Dogs with docked tails are more likely to be involved in aggressive exchanges with other dogs according to new research.

Scientists at the University of Victoria in Vancouver, Canada studied a robotic dog with a mechanical back-end and detachable tail and studied how 492 dogs reacted to the robo-dog, with tail and without.

They found dogs approached a dog with a docked tail more nervously than with the full tail attached.

These findings, whilst it has to be said can’t be considered conclusive given the use of a robo-dog in the first place, tend to bear out what many canine behaviour experts have thought for decades - that a dog’s tail is an essential tool in its ability yo communicate properly with other canines.

The university’s biologist Tom Reimchen said

“Think of it this way, what type of teenager would you get if everyone approached him saying, ‘I don’t trust you’? What type of personality would emerge from that? It could be the same in dogs.”

Many dogs are docked for no other reason than to meet a breed standard. In other words, there is no particular medical or safety reason for the dock, it is purely cosmetic. This research would give more weight to the suggestion that docked dogs are at a disadvantage when it comes to their ability to convey their emotions to other animals and indeed people.

“Our research does show a possible connection between losing that signal and losing the ability to communicate with a potential increase in aggression,” said Reimchen.

Britain has banned tail docking under the 2006 Animal Welfare Act, although there is still a provision with that act which states:

32. (Its is) an offence to show a dog at an event to which a fee-paying public is admitted if the dog has had its tail removed. It will be irrelevant, for these purposes, whether the dog’s tail was removed in England and Wales or elsewhere. This ban on showing will apply to all dogs whose tail was removed after the date on which this section comes into force.

33. Subsection (10) provides an exemption to that ban if a certified working dog is being shown only for the purpose of demonstrating its working ability. Subsection (11) ensures that a person would not be liable to conviction if he could show that he reasonably believed either that the dog was docked before the section came into force, that the fee paying public was not being admitted or that the dog was a certified working dog demonstrating its working abilities.

The tail docking legislation of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 comes under the category ‘Mutilation’. However, it would appear, it is not cruel or ‘mutilating’ for a dog’s tail to be docked provided people are not paying to see the dog show.

Even in 2006, we still appear to be saddled with some weird and wacky canine legislation!

Still, perhaps not quite as weird and wacky as….

Hartford, Connecticut
It is illegal to educate dogs.

Northbrook, Illinois
It is illegal for dogs to bark for more than fifteen minutes.

Zion, Illinois
It is illegal for anyone to give lighted cigars to dogs, cats, and other domesticated animals kept as pets.

Oh, a let us not forget this ‘hillarious’ piece of legislation which has seen many, many innocent dogs killed because of how they look. No, let us NOT forget that one.

RELATED LINKS:

RSPCA Issues Initial Response To Draft Animal Welfare Bill
K9 Magazine Special Report: The Animal Welfare Bill
Kennel Club Stance on Animal Welfare Bill
Tail Docking Debate Rages On
Dog Charity Condemns Tail Docking As ‘Cruel’ and ‘Unnecessary’
Council of Docked Breeds Attack ‘Parliament Propaganda’ Over Tail Docking Issue

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Joy Ward over at our friends Dogster, has asked for the following, undoubtedly harrowing story to be crossposted.

The details contained in the following story are hard-going so please be warned.

Here’s the story from Joe:

Last year, Joe’s son, whom I’ll call young Joe, was nice enough to let his friend Christopher Anzalone and his friend’s pregnant girlfriend Kristine move in with him when they faced financial difficulties. His repayment? Kristine became jealous of young Joe and Chistopher’s friendship and tried to poison young Joe by putting Visine in his iced tea. Oddly enough, this form of poison actually CAN work and young Joe became sick. Fortunately, young Joe survived but his two canine furbabies, a chihuahua and a pit bull did not.

No, they did die from a Visine overdose. Kristine had a much worse fate in mind for them. While young Joe and Christopher were off having a beer, Kristine beat the poor chihuahua mercilessly and then threw the almost senseless dog at the also abused pit bull. Then she and two friends left the home. When they returned the chihuahua was dead and the pit bull left to take the blame. The pit was then euthanized.

