Nell came through her ordeal unscathed

Nell is one lucky dog. The cocker spaniel fell 80 feet down a mine shaft in Dyserth, Wales, while out on a walk with her owner.

After two days of searching, rescuers discovered her in the shaft and the RSPCA lowered a man down, who brought her up in a bag.

Despite her fall and two days alone, Nell escaped uninjured.

Marge Speidel and Shana

When Marge Speidel fell and fractured two vertebrae, she had to give up walking her cocker spaniel, Shana, during her convalescence. But thanks to some local schoolchildren, Shana was well taken care of. The Chronicle has the details.

Friendship card from Dogstuff

Two seventh-grade students in Washington state have spent the last couple of years urging the Legislature to pass laws against puppy mills.

The students, Theresa Edwards and Audrey Long, have written multiple times to legislators for the 36th District about the poor conditions, inbreeding, diseases, and other health hazards that puppy mills produce.

Art print from Dogstuff

In January, authorities seized over 600 dogs from two kennels in Snohomish and Skagit counties. All the dogs were maltreated, and many were in need of medical attention.

An early bill designed to protect consumers who unknowingly buy sick or dying animals from pet stores, breeders, or directly from puppy mills died in committee. Undeterred, Edwards and Long continued to press for reform.

Puzzle from Dogstuff

Their efforts were rewarded when Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles sponsored a bill, Senate Bill 5651, to prohibit a person from owning, possessing, controlling, or otherwise having charge or custody of more than 25 dogs with intact sexual organs over the age of four months at a time.

Edwards and Long are hopeful that the bill will pass without too many changes and give dogs the protection they need. Both students have received the PAWS Youth Helping Animals Award for their work.