Paw Nation http://www.pawnation.com Paw Nation http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.pawnation.com/media/feedlogo.gif Paw Nation http://www.pawnation.com en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Crufts Dog Show Judges on Alert for Competitors in Makeuphttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/12/crufts-dog-show-judges-on-alert-for-competitors-in-makeup/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/12/crufts-dog-show-judges-on-alert-for-competitors-in-makeup/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/12/crufts-dog-show-judges-on-alert-for-competitors-in-makeup/#commentsFiled under: ,

A stylin' poodle at Crufts. Contadini, Flickr

Judges at Crufts, the world's largest dog show, are on high alert this year for canine competitors whose looks have been enhanced with cosmetics, reports the (U.K.) Telegraph. We're not talking blue eyeshadow or contouring blush, but the use of products such as hair removal creams and color dyes.

"Although competition rules do not specifically ban the use of cosmetics and other beauty treatments on dogs, they do forbid anything that alters an animal's appearance during dog shows, to gain extra marks from judges, who award prizes for entries that best match the 'ideal' characteristics of each breed," reports the Telegraph. Dog owners who show hairless Chinese crested dogs have been suspected of using "female depilatory creams" to rid their champion canines of excess hair. Owners of other breeds have been suspected of using lipstick, eyeliner and Clearasil acne cream.

The notion of using makeup on dogs is so strange that it's led one British veterinarian, Peter Wedderburn, to wonder, "What's next, dope testing?" "It seems bizarre to me that it happens at all: if showing dogs is about celebrating the health and vigor of animals, what does it matter if there's an occasional tuft of hair in the wrong place?" Wedderburn asks.

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]]>british dog showBritishDogShowchinese crested dogsChineseCrestedDogscruftsdogs in makeupDogsInMakeupwestminster dog showWestminsterDogShowHelena SungFri, 12 Mar 2010 13:00:00 ESTSwitzerland Votes: No Legal Aid Lawyers for Animalshttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/12/switzerland-votes-no-legal-aid-lawyers-for-animals/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/12/switzerland-votes-no-legal-aid-lawyers-for-animals/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/12/switzerland-votes-no-legal-aid-lawyers-for-animals/#commentsFiled under:

West Zest, Flickr

Forced to decide whether their country of Switzerland should create a national system to provide state-funded lawyers to represent animals in court, the Swiss people voted, and the outcome was a resounding no. "The measure was rejected by around 70 percent of voters," reports BBC News.

Currently, Zurich is the only Swiss canton (an administrative district similar to a county in the United States) to have a government-subsidized animal lawyer. Antoine Goetschel represents dogs, cats, guinea pigs, farm animals, and even fish who have been abused, reports the (U.K.) Telegraph.

"People accused of animal cruelty very often hire lawyers to defend themselves," Goetschel tells the Telegraph. "Why shouldn't someone speak for the animal as well? It's about fairness and defending a minority."

The referendum was required to be held after "activists from the Swiss Animal Protection (SAP) collected more than the 100,000 signatures required to force a national ballot," reports the Telegraph. But the animal activists were in the minority. The majority of voters in 26 cantons in Switzerland voted against the measure. Goetschel wasn't surprised. "Animal welfare has been a big topic in Switzerland in the last few years and perhaps this has been too much for some Swiss," the Zurich animal lawyer told the Telegraph.

Switzerland has some of the world's strictest animal protection laws, reports the Telegraph. "It recently changed its constitution to protect the 'dignity' of plant life and made a law last year establishing rights for creatures such as goldfish and canaries," states the Telegraph. "Pigs, budgies and other social creatures cannot be kept alone; horses and cows must be regularly exercised outside their stalls and dog owners are required to take a training course to learn how to properly care for their pets."

What do you think? Is the notion of state-funded lawyers for animals just too bizarre? Or is it a great idea?

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]]>lawyers for petsLawyersForPetsLegal Aid for PetsLegalAidForPetsswiss animal protectionSwissAnimalProtectionswitzerlandHelena SungFri, 12 Mar 2010 11:00:00 ESTBritish Man Loses License for Walking Dog While Driving Carhttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/11/british-man-loses-license-for-walking-dog-while-driving-car/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/11/british-man-loses-license-for-walking-dog-while-driving-car/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/11/british-man-loses-license-for-walking-dog-while-driving-car/#commentsFiled under: ,

A lurcher. sheyne, Flickr

A 23-year-old British man was charged with reckless driving and lost his license after police witnessed the man, Paul Railton, driving his car and walking his dog, a lurcher, alongside the vehicle as he held the dog's leash out of the driver's side window.

Railton pled guilty to "not being in proper control of a vehicle," reports the (U.K.) Guardian. He was fined the equivalent of about $100 and -- due to prior penalty points accumulated on his license -- was banned from driving for six months.

