In 1998, Puerto Rico passed legislation that banned "pit bulls" and "Pit bull mixes" from the island. Earlier this week, they made a major step in repealing the 1998 ban when their www.elnuevodia.com%2Favanzalalegalizaciondelospitbulls-637470.html&sl=es&tl=en&hl=en">legislature passed a bill to repeal this ban. (this article was run through Google Translate, so it's a little rough to read). The bill now just waits final signature from Governor Luis Fortuno.
The removal of the ban was strongly supported by the College of Veterninarians in Puerto Rico as well as the Pit Bull Association of Puerto Rico.
It is estimated 50,00 'pit bulls' currently live in Puerto Rico -- and because of the ban, more than 3,000 were killed in the past 2 years alone.
As people learn more and more about 'pit bulls' and the ineffectiveness of the laws that target them, more and more places are deciding to repeal their bans in favor of more effective (and rational) dangerous dog legislation that targets the dog based on its behavior, not "breed".
Here's a second article, with the same, yet somewhat contradictory numbers (including some different population numbers, which should have translated well).
Congrats to the people and veterinarians in Puerto Rico.
Hat Tip to Jodi at Bless the Bullies on this, which is where I saw the news first.
Guinness World Record announced yesterday the new record holder for the World’s Tallest Dog title. And it’s neither the earlier introduced George, nor Boomer. It’s Titan, a San Diego-based blind, deaf and epileptic white Great Dane, who’s almost 3 1/2 feet tall from floor to shoulder. Titan weighs 190 pounds, so his measurements definitely live up to his name.
Thousands of dogs will take to the show rings this weekend in two all-breed, benched dog shows as the the Kennel Club of Philadelphia hosts the National Dog Show Presented by Purina, to be broadcast Thanksgiving on NBC.
John O’Hurley, of ”Family Feud,” “Seinfeld” and “Dancing with the Stars” fame, hosts the Saturday show, which will be televised at noon on Thanksgiving.
A second show will be held Sunday, with more than 150 breeds competing for Best in Show, vendors, demonstrations and more.
Tickets for the show — held at the The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, just north of Valley Forge — are $12 for adults and $6 for children under 12, and are available at the door or online.
On both days, show visitors can watch more than 150 breeds compete in 11 show rings, view demonstrations and visit the dogs and owners backstage.
Unbenched, all-breed shows precede the Kennel Club of Philadelphia Dog Shows at the same site on Thursday and Friday. Admission to those shows is $5 each.
You can learn more about the event on its website.
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Did you know that the Norwegian Lundehund is a polydactyl? With seven toes on each paw, these dogs were bred to assist in hunting puffins, usually located in caves and in cliff nests. Even their heads are flexibly, which can be bent backwards along their own spine.
This breed is considered an old breed, dating back to the 1600’s. They almost went extinct during World War II when canine distemper infected the Norwegian Coast. Though still rare, there are roughly 2,000 Norwegian Lundehund in the world and only 300 in the US.
Norwegian Lundehunds love to chase after birds and live for about 10 years. They are known to be difficult to house-train, love to dig & bark, and can be very suspicious of strangers.
To learn more about this intelligent, active and mischievous breed, visit the Norwegian Lundehund Association Of America.
Although we can't cover all possible emergencies in this article, there are a few situations which occur quite commonly, and you should familiarize yourself with how to handle them.
Labradors are very gentle dogs, but they may still snap or bite if they are hurt. A soft piece of string wrapped around his nose and tied behind his ears makes a good emergency muzzle. It is very effective in preventing him biting you as you provide basic first aid.
When he is muzzled, remove him from danger. If he has been hit by a vehicle, he needs to be moved off the road to avoid him being hit again. To do this, slide a blanket or large piece of cardboard under him and use it to lift him into a car for the trip to the veterinarian.
Your rough and tumble Labrador Retriever may get a cut or deep wound on his skin. If there is bleeding, put pressure on the wound with a folded piece of clean cloth. Don't remove it, even if blood soaks the cloth, as this will dislodge the blood clot that's forming, and bleeding will worsen. Just apply another cloth on top and maintain even pressure, then take him to your vet to see if he needs sutures.
Abrasions and scratches can be cleaned with either saline, or a dilute iodine solution. Watch for any signs of infection, such as an increase in discharge, or reddening at the edges of the wound. If you're in any doubt, take him to your vet for a checkup.
Dog fights are very frightening, and both dogs can come out of it a bit worse for wear. Bite wounds always need to be checked by your vet. Even a small puncture wound can have quite severe muscle damage under the skin. They're very painful, and can easily become infected. Antibiotics and pain relief can have your Labrador smiling again very quickly.
In the summer months, high temperatures can lead to heat stroke. Dogs can only disperse heat from their body by panting. They don't have the same type of sweat glands that we do. Labradors Retrievers love to play, and often don't know when to stop. This can cause overheating, lethargy and disorientation. Gentle hosing with tepid water will help to get his temperature down, but heatstroke can lead to internal organ failure and there may not be any indication of this in the early stages. This is another instance where it's absolutely vital to take your Labrador to your vet for follow up care. It could save his life.
It's a rare Labrador Retriever that doesn't eat everything in sight, and this can put him at risk of being poisoned. If you think he has eaten something toxic, take him and the packaging, if you have it, to the vet as soon as you can. That way, he can identify the ingredients in the poison, and start treating your dog with the appropriate antidote. Don't induce vomiting unless your vet advises you to do so; some poisons are very irritant and can do even more damage to your dog as they are vomited back up.
There are dog first aid courses available in many areas, and although you may never need to use that knowledge, it's a comfort to know that if anything did happen to your Labrador, you'd know just what to do to help him.
This guest post is brought to you by Dog Fence DIY's staff veterinarian Dr. Susan Wright. Dog Fence DIY has a large variety of electric fence for dogs at the best available prices. This system will also include the proper installation needed as well as the training for your pet.
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