After witnesses came forward, police discovered the attempted human murder to go along with the murder of these furbabies.

Now Kristine Anzalone (who has a baby and is married to Christopher) comes to court. Joe is asking any pet lover who can to attend the court case. If you’re like me and can’t get to Nassau County, NY for the court appearance then you can call the court and let them know we are watching. We expect that the judge will deal as harshly as possible with this terrible person. Not only has she ruthlessly murdered two trusting dogs, she tried to murder the man who helped her. And don’t forget that now the Anzalones have a human baby. What happens if she gets tired of the baby or jealous of her husband’s affections? Not a pretty site I’m sure!

Here is the court appearance information and the judge’s contact information:

Defendant — Kristine Anzalone
Court date — March 31, 2008
Location — Nassau County, NY Courthouse
252 Old Country Road, Mineola, NY
Part 9
Judge Edward Maron (talk with his clerk, Denise)
516-507-4080, 516-571-2483
Assistant District Attorney handling the case
Schalk
516-572-3000 (I haven’t been able to get through on that line so I haven’t verified the ADA’s first name)

Here’s an article about the case from the Gothamist.

Roommate’s Revenge Plan: Visine Poisoning, Dog Fight

We always thought that Visine poisoning was an urban legend, but a crazy story from Long Island seems to suggest otherwise. Twenty-four year-old Kristine Anzalone has pleaded not guilty to second-degree assault and third-degree criminal mischief after being arrested for allegedly spiking her roommate’s drink with Visine and then agitating his dogs to get into a fight.

According to Newsday, Anzalone and her husband Christopher lived with a male roommate in a North Bellmore home for a few months. But the three squabbled over rent as well as the roommate’s smoking while Anzalone was pregnant. Last June, she allegedly gave the roommate an iced tea with “unknown amount of Visine,” which does contain the chemical tetrahydrozoline. The roommate suffered intestinal distress, including vomiting and rectal bleeding, plus had trouble breathing and was admitted to the hospital.

Then, a few months later, after returning from a business trip, the roommate found his Chihuahua had been killed by his pit bull. A witness told him Anzalone used a cane to provoke the pit bull into attacking the smaller dog.

Follow this link to read the rest of the article.

Here’s an article about this case reported on the LaRusso & Conway Law Office site.

Cops: Housemate Saw Red in Visine Poisoning

A housing squabble at a North Bellmore residence escalated until one tenant poisoned her roommate with eyedrop medication, causing him to vomit and bleed from his rectum, and then provoked his two dogs into a fatal fight, Nassau police said yesterday.

Kristine Anzalone, 24, now living at 45 Ryder Ave. in East Rockaway, pleaded not guilty to second-degree assault and third-degree criminal mischief charges yesterday. She was expected to post bail of $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond, according to Nancy Bartling of Mineola, her lawyer. “The facts will show that she had nothing to do with this,” Bartling said.

From March to early July 2006, Anzalone and her husband, Christopher, lived with an unnamed friend at 999 Newbridge Rd., said Det. Lt. Kevin Smith at a news conference yesterday.

But the housing situation quickly disintegrated over arguments about rent, and Anzalone, who was pregnant at the time, complained about the roommate smoking in the home, Smith said.

One day in June 2006, the roommate was cleaning the garage when Anzalone served him iced tea that was spiked with an unknown amount of Visine, an over-the-counter eyedrop medicine for dry or bloodshot eyes, police said. Visine contains tetrahydrozoline, a chemical that constricts blood vessels.

The next day, the roommate started vomiting, had trouble breathing and bled from his rectum, Smith said. He went to his doctor at North Shore University Hospital in Plainview for medical attention, and soon learned from friends that Anzalone put Visine in his drink, Smith said.

Improper use of Visine can cause organ damage, said Dr. Tom Caraccio, managing director of the Long Island Regional Poison Center at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola. “If you ingested enough, it could affect the heart, it could affect the lungs,” he said, citing a case where a toddler fell into a coma after drinking half a bottle of Visine.

A spokeswoman for Johnson & Johnson, the company that makes the eyedrop medicine, said, “Visine is safe and effective when used as directed” and declined to comment on the case.

