Man Broke Her in More Ways Than One

A dog who survived being mercilessly thrown off a six-story Brooklyn roof this summer has been euthanized -- despite a barrage of impassioned pleas from animal-rights supporters.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said Oreo, a 1-year-old brown and white pit-bull mix, was put to death yesterday.

The ASPCA said it determined, after working for months to rehabilitate Oreo, that she was too dangerous ever to be placed in a home or even to live among other dogs again.

Oreo suffered two broken legs when she was flung off the roof of an apartment building in the Red Hook Houses in Brooklyn on June 18, 2009.

Fabian Henderson, 19, pleaded guilty to a felony count of animal cruelty. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1, 2009. Neither he nor his attorney could be reached for comment yesterday.

Source: nypost.com

The 5 Stages of Grief

We bring our dogs into our lives and homes, and cherish and love them. We spend hours talking to them, making them the non-judgmental repository of all our secret hopes and fears. We trust them implicitly and they never let us down. What more could we possibly want?

More time with them is the first thing that springs to mind. Our dogs have much shorter life spans than we do, so almost everyone has had to say goodbye to a beloved dog at some point in their lives. While it's not easy to say goodbye, knowing what to expect, and realizing that support is available should you need it will help you during your time of grief.

Most people pass through five stages of mourning, but each person experiences them at varying levels of intensity, for varying lengths of time, and sometimes in a different order. Some of the stages converge and overlap each other. However you experience the mourning, it's important to remember that your feelings are completely normal.

Denial - People enter the denial stage in an attempt to escape the painful reality of their dog's death. Sometimes you're certain that you heard your dog's tags jingle on his collar or you feel him next to you. Some people swear that their dog is wandering outside, especially people who do not see their dog's body after they've passed.

This denial is normal, a way to try and have everything remain the same, but if allowed to linger too long, you run a real chance of being overwhelmed by painful feelings of loss when you're not prepared for them.

Anger - Anger is, like denial, a way to focus the hurt and pain on something. Human nature compels us to find someone or something to blame when we are hurt or sad. It's difficult to accept that suffering is a part of life, so we look for a scapegoat to blame.

Our dogs can end up as the scapegoats because we're angry with them for leaving us. Anger can be directed at ourselves or toward a loved one, especially when we feel that the death could have been avoided. Your veterinarian is another convenient target for anger, because he euthanized your dog. Although anger is a normal step in the grief process, we have to get over it and remind ourselves that no one is at fault. Death is simply an unavoidable, and unhappy, fact of life.

Guilt - People often blame themselves for their dog's death, obsessively wondering if something could have been done to save their dog. Could they have fed them a better diet or given them more exercise? Still other people beat themselves up wishing they had spent more quality time with their dog.

Try to remember that guilt does no one any good and it won't change anything that has already happened. There is no point in feeling guilty about things you wish you had done now that your dog is gone. You'll feel better if you just accept the things you cannot change and move on with your life.

Depression - It is completely understandable and normal to withdraw and feel lost and confused at the death of a loved one. Many people lose their appetite and find that taking care of the simplest matter is a chore. Depression has been likened to a steep downhill slope--once you've started down, it's difficult to stop and return to normal.

The death of a cherished dog can release a veritable avalanche of unrelated feelings and repressed emotions that make your depression worse. For many people their dog was the one thing they could count on, even when everything else in their world was in chaos. Dogs offer us unconditional love and support, and when they die, our source of strength can be removed and we fall into a state of depression.

Acceptance - Accepting that your cherished dog is gone forever is hard to do. The road to acceptance is long, but there are many people willing to help along the way and things you can do for yourself the make the traveling easier. Allowing yourself time to mourn is very important.

Many people cannot understand how someone could love an animal so much and thus can't understand how you could be so upset when your dog dies. But as long as you realize the important role your dog played in your life, that's all that matters. Cherish your memories of the good times--and the sad times. Talk about her with friends and family, recalling special moments. Although painful at first, you will find that it helps you focus on the good things and move beyond the pain.

Credit: dogtime.com (Adapted from the American Animal Hospital Association)

Remembering Daisy....

