At the photography site Photo.net , member Rene' Villela pays homage to his Black Lab who just passed:

BELLEFONTAINE, Ohio — The bodies of more than a dozen dogs were discovered Monday evening dumped in a creek in Logan County.
Two men fishing in a creek found the dogs, some of which had been skinned. One of the dogs appeared to have been shot.

"It's sickening to think someone could do this," said Joni Dailey with the Humane Society of Logan County.

By Tom McPheron
American Veterinary Medical Association

PHOENIX -- American Animal Hospital Association Conference
— What makes a cat-friendly city? The love and care cats receive, says the CATalyst Council. Today, the recently formed organization is set to raise the stature of America's number one companion, the cat, by announcing the CATalyst 2009 Top 10 Cat-Friendly Cities.

To prevent health conditions, all dogs should follow a routine vaccination schedule administered by a veterinarian. Your veterinarian may provide routine vaccinations for canine distemper, infectious canine hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, coronavirus, parainfluenza, Bordetella, Lyme disease and rabies. Remember, most vaccines must be given over a period of time and require multiple veterinary visits. So check with your veterinarian and get ready for a happy, healthy friendship with your dog.

Distemper

HUDSON: The opening reception of the cat and dog art show to benefit PAWSibilities — the Humane Society of Greater Akron — will be from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 3.

The role of dogs has changed, and journalist Michael Schaffer decided to find out why. Schaffer has written a book, One Nation Under Dog, and shares what he has discovered about our sudden need to treat our pets like children.

By Rick Armon

Beacon Journal staff writer

Published on Sunday, Mar 29, 2009

We trip over them. We take them out for walks and get dragged and pulled. We fall while chasing them. Sometimes we trip over a water bowl or a chew toy left on the floor.

Dogs and cats cause more than 86,000 falls requiring emergency room care each year, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that may be among the first of its kind. That translates into about 240 people who are treated for injuries caused by pets every single day in the United States, the study found.

Because of the bitter economy, Linda's Canine Kitchen sold fewer homemade sweet treats for dogs at the Columbus Pet Expo yesterday.

Pet owners are "afraid to spend their money," said Linda Horner, who owns the business. "Now they'll spend $1 or $2 when they used to spend $7 or $8."

Via WTDN:

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - When the Clark County Humane Society received an extra shipment of pet food, which was dated, they decided to reach out and help a community in need as residents who are losing jobs and homes are forced to abandon pets.

AKRON: The Citizens for Humane Animal Practices and Summit County Division of Animal Control will offer a low-cost spay/neuter clinic for cats at 8:30 a.m. April 4 at the NEFCO Building, 180 E. South St.

All spay/neuter services will be provided at the rate of $35 for male cats and $50 for female cats.

We've all observed people in their pets: Whether we're sitting on a bench at the park or strolling past them on the street... and one thing has always been rather clear: some people really do look like their pets.

It's not April 1st yet and it's not from "The Onion," so for your consideration:

Pet Airways, a new startup launching next month that flies pets and only pets: “With Pet Airways your pet will be safe and comfortable, flying in the main cabin, not in cargo. From check-in at our Pet Lounge, and throughout the flight, our Pet Attendants will be caring and catering to all your pet’s needs. You can even monitor how your pet is doing.” Fees start at $150. Sadly, only your pet can fly, not you (they won’t even put you in the cargo area of the plane).

Via the BBC:

Cincinnatians still can't harbor pit bulls or other vicious dogs, but it'll also be illegal soon to breed, sell or give a pit bull away - except to an animal shelter - and violators face twice as much time in jail.
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Cincinnati City Council changed the rules Wednesday. When the ordinance becomes effective in a month, people convicted of keeping, breeding, selling or transferring ownership in any way of a pit bull will face up to six months in jail, double the previous 90 days. The changes apply to any dog owner not grandfathered in when the pit bull ban went into effect in November 2003.

Do dogs dream? I certainly think so. I know my big guy begins to run in his sleep and give the occasional whimper or slight bark, and I swear he is chasing a squirrel, or... maybe something else.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A lawmaker wants to remove the state-mandated label of "vicious dog" from pit bulls.