After he fell ill, the roommate made preparations to move out of the North Bellmore house but had an out-of-town business trip around July 6, 2006, police said. He came home to find his Chihuahua had been killed by his pit bull, and learned from an unidentified witness that Anzalone, using a metal cane, hit and poked the pit bull into attacking the smaller dog, Smith said. The pit bull was later euthanized, he said.

Anzalone’s lawyer said she wasn’t even at home at the time of the pit bull attack. “She came home to see the Chihuahua dead,” Bartling said.

Follow this link to read the rest of the article.

If you live near Nassau County and can get to the court to support Joe, I’m sure it would be very much appreciated by all concerned.

Links:

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A Buddhist temple in Japan is seeing an increase in worshipers as word spreads about a canine prayer leader who has captured the interest of many new attendees.

A two-year old Chihuahua named Conan sits and seemingly worships his very own Dog-almighty.

According to a priest at the Temple:

“He may be showing his thanks for treats and walks”

But the pint sized pet even appears to grasped the art of meditation, something the priests are less sure about his motives for, “it’s not like we can make him cross his legs”, explains one priest.

“Basically, I am just trying to get him to sit still while I meditate,” he told the PA.

“I think he saw me doing it all the time and got the idea to do it too,” he said.

The temple’s worshiper numbers have seen a dramatic 30% since Conan started praying there.

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I live in an apartment complex and so my cat is strictly an indoor cat. But I feel bad keeping her indoors all the time. I’m sure she’s cooped up. I’d like to take her on walks but I don’t know how to do that with cats. With dogs you simply get a collar and a leash. But is there such a thing for cats? They’re wilder than dogs and tend not to obey orders well (at least mine doesn’t). I saw on a website details about a cat harness for a cat and found out they actually do exist. I just don’t know if it’s right for my cat. Like I said, she’s a wild one, so I don’t know if she’ll end up hurting herself with one on. Does anyone have any experience with cat harnesses? Should I even try one with my cat?

My cat is a scratcher – meaning she lashes her claws at almost everything; my arm, the couch, even the refrigerator when the ice maker kicks on. And when it comes time to put her in the carrier for a trip to the vet, she becomes Wolverine. Most of the scratches I get from my cat are from trying to put her in the carrier. It’s your basic cat carrier. And I’m not surprised she doesn’t like it. I wouldn’t like being shoved in one of those things. But I am sick and tired of getting scratched. Does anyone know of a cat carrier that cats actually don’t mind being put in? I’m sure the answer is no but these days you’d be surprised what type of gadgets they have for pets. I tried looking up reviews on cat carriers and discovered a few, but I need the absolute answer. Does anyone have it? 

Pets are like people; as they age, it is noticeable, and they need more care as they grow older and older. As your precious pet ages, you will need to be aware of and look for signs of aging, as well as being increasingly familiar with possible danger areas and/or diseases that older pets are susceptible to.

Some classic signs of aging in dogs are similar to those of humans. They tend to lose hair, it tends to turn gray or white around their muzzle, and it loses its luster and shine. Their eyes can become somewhat glassy and can turn a bluish milky-gray color instead of the sparkling black or brown they had when they were younger. Their muscles also tend to weaken, and they are not as active and agile as they used to be. They tend to walk more slowly and sleep more often. Their temperament sometimes may become more relaxed and docile. Some older pets are also susceptible to joint problems such as arthritis.

As your beloved pet ages, be sure to keep an eye out for warning signs of greater issues. If you spot anything suspicious, take your pet to their veterinarian immediately. Here is a short list of some common warning signs in elderly pets:

- Poor dental health; loss of teeth, bleeding or irritated gums, exceptionally bad breath,
and difficulty chewing food
- Excessive panting or labored breathing while walking or jogging
- Lameness or noticeably weakened limbs; difficulty walking
- Frequent vomiting
- Fluctuation of weight by 10% (either loss or gain)
- Change in housebreaking habits, such as excessive urination
- Significant change in appetite (increase or decrease)
- Unusual lumps or masses noticeably felt or seen on or under the skin
- Significant change in energy level (either lethargy or hyperactivity)
- Dizziness, loss of balance or unusual head tilting that favors one side
- Significant increase in water intake
- Coughing
- Vision loss, excessive drying of the eyes, filmy eyes
- Loss of hearing

For elderly dogs, the most common issues are heart disease, hyperthyroidism, arthritis, kidney disease and severe dental issues. It is in your dog’s best interest to keep your eyes and ears open for significant changes in your pet’s behavior and physique. You should take your elderly pet to the veterinary clinic for routine check-ups about every six months.

