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Tuesday, December 18, 2012
DOG EATS LIGHTS
PDSA
he swallowed a foot of Christmas lights.
Sharon Fay of Southampton, England, had to rush her 7-year-old crossbreed rescue dog Charlie to
the city’s People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals PetAid hospital when she noticed that he had eaten
something that certainly wasn’t his dog chow.
“She heard him doing something behind sofa, but he was OK. Then, in the garden,
she noticed some wires in the feces,” Lisa Nickless, spokeswoman for PDSA, a U.K.
charity for sick and injured animals, told ABCNews.com. “They took an X-ray,
and realized, ‘Oh dear, this is much worse!’”
The X-ray showed a “large mass of wires” in Charlie’s stomach.
The dog, whom Fay actually calls the “light of her life,” was rushed into surgery
with PDSA senior veterinary surgeon Sophie Bell.
PDSA
what had happened,” Fey said.
Bell soon was able to extract the life-threatening lights.
“It would have been fatal,” Nickless said. “It was lifesaving surgery.
That amount of mass wasn’t going to pass through naturally. If [he couldn't] go to the bathroom,
he would have been sick.”
Nickless said that they also found a shoelace – proving Charlie to be a repeat offender.
Bell said that over her years as a veterinarian she has seen animals chew up many items,
including socks and rubber ducks, but this was her first case of Christmas lights.
“Charlie was very, very lucky. He was also fortunate that the glass didn’t cut his mouth or throat.
And he could have been electrocuted if he’d bitten through the wire when the lights were switched on.”
Bell said. “With the Christmas season upon us, I’d advise owners to keep any edible items out of
reach of inquisitive pets to avoid them from becoming ill over the festive season.”
Thursday, December 13, 2012
DOG TELLING YOU
Your dog might not be able to talk to you about your bad day at work, but when he lays that little snout on your lap, you sense he just gets it. How much do we really know about what's going on behind those puppy-dog eyes? "A dog's mind is roughly equivalent to that of a human two-year-old's," says Stanley Coren, PhD, author of The Intelligence of Dogs. "But dogs also have the social consciousness of a teenager." Put that together with a keen sense of smell, and dogs might be getting a basic read on everything from simple emotions to serious changes in your body chemistry. Read on for eight fascinating facts about the human-dog connection. Photo by iStock.
1. Dogs sense sadness.
You swear your dog acts extra-tame and attentive when you're down in the dumps. Is it all in your head-or are your emotions registering on his radar? In a study published in the journal Animal Cognition, dogs did, in fact, approach people who appeared to be upset more often than those who weren't-whether it was their owner or a stranger. Scientists are still a few steps away from saying dogs have true empathy for humans-it's possible they'd react the same way to an equally strong emotion, like raucous laughter-but they're optimistic. "The dogs in the study would lick all around sad people's hands or faces, and some sweetly brought over toys," says study author Deborah Custance, PhD, a psychologist at Goldsmiths, University of London. "They behaved in a way we would've expected if we interpreted it as empathy."
Related: Discover 7 instant mood boosters.
2. They know when you're being unfair-to some extent.
If you play favorites with another pet, your dog might notice, according to a study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers found that when dogs saw other dogs getting treats for a trick they'd been performing unrewarded, the uncompensated dogs became visibly distressed-scratching themselves, yawning, licking their mouths. "Dogs are attentive to different amounts of attention and can react to it," says study author Friederike Range, PhD, Co-Director of Wolf Science Center in Vienna, Austria. Don't chalk it up to a more complicated, human-like sort of envy or sense of equality, however. When both dogs in the study received treats, both were happy-even when one was given sausage and the other got a less desirable piece of bread.
3. They can tell when your priorities shift.
When you bring a baby home from the hospital, your pet probably won't be the focus of your undivided attention anymore. And guess what: He'll pick up on that pretty quickly. (It can even lead to depression, says Dr. Coren.) But there are ways to make your dog feel loved-and love your baby, in return. "We always tell people to bring an extra swaddling blanket to the hospital," says Dr. Coren. "Wrap the baby in that, then put it where your dog sleeps-that way, the scent from the very beginning is associated with something he already likes."
