DNA Tests Determine Makeup of Mixed-Breed Dogs

Posted on September 26, 2008
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 Posted by Molly Kavanaugh/Plain Dealer Reporter September 26, 2008 00:04AM

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/09/dna_tests_determine_makeup_of.html

The white puppy that Melissa Limkemann brought back from North Carolina this winter was a hound mix. Or so she was told.

Then three veterinarians came up with three different kinds of mixed breeds. So the Lakewood resident decided to spend $130 to unravel the mystery.

A DNA test showed the dog, Batman, has traces of six breeds, ranging from a 10-pound Italian greyhound to a 185-pound mastiff. Other breeds include boxer, bulldog, French bulldog and vizsla.

“He is a true classic mutt,” Limkemann said.

DNA testing, which has been used for more than a decade to track down criminals, now is being marketed to pet owners who want to know the makeup of their mixed-breed dogs.

Several tests have hit the market in the past year, ranging in price from $50 to about $125.

In November, Petco will introduce its Canine Heritage Breed Test in Ohio stores. The test has been available online and in limited markets since July, and sales have surpassed expectations, a company spokesman said.

Mars Veterinary, which estimates that half the country’s 70 million dogs are mixed breed, expects a growing market for its Wisdom Panel MX test, said veterinarian and geneticist Angela Hughes, an independent contractor who helped develop Wisdom Panel.

But curiosity is not the only driving force.

Several years ago, Hughes’ mixed-breed dog Rimsky had seizure-like episodes and she was unsure how to treat it. After a grand mal seizure, the dog was diagnosed with epilepsy and now is on medication.

The DNA test given later showed that the dog is part cocker spaniel, a breed with a tendency toward epilepsy.

“Had I known he was a cocker spaniel, I would have been able to treat it sooner,” Hughes said.

For the Wisdom Panel test, which can detect 134 breeds, a veterinarian must draw blood. About 4,000 clinics offer the test. (To find a clinic near you, go to wisdompanel.com.)

Petco’s test and others rely on a cheek swab, which a pet owner can do.

Not all pet owners and vets, though, are sold on the DNA testing.

After Stella Rosenfeld’s dog died, she adopted what she thought was another basenji-mix dog. She grew concerned when the dog, Benno, started lunging and biting her neighbors at the Kendal at Oberlin retirement community and wondered what other breeds the dog was besides basenji.

She took Benno to the vet for the Wisdom Panel test and was shocked when she got the results — Boston terrier mix and no trace of basenji.

“I’m skeptical of the whole thing,” she said.

Mars Veterinary agreed to retest her dog and told her that if she still isn’t satisfied, it will refund her money.

Hughes said that the test has an 84 percent accuracy rate and that in less than 1 percent of the cases, the company retests because testers also are baffled by the results.

Veterinarian William Mandel offers the DNA test at his Cleveland Heights office, but he’s not promoting it.

“I’d rather people spend money on diet,” he said.

Oberlin veterinarian Emily Nicely said that since the test is not 100 percent accurate, she worries it might incorrectly determine that a dog is a pit bull, for example, and force the owner to get additional insurance.

Or worse, get rid of the dog. Some communities, such as Lakewood and Parma, have banned pit bulls and canary dogs.

Lakewood’s ban goes into effect Dec. 6. Residents who already own pit bulls can keep them; they have until that date to register their dogs with the city.

If there is a dispute about the breed, Lakewood police and animal-control workers will decide. Police Capt. Gary Stone said the city would not make a decision based solely on the test.

Limkemann is not taking any chances. She keeps a copy of the DNA test in her back pocket when she walks Batman.

Limkemann runs a nonprofit dog rescue operation and would test her foster dogs if the test were cheaper. She figures that if she knows precisely a dog’s background and how big it will grow, she will have an easier time finding it a home.

Companies like Mars say they recognize the value to shelters and offer them discounts.

In the future, the DNA test might be able to determine if a dog has a specific mutation for a disease and how big a puppy will be when fully grown.

Italian Pet Owners Face Fines on Dog Mess Tests

Posted on September 24, 2008
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Tue Sep 23, 12:22 PM ET

ROME (Reuters) - Dog excrement used to be merely a nuisance to pedestrians, now it could be used as evidence against pet owners and may lead to fines.

