Sewage sniffing ‘Sable’!!

While surfing the net, I came across this news post which caught my attention. So I thought of sharing this unique story with you. I know you’ve heard of bomb sniffing, drug sniffing and even diabetes sniffing dogs. But a sewage sniffing dog is the latest to join the bandwagon.

In a very innovative move, Kittery a seacoast community has decided to harness the potentiality of a 3 year old Michigan-based canine to detect leaks in septic systems and other sources of potential contamination. The German Shepherd mix called Sable was initiated into the sewage sniffing training in March of 2007 after being adopted from a Lake Odessa animal shelter.

According to a spokesperson of the Spruce Creek Organization, they would keep the dog in the seacoast for about a week. It is an initiative on the part of the organization to save the Spruce Creek and its adjacent watershed from the onslaught of illicit wastes products. Sable would enable them to identify the hot spots, she said.

The dog’s trainer, Scott Reynolds says that Sable will bark when he detects waste in storm drains and water sources. The sewage can be traced back to its source from there he concluded.

This is indeed a one of its kind step. Hope it bears fruit so that in future many such Sables can be trained to help Mother Earth get rid of the ‘monster’ called pollution.

For further information you can log onto SableTheSniffer.com.

Dog mothers cubs..

We have all heard of human surrogate mothers. But what about a mongrel bitch surrogating babies belonging to a completely different species? Incredibly amazing! Isn’t? The bitch has actually saved the lives of a tiger cub and lion triplets who were abandoned by their mothers at Hefei wild park in China.

But I am sure you must be wondering why would any animal do that? Yes they might if they don’t know how to breast feed their babies.

The zoo staff have revealed that she caresses them as her own children. Yes unbelievable, but in China zoo officials generally adopt such a measure under dire circumstances. Although an animal of the same species is their most preferred choice, a dog is also considered equally useful.

To instill in the dogs a sense of belongingness, zoo authorities usually pour her urine over the fur of those abandoned cubs. She is expected to look after them till she falls short of milk.

This is indeed a very innovative step by the zoo officials. Kudos to them for their good work!

(Picture Source: Google)

Molly……Is that your doggy?

What do you call your dog? Fido, Rover, Patch? I am sure none of these. Right? Yes, a recent survey has revealed that more and more dogs are being conferred upon human names. It has attributed this to a growing trend among people who think pets are an integral part of their families. What a great idea?

But which are the ones that are doing the rounds? These are Molly, Poppy, Charlie, Max, Alfie, Millie, Jack, Rosie, Daisy and Ruby with Molly being the nation’s favorite.

However, dog lovers are not stopping at this. They are also borrowing names from celebrities, sports stars and also their favorite snacks like Dizzee Rascal, Ronaldo and Kit Kat. Unbelievably amazing. Right? So, are you ready to mollycoddle?

Adorable -The Dancer

Ways to control shedding

For most dog owners, fighting excess hair loss is quite a challenging task. ‘Shedding’, however, is a natural process in which old, excess and damaged hair is lost. So, there is absolutely no reason to believe that they are suffering from any grave ailment, unless of course you see bald patches on their bodies due to the loss.

The hair lost during shedding again grows back to give our pets a healthy, glistening coat. In winter the growth increases since dogs need to insulate themselves. But in summer, the extra hair is lost. Sometimes, allergies and infections also trigger hair loss. So, the bottom line is that we cannot prevent them from shedding completely. But we can of course reduce the amount by adopting certain measures like:

• Brushing our pets’ coat regularly- We should brush their hair as often as once daily. This will not only remove the unwanted hair, but will also keep the coat clean and supple.
• Using the right brush- There are a variety of brushes available in the market like slicker brush, dematting comb, and shed blades meant for different types of hair coat. So, we should choose the brush wisely.
• Giving your pet a hair cut- Longer the hair, greater is the chance of matting. So it is always better to keep their hair trimmed, since, this will keep them cool in summer and also prevent loss of hair.
• Controlling fleas and ticks- If you find your pet scratching his body, consult your vet. He will give the correct medicines and supplements that will control skin irritations and give him relief.

