By taintedmeat4

Wet Nose Guide has wonderful dog events in all locations across the country for furry kids to bring their parents. Our list of dog-related events grows each day, so be sure to check back frequently for new listings. You’ll meet new friends at dog adoption & fundraising events. Of course we welcome you to add dog events in your neighborhood. You can post a picture along with a short description of your upcoming event on Wet Nose Guide. Best of all – it’s free!

Photo By "cursedthing"

As we head into the fall, our dogs will enjoy the crisp air during morning walks and even weekend hikes. However dog emergencies can occur on the trails. Here are some simple tips to keep wagging tails happy:

• While you can purchase a small portable Doggie First Aid Kit that can clip to your belt, you may opt to make your own. Some things you can easily purchase at a drug store are: disposable gloves, gauze pads, scissors, saline solution and cotton balls.
• Make sure you have your dog’s veterinarian contact info stored in your cell phone. If you’re traveling far from home, use Wet Nose Guide to find a 24-hour emergency hospital.
• Take lots of mini-breaks. Even if the weather is cool, dogs can get hot. Stop under the shade of a tree and supply fresh water and a small treat. If you’re out on the trails for the day, be sure to pack her lunch.
• If the wooded area you are traveling to is known for ticks, pack tweezers designed to remove ticks from your dog. Before getting into the car to head home, spend some time examining your dog’s paws, tail & butt area, and fur (especially if your pooch has thick dense fur) to remove ticks that may be carrying lyme disease.
• Your vet may also suggest other medical items to pack to calm itching, swelling and insect bites.

This Fall, be prepared for your dog to pull you down the slope in hopes of catching Mr. Squirrel.

Photo By "MarilynJane"

Animal lovers & pet parents can help Seattle Humane Society by purchasing tickets to tomorrow evening’s baseball game: Angels vs. Mariners. Every portion of each ticket purchased will benefit the Seattle Humane Society’s efforts to help find homeless dogs loving homes. This baseball game will start at 7:10 pm on Sept 1st (Wednesday) at Safeco Field.

By D Sharon Pruitt

Cities & towns across the Country are gaining grounds in hopes to forever ban the sale of puppies in pet stores.

Below is a short list of what some cities have proposed and done:

• Albuquerque banned the sale of dogs & cats in 2006
• In Austin, dog stores that currently sell dogs will no longer be allowed to after January 1st, 2011
• In California, West Hollywood & Hermosa Beach both passed ordinances this year to ban the sale of puppies

Help eliminate puppy mills & reduce unnecessary euthanasia of healthy dogs in animal shelters throughout the country by adopting your next pup. If you can’t adopt, you can still be a hero by visiting and donating your time to a local shelter. Please help reduce commercial breeding so that we can reduce the number of homeless dogs in shelters.

Photo By "tobyotter"

It’s not too late to plan a fun weekend getaway with your pooch this Labor Day. Consider going to Beantown where leashed dogs can enjoy Boston’s cobble stone streets of Beacon Hill & explore the two-mile Freedom trail.

While off leash activity is allowed in Boston Common, visit a nearby dog boutique shop for an extra special dog toy at Four Preppy Paws. However, if your pooch loves the outdoors & enjoys long hikes, drive to Massasoit State Park or Blue Hills Reservation.

Massachusetts has lots of dog-friendly accommodations to fit every one’s budget. Some offer doggie treats and dog beds for their furry guests.

Photo By "RoBeE"

The Washington Humane Society will hold a wonderful dog adoption event tomorrow (Sunday, August 29th) from 12 pm – 3 pm at the Big Bad Woof. Be a hero and adopt your next loving pet.

Photo By "Cordey"

Dachshunds, known for their cleverness and long body shape, originated in Germany and bred to flush badgers. They come in three sizes: standard, miniature and kaninchen, meaning “rabbit” size in German. They have three coat variations: smooth coat, long hair, and wire-hair. They can be highly stubborn but are playful and love chasing after tennis balls. Their main health issues are back problems and patella luxation. If you are interested in adopting a Dachshund, please contact the Dachshund Club Of America.

Photo By "J. Chris Vaughan"

Today marks National Dog Day when dog lovers and dog owners can cherish their dog’s unconditional love. Stop by a local dog boutique store to reward your pup with a new chew toy.

Please don’t buy your next pet, instead visit a dog shelter. Nearly 4 million healthy dogs are euthanized each year because of over-population in shelters and limited financial resources. If you can’t adopt a dog right now, then stop by your local shelter and donate your time. Volunteering is an excellent way to lend a helping hand in walking homeless dogs.

Photo By "redeye"

As anyone who works in the doggie industry knows, there is no limit to how valuable a furry friend can be to his owner. However, when it comes to a dog’s value in the eyes of the United States Justice System, the answer is less clear. Of course, when it comes to concrete issues written into law, such as animal abuse and the protection of species, there is far less room for the public to debate right from wrong, but it is in the cracks, the situations not covered by explicit laws, that the more difficult questions reside. It should be noted that this article is not intended as a diatribe against any stance on the issue, simply a discussion of the issue itself.

On August 2nd, 2010, in an Anne Arundel, MD dog park, an off-duty police officer shot a brown and white husky named Bear-Bear, for allegedly endangering the officer’s German Shepherd during a bout of rough play. Prior to the incident, the officer had asked the dog’s guardian, the brother of Bear-Bear’s owner, to call off the dog, but pulled out his gun and fired before anything could be done.

While the details of the altercation differ between the parties involve, many animal rights groups and local residents expressed anger that the officer was not charged. It was argued that, while Huskies are known to have a rough-and-tumble play style, this behavior did not place the opposing German Shepherd in any danger, and certainly not to the extent to warrant an immediate shooting. It was professed that, were an officer to use seemingly excessive force against a human assailant, charges might be filed, while in a case involving animals, the situation was not deemed serious enough to warrant such actions.

In a similar case in July of 2010, a New York City couple reportedly filed a $1 million law suit against a dog-sitting company for allegedly causing the death of their French Bulldog, Percy. The dog was said to have been kept in a hot car during a long drive, then dropped off at the couples’ apartment and left alone despite the suggestions of nearby onlookers that the dog should be given water or medical attention. Percy was later found unresponsive by the apartment’s air conditioner. The owners argued that the dog-sitting company was responsible for his death, and were asking for the $1 million for their loss and the resulting anguish. The suit has not been officially taken to court yet, and thus the reaction of a judge and jury is as-of-yet unknown.

But as with the shooting of Bear-Bear, the primary issue is whether or not a canine merits the same weight in court as a human, and whether crimes against dogs should be considered as serious as those against people.

Do you have any thoughts on this issue, or the above cases? Share them in the comments!

The Pet Care Trust hopes to cultivate young students to enjoy small animals by bringing them into the classroom this Fall. With many kids glued to their iPods and PSP, “Pets In The Classroom” program hopes to inspire & expose kids to pets at a young age. Teachers can pick different types of pets (reptiles, cats, dogs, lizards) to interact with students. By connecting with different kids of pets, the program hopes students learn about various habitats these animals came from. For more info, please contact The Pets In Classroom Program.