"Project Flying Chihuahua" Rescues CA Chis

Chihuahuas have been flying out of California since other states learned about the glut of little dogs in the Golden State.

A group of 25 dogs has already arrived at the Humane Society for Greater Nashua in New Hampshire, thanks to "Grey's Anatomy" actress Katherine Heigl, Kinder4Rescue in Studio City and American Airlines. A group of 43 will leave for New Hampshire Monday or Tuesday, said Kathy Davis, interim general manager of Los Angeles Animal Services, who took part in a news conference Friday to announce Project Flying Chihuahua. They were supposed to leave Saturday morning, but bad weather in the east caused a delay, she said.

The Nashua shelter found homes for the first 25 and had a waiting list of 100 people, Davis said.

Heigl's foundation has paid the discounted airfare for all 68 dogs so far, she added, and new donors for more flights were being sought.

Virgin America will be flying a group of Chihuahuas to New York City from San Francisco on Tuesday, said Gail Buchwald, senior vice president overseeing the ASPCA adoption center in New York City. They will be processed and should be available for adoption on Dec. 29, she said. Buchwald said she didn't know how many to expect, but each dog will be escorted by a volunteer and Virgin will provide travel for both dogs and humans. The airline is also expected to offer a week of half price trips to passengers willing to escort an animal to New York.

Dozens of dogs have been sent by Oakland Animal Services to nearby states like Washington, Oregon and Arizona, but most of them were delivered by SUV, director Megan Webb said, because there wasn't enough money to fly the dogs to more distant states.

The Chihuahua crisis in California developed as Hollywood featured the dogs in movies like "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" and "Legally Blonde," they became constant companions to the rich and famous, backyard breeders saw a chance to make hundreds of dollars a dog and the recession forced some dog owners to abandon their pets. California shelters soon found that Chihuahuas made up 30 percent or more of their dog populations. Meanwhile, Buchwald said, there has long been a severe shortage of small dogs in the east.

In the last 12 months, animal shelters in the city of Los Angeles have taken in 4,700 Chihuahuas, 1,000 more than the 12 months before that. Los Angeles has over 300 Chihuahuas in its shelters now, Davis said, and they are taking in about 340 a month. "The majority of them are healthy. They do need some socialization. Some we're finding haven't been well treated in the homes they've been in. They need some TLC," Davis said. It would seem plenty of people in the east are ready and willing to deliver just that.

Source: ap

Faith, the Two-Legged Dog

For several years, Jude Stringfellow and her Lab-chow mix have toured the country with a simple message: Faith walks.

Born without front legs to a junkyard dog around Christmas 2002, Faith the puppy was rejected and abused by her mother. She was rescued by Reuben Stringfellow, now an Army E-4 specialist, who had been asked to bury other puppies in the litter. Reuben turned Faith over to his mother, English professor Jude Stringfellow. At first the family had to carry Faith to keep her off her chest and chin. But with peanut butter and practice, Faith learned to walk on her two hind legs.

Today Faith is a brisk, upright walker. When she runs, every so often she adds a hop or skip to her step, but she stumbles less often than most humans. She takes vitamins and joint supplements, and vets have declared her very healthy, Stringfellow said.

Since her first step on March 22, 2003, Faith has done the talk show circuit, gone on tour with Ozzy Osbourne and been named an honorary Army sergeant. Jude Stringfellow has become a motivational speaker and written two books. Next year, the two are moving from Ardmore, Okla., to Chicago where they plan to write a third called "Faith Walks." They get more than 200 letters and e-mails a day, run a Web site and make dozens of appearances every year, including stops at veterans' hospitals across the country to cheer injured soldiers.

That mission is special for Stringfellow, whose son left Iraq in September and is stationed at Fort Wainwright in Alaska. He is scheduled to get out of the Army and head home on Jan. 1.

A sense of hope is especially important for Faith's visits to Army bases. Last weekend she headed to Washington state, where she met with as many as 5,000 soldiers at McChord Air Force Base and Fort Lewis. Some of the soldiers were headed to war, some were coming back. "She just walks around barking and laughing and excited to see them all," Jude Stringfellow said. "There is a lot of crying, pointing and surprise. From those who have lost friends or limbs, there can be silence. Some will shake my hand and thank me, some will pat her on the head. There is a lot of quiet, heartfelt, really deep emotion."

Faith never fails to bring a smile to a soldier's face, said Patrick Mcghee, general manager at Fort Lewis. "To see the children interact with Faith is simply priceless," he said.