This is actually part of a daily cleaning regimen that we should implement on a regular basis to keep our pets in good spirits.

Are you brushing your pet?

Random Facts About Dogs- Part 2

Here's some more facts, if you enjoy them, feel free to share with your friends and family.

1. There are 703 breeds of purebred dogs
2. Dachshunds were originally bred for fighting badgers
3. The world's smartest dogs are thought to be (1) the border collie, (2) the poodle, and (3) the golden retriever
4. A dog's smell is more than 100,000 times stronger than that of a human's
5. ... which they need because their eyesight is not as keen as a human's.
6. Dogs judge objects first by their movement, then by their brightness, and lastly by their shape
7. Chocolate contains a substance known as theobromine (similar to caffeine) which can kill dogs or at the very least make them violently ill
8. George Washington had thirty six dogs - all foxhounds - with one named Sweetlips
9. All dogs are identical in anatomy - 321 bones and 42 permanent teeth
10. Smaller breeds mature faster than larger breeds
11. Female dogs are only ready to mate - "in heat" - twice a year for a total of roughly 20 days
12. Puppies sleep ninety percent of the day for their first few weeks
13. Rin Tin Tin was the first Hollywood dog star
14. ... and he really signed his movie contracts - all 22 of them - with a pawprint
15. The Wizard of Oz's Toto was played by a female Cairn Terrier named Terry
16. Up until the late 1800's, Collies were known as Scottish Sheepdogs
17. Dogs have two times as many muscles to move their ears as people
18. The longer a dog's nose, the more effective it's internal cooling system
19. An elderly woman was saved by her 12 pound Yorkshire Terrier who fought off an 80 pound Akita and survived with only 9 stitches
20. U.S. Customs dogs "Rocky" and "Barco" were so good at patrolling the border that Mexican drug lords put a $300,000 bounty on their heads
21. Dogs are all direct descendants of wolves
22. Wolves and dogs can mate to produce fertal offspring
23. Female wolves have been known to travel great distances to regurgitate full meals for their hungry pups
24. Cerberus was the tri-headed dog that guarded the underworld in Greek mythology
25. Female dogs bear their young for 60 days before they're born
26. Dogs' sense of hearing is more than ten times more acute than a human's
27. Humans can detect sounds at 20,000 times per second, while dogs can sense frequencies of 30,000 times per second.
28. The earliest dog fossil dates back to nearly 10,000 B.C.
29. Bloodhounds are prized their ability to single out and identify a number of scents simultaneously
30. Dalmatian puppies are born completely white.
31. The Ancient Chinese carried Pekingese puppies in the sleeves of their robes
32. Boxers are so named because of their manner of playing with their front paws
33. All breeds of dog have been found to attack livestock - from 3 month old puppies, all the way up to thirteen year old poodles
34. A dog's heart beats up to 120 times per minute, or 50% faster than the average human heartbeat of 80 times per minute
35. The oldest dog on record - a Queensland "Heeler" named Bluey - was 29 years, 5 months old
36. Davy Crockett had a dog named Sport
37. Dogs were first domesticated by cavemen
38. Dogs live 15 years on average
39. Many foot disorders inn dogs are simply an issue of long toenails
40. More than 5,000,000 puppies are born in the U.S. every year
41. More than 1 in 3 American families own a dog
42. Average body temperature for a dog is 101.2 degrees
43. The Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts both offer merit badges in dog care
44. Dogs are natural pack animals
45. They are naturally submissive to any creature with higher pack status - human or canine
46. Dogs instinctively require the pack leader's approval
47. Dogs with little human contact in the first three months typically don't make good pets
48. The Chihuahua was named after the state in Mexico where they were discovered
49. After birth, puppies' eyes do not fully open until they're about 12 days old
50. Their vision is not fully developed until after the 1st month

(Pic Courtesy: Google Images)

Random Facts About Dogs- Part 1

If you are in a lighter mood today, here's some fun facts about your 4 legged pet from here.