The matter was initially brought to the police's attention by a concerned cyclist, who was riding down a country road and spotted what appeared to be a dog being dragged alongside a car that was traveling at about five miles per hour, reports the Guardian.

Railton's lawyer admits that his client didn't use the best judgment. "He accepts it was a silly thing to do and there was an element of laziness. He does not usually drive in a such a manner," the Guardian reports attorney Paul Donoghue as saying.

But Railton doesn't think there was anything wrong with what he did. "A lot of people exercise their dogs in that manner," Fox 5 News reports Railton as saying.

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]]>man walks dog while driving carManWalksDogWhileDrivingCarmonks of new sketeMonksOfNewSketepet healthpet newsPetHealthPetNewsHelena SungThu, 11 Mar 2010 15:00:00 ESTSusan Boyle and Pebbles Reunitehttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/11/susan-boyle-and-pebbles-reunite/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/11/susan-boyle-and-pebbles-reunite/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/11/susan-boyle-and-pebbles-reunite/#commentsFiled under:

Today int/X17online.com

British singing sensation Susan Boyle will be moving out of her childhood home in Scotland and into a tony apartment in the "wealthy Chelsea area" of London, reports Britain's The Sun. The move could happen as early as this summer.

It's a bit surprising considering Boyle's statements just a few months ago that she had no plans to leave her modest Scottish home because her 11-year-old cat Pebbles wouldn't like relocating. "She's lived there all her life and cats hate upping sticks," Boyle told The News of the World. 48-year-old Boyle is very attached to her cat, and being reunited with Pebbles was the first thing on her mind after she collapsed last year from exhaustion and was admitted to a London clinic.

But then, stalkers were spotted in the yard of Boyle's home in Scotland, and one even entered the home, reports The Sun, adding that executives at her record label -- Simon Cowell's SyCo -- have been pleading with her to move ever since. In a sign that a move to London might have been inevitable, in February, Pebbles was relocated to London to live with an elderly retired accountant who received $9 per day for caring for the cat while Boyle traveled and worked. (Boyle reportedly earned over $7 million dollars last year from sales of her "I Dreamed a Dream" album, which was released in November 2009.)

Just this week, The Sun reported that Boyle's management team was hunting for the perfect London apartment for the songstress and her beloved cat. "She has now agreed to move to a place in the city, where she'll stay when busy working," a source tells The Sun. "The flat will be cat-friendly, so she can take Pebbles too."

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]]>cat pebblesCatPebblescelebrity petsCelebrityPetssusan boyleSusanBoyleHelena SungThu, 11 Mar 2010 13:00:00 ESTCat Survives for a Month in Warehouse Freezerhttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/10/cat-survives-for-a-month-in-warehouse-freezer/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/10/cat-survives-for-a-month-in-warehouse-freezer/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/10/cat-survives-for-a-month-in-warehouse-freezer/#commentsFiled under: ,

Vivi-Mari, Flickr

Frosty the feline is lucky to be alive after being trapped in an industrial warehouse freezer in England where temperatures hovered at minus 24 degrees below zero. Brrr! "We think he'd been in the warehouse for at least four weeks," a warehouse employee tells the (U.K.) Daily Mail.

The black-and-white cat, thought to be about a year old, was "spotted on several occasions by staff but no-one could catch him," reports the Daily Mail. Frosty, as the warehouse employees named him, could have reasonably escaped through the main doors but the noise of the delivery trucks roaring up to the warehouse probably scared the cat away from the high traffic exit.

Finally, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) put out a humane live-capture trap for Frosty to entice him into the cage with cat treats and water. "It's incredible that Frosty survived for so long in such a harsh environment," RSPCA spokesman Steve Sellars told the Daily Mail. It is believed that the frisky feline survived by eating frozen peas and licking moisture off frozen food packets.

Frosty did not escape his icy adventure unscathed. He suffered frostbite to his ears and tail and had to have them amputated. But other than that, Frosty will be just fine. "He's a lovely cat and he's become very playful," RSCPA employee Rachel Allcock told the Daily Mail. "We're looking forward to his full recovery and getting him to his new home."

One of the warehouse workers has already volunteered to give Frosty a new, warm, place to live.

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]]>cat rescuecat survivescat survives weeks in freezerCatRescueCatSurvivesCatSurvivesWeeksInFreezerHelena SungWed, 10 Mar 2010 15:00:00 ESTStray Cat's Actions Alert Woman to Breast Cancerhttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/09/stray-cats-actions-alerts-woman-to-breast-cancer/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/09/stray-cats-actions-alerts-woman-to-breast-cancer/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/09/stray-cats-actions-alerts-woman-to-breast-cancer/#commentsFiled under: ,

dixieroadrash, Flickr

When a stray cat strutted into her life last summer, Judy Danchura of Canada could not have imagined how the orange and white tomcat she nicknamed Sumo would end up saving her life. Whether it was by accident or by design, we'll leave up to you to decide. But without question, Sumo's actions alerted Danchura to a tumor growing in her breast, enabling her to get an early diagnosis of cancer and begin treatment, reports CBC News. Here's how it happened.

