Any changes in a pet’s environment can cause stress and lead to inappropriate behaviors, said Debra Nickelson, DVM, of Central Life Sciences. “By taking the appropriate measures to prepare pets for travel and anticipating their needs during a trip, many potential issues can be avoided,” she said.

Nickelson offered these tips for traveling with dogs and cats:

Help your dog or cat get used to traveling in the car before you begin a long road trip. You’ll be able to determine if your pet suffers from motion sickness or becomes overly excited in the car, and can seek treatment from your vet before you leave for your vacation.

Make sure you have the proper carrier or seatbelt harness for your pet, to keep both the animal and the humans safe during the trip.

Keep your dog on its normal feeding schedule as much as possible. Feed him one hour before you depart, and immediately after you stop traveling for the day.

Never leave your pet alone in the car. Extreme temperatures in a closed car can be fatal.

Obtain proof of vaccinations from your veterinarian prior to departing. Many hotels require these documents when checking in with pets.

Pack some of your pet’s favorite items from home, such as bedding, toys, and food dish. Bring a crate if you must leave your pet unattended in the hotel room.

Put the “do not disturb” sign on the door to keep out hotel staff. Leave a TV or radio on at a low level to drown out unfamiliar noises and voices.

For more travel tips, click here.

[Source: Dog Channel]

“Some cities clearly roll out the red carpet for dogs and their owners,” says Susan Chaney, editor of Dog Fancy. “Each year, it’s gratifying to read about so many organizations and individuals who work toward making their cities welcoming to dogs. We’re very pleased to honor Colorado Springs this year, and congratulate it for avoiding legislation like that adopted by Denver which bans pit-bull-type dogs.”

Runner-up cities include:
– Huntington Beach, Calif.
– Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
– Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.
– Long Beach, Calif.

Each year, Dog Fancy calls for readers to submit nominations for what they believe to be America’s most dog-friendly cities. The criteria used to select the winning city include plenty of dog-friendly open spaces and dog parks, events celebrating dogs and their owners, high vet-to-dog ratios, abundant pet supply and other services, and municipal laws that support and protect all pets.

Chaney will travel to Colorado Springs to present the city with the top honor. For the complete story on DogTown USA, pick up the September issue of Dog Fancy, on newsstands July 29, 2008.

[Source: marketwatch.com]

With tiny cameras fixed to their heads, the animals will be sent in before their human partners to hunt for Taliban or insurgent hideouts.

The cameras will beam live images back to the troops as the dogs penetrate behind enemy lines and warn of ambushes.

According to The Sun, the dogs will be trained to accompany soldiers on what are called ‘High Altitude High Opening’ parachute jumps, after which they may have to travel 20 miles to their targets.

It is hoped the technique will reduce the level of danger to SAS soldiers, three of whom have been shot dead during raids in Iraq in two years.
At least eight have been seriously wounded.

An SAS source told the newspaper: “The dogs will be exposed to very high levels of danger on these operations and you never know what’s going to be behind a door. Nobody wants to see the dogs get killed but if it’s their life or a man’s it is obvious which the CO would prefer.”

The elite American unit, 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, commonly known as Delta Force, has pioneered the parachute technique from heights over 20,000ft and its instructors have reportedly been sent over to 22 SAS headquarters in Hereford.

The Ministry of Defence refused to comment.
Dogs were first trained to parachute in the Second World War but have never before jumped from such high altitudes.

The story of Rob the SAS dog, a celebrated collie said to have completed at least 20 parachute jumps, was exposed as a hoax in 2006.

[Source: Telegraph.co.UK]

The winner of the Alpo Real Meat Moments contest will be the face of the dog food brand, appearing on millions of Alpo cans and in national print advertising. The winner will also receive a trip for two to Hollywood, $10,000, and other prizes. Four runners up will receive a one-year supply of Alpo; 20 semifinalists will receive a six-month supply of Alpo.

The national contest ends July 27, 2008. Upload your entry of your dog going bonkers during dinnertime on the Alpo website or mail in videos. The videos will be judged based on originality, appropriateness to the contest theme, and the dog’s star potential.

You can also visit the website to view, rate, and pass on videos to your friends. The voting period to select five semifinalists runs from August 10 through August 24, 2008.

