Gwen Beberg is a Sgt in the 101st Airborne Motorpool out of Ft. Campbell, KY. Sgt. Beber-is stationed in Iraq. On 11 May 2008, soldiers under her command were taking trash to a trash pile. They noticed in the pile of burning trash a little puppy. They rescued the puppy and brought it to their Sgt. Gwen Beberg. The soldiers took a vote and named the puppy “Ratchet.”

Sgt. Beberg and Ratchet bonded. Basically Sgt. Beberg became Ratchet’s mommy. However, the Army has rules against Soldiers bonding with dogs, cats, domestic animals etc… This rule against bonding and or adopting domestic animals is in the same category as the rule of not drinking or doing drugs. Arguably there is a reason for the rules about bonding or adopting domestic animals. Packs of dogs in Iraq of up to one hundred are not unheard of. These packs are hungry and without homes; attacking people or feeding on dead bodies may be the only way to feed themselves. Moreover, access to veterinarians and vaccinations such as rabies is severely limited in Iraq.

Nonetheless, many Soldiers and Marines in Iraq have bonded with animals and brought them home. One of the more famous cases is USMC Major Brian Dennis and his dog Nubbs. There is an organization dedicated to helping these Soldiers and Marines bring their four legged loved ones home- Baghdad Pups http://www.baghdadpups.com/
Money was donated specifically to Baghdad Pups to bring Ratchet home

Patricia Beberg, Sgt. Beberg’s Mother is standing by waiting to welcome Ratchet home. Ratchet was scheduled to fly out of Baghdad on 1 October 2008. However, on the way to the airport the Army Convoy that Ratchet was on was stopped by Army officials and Ratchet was detained and taken away from Gwen. Animals are not allowed on convoys. On 4 October 2008, Ratchet was returned to Gwen. On 9 October 2008, Sgt. Beberg returned from duty and found that Ratchet, his collar and chain was gone. Sgt. Beberg has no idea where Ratchet is. Sgt. Beberg contacted her First Sgt but to no avail.

Sgt. Beberg is terrified that the Army will put Ratchet to death before she can get Ratchet on the plane home. Some Commanding Officers work with their Soldiers to help bring their beloved animals’ home. Other Commanding Officers have forced Soldiers to write the order to put their dogs to death or have forced them to stand by and watch while the dog is shot. There is even one case of a dog-a little white puppy being beheaded.

We are Americans, our tax dollars pay for our Armed Forces. Our men and women in uniform have been through enough. Let the Army know that you know about Ratchet and Sgt. Gwen Beberg. Urge the Department of Defense to act compassionately.

Call Fort Campbell-Ask for Public Affairs Phone: (270) 798-3025 or (270) 798-9793

Call or Email the White House YES!! The White House comments@whitehouse.gov
202-456-1111 Switchboard: 202-456-1414

Contact your Congressperson and Senator to find their contact numbers and email go to http://thomas.loc.gov

Contact CNN and Fox NEWS www.cnn.com or www.foxnews.com
Click here to play

I'm still anxiously hoping that Ratchet the dog in Iraq, will be allowed to come to the US. The ASPCA and Baghdad Pups are involved, but Gwen's commanding officer will not release the dog without a military order. On the same day, they allowed 15 other soldiers to ship their dog's home, but not Gwen's dog. Gwen raised $4,000 to send Ratchet back, but is now raising more money because Ratchet lost the flight he was supposed to be on. A military order would have to come through by the beginning of next week, or she would have to abandon Ratchet in Iraq, which would be a sure death. This has been such an unnecessary cruel action by Gwen's commanding officers. I hope that Gwen and Ratchet both arrive safely home in the USA soon.

UPDATE: As I was writing this post I have been notified that at this moment no one knows where Ratchet is! Sgt. Gwen Beberg got off duty and went back to where she stays and Ratchet was gone. No leash, no collar, no chain. How did her dog just magically disappear? I don't know for sure, but something tells me her commanding officer probably does. All they had to do was allow Ratchet to come home! Gwen raised all the money, made all the arrangements, and did everything she needed to do. Why would someone completely go out of the way to be cruel to this soldier who has done her best to serve in Iraq, and this poor innocent dog? Hopefully, Baghdad Pups will be able to find Ratchet. Please tell Gwen's representatives to support searching for Ratchet, relieve Gwenn's commanding officer of his duties, and never allow this to happen again.

Here is the Contact information for the MN Senators and Gwen's Representative:

Senator Amy Klobuchar:
(888) 224-9043 -or- (612) 727-5220

Senator Norm Coleman:
(800) 642-6041 -or- (651) 645-0323

Representative Keith Ellison,
(West Twin Cities, Minneapolis)
(202) 225-4755

In addition, why is FOX and CNN not covering this? Please write to them and ask them to cover this story. I'm still hoping they will find Ratchet. Either way, I would really like to put Gwens commanding officer in the spotlight and let him explain his actions to the American public.
Click here to play

Soldier who saved puppy from life of hardship in Iraq could see her dog
executed by U.S. Superiors.