Last June, according to CBC News, Danchura noticed the orange-and-white cat moseying around her backyard. She put some food out for him and went about her day. At 3 a.m., the cat came back, meowing so insistently that Danchura let the stray into her house. After making a litter box, Danchura went back to bed.

"While she and her husband slept," reports CBC News. "The cat hopped onto the bed and walked across her body. As it stepped on her breast, Danchura was struck by an unusual shot of pain."

"I sort of went, 'Oh geez, there's definitely something wrong there,'" Danchura tells CBC News. In fact, there was a lump in her breast.

She went to the doctor and learned it was a tumor, and that it was malignant. Because it had been detected early, and she began treatment immediately, Danchura's chance of survival is estimated at 95 percent, reports CBC News.

Danchura has come to regard Sumo as her four-footed angel. "I sometimes feel overwhelmed because I feel humbled," she tells CBC News. "I can't understand why this animal turned up for me." Was it a random stroke of luck that Sumo visited her home, insisting to be let in? Or was Sumo meant to tell her something?

Tell us what you think Can animals sense illness in their owners? Do you believe that Sumo's actions were just good fortune or something more?

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]]>animal diagnosisAnimalDiagnosisbreast cancerBreastCancercancer catCancerCatHelena SungTue, 09 Mar 2010 15:00:00 ESTPETA Calls For Knut the Polar Bear To Be Castratedhttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/09/peta-calls-for-knut-the-polar-bear-to-be-castrated/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/09/peta-calls-for-knut-the-polar-bear-to-be-castrated/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/09/peta-calls-for-knut-the-polar-bear-to-be-castrated/#commentsFiled under:

davidoo750, Flickr

If it were up to animal rights group, PETA, the world's most famous and beloved polar bear, Knut at the Berlin Zoo, would be castrated.

"Knut is sharing his quarters with another polar bear named Giovanna, who is his cousin," states PETA on its Web site, adding that Knut and Giovanna (whose nickname is Gianna) share the same grandfather. To avoid any possibility that the pair will mate and produce inbred offspring, PETA's Germany chapter is demanding that Knut be castrated.

"If Knut and Giovanna were to have any offspring, it could threaten the genetic diversity of Germany's polar bear population, and the new bears could be susceptible to a condition known as 'incest depression,'" says PETA, citing expert Frank Albrecht.

For all his celebrity -- he was photographed for Vanity Fair by Annie Leibovitz, for example -- Knut has had a tough life. First, his mother -- a retired circus animal, according to People -- rejected Knut and his twin brother after giving birth in December 2006. Then Knut's twin brother died of a fungal infection. Knut was left alone to be hand-raised by humans. He managed to form an attachment to his devoted trainer, Thomas Dörflein, only to have Dörflein suddenly die in 2008.

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]]>berlin zooBerlinZoocastrationgianna bearGiannaBeargiovannaknutKnut the polar bearKnutThePolarBearpetapolar bearPolarBearHelena SungTue, 09 Mar 2010 11:00:00 ESTLily Allen's Dog Mabel "Beaten Up By Bigger Dogs"http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/03/lily-allens-dog-mabel-beaten-up-by-bigger-dogs/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/03/lily-allens-dog-mabel-beaten-up-by-bigger-dogs/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/03/lily-allens-dog-mabel-beaten-up-by-bigger-dogs/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Lily Allen/Twitter

British pop star Lily Allen got a real scare when she had to rush her dog Mabel to an emergency veterinary hospital after the pup tangled with some burly canines. "Mabel got beaten up by bigger dogs," Allen tweeted, posting a picture of a bandaged Mabel on her Twitter page. "She went to doggy hospital, but she's ok."

A passerby spotted Allen looking distraught at the vet hospital in her North London neighborhood as she awaited news of Mabel. "She was doing a lot of pacing in the window," the witness told our sister site, PopEater. "She was sitting with her boyfriend, then standing, then sitting. She looked very upset."

It wasn't the first time Allen's been made to worry over one of her pets. In December 2006, Allen's English bull terrier named Maggie May was stolen out of a friend's van in east London. Allen managed to get back Maggie May the following week, but only after paying a cash reward to a man later suspected to be a serial dognapper, reports the BBC.

In 2008, Allen adopted little Mabel -- then named Honey -- from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, an animal shelter in the U.K. Blogging about it on her MySpace page at the time, Allen described her new dog as "quite fat, very sweet and a mongrel."

There were no further details as to how Mabel got into the doggy fracas that landed her in the hospital. But, happily, Mabel emerged from the vet, alive and well except for bright, pink bandages wrapped around her paws.

We wish you a speedy recovery, Mabel!

