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Rehabilitating The Vick Dogs: Phase Two
Today, 22 of the pit bulls from the Michael Vick dog fighting case have made it past the first phase of life at Best Friends in Kanab, Utah. To even begin rehabilitating the dogs, caregivers and trainers had to start from the very beginning, or phase one: building the foundation—namely, a relationship. The early days of the dogs’ stay was the time to make friends and to gain trust. Now they’re one step further on the road to finding homes.
Photo left: Vick Dogs
Education with tails to share
What happens when you combine school staff members, their own dogs and a classroom of kids? Something pretty wonderful.
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club. The AKC. Everyone's heard of it. But, really, what does it do? Founded in 1884 during a meeting of dog breed club presidents in Philadelphia, the "club of clubs" eventually established office space in New York City.
Unlikely Heroes
Pets are a lot of work. There's the cleaning up after them, the walks, training, shedding, vet bills and occasional chewed shoe or scratched couch. With that in mind, few people look at their panting dog or shedding cat and think, "You could save my life someday." But a large body of evidence indicates that perhaps we should. A quick internet search reveals that pets are often responsible for more than creating extra work. They're saving people's lives.
Therapy Dogs Have The Right Stuff
Chopper's a busy guy. During summer school, you may find him lying on a blanket in Pat Kinch's classroom while a child reads to him. Or the 4-year-old rottweiler might be at Abbott Northwestern calming the nerves of a child undergoing radiation treatments for cancer. Once a week, he's at summer camp with autistic kids, encouraging their verbal skills. And he makes regular visits to nursing homes, where he interacts with seniors.
In poll of pet owners, McCain tops Obama
If the presidential election were up to pet owners, John McCain could have a blue ribbon in his future.
Canicross
Do you have a dog that takes you for a walk? Or can you imagine your dog pulling you up a pine-shaded mountain trail while you jog behind? Then try canicross, the sport of running or walking cross-country while tethered to a dog in harness.
Economic Woes Affect Pets
The Humane Society of the United States estimates that more than 3 million pets are euthanized in shelters every year. In seven years, one unspayed female cat and her unaltered offspring can produce 420,000 new cats.
Saving Jim
Who would ever guess that being beautiful, athletic and smart could be a recipe for disaster? Though it may seem unlikely, that's what happened to one flashy Paint horse whose intelligence and sensitivity caused him trouble from the day he was born.
Sasha The Therapy Dog
Like many of us with hectic schedules, Sasha could stand to lose three or four pounds. "Her profession is treat-oriented," says David Kettering, Sasha's owner and work partner. Sasha, a six-year-old Samoyed, has been a certified therapy dog for the past five years.
A Healthy Partnership
Instead of a sprawling park, sheets of vinyl and pet fencing created a makeshift play space for pint-sized pooches - none much bigger than a hefty house cat. In lieu of the great outdoors, the pups roughhoused in the common room of Walker Elder Suites in Edina.
More from petcentral
- Do Pets Show Post-Traumatic Stress?
- Pawlenty Fed My Dogs Milk Bones
- A Ruby Beyond Compare
- Healing Touch
- Can You Fence A Cat?
- Flying The Friendly Skies With Fido Or Fluffy
- Goin' Up North
- R.E.A.D. To Me!
- Dog-to-Dog Aggression
- Thunderstorms And Fireworks
- Over-the-counter Medications: Convenient Or Catastrophic?
- Understanding Resource Guarding
- Understanding Zoonoses
- The Dish: Horse crazy or money crazy?
- Rehabilitating The Vick Dogs
More From Pet Central:
- Do Pets Show Post-Traumatic Stress?
- Pawlenty Fed My Dogs Milk Bones
- A Ruby Beyond Compare
- Healing Touch
- Can You Fence A Cat?
- Flying The Friendly Skies With Fido Or Fluffy
- Goin' Up North
- R.E.A.D. To Me!
- Dog-to-Dog Aggression
- Thunderstorms And Fireworks
- Over-the-counter Medications: Convenient Or Catastrophic?
- Understanding Resource Guarding
- Understanding Zoonoses
- The Dish: Horse crazy or money crazy?
- Rehabilitating The Vick Dogs
More From Pet Central:
Upcoming Events
Miniature Schnauzer Rescue Day
Chuck & Don's Roseville store at 1661 County Road C West, just off Snelling. Phone 651-287-0986.
"It's a Dog's Life, but it's Your Carpet" book signing
Common Good Books
165 Western Ave N. Suite 14
St. Paul, MN 55102
Rice County Sheriff K9 Unit
Chuck & Don's Northfield-Dundas store located at 615 Stafford Road, just south of Target on Highway 3.
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Они рядом ! кликни сюда и удивись
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My dogs behavior
My dogs behavior has recently changed and im not sure why......Before she used to love to go out in the morning so she could pee. but now i have to pick her up and take her outside because she doesnt wanna go. she would rather go to the basement and pee. which before she hated going down there. its seems as though she is scared to go outside. read more »
good for dogs
I have a 13 year old water spaniel can they have coffee, hard mint candy?
Recent Blog Posts
New Pet Food Deli in Minneapolis
There's a new pet food deli in the Twin Cities that is touted as a health food store for pets. Woody’s Pet Food Deli, owned by Enrique and Michelle Palma, is now open and located at 3008 West 50th Street in Minneapolis.
From its in-store kitchen, Woody’s makes a variety of "fresh, homemade, wholesome pet food, both cooked and raw." In addition, they sell an array of pet supplements and natural treats.
The store is named after Woody, a nine-year-old German shepherd mix the Palmas adopted who was malnourished, had inflammatory bowel disease and was losing hair on his head and legs. Soon thereafter, they added Fred to the family—an 11-year-old beagle who was 46 lbs (more than twice the amount he should weigh,) had pollen allergies, a heart murmur, severe chronic ear infections, arthritis, multiple cysts, anal sac problems, hot spots and excessive shedding. read more »
Hemingway’s Cats
Hemingway’s Cats
By Laura French
My favorite photo of Ernest Hemingway was taken at the end of what I imagine to have been a fabulous dinner party. The great man, seated at the head of the table, is absorbed in conversation with the person on his left. He is not in the least concerned with the cat that is picking its way through the plates and wine glasses.
Dave Gonzales, Events Director for the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum in Key West, Florida, has his own favorite photo. Hemingway is flanked by his two sons. Each of the three Hemingway males is petting a cat.
The photographic evidence is conclusive: Ernest Hemingway, that most macho and masculine of all writers, was a cat lover. Use that fact to counter any claims that cats are for girls and only dogs are a real man’s best friends. read more »
Rehabilitating The Vick Dogs: Phase Two
Rehabilitating The Vick Dogs: Phase Two
By Kelli Ohrtman
Today, 22 of the pit bulls from the Michael Vick dog fighting case have made it past the first phase of life at Best Friends in Kanab, Utah. To even begin rehabilitating the dogs, caregivers and trainers had to start from the very beginning, or phase one: building the foundation—namely, a relationship. The early days of the dogs’ stay was the time to make friends and to gain trust. Now they’re one step further on the road to finding homes.
Phase One: Trust
For some dogs, the first phase was longer than for others. Oliver, for instance, took months to feel comfortable around the people—even the people he sees every day. In an assessment done on Oliver before he came to Best Friends, it was recorded that in the shelter staff’s opinion, Oliver would probably never walk on a leash; he was too "far gone" to ever enjoy being around people. read more »
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