By Eddie Wrenn/World News Online
Last updated at 7:23 PM on 07th October 2008

Young Ratchet could face the death-penalty by U.S. Army officials

A soldier who saved the life of a young puppy in Iraq and expected to bring him back home with her could see her dog executed by her U.S. superiors.

Sgt. Gwen Beberg befriended puppy Ratchet while serving in Iraq, and sent regular dispatches to her home in Minneapolis charting the dog's process, with 100s of fans tuning in on Facebook to follow the pup's life.

But the U.S. military takes a strict line with soldiers befriending animals, and confiscated Ratchet as Sgt. Beberg prepared to fly home from Baghdad Airport at the weekend.

Operation Baghdad Pups, a program run by SPCA International, which has the motto 'No buddy gets left behind', is pleading with the U.S. Army to allow Ratchet to fly out of the country - amid fears the military will shoot the puppy in the head execution-style.

Sgt. Beberg's mother Patricia said: 'This year has been extremely difficult on my daughter and her family. It has been a year of disappointments, loneliness, and fear because of all the sacrifices the army has required of Gwen.

Ratchet was the savior of her sanity. Now they have cruelly ripped Ratchet away from her and sentenced him to death. I don't know how my daughter will cope. Ratchet has been her lifeline.

Sgt. Beberg is also under military investigation for befriending the dog that saved her life.

A close friend of Sgt Beberg said: 'It hasn't been easy for her - and the puppy she saved has been one of the few things that has kept her going.

'She's shared pictures of him as he grew from a frightened ball of fur to an adorable young dog.

Gwen with 'lifeline' Ratchet in Iraq

She's kept us up-to-date on his travel schedule, and badgered us into contributing money to bring him home.

Soldiers can face immediate court-marshal for befriending animals and some even see their animals brutally murdered by a direct gunshot to the head from commanding officers who will not bend the rules.

It was so close... Ratchet was on his way to the airport. And now he might be killed, just because some power-hungry officers decided to flex their muscles and punish an innocent animal because Gwen dared to care about him.

One soldier wrote to Baghdad Pups: 'I have sacrificed a lot to serve my country. All that I ask in return is to be allowed to bring home the incredible dog that wandered into my life here in Iraq and prevented me from becoming terribly callous towards life.

The charity Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals International has asked the U.S. Army to show clemency to Ratchet, and allow the dog to return to gwen's parents in Minneapolis and friends of Gwen have launched a campaign to get American senators to intervene.

Please please sign this petition to save Ratchet!
Click here to play

With Halloween right around the corner, it's time to plan for your dog's safety. With the fun of trick or treating, scary movies, dressing up, and haunted houses, dog safety may be something you've not carefully considered, but this is very important. Every Halloween there are reports of animals being tortured and even killed. That's why it is important to keep your dog and cats indoors, especially on Halloween. Dog's left outside can also be frightened, teased, or even stolen. This is the most important tip of all, keep your dog safely indoors on Halloween!

Most dog owners are aware of this, but just in case you're not, chocolate is poisonous to dogs. It's not a good idea to give candy to dogs. Dogs could choke on some hard candy and lollipop sticks, and tin foil wrappers can get stuck in their digestive tract.

Understand that many dogs are not interested in dressing up for Halloween, and it could cause undue stress. Do not make your dog wear a Halloween costume, especially if it makes your dog feel uncomfortable or nervous. It may be cute, but it's just not worth it, if it makes your dog unhappy.

Trick or treaters coming to your door, is another consideration. Constant doorbell ringing and noisy kids coming to your door can be stressful, for even the most well adjusted dog. In this type of situation, a dog may feel fearful and protective, and would be more likely to bite. You will also want to make sure your dog doesn't dart out the door, while you're handing out candy. That's why I put a lock on my gate so the trick or treaters can't get in. Ha Ha, I'm the Halloween scrooge, I know. But if you do hand out candy, plan ahead to keep your dog safe.
Click here to play

Here are some clipart pictures of dogs, all in the public domain.
Shih Tzu Dog

Pomeranian Dog

Dalmation Dog

Cocker Spaniel Dog

Australian Bulldog

American Eskimo Dog

American Bulldog
Click here to play

Dog acupressure is used for a variety of physical ailments in dogs, including stress and arthritis. According to this ancient Chinese healing technique, there are many different pressure points, and they all have an effect on the health of different parts of the body. when acupressure is applied, it involves pressing your fingers on certain spots, and applying a gentle pressure. This is an example of a dog acupressure chart, that will show you the different pressure points. This chart is being sold by Pet Remedy Charts. It is not very detailed online, but it helps to show where the different dog acupressure points are.

