Puppy Bowl Sunday

If you need an alternative to the Super Bowl this Sunday, Feb. 1, or just want to get pumped up for the big game, look no further than Animal Planet’s “Puppy Bowl V.”

“Puppy Bowl V” features two teams of puppies who will mimic the plays usually reserved for the NFL as they take over Animal Planet Stadium and compete for the coveted title of MVP, or Most Valuable Puppy. Commentator Harry Kalas, a renowned sportscaster, will be on hand to make sure viewers don’t miss any of the action. Highlights from previous Puppy Bowls also will be featured.

The festivities will begin with Pepper the Parrot performing his own version of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Viewers also won’t want to miss the “Kitten Halftime Show,” which will feature a variety of kittens doing what they do best: playing!

The participating puppies were recruited from regional shelters, which include the Pawfect Match Rescue in Holly Springs, N.C., and the SPCA of Anne Arundel County in Annapolis, Md. All of the dogs are adoptable. Viewers who are interested in adopting one of the puppies can visit Petfinder.com for more information.

Animal Planet’s “Puppy Bowl V” will air on Feb. 1, 2009, at 3 p.m. EST/PST.

[Source: Dogchannel.com]

PetSmart Recalls Dog Biscuits Amid Salmonella Outbreak

The salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 450 people in the U.S. and Canada is now affecting pets as well.

PetSmart has announced a voluntary recall of seven Grreat Choice-brand dog biscuits that contain peanut paste from the Georgia plant deemed the source of the outbreak by the FDA.

"While some of these products have been tested and no traces of salmonella were found, we have recalled these products as a precautionary measure," according to a release posted on PetSmart's website yesterday.

PetSmart spokesman Bruce Richardson, reached for comment today, said that no salmonella had been detected since the original statement was posted and that no additional products are affected by the recall. The seven items affected:


[Source: Los Angeles Times]

Labs Fetch Top Dog

The lovable Lab is once again the most popular purebred dog in the U.S., the American Kennel Club announced this morning. For the 18th consecutive year, the Labrador retriever bested all other breeds in registration numbers by a wide margin.

Registration statistics for 2008 also show that the bulldog, which snagged a top-10 position last year for the first time in more than seven decades, increased in popularity, moving up two slots in the standings into number 8.

The other breeds on this year's top 10 include, in descending order: Yorkshire terrier, German shepherd, golden retriever, beagle, boxer, dachshund, poodle and shih tzu.

The AKC also released the most popular breeds in the 50 largest U.S. cities, a list that demonstrates an affection in some cities for breeds that don't make the national top-10 list.

The athletic vizsla leapt onto the year's top 10 for Chicago, just as in 2007 and 2003. The miniature pinscher made the top 10 in San Diego and Sacramento. The great dane was 10th in St. Louis, the Bullmastiff 10th in Indianapolis and the Siberian husky 9th in Long Beach.

[Source: USA Today]

Pennsylvania Boy Offers Puppy to Obama Family

During their trip to witness the historic inauguration of Barack Obama, two Fayette County, Pennsylvania commissioners will deliver a letter that could potentially change the life of the new president and the first family.

The inauguration of Obama as the 44th president will take place today, and commissioners Vincent A. Vicites and Vincent Zapotosky left Monday to head to Washington, D.C.

In their possession will be a letter from Zachary William Shiley to Malia Obama, the oldest daughter of Barack and Michelle Obama. Shiley, a fourth-grade student at Wharton Elementary School in Farmington, is offering a 6-week-old female labradoodle puppy to the first family.

The puppy, born Nov. 26, was the only offspring that survived the litter of 11-year-old Hillary, a chocolate Labrador and 1-year-old Bullet, a black labradoodle.

Zachary Shiley said the family has been calling the dog Vegas because his mother was in Las Vegas, Nev., when Hillary became pregnant. It also was her idea to offer it to the Obamas, he said. Shiley describes the puppy as a little shy but "very smart and friendly." Shiley added that Vegas is full of energy as well as a blessing.

"We want her to have a good home, and what could be better than the White House... A dream come true," Shiley wrote in his letter to Malia Obama. "I almost forgot, the puppy is free," Shiley wrote. Included with the letter are two photographs of the puppy with an American flag and Shiley with the puppy. Vicites said while he knows it is a long shot that the Obamas would end up with the Fayette County puppy, the puppy has to come from somewhere.

[Source: HeraldStandard.com]

Yellow Lab Puppies Dognapped in Kentucky

A Kentucky-version of Cruella DeVille is suspected of swiping a litter of puppies and their mom - only this time they're 10 Yellow Labs instead of 101 Dalmations. And instead of turning them into coats, as the dastardly Disney character wanted to do, the owner of the purloined pooches suspects the thief plans to mate the pups with poodles to create Labradoodles.

"That's the kind of designer dog (President-elect) Obama is looking to get for his daughters," said Jeanne Lane of Gravel Switch, Ky. "I'm just sick with worry about the dogs."

Lane is the owner of Penn's Store, which claims to be the oldest country store in the country. She said the momma dog, Dixie, and the daddy dog, Boston, appeared on her doorstep one day last September and "we adopted them."

"We tried to find their owners and had no luck," Lane said. "So we took them in and built them a little shed behind the store. The customers loved them because they were so loving to everyone who came in." Dixie had her litter two weeks ago "and they were just the cutest, fattest little puppies," Lane said.

Then, last Wednesday, they vanished. Lane said she went to feed the dogs and noticed Boston's dog collar had been torn off and he was "looking so sad."