4. They understand when you're mad.
You know that puppy-dog look you get after giving him some discipline? He definitely senses you're annoyed, says Dr. Coren. "If you're angry at your dog, he'll act submissive-crouch down, whine, whimper," he says. "If it gets bad enough, he'll make a puddle on the floor." But don't mistake this behavior as showing remorse. In a study published in the journal Behavioral Processes, researchers had dog owners scold their pets, whether or not they had acted up-and found that the "guilty look" didn't necessarily correspond to the dogs who had actually been naughty.
5. They sense your fear.
Let's say there's something menacing in your home, like a rodent or an intruder. As soon as you start giving off scared vibes, your pup will pick up on them. "Dogs read the world by reading us," says Dr. Coren. But here's the catch: Unless you have a guardian breed, like a Doberman pinscher or Boxer, your dog will likely be just as scared as you are in that frightening situation. Research shows they're reading your emotional response-and watching your behavior-to figure out how they should react. In other words, if you act cautiously and back away, they probably will, too.
6. They can tell if you're generous.
Believe it or not, dogs are watching and listening to your social interactions with other humans-and taking note, according to one study out of the University of Milan. Researchers had dogs observe two actors: one who kindly shared his cereal and sausage bits with a beggar, and another who shooed off the beggar harshly. Scientists found that, more often than not, dogs approached the more generous person when prompted-and it seems that a friendlier tone of voice made a difference. So beware: Your dog may judge your personality while you yell at your husband or kids.
Related: Check out the 9 fights to have with your husband.
7. They sniff out sickness.
Nope, it's not an urban legend. A slew of fascinating research shows that many diseases, like lung cancer and prostate cancer, cause the body to give off odors that dogs are able to detect. How, you ask? "Depending on the chemical substance, a dog's nose is between 1,000 and 10,000 times better than a human being's," says Dr. Coren. And while dogs were trained to pick up on the scents in the studies, that doesn't mean your own pup can't provide some clues about your health. For instance, if he's sniffing that mole on your leg every day, it could be worth it to have your dermatologist check it out. "We're not sure dogs know something's wrong, but they know something's different," explains Dr. Custance.
8. They know when you are (and aren't) paying attention.
Before you leave a low-lying steak on the counter while you dash to the bathroom, consider this: Your pet is probably sneakier than you suspect. In one study, researchers placed treats on the floor in front of several dogs, forbidding them to eat the food. The dogs behaved as long as the person watching them stayed in the room-but when the treats-keeper left? The canines gobbled them up within five seconds. So no matter how disciplined your dog is, exercise caution in the kitchen, especially with items that could be toxic for your pet, like grapes, chocolate and raw meat.
Related: Learn about the 8 most ingenious cooking gadgets.
Original article appeared on WomansDay.com.
1. Dogs sense sadness.
You swear your dog acts extra-tame and attentive when you're down in the dumps. Is it all in your head-or are your emotions registering on his radar? In a study published in the journal Animal Cognition, dogs did, in fact, approach people who appeared to be upset more often than those who weren't-whether it was their owner or a stranger. Scientists are still a few steps away from saying dogs have true empathy for humans-it's possible they'd react the same way to an equally strong emotion, like raucous laughter-but they're optimistic. "The dogs in the study would lick all around sad people's hands or faces, and some sweetly brought over toys," says study author Deborah Custance, PhD, a psychologist at Goldsmiths, University of London. "They behaved in a way we would've expected if we interpreted it as empathy."
Related: Discover 7 instant mood boosters.