There are actually 361 acupressure points and studies have shown that the stimulation of these specific points causes the release of brain chemicals and endorphins which relieve pain. If you look at left hand top corner of chart above, it shows the meridians. Starting from top to bottom: LI large intestine, LU lung, KI kidney, BL bladder, LIV liver, GB gall bladder, SI small intestine, HT heart, TH triple heater, PC pericardium, SP spleen, ST stomach, GV governing vessel, and CV conception vessel. Dog acupressure could be described as a gently massage placing light pressure in these certain areas. There is so much involved in dog acupressure, that there is no possible way to cover it all in a single blog post. Although, I will tell you my favorite pressure point that may bring a sense of relaxation to your dog. Place your hand on the very top of your dogs head between his ears. The pressure point can be found in a notch just forward of the boney protuberance on the midline, between the ears. Gently massage back and forth.
Click here to play

This election I have been struggling to choose between the lesser of two evils, McCain or Obama. As I evaluate the possibility of either one obtaining presidency, it makes me cringe, and have eventually decided to reject both. I think I will vote for the Constitution Party, it may be a lost vote, but at least one I can be proud of. I'm trying to stay away from politics on CoCo the Blogging Dog, but this is very hard for me to do, as it is a big interest for me. What I do want to condemn is Sarah Palin's treatment of wolves and bears, as cruelty to animals IMO is a warning sign of poor character.

Sarah Palin is an active supporter of aerial hunting of wolves and bears in Alaska. She opposed a ballot measure campaign to end the aerial slaughter of wolves, by spending $400,000 of state funds to start a campaign designed to get people to vote to continue the aerial killing of wolves. Palin has repeatedly opposed the listing of endangered animals under the Endangered Species List despite overwhelming scientific evidence that such listings are warranted.

Defenders of Wildlife
Click here to play

There have been an alarming number of incidents involving police officers shooting dogs. According to the law, police officers are told to shoot any dog that they deem is a threat. Obviously, what constitutes a threat is wide open for interpretation. I read a story recently about the police raiding the wrong house, then shooting the two family dogs, that was actually running the opposite way. The police officers know they probably won't get in any serious trouble, because other police officers and even judges will not want to go against them. That's just how it works, unfortunately. There was a story about police shooting a Jack Russell Terrier during a search warrant, that posed no threat to them at all. A police officer shot a dog at a park in front of children, just for jumping up. The dog was not aggressive, he was just untrained and got excited. This kind of cruel brutality cannot be accepted in a civilized society, and taking a life, even a dog should only be a last resort. Police officers have shot dogs that are tied up, and have no way of even getting to them. Of course, the police review board somehow always deems that the shootings are appropriate. There are thousands of cases like this, here are some that have been more high profile:

Texas: May 2008 – Austin police shot a dog at a local park, in front of children. The dog had jumped up on city employee but did not intend aggression, according to the dog's owner.

D.C.: May 2008 – An officer chasing a criminal suspect ran past a home and shot a family's dog tethered and secured behind a fence.

Louisiana: April 2008 – New Orleans police responding to a tripped burglar alarm shot and killed a family's dog who was restrained on the family's back porch. The dog had reportedly had recent surgery and was, according to the family's veterinarian, unable to lunge forward or pose a threat to the officer.

Tennessee: December 2007 – Nashville police entered a family's yard responding to a silent burglar alarm and shot the family's dog, who was tethered.

Minnesota: September 2007 - A Garrison toddler watched from the front deck of his house as a Crow Wing Sheriff's deputy shot and killed his family's dog. The deputy had mistaken the family's car, parked in their driveway, for a vehicle used in an armed robbery.
HSUS

If you are incapable of doing your job without killing people's pets, protect and serve the public by finding a new job!
Click here to play

Man Beats Up Shark To Save His Dog
I read this story in the news today about a man in Florida named Greg Lenoir, who saved his dog from a shark. They were swimming and the 5 ft shark seemed to come out of nowhere, grabbed his dog, and pulled him under the water. The shark actually had his entire dog, named Jake, in his mouth except for his head and 3 legs. The man dove after them and beat the shark until he let go of his dog. The shark spit his dog out, and they both escaped by swimming back to shore. Jake has a few minor lacerations, but do to his heroic owner, will be just fine.
Source: Man Saves Dog From Shark

Maintenance Worker Saves Dog In A Dumpster
A maintenance worker at the Village Green Apartments in Natchez, Mississippi discovered a starving dog locked in a dog carrier, that had been tossed in a dumpster. He noticed the pet carrier in the dumpster and thought that he would like to have it. When he pulled it out he discovered a starving Chihuahua mix dog inside. The worker immediately called the Natchez Police Department, animal control and the humane society. This dog has been recovering slowly at an animal hospital, and will probably have a few more weeks before he will be healthy enough to be adopted out. The good news is that he is saved, and he already has six families lined up that would like to adopt him.
Chihuahua Saved From Dumpster

Pomeranian Survives Attack By Great Horned Owl
A lady took her two pomeranians outside in the early morning in Florida, and one of her dogs was snatched by a bird of prey. Yes, this really happens! I know someone that lives in an area where they have great horned owls and they will try to take small dogs and cats. She has 5 acres of land with many trees, and has spotted great horned owls on her property. For anyone with a dog or cat, you can imagine what a cruel nightmare that would be. The good news is that her dog survived the attack and somehow was able to get away. They found Bella 30 hrs. after this all took place, and after she recovers from the cuts and puncture wounds, she will be ok.
Pomeranian Survives Attack By Owl
Click here to play

I've heard the government is debating about whether they should spend $700 billion dollars on worthless stuff at the taxpayers expense. Some economists are warning against this because they would need to print all this money we don't actually have, and it could cause the dollar to become worthless and inflation to go sky high. Yet President Bush thinks it's a good idea, so he will probably force us to do it, whether we like it or not. This way, large companies won't have to suffer for making poor purchasing decisions.

