OK, I readily admit this next story isn’t focused solely on our favorite companions, but at least they’re on the periphery of the tale.

The story’s focus is on a cow or a pensioner depending on your point of view. Personally cows scare me, pensioners not so much.

It turns out I’m not the only one who feels this way if only because of the sheer size of the animals. I suspect I’d climb a tree too if one came charging at me.

This is Nottingham has the full story.

FIREFIGHTERS are warning dog walkers to avoid fields with cows in after a pensioner had to be rescued from up a tree.

The 79-year-old woman had climbed up a hawthorn in Newark and been stuck for two hours after she and her two dogs were chased by a cow and a calf.

Brian Smith, watch manager for Newark Fire Station, said he only found the woman after spotting her pet Jack Russell hiding in the long grass beneath the tree, trembling.

Mr Smith said: “We normally save kids up trees but not 79-year-old ladies. I was expecting it to be a child. She said the cows had chased her.

“If you do come across cattle, let go of the dog and the cows will chase them. Dogs will outrun a cow, unless it has arthritis like the lady’s little dog did.”

The woman’s other dog, a golden retriever, is believed to have scared off the cows while hiding in a bush below the tree.

So which would your pup be more like: the trembling Jack Russell or the Golden Retriever?

Pic is of Dogster/Bovine member Polo

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Since this is a dog blog, a couple of times a month our boy Bo (woof!) thought it would be nice to get the news through a dog’s eyes. Bo invites everyone to read a chapter from his upcoming book BAD TO THE BONE at Bo Knows Online. It’s a funny memoir about the crazy adventures we have shared together over the last 14 plus years, told through Bo’s eyes.

Okay Bo, take it from here…..

Give a hoot, don’t pollute.

That’s what comes to mind when I take a look at the picture on the left. The phrase has nothing to do with the story I’m featuring today other than it being uttered by an owl on US television for years. Or it used to be, anyway. I think this breed of bird isn’t the advertising draw it used to be. But then again, are you really going to top the Tootsie roll lollipop commercials?

Anyway, is it me or does the owl look like a cat with a bad Halloween costume?

So these two are best of buds, which is unique in that owls usually only like Yorkies not spaniels. Well known fact. Just google it. The Daily Mail has the details on their friendship.

A baby owl is kept looking spruce thanks to her friend Sophie the spaniel, who licks her clean every day.

The pair have become inseparable since Bramble, the baby eagle owl, was taken in at a bird of prey centre.

Sophie, three, used her maternal nature to give Bramble a quick clean as a chick. Now the bird flies into the main house for a spruce-up every day and sits while Sophie licks her feathers and beak.

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In one of Lisa’s favorite magazines, Modern Dog, there is a great story about an unusual pair.  Best friends who overlook their differences,  and only care about being there for each other.

On the CBS Evening News Katie Couric did a piece on the animal kingdom’s oddest couple, a rescued mutt named Bella and her best gal pal, 34-year-old Asian elephant Tarra. The girls became fast friends at The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, a non-profit pachyderm refuge founded in 1995 by Carol Buckley and Scott Blais.

At 2700 acres, it is the largest natural-habitat sanctuary of its kind, providing a place of peace for sick, old or needy elephants. In addition to the 17 endangered African and Asian elephants that call the sanctuary home, many homeless dogs and cats have found respite there as well.

It is one of these sanctuary dogs that formed an unlikely but enduring friendship with Tarra. Bella, who now spends her days lounging in the shade of Tarra’s belly, was taken in by the Sanctuary when she was found guarding a bulldozer on recently acquired land. Perhaps this bulldozer-attachment pointed to an inherent draw towards the large, for an elated Tarra soon won Bella, the subject of her affection, over.

Run on over to Modern Dog to read the full story and see a video of Tarra and Bella in action.  Also,  visit  The Elephant Sanctuary website to read all about the sanctuary and their elephants.

* Pic courtesy Modern Dog and The Elephant Sanctuary

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Janice just barked this important information to me for Dogster readers in the Wheaton, Illinois area.

A warning has been issued by the Wheaton Chief of Police, Mark Field.

Coyote Alert

WHEATON, Ill. – The highly adaptable coyote continues to flourish in the western suburbs within populated areas, mostly because of the interesting menu available in the form of dog and cat food, or easy-to-open garbage cans.

Coyotes can survive on whatever food is available, from rodents to rubbish, from insects to fruit to carrion. They can be a threat to family pets. Although no attacks have been reported within the City of Wheaton, in isolated but tragic cases elsewhere, coyotes have attacked small children.

Essentially unimpeded by control measures, abundant food has encouraged coyotes to become accustomed to the sight and sounds of humans. Consequently, coyote populations and range have expanded in recent years in the western suburbs.

While coyotes are valuable in decreasing the rodent population, their presence in populated areas can be minimized.

DO feed pets indoors or promptly remove dishes when pets complete their meal outside. Store bags of pet food indoors.

DO clear brush and dense weeds from around property. This deprives rodents of shelter and reduces protective cover for coyotes.

DON’T leave domestic pet food outside. Wildlife will soon depend upon it.

DO use trash barrels equipped with tight clamping devices on the lids, which will prevent spills should they be tipped over by large animals.

DO try to educate your friends and neighbors about the problems associated with feeding coyotes. If you belong to a homeowner’s association or neighborhood watch, bring up the subject during one of the meetings.

DON’T feed or provide water for coyotes or other wildlife. This practice abnormally attracts coyotes and promotes increased numbers of rodents, birds, snakes, and other creatures that can provide major portions of the coyote’s natural diet.