2. They know when you're being unfair-to some extent.
If you play favorites with another pet, your dog might notice, according to a study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers found that when dogs saw other dogs getting treats for a trick they'd been performing unrewarded, the uncompensated dogs became visibly distressed-scratching themselves, yawning, licking their mouths. "Dogs are attentive to different amounts of attention and can react to it," says study author Friederike Range, PhD, Co-Director of Wolf Science Center in Vienna, Austria. Don't chalk it up to a more complicated, human-like sort of envy or sense of equality, however. When both dogs in the study received treats, both were happy-even when one was given sausage and the other got a less desirable piece of bread.
3. They can tell when your priorities shift.
When you bring a baby home from the hospital, your pet probably won't be the focus of your undivided attention anymore. And guess what: He'll pick up on that pretty quickly. (It can even lead to depression, says Dr. Coren.) But there are ways to make your dog feel loved-and love your baby, in return. "We always tell people to bring an extra swaddling blanket to the hospital," says Dr. Coren. "Wrap the baby in that, then put it where your dog sleeps-that way, the scent from the very beginning is associated with something he already likes."
4. They understand when you're mad.
You know that puppy-dog look you get after giving him some discipline? He definitely senses you're annoyed, says Dr. Coren. "If you're angry at your dog, he'll act submissive-crouch down, whine, whimper," he says. "If it gets bad enough, he'll make a puddle on the floor." But don't mistake this behavior as showing remorse. In a study published in the journal Behavioral Processes, researchers had dog owners scold their pets, whether or not they had acted up-and found that the "guilty look" didn't necessarily correspond to the dogs who had actually been naughty.
5. They sense your fear.
Let's say there's something menacing in your home, like a rodent or an intruder. As soon as you start giving off scared vibes, your pup will pick up on them. "Dogs read the world by reading us," says Dr. Coren. But here's the catch: Unless you have a guardian breed, like a Doberman pinscher or Boxer, your dog will likely be just as scared as you are in that frightening situation. Research shows they're reading your emotional response-and watching your behavior-to figure out how they should react. In other words, if you act cautiously and back away, they probably will, too.
6. They can tell if you're generous.
Believe it or not, dogs are watching and listening to your social interactions with other humans-and taking note, according to one study out of the University of Milan. Researchers had dogs observe two actors: one who kindly shared his cereal and sausage bits with a beggar, and another who shooed off the beggar harshly. Scientists found that, more often than not, dogs approached the more generous person when prompted-and it seems that a friendlier tone of voice made a difference. So beware: Your dog may judge your personality while you yell at your husband or kids.
Related: Check out the 9 fights to have with your husband.
7. They sniff out sickness.
Nope, it's not an urban legend. A slew of fascinating research shows that many diseases, like lung cancer and prostate cancer, cause the body to give off odors that dogs are able to detect. How, you ask? "Depending on the chemical substance, a dog's nose is between 1,000 and 10,000 times better than a human being's," says Dr. Coren. And while dogs were trained to pick up on the scents in the studies, that doesn't mean your own pup can't provide some clues about your health. For instance, if he's sniffing that mole on your leg every day, it could be worth it to have your dermatologist check it out. "We're not sure dogs know something's wrong, but they know something's different," explains Dr. Custance.
8. They know when you are (and aren't) paying attention.
Before you leave a low-lying steak on the counter while you dash to the bathroom, consider this: Your pet is probably sneakier than you suspect. In one study, researchers placed treats on the floor in front of several dogs, forbidding them to eat the food. The dogs behaved as long as the person watching them stayed in the room-but when the treats-keeper left? The canines gobbled them up within five seconds. So no matter how disciplined your dog is, exercise caution in the kitchen, especially with items that could be toxic for your pet, like grapes, chocolate and raw meat.
Related: Learn about the 8 most ingenious cooking gadgets.
Original article appeared on WomansDay.com.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
ANIMAL RESCUE THEFT
MORIARTY, N.M. (AP) — The cases were often heartbreaking: Families coming home to find their dogs had vanished from inside houses, behind locked fences and outdoor kennels in rural communities east of Albuquerque.
