Google Sues Fake Pup Perp, Is the FDA OCD?, Dr. Potato Head Wins It, and More!
Google sued a man who, it claims, used a variety of its services to ask people to pay upfront for dogs they never received. photo: United States District Court Northern District of California
Imaginary Puppies Prompt
Google’s First Consumer Protection Suit
Tech giant Google recently filed its first-ever consumer protection lawsuit, claiming a Cameroon man used its services to defraud would-be puppy purchasers. Nche Noel Ntse used winsome photos of purebred pups along with fake testimonials to lure U.S. buyers during the pandemic, when dog demand was at an all-time high. The only problem? The dogs didn’t exist.
Now Google’s suing the puppy perp for financial damages, citing harm to its reputation and its relationship with its users. The company estimates Ntse’s victims lost over $1M collectively, with one woman spending $25,000 in an attempt to purchase a non-existent Pomeranian puppy.
After years of online scams, you’d think we’d all know better, but apparently those adorable puppy pix can still melt brain cells along with hearts. Just another reminder to head to your local shelter first if you’re in the market for a new pal.
Source: nytimes.com
photo: Getty Images
Is the FDA OCD?
Dog Food Handling Tips for the Germophobe
Did you know the FDA publishes official guidelines on how to safely handle your dog’s food? We didn’t either, and apparently we’re not alone. A recent survey found less than 5% of dog owners had any idea these existed.
We’re all for cleanliness, but after reading the guidelines, we wonder if someone at the FDA isn’t a little OCD. Among the recs we may or may not have been following:
Wash and dry food bowls after each use.
Wash water bowls daily.
Wash hands with hot water and soap before handling pet food.
Clean scooping utensil with soap and hot water after every use.
Keep dry food in its original container or cut and save the UPC code, lot number, brand and manufacture, and ‘best by’ date for each bag in case of recall.
Pay no attention when your dog licks his butt before or after dining (okay, we made that one up).
For the complete list of what you’re doing wrong, visit: fda.gov
Source: sciencealert.com
Dr. Potato Head. photo : Nationwide
A Dog By Any Other Name:
Dr. Potato Head Wins It!
Dr. Potato Head, a Frenchie from Nashville, Tennessee, recently took top honors in the Wacky Pet Name contest, sponsored by Nationwide Insurance. The not quite one-year-old pup beat out nine finalists in the dog category through a hotly contested public vote.
“I knew I wanted it to be funny,” said his human, Dalton Hamilton, who also happens to be a doctor himself. “My girlfriend suggested Mr. Potato Head and I said ‘doctor’ because he has credentials, you know?”
Meanwhile in the cat category, “Pickles McButter Pants the Muffin Slayer” from Gardiner, Maine, snagged first place. Like you (or Pickles) even care.
Source: newschannel5.com
Paws of War helped to bring the Duke home. photo: SWNS
Got Your Six, Pup!
Chief Morale Officer Duke Heads Stateside
A homeless dog nosing around an Army base in Kosovo befriended a unit of U.S. soldiers stationed there, boosting morale and bonding with one sergeant in particular. Sergeant Kelsey named the stray pup Duke, and ultimately reached out to the U.S.-based nonprofit Paws of War to try to bring the dog stateside for a safe forever home.
Duke celebrating at home. photo: SWNS
But before Duke could be transported, he disappeared. Soldiers searched for him for days, finally finding him shot, bleeding badly, and dehydrated. Luckily, Paws of War was able to contact one of its overseas rescue partners, The Alamal Foundation, to provide an emergency vet team and foster care for Duke while he healed.
After six long months of recovery, Duke is now back on his feet and will be reunited with Sergeant Kelsey later this month, thanks to a fundraising campaign that will cover his flight to the U.S. and long-term medical care. Bay Woof gives its snappiest salute to all involved.
Source: goodnewsnetwork.org
SF AMC opened in the space formerly held by the SF SPCA Fillmore clinic.
Old Dog, New Tricks:
SF SPCA Sells Pacific Heights Hospital
The San Francisco SPCA recently announced its decision to sell its Pacific Heights hospital to a team of respected Bay Area vets. As of April 1, the hospital has been renamed San Francisco Animal Medical Center (SF AMC) and is now run by a group that includes Dr. Craig Maretzki, Dr. Margo Mehl, Dr. Dan Polidoro, Dr. Emily Wong, Dr. Winnie Ybarra, and the family-owned Curo Pet Care.
The sale will allow SF SPCA to devote more resources to its mission-based work and focus efforts where they’re most needed. Toward that end, they’ll be opening a new community veterinary clinic in the Excelsior neighborhood this summer to serve areas in the southeast part of the city that currently lack vet care.
No disruptions are expected in the transition to the new owners, and SF AMC will honor any appointments folks may have already made with SF SPCA. The general practice and team will continue as it has, with new specialty and 24/7 emergency services coming in the near future. To learn more, visit sfamc.com.
Source: sfspca.org