Jessica Simpson toted her new Malti-Poo puppy, Daisy, with her to a taping of The Late Show with David Letterman in New York City on Aug. 5, 2004. Daisy joined Simpson on many TV shows, including Good Morning America in 2005.

5 year old Daisy was snatched by a coyote during a walk earlier this month near Simpson's home in California.

Source: peoplepets.com; Photo: Brian Prahl/Splash News Online

What is Euthanasia?

Euthanasia is an overdose of barbiturates that stop a pet's heart. The fluids are administered through an intravenous catheter or an injection, and when it's your pet being euthanized you can choose whether or not you want to be present. Some veterinarians will come to your home for this--a good idea if your pet finds going to the clinic or pet hospital stressful.

Before the procedure, most vets will invite you to go into an examination room and then leave you alone for a few minutes to say what you want to say, or just hold your pet close. When the veterinarian and vet tech come in, let them know whether you'd like a snippet of your pet's fur to keep, or the collar.

What's the procedure?

Some clinics give the pet a sedative first because many pick up on what's going on, and get anxious. But it isn't standard practice everywhere so you may have to ask for it.

Certain pets, like some humans, are more reactive than others and will scream or whine in response to the injection, which can be disconcerting, to say the least, at a time when emotions are already fraught.

What most people are not prepared for is how quickly the euthanasia solution works; death occurs in just a few seconds. You'll probably feel your pet relax, and then it's over. Sometimes you may hear what sounds like a gasp coming from your pet after he has died; that's simply air being exhaled by the lungs. The nerves can twitch for a moment, too. Sometimes the pet urinates.

These are involuntary reflex actions after death and aren't painful, but they can be disturbing to watch. Unlike in the movies, your pet's eyes will not close automatically.

Should I be There?

The only right answer is the one that makes sense for you. Do you want to be? If so, be there, since your pet would probably prefer it. However, if you think you'll get upset in front of your pet, it's best if you're not there. If you can keep calm (hard as that is), your pet will be calmer, too.

Credit: dogtime.com

World's Oldest Dog Dies

Chanel, a wire-haired dachshund that held the record as the world's oldest dog and celebrated its last birthday with a party at a dog hotel and spa has died on August 28, 2009 at age 21 — or 147 in dog years.

The dog, named Chanel, died of natural causes at home in Port Jefferson Station, Long Island, New York.

Chanel, as stylish as her legendary namesake, wore tinted goggles for her cataracts in her later years and favored sweaters because she was sensitive to the cold, owners Denice and Karl Shaughnessy said.

The playful dachshund was only 6 weeks old when Denice Shaughnessy, then serving with the U.S. Army, adopted her from a shelter in Newport News, Va. Along with her owner, Chanel spent nine years on assignment in Germany, where she became adept at stealing sticks of butter from kitchen countertops and hiding them in sofa cushions in the living room, Shaughnessy said.

Karl Shaughnessy nominated Chanel for the title of world's oldest dog after noticing the Guinness World Records book had no record. Guinness World Records officials presented Chanel with a certificate as the world's oldest dog at a Manhattan birthday bash hosted by a private pet food company in May. Chanel loved the party, especially the cake, which had a peanut butter flavor and had been made for dogs, Denice Shaughnessy said.

Chanel exercised daily and ate home-cooked chicken with her dog food, but good care wasn't entirely responsible for her long life, said her owners, who attributed God. "Dogs are God's angels sent here to look out for us," Denice Shaughnessy said.

A dog from New Iberia, La., named Max, is vying for the record of world's oldest dog. Owner Janelle Derouen said Max marked his 26th birthday on Aug. 9. She said Guinness World Records officials were reviewing documents to authenticate his age.

Source: ap

Our Last Afternoon Together...

Our last afternoon together at Highspire Gardens on 8/24/09. The weather was warm and the sunshine felt great -- just the way she liked it. Miss Paras is just So Beautiful that I wanted to share this photo with the world.

He Loved His Dogs!