A town in northern Italy plans to create a DNA database of all registered dogs and then test droppings left on pavements and in parks to identify the culprit and fine owners who fail to clean up after their pets, La Stampa daily reported Tuesday.

“If signs and invitations aren’t enough, we’ll try genetics. I want a clean city,” Antonio Prencipe, councilor in charge of the environment in Vercelli, a town of some 45,000 inhabitants near Turin, told the paper.

DNA tests would cost around 13 euros ($19), which would be more than covered by fines, La Stampa said. It did not estimate the cost of creating a database.

The Israeli town of Petah Tikva launched a similar six-month trial program earlier this month, under which dog owners were asked to take their animals to a municipal veterinarian, who then swabs its mouth and collects DNA.

(Reporting by Robin Pomeroy)

Mars Petcare US: Pet Food Recall - September 12, 2008

Posted on September 22, 2008
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  Mars Petcare US Issues Voluntary Recall of Everson, PA Plant Dry Pet Food Product due to Potential Salmonella Contamination

Contact:
Debra Fair
Public Relations Manager - Central Marketing
MARS PETCARE US
(973) 691-3536

For Immediate Release

Mars Petcare US Announces Nationwide Voluntary Recall

Franklin, Tennessee (September 12, 2008)-Today, Mars Petcare US announced a voluntary recall of products manufactured at its Everson, Pennsylvania facility. The pet food is being voluntarily recalled because of potential contamination with Salmonella serotype Schwarzengrund. This voluntary recall only affects the United States.

Salmonella can cause serious infections in dogs and cats, and, if there is cross contamination caused by handling of the pet food, in people as well, especially children, the aged, and people with compromised immune systems. Healthy people potentially infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. On rare occasions, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Animals can be carriers with no visible symptoms and can potentially infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

The company stopped production at the Everson facility on July 29, 2008 when it was alerted of a possible link between dry pet food produced at the plant and two isolated cases of people infected with Salmonella Schwarzengrund.

Even though no direct link between product produced at Everson and human or pet illness has been made, Mars Petcare US is taking precautionary action to protect pets and their owners by announcing a voluntary recall of all products produced at the Everson facility beginning February 18, 2008 until July 29, 2008 when we stopped production.

The company is continuing to work collaboratively with the FDA to determine the nature and source of Salmonella Schwarzengrund at the Everson facility. Since it has not yet identified the source of the Salmonella Schwarzengrund at the Everson facility, Mars Petcare US does not plan to resume production out of a commitment to the safety of our pet owners and their pets, customers, and associates.

The top priority of Mars Petcare US has always been and continues to be the health and welfare of pets and their owners. Consumers can continue to have confidence in the quality and safety of the products produced at other Mars Petcare US facilities. Only those products which were produced at the Everson facility are impacted by the voluntary recall.

Many of the brands involved in the recall are national brands produced at multiple facilities. A chart for all products is below. For example, PEDIGREE® is manufactured in numerous facilities throughout the country, and Everson represents a very small portion of the manufacturing base - 2.7 percent of total PEDIGREE® production.

Mars Petcare US will work with retail customers to ensure that the recalled products are not on store shelves. These products should not be sold or fed to pets. In the event that consumers believe they have purchased products affected by this voluntary recall, they should return the product to the store where they purchased it for a full refund. Specific product details and other information can be found at http://www.petcare.mars.com/

In an effort to prevent the transmission of Salmonella from pets to family members and care givers, the FDA recommends that everyone follow appropriate pet food handling guidelines when feeding their pets. A list of safe pet food handling tips can be found at: www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/petfoodtips080307.html

Pet owners who have questions about the recall should call 1-877-568-4463 or visit http://www.petcare.mars.com/.

Production Lot Code - (found on back of bag just after “Best Before” date).
The products listed in the chart below are made at our Everson facility on behalf of a variety of retailers. All production lot codes, with the exception of PEDIGREE®, are listed in a similar format as noted below:
Consumers should look for “17″ as the first two digits of the second line. Sample:
Best By Feb 18 09
17 1445 1

For PEDIGREE® the Everson code date format is as follows:
Consumers should look for “PAE” on the bottom line - the sixth, seventh and eighth digits. Sample:
PEDIGREE ® Small Crunchy Bites
Best Before 02/2009
808G1PAE01 12:00

Recalled Pet Food

Please find recalled pet food UPC information below. UPC code numbers can be found directly underneath the bar code on the package.

