Hotter Planet Is Bad News for Frenchies, Bay Area Shelters Step Up for Maui, Meet This Year’s Surf Dog Champs, and More!
Frenchies are gonna have it rough. photo: Getty Images
Climate Change Blues: Hotter Planet Means Bad News for Frenchies
French Bulldogs and other flat-faced breeds already have a tough time breathing. Their unusually short skulls make the soft palate at the back of their mouths too long for their heads, which blocks airflow to the windpipe and lungs, as do their narrow nostrils and large tongues. One University of Cambridge study found that 90 percent of Frenchies tested had some level of airway restriction, and another U.K. survey found they have the shortest life expectancy of all breeds, at just 4.5 years.
Now this summer’s record heat has made it even harder for these short-snouted pups to catch a breath. Just like humans with respiratory problems, brachycephalic dogs are far more likely to suffer heat-related illnesses. According to one veterinarian, unless they live in a very cool climate, these dogs can’t exercise comfortably because “(a) they can’t breathe, and (b) they can’t heat-regulate either.” In fact, brachycephalic dogs start panting at a much lower temperature than other dogs – about 20 degrees Fahrenheit lower – making them much more prone to heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
“Imagine breathing with somebody holding your nose…and your throat’s really swollen,” says bioethicist Jessica Pierce. “Imagine breathing like that all the time.”
Staying cool is on all of our agendas. photo: AdobeStock
With global temperatures on the rise, is it time to stop breeding dogs who struggle so much in the heat? “It’s just low-hanging fruit if you want to reduce dog suffering,” says Pierce. “I think it’s just a lack of empathy and a lack of awareness.”
Sadly, this news comes as Frenchies have finally ousted longtime favorites Labs as the most popular breed in the U.S., according to the American Kennel Club. But given the breed’s many well-documented health troubles (including back, hip, ear, and eye disorders), it may be time for breeders and buyers to do some long overdue soul-searching.
Frenchie folks, we know you love them. But please educate yourselves about the serious problems they suffer as the result of human-driven breeding. Then ask: how much more pain should we knowingly inflict on these little guys in the name of “cuteness?”
Source: vox.com
A Maui rescue is heading to their forever home with a brief stopover at Marin Humane. photo: Marin Humane
We’re All Ohana: Bay Area Shelters Step Up for Maui
Following August’s devastating fires on Maui, Bay Area animal shelters opened their doors to help clear the island’s shelters, freeing up space for animals displaced by the blazes. Those stepping up for the cause included Marin Humane, Berkeley Humane, East Bay SPCA, Alameda Animal Shelter, Tri-City Animal Shelter, and the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF).
Maui pup awaits their unloading at a Bay Area shelter. photo: Polina Ulyanova
"What we did was help clear the shelters in Maui, so that animals displaced by the fires can have a place to go while their owners look for them and hopefully they can be reunited," said Susan Lee Vick, CEO of the Animal Rescue Foundation. Forty dogs and cats who were already in Maui shelters before the wildfires began were individually crated and shipped to the Bay Area in an effort coordinated by Berkeley Humane.
"It kind of brought a tear to your eye seeing them come off the plane and knowing they're safe here," said Cole Kuiper, content marketing manager for ARF.
Or as Hawaiians would say, we’re all ohana when it comes to caring for animals.
Sources: nbcbayarea.com, marinij.com, abc7news.com
Cherie, a French Bulldog, competes during the World Dog Surfing Championships in Pacifica. She went on to win Best Solo Surf the Medium dog category. photo: Josh Edelson, Getty Images
Hanging 10 With Our Best Friends: Meet This Year’s World Dog Surfing Champions
Thousands of humans turned out last month to watch the World Dog Surfing Championships in Pacifica, California. Pups competed in seven categories, with solo surfers sorted by size, and separate categories for the best human/dog and best dog/dog tandem rides.
Like most surfing competitions, judges evaluated contestants on style and length of ride. For pups who preferred to keep their paws dry, the day also included contests for best beach fashion and best costume, as well as a fetching competition.
And the winners? Carson, a diminutive Terrier mix and former street dog, took home the top dog crown as Overall Champ. Other first place winners included Derby in the Extra Large group, Faith in the Large group, Cherie in the Medium group, and Carson (yes, that Carson) who tied with Delilah for first place in the Small Dog group.
In the Human/Dog Tandem category, the winners were pro surfer Homer Henard with his faithful pup Skyler, competing in her last contest before retiring. Not to be outdone, Rose, Charlie, and Carlson took home the gold in the Dog/Dog Tandem group, despite (or because of?) loading their board with three dogs, not the traditional two.
Besides being a general blast, the contest helped raise funds for local animal welfare groups, including the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA and Rocket Dog Rescue, as well as several environmental and surfing nonprofits. That’s what we call fun in the sun with a purpose.
Sources: huffpost.com, surfdogchampionships.com, carsonsurfdog.com
Some of the beagle rescues went with their families last month to a gathering for adoptees in Wake Forest, N.C. photo: Alli Trent
A Year of Love Later:
Rescued Beagles Celebrate New Lives
Remember last year’s horrific news about the 4,000 Beagles rescued from the Envigo breeding and research facility in Virginia? Many of the dogs were underfed, ill, or injured, some so severely that they had to be carried out. Now nearly a year later, they are thriving in new homes, enjoying long walks with their doting humans and even getting a lick of birthday cake to celebrate the anniversary of their release.
The last Beagle carried out of the Envigo facility was Fin, then two years old. Adopted within weeks of his rescue, he was quickly renamed Sir Biscuit of Barkingham (Biscuit for short) by his new family, who continue to lavish him with love and affection. A few other rescue pups landed in surprisingly high places. Momma Mia now makes her home with Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, in California. Another pup, Morty, has assumed first dog duties with the family of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.
To mark the anniversary of their rescue, some Beagle families held a reunion last month to celebrate and share stories of their formerly abused pups learning to trust, play, and love. One dog, Maple, was even reunited with some of her puppies at the gathering. For the occasion, she sported a red and white bandana that read, “Envigo Survivor.”
Here's to you, Maple, and to all your fellow survivors. May you know nothing but love, treats, and tummy rubs from here on in.
Source: nytimes.com
An illustration of the small dog found at a Roman villa in Oxfordshire, England. photo: DigVentures / Earth Trust
Unearthing Canine History: Pet Dogs in England Date From at Least 200 A.D.
Modern Brits are renowned dog lovers, but now there’s evidence this love goes back at least 1,800 years to the Roman conquest. Archeologists excavating a Roman era villa near Oxfordshire, England, recently discovered the remains of a toy-sized canine, apparently a pet. Measuring a petite 7.8 inches from paw to shoulder, its remains are among the smallest ever found from that period in the U.K.
According to zooarchaeologists, the dog was likely female and had bowed legs similar to today’s Dachshunds. The small size suggests she wasn’t bred for hunting, and the fact that she appeared to be buried with her owners indicates she was probably a lap dog or pet.
“What’s so charming is that, when we think about the Romans, we’re always given stories of the military and how brutal they were,” says a representative of the excavation team, DigVentures. “But here’s a villa where you can see a family was living and what their family life was like. They’ve got their tiny dog, which they would have loved just as we all love our pets today.”
Source: smithsonianmag.com