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Source: AFP.com, August 30,2010

TARQUINIA, Italy — This summer, Italy’s special squad of rescue workers were again chalking up success: some 300 dogs ready to help save lives on dozens of Italian beaches.

In early August in Tarquinia, a town about 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of Rome, the dogs and their human partners saved on the same day two girls, who had fallen off their boat and two others, who had fallen off an inflatable raft.

The labradors, golden retrievers and Newfoundlands trained by the Italian School for Rescue Dogs (http://www.waterrescuedogs.com/) are credited with saving more than 100 lives, including a dozen this year alone.

“Compared to the rest of the world, the school is the only one that systematically monitors beaches every summer with human-canine units,” Roberto Gasbarri, the school’s coordinator for central-southern Italy, told AFP.

The teams work in most of Italy’s 20 regions, even landlocked ones such as northern Trentino Alto-Adige, where rescuers monitor lakes.

Their school, financed by local governments like regions and municipalities, is recognised by Italy’s civil protection and coordinated by local coast guards around the country.

“It’s been five years now that we’ve been relying on the school,” said Lamberto Alessandro, the head of the coastguard in Tarquinia.

“Their help is very valuable to us and they are absolutely trustworthy,” he said, as dogs in lifejackets leapt off boats for practice runs.

“The five tests to get the license are pretty difficult. You need to swim almost as fast as your dog, which is not as easy as it sounds,” said Paola de Santis, 36, who began training this year with her five-year-old lab Teo.

The rescuer certificate for dogs and owners requires one year of training both on the ground and on water, and the teams must train and pass tests each year before the summer season.

The next training round is set to start in mid-September.

Techniques include beach starts with lifesaver in hand or sea rescues from a raft or a helicopter.

“We developed a special system that can allow us to save three people at a time,” Gasbarri said. “The (human) rescuer ties two people to the dog and is then free to take care of the third person,” Gasbarri said.

“That way we avoid tiring back-and-forths,” he added.

For lifeguards, the most dangerous moment in the rescue is bringing back the victim.

In this phase, “the dog is a real engine that helps bring the person back even if he or she resists or is agitated,” Gasbarri said.

Gasbarri said the dogs are never scared of the water and tides as for them, rescues and training are much like a game.

“There are some very dangerous areas, … and when there are large waves and a strong current, only a dog can intervene since, unlike humans, they don’t feel fear in dangerous situations,” said Mauro Mazzola, the mayor of Tarquinia.

The golden retrievers, labradors and Newfoundlands that the school recruits are docile and calm animals and their physical characteristics make them better rescuers.
“They are better swimmers than others because their coat lets out water quickly and they have webbed paws, which allows them to push water behind them and swim faster than other dogs,” de Santis said as her dog Teo shook the water off his coat in apparent approval.
After rescues, especially for children, a dog is a calming presence.

“The patting, kisses and play really help lessen the child’s shock after the danger,” Gasbarri said.

Source: Reuters Life, Aug 23, 2010

A Labrador that ate a beehive containing pesticides and thousands of dead bees won an award on Monday that recognized the most unusual pet health insurance claim in the United States.

Ellie, who fully recovered from her encounter with the beehive in southern California, beat a border collie that ran through a window to get at a mailman, and a terrier that bit a chainsaw.

She won a bronze trophy in the shape of a ham, and basket of toys and doggie treats.

The winner was announced on Monday by the Veterinary Pet Insurance Co (VPI) and selected from a dozen pets nationwide.

“Ellie may be a young dog, but she’s already managed to eat everything from wooden toy train tracks to laptop computer keys,” said the VPI. “So the beehive in the backyard was just another culinary adventure for this insatiable pooch.

All three hungry dogs have recovered after receiving care from a vet.

Source: khou.com, July 21, 2010

A Grimes County woman gave up 100 miniature horses and 46 dogs Wednesday because she couldn’t afford to care for them in the struggling economy.

The animals are being taken to the Houston SPCA. All will undergo a medical and behavioral evaluation before they can be put up for adoption.

