The world’s first cloned dog is set to become a dad according to scientists in Korea.

According to the Associated Free Press:

Snuppy, the cloned Afghan hound, successfully impregnated two cloned bitches of the same breed through artificial insemination, the Seoul National University researchers said.

Ultrasonic tests showed the foetuses were all healthy and they are expected to be born between May 16 and 20.

If the births take place, it will mark the first time that cloned dogs have reproduced successfully, Professor Lee Byung-Chun was quoted as saying by the Korea Times.

“The second generation of cloned animals used to be malformed but we have not found any abnormal aspects about the foetuses so far,” he said.

Other newspapers carried similar reports.

The press interviews sparked an angry reaction from university authorities.

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DEFRA have announced that three people have been exposed to rabies after being bitten by an infected puppy in the British quarantine system.

The dog was in a quarantine centre having traveled from Sri Lanka.

Dr Dilys Morgan, a rabies expert is quoted:

“This animal died whilst in quarantine which has effectively contained any public health risk.

“We understand that three individuals connected to the quarantine centre and rescue centre were bitten by the animal and all have received or will be receiving prompt protective treatment with appropriate vaccination.

“Even if someone has been bitten by an animal with rabies, prompt post-exposure treatment following the bite is highly effective in preventing rabies.”

LINKS:

The Scientists Trying to Win the Fight Against Rabies

I have your basic fish aquarium with your typical random assortment of fish. Nothing fancy, just a few gold fish, an algae eater, and some other random non-goldfish types. I think it’s a 10 gallon tank. It’s pretty easy to maintain but recently I started noticing that the water’s been a bit cloudy. I went down to my local pet store and asked what could cause this.

The guy behind the counter told me it could be an old aquarium filter that’s all filtered out. He pointed me to the filters at the store, but of course there are various types of aquarium filters and I couldn’t remember what type I had. So I had to go home to check. As things go by the time I got home it was too late to go back to the store. So I decided to look online for places that sell or at least talk about aquarium filters.

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Take Notice Of Your Dog’s Skin Problems

It is beneath their beautiful fur coats that a world of uncomfortable and even painful skin conditions are often lurking. Dogs skin problems can be an indication of a more serious and even life threatening condition.

Some of the most common dog skin problems are dry skin, usually indicated by the appearance of “dandruff” or excessive shedding, various fungus infections, mite irritations, mange, and rashes that may be the result of seasonal, environmental or food allergies. Other dog skin problems include tumors, seborrhea skin diseases, melanomas and infected sores.

The fact is that many of these conditions are completely treatable and often preventable. Identifying the cause and preventing unnecessary dog skin problems is a responsibility that comes with the role of owning a dog. However, as a loving pet guardian, adequate care and treatment of an animal is a legal requirement.

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Global responsibilities for animal welfare

World Veterinary Day (WVD) is held annually on the last Saturday of April and this week (Saturday 26 April) around the world, from Sudan to Taiwan and Nepal to Canada, veterinarians will be celebrating the profession’s diversity and its contributions to human and animal health and welfare.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) is using WVD to showcase the global role of the veterinary profession in raising standards of animal welfare by signing up to the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW). Demonstrating its commitment to animal welfare, the BVA has formally supported the UDAW. The Declaration, which represents the world’s first international agreement on animal welfare, recognises that sentient animals are capable of pain and suffering, deserving consideration and respect, and calls for effective animal welfare legislation to be developed and enforced around the world. It is hoped that the Declaration will ultimately be adopted by the United Nations.

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A couple who admitted to allowing their dog hobble around with a 10cm wide leg wound have been fined after they plead guilty to animal cruelty.

The pair, from Cambridgeshire, had to have the dog put to sleep, so serious was the injury having been neglected.

However they won’t be banned from keeping animals. Why, you might reasonably ask? Because THEY need a guard dog.

Cambridge News Online reports:

A MARRIED couple have been left with a £1,500 legal bill after admitting animal cruelty charges.