1. It is a myth that dogs are color blind. They can actually see in color, just not as vividly as humans. It is akin to our vision at dusk.
2. Dogs DO have better low-light vision than humans because of a special light-reflecting layer behind their retinas
3. A German Shepherd guide dog led her blind companion the entire 2100 mile Applachian Trail
4. If never spayed or neutered, a female dog, her mate, and their puppies could product over 66,000 dogs in 6 years!
5. Dogs' only sweat glands are between their paw pads
6. Like human babies, Chihuahuas are born with a soft spot in their skull which closes with age
7. The breed Lundehune has 6 toes and can close its ears
8. Teddy Roosevelt's dog, Pete, ripped a French ambassador's pants off at the White House
9. President Lyndon Johnson had two beagles named Him and Her
10. Franklin Roosevelt spent $15,000 for a destroyer to pick up his Scottie in the Aleutian Islands
11. In Roman times, mastiffs donned light armor and were sent after mounted knights
12. The Russians trained dogs during WWII to run suicide missions with mines strapped to their backs
13. A dog's mouth exerts 150-200 pounds of pressure per square inch
14. ... with some dogs exerting up to 450 pounds per squre inch.
15. A one year old dog is as mature, physically, as a 15 year old human
16. The U.S. has the highest dog population in the world
17. France has the 2nd highest
18. The average city dog lives 3 years longer than a country dog
19. 87% of dog owners say their dog curls up beside them or at their feet while they watch T.V.
20. Dogs can be trained to detect epileptic seizures
21. 15 people die in the U.S. every year from dog bites
22. In 2002 alone, more people in the U.S. were killed by dogs than by sharks in the past 100 years
23. Gidget is the name of the Taco Bell dog
24. Newfoundlands are great swimmers because of their webbed feet
25. Basset Hounds cannot swim
26. Greyhounds are the fastest dogs on earth, with speeds of up to 45 miles per hour
27. Bingo is the name of the dog on the side of the Cracker Jack box
28. The bible mentions dogs 14 times
29. Three dogs survived the sinking of the Titanic - a Newfoundland, a Pomeranian, and a Pekingese
30. The Labrador Retriever is the #1 favorite breed in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
31. Obesity is the #1 health problem among dogs
32. An estimated 1,000,000 dogs in the U.S. have been named as the primary beneficiaries in their owner's will
33. An American Animal Hospital Assoc. poll found that 33% of dog owners admit to talking to their dogs on the phone and leaving answering machine messages for them while away
34. Dog's nose prints are as unique as a human's finger prints and can be used to accurately identify them
35. At the end of the Beatles' song "A Day in the Life", a high-pitched dog whistle was recorded by Paul McCartney for his sheepdog
36. 70% of people sign their pet's name on greeting and holiday cards
37. 58% put pets in family and holiday portraits
38. There are only 350 Cisky Terriers in the world - perhaps the rarest breed
39. The phrase "raining cats and dogs" originated in 17th century England when it is believed that many cats and dogs drowned during heavy periods of rain.
40. Dogs have no sense of "time"
41. Humans have kept dogs as pets for over 12,000 years
42. The largest breed of dog is the Irish Wolfhound
43. The world's smallest dog breed is the Chihuahua
44. The St. Bernard is the heaviest
45. Only dogs and humans have prostates
46. But dogs do not have an appendix
47. Every dog on earth likely descended from a species knows as the Tomarctus - a creature that roamed the earth over 15 million years ago
48. The oldest known breed is likely the Saluki - originally trained by Egyptians to help them track game.
49. In 1957, Laika became the first living being in space via an earth satellite.
50. There are 703 breeds of purebred dogs

Find your match

If you want to see the breed first and then decide what you want to go for- here's an amazing website to help you.

Its for my friend, she is trying to get a pet for her and she wasn't sure like all first timers what would be the right kind for her. Yep, I know how it feels, so I promised I would find her some help.

This site as I came across looked pretty cool and I liked the fact that you could go through so many breeds to get a feel. If my friends browsing through it, I though I might as well post it here, you could use it yourself or just pass it on for people who might need it.

Now you know what is your type of a dog!