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]]>dog-on-dog crimeDog-on-dogCrimelily allenLilyAllenwhen animals attackWhenAnimalsAttackHelena SungWed, 03 Mar 2010 11:00:00 ESTCesar Millan's Beloved Pit Bull 'Daddy' Passes Away at 16http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/23/cesar-millans-beloved-pit-bull-daddy-passes-away-at-16/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/23/cesar-millans-beloved-pit-bull-daddy-passes-away-at-16/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/23/cesar-millans-beloved-pit-bull-daddy-passes-away-at-16/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Gilles Bensimon/Cesar's Way Magazine

The "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan is mourning the death of his cherished pit bull, Daddy, who passed away on Feb. 19 at the age of 16. He died peacefully surrounded by the family that loved him: Millan, his wife Ilusion and their young sons, Andre and Calvin.

Daddy was a familiar face on Millan's show, "The Dog Whisperer" on the National Geographic Channel, where his calm-submissive presence set an example for troubled canines and their owners seeking help. Daddy, the gentlest of pit bulls, was "one of the most loyal, trusting, well-balanced, and influential pit bull ambassadors the world has ever known," states a memorial on Millan's Web site.

Speaking with Paw Nation last year, Millan explained that Daddy wasn't as active as he had once been. "You can see the age crawling in," Millan told Paw Nation. "It's the body -- especially his back legs -- so he gets acupuncture twice a week; he swims every day; walks every day; and eats great meals for his digestion." Anticipating the inevitable, Millan last year added a new pit bull puppy to his pack, Junior, to train with Daddy and become his protege.

But as much as one prepares for the death of a beloved pet, it is never easy. Especially when there exists a special relationship, as Millan admits he had with Daddy. "[Daddy] saw me get married, how I changed when I became a dad, my children growing up, and the ups and downs along the way," Millan said in an interview last year. He is more than a member of my family -- he is a member of my life."

Rest in peace, Daddy.

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]]>cesar millanCesarMillandog whispererDogWhispererloss of a petLossOfAPetpitbullHelena SungTue, 23 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST'Giant George' the Great Dane is Newly Crowned World's Tallest Doghttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/23/giant-george-the-great-dane-is-newly-crowned-worlds-tallest-d/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/23/giant-george-the-great-dane-is-newly-crowned-worlds-tallest-d/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/23/giant-george-the-great-dane-is-newly-crowned-worlds-tallest-d/#commentsFiled under: ,

Jacob Chinn, Guinness World Records


The world has a new tallest dog! At four years old, George the Great Dane stands 43 inches high from paw to shoulder, which is the method Guinness World Records uses to determine a dog's official height.

The announcement settles a hotly-contested debate that had been brewing since last November when Guinness proclaimed Titan, a Great Dane from San Diego, Calif. who measures 42.25 inches high at the shoulders, the World's Tallest Dog. George's owner, David Nasser of Tucson, Ariz., claimed that his Great Dane was taller, but there were conflicting reports about the dog's actual height. To settle the controversy, Guinness sent a representative to preside over an in-person measurement. The outcome? George had edged out Titan by three-quarters of an inch. (Prior to Titan and George, the previous holder of the World's Tallest Dog title was Gibson, a Great Dane who passed away in 2009.)

At 43 inches tall, "Giant George," as Nasser likes to call him, is the tallest dog ever recorded by Guinness World Records. He's already appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and has over 21,000 fans from all over the world on his Facebook page. "It's been amazing," says Nasser. "Fans have written in from the United Kingdom, Germany, Korea and South America."

The sable-colored Great Dane weighs a whopping 245 pounds and measures seven feet and three inches from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail -- though he doesn't raise up on his hind legs, he's too big for that. "When George is standing on all fours and lifts his head, the tip of his snout measures 55 inches, or more, off the ground," Nasser tells Paw Nation. "You have to be careful. Nothing is off-limits to him."

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]]>great daneGreatDaneguinness book of world recordsGuinnessBookOfWorldRecordsworlds tallest dogWorldsTallestDogHelena SungTue, 23 Feb 2010 11:00:00 ESTChihuahua Cares for Newborn Orphaned Kittenshttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/22/chihuahua-cares-for-newborn-orphaned-kittens/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/22/chihuahua-cares-for-newborn-orphaned-kittens/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/22/chihuahua-cares-for-newborn-orphaned-kittens/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Angela Reynolds

Tinkerbell the Chihuahua may be a tiny dog, but she's got a big heart. Not only is she nursing her own four newborn puppies, she has extended her maternal instinct to care for three orphaned newborn kittens, the (U.K.) Daily Mail reported recently.

"Tinkerbell was delivering her puppies by Cesarean section at Hobart Animal Hospital when a man brought in three abandoned kittens," Angela Reynolds tells Paw Nation from her home in Tasmania, Australia. The tiny kittens were just days old and very wet and cold. They had been found under the man's house. When Reynolds learned the hospital was going to euthanize the kittens, she intervened. "I said, 'No, I won't allow that. I'll take them home,'" Reynolds told us.