Anthony and Elizabeth Haynes appeared at Ely Magistrates Court, where they pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to their guard dog, Lucy.

The court heard how the couple failed to take the elderly Alsatian to the vet for seven months after she hurt her leg.

It meant the she was left hobbling around for months until an RSPCA officer inspected her at the couple’s home in West Fen Road, Willingham on January 14.

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In light of a recent study by DEFRA which claims dogs sleeping in owners bedrooms pose a potential health risk to owners, the University of Liverpool has released data profiling what dog owners do with their dogs, what health risks are real and present as well as some other fascinating info.

We all know that a lot of people own dogs, but exactly how many of us, and why? And perhaps more to the point, what do we do with them? Many of the answers may appear to be self evident, but no-one before has attempted to quantify such information – and yet it is important sociologically, it has implications for animal welfare and behaviour, and it is also important in terms of both the health of dogs and their owners.

A recent study by the University of Liverpool has looked in depth at dog ownership in a small, semi-rural community in Cheshire, which has a variety of housing types, and also fields and country parks where dogs can be exercised. Over 1,200 households were approached, and information collected by a combination of interviews and questionnaires. Approximately 50% of households owned a pet of some sort, and 1 in 4 owned a dog - so clearly pets in general, and perhaps dogs in particular, are very important to us.

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Tears all round as another London DDA dog is returned home:

A north London Police station was recently the scene for an emotional reunion between dog owners Ana Quesada and Neil Macey who were reunited with their pet dog Coco on Monday 14th April.

Coco, a 6yr old family pet had been seized under the Dangerous Dogs Act (DDA) legislation and held as a suspected unregistered pit bull type. Coco was later breed identified by the Metropolitan Police and her case was put before Thames Magistrates Court under section 4b of the Act. Following a brief hearing the court decided that Coco didn’t represent a danger to the public and ordered she be registered onto the Index of Exempted Dogs and allowed home.

Neil and Ana had first met Coco on the 4th November 2007 at their home when Neil was putting rubbish bags outside one Sunday morning and she ran into the house through an open front door. They reported her as found, taking her to Hackney Central Police Station where she was logged down as a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, she was scanned for a microchip but one wasn’t present. Neil and Ana decided to register themselves as finders and waited to see if an owner came forward. A previous owner later made contact but he himself had only had Coco for a limited time having taken her in from another owner who had bred numerous litters of puppies from her and no longer wanted her. After further discussions, Neil and Ana were asked if they could care for Coco and they jumped at the chance to become Coco’s new owners as both were besotted by her gentle nature.

All was well until Coco was seized on the 11th February 2008 from her owner; Ana had taken Coco on the train to Hampstead Heath for a walk, both were on their way home after an enjoyable day out. Local Police were carrying out an anti-knife operation at the London train station with a temporary metal detector set up, as Ana walked through the barriers she was called back by a Police dog handler who was part of the operation. He questioned what type of dog Coco was, Ana became upset as she didn’t understand what was going on and telephoned her partner Neil who arrived at the train station, they were told that Coco was a ‘lovely dog’ but that she may be a prohibited type and that a court would decide her fate.

After waiting for an hour on the pavement, with passers-by looking on and the police making a fuss of Coco and feeding her biscuits, Coco was placed in the back of a van and taken away. Neil and Ana made their way home distraught and not knowing if they would ever again see their special girl Coco. A few days later they contacted the Endangered Dogs Defence & Rescue and Deed Not Breed who both gave assistance and support.

It would be an emotional sixty three days before they would be back together and tears all round, yet again, as another London DDA dog was returned home. Coco came home with some scarring on her muzzle, her owners received no ‘aftercare’ sheet and are asking for her health records, she enjoyed a bath and Ana has stayed with her to help settle her in.

Information provided by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), in February this year, in reply to a Freedom of Information request, stated that the Met. Police were holding 119 dogs under Section One of the DDA.