The miniature horses are thin and have not received proper hoof care, according to the SPCA. The organization is requesting the help of volunteer equine veterinarians and farriers to treat the horses. They also need donations of miniature horse halters and lead ropes.

Horses are expensive to keep and the plunging economy is taking its toll on horse owners.  According to Horseman Magazine, the average cost of caring for a horse is five times the amount of caring for a dog.  Sadly, many horses—locally and nationally—are being abandoned and slowly left to starve to death.

If you are interested in donating, fostering or adopting a horse, call 713-869-7722, ext. 138.

Source: rep-am.com, July 7, 2010

A Torrington man was charged with two counts of animal cruelty Tuesday evening after police said he burned one dog with boiling water and caused the death of a second dog.

Nathan Mosimann, 22, 42 Deruyter Drive, was released Tueday evening after he posted a $20,000 bond. His arrest marked the second time city police filed animal cruelty charges in the past week: Police announced July 1 that they had charged Jeffrey A. Dunlap, 46, 334 Goshen Road, after an investigator learned he hit his dog on the head with a mallet and shot it with a pellet gun.

Police said they were first alerted to Mosimann’s case on April 27, after one of Mosimann’s family members told police that Mosimann may have caused the death of his beagle Carly, who died at Mosimann’s home that day. Police were told that Carly was “lying on the floor, unable to get up and suffering a bloody mouth after Mosimann was with the dog,” Lt. Mike Emanuel said in a statement.

The dog was treated that day at a veterinarian for an ear infection and was told the dog had recently run away, but Emanuel said no x-rays were performed because of the cost. The dog died later that day.

An autopsy performed on the animal showed it had sufered a fractured skull and neck, which police say was caused by Mosimann. Police did not release details of how they believe Mosimann caused the injury.

During the course of the investigation, police learned Mosimann was suspected in the burning of another dog, named Teddy. Police said family members told them that Mosimann was home alone with Teddy and dropped boiling water on the dog, causing burns to 45 percent of its body.

Mosimann claimed the burning, which took place about eight months before Carly died, was an accident but did not report the burning for several days. It was unclear in the news release police provided whether Teddy was owned by Mosimann.

Merrick Pet Care, Inc. is recalling 86 cases of its 10-ounce “Beef Filet Squares for Dogs” pet treats because they have the potential to be contaminated with salmonella.

The July 2 recall is for treats are sold in 10-ounce plastic bags marked with “Lot # 10084TL7 Best By Mar 24, 2012″ on the top of the bag and on a sticker applied to the bottom.

On January 14, the U. S. FDA warned consumers not to use Merrick Beef Filet Squares for dogs distributed by Merrick Pet Care with a package date of “Best By 111911″ because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

Salmonella can affect animals and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products.

People handling the treats can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the chews or any surfaces exposed to these products.

Consumers should dispose of these products in a safe manner by securing them in a covered trash receptacle.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers immediately.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian immediately.

The Beef Filet Squares were shipped to distributors and retailers throughout the US. These individuals have been notified and have activated their recall procedures.

No illnesses have been reported to date. FDA collected a surveillance sample of “Merrick Beef Filet Squares for Dogs” (lot #10084TL7) which were purchased from a retail store. The sample tested positive for Salmonella.

Consumers who have purchased 10-ounce packages of “Beef Filet Squares for Dogs” are urged to return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-664-7387 M-F 8:00 – 5:00 CDT.

Source: BostonHerald.com, July 6, 2010

STRAFFORD, N.H. — A New Hampshire dog owner says her 5½-pound dog probably survived being dragged off in the night by a coyote because of its hair.

Andrea Doyon tells Foster’s Daily Democrat she watched in horror last week when a coyote came out of the woods near her Strafford home, grabbed her Pomeranian Teddy by the neck and then disappeared into the woods. She could hear Teddy howling.

Doyon, her boyfriend and others searched for more than two hours, but couldn’t find the dog.

But several hours later Teddy made it home with only minor scratches.

It was the veterinarian who suggested Teddy’s big hair probably saved its life.

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