As you precious dog ages, continue to keep a critical eye on them and make them as comfortable as possible. This may mean purchasing items such as a comfortable doggie bed, a ramp up to the bed or a ramp for getting in and out of the car easily. This will take the strain off their joints and will help you from lifting them into the car for their routine veterinary appointments.

As your best friend ages, remember the various warning signs of serious illness and disease. Be sure to ask your veterinarian if you should have any questions pertaining to your pet’s health or behavior. Keep your dog comfortable, and enjoy just having your pet around!

Article provided by Pet Super Store a site featuring:
automatic dog feeders, dog bowls and dog crate pads.

Well it took them a while and they still had to have a crafty dig, but even The Sun has finally got a positive story about the nation’s favourite ‘devil dog’ breed, the Rottweiler.

Hot on the heels of their stablemate The Times, earning our recognition for their Rottweiler feature, The Sun has got in on the act with a pictorial feature in today’s edition about a Rottweiler caring for a litter of puppies as a surrogate mum.

The Sun’s piece opens up with a ‘cheeky’ reference to the devil dog tag which has so readily been applied to this much maligned breed but, fair’s fair, they didn’t finish the piece by speculating that Kia might go on to ‘rip’ the puppies to shreds or ‘tear’ the helpless canine babies limb from limb. So, it’s a start.

IT’S a devil of a job, but rottweiler Kia is bringing up 11 pups of her own — and is also foster mum to four border collies.

She delivered her bumper litter four weeks ago.

But then owner Joanne Wilson was asked for help by Lisa Wilkinson, 37, who lost the collies’ mum Belle after she gave birth.

Chums … collie and rottweiler pups

Chums … collie and rottweiler pups

Joanne, 28, of Cowling, West Yorks, said: ?Kia gave them a sniff and a lick and now they’re just part of her family. Lisa said: ?It’s as if they are her own.?  Full story here.

The Sun’s Sunday sister paper, the News of the World, has been running a ‘Stop Devil Dogs‘ campaign for a while now.

A litter of Border Collie puppies will be grateful nobody stopped Kia though as will the thousands of people all over the world who understand and appreciate this breed for its undoubted qualities.

A quick request from K9 Magazine for any of our blog readers…

Any and every time you see or hear the term ‘devil dogs’ used point and laugh heartily at the people or publication who use it (except for us, we’ll be using it loads. We’re being ironic, you see). So I’ll re-phrase. Every time you hear a person or the media use the term ‘devil dogs’ and they are being serious, point, laugh and ridicule them for their stupidity. Given time, we can ensure this phrase is given the contempt it deserves. Call it our ‘Stop (the phrase) devil dogs’ campaign.

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In the average household, many pets are only one bite away from disaster. Veterinary Pet Insurance, a USA pet health insurance firm, recently studied its medical claims data to determine the most commonly ingested household toxins and poisons. VPI ranked the toxic substances by the number of claims received in 2007 for each type.

Shockingly, the most dangerous poisons by far are human medications intentionally given to pets by their owners. Following is the list of top household toxins, with 2007 claim counts and prevention pointers for each.

(more…)

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The RSPCA is demanding urgent action to try and discover new ways to test veterinary vaccines in an effort to eliminate suffering and death of lab animals.

Thousands of lab animals are used every year in tests on vital veterinary vaccines for pets and farm animals, a groundbreaking new RSPCA report highlights.

Approximately 425,000 animals are used in the EU every year to produce and test these vaccines which, the RSPCA recognises, are invaluable in preventing disease in pets and farm animals. Dogs, cats, horses, hamsters and guinea pigs are just some of the animals used in the tests which are required by international legislation.