When Tinkerbell awoke from her surgery, Reynolds rolled the newborn puppies and orphaned kittens in a towel together and presented the bundle to Tinkerbell. "She accepted them straight away," says Reynolds. "Tinkerbell is a wonderful mother. She treats them all the same. If a kitten cries, she runs to them. If a puppy cries, she runs to them."

Reynolds is unable to work due to disabilities but has chosen to share the the little money she gets from public assistance with the animals she rescues. Tinkerbell, in fact, was rescued by Reynolds 18 months ago. "Various people had used her for breeding and gotten rid of her once they got a litter out of her," says Reynolds.

Continue reading Chihuahua Cares for Newborn Orphaned Kittens

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]]>australiachihuahuaskittenspuppiestasmaniaHelena SungMon, 22 Feb 2010 15:00:00 ESTBetty White Talks About Her Two Passions -- Comedy And Animalshttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/19/betty-white-talks-about-her-two-passions-show-business-and-an/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/19/betty-white-talks-about-her-two-passions-show-business-and-an/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/19/betty-white-talks-about-her-two-passions-show-business-and-an/#commentsFiled under: ,

Courtesy of Morris Animal Foundation

At 88, Betty White's career is going as strong as ever. She recently starred in the hilarious Snickers Super Bowl commercial, which was watched by the largest television audience ever. She had an unforgettable turn as Ryan Reynolds' kooky grandmother in the 2009 romantic comedy, "The Proposal," with Sandra Bullock. And in recent weeks, there's been a Facebook campaign to get her to host "Saturday Night Live," an effort that already has close to 400,000 supporters.

White, who has been an actress for more than 60 years, has as much passion for animals as she does for show business and divides her time equally between the two worlds. For decades, she has worked with the Morris Animal Foundation to promote animal health and welfare, sponsoring more than 30 animal health studies that have led to groundbreaking research that have improved the lives of dogs, cats and horses.

On Feb. 15 in Las Vegas, Nev., the Morris Animal Foundation honored White for her commitment to helping animals enjoy longer and healthier lives. P&G Pet Care, who sponsored the luncheon, made a $10,000 donation in White's name to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation. Afterwards, White spoke with Paw Nation about her career, her much adored dog Pontiac, and how deeply honored she felt to be recognized for her work with animals.

Should I call you Betty or Ms. White?
Oh, Betty. That's so much easier.

How long have you worked with the Morris Animal Foundation?
I've worked with them for 43 years and they made me a wonderful luncheon today honoring me and, well, I lost it. I just lost it. I was so touched.

Continue reading Betty White Talks About Her Two Passions -- Comedy And Animals

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]]>betty whiteBettyWhitecelebrity petsCelebrityPetspet healthPetHealthHelena SungFri, 19 Feb 2010 17:00:00 ESTZebra Escapes From Circus And Runs Loose On Highwayhttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/19/zebra-escapes-from-circus-and-runs-loose-on-highway/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/19/zebra-escapes-from-circus-and-runs-loose-on-highway/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/19/zebra-escapes-from-circus-and-runs-loose-on-highway/#commentsFiled under:

Ben Gray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution / AP

A 12-year-old zebra named Lima ran away from the circus on Thursday afternoon and straight into rush hour traffic on a busy expressway in Atlanta, Ga. "All of a sudden, a freaking zebra comes running down the street like a car," one witness, Daniel Nance, told the Atlanta-Journal Constitution. "Five or six police cars were in hot pursuit."

What the heck happened?

"Our zebras were being exercised in an outdoor pen as usual that day when something startled him," Crystal Drake, spokesperson for the Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus, tells Paw Nation. "Some noise or something in a far parking lot startled him and he came out of the exercise pattern."

Lima bumped up against the fence holding him in. "At that particular joint in the fence and at the speed he was going, it created an opening and he was out and he kept running," says Drake. The zebra galloped through the streets of downtown Atlanta, leaving shocked gasps and double takes in his wake.

"It was about five o'clock on Thursday afternoon when we got reports that a zebra was loose," Officer Eric Schwartz of the Atlanta Police Department tells Paw Nation. "Officers were out there holding up traffic to get the zebra re-routed and contain an area for the zebra."

It wasn't easy. According to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Lima dashed through the streets, eluding police officers and his zoo handlers. The striking black-and-white creature apparently even contemplated taking public transit when he ended up near a metro train station, but veered away, ran down a street, across railroad tracks, through a tunnel and down more local streets before sprinting onto an on-ramp and ending up on Interstate 75.

