French bulldog ornament from Dogstuff
The New York Times (which seems to be running a lot of dog stories these days) delves into Astoria’s recent infatuation with French bulldogs. In the last few years, at least 32 of them have come to live in one neighborhood in Queens.
Apparently it all started with an opera singer and a dog named Oscar …
Unruly child? Christmas card from Dogstuff
According to the New York Times, an increasing number of parents are applying dog-training principles — in particular, those of Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer — to raising their children.
What do you think? We say that our pets are like our children; are our children like our dogs, just waiting for a pack leader?
Among the many heartwarming videos of dogs welcoming troops back home from duty is this one of Gracie greeting Captain Andrew Schmidt on his return from Afghanistan:
Note: Capt. Schmidt posted this a few years ago, and recently it started getting a lot of attention. He is a bit uncomfortable with his 15 minutes of fame, and is using it to urge everyone who watches the clip to adopt from shelters (Gracie is a rescue dog), support their local shelters, and especially, he says, to remember and support all the troops on active duty.
Another reunion story is that of Sabi, a bomb-sniffing dog who disappeared after a battle in Afghanistan. She was missing for 14 months before a soldier encountered her at a remote outpost and brought her back to her base.
Sabi is in good health despite her 14-month absence
Siberian Husky and sled statue from Dogstuff
Really? Yes. The federal government will pay someone — exactly one person, among its nearly 20 million employees — to run a dog sled.
The National Park Service needs a new kennels manager at Denali National Park and Preserve. The job entails taking care of a 31-animal dog kennel, but also includes the opportunity to go mushing into thousands of miles of Denali backcountry.
There’s more to it than that, of course. The Los Angeles Times has all the details.
Melissa Joseph and Baxter
Please read Janet Kinosian’s beautiful post about Baxter, a certified therapy dog. At 19.5 years, Baxter was the world’s oldest therapy dog, working — at the end of his own life — with end-of-life patients at a hospice.
This video shows Baxter with some of his patients:
A book about Baxter will raise money for various rescue charities. Baxter died not long ago, but even in death he will bring comfort to others.
A poster advertises the new hotline
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, in conjunction with the Humane Society of the United States, has opened a 24-hour hotline to receive tips about dogfighting.
Rewards of up to $5,000 will be given for tips leading to arrests or convictions involving dogfighting. Callers can provide tips on a dog fighting ring, an upcoming dog fight or an individual who is involved in dog fighting. Calls about dog fights actually in progress should go to 911, said DA Steve Cooley.
He added that he expects the tips received will be “a starting point for major criminal investigations” into such crimes as drug dealing, weapons possession and illegal gambling.
The hotline’s number is (877) NO2-FITE. “Obviously we’re not great spellers,” joked Cooley, “but you get the message.”
Jennifer Fearing of the HSUS said, “Never before have we seen such a dedicated effort to bring together law enforcement, public organizations and private citizens to establish a countywide tip line that will be the first line of defense against this barbaric crime.”
Sign from Dogstuff
What do city dogs do for fun? Jill Abramson and her retriever puppy, Scout, find heated pools, doggy day camps, and other services for canny canines and their humans.