The RSPCA is urging regulators, policy makers and manufacturers to find new ways of testing these essential vaccines and is calling for:

* information about the number of animals used in tests on veterinary vaccines to be collected and published regularly
* the development and use of alternatives to tests on animals
* red tape to be cut – currently it can take more than 10 years for alternative tests to be given the green light
* any unnecessary tests on animals to be stopped
* greater effort to reduce the numbers of animals used and levels of suffering until new methods can be developed.

Dr Jane Cooper, an RSPCA senior scientist and author of the report, said: “Around 31,000 animals are used in vaccine tests every year in the EU and many experience substantial pain and suffering*.

“More humane, allternative ways of testing must be sought. Our report recommends practical steps that regulators, policy makers and vaccine manufacturers should take to improve animal welfare.  We recognise that some manufacturers and regulators are already working on these issues but a more consolidated approach is urgently required.

“Ultimately, the RSPCA wants to see animal tests replaced with humane alternatives but, until then, the number of animals used and their suffering must be kept to a minimum.

“I must stress that members of the public should continue to have their animals vaccinated as this is essential to help prevent disease.”

In the UK more than half of the lab animals used in vaccine tests are used to ensure that newly manufactured batches of vaccine are effective. The tests have to be carried out by law as vaccines are biological and their results can vary. Many of these tests involve infecting animals with serious diseases which causes considerable suffering (further details below)**.

The RSPCA report – as well as calling for the development of replacements for these tests - is calling more humane test methods to be approved by regulators much more quickly. Currently it can take more than 10 years for them to be accepted.

Dr Cooper added: “Often the number of animals used in a test seems to reflect the perceived “value” of the animals involved. For example, even though there is no evidence that birds or mice suffer less than other animals, tests that use these species typically use more animals than tests involving dogs or horses.

“There is no obvious scientific reason for this and so the RSPCA is calling for a panel of independent experts to look at the numbers of animals required by the regulations for all tests, regardless of species, to see if it’s possible to use fewer.”

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Here you go. British justice at its finest.

A jail sentence has ‘not been ruled out’ for a delightful drunk by the name of Andrew Glazzard.

Mr Glazzard, who killed his own pet dog by putting the petrified animal in a washing machine to ‘teach it a lesson’.

Said to be unhappy that Maisie had messed in the house, this charming man put her in the washing machine but pulled her out after a few seconds. As her tail was still wagging he put her back in and went off to sleep, leaving her to die.

But rest assured, all of this is not Glazzard’s fault. He has an alcohol problem you see. You could argue, he’s a victim of society which is why the court is obviously ‘considering’ a jail term. No?

When he awoke from his drunken sleep, he picked up Maisie’s dead body, put her in a bag and threw her in a river.

But remember people, the justice system IS considering a jail term for him.

Prosecutor Mark Cooper told the justices in Halesowen, West Midlands that Glazzard had been out drinking and he put the dog in the washing machine “to teach the dog a lesson”.

He admitted causing an animal unnecessary suffering.

Defending Glazzard, his lawyer admitted that his client had a drink problem. (ahh, bless. The poor dear)

The case was adjourned until April 9 for reports but not before Glazzard was warned that although a community based sentence is being considered, jail was not being ruled out.

Yes, jail is NOT ruled out people. He MIGHT go to jail.

What in the BLUE HELL is wrong with us????

‘Could’ go to jail. ‘Might’ go to jail. Jail ‘not ruled out’.

For the love of God, get this sick, psychopathic loser behind bars for as long as possible as quick as possible. Preferably a rotating jail big on water, low on oxygen

He threw a dog in a washing machine and killed it. It was HIS OWN dog. He is very, very obviously a derranged, sick, sociapathic creep who surely must be subject to some form of justice appropriate to such a disgusting crime. I don’t want a share society with this man. I don’t want my tax money to pay for his community-service supervision. I want him and others like him in jail for 5 years. At least.

Is it any wonder that we have such a terrible animal welfare problem in the United Kingdom when a ‘man’ can kill his own dog in a washing machine and the justice system is ‘warning’ him that they are ‘considering’ a jail sentence?

What message does that send out?

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