IMPORTANT: If you see a product you purchased listed below, please review the Production Lot Code information samples from above to confirm that your product is included in the recall.

Product Name / Bag Size UPC Product Name / Bag Size UPC
Country Acres Cat Food  40# 16603 02181 Retriever Bites & Bones Dog Food  8# 79818 96757
Country Acres Ration Dog Food  40# 16603 02333 Retriever Bites & Bones Dog Food  20# 79818 96634
Country Acres 18% Dog Food  40# 16603 02331 Retriever Bites & Bones Dog Food  50# 49394 05666
Country Acres Hi Pro Dog Food  50# 16603 02021 Retriever Gravy Blend Dog Food  50# 49394 05665
Doggy Bag Dog Food  40# 73893 40000 Retriever Gravy Blend Dog Food  8# 79818 96756
Members Mark Complete Nutrition Premium Cat Food  20# 81131 89881 Retriever Hi Protein Dog Food  8# 79818 96755
Members Mark Complete Nutrition Premium Dog Food  50# 05388 67055 Retriever Hi Protein Dog Food  25# 49394 00002
Members Mark Crunchy Bites & Savory Bones Adult Dog Food  50# 05388 67309 Retriever Hi Protein Dog Food  50# 49394 00003
Members Mark High Performance Premium Dog Food  50# 81131 75479 Retriever Mini Chunk Dog Food  8# 79818 96754
Natural Cat Food (Sam’s Club)  15# 81131 89883 Retriever Mini Chunk  Dog Food  25# 49394 00006
Natural Dog Food  (Sam’s Club)  25# 81131 89884 Retriever Mini Chunk  Dog Food  50# 49395 00005
Ol’ Roy Complete Nutrition  4.4# 81131 69377 Retriever Puppy Blend Dog Food  6# 49394 56221
Ol’ Roy Complete Nutrition  8# 05388 67144 Retriever Puppy Blend Dog Food  8# 79818 96758
Ol’ Roy Complete Nutrition  22# 05388 60342 Retriever Puppy Blend Dog Food  20# 49394 00004
Ol’ Roy Complete Nutrition  50# 78742 01022 Retriever Puppy Blend Dog Food  40# 79818 96706
Ol’ Roy High Performance Nutrition Dog Food  20# 05388 60345 Special Kitty Gourmet  3.5# 81131 17546
Ol’ Roy High Performance Nutrition Dog Food  50# 78742 05815 Special Kitty Gourmet  4# 78742 53199
Ol’ Roy Meaty Chunks ‘n Gravy Dog Food  8# 81131 69629 Special Kitty Gourmet  7# 81131 17547
Ol’ Roy Meaty Chunks ‘n Gravy Dog Food  22# 81131 69630 Special Kitty Gourmet  8# 78742 53200
Ol’ Roy Meaty Chunks ‘n Gravy Dog Food  50# 81131 69631 Special Kitty Gourmet  18# 81131 15748
Ol’ Roy Puppy Complete  4# 81131 79078 Special Kitty Gourmet  20# 78742 53201
Ol’ Roy Puppy Complete  8# 81131 79079 Special Kitty Gourmet  25# 78742 54314
Ol’ Roy Puppy Complete  20# 81131 79080 Special Kitty Kitten  3.5# 81131 17553
Paws & Claws Delicious Mix Cat Food  8# 79818 96632 Special Kitty Kitten  4# 78742 53198
Paws & Claws Delicious Mix Cat Food  20# 49394 05746 Special Kitty Kitten  7# 81131 17554
Paws & Claws Delicious Mix Cat Food  40# 79818 96676 Special Kitty Kitten  8# 81131 24739
