02/08/08

Dogster and Guide Dog Zita Found After Two Years, Goes Home
Joy

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What a story! Dogster Zita was lost for two years and has now been found!

Dear Dogster…if you want happy endings, here is one you won’t believe.

My name is “zita” and I am a guide dog in Israel. i had a diary here over two years ago. However, in March 2006, I got lost. This last Thursday (Jan. 2008!) I was found. Don’t you think that this is a wonderful story that others might want to know about???

And here is Zita’s story:

Zita Has Been Found!
26 January 2008 at 9:37 a.m.

What more an appropriate entry to this diary, which has been ignored for so long, than with the ecstatic news of the recovery of Zita.

The story is related to my trip to Vietnam, which will be recounted here, eventually, as you will see forthwith.

So here is the story, step by miraculous step.

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02/07/08

Iranian Religious Leaders Upset that President Ahmadinejad Has Guard Dogs
Joy

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It does seem hypocritical to have guard dogs when dogs in general are banned. Let me see… good enough to protect you but not good enough to be part of a family.

Thanks to ADNKronos for this article.

Iran: President’s dogs upset religious leaders

Tehran, 5 Feb.(AKI) – A decision by Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to acquire four guard dogs has upset the ayatollahs from the holy city of Qom.

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02/07/08

British Taxi Firm Fined 665 Pounds for Not Picking Up Blind Couple with Guide Dog
Joy

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Big barks for Trading Standards and this court!!!

Thanks to The Press Association for this article.

Taxi firm fined over guide dogs

A taxi company that refused to pick up a blind couple with their guide dogs has been ordered to pay hundreds of pounds by a court.

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02/05/08

Portland, Oregon Guide Dogs Getting Shocked at Light-rail Stations
Joy

Thanks to the Seattle Times for this article.

Portland stations giving guide dogs electrical shocks
By The Associated Press

PORTLAND — Wet platforms at some light-rail stations are causing mild electrical shocks to guide dogs for the blind that can cause the animals to ignore their training and make them unable to do their jobs.

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01/27/08

Sargeant Boe Helps Soldiers in Iraq
Joy

Maybe some of these soldiers will remember how Boe helped them in Iraq and adopt dogs when they come home.

I noticed the CNN report mentioned that soldiers in Iraq are being drawn to the local dogs. How about letting some of these dogs live on base? That would help them AND the soldiers.

Follow this link to watch the CNN video.

01/08/08

Kentucky Dogs Help Children Read
Joy

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Thanks to KYPost for this article.

Library Goes To The Dogs …. Happily

For years dogs have played an important role in the lives of many. They can give eyes to the blind, friendship to the lonely and have even been proved to help lower blood pressure and stress levels.

Now man’s best friend is also helping children learn to read.

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01/05/08

Sharing and Caring 07 Winners
Joy

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I LOVE this contest. Oh yes, I love all the Dogster and Catster strolls because I get to see lots of fun pictures of members of our really big pack but Sharing and Caring is extra nice since it has pictures of Dogsters and Catsters doing good things for others. How do you beat that?

Kimberly Douglas and The Douglas Sisters, wrote:
AND THE WINNERS ARE…..

FIRST PLACE GOES TO:
Gizmo The Great

He will be winning a Gift Basket donated by The Douglas Sisters

5 Rosettes, 1 Star, & 5000 bones from The Douglas Sisters

A $20 Petsmart Gift Certificate from Kipopo

A a 40 Zealie package from Loomis and Family

A Gift Basket from Sienna, NPC, CGC

A Star from Leroy, Gabi, Annie, Penny -My Angel 1987-2005,
The Christmas Club, & Jessi Fuzzball

A $10 Zealie Package from Mr. NuNu

A Hand Crafted Necklace from Peaches

A Gift Basket of Goodies from Nugget CGC

A Spi-Dog, (it is the Spiderman version of the I-dog, speakers for mp3
players.) from Mi Ty Chi Chen (Ty)

A pawtographed copy of the book “Pocket Pups” (which has several pictures of him in it) and a gold-coated Milkbone Biscuit from Eli

sadie (CPE),(BBB),&(UPD) is giving some of her Cookies from her Bakery in a variety pack

$25.00 to the Shelter or Rescue Organization of the winners choice from Shiloh

A Star or a Special Gift from Farrah 12/97-3/06

Brandy ….In Is giving a Star and making a Special Page if they need or would like a new page done.

A Woodburned Plaque from Fred Gone Too Soon

10 Rosettes/Zealies from Cashew

Chelsea Is giving a Care Package to a single soldier who has served in Iraq, and will be going back there again this spring. My husband has many such soldiers in his unit who will be away from home during Christmas. The package will be given in the winner’s name!

$25 to the winner’s favorite Animal Charity from Chelsea

HONEY BEAR Will be making them a picture!

2 Rosettes from Bailey,NPC

2 Stars from roscoe

A $10.00 Zealie Package from Sarge & Rocky
A Special Gift from Baby

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12/30/07

Minnesota Pit Bull Ruby Changes Minds and Hearts as a Therapy Dog
Joy

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Thanks to the StarTribune.com for this article.

Dog bucks the stereotype

Ruby takes her love to senior homes and has taken a turn on the stage, all part of her owners’ campaign to try to convince people that pit bulls aren’t innately bad.

By PAT PHEIFER, Star Tribune

It took a few minutes for Herb Isakson, 81, to smile as he sat in the hobby room at Croixdale with about a dozen other senior citizens last week. But his face split into a huge grin when Ruby crawled into his lap and snuggled in.

Ruby is a pit bull. She also is a certified therapy dog.

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12/23/07

British Retriever to Become First Guide Dog Allowed in Mosque in UK
Joy

Big barks for the Imams who have approved this breakthrough!

Thanks to the TimesOnline for this article.

Muslims break taboo to allow guide dog into mosque
Abul Taher

A RETRIEVER is in training to become the first dog in Britain to be permitted to enter a mosque, acting as a guide for its blind Muslim owner.

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12/21/07

Kansas City, Kansas Therapy Dogs Help Omaha Victims Heal Emotionally After Mall Shootings
Joy

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Thanks to the Kansas City Star for this article.

Johnson County crisis dogs help workers return to Omaha mall
By SARAH BENSON
The Kansas City Star

It was just three days after the deadly shooting that ended with nine dead at Westroads Mall in Omaha.

The windows and doors of the Von Maur department store were blocked out with black paper. Mourners pasted bright white snowflakes against the inky coverings to honor those lost.

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