Category: News

RIP Puppy-Mill Survivor Harley, 2015 American Hero Dog

Harley, a 15-year-old Chihuahua who spent the first 10 years of his life in a puppy-mill cage before become a “spokesdog” against these cruel facilities, died yesterday.

“He went on his own terms … he chose his moment, he did not suffer, and he was not in pain,” wrote a friend of his family on Harley’s Facebook page. “He passed peacefully, surrounded by the love of his mom and dad.”

In September, Harley was named the American Humane Association 2015 American Hero Dog.

“It was just four years ago that he was pulled from the cage in the puppy mill and left to die,” said his dog mom, Rudi Taylor, when she accepted the award. “We never would have ever thought he would live this long and make such a difference for so many puppies.”

Rudi’s husband, Dan, added that Harley had an indomitable spirit. “That spirit is allowing him now to be the voice for dogs who cannot speak for themselves…and give everybody hope that tomorrow’s going to be a better day,” he said at the awards ceremony.

While living in the puppy mill, Harley suffered heart disease, a fused spine, broken tail, gnarled toes, deformed legs and rotted teeth. He lost an eye when his cage was power-washed while he was still in it (believe it or not, this is a common practice in puppy mills).

Harley was rescued in 2011 by the Taylors, who were told the Chihuahua would probably only live for a couple of months. But Harley thrived and was able to spend almost five years with his loving forever family in Berthoud, Colo.

He became the inspiration for the “Harley to the Rescue” campaign, which raises funds to rescue and provide medical care for more other puppy-mill dogs. Harley went along on the rescue missions to comfort the sad, scared dogs.

“As you all know, Harley’s life was very public,” Rudi wrote on Harley’s Facebook page today. “He didn’t only belong to Dan and I, he belonged to you — his friends, his people.”

Harley spent his last night as he usually did, happily cuddled between his pet parents.

“We were in bed and he was so happy getting a belly rub from Dan,” Rudi wrote on Facebook. “Right after that belly rub, he gave us both kisses and then he went to sleep. Harley was a funny sleeper, always changing positions — on his back, tucked under my chin or into Dan’s armpit — he wasn’t easy to sleep with, but we never complained.”

Rest in peace, Harley. My condolences and gratitude to Rudi and Dan for turning his tragic life around and spreading awareness about the horrors of puppy mills.

To honor Harley and help save other puppy mill dogs, you can make a donation to the Harley to the Rescue campaign. And be sure to tell anyone who’s looking for a new dog to adopt, not shop!

Photo via Twitter

Truck-Driving Dog Hits Tree and Parked Car (He’s OK, Though)

As his dog dad shopped at a Kwik Trip market in Mankato, Minn., yesterday afternoon, a Labrador Retriever apparently decided to take their semi-trailer truck for a little spin.

He jumped into the driver’s seat and may have somehow put the truck, which was parked across the street from the store, into gear. It lurched forward, crossed the street, took down a tree and came to a stop after crashing into a parked car just a few feet away from a gas station’s fuel dispensers.

“In my career here, I’ve not had an accident reported like this one,” Daniel Schisel, of the Mankato Police Department, told FOX9.

David Stegora was pumping gas when the dog went for a drive.

“I heard the tree snap and I thought somebody decided to turn around, but then it just kept going forward,” he told the Mankato Free Press.

Marie Brace was in the Kwik Trip parking lot and took the photo above of the aftermath, with the dog still at the wheel of the truck.

She told FOX9 the dog seem unfazed. “The dog kept coming to the [driver’s side] window, then jumping down, then coming back,” she said.

Fortunately, no one, including the four-legged driver, was hurt. The dog dad was not issued a citation, but the Minnesota State Patrol removed his truck from service.

It may have been a mechanical problem that was responsible for the wild ride rather than the dog putting the truck into gear.

“EVERY trucker is in habit of setting the parking brake on his semi when parked,” wrote Russell Hibbs in a comment on the Mankato Free Press story. “This parking brake restricts air from his truck and trailer brakes, allowing them to spring out against the drums.

“In order for a dog to shove the truck into gear it HAS to be idling at the correct RPMs in order for it to go into gear. Now, even if the dog did accidentally throw it in gear, the truck would stall out because of lack of movement. There is NO way in hell this can or would happen.”

No matter the cause, it’s a sure bet this dog will be kept restrained the next time his dog dad leaves the cab for a short break.

Photos: Twitter; Twitter

For First Time Ever, OTC Medications Top ASPCA’s List of Pet Toxins

Be sure to keep any over-the-counter medications, including herbal supplements, out of your dog’s reach. For the first time ever, these medications topped the 2015 ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) list of the 10 toxins most commonly ingested by pets.

“We’ve seen numerous new vitamins, herbal supplements and joint supplements hit the market over the last year, exposing more pets to these types of products, and more of these products to our pets,” said Dr. Tina Wismer, medical director of the APCC, in a press release.

“Just as we recommend for prescription medications, it’s crucial that pet owners keep these potentially toxic items out of their pets’ reach and keep them behind closed doors.”

Prescription drugs, which formerly held the No. 1 spot, dropped to No. 2 last year. Here’s the complete list.

1. Over-the-counter medications

More than 28,500 cases of pets ingesting these meds and supplements were reported in 2015. This includes about 7,000 items, including everything from aspirin to topical ointments.

2. Prescription medications

About 16 percent of pets who were poisoned last year ate prescribed meds intended for humans.

