Despite a court order (and state law), the Columbia, Illinois, school district is refusing to allow 5-year-old Carter Kalbfleisch to attend school with his service dog, Corbin. Carter has started school at the Illinois Center for Autism, 30 miles away, while his parents continue the legal battle for him to be allowed to go to school where he lives.

Carter got Corbin this summer, and has already shown dramatic improvement. Formerly silent and withdrawn, he smiled, laughed, and sang during a visit from a news crew (see video).

“He’s a changed boy,” his mother beamed. “Before, we didn’t get to see that in him. He wasn’t this happy, kind, boy that he’s become.”

Despite mounting costs, his parents vow to continue their fight for Corbin to be accepted at Carter’s local school.

Does Parrot look like a bichon frise or Italian greyhound to you?

A couple who had their dog’s DNA checked used four different tests — and got four different results.

DNA testing to determine a dog’s breed is popular these days, but should come with some caveats. Because canine DNA has not been fully sequenced, results may not be entirely reliable. In addition, some testing facilities have more breeds in their databases than others.

Endal was a service dog given to Royal Navy Chief Petty Officer Allen Parton after he suffered severe head injuries during the (first) Gulf War. He’s credited with saving Parton’s marriage, and on at least one occasion, his life.

Endal died in March at age 13, but not before his story had been told in a British tv documentary and a book. Now a U.K. film producer has optioned the rights to tell Endal’s story on the big screen.

Notecard from Dogstuff

Lucey, who looks like a pit bull, was in trouble.

She hadn’t done anything wrong. She’s never acted aggressively or bitten anyone. But she lives in Salina, Kansas, which has a law against owning pit bulls or mixed breeds that are predominantly pit bull.

When animal control officers came across Lucey while responding to a complaint about another animal, they took her into custody. They told her owner, Angie Cartwright, that they were taking her to a vet to have her breed evaluated.

Cartwright, desperate, had another idea: what about DNA testing? She called her vet, and found out they did have a genetic test available.

The test revealed that despite her appearance, Lucey is no more than 25% pit bull (which the AKC defines as American pit bull terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier or any mix thereof). Her predominant breed, according to the test, is Bernese mountain dog.

So Lucey is back home, with a grateful owner. “Maybe this can save someone’s animal, hopefully,” she said.

Shadow practices as his owners cheer him on

The Del Mar beach in San Diego recently hosted its fourth annual Surf Dog Surf-a-Thon to raise money for a local animal shelter. Record crowds turned out to enjoy the surfing, costume competition, and other activities.

The North County Times has more.

Laia

Major Steven Hutchison, who at 60 became the oldest soldier to die in Iraq, was one of countless service members who have adopted dogs and cats while stationed there. Like his fellow animal lovers, Hutchison found Laia, a sweet yellow puppy, a crucial source of comfort and humanity.

Maj. Hutchison (center) in Iraq

The Detroit Free Press has the beautiful story of how Laia found her way to the U.S. after Hutchison’s death in May, and how she continues to provide comfort to his friends, family, and fellow soldiers.

Magnet from Dogstuff

Porsche was originally trained as a seeing-eye dog. But the black Labrador flunked her certification because she just couldn’t stop sniffing.

Her nose led Porsche from one avenue of work to another: for the last five years, she’s been a highly successful accelerant detector for the Philadelphia fire department, nosing out gasoline, kerosene, charcoal-lighter fluid, and other substances used to set fires.

Porsche was recently honored, along with two other dogs and a number of humans, for her heroic efforts. Fire officials credit her with helping to pinpoint the causes of over 300 fires, including 100 arsons.

Card from Dogstuff

The drug is called Palladia and targets mast cell cancers. The Animal Medical Center in New York is treating canine patients now. Here’s a link to their PDF file about Palladia.