Episode 24 - dog meat, mourning dogs, Wyoming's wolves and more

The Dog News Show

You've heard of buy-on-get-one-free offers, but an American realtor came up with a novel idea recently - rent the house, get the Pitbull for free and a reduction in rent! Sandy Zalagens offered a unit for rent at $950 in normal circumstances, but with a reduction down to $800 a month discount if the tenant adopted Big Louie, and 80 pound Pitbull. In a very positive story, which is great news for the public image of this much maligned breed, Jessie McElwee took up the deal - and she moved in accompanied by her cat, and three of them are very happy together. Maybe this could be the way forward for dog rescue?
Greyfriars Bobby was a dog who kept a vigil at his dead owner's grave for several years. There has been much discussion about Bobby's breed and whether the story is true or urban myth, but a dog hit the headlines this week who has done just the same. Argentinian Miguel Guzman bought German Shepherd Capitan as a present for his son in 2005, and sadly Miguel died in 2006. Shortly after his death, Capitan went missing and now lives on his owner's grave. But how did Capitan find his way to the grave? Who feeds him? And should his family allow his behaviour to carry on? Your comments are invited.
Dog lovers everywhere are outraged by the eating of dog meat that persists in area of some countries, but in more positive news, it's emerged that Weixian County, in Hebei Province, recently became the first county in China to adopt a comprehensive regulation that bans both the consumption of dog meat and the slaughter of dogs for consumption. Dogs are not on the menu across China, and three high profile rescues of dogs destined to be eaten have helped raise awareness of the dog meat trade, and hopefully this horrible practice will continue to decrease. Increasing numbers of dogs are being kept as pets in China, and gradually the message is getting across that dogs are great companions, not food items. What do you think? Is eating a dog so different from eating a pig or cow? Is all meat murder? Let us know.
Meanwhile, the ancestor of our dogs, the grey wolf is about to become the victim of hunters once again in Wyoming USA. The state of Wyoming will no longer class the grey wolf as protected from 1st October 2012, and the species will be fair game for hunters and trappers except those animals within Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and on the Wind River Indian Reservation. The state has apparently pledged to ensure wolf numbers don't fall below at least 10- breeding pairs - but is that enough to ensure a healthy, varied gene pool? And should the control of an animal population really be turned into a sport with glory given to those who kill the most "trophies"?
An establishment in Manchester which calls itself a boarding kennels has been forced to close down after eleven break-ins in nine years. Edward Marsden claims he can no longer guarantee the safety of clients' dogs and says he has recently had 12 dogs of his own stolen. Thieves have taken five West Highland terriers, a Maltese terrier, three black Poodles, a gold and white Shih Tzu, a golden Cocker Spaniel and a Bichon Frise, and Mr Marsden complains that that is all of his "stock" gone. But just what is Mr Marsden up to with so many dogs of so many different breeds? And who refers to their beloved dogs as stock? For advice on how to help the fight against Puppy Farms visit Debbie's blog at the SafePets UK website.
Schmaltz Corner this week has the tale of Chewy the Great Pyrenees dog who was rescued from an abusive home by the Barrhead Animal Rescue Society (BARS) in Alberta, Canada. BARS made Chewy their pet of the week and featured him on social media websites, where he caught the attention of Steve SOlomon who trains animals for TV and films. He wanted Chewy to be a stand in for a dog in a Disney movie - but irrespective of whether Chewy makes it into the movies or not, Steve guarantees him a home for life. If only all rescue dogs could have such a happy ending.