Seven guide dogs need homes temporarily while their owners are away. Volunteers will be trained so that they can look after the dogs.

According to the local Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, it would be better if the boarder will be able to look after the dogs all of the time. The candidates would be those who are retired, working from home, or those who are able to take the dog to their workplace.

Homes must be big enough to house a large dog and the garden must be safe and secure. It is preferred that there are no other pets.

The guide dog will have to walk at least twice a day and must follow a set of rules on exercise, grooming and diet.

If there is any variation in the routine of the dog, it can affect its ability to guide and if the rules are broken, the dog may have to be retrained which costs quite a lot.

At the moment when their owners are unable to look after them they’re flown to a guide dog training centre in Exeter, which is time consuming and expensive.

Ken Syvret is chairman of the Jersey branch of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. He said that,”It’s not a difficult job we’re asking people to do but it is one that is important as far as the dogs health and care is concerned.

“There are three things we need to look at, the feeding of the dog, the grooming of the dog and more importantly the walking of the dog,” said Ken.

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A sheriff’s dog found the tracks of a drug suspect, a Columbia man who escaped the authorities after a narcotics investigation in north Columbia.

Samuel E. Haley, 36, was arrested on federal narcotic warrants after Utz, a Boone County sheriff’s tracking dog, traced out his trail from near the Red Roof Inn at 201 E. Texas Ave. to nearby Newton Drive. Haley was found hiding beneath a parked car, according to the sheriff’s department.

Haley, of 480 E. Park Lane, was arrested on a no-bond federal probation and parole warrant in connection with a narcotics possession charge as well as suspicion of resisting arrest, unlawful possession of a firearm and receiving stolen property.

The incident begam at around 10:50 PM when a sheriff deputy conducted a narcotics investigation contacted Haley who ran away into the woods near Leslie Lane and Newton. The deputy found a firearm that was said to be dropped by Haley and it was reported to be stolen in Columbia.

Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers and Columbia police assisted in the search.

Haley remained today in the Boone County Jail.

Paulding County animal shelter was closed after the sudden death of six dogs. They are putting the blame of deaths to a rare but deadly disease.

According to the facility directory Tracy Thompson, the shelter has been closed early last week after a mandatory quarantine issued by the State Department of Agriculture. This means that the animal shelter are not allowed to take in or release any animals.

Thompson said that the first dog died on January 7 despite the fact that the dog had been fine 20 minutes earlier.

Days after four other healthy dogs passed away.

According to the necropsy done at the University of Georgia, one of the dogs died of “strep zoo.” This illness usually occurs in horses.

After many, many years of eating dog and cat meat, China has finally decided to end their practice and remove the animals from the menu.

China has launched their first draft proposal that will protect animlas against the ancient practice of animals being made into delicacies in China.The draft consists of nine chapters which covers major regulations such as animal medical treatment, transportation, and butchery regulations.

The Animal Rights Protection draft is proposing that those who are caught eating dor or cat meat will be jailed for 15 days and will be fined up to 5,000 yuan (730 USD).

If this becomes a law, any unit found in violation of the new rules will have to face fines of between 10,000 yuan (1,464 USD) to 500,000 yuan (73,239 USD).

This plan aims to protect the animals from misuse or harm and defines maltreatment as hurting or killing the animals in a cruel manner.

“It won’t impact people’s lives because only a few people eat the meat of dogs and cats,” said Chang Jiwen, a principal author of the draft.

A year after a morbidly obese dog was found frozen at a Wisconsin sidewalk, the dog has lost 40 pounds. The border collie is slowly returning to an active lifestyle. Although Jiffy is still quite big, his owner said that he is now moving like a normal dog.

Jiffy weighed about 120 pounds when he was frozen at the sidewalk in December 2008. However, it was probably his fats that helped him survive. After the incident, a court order was issued to Jiffy’s owner to give him up.

Patty and Peter Geise of Sheyboygan Falls said that before, Jiffy cannot step over a 4-inch-high pipe and he had to rest after that. Patty said that it is very rewarding to see the improvements on Jiffy.

Opee is only eight and yet he is popular in the dirty sport of motocross.

He can pull six Gs. Opee has been the centerfold for Cycle News and he alsp poses often for fan photos. He was able to survive Baja 500 and has racked up more than 10,000 hours on a dirt bike.

This 32-kg blue merle Australian shepherd can barely bee seen through the dust on his goggles and his custom helmet, complete with cam.

Opee’s owner Mike Schelin said that he is Opee’s biggest fan, and race partner. Schelin got Opee in 2001 after his divorce. He raises Opee with other dogs and 2 horses at what he calls Miracle Flats. Known as “The Dogfather” to some in the sport, Schelin always takes a back seat to Opee.