This past year, I too have bought some worthless stuff, and I am hoping that I will qualify for a bailout from the government as well. President Bush, if you are reading this blog, can you consider the purchase of some of these items and contact CoCo the Blogging Dog at your earliest convenience?

My first item is this sequined vote for Obama dog t-shirt. I purchased it for $25, but will sell it to the US government for only $250., due to inflation. I don't want to vote for Obama or McCain anymore, I just want them off my TV screen and out of my life. In a couple of years, I'm sure the government could resale this Obama dog t-shirt, and repay the taxpayers at least $5. for the deal.

My next item is Econo Poo, and it is very realistic looking dog poo. On the downside, once you have fooled someone once with it, it is very hard to fool them again. Why oh why did I buy this? Econo poo used to be a novelty, now everyone has econo poo. I'm still hoping the US government will consider purchasing this for only $700., if they act now.

Last but certainly not least, is my fancy dog tiara. To be honest, I'm not sure why I ever got this. I guess I just thought if I had a dog tiara, I could rule all the cats, and have the couch all to myself. It didn't quite work out that way, so now I would like to sell this to the US government for the low low price of $125.

All proceeds will go to the stockpiling of Beggin Strips, we look forward to your offers with great anticipation!
Click here to play

This is my third and last page (for awhile) of dog art in the public domain. Louis Agassiz Fuertes was an incredible artist, and will always by admired for his dog art. If you would like to see the other two pages, scroll to the bottom of this post for links to page one and page two.
Chow Chow by artist Louis Agassiz Fuertes (1874 – 1927).

St. Bernard by artist Louis Agassiz Fuertes (1874 – 1927).

Dobermann Pinscher and Manchester Terrier by artist Louis Agassiz Fuertes (1874 – 1927).

Collie, Smooth Collie, and English Sheep Dog by artist Louis Agassiz Fuertes (1874 – 1927).

Pyrenean Sheep Dog by artist Louis Agassiz Fuertes (1874 – 1927).
Page 1 of dog art
Page 2 of dog art
Page 3 of Dog Art
Click here to play

Here is some more public domain dog art. Public domain means the copyright has expired, so you are free to republish this dog artwork.
The Mastiff by artist Louis Agassiz Fuertes (1874 – 1927).

North Greenland Eskimo Dog by artist Louis Agassiz Fuertes (1874 – 1927).

The Spitz by artist Louis Agassiz Fuertes (1874 – 1927).

The Samoyed by artist Louis Agassiz Fuertes (1874 – 1927).

Page 1 of dog art
Page 2 of dog art
Page 3 of Dog Art
Click here to play

This dog art is now in the public domain, which means you are free to admire it here or use the photos yourself. Enjoy!
The Pointer by artist Louis Agassiz Fuertes (1874 – 1927)

The English and American Foxhound by artist Louis Agassiz Fuertes (1874 – 1927)

French Bulldog and Boston Terrier by artist Louis Agassiz Fuertes (1874 – 1927)

Scottish Deerhound by artist Louis Agassiz Fuertes (1874 – 1927)

Greyhounds by artist Louis Agassiz Fuertes (1874 – 1927)

Page 1 of dog art
Page 2 of dog art
Page 3 of Dog Art
Click here to play

By-Product: When you see ingredient listed as a by-product, such as poultry by-product, chicken by-product, meat by-product, etc. that means that it is by-products of of slaughtered animals that would never be considered good enough for human consumption. This would include things like feathers, blood, feet, intestines, hair, feces, beaks, cancerous tissue, ear tags, noses, foam packaging, spoiled meat, and heads. This can also include wood shavings or sawdust, but the pet food industry is not allowed more than 35% sawdust in their by-products. There is very little meat, it is what is left over after they take the meat off the slaughtered animal.

Meat Meal, chicken meal, poultry meal, etc. is basically just another term for by-product. It is by-products and meat that would never be considered for human consumption. This could include zoo animals, downed 4-H animals, and diseased animals. The meat unfit for human consumption is boiled down, pulverized, and renamed meat meal for dog food. In fact, meat meal could also contain euthanized dogs and cats!

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that euthanized dogs and cats were found in pet food listed as by-products. At first, pet food company executives and the National Renderers Association absolutely denied the report, then admitted only after the American Veterinary Medical Association and the FDA confirmed the story is indeed true! The FDA became involved because it was reported that dogs and cats seemed to be developing some type of resistance from pentobarbital. It was discovered that this was caused because they were constantly exposed to pentobarbital in their dog and cat food.

According to the FDA, "Because in addition to producing anesthesia, pentobarbital is routinely used to euthanize animals, the most likely way it could get into dog food would be in rendered animal products. Rendered products come from a process that converts animal tissues to feed ingredients. Pentobarbital seems to be able to survive the rendering process. If animals are euthanized with pentobarbital and subsequently rendered, pentobarbital could be present in the rendered feed ingredients.