Politics aside, it's no secret that Senator Ted Kennedy loved his Portuguese Water Dogs, "Sunny" and "Splash", who frequently went sailing with the Senator and were also everpresent in his Senate offices. Below is an adorable photo of Senator Kennedy and his wife, Vicki, greeting "Bo", the First Dog, outside the Oval Office on April 21, 2009. Bo was gifted to the Obamas by the Senator. I just love the dog toy laying casually in the hallway of the Oval Office!Photo: whitehouse.gov

A Special Farewell -- Miss Paras -- 1989-2009

Sometimes in our lives we are blessed to spend time with an exceptional creature – and so I was blessed with “Miss Paras”, who passed away yesterday at the age of 20.

Adopted by me from Rescue at age 18, we enjoyed just over two years together before the valves of her tiny heart simply wore out. At a petite 3.3 pounds, Miss Paras loved strutting down the sidewalks, looking terrific with her long white flowing hair and greeting her adoring public. Despite rapidly advancing blindness that ultimately claimed her sight, she walked every day to the Town Park and back home so quickly that none of my other Yorkies could keep up with her. Sporting her pink sparkle harness and collar, Miss Paras kept her vigorous daily fitness and beauty regime to the end.

The “Beautiful and Fabulous Miss Paras” and I looked quite alike with our white hair that when held side-by-side blended together perfectly. It was my joy to share her gorgeous presence at special events, including several local “look alike” contests and two Pet Expos in Virginia, where Miss Paras graciously greeted her public, despite her general distaste for any outing that required a car ride. We were rather easy to spot together in a crowd with our pink matching sweaters and pink doggie carriage – in which Miss Paras refused to ride and instead insisted on pulling like a sled dog.

I didn’t enter into my relationship with Miss Paras with any fixed expectation of how long we might have together, just my usual “Every Day is a Gift” credo I bring to all Special Seniors. I certainly never dreamed that this timeless and ageless beauty would grace my life and home for over two years – and claim the record for the longest stay of any Special Needs Senior Yorkie I have ever adopted.

My Darling, your boundless energy made it easy to forget the true number of years behind you. Your poise and dignity in the face of advancing age taught me much, Beautiful Miss Paras. You are and will always be an inspiration for what Life Can Be. I’ll miss your spunky morning “ruff-ruff” demand for the timely presentation of your breakfast, your sweet tiny moist toothless kisses and the softness and warmth of your elegant petite face against mine. As you were Beautiful and Fabulous in life, tonight your star will twinkle in Heaven so brightly that all the other stars will be jealous. That’s alright, My Beauty. You “work it” from Heaven and keep showing us how it’s done! And know that I’ll always be your Biggest Fan.

Your Loving Mommie, Tina XOXO

Dog Dies in Highway Accident

In Rescue sometimes things go wrong, and last night "Major Winchester", a 9 year old chocolate cocker rescued from a shelter in Ohio, died on transport in a van accident in Maryland involving the Global Rescue Welfare League ("GROWL"). The other 6 dogs on board and the driver survived, but the rescue's van was totalled.

GROWL is an all volunteer organization which raises awareness of homeless animals all over the world. Its mission is to raise awareness about spay and neuter and responsible animal ownership. GROWL is directly involved in pulling animals from high kill shelters and coordinating volunteer transports for the dogs to rescue.

To donate to GROWL in support of their mission and the replacement of their van, go to their main website at www.mygrowl.com

Deep condolences to GROWL on the death of Major Winchester. He was a beautiful pup.

Photo: mygrowl.com

Is It Time to Say Goodbye?

The reality is that your dog will probably not outlive you. Even more sobering, you may end up facing a difficult decision about when to end the life of this precious friend and family member.

Some dogs do pass peacefully on their own, but in many cases, the will to survive keeps a dog going long past the point of experiencing good quality of life. While recent advances in veterinary medicine are nothing short of amazing, remember that just because you can prolong his life doesn't mean it's in your dog's best interest to do so.

Most of the factors around aging and death are beyond our control, but the one thing you are able to do for your dog is alleviate undue pain and suffering. Arguably, no other decision you make about your dog will be as difficult as the one to euthanize, but in so many cases, it is the most humane option.