[Source: Dog Channel]

Sue Dietrich, who owns the facility with her husband Ron, said she plans to use the money raised to buy things for both the dogs and their handlers. “One of our employees just came back from Iraq, so I plan to talk to him about what sort of things they need over there,” she said. “But we’ve been given a list of guidelines of what to buy from Dogtopia, and we get to buy it ourselves. We’re hoping to send some doggles (goggles to keep the blowing sand and sun out of the dog’s eyes), booties for their feet to protect them from the sand, dog toys and some things for their handlers like chapstick.”

In all, 51 dogs were bathed in four hours and more than $1,000 was raised for the working dogs in Iraq. “It exceeded our expectations. We ran over to finish all the dogs we had in line. We were still going until after 4 (p.m.),” Dietrich said, adding that several of the people were new to Dogtopia. “The majority were new people. It sounded like a number of them came a good distance. They weren’t all local.”

Dietrich was quick to point out that the added supplies they will send does not mean the Army is ignoring its working dogs. “This is in addition to what the Army provides,” she said. “We think any extra little bit helps.”

The annual dog wash fundraiser was created by Dogtopia founder Amy Nichols, who was trying to think of a charitable way to give back to animals, Dietrich said. In the last four years, the nonprofit arm of the company — K-9 Support — has raised more than $25,000 and sent more than 5,000 pounds of supplies to Iraq. In addition to the doggles and booties, Dietrich hopes to be able to send other items include cooling vests and pads for the dogs, as well as heat-resistant clothing.

Dietrich had eight people washing dogs for the fundraiser. Seven were Dogtopia employees, and one was a loyal customer. “Our No. 1 customer,” she joked.

Sandra Pressman, of Clarksville, came out on a sunny Sunday to spend four hours up to her elbows in dog fur and suds. “I just think it’s terrific that we can do something to help the dogs who are on the front lines, also risking their lives.”

[Source: The View Newspaper]

This year’s 10th annual show, scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, includes a lot of the same attractions that have made the event such a hit in years past. There will be competitions for best costume, prettiest female, handsomest male, most unusual mix, hairiest dog and best performer. Comic juggler Dana Smith will perform with his dog, Lacey, and Happiness Country Kennels will present a dog agility course.

The show has expanded from about 40 entries when it first started to about 150 last year, Caster said. While the main goal is to have some fun, organizers also do their best to get dog lovers to consider adopting rescued dogs. One of the contest categories is “Best Rescued,” in which dog owners tell how their dogs found their permanent homes.

Several purebred animal rescue groups will have booths at the show, and The Tri-City Animal Shelter’s mobile adoption center will be on site. Also, a portion of the show’s proceeds go to the Ohlone Humane Society.

In the costume competition, winners have included dogs dressed as gargoyles, unicorns and royalty. Caster couldn’t recall if the dogs dressed up in garter belts or leather fared well at past shows.

Contestants can be registered up to the start of the show. On-site registration cost $20; click here for online pre-registration, which costs $15. All registrants will get a free dog show tote bag.

[Source: The Argus]

The better news: One solution to reduce the number of pet deaths is adoption. Adopting a dog is a life-changing event. Dogs need lots of time and attention, requiring owners to be there every day. Therefore, it’s critical to find out whether you’re actually ready for a dog or would be happier with a goldfish instead.

“Making sure people are fully prepared to adopt a dog means a happier home and longer life for the dog,” said dog expert Trevor Wright. “Taking the time to thoughtfully consider if you are ready can reduce the number of abandoned and neglected pets.”
Here are a few things to consider when adopting a dog:

1. Are your children ready? Babies and toddlers can’t be trained as easily as dogs, which is why many experts recommend waiting until children are at least 8 years old before bringing a canine into the mix. If you’re set on getting a dog and have small children in the house, consider adopting an easygoing adult dog who’ll need less attention than a growing puppy.

2. Is the decision to adopt unanimous? Dogs shed, bark and can be messy. Unless the whole household is fond of your dog, it’s easy for resentment to build. It also makes it hard to set and enforce house rules, such as whether the dog can join you on the couch.

3. Consider the costs. On average, expect to spend about $800 during the first year of your dog’s life. If you live in a city where vet costs are higher, work full-time and need backup care, and want to give him at least a few treats, it can easily climb to $1,200 to $1,800 annually.

4. No yard? No problem. Some people believe a fenced-in yard is critical to having a dog. In fact, a yard can become an excuse for not walking or exercising your dog daily. Dogs spending most of their time in the backyard miss out on meeting other dogs and people, which keeps them happy and well socialized.

Learn More
For more information, visit http://www.dogtime.com/.

[Source: NAPSI]