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]]>animal newsAnimalNewscircusexpire-images:2011-6-30RinglingBroszebraHelena SungFri, 19 Feb 2010 15:25:00 ESTSadie the Scottish Terrier Wins Best in Show at 134th Westminster Dog Showhttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/17/sadie-the-scottish-terrier-wins-best-in-show-at-134th-westminste/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/17/sadie-the-scottish-terrier-wins-best-in-show-at-134th-westminste/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/17/sadie-the-scottish-terrier-wins-best-in-show-at-134th-westminste/#commentsFiled under: , ,

David Goldman, AP


She did it! Sadie, the Scottish Terrier and the number one dog in the country secured her spot in history by winning best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Tuesday evening in New York City. Four-and-a-half-year-old Sadie proved Las Vegas oddsmakers right when they predicted that the small dog with the glossy black coat would capture the coveted title.

After winning best of breed earlier in the day, Sadie advanced to the terrier group, which she also won. As the evening progressed to the final round, the seven dogs representing winners of the terrier, herding, sporting, non-sporting, toy, hound and working groups strode into the ring to vie for the best in show title. The sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden responded with huge cheers and applause for each of the champion dogs representing the best of their breeds and groups.

Best in show judge Elliot Weiss, dressed in a natty tuxedo, inspected the seven dogs and requested that each take a run around the ring. Huge cheers erupted from the crowd for Sadie, but roars of approval also went out to a brown Doberman pincsher and a brindle-colored French bulldog.

As Weiss took one last long look at each dog, the crowd cheered and began clapping in unison, the sound reminiscent of a drumroll. In the end, Weiss pointed to Sadie as her handler, Gabriel Rangel, tossed his head backward, looked heavenward and clasped his hand to his chest.

The celebratory mood at Westminster, considered the nation's most prestigious show featuring 2,500 dogs, was briefly interrupted when, right before Sadie was to take the title, two protesters stormed Madison Square Garden's center ring holding up signs that read "Mutts Rule" and "Breeders Kill Shelter Dogs' Chances." The "Breeders Kill" slogan was the theme of a PETA ad campaign. The two women were quickly escorted off the premises, and the incident did not appear during the USA Network telecast.

Sadie, whose full name is Ch. Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot, has earned 112 best in show ribbons. In addition to her victory at Westminster Tuesday night, Sadie also won the National Dog Show in November and the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in December. Her win at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship makes Sadie automatically eligible to compete at Crufts in England, the largest dog show in the world. However, Rangel was coy when asked whether Sadie would now retire from dog shows. (A best in show title at Crufts would make Sadie only the second champion dog in history to earn the Triple Crown of the dog show world.)

As photographers rushed to capture her winning moment at Westminster and the other dog handlers crowded around to congratulate Rangel, the feisty Sadie jumped up and down on Rangel's legs, seeking either treats or hugs.

"It's very rare to find a short-legged dog that's balanced as she is," explained Weiss in a press conference after the show. "And her breed characteristic is fabulous, as you saw tonight. She thinks highly of herself and that's evident."

"She was perfect tonight," Rangel told reporters. "I couldn't ask for anything more."

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]]>expire-images:2011-6-30Helena SungWed, 17 Feb 2010 00:02:00 ESTDay 2 at Westminster: Who Will Win Best in Show?http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/16/day-2-at-westminster-who-will-win-best-in-show/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/16/day-2-at-westminster-who-will-win-best-in-show/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/16/day-2-at-westminster-who-will-win-best-in-show/#commentsFiled under: ,

Helena Sung

It's the second and final day of competition at the 134th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and Madison Square Garden is an absolute madhouse. Backstage in the benching area, where the public is allowed to meet the champion dogs, the crowds are so thick -- even more congested than yesterday -- that it's impossible to take more than a few steps at a time. That may be just as well because there are dogs everywhere -- laying on the ground, paying visits to makeshift loos lined with wood chips and standing on grooming tables getting fluffed, brushed and spritzed to perfection.

There's a reason that "Best in Show," the wickedly funny movie about people who compete in dog shows, was based on the Westminster Dog Show. "Whatever happens at Westminster has a tendency to reverberate across the dog world and beyond," one dog enthusiast tells me as we shuffle through the crowd like cattle.

In the middle of one aisle, a throng of people have gathered around a massive pooch with heavy jowls and a muscular body laying sprawled on the ground. It's a Neapolitan mastiff. What's his name? "Bubba," says Jim Deppen, the dog's owner. "He's a real laid back dog, but when he's in the show ring, he's a fierce competitor. He's like the Arnold Schwarzenegger of dogs, but with better legs," jokes Deppen.

Continue reading Day 2 at Westminster: Who Will Win Best in Show?

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]]>westminster dog showWestminsterDogShowHelena SungTue, 16 Feb 2010 21:59:00 EST'Doggie Concierge' Looks After Champion Dogs at Hotel Pennsylvaniahttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/16/doggie-concierge-looks-after-champion-dogs-at-hotel-pennsylvan/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/16/doggie-concierge-looks-after-champion-dogs-at-hotel-pennsylvan/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/16/doggie-concierge-looks-after-champion-dogs-at-hotel-pennsylvan/#commentsFiled under: ,

Helena Sung

Over 2,500 champion canines from across the country will converge on New York City for the 134th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show (Feb. 15 - 16) at Madison Square Garden. For those dogs lucky enough to be staying across the street at the Hotel Pennsylvania, they will enjoy one very special perk: a Doggie Concierge to look after all their dog-centric needs.

