Stories of animal cruelty sicken me, so it's good to know that there are people out there who feel the same way. And when they see examples of inhumane treatment of pets, they're ready to leap into action.
Not just in the U.S., either. In Lithuania, a 22-year-old man posted a video of himself throwing a dog off a bridge, then posted it online. Outraged Internet uses who saw the video helped police identify the man, who was arrested and faces a year in jail on animal cruelty charges.
The dog, named Pipiras (Lithuanian for "pepper"), is expected to survive the 20-foot fall, despite suffering several fractures and internal injuries. His owner, Petras Dunskaitis, told a newspaper, "He's lived with me for four or five years. He didn't deserve such a fate."
According to local reports, the man believed the dog was responsible for killing several of his mother's chickens. In the video, he's shown holding the dog over a bridge railing and laughing as a friend records the scene with his cell phone.
The man then makes a joke about dogs flying and drops him. Pipiras crashes to the ground and is shown yelping and twitching. The video was originally posted on a site, but it spread globally and even made it to Facebook, where a group calling itself the "Lithuanian Dog Support Group" helped police locate the man.
Unbelievable, right? Animal cruelty knows no bounds, and as pet lovers we should always be aware that there are people who think nothing of harming animals.
We should always be aware of this and be on the lookout.
Pet Product Review - Greenies® Dental Chews
If you look-up the definition of connoisseur in the dictionary, you will not see this:
con⋅nois⋅seur:
A dog of informed and discriminating taste
a.k.a Joey (see photo left)
Joey is our lovable, 10 year old Lab, who does not have a discriminating bone in his body much less his palate. He savors the flavors of anything he can get his furry little paws on. That's why I'm always happy to discover treats that are actually good for him and don't just pack-on the pounds!
Joey delights in the taste and texture of the Greenies® Dental Chews for big dogs while he unknowingly reaps the many benefits that come from chewing them: Help in controlling plaque and tartar, fresher breath, a healthier immune system, and a dose of daily fiber. The fresher breath is literally an in-my-face benefit that aids in prolonging our "cuddle time" every night.
You can find Greenies® products at most pet supply stores or use their store locator to find a retailer in your area. You can also purchase the Greenies® Value Paks for $9.68 on the PetEdge website.
Be sure to visit the Greenies® Exclusive Offers page for some great coupons!
I like to call this kind of story a silver lining in the Michael Vick dogfighting case: In Los Angeles County, the district attorney's office and the Humane Society of the United State are teaming up to start a 24-hour tip line for county residents to report cases of dogfighting. As an incentive, they're also offering a substantial reward for an arrest and conviction.
The program was announced today at a media conference at the office of Steve Cooley, the L.A. County district attorney.
It's similar to a cash-for-tips program started last month in Pennsylvania, which offers up to $5,000 for information about dogfights and cockfights. The Humane Society worked with officials in Pennsylvania to start that program.
The L.A. County tip line will be staffed by English and Spanish speakers and offers a $5,000 reward if someone is caught and convicted of dogfighting, a felony under state law that carries a maximum prison sentence of three years. Residents who call in can remain anonymous.
"We expect that these tips will be a starting point for major criminal investigations," Cooley said. The Humane Society estimates that some 250,000 dogs are forced to engage in dogfighting in the U.S. every year.
This sounds like a program that should spread quickly if states want to eliminate this horrifying and inhumane blood sport.
Pet Product Review - Handmade confections by Sucré
Sucré is a New Orleans based confectioner known for their delectable, hand-crafted artisan chocolates as well as their scrumptious pastries and macaroons, which are even Oprah-approved! This holiday season, a portion of every dollar spent online will go to benefit the LA/SPCA. The wonderful people at Sucré sent me their New Orleans gift box to sample and I couldn't think of a more tasty way to ring out my 2009 diet and ring in the holidays!
First, the packaging is just beautiful! If it weren't for the sweet delicacies whispering to me from inside the boxes (like the call of the Sirens), I probably would have left all of the ribbons intact and used them as holiday decorations this season. But open them I did, and boy, I was not disappointed. Yummy candied pecans, macaroons, melt-in-your-mouth chocolates, a pecan loaf and the aroma of the Sucré whole bean coffee all seemed to be chanting, "Try me first!" My waistline can attest to the fact that I sampled each and every treat and, for a moment, I could have sworn I heard the sensuous sound of jazz emanating from the can of candied pecans! Delicious!
If you're looking for the ideal Christmas gift for the pet owner in your life, (or a little pampering for yourself), I think the Sucré gift box is the perfect way to indulge your palate and help homeless animals!
You can view and purchase the New Orleans gift box, along with a wide variety of other people treats at the Sucré website. FREE shipping ($9.95 value) on all orders over $70 per address Code: BONBON
No one will ever know what Sabi the Australian Labrador Retriever went through the past 14 months, but her will to live is clearly amazing. If she could only talk.
Sabi, a bomb-sniffing four-year-old black Lab, was caught in a gun battle in Afghanistan while stationed with Australia's Special Forces units last year. But she was declared missing in action and was presumed dead.
Nine Australian soldiers - including Sabi's handler - were wounded in the battle, which earned one of the Aussie troopers the highest bravery award.
Sabi's fate was not known for certain, but it was assumed she probably died in the skirmish. Not so.
After eluding the Taliban and somehow living on her own for more than a year, Sabi was recently found by U.S. troops in the Uruzgan mountains in the south.
"Sabi is back home in one piece and is a genuinely nice pooch as well," said Kevin Rudd, the Australian prime minister, who made sure the dog received a hero's welcome.
After being airlifted to Australian headquarters in Tarin Kowt, Sabi was returned to the Army's working dogs unit. She was said to be in good health, so it's likely someone may have been feeding her.
That's one incredible pooch.