"Then I realized Dixie and the puppies were gone," she said. "I was heartbroken. But I knew they couldn't have gotten out by themselves and I knew they wouldn't have wandered off on their own." Lane said she called the sheriff and while she waited recalled recently receiving a call from a "pushy" woman who claimed to run a dog rescue operation in central Kentucky.

"She was telling me I let the Labs run loose and wasn't taking care of them," said Lane. "I told her I was taking good care of Dixie and Boston, but she kept insisting she could do a better job." Lane said she has shared her suspicions with the law. Boyle County Deputy Sheriff Derek Robbins is hot on the trail of that woman - and the missing Labs.

"I'm keeping Boston beside me all the time, because I don't want to lose him too," Lane said. "I really feel like I have a Cruella DeVille situation on my hands."

[Source: Daily News]

Hotel for Dogs. See the Movie. Help a Dog.

PEDIGREE(R) Food for Dogs is rolling out the yellow carpet today to announce its partnership with the upcoming film "Hotel for Dogs," from DreamWorks Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies scheduled to be released today by Paramount Pictures. With the film's release, the brand is encouraging everyone to: "See the movie. Help a dog."

The movie, based on the Lois Duncan book of the same name, is a family comedy adventure centered on two resourceful kids who transform an abandoned hotel into a magical dog-paradise for the dog they're asked to give up -- and eventually for all of his stray canine companions.

Because of the PEDIGREE(R) Brand's outstanding advocacy for homeless dogs through its annual PEDIGREE(R) Adoption Drive, a national awareness and fundraising campaign that began in 2005, and their shared belief that all dogs deserve a loving home, DreamWorks Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies and Paramount Pictures partnered with the brand to help shine a spotlight on the cause of dog adoption.

Through no fault of their own, more than four million dogs end up in shelters and breed rescues each year and nearly half of those canines never find a place to call home, a trend that the PEDIGREE(R) Brand and "Hotel for Dogs" together hope to help reverse by rallying dog lovers nationwide.

Further, in the spirit of the PEDIGREE(R) Adoption Drive, the movie will act as a fundraising effort for homeless animals and as a result yields the motto: "See the movie. Help a dog." For every ticket purchased to "Hotel for Dogs," the PEDIGREE(R) brand will make a donation to help shelter dogs, up to $250,000.

Donations from the PEDIGREE(R) Brand will go to The PEDIGREE Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides funding to 501(c)(3) status animal shelters and breed rescues. Created by the brand in late 2007, by the end of 2008 the foundation will have distributed more than one million dollars to more than 500 shelters and breed rescue organizations nationwide.

Hitting theaters on January 16, 2009, "Hotel for Dogs," stars Emma Roberts, Jake T. Austin, Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Dillon and Don Cheadle in a smart, funny comedy adventure that shows how far love and imagination can take you.

[Source: PR Newswire]

Mickey Rourke's New PETA Poster

US actor Mickey Rourke appears with his Chihuahua, Jaws, in People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' new spay and neuter ad campaign.

"Have the cojones to fix your dog," Rourke, pictured holding Jaws in his arms, says in the print ad. "When dogs get knocked up, puppies get put down because there aren't enough homes for them."

"I became a little more aware of how many dogs are abandoned or put to sleep each week -- it's staggering," People.com quoted "The Wrestler" star as saying in a video posted on PETA's Web site.

Rourke famously thanked all of his dogs -- "the ones that are here and the ones that aren't here anymore" -- when he took the stage to accept his Golden Globe for best actor Sunday night.

"Sometimes when a man is alone, that's all you've got is your dog," he noted. "They meant the world to me."

[Source: Market Watch]

UK Dog Owners Who Dress Up Pets Could Face Prosecution

The RSPCA is threatening legal action against dog owners who 'over-dress' their pets. Officials claim that putting on items such as boots, all-in-one trousers and hoodies, could be harmful to dogs and lead to prosecution for owners if they feel an animal's welfare is at risk.

Canine couture is big business and the increasing trend among owners to dress their pets fashionably has even led to top designers including Vivienne Westwood and Ben de Lisi creating dog outfits. The luxury Harrods store in London also has an annual fashion show called Pet-a-Porter where canines take to a 'dog-walk' and parade in a variety of daring outfits.

Experts said there are a few occasions where dog clothing is acceptable, such as with small dogs and short-haired varieties.

Jess Bland, professional dog walker and pet sitter from My Pet Friend, said: 'Dog clothing certainly serves its purpose when it's cold and wet, but it has to fit properly. Although dogs would survive in the wild, they're generally used to being indoors. There is a case that they need coats in the winter, especially shorter-haired dogs and smaller dogs.'

However, Lynn Williams, founder of dog charity Happy Dogs said: 'To see a little dog dressed up in boots, I think, is a little over the top. You can buy anything fashion-wise for your dog. I have an extreme love of the dog, but I don't like to see them dressed up as little human beings. I don't think they like it either. It's unnatural.'

Dorset RSPCA spokeswoman Jo Barr said: 'Dog owners should be aware that under the Animal Welfare Act that came into force in April 2007 they have a duty of care to ensure that all of their pets' needs are met. One of those needs is to express normal behaviour and it could mean that with restrictive clothing they are not able to do that properly. We're concerned that any pet should be viewed as a fashion accessory. Taking on an animal is a long-term commitment. It's quite humiliating and sends out the wrong message about pet care. We've seen trends in recent years brought about by the rise in celebrities with "handbag dogs". This usually leads to people taking on pets because they are "fashionable" and sadly that means many are neglected.'

What are your thoughts on this? We would never let our pups be unhappy or humiliated!

[Source: Daily Mail]