But with the recent arrest of a woman accused of stealing two pit bulls — then throwing them from her moving car as the dogs' owner gave chase — officials think they have confirmed longstanding suspicions that the animals were victims of an overzealous animal rescuer turned serial dognapper.
"It really cracked the case," Edgewood animal control officer Mike Ring said of the Nov. 16 arrest of 59-year-old Debbie Swenerton.
Authorities believe she stole dogs and then took them to shelters and said they were strays in need of adoption. Ring said he suspects Swenerton could be part of a larger network of local activists who are concerned about the treatment of animals in rural areas, where many dogs are tied up, live outside or are allowed to roam freely.
No one else has been arrested, and authorities said they are investigating other missing dog cases.
One of the pit bulls Swenerton is accused of trying to steal and throw from her vehicle suffered road rash, but the dogs were otherwise uninjured, according to the Torrance County sheriff's department. Swenerton was charged with cruelty to animals, burglary and false imprisonment.
Swenerton's attorney, Quinn Kirby, called the allegations ridiculous.
"Debbie cares deeply about animals and dedicates a great deal of her time and resources to animal welfare," she said in an email. "It is outrageous to suggest that someone like her would do something so heinous as to throw a dog out the window of a moving car. Debbie has not committed any crimes and we are confident that she will be exonerated."
Barbara Tellier, a friend of Swenerton's who runs the Alliance Against Animal Abuse Inc., said she believes Swenerton is being set up by officials in a county where animal abuse is rampant and officials don't care.
"Debbie is making waves," Tellier said. "She is emailing everybody trying to get help for these animals who are locked outside without enough shelter, or not enough water in the summertime, or running loose to get hit by a car ... and nobody is doing anything."Tellier said Swenerton is "one of the most humane people I know" and that she and her husband build doghouses and pens for people so they can take their dogs off chains. They also take bales of straw to families to put in doghouses in the winter.
Ring estimated as many as 60 dogs have gone missing in the area over the last few years.
"It's a sad story when people are calling to report their animals are missing," he said. "You can hear the emotion in their voice. Some of them have children. These are family pets. It's heartbreaking, some of these cases."
Torrance County sheriff's officials say they have had a flood of new calls since news of Swenerton's arrest broke. One woman, approached at a hamburger stand, seemed startled to hear of the case.
"My dog is missing. A lot of dogs are missing," Melissa Crozier said. She said her dog, Simba, recently disappeared from inside her home, behind an unlocked door. "I came home and he was gone. I have no idea how he could have gotten out" unless someone opened the door.Torrance County Undersheriff Martin Rivera said that's how most of the cases came in: "People get home from work and their animal is missing."
Rivera said authorities had long suspected Swenerton, who is known by law enforcement and animal control authorities in Torrance, Bernalillo and Santa Fe counties for calling to report suspected animal abuse. In most cases, he says, the animals were fine, with food, water and proper shelter. In most cases, they were also outside.
"I think she is thinking if they are not inside, they are being abused," he said.
He said authorities believe Swenerton took the dogs to shelters in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Edgewood and other communities, possibly even other states, to be adopted. Additionally, he said, Swenerton had 20 dogs at her home in the mountain community of Tijeras, where she has a licensed dog rescue facility. Authorities say the animals were well cared for, and all were registered to the woman except one.
A microchip in that dog was traced back to a Bernalillo County family, whose shepherd mix, Alfie, went missing after the family was approached several times by a woman concerned about its care, authorities said. Swenerton told officers she had been given the dog.
No one appeared to be home at the address where the alleged pit bull thefts occurred on a recent afternoon, and the phone number that the resident, Senica Sanchez, gave police had been disconnected. The residence is an older mobile home with pulled curtains. A variety of vehicles and motorcycles were in the yard on the street last week, and two young pit bulls matching the description of those in the Torrance County sheriff's department incident report were tied up in the front yard.
When Swenerton was arrested, Rivera said, she was upset "because she felt she was doing the right thing. ... I think she just wanted to save these animals."
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