On February 18th west London dog owner John Roggers had his four year old pet dog Tye returned exempted. Tye was seized from his home on the 26th November 2007 when police arrived at his door at 7am in the morning. Three other dogs were left but Tye was removed as a suspected pit bull type causing great distress to the family including the children who couldn’t understand why their Tye had been taken away and were screaming that he should stay with them. John Roggers telephoned one of the EDDR help-lines and was given advice and support throughout; he telephoned the police almost every day at one point as he couldn’t bear to think of his dog, who he had owned from a puppy, in a kennel situation, he also contacted Superintendent Simon Ovens of the Met. Police who monitors the welfare of seized dogs and gained an update regarding his dog’s condition which helped put his mind at rest for a limited time.

Appearing before Ealing Magistrates Court charged under Section One of the DDA, John Roggers pleaded guilty to owning an un-registered dog, his family collected statements from neighbours and their vet, a petition was signed by locals who know Tye, the local MP raised questions and the young children sent in their own letters asking for their dog ‘to be allowed to come home as he is a good boy’. Met. Police Breed Identification expert Sgt. McPharland gave evidence at the hearing and explained to the court that Tye is of good temperament, the court was leaning towards destruction, just to be safe, but after a vigorous nerve wracking debate, with desperate owner John on the edge of his seat, the court decided, with the help of evidence given by Sgt. McPharland, to spare the life of Tye and ordered him registered. It was a great relief for all concerned. Tye was later returned home fully exempted ending eighty five days of incarceration which had been an absolute nightmare for his family.

London dog owner Richard Webb had his dog Gem, seized from him whilst out exercising in a Camden park with his two other dogs on 29th November 2007. Held as a prohibited type, a Metropolitan Police expert described Gem as ‘placid and gentle’ before Uxbridge Magistrates Court who ordered her registered onto the Index of Exempted Dogs. The Police expert agreed to visit the kennels on the afternoon of the court hearing to personally relay information on Gem’s condition and provide a photograph for her owner. Gem was returned on the 7th February ending an upsetting 71 days enforced separation from her anguished family.

In answer to a Parliamentary Question on 22nd January 2008, the Government provided information showing that in the Greater London area, a total of 71 dogs were added to the Index of Exempted Dogs in 2007.

Information provided by the MPS in reply to a Freedom of Information request revealed between 1st November 2006 and 1st November 2007, the Met. Police seized 270 dogs under Section One of the DDA.

Ozzy the English Bull Terrier Reunited with his Owner after a Year

Ben Dalby from Chelmsford was devastated when his English Bull Terrier, Ozzy, went missing from his garden in April 2007. Nearly a year to the day, he’s been reunited with Ozzy thanks to the detective work of staff from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home’s Lost Dogs & Cats Line.

The dog was brought into Battersea from Romford and despite being microchipped, it proved impossible to get hold of the owner. A member of staff decided to take a look at some missing pet websites and was thrilled when she spotted Ozzy on www.doglost.co.uk. However, his owner still proved allusive and it was down to the initiative of Battersea staff that Ben was eventually tracked down via the social networking site, Facebook.

Ben was thrilled to hear that Ozzy was at Battersea and rushed down to the Home to be reunited with his dog today, saying, “Thanks to Battersea’s detective work, I’ve got Ozzy back and I’m over the moon. Little does he know that he’s got a new playmate at home, Lola the Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross, but I’m sure they’ll get on great.”

Simon Lynn, Battersea’s Head of Rehoming, said “Despite a few problems in this case, we would recommend microchipping as the best way to ensure you are reunited with your pet if it goes missing. It’s such a simple and quick procedure which causes no pain to the animal so it really is worth doing. Remember to keep your contact details up to date if you move or change telephone numbers too”.

The head of a notorious illegal dog fight gang was back in action with his dogs last month it has been revealed.

Only this time, incredibly, Stephen Barriskill, the boss of the infamous Farmers’ Boys dog fight syndicate, exchanged the dog fighting pit for the show ring.

A national newspaper in Northern Ireland has discovered that the shamed dog fight organiser was actually showing his dogs at Crufts back in March.

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