In the wake of reports of increasing numbers of Swine Flu cases throughout the world, yesterday officials in Egypt ordered the mass slaughter of the country’s approximately 300,000 pigs.  However, today the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a statement explaining that, despite the moniker “Swine Flu,” pigs are not the source of the epidemic, and mass slaughter will not help stem the spread of the disease in humans or animals.  In fact, in order to protect the world’s pigs, the WHO will no longer use the term “Swine Flu,” and will instead refer to the virus by it’s scientific name, 2009 H1N1 flu. 
 
To learn the reason behind the name “Swine Flu,” check out the full text of this article

To read more about the WHO’s statement and the global reaction to the H1N1 flu outbreak, check out the full text of this article

South Korean scientists have genetically engineered glow in the dark puppies. Figuring out the best way to successfully manipulate the animals’ genes may prove useful in researching and fighting diseases… like cancer. The red fluorescent protein is basically just an indicator that the technique is working. The four beagle puppies glow red under infrared light.

Six female beagles were actually born in December 2007 through cloning. Two died, but the four others survived.

I’m really not sure how I feel about this. I don’t understand how glow in the dark puppies might fight cancer. I do understand that it is probably a necessary part of life that we would have to test cures for human diseases on animals sometimes, to save lives… but it really makes me sad to think about any unnecessary suffering brought on an animal. I hope the puppies are being treated well.

For years, pet store owner Shannon Anderson believed that the puppies she purchased for her store through puppy brokers came from reputable breeders.  Thanks to Last Chance for Animals, Anderson learned that the puppies actually came from puppymills, where sometimes as many as 500 animals are packed into tiny cages with little or no human contact and severely neglected, only to be sold to pet stores and puppy brokers for a significant profit.  Andersen was shocked and made the wise decision to stop buying puppies through brokers.  Also realizing that there are far too many shelter dogs needing homes, Andersen decided to begin selling rescue dogs, joining the likes of several other pet stores following the “humane model.” Read full text of story here.

Communication between shelters and humane societies across the country have led to transfer programs that have saved the lives of many animals that would otherwise be euthanized.  Programs like Best Friends’ “Pup my Ride” and PetSmart Charities’ “Rescue Waggin’” transport dogs from overpopulated, high-kill shelters to less populated shelters – sometimes hundreds of miles away.  In the last four years, the Rescue Waggin has transported over 25,000 dogs mostly from the South or Midwest, to the Northeast United States, where sterilization and other programs designed to reduce pet overpopulation has resulted in fewer homeless animals.  Additionally, these programs transfer small dogs from shelters with a surplus of such dogs (Los Angeles, for example) to those with a high demand for small dogs in Arizona and Utah. Read full text of story here.

To coincide with the “Drake Relays,” a world-famous track and field competition held every spring at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, the school invites 50 Bulldogs from around the country to compete in a Bulldog Beauty Pageant.  Drake’s mascot is the Bulldog, so each year one lucky pooch is chosen to be the canine Master of Ceremonies.  The judges couldn’t care less about pedigree; rather, they’re looking for that one special dog with the “it” factor, which may or may not include a strong fashion sense!  This year’s winner, Porterhouse, finally won after having competed for the past three years.  He and his owners couldn’t be happier! Read full story here.

Here’s a website you’re going to love. It’s called www.petside.com and they are awesome. I use this site almost every day and I love watching the videos and doing searches for specific topics. They have a great video series. The videos are extremely useful, espceically for a first time or new dog or cat owner. Love it.

http://www.raincitystory.com/flash/screenclean.swf

This isn’t new but it sure makes me happy every time I click on it.

http://www.denverpost.com/watercooler/ci_12163939

A Boulder Colorado woman was accused of binding her boyfriends dog’s feed together and hanging him upside down in the refrigerator to prove a point. The point being that she did not want a dog.

Don’t worry, the dog is okay and is now in local animal shelter.

Seriously people. There are better ways to prove a point. I’m just glad the little guy is okay.

Meet Babe, an 18-month-old Chihuahua/Poodle mix puppy born with only two legs.  According to her owner, when she was very young she scooted across the floor on her chest to get around.  However, after a few months her desire to explore the world around her took over, and soon she had taught herself to walk on her two back legs!  Now this sweet little girl inspires everyone she meets and is learning to be a therapy dog.  Check out this video of Babe displaying her “talents”: Watch Video

Vice President Joe Biden and his wife purchased a German Shephed puppy from Delaware breeder Linda Brown in December of 2008.  Brown reports that at first she was honored to have been chosen by the Vice President “out of millions of breeders in the country.”  However, since making the sale Brown claims she has been attacked in local newspapers and by animal welfare organizations such as PETA, and her kennel has been inspected several times by state authorities in response to multiple anonymous complaints.  Moreover, Brown asserted that both she and Biden have received death threats over the puppy purchase.  Her advice to other breeders contemplating selling a puppy to President Obama? “Don’t do it!”  Here’s hoping the Obamas take heed, and choose to adopt, not shop! Read full text of story here: Breeder Sold Biden His Puppy