“He was my instant best friend,” Schelin said. “He slept in my tool bag. There was something about him. He’s had charisma since Day 1. I knew I had a dog who could make a difference.”

Schelin realized that Opee was a motocross fan we he started riding in the desert while Opee chased him.

“I felt bad for him, he would run so long.” Because of this Schelin bought a four-wheeler and he and Opee went desert riding. Since the dog does not like the dust in his eyes, Schelin got him goggles. Then one day, Opee hopped on the motorcycle tank and that had been his place ever since.

If the bike is not moving, the dog will fall asleep on the tank. Schelin never found a covering that’s comfortable for the dog.

Because of this, finding sponsors was not difficult. Soon enough Opee had his own custom gear, including a neck brace, inflatable vest, backpack, water supply and several jerseys. He got his American Motorcycle Association card and his SCORE International card.

Aside from motocross, Opee has been a search and rescuer, CA assistance dog, and he also visits kids in the hospital with Schelin.

(photo credits: Chris Carlson)Opee – The Motocross Dog

Most dogs simply love to play and frolic in the snow. But this can cause fine cracks in the paw pads and between the toes die to the ice, salt, and grit. “Paw injuries can become very painful for the animals”, says Martina Schnell, pet expert at FOUR PAWS. “Dogs often lick their paws clean after a walk and salt can reach the stomach where it can lead to stomach injuries.”

Here are tips on how to protect the paws of your beloved pet:

1. Stay clear of paths that have not yet been cleared.

2. Before you take your dog out for a walk, apply some vaseline or a protective ointment to the paw pads of your dog. This will help in preventing cracks.

3. Remove the long fur between the toes so that there will be no ice lumps formed.

4. Soak the paws in lukewarm water after your walk to remove little stones, salt, and ice.

If ever the paws of your dog are already damaged, regular use of ointment or disinfectant can clean the wounds. Give your pet something to chew on so that they will not lick off the treatments.

Never walk your dogs over frozen lakes or ponds.

Technorati Tags: dog care, Dog Walking, protect dog paws

If you have been reading up on how to stop puppy biting then you may have found an entire crop of resources that you can use with a massive range of methods and opposed recommendation. There are plenty of tips out there, many from owners that have experienced some success to stop puppy biting and trainers that have learned the best techniques through their job over time. However , if you’re to stop puppy biting then you need to find the best techniques for you and bear the following three necessary tips in mind :

1. Never allow the little puppy to bite clothing – If your puppy bites clothing or shoes when you are attempting to stop puppy biting then it should be stopped straight away because you cannot tell how hard or soft the bites are and thus can’t control them. You’ve got to be in a position to draw the line so your dog must only be permitted to bite your hands.

2. Control play biting by only permitting it to happen during play – Biting of any kind should only be put up with during play time when you’re making an attempt to stop puppy biting. It should not be allowed at any other time because your puppy will not be ready to differentiate between when he’s permitted to play bite and when biting isn’t satisfactory at all. By limiting play biting, your little dog will learn more then he otherwise would.

3. Do not punish your dog for biting as it is not effective – Puppies will not make a response to negative feedback if they are trying to learn something. Try using positive beefing up instead.

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As pet lovers, we all love our pets and we will do everything to keep them safe. This holiday season will be one of the busiest time of the year for us and we may not have time to check on them as often as we usually do.

There are many pets who get sick and end up in emergency rooms because they got injured in the environment that they are moving in.

We can protect our little friends by following the tips below:

- Make sure that the wires are secured. Some dogs may chew on the wires or they may get strangled.

- Avoid feeding leftovers to your dog. As cute as they may look like, dogs can choke on bones.

- The ribbons from the unwrapped gifts may cause blockage of the intestine.

- Keep household cleaners tightly capped and place it where the dogs will not reach them.

- Make sure that the chew toys and other dog toys do not have parts that can be chewed off since this may cause choking.

- Since this is the time of the year when you have more visitors, your dog may become excited and bite. Make sure that his vaccines are updated.

- Never feed chocolate to your dog nor let them drink coffee. Alcohol must be placed away from your dog.

Technorati Tags: pet safety

Over two dozens pit bull dogs that were rescued from the dog-fighting trade will arrive at  Sacramento Animal Care Services. They will be in charge of finding a foster homes for the 28 dogs.

The rescued dogs came from St. Louis, Mo. They are part of an effort by Utah-based Best Friends Animal Society to find good homes for these animals.

According to Best Friends in a press release, many have suffered cruelty and that previously, the dogs would have been euthanized. They believe that some rescued dogs can be taken to shelters where they can have another chance in life.

Animal welfare groups that will help the dogs find foster homes are Butte Humane of Chico; New Life Family Dogs, Portland, Ore.; and New Hope Animal Foundation, Auburn.

Technorati Tags: foster home, pitbull, rescued dogs