In order to determine if pentobarbital residues were present in animal feeds, CVM developed a sophisticated process to detect and quantify minute levels – down to 2 parts per billion of pentobarbital in dry dog food. To confirm that the methods they developed worked properly, CVM scientists used the methods to analyze dry commercial dog foods purchased from retail outlets near to their Laurel, MD, laboratories. The scientists purchased dog food as part of two surveys, one in 1998 and the second in 2000. They found some samples contained pentobarbital."
Full Article

If you continue feeding commercial dog food, I would recommend to avoid products with by-product or meal anywhere in the ingredient list label.
Click here to play

Purina Beneful dry dog food is a typical brand of dog food being sold in the grocery store. The advertisement on Purina Beneful says, "Help keep your dog happy and healthy with a perfect balance of real wholesome ingredients, quality nutrition and great taste. Find it all in Beneful food for dogs." Did you know that unqualified claims, either directly or indirectly by pet food manufacturers are legally acceptable with existing regulations? What this means to you, is that whatever Purina Beneful claims, or any other pet food manufacturer claims, needs to be scrutinized carefully. If you are going to continue feeding commercial dog food, one way to help protect your dog, is to read the label. One thing I want to point out, is that I'm not specifically against Purina Beneful, but commercial dog food in general. I'm just using Purina Beneful as an example, so here are the ingredients of Beneful, which are common ingredients in most grocery store dry dog foods...

Purina Beneful Ingredients:
Ground yellow corn, chicken-by-product meal, corn gluten meal, whole wheat flour, beef tallow preserved with mixed-tocopherols (source of Vitamin E), rice flour, beef, soy flour, Minerals (tricalcium phosphate, salt, potassium chloride, dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite), sugar, sorbitol, water, animal digest, phosphoric acid, sorbic acid (a preservative), L-Lysine monohydrochloride, dried peas, dried carrots, calcium propionate (a preservative), choline chloride, Vitamins [Vitamin E, Vitamin A, niacin, Vitamin B-12, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, biotin, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), Vitamin D-3], added color (Yellow 5, Red 40, Yellow 6, Blue 2), DL-Methionine, glyceryl monostearate, garlic oil.

Do you think a diet of mainly corn, will make your dog happy and healthy? Are these ingredients what you would refer to as wholesome ingredients, quality nutrition and great taste? Be careful, and read the labels!
Click here to play

I've been hearing many complaints about Nutro pet food lately, so I Googled "nutro, complaints." Some of the complaints are dated back to 2007, when they had the melamine scare. There are many recent complaints, so many in fact that I can only conclude there must be some basis for all these Nutro complaints. Apparently, Nutro's is maintaining that there is nothing wrong with their pet food. Nutro Products go so far as to say, "We have received recent isolated reports of inaccurate information posted online regarding the quality and safety of Nutro pet foods products. Many blogs and internet sites can be a repository for misinformation and hearsay regarding many topics." Nutro Products may view this as misinformation and hearsay, I would view it as the experiences customers are having with their pet food.

Read all the complaints at Consumer Affairs, if I were a Nutro customer, I would be very concerned. Some consistencies that seem to be in these reports: Almost all of these people are reporting problems with diarrhea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal irritations. Many of the dogs that lived had to be hospitilized, yet they do not have a definitive diagnosis. Many of the symptoms these dogs were suffering from were solved by taking them off Nutro. Some additional sites I found Nutro complaints with personal experiences on were Complaints Board, Itch Mo Forums and Dog Food Chat.
Click here to play

This is Rusty, he is currently up for adoption by the Arizona Animal Welfare League and SPCA on Petfinder. There are hundreds more just like him, that would love to find a good home. Even if you are looking for a specific breed, you can find your new best friend from a local dog rescue at Petfinder. Animal rescue groups and shelters list there dogs up for adoption on Petfinder, so you will be saving a dog.
Click here to play

I received this letter today from the HSUS, and I just wanted to pass it on because it means so much to me. In certain parts of the world, dogs are considered to be food, and the HSUS is fighting the dog meat trade. Will you please take a moment to ask the Mayor of Baguio City in the Philippines to stop the illegal dog meat trade for good—by cracking down on restaurants and vendors in his city who sell illegal dog meat? During a seizure.© Chad Sisneros/HSI

"One year ago, I wrote to tell you about the horrific dog meat trade in the Philippines. Our investigators had just seized a shipment of 100 dogs packed tightly into the back of a truck, bound for slaughter. These were just a few of the thousands of victims claimed by this cruel industry every year.

In the months that have passed, we've made progress in our campaign to stop the dog meat trade. But our work is far from done. Some officials continue to look the other way. That's why I'm writing you today, to urge you to tell local officials in dog-eating districts to enforce the ban on dog meat and close down vendors and restaurants still selling this illegal, cruel product.

The large majority of Filipinos do not condone the consumption of dog meat. While some bill it as a "cultural practice," the commercial trade is anything but. Although the trade was banned by law in 1998, it was still active in certain regions of the country due to lenient fines and light penalties.