But Faith's most emotional reunion — with Reuben Stringfellow, who rescued her 7 years ago this Christmas — will have to wait for January. He's already gotten Faith a birthday present: a peanut butter cookie with her name on it.

Source: ap

Tiny Officer Has Big Job!

Every morning, Midge stretches her 11-in. frame, puts on her special work shirt emblazoned with a star designating her as an official police dog, and prepares for a full day working as a narcotics-detecting K-9.

The Guinness World Record holder for "smallest dog used for law enforcement," the 8-lb. Chihuahua/rat terrier mix works closely with her partner, Sheriff Dan McClelland at the Geauga County Police Department in Ohio.

When he first got an e-mail from Guinness inquiring about Midge, McClelland says, "Frankly I stepped out into the hallway to see if anyone was giggling." Fortunately the message turned out to be authentic, and the pooch has held the record for nearly three years. "It's not real macho to be seen with a dog that looks like it belongs to Paris Hilton," laughs McClelland, who began looking for a smaller police dog after noting the incidence of damage to cars that were searched by unwieldy German shepherds.

Since earning her certification in narcotics three years ago, the 4-year-old Midge has bragging rights to two arrests. "A dog doesn't get credit for an arrest unless they make a detection that we didn't know was there," explains McClelland. "In one case, Midgey searched a burglar's getaway car and alerted us to the seat cushions." Once she finds the drugs, her reward is simple — her partner throws a ball for her and gives her a big hug!

When she's not giving lessons to students on substance abuse and ridding the world of bad guys, Midge plays with McClelland at home, sometimes nipping on to his pant legs. And at night, she goes to sleep buried beneath blankets year-round. Sounds like a fitting end to a hard day's work!

Source: peoplepets.com

Police Dogs On The Job in Papua, New Guinea

It started raining “cats and dogs” and everyone scurried for refuge under a large make-shift tent.
I put on my coat to keep out the cold mountain air that descended abruptly with the deluge and joined the rest under the lean-to. After I was safely sheltered, I kneeled and rummaged through my rucksack to ensure the rain had not seeped through the fabric. I let out a sigh of relief as the interior of the sack was dry and my trade tools, a digital camera, voice recorder and mobile phone were dry as a bone.

But my relief was short-lived as when I looked up a menacing canine was heading directly towards me. I was about to both but a reassuring grin from the handler eased my fears.
Corporal Wass Kandan and his canine, named Max, are with the NCD Police Dog unit, I found out moments later. The location was the Nogoli market near the Oil Search ridge camp at Hides, about 4000m above sea level. The occasion was the Licence-Based Benefits Sharing Agreement forums in the oil and gas rich Hela and Southern Highlands provinces. Hides is South of the Hela capital, Tari, where it’s much, much colder. Another canine, named Talis, and his partner Constable Reeves Mota, were also deployed to provide support to the strong Mobile Squad Units. The primary mission for the Dog Unit was crowd control and if the need arose to pursue any troublemakers. This mission, according to Cpl Kandan is the first major deployment for the dog unit, and if the precedent is set, similar missions will ensue in future.

In PNG, police dogs do not get the attention in fighting crime and riot control but they play and can contribute immensely to police operations. Cpl Kandan is witness to that. He explained that Max is trained specifically to assist police officers during riots for crowd control and he is also ready to sniff out drugs and explosives and also chase and apprehend suspects. “Max is well behaved and disciplined, but can become instantly aggressive upon my command,” Cpl Kandan said. Constable Reeves echoed similar sentiments. The dogs and their handlers are best friends.
According to the two policemen, once a dog and an officer become partners, it’s for life unless either canine or man retires.

I was touched to learn that the two policemen have been sleeping beside their dogs since coming into the area, because the dogs did not like the idea of sleeping in their kennel. Max is past his retirement age of five by two years. “He’s getting old to be on duty, but until the Police get new dogs, Max will be on call,” he said.

Cpl Kandan said he has been with the unit for close to eight years now and his duty very much relies on his partner Max. “Our dogs are an integral part of Police operations, should he be injured or die while serving the nation he will be accorded a proper funeral just like any officer,” his handler said. That is the respect that reflects the importance of police dogs.

When the canines retire both officers said they are ready to adopt them and take them home to settle into a life as a family pet. Indeed, dogs are a man’s best friend.

“Woof, woof,” Max agrees.

Source: thenational.com

Firefighter is a Hero to a Puppy

As Tulsa Police Officer Jacob Johnston approached the scene of a traffic accident on the night of November 23, 2009, he heard whimpering coming from an ice chest along the side of the road.

