A mystery toy put Stetson out of commission for two years. But he’s back, and in fine form.

Nobody knows where the catnip-filled toy came from, or how the Alaskan malamute swallowed it – it was too big to pass, but not too big to eat.

Stetson got sicker and sicker before an x-ray finally revealed the toy. It had gotten stuck to the wall of his stomach and blocked a valve.

Emergency surgery got the toy out, but then Stetson had to recover and re-grow his coat, both outer coat and undercoat.

“We didn’t know if he’d want to come back – or if he could,” said Stetson’s owner, Lisa Ryer of Wisconsin.

Stetson, back in shape and ready to show

But he did. Under handler Tammy Szabo, Stetson ranked among the top five Alaskan malamutes last year. That earned him an invitation to the Westminster Kennel Club All Breed Dog Show next month.

Ryer, who’s never had a dog at Westminster before, is thrilled that Stetson is healthy and enjoying himself. “He just loves to do it,” she said. “If he does well, that’s just gravy.”

The 8th annual AKC/Eukanuba National Championship is on tonight. Both Animal Planet and Discovery Channel will carry the show, starting at 8 p.m.

"Best in Show," Kathryn Rutherford's prize-winning poster for the event

Besides featuring the competitors from the national championship, the show will also air selected highlights from the Eukanuba World Challenges, featuring dogs from 52 countries.

Next Saturday, Animal Planet will show footage from the AKC Agility and Obedience Invitationals, which were held at the same time.

Nina Otto and her husband share their 12-acre property in Boca Raton with 9 dogs, 4 birds, 10 cats, and 6 sheep. But one dog was so special to them that they had him cloned.

Six years ago, the Ottos froze DNA for Lancelot, a yellow Labrador. Lancelot died last year on New Year’s Eve. On Monday, Nina Otto went to Miami Airport to pick up a 3-month-old puppy with Lancelot’s genes.

Graduation card from Dogstuff

The new Lancy is oblivious to the controversy swirling around him – and the expense. Nina Otto sold some pricey jewelry to get the $150,000 it cost to have Bioarts International clone her dog.

“The money is gone and he’s here and that’s what’s more important to me,” said Otto.

Dogs and their people, take note! Eugene, Oregon is hosting the fourth annual Oregon Truffle Festival from January 29 to February 1, and you and your furry friend are both invited.

Why dogs?

“The reason why dogs are invited to attend is that they play a huge role in the truffle industry worldwide,” says Steve Remington, one of the event’s organizers. “People tend to associate pigs with snuffling out truffles. But in fact truffieres started using dogs back in the 1800s because pigs tend to gobble up truffles as quickly as they find them. Dogs seem to enjoy them, too, but they understand commands like ‘No!’ ”

Could your dog be a truffle detective? Almost any dog can learn to find truffles. The festival features a special session to train your dog, as well as an actual truffle hunt.

Stella stands ready to sniff out truffles

“I’ve seen everything from dachshunds to Labrador retrievers out hunting truffles, which, incidentally, can sell for as much as $800 a pound,” says mycologist Charles Lefevre of Eugene, Ore.

Some commercial truffle farmers, though, have begun importing an Italian breed, the Lagotto Romagnolo, which is supposedly specially bred as a truffle hunter.

The Lagotto Romagnolo is an ancient breed of water dog

The Festival accepts online reservations. The Valley River Inn on the banks of the Willamette River, which is also hosting many of the Festival’s events, is pet-friendly.

Authorities took more than 300 dogs from a “filthy” kennel in Skagit County, Washington yesterday. That makes over 600 dogs that have been rescued in the last week from two kennels.

Veteran animal workers said the conditions were “appalling” and worse than anything they had ever seen (caution: disturbing photo at link).

Several of the dogs are suspected to have coccidia, an intestinal disorder spread by contact with fecal matter.

A rescued dog awaits transport

Local rescue agencies are caring for all 600 dogs and requesting help from the public. The KOMO TV station is accepting online donations to its Problem Solvers fund at this page.

The Skagit County kennel is owned by Richard and Marjorie Sundberg. Officials said animal cruelty charges would be forthcoming.

Anyone who has purchased an animal from the Mountain View Kennel belonging to the Sundbergs is asked to contact Animal Control Officer JoHannah Deterding at (360) 336-9450 or johannad@co.skagit.wa.us.

Authorities in Washington state raided a suspected puppy mill in Skagit County on Wednesday.

They found 400 dogs in poor living conditions and took 150 as evidence.

A groomer donating her services holds a rescued dog

A raid last week on a property in Snohomish County yielded 155 dogs. The owners of the two properties are related.

Investigators are working across county lines to share evidence. No arrests have been made.

PetSmart has recalled seven of its Grreat Choice Dog Biscuit flavors in the wake of a salmonella scare.

Biscuit bowl from Dogstuff

The biscuits have not been linked to any known illnesses, but PetSmart has pulled them as a precautionary measure.

The biscuits contain contaminated peanut paste from the Peanut Corp of America in Blakely, Georgia that has been linked to a widespread outbreak of salmonella poisoning in humans. People are asked to avoid eating anything with peanut butter in it while authorities investigate.

Authorities raided a home in Snohomish County, Washington last Friday night. They found 155 dogs, most in poor condition.

Four cats and three parrots were also found on the property.

Eighty-seven of the dogs were living in a converted attic. A Rottweiler, a mastiff, two boxers, a Labrador retriever and a Doberman pinscher were all squeezed into one crate.

Emergency sticker from Dogstuff

Authorities also found several terrier breeds, pugs, Pekingese, Chinese crested, and mixed-breed “designer dogs.”

The home is not licensed for dog breeding or sales, and violates local laws that forbid owning more than 25 dogs.

Authorities are still investigating.