Steelers Game a Death Sentence for Puppy Named Flip

Personally, I'm not much of a sports fan.  My reasons for feeling this way have lots more to do with the attitudes associated with sports than with the games themselves.  It's the people, not the game.

One person who epitomizes my disdain for these game-related attitudes is William Woodson, 22, of Bridgeville, Pennsylvania.  Seems Woodson used Sunday's Pittsburgh Steelers game as the opportunity to mete out a death sentence on his girlfriend's puppy named Flip.  Flip was just 13 weeks old.

In an affidavit Woodson provided to Bridgeville police, he stated he never liked his girlfriend's puppy in the first place but the puppy really got under his skin when the dog wouldn't behave according to Woodson's desires in the moments preceding Sunday's football game.  The puppy, being just a puppy, after all, was not walking obediently alongside Woodson and his live-in girlfriend, Christine Gielarowski, 21, so Woodson began kicking it "like a soccer ball," according to one witness.  Woodson continued kicking the pit bull puppy down the street until the puppy died from the abuse.

Woodson fled once the dog appeared lifeless, Gielarowski lied to police about her identity and Woodson's, and police had to turn to Gielarowski's parents to learn of Woodson's identity.  Once police found the friend's house where Woodson was watching the game, Woodson was captured as he tried to escape out the back door.

I don't know how Sunday's game turned out for the Steelers.  I don't even know who they played.  And I don't care, either.  As far as I'm concerned, it was a loss.  Poor little Flip lost his life and the rest of us lost some of our collective humanity.

Traits - Labrador Retriever

The brave saga of a black Labrador retriever named Sabi may leave many readers wondering what makes a Lab so useful for sniffing out bombs, booby traps, and other explosive devices that endanger our troops fighting the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.  This breed of dog is a natural for military service.  They are innately intelligent, loyal, adaptable, highly trainable, and very eager to please.  Just the kind of soldier I'd want next to me during a combat mission.

Labs are a large breed of dogs, weighing between 55 and 75 pounds when fully grown.  They typically stand between 21 and 25 inches tall.  The expected life expectancy of a Labrador retriever is 10 to 12 years.

High energy levels mean Labs need plenty of regular exercise that best includes swimming and, well, retrieving.  They like to play, exercise, or work in large open areas where they have plenty of room to romp and roam. Their natural playfulness, coupled with their sense of loyalty, make them excellent choices for families with children.

The Labrador retriever's personality makes this dog an ideal choice for service environments, such as the one Sabi enjoys with her Australian Army unit.  Labs are great for policing in all sorts of situations; Sabi detects explosive devices but other Labs are trained to detect narcotics.

Since Labs are short-haired dogs, grooming needs are minimal.  A good brush a couple of times a week does the job just fine.  Labs are commonly black, like Sabi, or yellow or chocolate brown; their coats are almost always mono-colored but a small white spot on the chest is not uncommon either.  All labs have a short, dense coat of straight hair with an undercoat that is soft and weather resistant, keeping them warm and dry when the weather is cold and wet.

In spite of their name, Labrador retrievers actually originated in Newfoundland.  Labrador is a coastal region in the easternmost part of Canada and Newfoundland is a large island off the Labradorian coast.  Both areas were united as one Canadian province - Newfoundland and Labrador - in 1949.  In the 19th century, when the breed originated, Labrador retrievers were instrumental in helping fishermen pull in heavy nets filled with fish.  The Labs would hop into the chilly water, grab hold of the cork floats attached to the nets, and swim them back to the boat for retrieval.

Pig Ear, Hoof Doggie Treats Tainted with Salmonella

Yesterday the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a health alert involving pig ears and pig hooves that may be tainted with Salmonella bacteria.  These much loved doggie treats (at least they're much loved in my household, where I even use them as doggie currency) are sold under many brand names and as both packaged and bulk items in pet shops and retail chain stores.  Products under investigation are produced at the Sanger, California, manufacturing facility for Pet Carousel.

No cases of illness linked to these treats have been reported to the FDA but the agency urges all pet owners who have them on hand to throw them away in a covered trash receptacle.  Humans can become infected and ill from handling things, including these pet treats, contaminated by Salmonella bacteria.

Symptoms in humans include diarrhea that may become bloody, nausea, and vomiting.  More severe symptoms are possible and some of them can develop into life-threatening medical emergencies.

Symptoms in dogs include a loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and fever.  The bacteria can be transferred from pet to human or human to pet so it's always important to wash hands thoroughly after handling a pet and his toys or treats.  Any suspicious symptoms in humans or pets should be immediately reported to a medical or veterinary facility.

Brand names selling the pig ear treats in packages include Doggie Delight and Pet Carousel.  The pig hoof treats are packaged as Pet Carousel, Doggie Delight, Dentley's, and Choo Hooves.  These treats are often sold in bulk at pet stores and retail chains, with no associated brand name exhibited.

The Salmonella contamination was identified in a routine test conducted at the Pet Carousel plant in September 2009.  Further testing revealed contamination of both the pig ear and pig hoof treats and in the manufacturing environment itself.

The FDA investigation continues, with updates to be issued as new developments arise.

Church Service Gone to the Dogs in California

And congregation members are shouting a hearty "Amen!"

The Reverend Tom Eggebeen has spent the last three years serving as interim pastor of the Covenant Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles, California.  He thought his church services needed a dose of excitement and he let the dog loving part of his nature inspire him.

Last Sunday evening, Eggebeen presided over the first ever Canines at Covenant service, where congregation members were invited to bring their dogs to church.  The 30-minute church service was a howling success, with about 30 people bringing pooches of all persuasions, large and small.  The church-going dogs were honored with doggie treats, plenty of water, doggie beds, prayer requests in their honor, and a special hymn, "GoD and DoG."

The Canines at Covenant service is to be a weekly service.  An informal survey suggests as many as 500  events at churches nationwide focus on the blessing of pets, although only a handful have gone to the dogs to the extent of offering regularly scheduled pet-friendly services like that at Covenant Presbyterian.

According to Rev. Eggebeen, the Bible says God is light and God is love.  "And when we love a dog and a dog loves us, that's a part of God and God is a part of that."

Amen, Brother!

What's REALLY on Fido's Mind?

Ever wonder what your canine best friend is thinking?  Or how smart is he, really?

Me, too.  That's why I was intrigued by the headline I saw recently at NYTimes.com.  "Good Dog, Smart Dog," the headline reads.  The article opens with the story of Jet, a New Jersey Labradoodle, trained to detect and respond to his human's seizures, psychiatric disorders, and other medical conditions.

So impressive is Jet's ability to protect his owner that the US Army is even studying ways service dogs like Jet can help soldiers returning from the ugly military conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.  Of particular interest is a service dog's potential ability to respond to issues involving post-traumatic stress disorders.

Another study being conducted in Hungary is seeking the mechanism(s) by which a dog can tell when a person is on the verge of seizure.  Is it their keen sense of smell?  Facial expression?  Body language?  Other studies suggest dogs can sniff out lung cancer.

A University of British Columbia professor thinks we may have underestimated the mental abilities of dogs.  The professor, Dr. Stanley Coren, even says dogs can understand human vocabulary numbering into the hundreds of words.  University of Florida's Clive DL Wynne recalls a border collie with a vocabulary of 1,500 words.  German studies confirm the canine understanding of human words.  Most dog lovers can confirm it, too.

Everyone who knows their dog is an emotional and intelligent being will enjoy this article.  I highly recommend it.