Johnston found an abandoned puppy in an ice chest off the side of the road along 61st Street near U.S. 75. Firefighter David Merrill, who also responded to the accident, adopted the puppy on the spot.

Merrill said he already has one dog and three kids, who will be getting an early Christmas present. The dog will be named Lucky, Merrill said.

Source: tulsaworld.com

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

Pleazzze ... Can I Hold Just One?? :)

A sailor holds a green turtle hatching from its egg in Thailand. Each year special care is given to around 15,000 green and hawksbill baby turtles hatched and housed at the Thai navy's conservation center. Once the baby turtles are about six months old and their shells are big and strong enough to protect them from predators, the turtles are released to the sea.

Source: reuters

Here Is What A Real Rescuer Does On Her Weekend

This sad deaf pooch in a Los Angeles kill shelter had clearly given up hope. Mislabelled as aggressive, his next stop was the Death Room. My friend Kelly spent her weekend pulling and transporting this amazing fellow. He travelled cuddled sweetly in a ball on the passenger seat of Kelly's small car and offered kisses to Kelly and those who helped him. A Fundable is set up for his vetting (exam, neuter, shots, removal of mass from his back) and transport to Rescue in Indiana. From the text of his Fundable, read about his past -- and now his FUTURE -- below:

This is the link to the Fundable:
http://www.fundable.com/groupactions/groupaction.2009-08-01.5420864374

Perhaps you have seen this photo...or maybe this is the first time you have laid eyes on this heart wrenching moment. He is an unnamed six year old deaf Pit that sits in isolation awaiting certain fate. The bigger tragedy is that he is not alone....you can find this similar story throughout shelters in Los Angeles. But for now we focus on him.....on rewriting the end of his story. He was used up and discarded. A stray. Someone's trash. This is for him.

We are raising funds -and hopefully awareness- to get him bailed, healed and rehabbed in an equipped facility... and offer him some firsts: - a kind hand on his head. - surgery for his back. - quality food. - behavioral therapy. - a bed of his own. - a bath. - words of encouragement. No they won't be heard. But no, they won't be lost on him... nor those that offer them. Please help.

And for those that you have ever heard say that dogs don't think and dogs don't feel... Well, lessons come from the most surprising teachers, sometimes.....you know?

UPDATE Sorry for the delay in posting this information. Needless to say it has been way beyond busy for us - as well as for so many other rescues. We are The Mutt Scouts a 501c3 non profit org. For those that wish for a tax exempt receipt for their donation, please email us at themuttscouts@gmail.com The following is the the background on this Unnamed deaf white Pit in the emotionally brutal photo that has been passed around the internet.

Brief History: This poor handsome guy first caught the attention of us at The Mutt Scouts when we were at the shelter checking on some dogs of interest. We returned on Sunday to bail a couple dogs -and if you follow our blog- http://themuttscouts.wordpress.com/ - wound up bailing many more. This Pit was not available that day but Nikki took the haunting pic that has everyone rallying for this guy's move to safety and to a facility that has the space and faculty to start his surgery, healing and rehab. Enter Kelly Gibson who was so moved by this image that she drove from San Diego up to LA to meet him. Kelly found what we did, that he was not the savage that he has been called and so deserves mercy and opportunity. Kelly's close friend, Rebecca, is the executive director of the Hamilton County Humane Society in Indiana. Rebecca has not only the desire and facilities to provide a chance for this guy, but also works with a trainer that is going to take him into her home and make his daily rehab her priority. We do not adopt out of state and have an iron clad rule not to allow networked dogs out of state either. Naturally we were skeptical when approached. But after extensive checking into Rebecca and speaking to her, we feel confident that she is so very competent, enormously dedicated and essentially the real deal. Therefore we started this fundable to help cover cost of pull, transport to a facility here for two weeks and his immediate care to be followed by his transport to her facility in Indiana. Anything left over will be handed off to his new care provider. Here is a six year old deaf dog sitting on Death Row who has been drug through hell in his life that sparked nationwide interest because of a picture. He is now being afforded a legitimate future and the possibility of pictures reflecting a vastly improved, nurturing quality of life. Huge thanks to all donators, all of you concerned for his well-being and all those reposting his story. If you have any other questions please email us at themuttscouts@gmail.com

Struttin' His Stuff In Style!

Chhouk, a 3 year old Asian elephant, was discovered alone in the forests in the Sprepok Wilderness area of Cambodia after his front left foot was caught in a trap.

The foot had become infected. Chhouk was severely malnourished and barely able to stand. His heartbroken rescuers feared he would never walk again.