Just last year, local organizations successfully lobbied to strengthen laws against it, and now we are working with them to ensure these tough new penalties are enforced. We are continuing the fight to end the dog meat trade. But we need your help again.

Baguio City is renowned as a tourist haven, but it also serves as a center for the trade and many restaurants and street vendors continue to sell dog meat. Please send an email to the Mayor of Baguio City and urge him to enforce the laws of the land and shut down these illegal dog meat peddlers.

The dogs used in the trade are rounded up in the streets, stolen, or even bought from their unknowing owners for a paltry sum. These animals depend on humans to care for them, but dog meat traders betray their trust -- all for a few more dollars.

Together we can take a stand for dogs and fight cruelty in all its forms. Please take action today.

Thank you for all that you do to help animals.

Sincerely,

Andrew Rowan
Chief Executive Officer
Humane Society International"

Please help, every letter counts!
Click here to play

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) approved the use of complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM) in 2007. Alternative veterinary medicine may include dog chiropractors, holistic medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy and more. They do not teach many of these things in traditional veterinary schools, but you can find veterinarians that have additional training in these fields. On handicapped pets, you can find a listing of dog chiropractors in your area.

Dog chiropractors may be controversial, but are proven to be beneficial in treating hip dysplasia. Dog chiropractors have also successfully treated arthritis and even general aches and pains. With chiropractors, people tend to have strong opinions. Whether you love them or hate them, some miraculous results have been reported:

Well I said, let's just try it. It can't hurt," said Janet Johnson who brought her dog to Gerard. "Our other option was surgery. And then it did start working and he's been like a new dog." full article

As an owner of multiple dogs, Rox Ann Kight knows all too well the benefits of a chiropractic visit for her dog. Two years ago, her thirteen-year-old Labrador-Golden Retriever mix Odie was having trouble walking and the vet’s solution was an expensive $750 surgery or devastating euthanasia. Kight was referred to Dr. Edward Lanway in her hometown of Coos Bay, Oregon. After two treatments, Kight says, “Odie could walk and run. Full article

They react very fast to adjustments, she says. They’ll give a big shake and there is a noticable difference right away. They will start prancing around, they’re happy... We’re psychological beings. We always get in the way of our own healing. [Humans are] the more difficult breed. The results have been dramatic, from a sled-pulling dog with a hitch in his stride to a fawn that was born without use of its back legs. Full article

About 2 years ago, my 13 year old lab mix dog Jesse was having trouble getting up. She would turn around in a circle and lay back down in pain. We already knew she had an arthritic mass on her lower spine and was on doggy arthritis medications. Out of desperation, I called my chiropractor and asked if he could adjust Jesse, since he has helped me so much over the years. He said he could not, but gave me the name of Dr. Andi Harper an animal chiropractor. What she did to Jesse looked a bit like hocus pocus, but by the next morning Jesse was up and about again. Occasional adjustments are just what Jesse (now 15) and Sierra (14) need when they tweak their backs or fall. Full article

Click here to play

Free dog treat recipes and cookbook in PDF file. This includes well over 100 great recipes for your dog, completely free. I purchased resell/giveaway rights to this ebook as well, so that I can share it with the visitors on CoCo the Blogging Dog. The dog treat recipe cookbook includes:

