Adopt this sweet Sheltie - Minnesota

I have a PetFinder widget on my blog and I look at the dogs up for adoption everyday. This will be in the Minnesota region. That is how I came across Santana a lovely Sheltie mix girl. See her and other dogs on PetFinder.


Santana is a 7-8 year old, 36 lb. Sheltie mix, possibly with Border Collie. Her background is a mystery since she came to the rescue group as a stray. You can tell from the pictures that her eyes are clouded over with cataracts - we were hopeful that she would be a surgical candidate to have the cataracts removed to restore some eyesight to this sweet, blind dog, but the news was not good - retinal atrophy caused the cataracts and she won't benefit from surgery.

Most dogs with retinal degeneration can lead a normal, happy life, according to the canine opthalmologist who performed her eye exam. This is a stable condition and Dr. Olivera recommends checking for inflammation during her yearly physical exam. There currently are no signs of inflammation, but she would only require some eye drops should she have any inflammation at some point. O

nce she is in her environment, she can map it out and she gets around amazingly well by memory and using her other senses. There are many blind dog resources available, such as www.blinddogs.com and www.blinddogs.net. It’s important to keep her environment consistent (don't rearrange the furniture, etc.).

Like all dogs, Santana would just like to have a safe home where she will be loved and adored like she deserves to be! Santana is calm and good-natured. She rarely barks (a big plus!) and usually only if she’s around a dog she doesn’t know. It’s almost like she’s trying to tell them she’s not vulnerable. She’ll also bark when the activity level around her is really high, or if she gets really excited, and even then she only lets out 3 or 4 barks.

She does well with the cat and dog in her foster home, although she does not seek interaction with them. She prefers her people! She does great with respectful children ages 6 yr and up. Because she can’t see you, it helps Santana to be able to sense your presence or hear you. She’ll be your little shadow! She’s so affectionate and just craves attention.

She walks well on a leash and enjoys taking walks. A fenced yard is strongly recommended to ensure Santana’s safety - especially if you live on a busy street with a lot of traffic.

We believe Santana may have had some sort of injury to her hind end, as she can’t lift up or wag her tail, but she shows that she is happy to be with you in many other ways!

She’s not familiar with obedience commands at this point, but responds very well to a whistle. Blind dogs are trainable, just like any dog. Please visit the websites mentioned above for more information. Santana is reliably housetrained. She doesn’t signal when she needs to go out, but is kept on a consistent schedule. She is crate-trained and also does well left out with the run of the house.

She tolerates baths and loves to be brushed. She enjoys car rides, especially because she gets to be with you! Santana is spayed, current on vaccination and heartworm negative. Her adoption fee is $50. She’s such a sweet, loving angel, and cute as a button to boot! If you would like to welcome this little darling into your heart and your home, please contact us at 651-771-5662.

Petland Puppy Mills

Rally This Weekend For Dog Moms - Source HSUS
May 5, 2009

Did you know that there are dog moms all across the country who are trapped in cages for years and years who will never know a happy Mother's Day? These moms live in puppy mills, mass-breeding facilities that raise dogs in shockingly poor conditions with little hope of ever becoming part of a family.


This Mother's Day weekend, we're rallying for these moms, with the goal of creating better futures for all dogs like them. We hope you'll join us at a Petland near you.


Rally For Moms
Animal protection advocates will assemble for the third time this year at Petland retail stores across the country Saturday, May 9 to call for the nation's largest chain of puppy selling pet stores to stop supporting puppy mills.


Join Us at a Rally
Find a Petland near you»Stop Selling Puppies!


Advocates will urge Petland to stop supporting the cruel puppy mill industry through the chain's puppy sales, and instead create an adoption program similar to other large pet supply retailers like PETCO and PetSmart.


In March, demonstraters crowded the sidewalks in front of 30 different Petland stores from coast to coast to tell the comapny to stop selling puppies.The InvestigationIn November, The Humane Society of the United States revealed the results of an eight-month investigation of Petland Inc. The HSUS investigation revealed that Petland is the nation's largest retail chain purchasing dogs from puppy mills.


Our March demonstrations were followed by a nationwide class-action consumer lawsuit filed against Petland and the Hunte Corporation by HSUS members and other consumers.


Can't Make It?
Can't make a rally this weekend? Don't live near a rally site? You can still help by encouraging your local pet store them to become puppy friendly.
How to approach your store»Download the invitation »Download the pledge »


Good News
In late April, life got better for dogs in Indiana when the state
passed new legislation (H.E.A. 1468) that provides upgraded penalties for animal abuse, and basic care standards for dogs at puppy mills.


The new legislation requires that dogs in puppy mills be let out of their cages at least once per day for exercise and increases the minimum cage size and bans painful wire cage flooring. These protections will curb some of the worst abuses at large-scale puppy mills and do not affect responsible home breeders who already raise dogs humanely.