Rep. Barbara Sears, R-Sylvania, has introduced a bill that would no longer define pit bulls as a vicious breed, 10TV's Kevin Landers reported.

Hershey, a labrador retriever, is the latest weapon in the all-out war on bed bugs.

How did these animal stars fare after finding stardom? Find out here.

DENVER  - A parrot whose cries of alarm alerted his owner when a little girl choked on her breakfast has been honored as a hero.

Okay, brace yourself.

Watch this little video bit on how the lost $400 turned up. All I know is that I wouldn't want to be the person in the Treasury Department to receive this package...

By Jewell Cardwell

Former First Cat Socks, one of the world’s most famous felines, died in February at the age of 20 after battling throat cancer since November. A stray cat rescued by the Clinton's daughter, Chelsea, Socks lived in the governor’s mansion in Arkansas and later moved with the family to the White House. Full story ->

The miracle of life made an encore for Edgar and Nina Otto. A year after their beloved yellow Labrador retriever, Lancelot, died of cancer, the Florida couple welcomed a cloned copy into their home Tuesday. They’ve dubbed their doggie double “Lancelot Encore.”

This amazing report, from CBS news, is worth your three minutes.

A contagious and sometimes deadly virus has killed Oprah Winfrey's new puppy.

The talk show host recently adopted a puppy from PAWS Chicago animal shelter and then went back and adopted that dog's brother.

A feel-good story about a dog and deer becoming friends:

Unfortunately, Rosie has since passed at the age of twelve. Read about her encounter and see a full set of photos of Rosie with the deer.

I watched so many cartoons as a kid, that if you toss me in front of any old-school Warner Brothers cartoon, chances are I've seen it at least a dozen times. I think the world of cartoon is a happy place, and allows out imaginations to stretch beyond what is scientifically possible and imagine a world of removable black holes, super-human powers, and lots and lots of laughter.

POMEROY, Ohio—Darlene and Daniel Fisher said their dog, Buster, broke his chain and wandered off Thursday.

To view more photos or submit your pet photos, click here.

Via BBC:

AKRON: Heaven Can Wait Rescue and Adoptions in Summit County is celebrating its fifth anniversary by discounting prices for all cat and dog adoptions in March.

Cat adoptions will be $30 off the regular price of $80. The $50 fee includes testing, vaccinations, spay/neuter, treatment for fleas and worms and microchip and microchip activation and registration.

Ruth Ross wouldn't give up her dog Oscar for anything, but she hopes the Petland where she bought him -- and all Petland stores -- are forced to shut down.

A suburban Toledo lawmaker yesterday proposed doing away with Ohio's law that automatically deems a pit bull to be a "vicious dog."

"In the 1970s, it was the German shepherd,'' Ms. Sears said.

As promised by their Pop: Malia and Sasha are going to be getting their wish granted: they're getting a puppy. After months of consideration, largely due to the children's allergies, it went public that the Obama family have all agreed on adopting a rescued Portuguese Water Dog. Yippee! An uncommon breed in our area, although I have met a few: this breed is such a kind and good-natured one. You can read up on the Portuguese Water Dog, why they are named so and what makes them unique. I have to applaud the Obamas for going the right route and announcing their plan to rescue a pup, let's all hope the idea pans out: setting this kind of example is great, as we all know our shelters are over-run with plenty of pups that just want a place to call home. Even the Christian Science Monitor says everyone actually agrees:

In the monthly update from the Animal Dog Owner's Association, the Los Angels Animal Services General Manager who supported the mandatory spay and neuter law in LA county admitted it was not about saving cats and dogs but about giving more power to animal control officers.  In the monthly legislative report from ADOA the county has also abolished the low cost spaying and neutering making compliance to the law more difficult for low-income families.  Also the number of animals that have been euthanized has dramatically increased for the first time in over a decade since the mandatory spay and neuter law was passed..