Ace's Favorite Cheesy Dog Biscuits
Alfalfa Hearts
Alfie And Archie's Dog Biscuits
Apple Cinnamon Doggie Biscuits
Apple Crunch Pupcakes
Aunt Bianca's Dog Biscuits
Baby Food Doggie Cookies
Bacon Bites
Bacon Bits for Dogs
Baker's Bagels
BARF Breakfast (med size dog)
BARF Dinner (med size dog)
Barking Barley Brownies
Basenji Stew
Beef and Rice Moochies
Beef Twists
Birthday Cake for Pups
Biscuits For Dogs
BJ'S Peanutty Pupcicles
Bone A Fidos
Bone Bonanza
Boo's Biscuits
Bow Wow Biscuits
Bow Wow Burritos
Bread Machine Dog Biscuits
Breath Busters Biscuits
Buddy Boys Dog Biscuits
Bulldog Banana Bites
Bulldog Brownies
Canine Carrot Cookies
Canine Cookies #1
Canine Cookies #2
Canine Cookies #3
Canine Meat and Grain Menu
Carob Cornered Crunchies
Champion Cheese & Veggies Chews
Cheese and Bacon Dog Biscuits
Cheese And Garlic Dog Cookies
Cheese N Garlic Bites
Cheesey Dog Cookies
Cheesy Carrot Muffins
Chewy Cheesy Chihuahua Pizza
Chicken Flavored Dog Biscuits
Chicken Garlic Birthday Cake
Chow Chow Chicken
Chow Chow Stew
Classic Canine Cookies
Corgi Crumpets
Darlene's Favorite Dog Cookie
Divine Doggy Dinner
Dixie's Delights
Dog and Cat Mini Cakes
Dog Biscuits #1
Dog Biscuits #2
Dog Biscuits #3
Dog Biscuits #4
Dog Biscuits #5
Dog Biscuits For Your Favorite Dog
Dog Bones
Dog Cookies
Dog Cookies With Chicken Broth
Dog Oil Supplement
Dog Pooch Munchies
Dog Powder Mix
Doggie Biscuits
Doggie Bone Treats
Doggie Quiche
Doggy Biscuits
Doggy Dip
Ellie's Dog Biscuits
Ellie's Dog Loaf
Fido's Cheese Nuggets
Fido's Favorite Treats
Frozen Peanut Butter Yogurt Treats
Fruity Yogurt Treats
Gingham Dog and Cat Biscuits
Glazed Beagle Biscuits
Good for You Gobblers
Goulash
Greyhound Green Bean Grub
Healthy Snacks
Home Made Dog Biscuits
Homemade Liver Treats
Hors D'ogs
Icy Paws
Jake's Dog Biscuits
Lab Liver-Chip Cookie
Labrador Loaf
Lhasa Apso Lamb
Liver Brownies
Liver Treats
Liver Treats For Dogs
Lucy's Liver Slivers
Massive Mastiff Munchy Muffins
Meat and Grain Menu
Meatball Mania
Munchie Crunchy Meat Treats
MuttLoaf
Mutt's favorite rice n' hamburger
Muttzoh Balls
Peanut Butter and Honey Dog Biscuits
Peanut Butter Cookies
Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits
Peanut Butter & Oats Glazed Goodies
Pet Party Mix
Pooch Peanut Butter Swirls
Poochie Pint-Sized Carrot Treats
Poodle Pasta
Potatoes Au Canine Or Feline
Pumpkin-Patch Dog Biscuits
Puppy Formulas
Puppy Pretzels
Ravioli Woofer Stuffing
Rice Flour Dog Cookie
Rover's Reward
Salmon Treats
Scrumptious Carob Bake
Sheltie Scones
Shih Tzu Sushi
Snickerpoodles Dog Treats
Surprise Snacks
Tempting Training Treats
Tess' Tantalizing Treats
Trail Dog Grub
Traildog Biscuits
Turkey Treats
Vegetarian Dog Biscuits
Veggie Bones
Veggie Vittles
Vizsla Stew
Wacky Wheat Treats
Weimaraner Walleye
Western Ranch Biscuits
Wheatless Tuna Biscuits
Wolf-Dog Biscuits
Yogurt Pups

dogtreats.pdf

Click here to play

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski is a book about a boy and his dog. This is the first time I have recommended a book on CoCo the Blogging Dog, but this sounds like a good read. Oprah Winfrey came out yesterday, and claimed it as her latest book club pick. Oprah says The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski is right up there with the greatest American novels ever written, which is a pretty strong statement.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle takes place on a northern Wisconsin farm in the 1970s. It's described as tale of a mute boy named Edgar and the special bond he shares with his dog Almondine.

It is getting rave reviews, including Stephen King's review:

"I flat-out loved The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. Dog-lovers in particular will be riveted by this story, because the canine world has never been explored with such imagination or emotional resonance. Yet in the end, this isn't a novel about dogs or heartland America — although it is a deeply American work of literature. It's a novel about the human heart, and the mysteries that live there, understood but impossible to articulate. Yet in the person of Edgar Sawtelle, a mute boy who takes three of his dogs on a brave and dangerous odyssey, Wroblewski does articulate them, and splendidly. I closed the book with that regret readers feel only after experiencing the best stories: It's over, you think, and I won't read another one this good for a long, long time.

In truth, there has never been a book quite like The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. I thought of Hamlet when I was reading it (of course... and in this version, Ophelia turns out to be a dog named Almondine), and Watership Down, and The Night of the Hunter, and The Life of Pi — but halfway through, I put all comparisons aside and let it just be itself.

I'm pretty sure this book is going to be a bestseller, but unlike some, it deserves to be. It's also going to be the subject of a great many reading groups, and when the members take up Edgar, I think they will be apt to stick to the book and forget the neighborhood gossip.

Wonderful, mysterious, long and satisfying: readers who pick up this novel are going to enter a richer world. I envy them the trip. I don't reread many books, because life is too short. I will be rereading this one."

I don't write about books on my blog, but this one seemed kind of special, and I'm looking forward to reading it. So if you enjoy reading a good book, try The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski.
Click here to play

Contagious yawning as a basic form of empathy, so far has only been known to be between humans and primates. This was thought to reflect our ability to relate and empathize with others. Contagious yawning is when you feel compelled to yawn, at the sight of someone else yawning. A new study by researcher Ramiro Joly-Mascheroni, at the University of London suggests we can add dogs to this list. In fact, dogs are much more likely to exhibit contagious yawning than either primates or humans.

The study says 72% of dogs will yawn in response to seeing us yawn. Whereas, primates will exhibit contagious yawning about 33% of the time, and humans around 55%of the time. If contagious yawning is a reflection of empathy, dogs show the highest ability to have empathy, over humans and primates. It is not surprising, as dogs seem to have an uncanny sense about picking up on human emotions and feelings.