Four days before the start of the prestigious dog show, the Doggie Concierge meets me in the lobby of the Hotel Pennsylvania. The place is bustling with people, mountains of luggage, and champion dogs who have arrived by car or plane and are checking into their hotel rooms. The Doggie Concierge says hello and hands me his business card, which reads, "Jerry Grymek, Pooch Relations (PR)" and bears an image of a beagle puppy.

"For most of the year, my job is regular public-relations work," Grymek says, smiling and straightening his tie, which is blue and patterned with tiny dalmations. "But beginning January 1, I start focusing more on preparing for the Westminster Dog Show, and by the time the dog show comes around, it's total 'dog-demonium,'" he says, laughing.

What are Grymek's duties as Doggie Concierge, a title he wears proudly on a gold badge pinned to his lapel? "I greet our two and four-legged guests that come to our hotel, hand out dog treats and help guests with any questions," Grymek explains.

Continue reading 'Doggie Concierge' Looks After Champion Dogs at Hotel Pennsylvania

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]]>doggie conciergeDoggieConciergepet friendly hotelsPetFriendlyHotelswestminster dog showWestminsterDogShowHelena SungTue, 16 Feb 2010 15:00:00 ESTMeet the Westminster Dogs: Coco the Pyrenean Shepherdhttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/16/meet-the-westminster-dogs-coco-the-pyrenean-shepherd/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/16/meet-the-westminster-dogs-coco-the-pyrenean-shepherd/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/16/meet-the-westminster-dogs-coco-the-pyrenean-shepherd/#commentsFiled under:

Ann Shepard

The Westminster Kennel Club 134th Annual Dog Show (Feb. 15-16) is like Oscar night for dogs... so let's meet the stars! Paw Nation spoke with some of the Westminster show dog's owners to give you a sneak peek at the adorable contestants you'll see prancing around the ring on the big day.


Dog Breed: Pyrenean Shepherd (one of three new breeds competing this year)

Group: Herding

Dog's Full Registered Name: Ch. La Brise Coco Chanel

Nickname: Coco

Dog's Age: 4

Owners' Names: Valerie Davis and Ann Shepard

Hometown: South Glastonbury, Conn.

Tell us about Coco's personality.
She is very outgoing and friendly, which is not a typical of most Pyrenean shepherds.

What is her weirdest quirk?
What is funny is how she acts at the shows. Coco seems to have the attitude that the shows are purely for folks to see her. She isn't the best conformation dog, but she has a tremendous presence that seems to win over the judges.

What makes Coco special?
Coco is very intuitive with people. My other Pyrenean shepherd had a litter of puppies and when two gals came to see the pups, one was in a wheelchair with stage-four cancer. Coco had never seen anyone in a wheelchair but when I let her out of her crate she went right to the gal with cancer. She then lay her head on the woman's lap and seemed to know that the woman needed some comfort. Coco never left her side the entire visit and totally ignored the rest of us. She seemed to know she had a mission, and would probably make a super therapy dog. In my eyes, she is just a great little dog and a tremendous ambassador of the breed!

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]]>dogpyrenean shepherdPyreneanShepherdwestminster dog showWestminsterDogShowHelena SungTue, 16 Feb 2010 14:00:00 ESTWestminster Fave Sadie Stars At Fundraiserhttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/16/westminster-fave-sadie-stars-at-fundraiser/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/16/westminster-fave-sadie-stars-at-fundraiser/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/16/westminster-fave-sadie-stars-at-fundraiser/#commentsFiled under: ,

Helena Sung

It's the morning before the 134th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and Sadie the Scottish terrier is perched atop a table at Bonham's, an auction house in midtown Manhattan. No, the number-one-ranked dog in the country is not going to the highest bidder; Sadie is the guest of honor at Barkfest at Bonham's, an annual charity brunch that raises money for the American Kennel Club's (AKC) Humane Fund, which promotes responsible pet ownership through education, outreach and grant making.

Attendees have paid $50 per ticket for an advance viewing of some 260 pieces of Victorian oil paintings and sketches of dogs that will go on the auction block on Feb. 16. In a glass case is a handsomely-crafted, weathered-looking 19th-century leather-and-brass dog collar that once belonged to one of Charles Dickens' many dogs. "It is estimated to sell for $4,000 to $6,000, but anything can happen at auction," curator Alan Feusel tells Paw Nation. "Last time, an ivory toothpick belonging to Charles Dickens sold for $9,000."

