it first in our hearts, too.

Source: wboc.com/

Cupcake on a happy day. photo: Alysha Pereira

Cupcake Trauma: Mountain Lion Snatches Pug at California Dog Park

Finally, a word of caution for pet lovers in the San Luis Obispo area. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife reports that a mountain lion recently made off with a Pug named Cupcake who was being walked on a leash at a dog exercise area near San Luis Obispo (you may want to stop reading here).

The dog’s owner said she was yanked off her feet and dropped the leash as the big cat disappeared into the underbrush with Cupcake in its mouth (no no no no no!). The dog’s collar was later recovered, providing a DNA sample that authorities hope can help identify the lion.

In related news, three other mountain lion sightings were reported last fall in the Laguna Lake area, including one that prompted nearby trails to be temporarily closed. If you’re a local resident or have plans for a trip to these areas, please keep a watchful eye on your pups and your surroundings.

Not all Cupcakes are meant to be eaten, after all. But you don’t want to have to explain that to a hungry carnivore.

Source: mercurynews.com