Paws & Claws Premium Choice Cat Food  8# 79818 96633 Special Kitty Original  3.5# 81131 17557
Paws & Claws Premium Choice Cat Food  20# 49394 00008 Special Kitty Original  4# 78742 04930
Paws & Claws Premium Choice Cat Food  40# 49394 05747 Special Kitty Original  7# 81131 17562
Pedigree Large Breed Adult Nutrition  20# 23100 29158 Special Kitty Original  8# 78742 05744
Pedigree Large Breed Adult Nutrition  30.1# 23100 31484 Special Kitty Original  18# 81131 17559
Pedigree Large Breed Adult Nutrition  36.4# 23100 31479 Special Kitty Original  20# 78742 05794
Pedigree Large Breed Adult Nutrition  40# 23100 29154 Special Kitty Original  25# 81131 68869
Pedigree Small Crunchy Bites Adult Nutrition  4.4# 23100 05104 Wegman’s Bruiser Complete Nutrition Dog Food  4.4# 77890 33654
Pedigree Small Crunchy Bites Adult Nutrition  8.8# 23100 05103 Wegman’s Bruiser Complete Nutrition Dog Food  20# 77890 32988
Pedigree Small Crunchy Bites Adult Nutrition  20# 23100 14719 Wegman’s Bruiser Complete Nutrition Dog Food  37.5# 77890 32994
Pedigree Small Crunchy Bites Adult Nutrition  32# 23100 31483 Wegman’s Bruiser Puppy Dog Food  4.4# 77890 33621
Pedigree Small Crunchy Bites Adult Nutrition  40# 23100 31478 Wegman’s Bruiser Puppy Dog Food  17.6# 77890 32991
Pedigree Small Crunchy Bites Adult Nutrition  44# 23100 05100 Wegman’s Bruiser Small Crunchy Bites Dog Food  4.4# 77890 33618
Pedigree Small Crunchy Bites Adult Nutrition  52# 23100 05110 Wegman’s Bruiser Small Crunchy Bites Dog Food  20# 77890 32982
Pet Pride Indoor Cat  3.5# 11110 74584 Wegman’s Buju & Ziggie Complete Cat Food  3.5# 77890 10005
Pet Pride Indoor Cat  18# 11110 74585 Wegman’s Buju & Ziggie Complete Cat Food  18# 77890 10004
Pet Pride Weight Management Dog Food  17.6# 11110 74578 Wegman’s Buju & Ziggie Indoor Cat Food  3.5# 77890 12038
PMI Nutrition Bites & Bones Dog Food  50# 42869 00174 Wegman’s Buju & Ziggie Indoor Cat Food  18# 77890 12039
PMI Nutrition Canine Advantage  50# 42869 00172 Wegman’s Buju & Ziggie Kitten  3.5# 77890 12036
PMI Nutrition Feline Medley  20# 42869 00171 Wegman’s Buju & Ziggie Original Medley Cat Food  3.5# 77890 10006
PMI Nutrition Gravy Crunches Dog Food  40# 42869 00033 Wegman’s Buju & Ziggie Original Medley Cat Food  18# 77890 10003
Red Flannel Active Formula Dog Food  40#   42869 00063
Red Flannel Adult Formula Dog Food  20# 42869 00055
Red Flannel Adult Formula Dog Food  40#   42869 00054
Red Flannel Canine Select Dog Food  20# 42869 00068
Red Flannel Canine Select Dog Food  40# 42869 00067
Red Flannel Cat  10# 42869 00059
Red Flannel Cat  20# 42869 00058
Red Flannel Hi Pro Formula Dog Food  50#   42869 00065
Red Flannel Prime Dog Food  25# 42869 00052
Red Flannel Prime Dog Food  50# 42869 00053
Red Flannel Puppy  40# 42869 00056