Click here to play

Lately, I haven't been a big fan of PETA. But I really have to thank them for the undercover work they did at Hormel. The big wigs at Hormel are acting as if they had no idea the pigs were being tortured, I don't know if I believe them. I understand not everyone either can or wants to be a vegetarian. At the same time, no living creature deserves to be put through the sheer misery that these animals are put through. The workers at Hormel would beat the pigs for fun, stick rods in their anus for "entertainment", and allow injured animals to suffer for days.

Here is an email I received from PETA, "Watch the footage that shows workers’ and management’s abuse of animals, some of which are destined to be slaughtered for Hormel.

I just watched the shocking hidden-camera footage obtained by PETA's undercover investigators while they worked at a factory farm in Iowa that supplies Hormel and other meat companies. The cruelty documented by our investigator is beyond comprehension. Please watch the video and do all that you can to make sure that anyone who still eats ham, Spam, sausage, or bacon sees it.

In three months at the pig factory farm, our investigators documented that workers used metal gate rods and hard canes to beat sows. Pigs were poked in the eyes with clothespins and fingers for no reason at all, and workers and supervisors beat pregnant pigs. One supervisor even told our investigator, "You gotta beat on the bitch. Make her cry."

Baby piglets who were deemed too small to be profitable were slammed head first onto the concrete floor in an attempt to kill them, although some lingered alive for more than 12 minutes after the impact. More than 100 heavily pregnant pigs were denied water for five days, and injured and downed pigs were left for days and even weeks without veterinary care or an end to their suffering.

But the findings at this Iowa pig farm were not limited to cruelty to animals. PETA also documented an apparent violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Employees applied a spray containing "gentian violet"—a human carcinogen—to animals allegedly killed for human consumption, thereby making their flesh "adulterated," according to federal law.

The pigs at this facility need you to write to Hormel and demand they that follow PETA's eight-point policy to govern future pig farming operations. The plan includes calling for the immediate termination and criminal prosecution of anyone who is caught abusing or neglecting animals. It also includes improvements to the company's animal welfare guidelines.

Please watch the footage, write to Hormel, and vow to never again eat another hot dog, piece of ham, sausage link, or slice of bacon, because eating these "foods" supports the suffering that we documented on this farm.

Thank you for helping animals.

Sincerely,

Daphna Nachminovitch
Vice President, Cruelty Investigations
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
info@PETA.org

If you cannot watch the footage, I completely understand, as it is very disturbing. Although I do request that you please email Hormel and tell them how you feel.
Click here to play

Here is a strange piece of trivia for you, did you know that dogs walk on their toes? They do not walk on the soles of their feet, like humans do. Therefore, long nails can cause your dog to tip back on his paws, and cause all kinds of problems. Overly long nails in dogs can cause the development of arthritis, along with sore feet, hips and legs. If you are hearing that clickity click click as your dog walks across the room, it's time to take action!

It is extremely common for dogs to feel uneasy at the prospect of getting their toe nails trimmed. If your dog doesn't want to cooperate, do not get frustrated. Do you realize how many dogs suffer from clipper phobia? If someone else was clipping YOUR nails, you may feel uncomfortable as well. But every positive experience they have with a nail trimming, will reinforce your dogs sense of security, and make them that much more cooperative the next time.

You can choose between a Dremel type tool that grinds the nail, guillotine clippers, or dog nail scissors. Try them all, and see what works best for you and your dog. It is very important to avoid cutting the quick or the vein of the nail, just clip of the very tip once or twice a month. In case you do end up cutting the quick, it is always a good idea to have styptic powder on hand.

An interesting nail trimmer that I have seen advertised, is the Pedi Paw nail trimmer. I cannot honestly recommend it, because I haven't tried it yet. The Pedi Paw nail trimmer is like a Dremel tool, but designed specifically to safely cut your dogs nails. On the advertisement it says it has a protective cap that allows only the perfect amount of nail to be removed. In addition, the Pedi Paw will not cause your dogs nails to crack, splinter, or break. It seems pretty easy to use, and IMO at $19.99, it is worth a try.

Make sure your dog gets his nails trimmed. If you don't feel comfortable doing it at home, take him to the veterinarian or groomer.
Click here to play

Joe Stalnaker is a veteran that suffers from potentially fatal seizures, caused by a military accident that injured part of his brain. For assistance, he has a German Shepherd dog named Buddy, that has been trained to call 911 in case of a seizure. Last wednesday, 18 month old Buddy remembered his training, and saved his owners life.

Buddy called 911 and in response to the 911 operator, began whimpering and barking for help. Police were sent to the Stalnaker residence where Buddy anxiously awaited them. His owner had to spend two days recovering at the hospital, and Buddy was able to go with him in the ambulance. It is incredible, but this is actually the third time this has happened. The 911 operator stated that it is on file with them that the Stalnaker residence has a dog that will call 911 if his owner has a seizure.

Joe Stalnaker got Buddy with the help of PawsWithACause.org when he was only 8 weeks old. Their vision is, "To encourage independence for people with disabilities by sustaining and strengthening our position as the nation’s leading provider of quality Assistance Dogs." Buddy is a hero for saving his owners life, providing great companionship, and enabling his owner to live the most independent life possible.
Click here to play