In 2003, police in Warwickshire , England , opened a garden shed and found a whimpering, cowering dog. The dog had been locked in the shed and abandoned. It was dirty and malnourished, and had quite clearly been abused.

In an act of kindness, the police took the dog, which was a female greyhound, to the Nuneaton Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary, which is run bya man named Geoff Grewcock, and known as a haven for animals abandoned,orphaned, or otherwise in need.

Geoff and the other sanctuary staff went to work with two aims: to restore the dog to full health, and to win her trust. It took several weeks, but eventually both goals were achieved. They named her Jasmine, and they started to think about finding her an adoptive home.

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STRAY dogs are commuting to and from a city centre on underground trains in search of food scraps.

The clever canines board the Tube each morning.

After a hard day scavenging and begging on the streets, they hop back on the train and return to the suburbs where they spend the night. Experts studying the dogs say they even work together to make sure they get off at the right stop – after learning to judge the length of time they need to spend on the train. The Dogs choose the quietest carriages at the front and back of the train.

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FALSE PREGNANCY

by Dr Michael Bell

What is false pregnancy?

False pregnancy is a normal phenomenon in the intact bitch and is used to describe a syndrome where the bitch shows various signs that include mammary development associated with a secretion, nesting behaviours and mothering behaviours.Affected bitches also often show a slight abdominal distension and slight uterine enlargement. False pregnancy is quite commonly seen with one study reporting 64 percent of intact bitches showing false pregnancy regularly and 5 percent showing signs of false pregnancy intermittently.

False pregnancy basically occurs as a response to a declining blood progesterone level which normally occurs 2-3 months after oestrus occurs (i.e. at the end of normal oestrus).The hormonal events that are necessary for normal whelping and lactation in pregnant dogs also occur secondary to a reducing progesterone level in non-pregnant dogs that may then develop false pregnancy slgns.

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My fellow tweeter maps4pets, alerted me to this piece…Very disturbing

It’s a dog’s life for a stray mutt in any country, but in Japan a canine that ends up in the municipal pound is far more likely to be put down than to find a new home.

While in some other industrialized countries the idea of “saving” a pet from a shelter is well-established, in Japan animal welfare activists say strays often fall foul of an attitude that prizes puppies and pedigrees as status symbols.

“In Britain, the public go to animal welfare shelters to adopt an animal and save a life. The mindset in Japan is still ‘if you want a pet, go to a pet shop’,” said Briar Simpson, a New Zealander who works for Japan’s animal shelter ARK, via e-mail.

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Caring for and conditioning drop-coated breeds takes an ongoing commitment to mastering and maintaining proper grooming skills.

President Calvin Coolidge wrote, “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Persistence, determination and hard work makes the difference.” While it is unlikely he had dogs in mind when he wrote it, his words can easily reflect the commitment required to groom and exhibit drop-coated breeds at a national level.

To successfully compete at the group or Best-in-Show level, experts say owners and handlers can develop their own winning edge by understanding the prerequisites involved with grooming, maintaining and conditioning these demanding and delicate coats. It isn’t difficult, but it does require some basic knowledge, patience, commitment and, above all, persistence.

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Dogs with separation anxiety cannot bear to be parted from their owners, and often exhibit problem behaviour when left alone. Putting your relationship on a more independent footing is the first step towards a more confident and happy dog.Reasons for separation problems
There are many reasons why dogs exhibit problem behaviour when left alone. For example, boredom may be a key factor or young dogs may not have learned that it is unacceptable to bark, dig or chew household items. Others may behave in an unacceptable fashion because they cannot cope with being separated from their owners and become anxious. The advice hereunder is designed specifically to provide help for dogs that suffer from anxieties and insecurities when left alone.
What can happen?

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Why not give your dog a treat this week-end that you know is full of home made goodness and free from all preservatives …

This is a special for the dog with a savoury tooth.

Cheesey Bone

INGREDIENTS

50 g margarine

150 g{6ozs} grated cheddar cheese

150 g {6ozs} whole wheat flour

25 g {1ozs} milk.

METHOD

Heat oven to… 375/190/gas 5

Cream together cheese and margarine. Add flour and milk. Mix together and shape into ball. Roll out to about 1cm thick {½ ins} Cut into bone shapes. Bake for 20 mins until nicely browned. Don’t forget to let these delicious bones cool before you give them to your 4-footed friends.

We know how populat these Cheesey Bones are but, if you have any over, do please store in a air-tight contained to keep crispy and fresh.