i Still Love Dogs

Snowmobiler Intentionally Strikes Iditarod Sleds, Killing One Dog

During the cruel and grueling Iditarod race held in Alaska every March, sled dogs are forced to run 1,100 miles in about 10 days. Since the first race in 1973, more than 140 dogs have died along the course. At least one dog has died in most of the races.

Tragically, this year is no different. But instead of dying from the usual awful causes like being strangled in towlines or internal hemorrhaging after being gouged by a sled, a 3-year-old dog named Nash was killed early this morning by someone on a snowmobile who intentionally drove into two sleds in the race. Several dogs were injured.

“Someone tried to kill me with a snowmachine,” musher Aliy Zirkle told a race judge.

“Zirkle had her dog sled hit on the side by a snow machine and the snow machine turned around multiple times and came back at her before driving off,” according to an Alaska State Troopers dispatch. One of her dogs was bruised.

“Another musher, Jeff King, was hit from behind by what appears to be the same snow machine,” the dispatch reports. “One of of his dogs was killed in the incident and five of his dogs were injured.”

This afternoon, 26-year-old Arnold Demoski of Nulato, Ak., was arrested and charged with assault, reckless endangerment, reckless driving and criminal mischief. He may face additional charges, including driving under the influence.

“I don’t care if people know if I was drinking and driving,” he told the Alaska Dispatch News. “I’m really glad (Zirkle) and (King) are OK and I really feel sorry for Nash. … They say I continuously attacked them, but I turned around because I was concerned.”

The village of Nulato is holding a fundraiser tonight to raise money for Zirkle and King’s kennels.

This was at least the second time in the race’s 43-year history that a dog has been killed by a snowmobile. In 2008, one dog was killed and another injured when a snowmobile struck the team late at night.

Earlier this week, 13 dogs broke loose from their sled and ran away, probably fed up with being forced to race. They were later found — fortunately unhurt — and had to continue the race.

As I wrote for Care2.com, it’s time to end the Iditarod, or as some animal welfare advocates refer to it, the “Ihurtadog.” The Iditarod is supposed to celebrate Alaskan history and culture — not animal cruelty. A humane alternative needs to replace this race.

Rest in peace, Nash.

Photo via Twitter

RECALL ALERT: Beneful and Purina Pro Plan Wet Dog Food

Nestle Purina is voluntarily recalling some Beneful Prepared Meals, Beneful Chopped Blends and Pro Plan Savory Meals wet dog food because it may not contain the recommended level of added vitamins and nutrients.

According to Nestle Purina, the problem was discovered during the company’s quality testing of the products.

All of the recalled products were sold in 10-ounce tubs, with a “Best Before” date range of June 2017 to August 2017 and production code range starting with the first four digits of 5363 to 6054.

\The products were sold in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. They were manufactured in a Purina facility in St. Joseph, Mo.

“Although most of the recalled product contains all of the vitamins and minerals your dog needs, we recommend that you discard any of the affected product you may have, and we’ll issue you a refund,” Nestle Purina stated.

If you purchased any of the recalled products, stop feeding it to your dog and throw it away. For more information or to request a refund, call 800-877-7919.

Photo via Purina.com

This ‘Gardener Retriever’ Is Ready to Drive a Lawn Mower

At least one dog in Malakoff, Texas, seemed pretty unfazed after a tornado swept through the town Tuesday.

As a KYTX news crew was surveying the damage during a live broadcast, they came across a Labrador Retriever sitting in the driver’s seat of a lawn mower, appearing ready to take care of the lawn.

“Look at that dog!” said reporter Andrea Martinez, giggling as the camera zoomed in on the pooch.

“While reporting on storms in Malakoff, I spotted a pup ready to start the clean-up!” she wrote on Twitter.

Apparently taking the driver’s seat is becoming trendy for Labs. Last weekend, as his dog dad shopped at a mini-market, a Lab was behind the wheel of their semi-trailer as it careened across a street and into a tree and parked car. Fortunately no one was hurt.

As for the mower-driving Lab, KYTX had an update on its Facebook page Tuesday: “He charges $30/hour for his lawn service.”

[fbvideo link=”https://www.facebook.com/kytxcbs19/videos/10154014774994640/” width=”600″ height=”500″ onlyvideo=”1″]

Photo via Facebook

Tissue (Box) Alert! Watch a Shelter Mama Dog Reunite with Her Puppies

“Yesterday, two frightened dogs were surrendered to us. Upon examining the female, we learned she recently had puppies,” wrote the Marin Humane Society (MHS) on its Facebook page Monday.

“After some detective work and a lot of convincing, our team was able to get the person who surrendered the dogs to also surrender the puppies, as they still needed their momma and were not in a safe situation.”

Cora, the mama dog, had been shy and withdrawn ever since she was dumped at the shelter in Northern California. But as soon as she was reunited with her four puppies, Cora’s disposition completely changed. “Tears of joy all around at this happy reunion,” wrote MHS.

A video taken by shelter staff and posted on Facebook shows Cora anxiously sitting in a corner as an employee brings in a carrier filled with her puppies. After the employee lifts up one of the puppies for its mom to see, Cora runs toward it, her tail wagging hard. She literally jumps with joy as she is reunited with each of her pups (and even checks inside the carrier to make sure they’re all accounted for). Cora then hops into the employee’s lap, as if to say, “Thank you.”

The video has gone viral, with more than 3.4 million views on Facebook as of Thursday morning.

“Eat your heart out Kim Kardashian – there’s nothing like the power of heartwarming stories about animals!” MHS wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday.

Cora’s puppies have been named after “Downton Abbey” characters: the males are Carson, Moseley and Branson, and the female is Edith.

“They’ve re-bonded very quickly,” Lisa Bloch, director of marketing and communications for MHS, told SFGate.”Mom and babies are doing great.”

The family is now in a foster home. As soon as they’re old enough, the puppies and their mother will be available for adoption. Wouldn’t it be great if the whole family could be adopted together?

Photo via Facebook

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