Doggy Briefs

I'm catching up, so some of this is last week's news. The Orlando Sentinel reported on a dachshund who fell down a gopher hole into a 16 foot network of tunnels. Who knew turtles were that industrious? The dog survived several days underground, while her frantic owners tried to find her. It's an incredible story with a happy ending. Read more at the Sentinel online.

A couples weeks ago I wrote about the "Meet Your Match" program sponsored by the ASPCA. This year they are encouraging the adoption of pit bulls by entering each new pit bull adopter in a contest. Four times throughout this year, a winning match will be announced with the shelter getting a $4000 grant and the dog owner getting a prize package. The winners will be entered in a "Vote For Your Favorite Match" contest. The grand prizes awarded in April will be a trip to New York for the shelter plus a $5000 grant, and a photo shoot with a professional photographer for the pet and owner. For details, see www.aspca.org/adoptabull.

I got an email a couple weeks ago from a blog reader who belongs to Nature Coast Beekeeper's Society. They not only tend to God's wee creatures, but on their website you will find a page featuring animals who are awaiting loving homes at Citrus County Animal Control. You have to love beekeepers with a heart.

The Parade section of the Sunday paper, June 22, featured a section on lifesaving tips for pets. The article gave advice on poisoning, car accidents, bleeding, choking and loss of consciousness. They also offered suggestions for stocking a first aid kit. See more at http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2008/edition_06-22-2008/3Save_Pet_Life.

The Tampa Tribune reports that the SPCA shelter in Largo has taken in over 80 dogs and 28 cats from a puppy mill in Tennessee. They are part of a group of almost 700 animals rescued last Thursday from Pine Bluff Kennels by the Humane Society of the United States. They were found to be severely neglected. Some of the puppies have never been socialized. The animals will not be available for adoption until they've been evaluated. For further details, visit http://www.spcatampabay.org/. In other Pinellas SPCA news, two puppies were found in a Clearwater parking lot. One puppy was dead from a head injury. The other, a female is healthy and will probably be up for adoption in a week.

To add to my list of good summer reads of the canine persuasion, tbo.com published their own list of pet themed literature.