For further information visit ADOA's website www.adoa.org

Granted, I am not a fan of the Humane Society of the United States, but in today's Beacon there was a small article that the HSUS has brought a lawsuit against Petland for selling sick animals.  Ask any reputable breeder, trainer, veterinarian or rescue group and they will tell you story after story of problems with animals bought at pet stores.  Most have been active in boycotting Petland and other pet stores that sell puppies and kittens.  They  often have various health issues, some of which remain for life, are often more difficult to train, and often have temperament issues.  On top of that a person often pays much, much more than if they would have gone to a reputable breeder of cats and dogs.   I can honestly say, thank you to the HSUS.

COLUMBUS: The Humane Society of the United States is suing Petland Inc., accusing the pet store chain of orchestrating a scheme to sell sick puppies to unsuspecting consumers.

The animal protection group says Petland, based in Chillicothe, Ohio, intentionally misled thousands of Americans into believing that puppies were healthy and the product of the finest quality breeders.

Just like the title of this tidbit, it is true.

Some safety measures should be taken, and carefully considered when dealing with small children and owning a dog.  Without taking the proper precautions, serious things could occur.

Via Mashable:

We’ve found 5 great iPhone apps to help pet owners do everything from track vet visits, manage photo galleries, find leash-free dog parks, and more.

Those of us who train and work with our pets know the special bond that develops, even with the most basic of training.  At the 2007 Crufts, a lady, Tina Humphrey  and her dog entertained the audience with a freestyle presentation.  Freestyle is still a newer sport but it has captivated audiences, as you can see.

Have you heard about this place in California?  When I saw the video, I was in awe of such a facility...errr, home for adoptable dogs and cats.

Situated on 12 acres just outside of Fresno, CA is a kitty kingdom.  The entire area is safely fenced in and allows all its furry felines to roam at their whim.  Folks can come adopt a new friend, but if a kitty never finds a family, they reside here until the day they die naturally.

Meet Noah, Baby, Samantha, Rocky, and Oreo - they are the faces of America's deepening recession.

Adopt-a-Pet.com, North America’s largest non-profit pet adoption website, and Artist Shepard Fairey announced the sale of a limited edition run of 400 signed and numbered ADOPT silk-screen prints. Shepard Fairey, the artist whose iconic Obama print was recently declared a national treasure when inducted into the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, created the ADOPT image to support Adopt-a-Pet.com’s efforts to get adoptable animals out of shelters and into homes.

This past weekend makes us believe that spring has finally arrived.  As we take our pets out for rides on these beautiful spring days, we do want to make sure that they are safe and day of fun does not turn to tragedy. 

Here are a few safety tips to always remember when traveling around town to the park or across the country with our pets on vacation.

Adding a new member to the family is always stressful.  The question is always in the back of our minds "Will it work out? What if it doesn't?"  Here are some suggestions when looking for a new puppy for the family that will help give a better chance at a good fit for your family.

Everyone is pinching pennies these days.  The economic outlook is not promising.  As with all other non-profit organizations, our animal rescue groups are hurting, too.

As a challenge, rather than giving to the big political animal groups like PETA and the Humane Society of the United States which are known to not funnel much funds to actually  help animals, pick a local group to help.

What is even funnier, we believe they hear us and know exactly what we are talking about.  They look at us intently with those big wise eyes, cock their head slightly to the right, and have a sense of urgency and understanding.  So we talk more, holding out an entire conversation with a fuzzy furball… and sometimes discover the solutions to our problems just by talking them out.

A couple in Spokane, Washington planned to buy a couch at a second hand store, but what they didn't plan on was getting a cat to go along with that couch.

Fed up with generic, cheaply made dog gear, Eric Shannon and Andrew Strauss started San Francisco-based Oh My Dog Supplies with a simple business plan: Cater to dog owners who value craftsmanship.

Read the entire CNN story here

BARBERTON: Low-income Barberton residents can have their cats and dogs spayed or neutered and receive rabies shots at a low cost or free.

Appropriate documentation must be provided.

A bill introduced by two Ohio House members from Mahoning County would make animal abuse by its custodian or caregiver a felony.