But now, Chhouk is putting his best foot forward thanks to surgical treatment and his new pachyderm-sized foot prosthetic.

The Cambodian Wildlife Alliance and the WWF quickly arranged for Chhouk to be sent on an 26-hour journey to a rescue centre in Phnom Tamao, Cambodia, for treatment. A surgical team cut off 12cm of infected tissue, cleaned Chhouk's wounds and slowly nursed the poor elephant back to health.

Chhouk was off balance due to his missing foot, making it almost impossible for him to walk. Due to the enormous strain being put of one side of his body, Chhouk would have developed bone deformities, particularly to his spine, so a false foot was crucial. The Cambodian School of Prosthetics and Orthotics were contacted to make Chhouk the false foot that would help him walk freely.

Chhouk needed no anaesthetic or painkillers when the prosthetic limb – which will need changing as he grows – was attached. A few turnips and bananas to keep him busy did the trick.

Now, the plucky jumbo has a new lease of life and has even been adopted by a 10-year-old female elephant named Lucky. The two elephants now spend all their time together and enjoy splashing in the water pool in their enclosure. Chhouk is now looking healthy, is full of energy and has quickly adjusted to walking with his new foot.

Chhouk is one of fewer than 300 Asian elephants remaining in Cambodia.

Source: telegraph.co.uk

After the Raids ... Finding the Victims A Home

The United States is cracking down on dogfighting, as shown by the sweeping raids on July 8, 2009 which yielded 26 arrests across seven states and the seizure of 450 pit bulls bred to fight. This is the biggest dogfighting raid in US history according to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

But as raids on dogfighting rings step up, the HSUS and animal adoption groups face a dilemma: Can they find homes for all the rescued dogs?

Dogfighting raids have increased since the 2007 arrest and conviction of former Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick in Virginia for breeding fighting dogs and engaging in dog fights became a rallying point for animal rights activists.

The successful adoption of Mr. Vick's dogs showed that even dogs bred to fight can find good homes. Media publicity and work by shelter organizations means all the rescued dogs from the July 8 raids are likely to find a home. The Humane Society of Missouri has taken more than 300 dogs from the raids, and the dogs will be evaluated by behavioral experts to see if they can be rehabilitated.

But in general, pit bull adoption agencies are overwhelmed. Thousands of pit bulls are euthanized each day in the United States, experts say. The breeding and handling of pit bulls plays a huge role in their temperament, which can run the gamut from gentle to overtly aggressive, even deadly. There are a number of temperament tests on the market, but none can fully guarantee future behavior, making pit bulls a special case in the dog adoption world.

Source: yahoo; Photo: ap

Shanghai's 1st Animal Shelter Has Growing Pains

Jane Su never thought she would be in such a dilemma. The Singaporean businesswoman who manages the Shanghai's first animal shelter for cats and dogs said the shelter in Baoshan District has seen a rise in the number of incoming strays, but not enough people have adopted the pets since the shelter's opening in May 2009. Shanghai is estimated to have more than 100,000 stray cats and dogs. Many were once pets, but were abandoned by their owners.

Though animal lovers welcomed the shelter and keep bringing in more lost or abandoned pets, only five dogs have been adopted in the past three months, Su said. Shelter staff said most people probably don't know it exists, but at the same time, they worry that media exposure might trigger more people to leave their pets, exceeding their capacity to care for the animals. "I'm always struggling with the question of whether I should promote our shelter these days," Su says.

As a member of the non-profit Shanghai Small Animal Protection Association, Su devoted all her weekends in the past year to setting up the shelter, which can accommodate up to 40 animals at a time. It now has more than 20 dogs waiting to be adopted. Su said a different mindset between Chinese and foreigners may also be part of the reason few pets have been adopted. She said pet adoption is more accepted among foreigners. "We hope that more Chinese people will join us."

Source: english.eastday.com

Cat Saved After 8 Days in Tree

A cat in Hagerstown, Maryland used one of it's nine lives when it was rescued after 8 days from its perch 75 to 80 feet up a tree.

The kitty cried for days until a good Samaritan, Garrett Tharp, owner of "Doctor Tree", a tree trimming service, went up into the tree and rescued it. Earlier attempts to reach the cat, including efforts by a local fire department and the humane society, had failed. The cat was examined at a local vet and will soon be up for adoption at the Washington County (MD) Humane Society. For more information about this little survivor, contact the Washington County Humane Society at 301-733-2060.

Source: your4state.com, herald-mail.com

K-9 Bends Steel to Escape Fireworks

"JJ", a drug-sniffing Spokane, Washington police K-9 officer, made a Houdini-like escape from his kennel at the police academy on the night of July 4.