How to know it's time

If there's ever a time to put your dog's welfare ahead of your own needs, this is it. While the idea of living without your beloved pet can be devastating, the thought of him suffering should feel even worse. So in considering what to do, ask yourself the following questions:

• Does your dog have a terminal illness? Ask your veterinarian what to expect at the next stage and then ask whether you're prepared to go there.
• Is your dog in the kind of pain that cannot be significantly alleviated by medication?
• Will more treatment improve his quality of life, or simply maintain a poor quality of life?
• Can you afford treatment? End-of-life care can run into thousands of dollars, and people can end up prolonging their grieving while paying off credit cards.
• Is your dog so old he has lost most bodily functions? If he can no longer stand up, get down stairs, defecate, and urinate on his own, the quality of his life is pretty poor.
• Does he still want to eat? Once a dog loses his appetite he's signaling he's close to the end.
• Are his gums pink? When gums aren't a normal pink, your dog isn't getting enough oxygen.
• Is it in his best interest to extend his life, or are you extending his life for yourself? This last point is the most difficult one for most of us to sort out, but it may well be the most relevant. If your dog is suffering, he has lost all joy in being a dog.

Bottom line: The emotions surrounding this decision are mixed and complicated. To do what's best for our dogs, we need to realistically assess the criteria without allowing emotion to overwhelm the decision-making process.

Credit: dogtime.com

Adios Gidget!

She charmed millions without ever saying a word, and managed to make fast food tacos adorable. "Gidget", the Chihuahua best known for her Taco Bell ad campaign, died from a stroke on July 21, 2009 at age 15.

"She made so many people happy," says Gidget's trainer, Sue Chipperton.

The mostly retired actor lived out her days lying in the sun. "I like to joke that it's like looking after a plant," says Chipperton "Gidget," says Chipperton, "always knew where the camera was."

Source: people.com; Photo: tailsticks.com

Do They Have to Rename It Now??

Alaska's Rat Island is finally rat-free, 229 years after a Japanese shipwreck spilled rampaging rodents onto the remote Aleutian island, decimating the local bird population.

After dropping poison onto the island from helicopter-hoisted buckets for a week and a half last autumn, there are no signs of living rats and some birds have returned, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Rats have ruled the island since 1780, when they jumped off a sinking Japanese ship and terrorized all but the largest birds on the island. The incident introduced the non-native Norway rat -- also known as the brown rat -- to Alaska.

The $2.5 million Rat Island eradication project, a joint effort between the U.S. federal government, the Nature Conservancy and Island Conservation, is one of the world's most ambitious attempts to remove destructive alien species from an island. Now there are signs that several species of birds, including Aleutian cackling geese, ptarmigan, peregrine falcons and black oystercatchers, are starting to nest again on the 10-square-mile (26-sq-km) island.

Source: reuters

No ... Rocky is the one who flies....

Police in Clifton, Maine say a 500 pound moose fell 18 feet to its death when it apparently leaped a guardrail on an Interstate 95 overpass and landed on the roadway below.

Officials learned of the incident when a motorist called the town office and told the clerk that "a moose just fell out of the sky." The clerk said the motorist, who was under the bridge when he spotted the falling moose, was "pretty excited about it."

Police said the yearling bull probably panicked because of the noise and traffic along I-95 and began running. The moose just picked the wrong spot to jump the guardrail, falling onto a road instead of landing in a field.

A passerby with a wrecker hauled away the carcass.

Source: GMANews.tv

A Dog Named Beau

Top 10 Ways to Memorialize Your Pet

Coping with the loss of a pet can be a very difficult time for the entire family. Here are a few suggestions of ways to help you work through your grief by creating a lasting memorial to your loved one.