Pet Microchips

Microchips: Common Questions

George Bernard Shaw once quipped, "Science … never solves a problem without creating ten more." Well, microchipping pets hasn't exactly created ten previously unknown problems, but the important new technology has left some pet owners scratching their heads like dogs. Particularly now that microchip manufacturers have developed competing technologies.
The brave new world of microchipping has left pet owners with questions. In this section, the experts at The HSUS answer them.

I have heard there are problems with microchipping pets. What are the issues surrounding microchipping?

Microchipping is a great tool to help you reunite with a lost pet; however, it is not foolproof. When a lost pet is picked up by an animal control officer or is taken to an animal shelter or humane society, the professionals there will scan the animal using a handheld scanner, which will let them know if a microchip has been implanted. The microchip implanted under the skin reflects the signal given by the scanner to provide a unique alpha numeric code, which is picked up when the animal is scanned. Microchips implanted in 2003 or earlier are generally readable by most shelters and veterinarians. Microchips that came into use in late 2003 are generally not readable by most shelters and veterinarians because the chips require different scanning technology. Microchip manufacturers have not yet provided shelters around the country with a scanner that reads all different types of microchips (called a "universal" scanner).

What is the problem for animal shelters and humane societies with different types of microchips available on the market?

Each company that manufactures microchips has its own scanners, and some of these scanners can only "read" their own microchip. In other words, in some instances, the scanner of one company may not be able to detect the microchip of another manufacturer, which would indicate to the shelter staff that the lost animal is not microchipped. Without the ability to use one scanner for all types of microchips, shelter staff would have to scan the animal, who may be fearful and difficult to handle, multiple times with each manufacturer's scanner. Additionally, some companies provide their scanners free to shelters, some do not. Without sufficient numbers of free scanners available to equip all animal control vehicles as well as shelters, microchipped animals may go unscanned by agencies, which can't afford to purchase multiple scanners from multiple manufacturers.

My animal has already been microchipped, how do I know if my local shelter will be able to read the information on it?

The only way to know for sure if your local animal care facilities have the ability to read the microchip implanted in your pet is to call them. Visit www.pets911.com, or check your local listings to find your local shelter.

My animal has not yet been microchipped. If I purchase one, how do I know if my local shelter will be able to read the information on it?

This is the responsibility of the business or group providing the microchip. Ask whether the chip being implanted in your pet is compatible with the readers in place in your community. If there is any question, call your local animal shelter to be sure.

What do I do if my local animal care facility cannot read the chip that is implanted in my pet?

Call the microchip manufacturer and ask that they send at least one scanner to your local facilities free of charge.

Why isn't there a scanner that can read all the different types of microchips?

Prior to late 2003, there was a universal scanner that could read all the chips in use in the United States. However, in late 2003, companies began selling chips with a new technology that could not be read by the previous universal scanner. To date, no microchip manufacturer has provided a truly "universal" scanner to read all currently available microchips. The technology to do this is available; the various companies manufacturing microchips must agree to share their technology to make this a reality.

What is The HSUS doing to help?

The HSUS has appealed to the microchip manufacturers to develop or modify existing scanners to make them capable of detecting all microchips, regardless of brand. The HSUS will continue to monitor the situation and assist in developing a long-term solution.

Given the present issues surrounding microchipping, should I microchip my pet?

Yes, microchipping provides an important safety net for your pet. However, before having a chip implanted, talk to your local shelter and/or animal control agency to make sure the type of microchip your vet is implanting can be read by the scanner being used by your local shelter.

How long do microchips last? Do they ever need to be replaced?

Microchips are designed to last the lifetime of a pet—a chip typically lasts at least 25 years. Chips do not need replacing. Once the microchip is implanted, it will remain there and active for the life of the pet.

What else can I do to ensure that my pet will be returned should he or she become lost?

All pets should wear identification tags at all times. Tags should include a local contact number, as well as a number for a friend or out-of-town relative. Proper identification tags are your pet's first ticket home if he becomes lost. Microchips provide an important extra level of protection in the event your pet becomes separated from his collar and tags. Providing your pet with both tags and a microchip can help ensure a happy reunion if the unthinkable happens: your beloved pet gets lost.

Updated Sept. 14, 2006

Visit HSUS for more great pet help.

Bad Dog Training Makes Aggressive Dogs

Dogs Are Aggressive If They Are Trained Badly

ScienceDaily (May 1, 2009) — Many dogs are put down or abandoned due to their violent nature, but contrary to popular belief, breed has little to do with a dog's aggressive behaviour compared to all the owner-dependant factors. This is shown in a new study from the University of Córdoba, which includes breeds that are considered aggressive by nature, such as the Rottweiler or the Pit Bull.


The conclusions, however, are surprising: it is the owners who are primarily responsible for attacks due to dominance or competition of their pets.

The research team from the University of Córdoba (UCO) has determined a series of external factors which are inherent to the dogs in order to understand their aggressiveness, and they have observed that external, modifiable and owner-dependent factors have a greater influence on the animals.

According to Joaquín Pérez-Guisado, the main author of the study and a researcher from the UCO, some of the factors that cause aggressiveness in dogs are: first-time dog ownership; failure to subject the dog to basic obedience training; spoiling or pampering the dog; not using physical punishment when it is required; buying a dog as a present, as a guard dog or on impulse; spaying female dogs; leaving the dog with a constant supply of food, or spending very little time with the dog in general and on its walks.

"Failure to observe all of these modifiable factors will encourage this type of aggressiveness and would conform to what we would colloquially call 'giving our dog a bad education'", Pérez-Guisado explains to SINC.

The study, which has recently been published in the Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, is based on the following fact: approximately 40% of dominance aggression in dogs is associated with a lack of authority on the part of the owners who have never performed basic obedience training with their pets or who have only carried out the bare minimum of training.

Breed has less influence on aggressiveness

The Spanish researchers studied 711 dogs (354 males and 357 females) of which 594 were purebred and 117 were half-breed dogs older than one year of age. Among the breeds observed were the Bull Terrier, the American Pit Bull Terrier, the Alsatian, the Boxer, the Rottweiler, the Doberman, as well as apparently more docile breeds such as the Dalmatian, the Irish Setter, the Golden Retriever, the Labrador Retriever, the Miniature Poodle, the Chihuahua, the Pekinese, or the French Bulldog, which also exhibit dominant behaviour.

According to Pérez-Guisado, certain breeds, male sex, a small size, or an age of between 5-7 years old are "the dog-dependent factors associated with greater dominance aggression". Nevertheless, these factors have "minimal effect" on whether the dog behaves aggressively. Factors linked to the owner's actions are more influential.

To correct the animal's behaviour, the owner should handle it appropriately and "re-establish dominance over the dog", the researcher adds. In terms of physical punishment, Pérez-Guisado points out that "this method cannot be used with all dogs given the danger involved, although it could be used to re-establish dominance over puppies or small and easy-to-control dogs". However, "it should never be used as justification for treating a dog brutally, since physical punishment should be used more as a way to frighten and demonstrate the dominance we have over the dog than to inflict great suffering on the animal", the vet states.

According to the researcher, "dogs that are trained properly do not normally retain aggressive dominance behaviour". Pérez-Guisado attributes this "exceptional" conduct to the existence of some medical or organic problem, "which can cause changes in the dog's behaviour". Source: ScienceDaily

I've always felt certain breeds of dogs are given a bad name because of Bad People. I'm happy to see a study done and I hope pet guardians will learn how to raise a great dog! Robin, the HealthyPetNut

If I Didn't Have a Dog or a Cat...

How would my life have been without my Tara for 18 years?

I can't imagine life without lots of fur friends ~ If it happened would it be like this?

I could walk around the yard barefoot in safety.

My house could be carpeted instead of tiled and laminated.

All flat surfaces, clothing, furniture, and cars would be free of hair.

When the doorbell rings, it wouldn't sound like a kennel.

When the doorbell rings, I could get to the door without wading through fuzzy bodies who beat me there.

I could sit on the couch and my bed the way I wanted, without taking into consideration how much space several fur bodies would need to get comfortable.

I would have money and no guilt to go on a real vacation.

I would not be on a first-name basis with 6 veterinarians, as I put their yet unborn grand kids through college.

The most used words in my vocabulary would not be: out, sit, down, come, no, stay, and leave him/her/it ALONE.

My house would not be cordoned off into zones with baby gates or barriers.

I would not talk 'baby talk'. 'Eat your din din'. 'Yummy yummy for the tummy'..

My house would not look like a day care center, toys everywhere.

My pockets would not contain things like poop bags, treats and an extra leash.

I would no longer have to spell the words
B-A-L-L,
F-R-I-S-B-E-E,
W-A-L-K,
T-R-E-A-T,
B-I-K-E,
G-O,
R-I-D-E

I would not have as many leaves (or pine needles) INSIDE my house as outside.

I would not look strangely at people who think having ONE dog/cat ties them down too much.

I'd look forward to spring and the rainy season instead of dreading 'mud' season.

I would not have to answer the question
'Why do you have so many animals?' from people who will never have the joy in their lives of knowing they are loved unconditionally by someone as close to an angel as they will ever get. How EMPTY my life would be!!!

"Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains un-awakened."