Paws of War, Nurse Fluffy, Cities Leash Up, and More!
Paws of War volunteers are supporting the safe exit of pets from Ukraine. photo: Paws of War
Paws of War:
On the Ground in Ukraine
Over 10 million people have fled Ukraine in recent weeks, many of them with beloved pets in tow. Most left with just a few possessions and little to care for their animals.
Paws of War, a U.S.-based nonprofit supporting military veterans and dogs, has teamed up with overseas partners, setting up aid stations to provide pet food, water, crates, leashes, toys, and critical vaccines for dogs who otherwise might be stopped at the border. They’re also working to get the animals travel passports so they can continue their journey to the EU, and they have helped establish a makeshift emergency animal shelter near the border, which has already taken in over 50 dogs and numerous cats.
“For some their pet is all they have left, and it would be devastating for them if they could not care for their pet or were forced to leave it behind,” explains Robert Misseri, co-founder of Paws of War. “We are glad that we are able to help bring some comfort and relief to the people fleeing the Ukraine, clutching their pet in their arms. Being a refugee with a pet makes everything 10 times harder. We will do everything we can to help them.”
Paws of War volunteers are seeking financial donations to source desperately needed supplies. One hundred percent of the donations will be used to help Ukraine refugees care for their pets. Paws of War is not currently collecting supplies in the U.S. as there is no reliable way to transport them to where they are needed, and the situation on the ground is constantly evolving.
To help Paws of War provide Ukrainian relief, visit: pawsofwar.networkforgood.com
Paws of War is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization that assists military members and their pets, rescues and trains dogs to be service dogs, and provides companion animals to veterans. To learn more about Paws of War, visit: pawsofwar.org
Studies show dog love helps everything (we already knew that). photo: Deanna Engle, CNN
Paging Nurse Fluffy:
Study Shows Dog Love Reduces Pain
A new study from the University of Saskatchewan found that emergency room patients reported reduced pain after spending just 10 minutes with a therapy dog.
Obviously, the dogs weren’t distributing opioids, so what gives?
Researchers noted that ER settings have been linked as a contributor to patient pain, citing common stressors like bright lights and noise, and theorized that the ER environment may actually amplify patients’ perception of pain. In this study, the presence of a therapy dog seemed to provide enough distraction to lower the pain perceived by patients.
Of course, these findings support what most dog lovers already know. Canine affection can cure just about anything.
Sources: cnn.com, journals.plos.org
Wild dog running loose in a park in San Diego, Calif. photo: Claire Trageser/KPBS
Cities Leash Up! Know Your Local Rules
Officials in San Diego and other cities say they’ve been having more issues with unleashed dogs in the last couple of years. Los Angeles, Boston, and Seattle all report similar problems, in part due to the 23 million American households that adopted a pet during the pandemic and may not be up on their local rules.
San Diego has four dedicated park patrol officers who now give out about 200 dog-related citations a month, almost triple the pre-pandemic number. School fields are especially problematic because many folks got used to bringing their dogs to run free during campus Covid shutdowns.
At $300 a pop for a San Diego ticket, that leash-free outing can get expensive pretty fast. So be a responsible human and save your pup’s romps for designated leash-free areas – no matter where you live.
Source: npr.org
Pick a dog that matches your (or your kid’s) drawing.
photo: Pedigree
Doodle Your Dream Dog:
New Program Lets You Draw Your Way to a Real Life Rescue Pup
Like so much of modern life, we can’t decide if this is creepy or cool.
Rescue Doodles, a new program from Pedigree, employs AI tech and a machine learning model to match kids’ drawings of their dream dogs with similar looking dogs available for adoption locally.
Using the program, parents can send a picture of their child’s dog drawing and get back info about look-alike pups at nearby rescues. (Of course, you should never pick a dog on looks alone – your family’s lifestyle, activity level, other pets, etc., all need to be considered).
Looking for a new pup or just Doodle curious? Try it out by texting the word Doodle to 717-670-6675.
But don’t wait too long. The Rescue Doodle program ends April 30.
Source: people.com
The Labrador Retriever, a breed that originated in Canada, is the most popular dog of 2021. photo: CNN
Marley Keeps the Tiara:
This Year’s AKC Popularity Winners
Those high class humans over at the American Kennel Club just released their annual list of most popular dog breeds and – drum roll, please – the Labrador Retriever topped the list again, as it has for the last three decades.
The genial Lab was followed, in descending order, by the French Bulldog, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Poodle, Bulldog, Beagle, Rottweiler, German Shorthaired Pointer, and the literally lowly Dachshund.
Last place honors - out of 197 AKC recognized breeds – went to the Norwegian Lundehund, whose name translates to “puffin dog.”
Not to invite the wrath of the dog show world, but the most popular breed at our house is still the good old-fashioned mutt.
Source: cnn.com