So many times we watch animal actors in the movies or other media and we forget that there are very dedicated people behind the scenes making sure those animal actors “hit their marks.” Mark Dumas, one of the best animal trainers around worked with the recent movie, ” Ace of Hearts.” He was kind enough to answer some questions for us about his life as one of the most in-demand animal trainers in Hollywood.

Here is just a partial list of Dumas’ movie credits:

Best in Show
Dreamcatcher
Alien vs. Predator: Requiem
The 13th Warrior
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Wild America

Thanks to Mark for sharing a little bit of his life behind the camera with us!

Joy: How did you get into animal training for the movies?

Mark: I started training animals at an African Lion ranch in Los Angeles in 1970. I then left the lion ranch and when the manager of the ranch started his own business I went to work with him.

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It’s time to announce this week’s winner.

Ready, set, here goes…

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Thank you to Chachi for suggesting that we check out BooBoo’s diary!

His mom flew all across the US from Australia to meet many of her dogster pals! This is just a shining example of how dogster helps bring people with the common love of dogs together to form beautiful friendships.

Thank You.

Chachi Burnett

This is such a lovely story!!!! Don’t you love Dogsters!!!!

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Thanks to Dogster Lena Malik for barking in about this great cause and Angel Mica’s Crusade to Beat this terrrible disease.

Dear Joy

I am hoping you could read my friend Angel Mica’s latest diary entry in regards to IMHA (immune-mediated hemolytic anemia)

I have lost close dogster pals to this disease and have other good pup pals who currently battle this infliction.

Mica’s family honors her memory with their dedication and hope to raise awareness in others and someday find a cure.

Thank you! sincerely, Lena Malik

Here’s Angel Mica’s post:

hi mates.
many of you have heard i advocate for and am seeking a cure & prevention of a disease that took me, and way, way too many even since i earned my wings by IMHA (immune-mediated hemolytic anemia).

a very kind GSD tried to help us last fall- we raced for pals & corrals. he lost a k9 officer pal to IMHA and believes in our quest for a cure. this ONE dog is doing the kind-hearted thing that the rest of you can help with, simply with a click.

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This news makes me soooo want to visit Brisbane! Any place that has a mayor like this one must be filled with great people and pups!

If anyone knows how we can send well wishes to the Lord Mayor and the City Council please bark it in!

Thanks to ABC Brisbane for this good news.

Labor councillor slams university experiments on pound dogs

The Brisbane City Council is awaiting a report into the use of live dogs in veterinary research.

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Every now and then bad stories come out about dogs and children. That’s when I hear from young parents and new parents about how they fear having a dog in their home. For all those negative stories there must be a hundred or more stories like this where dogs make all the positive difference for kids.

Here’s big barks to all those wonderful dogs who make us and our world better!

Thanks to the Rocky Mountain News for this article.

At-risk children pair with rescued dogs in Pawsitive ways
By Julie Hutchinson, Special to the Rocky
Monday, May 26, 2008

Put any kid with any dog and you’ll see two happy faces.

And if that kid and that dog share histories of abuse and abandonment, you’ll see a bond develop that changes both of their lives.

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PLEASE CROSSPOST!!!!!

Nine dogs in Raleigh, NC need to be rescued immediately!

Thanks to Lynn for barking this in. Please pass it on to anyone who could make the difference for these furbabies.

Hi All,
Laboratory Animal Resources at the Vet School has 9 dogs available to be adopted out immediately. These dogs have been offered before, and we had no takers.

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Considering how many thousands, maybe millions of pets were killed or injured by this horrible occurance, don’t you think Menu Pet and the others got off too easily?

Thanks to USA Today for this article.

Tainted pet food suit settled for $24 million
By Julie Schmit, USA TODAY

Menu Foods, other pet food makers and retailers involved in last year’s massive pet food recall will set up a $24 million cash fund to compensate pet owners, according to a proposed settlement filed Thursday in federal court.

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As always, thanks to the Sunbear Squad for this helpful tip:

Watch out for pets accidentally trapped without food or water or intentionally abandoned by students moving out of their apartments.

Wow!!!

Thanks to the Daily Times for this article.

Acrobatic dog steals show

A Chinese dog has performed a breathtaking high wire stunt in front of thousands of spectators.

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