 

Media Statement

Mars Petcare US Comments on Voluntary Recall of Everson, PA Plant Dry Pet Food Product

September 12, 2008

Today Mars Petcare US announced a voluntary recall of all products produced at its Everson facility beginning February 18, 2008 until July 29, 2008.  The pet food is being recalled because of potential contamination with Salmonella Schwarzengrund. This voluntary recall only affects 31 states in the United States.

“Even though no direct link between products produced at the Everson manufacturing plant and human or pet illness has been made, we are taking this precautionary action to protect pets and their owners.  We are continuing to work collaboratively with the FDA to determine the nature and source of Salmonella Schwarzengrund at the Everson facility, and are committed to making sure our consumers and customers have the information they need regarding our voluntary recall,” said Catherine Woteki, Global Director of Scientific Affairs, Mars, Incorporated.  

Mars Petcare US stopped production at the Everson facility on July 29, 2008 when the company was alerted of a possible link between dry pet food produced at the plant and two isolated cases of people infected with Salmonella Schwarzengrund.  

In order to avoid any potential risk to pets and their owners, the company initiated an extensive internal investigation to determine the extent of the involvement of the Everson facility in cooperation with the FDA. Ultimately, none of the pet foods found in consumer homes have been determined to contain Salmonella, and there have been no reports of pet illnesses in those households.  However, the strain of Salmonella Schwarzengrund involved in the illnesses has been detected in the company’s Everson facility.

Many of the brands involved in the recall are national brands produced at multiple facilities. For example, the company manufactures PEDIGREE® in numerous facilities throughout the country, and the Everson facility represents a very small portion of the manufacturing base - 2.7 percent of total PEDIGREE® production.

Consumers can continue to have confidence in the quality and safety of the products produced at Mars Petcare US’ other facilities. Only those products which were produced at the Everson facility are impacted.

Mars Petcare US will work with all of its customers to ensure that the recalled products are not on store shelves. These products should not be sold or fed to pets.  In the event that consumers believe they have purchased products affected by this voluntary recall, they should return the product to the store where they purchased it for a full refund.  Specific product details and other information can be found at http://www.petcare.mars.com/.

Catherine Woteki concluded, “Our top priority has always been and continues to be the health and welfare of pets and their owners. At Mars, we hold ourselves to the highest quality standards.”

Doggie Database – Is Megan’s Law for the Dogs?

Posted on April 22, 2008
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Would you want to know about any overly aggressive dogs in your neighborhood? If a certain dog has previously been implicated in an attack, do you have the right to know about it to protect your family? Are overly aggressive dogs of a certain breed? Who is making the determination as to what constitutes an aggressive breed - a municipality? How were these dogs dealt with before the Internet?

These are just some of the questions being kicked around our little canine community. We’re not looking to take a stand and mark our territory on this one. No, we’re going to let the latest news out of Escondido, California pass through our paws unscathed. As with all decisions made for the greater good, there are both positive and negative aspects to maintaining a nationwide database of Canine Offenders.

Basically, Rover’s Law strives to “protect our children, our loved ones, our pets and our neighborhoods from the dangerous and vicious dogs that live among us. Our goal is to create a National Registry of Bad Dogs similiar to that of the Department of Justice’s Registry.” (In order to quote directly, we had to leave the misspelling)

Again, the mutt mignons realize legislation is not necessarily good or bad. Our only question comes with the implementation of Rover’s Law. Will McGruff become the leader of a Canine Gestapo, or can we all just get along - man and beast? Is a national Dog ID tag next? Uh oh, they slipped that one right under our nose…and around our necks.

For some helpful doggie data mining, give these sites a whiff:

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/

http://www.lostdogsdatabase.com/

http://dogdetective.com/

Marooned Mutt

Posted on April 19, 2008
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Palm trees swaying in the trades, gentle waves lapping on shore - sounds like a delightful way to spend an afternoon, or a few weeks if one has the opportunity. But, given the choice, would you forego the next four months to bask in all the South Pacific glory you can handle?

We would too! But a certain Canine Castaway may beg to differ. You see, Snickers - the 8 month old Cocker Spaniel - spent the last 4 months marooned on the small Pacific Island nation of Kiribati, about 1100 miles South of the Hawaii. Fanning Island, a sparsely populated atoll in the middle of the largest ocean on Earth, had the pleasure of hosting Snickers’ extended stay. As fate would have it, Snickers and his sailing companion, Gulliver, had the misfortune of landing upon this desolate rock only after enduring the 3 previous months adrift in the Pacific! Their original owners had to abandon their prize pooch and stunning Macaw after hitching a ride with a supply ship headed for the US Mainland. We guess they had enough of the island life, drifting hopelessly in the Pacific will do that. One problem though, the ship was not having anything to do with Snickers, or Gulliver. They were not welcome aboard, and forced to endure the next 4 months marooned on this tiny windblown volcanic island. Now already having a penchant for the tropics, we’re sure Gulliver caught on with a local crew and maybe found himself an Island girl to settle down with, it is springtime…But Snickers wasn’t home, Fanning Island is no place for a haole Cocker Spaniel.