JJ's handler thought JJ would be secure in his kennel which is latched with a u-shaped steel bar and locked and surrounded by chain-link fence.

"I couldn't believe that a dog was able to pry open the steel clasp that held the gate shut, you know, he was very motivated," JJ's handler said later when he returned to find blood and a deformed latch. Most likely spooked in response to illegal fireworks set off near the police academy, the kennel had been pried open and JJ was no longer around. JJ had used his teeth to bend the steel latch back and push through the cage. To finish his escape, JJ then scaled or jumped over two chain-link fences -- one of which is six feet tall.

An urgent email was sent out by the police department and word of the escape was picked up by local media. Fortunately, JJ's handler found him the next morning running along the street next to the Police Academy.

JJ had no serious injuries from his escape and police are considering additional safety measures for the facility.

Source: kxly.com

Two K-9 Officers Die in Hot Car

Two British police dogs died on June 30, 2009 after being left in a car during a heat wave.

The German shepherds were left in a car in the police headquarters parking lot in Nottingham, England . Temperatures topped 84 degrees. The dogs' handler was on duty and had gone inside the building. Police did not say how long the dogs were left outside in the car.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is investigating the dogs' deaths. The maximum penalty for causing unnecessary distress to an animal is six months' imprisonment or a 20,000 pound ($33,000 U.S.) fine, or both.

Source: pet-abuse.com

Hey California! Did you Lose your Saluki??

A stray neutered male Saluki dog brought to a Carlsbad, California animal shelter last week has an implanted microchip registered to the U.S. Military headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The dog was found on June 15, 2009 near Escondido, about 30 miles north of San Diego. The shelter believes someone in the military owns the dog and likely brought him from overseas; however, they haven't been able to track down the owner.

Plenty of people have said they would take him but authorities hope the real owner will come forward.

"There's a lot of unanswered questions, and dogs can't talk, so we're kind of restricted as to what information we can get out of him," a shelter rep said, chuckling. "We're trying to put the word out. He is a sweetheart of a dog."

Source: nbclosangeles

Takin' the Word On the Road....

Jim and Bev Long drive their "Puppy Mill Truck" to bring awareness to the growing puppy mill industry in their home state of Wisconsin. Metal crates filled with stuffed animals stacked high in the pickup bed draw the public's attention and have even gotten them stopped by police who thought the animals were real.

Find out more about the Long's grass-roots efforts at puppymilltruck.com

Contact the Longs or make a donation of stuffed animals, gas cards, etc. at: Puppy Mill Truck, P.O. 338, Sharon, WI 53585; Email: countrytown@charter.net

Source: puppymilltruck.com

Forget the Nursery Rhyme! Humpty & Dumpty Live!

These two turtles - named Humpty and Dumpty by RSPCA officers - were discovered in an orchard in England after a passerby saw them being mauled by a dog on June 4, 2009.

They have been wrapped in a special pink plaster cast and dressings which need to be changed every three days while their shells grow back.

Humpty and Dumpty are expected to make a full recovery, although vets say their shells are likely to appear slightly deformed. Humpty and Dumpty are estimated to be two to three years old.

Source: telegraph.co.uk

West Virginia Outlaws Gas Chamber

SB 501 prohibiting use of the gas chamber to kill animals in West Virginia has been signed by Governor Manchin and becomes effective on August 27, 2009. THANK YOU Governor Manchin for your support!

Photo: wvgov.org

No Pet Left Behind!

Operation Baghdad Pups brings companion animals, befriended by United States military while serving in the Middle East, to new homes in the United States. Every animal in the Operation Baghdad Pups program must already have a home in the states before being accepted. SPCA International carefully screens the new home to make sure they are aware of the potential challenges they and their families might face as the pet adjusts to life stateside and not in the middle of a war zone.

SPCA International funds these efforts through donations. Learn more and donate at Operation Baghdad Pups

Source: SPCA International

Just Ducky! :)

In Manchester, New Hampshire, a mother duck has been reunited with two of her babies who fell into a storm drain.

Just before Mother's Day, Momma Duck was crossing the street followed by 11 ducklings when two of her little ones tumbled through an open storm grate. While patrons from a nearby hair salon corralled the upset mother duck and her other 9 ducklings in a box, city workers opened the storm grate and safely retrieved the two wayward ducklings who were unhurt.

All 11 ducklings and their Mother were then carried to the nearby Merrimack River, they were met by a male duck who led the family into the water.

Source: GMANews.tv