First off, I'm going to note that I'm going to make some significant changes to the roundup. I just feel like the post is getting too long and people aren't reading. I also feel like a lot of things are losing their timeliness by waiting until the end of the week. So, here's what I'm gonna do.
I'm still going to do the roundup - but I'm going to stick with just the most interesting stuff (as determined by me) and stuff that I think you're most likely to have missed. I'm also going to start posting more stuff during the week on facebook (kc dog blog on facebook) and @kcdoblog on twitter.
Cities/States and Laws
Tupelo, MS no longer is considering a breed-specific law.
A dog in Ontario spent a year and a half in in the shelter while her owner tried to save her from the provencial breed ban by proving the dog wasn't a 'pit bull'. It just seems ridiculous that the debate wasn't whether the dog was aggressive or not (everyone actually agreed she wasn't), but about what she looked like as to whether or not she would be put down.
A case where a retired police officer's dog was seized from him because of a city's breed ban is still alive. Courts ruled that the man should be able to keep his service dog under the Americans with Disabilities Act, but the city of Aurelia, IA is now appealing the decision -- spending more taxpayer money trying to keep a man from keeping a non-aggressive dog.
The small community of Washington, LA (Population 900) made national news after they passed a breed specific law and then went around seizing people's pets. People both locally and nationally were outraged by the incident.
Dog bites/attacks
An Omaha woman was injured breaking up a fight between her two dogs. Omaha passed heavy restrictions on 9 breeds of dogs in 2008, but the number of bites has actually increased, not decreased, since the law was passed.
A 20 day old infant was badly mauled by the family's Jack Russell Terrier -- further highlighting why educating parents to not leave their toddler unsupervised with the dog is a much smarter approach that breed hysteria at helping stop these types of injuries.
Kansas City Area Local News
Chihuahuas on parade for Cinco de Mayo as a gret fundraiser for one of our local organizations.
According to new reports, the number of licensed commercial breeders in the state of Missouri is just over 1000 -- down from 1802 in 2008. Increased awareness of some of the bad conditions at these commercial breeding operations, along with increased enforcement of cruelty laws is helping bring that number down.
No Kill
The Springfield, MO animal shelter celebrated 6 months of not euthanizing any "adoptable" dogs. This has been a tremendous feat by the area rescues (the Springfield shelter doesn't adopt out any animals), but the city is still mis-representing they're success by hiding behind the word adoptable.
Miscellaneous
The Humane Society of Missouri is under scrutiny as their executive director earned an average of $400,000 a year over the past 2 years while the organization operatated at a deficit.
An article from South Florida tries to instill fear about 'pit bulls' by showing what percentage of dangerous dogs they made up in Broward County. However, according the chart, only 17 dogs were put down in a 3 year period due to aggression toward humans -- this is an amazingly low number for such a long time period in a county of more than 1.7 million people. Most were put down due to aggression toward cats...
Bringing together dog and new baby -- a great educational segment that new parents with dogs can learn from. I wish more news stations ran this type of segment instead of the sensationalism that often exists in local tv media.
Tired dogs may be riskier than not tired ones as tired dogs may be too tired to have the same self control.
Blogs
Is catastrophizing effective - Seth Godin with good food for thought on something I know many animal welfare groups do
Does your local pound kill animals because they want to? -- Great thoughts (per usual) from YesBiscuit!
Bad owners make bad dogs -- it's a matter of fact - a great blog from WTOP in Baltimore.
Lawn chemicals may lead to cancer in dogs -- it makes sense that dogs that run in yards with chemicals and then lick their paws would ingest enough of the chemicals to cause long-term harm.
Vick Dogs: Five years post-seizure. Has the cruelty ended? -- Bad Rap looks at progress for animal cruelty victims post the Vick bust.
Guilt: it's not just for Jews and Catholics anymore (Purebred dog owners can play) -- from Dogknobit
Should we save Helo? -- Good commentary on a dog involved in a fatal bite incident from Jim Crosby
The forgotten dogs of Milwuakee -- From Wisconsin Watchdog
Confession: I don't like pit bulls - - Central Ohio Dog blog Notes that she doesn't like pit bulls - -and why she still defends them and you should too
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