Through yet another twist of fate in this young mutt’s life, a guardian angle by the name of Jack Joslin caught a whiff of the story. The rest is history. From Jack’s legwork, the Hawaiian Humane Society, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Hawaiian Airlines all mobilized to lend a paw to the marooned mutt. Earlier this week Snickers was the honored guest aboard the Pride of Aloha, finally steaming away from his former beachside accommodations. Sailing, shuffleboard, midnight kibble buffets - this is what this young pooch was planning for when they set sail across the Pacific for the first time, not the canine version of Castaway. And forget about the media attention, Snickers just wants to get back to normal. What of Gulliver you ask, well last we heard the Macaw Militia is amassing forces to go in and rescue their fallen flyer. The bird lobby is following in Mr. Joslin’s paw prints, face man Peter Foreman plans on mobilizing forces to get Gulliver off that island and back to the mainland. You see, he may have to take somewhat of a more circuitous route back into the country. The plan is Christmas Island, then onto the Port of Los Angeles - one of two U.S. ports to accept exotic birds. Surely there will be bureaucratic roadblocks, but we have faith in our feathery friends.

Muttspace would like to recognize the effort and love put forth by everyone involved, especially Jack Joslin for his unrelenting networking. Congratulations Jack, Snickers is a gift!! Big thanks to CAPT. Evans Hoyt - skipper of the Pride of Aloha, a true salty sea dog! And to the rest of the Pride of Aloha crew!!! Hawaiian Humane Society doing what they do best. Saving lives, one animal at a time. Mahalo!

Doggie Downers

Posted on April 8, 2008
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Ridalin for the ADHD hyper hypo 4 yr old at the playground, Viagra for the coitally challenged and otherwise healthy 35 yr old man, Minoxidil to fight a losing battle….where does it end people?

Nowhere in sight as far as the butt sniffers here at Muttspace are concerned. Nope. Our clairvoyant Canines foresee a rapid decline of society over the next several generations - of Mutts and Men. Er, women too - we didn’t forget the two dozen YAZ spots on constant rotation. Alliteration aside…We’ve become so lazy, so bored, so incredibly detached from reality around us. We’re scratching itches that aren’t there; we actually look for artificial things to stimulate what would normally be naturally occurring emotions. Somehow we lost the scent along the way. Now, not only are our children innocent victims of our chemically induced comas, our pets are in the crosshairs. Poise is the latest in a somewhat disturbing trend (our opinion) of owner-administrated Canine medication/supplements available on the open, uh, market. Poise Calming Treats for Dogs are - get this - designed to bring an increased level of calm and serentity to your pooch. Or, at least that’s what made our ears perk up after first hearing the now ubiquitous radio spot.  Yes, you heard it right. No sarcasm, hyperbole, or tangents needed for once. No, that statement stands by itself - Poise calming treats are meant for dogs who bark, chew, sniff, squat, dig, bury, fetch, run, drool, lick, pant, yelp, howl, and fart….too much. We couldn’t resist.

Some of these synthesized concoctions probably do offer some benefit - Cosequin and Glucosamine come to mind - but the main point we’re missing here is, who is handling the distribution of said calming biscuit to the pet? Of even more importance, what exactly is the mental capacity of that person shelling out the Canine California Sunshine? It goes back to the age old debate; Crazy Dogs…or Crazy Owners?

Our muttley advice is simple - spend that money that would’ve went to pet meds YOU are prescribing, on a trip to the Vet. Leave the prescribing and administering of medication and supplements to the professionals. Find something else to obsess on about your pet. Like a daily walk. Or more rawhide.

Maybe we here at Muttspace spend too much time in front of the TV. Maybe sleeping on the couch, sunbathing, slurping copious amounts of fresh water, maybe it does get a bit repetitive. That must explain our RSD (Repetitive Strain Disorder) from chewing apart that doggone couch arm! After awhile we do need some simple stimuli between the morning and evening walks to occupy our time; maybe it’s not spent in the most constructive way. But what of our future, are we to be committed and medicated when chasing Robins and sneezing on Dandelions proves fruitless? Ya know, that isn’t any fun on those cold, wet, winter days. We have to do something when we’re home alone all day!!!

Wait a second, we smell a rat. Maybe that Poise thing isn’t so bad after all….

How say you Mutts?