3. Insecticides

More than 15,000 pets ingested insect poison.

4. Food

There were more than 14,600 APCC cases of pets, mostly dogs, becoming sick after eating toxic human foods such as onions, garlic, grapes and items containing the artificial sweetener xylitol.

5. Household items

Cleaning products, fire logs and paint were the most common household items ingested by pets last year.

6. Veterinary medications

More than 7 percent of APCC’s cases last year were pets who overdosed on their own meds, especially chewable ones.

7. Chocolate

Although it seems like it should be included with No. 4, so many pets are sickened by chocolate that it got its own spot on the list. In fact,the APCC averaged more than 30 cases of chocolate poisoning a day last year.

8. Plants

About 5 percent of pets, mostly cats, were sickened by eating indoor and outdoor plants last year.

9. Rodenticides

There are more humane ways to kill rodents and save your pets, as well. In 2015 the APCC had more than 8,100 cases of pets who ingested rat poison.

10. Lawn and garden products

About 3 percent of pets ingested herbicides and fungicides.

March happens to be National Animal Poison Prevention Month, but protecting your pet from these toxins is something that needs to be done all year long.

If you think your pet may have ingested something poisonous, immediately call your veterinarian or the APCC at 888-426-4435.

Photos via Twitter; ASPCA

Labrador Retrievers Celebrate Record-Breaking 25th Year as America’s Favorite Dog

For the 25th consecutive year, the Labrador Retriever was the most popular breed in the United States in 2015, the American Kennel Club (AKC) announced today. It’s the longest run at No. 1 of any breed in the AKC’s 122-year history.

“The versatile, lovable Lab has firmly planted its paw print in AKC’s history,” said AKC Vice President Gina DiNardo.

Continuing to grow in popularity is the French Bulldog. In 2014, for the first time in a century, the breed cracked the top 10, and it jumped from No. 9 to No. 6 last year.

“Keep your eye on the French Bulldog,” DiNardo advised. “The Frenchie has risen 32 spots over the past decade and shows no signs of stopping.”

These are some of the other breeds that are becoming more popular:

  • Cane Corso (jumped from 47th place in 2014 to 35th last year)
  • Norwegian Elkhound (100th to 88th)
  • Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (74th to 35th)
  • Belgian Malinois (59th to 51st)
  • Leonberger (101st to 93rd)

These were the 10 most popular breeds of 2015, with their 2014 ranking in parentheses. I’ve also included helpful links to national rescue organizations for these breeds. Adopt, don’t shop!

  1. Labrador Retriever (1)
  2. German Shepherd (2)
  3. Golden Retriever (3)
  4. Bulldog (4)
  5. Beagle (5)
  6. French Bulldog (9)
  7. Yorkshire Terrier (6)
  8. Poodle (7)
  9. Rottweiler (10)
  10. Boxer (8)

Here’s the complete 2015 AKC breed popularity list.

Photo credit: Jose Roberto V Moraes

Arftung! German Shorthaired Pointer Wins Westminster Best in Show Title

Congratulations to CJ, this year’s recipient of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show’s Best in Show title. CJ is the third German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP) to win the title in the show’s 140-year history.

“I just couldn’t believe it,” his happy handler, Valerie Nunes-Atkinson, told the New York Times. “For us in the sport, this is the pinnacle. This is what we strive for, what we shed tears over. The best dogs come here. This is the show to win.”

Nunes-Atkinson acknowledged that CJ wasn’t considered a front-runner for the title. She said that while you couldn’t go wrong with any of the other group winners, “I believe in my dog 100 percent.”

One of the crowd favorites was Annabelle, an almost 4-year-old Bulldog who won the Non-sporting Group.

“I couldn’t take my eyes off her,” her handler, Jean Hetherington, told the New York Times last night, referring to the first time she saw Annabelle years ago, when she judged the Bulldog at another dog show.

The crowd also roared for Rumor, a 4-year-old German Shepherd who won the Herding Group. When asked by USA TODAY what she liked best about Rumor, co-owner Pamela Buckles replied, “Her heart. The love and affection she shows me. I just think she’s beautiful.”

Other group winners were Lucy, a Borzoi (Hound), who was named the reserve (runner-up) winner; Panda, a Shih Tzu (Toy); Bogey, a Samoyed (Working); and Charlie, a Skye Terrier (Terrier).

As for CJ, he’ll be appearing on “Good Morning America” Wednesday, then visiting the Empire State Building, and then having lunch at Sardi’s.

“He was born an old soul,” his owner, Valerie Atkinson, told reporters after the show. “He’s never done anything wrong.”

By the way, if you were wondering why 10-year-old Uno the Beagle, who took the 2008 Best in Show title and is one of the most popular winners ever, did not appear on last night’s telecast as advertised, he was barred from the event by Westminster officials because he hadn’t been registered to attend. Uno, who’d been driven from his home in Texas to attend the show, “was requested to leave the premises,” Westminster spokeswoman Gail Miller Bisher told the Times. The Associated Press compared this diss to Derek Jeter being tossed out of Yankee Stadium. Boo!

If CJ has you thinking about getting a GSP, please consider adopting one — there are plenty of what the American Kennel Club describes as “friendly, smart and willing to please” dogs available in shelters and through rescue organizations such as National German Shorthaired Pointer Rescue and New Beginnings German Shorthaired Pointer Rescue.

Photo via Twitter

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