"The charity brunch is a great way for the public to get a preview of the art that is going on sale, and to bring their own dogs and come meet the winner of the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, which this season is Sadie," the AKC's Lisa Peterson tells Paw Nation. It's a Sunday morning, but already the gallery is crowded with people, dogs and tables set with bagels, fruit and giant silver dog bowls filled with doggie-shaped biscuits.

Continue reading Westminster Fave Sadie Stars At Fundraiser

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]]>charityscottish terrier sadieScottishTerrierSadieWestminsterwestminster dog showWestminsterDogShowHelena SungTue, 16 Feb 2010 13:00:00 ESTWestminster Dog Show Sets Stage for Drama on Day Onehttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/16/westminster-dog-show-sets-stage-for-drama-on-day-one/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/16/westminster-dog-show-sets-stage-for-drama-on-day-one/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/16/westminster-dog-show-sets-stage-for-drama-on-day-one/#commentsFiled under: ,

Helena Sung

The 134th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show kicked off yesterday and the excitement inside Madison Square Garden was palpable. "The event is sold out both days," a Westminster staffer tells me as I pick up my press pass, head downstairs and follow the crush of people into the benching area.

The area is crowded with hundreds of people, dogs, photographers and television news crews. The noise level is high, but not from the sound of barking dogs. The champion dogs -- of all sizes, shapes and coat types -- are quiet; they curl up in their kennels, doze in their handlers' laps or lay splayed out on the cool concrete floor. Some are getting groomed and fluffed with blow dryers as they prepare for their turn in the show ring.

One of the few remaining "benched" dog shows in the country, Westminster requires its canine competitors to remain -- for the entire day -- in an assigned spot in a huge exhibit hall when they aren't competing in the show ring. It's an extraordinary opportunity for the public to meet 2,500 champion dogs representing 173 different breeds and varieties and chat with their breeders, owners and handlers.

"What kind of dog is that?" a little boy asks an older gentleman holding the leash of a giant dog with a scruffy, gray coat and a long tail. "This is an Irish wolfhound," the gentleman, who turns out to be the dog's breeder, says. "You can pet him if you want." Elsewhere, a crowd has gathered around a white Standard Poodle with pink fabric wrapped around the ends of her ears standing on top of her kennel. "Why are her ears wrapped like that?" a woman asks the poodle's handler. "It's so her hair doesn't get wet when she drinks from the water bowl," the handler answers.

In the legendary green carpeted show ring, judging of individual breeds took place on Monday, setting the stage for some major drama. This year, the dog to watch is Sadie, a Scottish Terrier who is the number one ranked dog in the country and favored to win best in show. But seasoned dog enthusiasts know that a number one ranking doesn't guarantee the coveted title at Westminster.

"There is something about the DNA of Westminster where upsets happen," says Denise Flaim, a dog expert who is chatting with me near a couple of dozing Rhodesian Ridgebacks. "Things are unpredictable here." Last year, Stump, a 10-year-old Sussex Spaniel came out of nowhere and nabbed the best in show title -- to the utter shock of many watching.

Continue reading Westminster Dog Show Sets Stage for Drama on Day One

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]]>Helena SungTue, 16 Feb 2010 10:21:00 ESTWestminster Dog Profile: Curry the Glen of Imaal Terrierhttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/12/westminster-dog-profile-curry-the-glen-of-imaal-terrier/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/12/westminster-dog-profile-curry-the-glen-of-imaal-terrier/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/12/westminster-dog-profile-curry-the-glen-of-imaal-terrier/#commentsFiled under:

Kate Lacey

Guess who'll be among the more than 2,500 champion dogs competing at this year's 134th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show (Feb. 15-16)? None other than our very own Curry, a Glen of Imaal terrier that Paw Nation has been following since last October in our "Path to Westminster" series. Curry's owner and handler, Bruce Sussman, answered some questions about the little charmer.

Dog Breed: Glen of Imaal Terrier

Group: Terrier

Dog's Full Registered Name: Ch. Coleraine's Mandalay Royalty

Nickname: Curry

Dog's Age: 3

Owners' Names: Bruce Sussman, Rob Shuter and Maura High

Hometown: New York, N.Y.

Tell us about Curry's personality. Curry is a lovebug. Her favorite thing to do is to jump into your lap and lick your face.

What is her weirdest quirk? She finds the morning walk entirely unnecessary and would much rather stay in bed, under the covers.

What is her best trick? Catching biscuits on the fly.

What's Curry's favorite treat? Hot dogs, Hebrew National brand, grilled not boiled.

How do you and Curry prepare for Westminster? Grooming mostly, keeping her coat in good harsh condition like it is meant to be.

Anything else you'd like to share? Curry now has her own advice column on Paw Nation, "Ask Curry," and as a result is probably the only Westminster competitor with her own e-mail address: curry@pawnation.com. E-mail her with any questions!

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]]>AskCurryglen of imaal terrierGlenOfImaalTerrierShowDogWestminsterWestminsterDogShowWestminsterKennelClubHelena SungFri, 12 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST