Good Boy
Want to know the secret to a good relationship? Treat your Partner like a well-loved pet. By Max Hardy (Sunday Times 16/1/05)

Sirius honoured

Sirius a 4 year old Labrador, the only police dog to be killed in the September 11 attacks, was honoured by a gathering of police and fire fighters across the Hudson River where the World Trade Centre once stood. He died when the towers fell. His handler was giving him a break from his regular bomb sniffing duties while he was helping others escape.
Time Magazine May 6 2002

Polly in line for Purple Cross

Eleven year old Red Heeler, Polly, may receive a posthumous animal bravery award from the RSPCA for saving its owners from a blazing pub in Kukerin 300km south-east of Perth on March 18

Polly died of smoke inhalation two days after waking the licencees by barking as fire engulfed the hotel. Ms Muir said there was no doubt that Polly saved their lives.
West Australian

Wags Companion Dog Show 2002

The Shenton Park Dog Refuge held a dog show purely for crossbreds at its grounds on Saturday 20 April 2002. It was a fun day with competions ranging from waggiest tail, smiliest smile, best trick and best performance through the obstacle course. There was a big turnout of dogs and owners of all sizes and ages including many ex-refuge dogs. There was also a demonstration of agilty by Rod and his 2001 Cyber Crufts winning Border Collie, Toby as well as an equally enthralling demonstration by an ex-refuge dog.

Photo Album 1
Photo Album 2

Russel joins the bridal party

Russel, the Jack Russel Terrier cross Beagle, was a member of the bridal party for Lee-Marita and Brian’s Wedding recently on the South Perth foreshore.

Russel’s manners were impeccable, managing to keep out of trouble both during the service and at the reception held at the new couple’s residence nearby.

The question remains - when will Russel find his beau? Unfortunately he didn’t get the garter, though he was seen checking out under a few dresses for one of his own at the reception!

Insights on the evolution of dogs. (Photo National Geographic Jan2002)

An article by Karen Lange in the January 2002 edition of the National Geographic raises some interesting points about the evolution of dogs and how the relationship with man may have developed.

• Evidence of domesticated dogs 14,000 years ago though dogs first started breaking away from wolves 100,000 years ago. Genetically there is no more than one percent difference between dogs today and a wild wolf.
• It is believed dogs first started associating with man as scavengers. There was selection for individuals that were less wary of the suppliers of their food till they became closely associated in a symbiotic relationship. In return for food dogs provided warning of enemies and predators and may have even helped with hunting activities with their superior scenting ability and speed. They also kept their humans warm and were in many cases a food source themselves.
• Despite this long time away from the wild, dogs still retain much of their wolve’s ancestors traits. For instance they have as many as 220 million olfactory receptors (humans have 5 to 10 million).
• The passion for breeding led to the formation of The Kennel Club in England in 1873 and the American Kennel Club in 1884. The each list 196 and 150 breeds respectively.
• Dog shows started in the mid 1800’s and today the biggest show in the world is Crufts in England which, in 2001, drew 18,780 dog entries and 88,000 people to see them.
• If humans mirrored the huge size range in dogs we would see people between 10kg and 1/2 tonne! It is thought dogs show such a large variety of sizes and shapes because they carry a large number of chromosomes - 78 to humans 46. This has enabled man to quickly achieve the desired results through selection. For instance, Bruce Cattanach, a geneticist and Boxer breeder was able to produce a tail-less boxer within 8 years and 4 generations after an initial cross with a tailless Welsh Corgi.
• Dogs still show their mischievous nature despite domestication. 300 people have been killed by dog attacks in the US between 1979 and 1998. Most were children. In 1994 (the last time data was collected) 4.7 million Americans were bitten, 6,000 of them hospitalised. 

World first sees cat cloned (West Australian 16/2/02)

Scientists at Texas A&M University have cloned a cat producing the wolds first cloned kitten, a 2 month old tortoishell called Cc - short for carbon copy- born on the 22 December last year.

This is the sixth mammal to be cloned after sheep, cows, mice goats and pigs. All have been done using the nuclear transfer technique used to produce Dolly the sheep.

We are a long way yet making this a viable way of producing kittens - 87 embryos were implanted into surrogate mothers to produce 1 kitten.

Buddy’s impact at the White House    (Photo Time Magazine 14/1/02)

The death of Buddy, ex-president Bill Clinton’s chocolate Retriever, on the 2nd January came as a shock to the Clinton family who were obviously incredibly attached to their pet of just over 3 years.

Buddy was hit by a car after escaping the family residence while in playful pursuit of a contractor who had just left the residence.

It seems Buddy will not be forgotten as he appears frolicking on the White House lawns in an official portrait by artist Jamie Wyeth, to celebrate the 200th birthday of the White House.

While sketching the portrait under a tree on the South Lawn at dawn Jamie was met by an exhuberant Buddy giving a full dog greeting including knocking over his sketch pencils. Wyeth then decided to include Buddy in the picture, titled Dawn, The White House giving Buddy a permanent place in the history of the White House.

(I feel this both demonstrates the powerful role pets play in our lives, even if you have held one of the most important positions in the world and sadly also highlights the need for us to be ever vigilant with our pets safey, particularily if strangers are visiting - even if we think we have top-level security at home - Editor)

Why cats have nine lives - study gives us a clue.
The purring of cats may be a natural healing mechanism, a study by David Purdie from Britain’s Hull University, has found. Research in their Bone Disease Centre has found that exposing bone to sound frequencies in the range 20 - 50 Hz, a frequency associated with a cat’s purring, strengthens human bones and stimulates growth. This may, in part, explain cats incredible healing powers which give rise to the myth about their “nine lives”.

 A fact known to most veterinarians is that cats purr when injured or ill as well as when happy.This research may then help to solve the 3000 year old mystery of why cats purr.Further research will be carried out to determine whether this low frequency sound can help halt osteoporosis.Till then, we may have just one more reason why pet ownership is good for your health!

*Sydney Morning Herald via West Aust

Pets as important as parents to child

“Small children regard pets as friends, confidants and protectors as much as they do humans, according to a study by two British psychologists.

June McNicholas and Glyn Collis, from the University of Warwick, said children showed great pragmatism about pets limited abilities but found comfort in sharing their problems with them.

Their report, Child Representations of pets in their Social Networks, found that dogs in particular, often superseded humans as best friend.

Youngsters asked to nominate who they would turn to in a series of challenging situations always placed their pet in the top 10.

Dr McNichols said: “no matter how bad a child’s day, a pet’s unconditional love can help repair self-esteem.”
- The Telegaph, London via W.Aust 25 Nov 2000

Crocodile off the menu

Just another night at home for Prayoon Thongjon with his son and two pets including Kheng, their 40kg crocodile.

Most Thais shun crocodiles whereas Mr Prayoon says Kheng is a source of comfort and a fine companion.

“I sleep now with my crocodile” he said, “after he kept scratching at my mosquito net over my bed to try to join me”. “I gave in eventually and let him in”

Mr Prayoon caught Kheng as a hatchling while fishing three years ago. He is fed on a diet of fresh chicken and his teeth are brushed daily.
(West Australian 1/9/02)

Sniffer Floyd Hands Over the Leash

Floyd, one of Perth Airport’s quarantine sniffer dogs, has retired after 10 years on the beat. He was donated in 1993 after frequently straying to chase rubbish trucks. Sniffer Dogs were introduced in 1992 to detect illegally imported plant and animal products in passengers luggage. In an average week a dog can sniff out 33 kilograms of fresh fruit and nine kilograms of meat. It is their sense of smell which is more than 100 times more sensitive than humans’ that enables them to work so effectively in detection.

Two new Beagle recruits, “Cosmo” and “Pippa”, are ready to fill Floyd’s role after a rigorous 14 week training program in Brisbane after which they were handed to their new handlers, Karen King and Melissa Hood. Most of the 82 Beagles on the beat Australia-wide were donated by families or breeders or saved from the pound. The new recruits are part of a $600 million Federal Government commitment to beef up border protection. (Guardian Express 23/7/02)

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