1. Create a website to honor your pet's life. Here is a great example: My Golden Prince

2. Commission a professional portrait of your pet: PetsPictured.com

3. Purchase a garden memorial or stone accent for your yard: Eternal Paw Prints

4. Create and publish a book about your pet's life: Pet Story

5. Write a letter to your pet, have it framed, and display it on your wall.

6. Donate to an animal rescue group in your pet's name: Donate to Dogs

7. Create gold or silver jewelry containing your pet's ashes: Precious Pets

8. Create a diamond or gemstone from your pet's carbon or ashes: LifeGem; Art from Ashes

9. Have your pet's ashes made into fireworks: Angels Flight

10. Launch your pet's ashes into deep space: Celestis

Credit: dogtime.com

Martha's Chow Dies in Kennel Explosion

One of Martha Stewart's Chow Chows -- "Genghis Kahn" -- was among 17 dogs who died yesterday in a propane explosion at a Carbon County (Pennsylvania) kennel. The explosion is suspected to have been caused by a static electricity spark during a propane delivery, although the investigation is ongoing.

Twelve of the deceased dogs were the personal pets of the kennel owners. Five other dogs who died were boarder dogs - including Genghis Kahn. Following the explosion, the propane delivery man tossed a Cairn Terrier over the kennel's fence to safety. The delivery man is now hospitalized with burns and is in critical condition. Several police officers also were burned while rescuing dogs from the kennel. All dogs who escaped the explosion and ensuing fire are reported to have been recovered from the nearby woods.

Credit: LA Times, marthastewartblog; Photo: Martha Stewart

Goodbye, Socks!

Former First Cat Socks, one of the world’s most famous felines, died Friday at the age of 20 after battling throat cancer since November (2008). A stray cat rescued by the Clinton's daughter, Chelsea, Socks lived in the governor’s mansion in Arkansas and later moved with the family to the White House.

"Socks brought much happiness to Chelsea and us over the years, and enjoyment to kids and cat lovers everywhere," the Clintons said in a statement, released first to PEOPLE.COM. "We're grateful for those memories, and we especially want to thank our good friend, Betty Currie, for taking such loving care of Socks for so many years."

Currie, the president's personal secretary, and her husband, Bob, took over care of Socks after the Clintons left the White House. It was near their home in (Hollywood) Maryland that Socks was put to sleep Friday morning. "He could no longer stand and wasn’t eating," according to family friend and presidential historian Barry Landau.

His pal Buddy the Lab

Though much was made of the fact that Buddy, the family’s beloved brown Labrador retriever – who died [Note: outside the Clinton's home in Chappaqua, NY on 1/3/2002 while chasing a car -- Yorkielover] after being hit by a car in 2002 – remained with the Clintons while Socks did not, Landau says, "The truth be known, Betty asked if Socks could come live with her. The Clintons didn’t abandon Socks. They were totally conflicted. It broke their hearts, but they knew it would be the right thing for Socks’ welfare.”

"Betty had lost a close family member and a dog and they wanted to do something nice for her," continues Landau, noting that Hillary Clinton had just been elected to the U.S. Senate.

During the family's days in the White House, Socks had become attached to Betty, with whom he spent many hours every day. "Socks was always curled up on a blue striped silk chair, next to Betty," in her office outside the Oval Office, Landau says. "Socks didn’t act like a cat. Socks was very dog-like, and Buddy and Socks got along well.” Landau adds that even visiting heads of state asked to have pictures taken with the cat.

A taste for chicken

In the years since he left the White House, Landau says, "Socks had an incredible life. Betty cooked for Socks," he said, noting the cat loved chicken. He was also the subject (along with the family dog) of a book by Hillary Clinton titled Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Kids’ Letters to the First Pets.

On Thursday, Currie took Socks for one last walk; she plans to have the cat cremated.

Credit: msnbc.msn.com Photo: Barbara Kinney/The White House

"...all you got is your dog...."

Mickey Rourke's beloved Chihuahua has died just days before the actor hopes to crown his own professional resurrection at Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony.

Loki the Chihuahua, 18, who accompanied "The Wrestler" star to the Venice Film Festival in September 2008, died on Monday night, Rourke's representative.

Rourke, 56, famously thanked his dogs -- past and present -- in an emotional speech at the Golden Globes in January when he won the best actor award for his comeback role in "The Wrestler" after years in the acting wilderness.

"Sometimes, when a man is alone, that's all you got is your dog. And they've meant the world to me," he said in his acceptance speech.

Credit: Yahoo!News; Photo: NationalPhotoGroup.com