The proposed law change stems from an incident that occurred in Youngstown in October 2008, said state Reps. Ronald V. Gerberry of Austintown, D-59th, and Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown, D-60th, the bill’s sponsors.

One or more burglars ransacked a tropical fish store just west of downtown Akron early this morning, stealing hundreds of tropical fish, smashing some 80 fish tanks and throwing the store parrot into a display pond.

CLEVELAND -- The city is helping residents reduce the number of stray cats. The Public Safety Department will pay $30 of the $40 fee to have a cat neutered at the Cleveland Animal Protective League up to a maximum of $40,000 this year, enough to neuter 1,333 cats.

City Council members say they get more complaints about roaming cats than potholes or burned-out streetlights. And kitten season has begun. Female cats can become pregnant at just four months of age and give birth to three litters a year.

Homeless animals hope to share in a wee bit of the luck of the Irish this month as the Celtic Club of Ohio puts a twist on traditional St. Patrick's Day celebrations by renaming it St. Pet's Day.

The 2-year-old Shih-tzu that bolted from her owners’ wrecked PT Cruiser after a car crash Thursday morning was found sitting in the middle of the road just three miles east of the convenience store where she was last seen, said her owner, Charles Marriner.

Full story at CantonRep ->

LANCASTER, Ohio — A Shi Tzu puppy named Smushy was recovering Friday after undergoing surgery to repair two broken legs, but the animal's outlook was not entirely positive.

More than 22,000 dogs are at this year's Crufts dog show. Some owners are hoping to win the coveted best in show award.

Beacon Journal Editorial:

COLUMBUS, Ohio — New statistics show that as more homes are lost to the struggling economy more people are breaking the law by leaving their pets behind.

According to the Capital Area Humane Society, there was a 34 percent increase last year in dogs and cats that were left behind.

Union Township police are looking for an armed dognapper.

Lt. Scott Gaviglia said that Brandon Anderson, 24, broke into an apartment at the Eastgate Woods complex off Eastwood Drive just before 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Via Pogue's Posts at the New York Times:

Never doubt the power of Twitter, as this note from reader Caroline Golon can attest.

The heart-wrenching stories are heard far too often—animals abused and sometimes left for dead.

Now, an Ohio lawmaker wants judges to enforce stiffer penalties against those who torture and abuse animals.

Luke Robinson is basically just taking his dogs on a walk -- of course, its 2,400 miles long. Read the story at Cincinnati.com or follow Luke Robinson's journey at 2dogs2000miles.org.

Walking to discover the cause of canine cancer

Members of several animal-advocacy groups are exploring whether to ask voters to approve a statewide ban on dog auctions.

Those working on the plan hope to submit language of a proposed ballot initiative to the state for review within the next two weeks, said Mary O'Connor-Shaver, a Columbus-area animal-rights advocate.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- A Louisville, Ky., family is ecstatic to have their German sheperd returned to them after it went missing nine years ago.

Dennis and Linda Geary said the miracle was made possibly by a tagging microchip they had placed in “Astro” when he was just 1 1/2 years old.

Taking a pet first aid class could save your pet's life. Instructor Lynne Bettinger knows this from personal experience.

Her emergency happened on a weekend when the vet was closed, as these things seem to do.

GiantCrayon Games today announced it will partner with the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) to raise money for animals through a first-of-its-kind promotion during March and April 2009. This is the first time an iPhone game has been used as lynchpin of a fundraising campaign.

The game is Shivering Kittens. See a preview below. Download the game here.

Furniture designer Akemi Tanaka has elevated the pet bed, literally and figuratively.

Tanaka has designed the Curve, a sleek pet bed made to be mounted on a wall. The fashionable bed is made from a single piece of bent, laminated wood, with a snap-on cushion that's easy to remove for laundering.

Having a rough day?

Your frown is about to get flipped upside down with these 5 sites that are guaranteed to bring out the softer side in you. Get ready to ooh and aww like never before over funny photos of cats and dogs, videos of animal antics.

One more sign that President Obama is serious about prioritizing science: his pick for First Dog is a breed that's an important model organism in genetics research.

By Rick Armon
Beacon Journal staff writer