Size Matters

Posted on April 3, 2008
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 Dateline - November 2007 -

Washington D.C.What better place than the Capitol of this great nation to commemorate such an important milestone in the annals of history? Guinness World Records Day is always a special day, a day we officially document some of the most ridiculous, and some of the most magnificent. As for the latter, let us not waste any more time. Our sight hounds are trained on a special meeting that took place this past November (2007) outside The White House.

Enter Gibson and Boo Boo. These 2 prize pooches bear the great honor of World’s Tallest, and World’s Smallest Dogs, respectively. Gibson, the Harlequin Great Dane already barks “I Love You,” and considers a certain late night talk show host a close personal friend. Hollywood fame is nothing new to this four-legged celeb, a published pooch of national predilection amongst the towering tailwaggers.

Boo Boo is a tiny lil tempest, coming in at only 10.16cm. Her owner, Lana Elswick has been a breeder of Chihuahuas for 19 years and considers Boo Boo the smallest of the lot. A little dog with a big heart, this lil firecracker is now officially the Smallest Dog In The World - but Ms. Elswick, please get on the Guinness people to update their records! A 15.2cm Key Largo Chihuahua by the name of Heaven Sent Brandy is listed currently as the diminutive title holder. We here at Muttspace would not aim to confuse anyone, and we demand clarification and justice for Boo Boo! No disrespect mind you for Ms Brandy, she is welcome in out exciting ring of kibble any day.

Call it Brandy or Boo Boo, Gibson the gargantuan Great Dane is the real catalyst here. We need to give credit to Gibson’s nome de plume - Sandy Hall, a longtime ‘Dane lover. Gibson is truly a gift. And he continues to share his gift every day, having earned his certification in Therapy Dog and Special Needs training. Gibson is larger than life.

If opposites of the canine world can come together under the parasol of peace, in the cradle of power, then dog gonnit, we need to sniff our own asses once in awhile! Maybe that’s what is missing. We forget our poop stinks. Leave it up to our slobbering mutts to point the way. The Canine lobby is gaining support.

For more record breaking canine celebrities, click here: http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records/natural_world/fantastic_pets/most_tennis_balls_held_in_the_mouth_-_dog.aspx

http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records/natural_world/fantastic_pets/highest_jump_by_a_dog.aspx

http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records/natural_world/fantastic_pets/fastest_car_window_opened_by_a_dog.aspx

Canine Therapy

Posted on March 18, 2008
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Man’s Best Friend?

Yes, consider it fact. We’re not talking clichés and bold-faced claims, the Muttspace minds are quoting authentic, documented, scientific study. According to the genius minds over at St. Louis University, their study found, “… that a lovable pooch named Sparky and a robotic dog, AIBO, were about equally effective at relieving the loneliness of nursing home residents and fostering attachments.” Furthermore, the great Professor William A. Banks, M.D. went so far as to explain that not only did Sparky bring a gleaming ray of light to this particular nursing home, but he goes on to mention, “The residents found a little quiet time with the pooch is a lot nicer than spending time with a dog and other people,” quipped Dr. Banks.

There we have it, end the debate, put the women and children to bed, the fat lady is singing a sweet swan song - our dogs are our best friends! Now it’s in the books, and we can move onto more pressing matters.

Now that it is scientifically proven that dogs are better than cats - oops, uh… I mean that dogs are our best friends, yes that’s it…Having known this most convenient truth since childhood, we here at Muttspace are asking the bigger question addressed in a recent CNN piece. Will robot dogs someday take the place of Sparky, the “9-year-old, reddish-brown mutt with a white muzzle and floppy ears?” We certainly regard this as nothing short of blasphemy!!! A robot dog replacing the real thing, hah! The notion certainly does not even dignify a response. Should we need to mobilize, the Mutt Militia is standing by for just this kind of happenstance. Ready to defend the Canine World at a moments notice. You want them on that fence, you need them on that fence!

Remember HAL?

Dog Days of Recession

Posted on March 5, 2008
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This is no light-hearted, middle of the road offering from the coffers of Muttspace. No, this is a call to arms! It seems that the family dog is the latest victim of economic fallout. Cut down on the rawhide you say? Doable. Maybe a switch from Nutra to Purina One may help allay some food cost fears?? Surely it must, at least on the surface. What other adjustments are some Americans making in regards to the economic pressure the family dog inflicts on the budget? Well, what some responsible dog owners have taken to is the most un-American of all choices…they are giving up. Cut and run. Drop the dog at the shelter and go fill up the Hummer 2 with some petrol. Beyond Hillary v Obama, beyond WMD - doggonnit beyond Brittney for mutts sake. Is this what our country is coming to? We know about consumption and a disposable society - but c’mon. Our dogs are not disposable!!!

Seriously, due to the economic woes facing the nation, some people are actually giving their dogs up for adoption because they can no longer afford to keep them. This seems totally unacceptable from our point of view, but then again that is four-legged. How do the masses feel? Commiserate for the dogs, not the poor owners. Maybe if they dropped Starbucks everyday, they could afford to feed their dog. Maybe, the $600 family cell phone plan could use a bit of restructuring to accommodate Fido’s sustenance. Maybe one day, people as a whole will be a lot more fun to be around than dogs…Probably not as far as we’re concerned. The kibble ball foresees economic adjustments being made by responsible dog owners in the near and long term. For the stupid, ill-prepared people out there; A bit of preventative medicine - please do not adopt a dog in the first place! Just as those wrongfully on public assistance drain the system, so too can wrongful pet adoption. Take a look at the swelling shelter populations, or the ever increasing annual numbers of euthanized animals. Please learn to take care of your own behind before you elect to be responsible for that of another. Did someone say too many apathetic, narcissistic, undisciplined kids?? Oh, ahem…uh no, sorry, we didn’t mean…uh, different story. Has no relation here whatsoever…

We at Muttspace wonder how the Greatest Generation - of Mutts and Men; how they would feel about our present state of affairs.

Too many questions to raise here - I’ll leave the opinions to the Mutt masses. From our tone here, Muttspace sentiments are crystal clear. How does the rest of the canine contingency out there feel? Are these just irresponsible dog owners giving up their pets regardless of the economic situation? Are people really that affected by this economic downturn, that our pets are suffering? What steps can we take to mitigate our budgetary concerns, while keeping our precious pooch’s best interests at heart? That should be the main focus - stay tuned for more there. We’ll do some research, run some surveys - and see what we come up with. Again, we’re not the WSJ here, so don’t expect forecasts. Just take everything with a grain of kibble…and don’t be afraid to bark out every once in awhile.

Your Dog will thank you for it, they love you anyway.

Showcase Showdown

Posted on February 26, 2008
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“Come on down! You’re the next contestant on the Price is Right!” barked the golden throated emcee and stalwart pet sterilization pontificator. Thanks to some recent legislation passed in the city of Los Angeles, today is a happy one for Bob Barker. There may however be some mixed feelings in the LA Basin pet community. The City of Angels became the first to adopt such strict pet sterilization laws, don’t take our word for it - sniff around yourself. For the average dog owner, it will be mandatory to spay or neuter their pets before the age of 4 months, 6 months with a doctor’s note. Of course there are restrictions regarding show and sporting dogs, or police and assistance animals - check for yourself if you have any questions. You don’t want Vic Mackie coming to your house and shakin’ down the family Shepherd for zee papers! And we, sure as heckfire, are not going to try and interpret or decipher bureaucratese.

Almost as famous as the tag line to one of America’s most popular TV game shows, was the daily send off by Bob himself. His daily urgings left an indelible impression on us; imagine how shocked our family dogs were to hear their favorite game show host rally for their… sterilization of all things! Talk about inner conflict; you think raising a teenager poses some seriously uncomfortable questions, try answering to Jack the family Golden Retriever, why Bob Barker wants to make sure he never learns any new tricks - so to speak. So, outta respect for Jack (R.I.P.), we’re gonna let a sleeping dog lie here and reserve comment. Let’s see what our canine community thinks of this perplexing predicament facing our pet population. We don’t mean to pussy-foot around the subject, it’s just the vacillating has us chasing our tails. These canine reproductive jokes doing anything for anyone?? Didn’t think so. Besides, we’re not journalists, or political pundits - we’re just good ol’ fashioned dog lovers. Furthermore, children are for people who can’t have dogs!

And we do carry some human guilt here, given the subject manner. Think Big Brother, or Close Encounters…that’s gotta be what it’s like to Fido….or Fefe for that matter.

We’ll leave the barking to the unsilent majority.

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