TO PROTECT PETS

Keep small pets (cats, rabbits, small dogs) indoors. Don’t allow them to run free at any time. They are easy, favored prey. Some coyotes hunt cats in residential areas.

Large dogs should be brought inside after dark and never allowed to run loose.

DON’T leave domestic pet food outside. Wildlife will soon depend upon it.

Definitely some great advice for those that live in the area.  Please be sure to pass this important information on to your friends and neighbors so they can keep their pets safe too.

* The beauty above, Yoat, actually lives on the property of a Dogster member.

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Hi Dogsters, just wanted to let you know Bo is stepping in this morning to share some info on Santa Paws.

Sing along with me, “Here comes Santa Paws, here comes Santa Paws, right down Santa Paws Lane…”

Soon to be seen at a doggie mall in your area is the one and only Santa Claus. This time he’s dealing with the family pet.

Santa has a new troublemaker to contend with: the family pet.

Chickens, rodents, birds, cats, dogs – you name it – Santa’s being photographed with a lot of critters these days, and has the scratches, ripped suit and urine stains to prove it.

This is the first I’ve heard that the family pet includes rodents. I gotta ask…”Where does the writer of this article live?”

“I’ve been licked a lot,” said Harriet Farmer, 63, who’s posed with hundreds of pets over the past seven years as the Ottawa Humane Society’s volunteer Santa.

What? Santa Claus is really Harriet Farmer? I thought his name was Kris Kringle? But of course I kid, for we all know the truth. Just as most of you reading this, I was devastated when my parents told me that Santa Paws wasn’t real. My intent here is not to spoil all the young pups’ Christmas, so let’s continue on.

While dogs and cats make up most of Santa’s pet clientele, that’s not all that people are bringing in.

“My favorites have been the five baby ferrets,” Ms. Farmer said. “Oh, I had a rat with a Santa hat. He was lovely.”

Did Santa, aka Ms. Farmer, just say that his/her preference is for baby ferrets and freakin’ rats? Call me crazy but I’ve never seen a magazine titled Rat Fancy or a book about ferret friendly bed and breakfasts.

Anyway, the article goes on to provide some hints on getting a good picture with Santa and pet.

Pet and talk to the animals as much as possible so they don’t get bored.

…and don’t just make small talk about the weather. Make the discussion substantive…like talking about the pros and cons of moving back to the gold standard or what we should do about contaminated dog food coming from China or the best way to create a bunny rabbit shaped poo.

The high-pitched sound of a whistle or a squeaky toy just before the photo is taken will usually alert the animals and cause them to prick up their ears and look attentive.

This is the type of advice that gets Santa bitten. Take it from a veteran, when someone blows a whistle in your ear the last thing you’re going to do is smile for the camera. Cheese…don’t just say it, give it…and you will see a pet smile a mile wide.

Dogs can sometimes be coaxed into posing with a treat such as a dog biscuit or treasured toy.

Bag the toy and make it a biscuit, or better yet some people food. Since we’re probably taking this picture at the mall, I’ll opt for the sweet and sour chicken that’s been sitting out for 5 hours from the Chinese “restaurant”. Mmm…tastes like kitty snickers.

Cats are often aloof and don’t respond as readily to bribery. To persuade cats to stay put for a shot, conceal a hot water bottle under a favorite blanket.

Better yet, conceal a .44 magnum under the blanket and threaten them with their life. They may be cold and aloof, but they’re not stupid. You’ll get the picture you’re looking for…unless the feline punk feels “lucky” that day.

Harassing pets to get a good picture does not work. They just become more agitated.

Not only is harassing a pet a bad idea, it could result in a restraining order. We wouldn’t want Santa arrested on Christmas Eve because he accidentally delivered a present to a home that had a restraining order out on him. Think of all the disappointed young pups on Christmas Day!

Here’s my advice…say no to pictures with Santa and yes to pictures with bikini clad poodles.

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It constantly amazes me how dogs can help us in so many new ways! Take this article for example. Here is a dedicated group of humans trying to address a very serious problem. And who steps up to be their partners once again? Dogs, of course!

Okay, I know the dogs didn’t actually apply for the job but as our closest friends and symbiotes, dogs are helping theri humans meet these challenges. What would we do without them?

Thanks to Lindsey at Conservation International for barking over this article.

For These Dogs, Are Their New Tricks Saving Species?
May 13, 2008

Sniffing Dogs Help Monitor and Protect Threatened Animals in Brazil

It’s a tough job, but somebody – or at least some dogs – have to do it.

In the Cerrado region of Brazil, four dogs have been trained to detect animal feces by scent. These canines are helping researchers monitor rare and threatened wildlife such as jaguars, tapirs, giant anteaters, and maned wolves in and around Emas National Park, a protected area with the largest concentration of threatened species in Brazil.

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Have you ever shopped the bargain bins at PetSmart? I have. But one blogger has found some expired pproducts in those bins.

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Are you looking for a new home? Have pets? Then you may find the PeoplewithPets site to be a real timesaver!

PeopleWithPets has listings of rental properties and hotels that accept pets. How cool is this? When I first moved to St. Louis I remember how hard it was to find a first home with my pack then, coonhound Reba and Weimaraner Nigel. How happy do you think most landlords were to see US coming? 90 pounds of Weimaraner, 65 pounds of coonhound and well, uh, me. Not exactly a landlords dream, I bet.

Here’s some information from the site:

Our goal at PeopleWithPets.com is to ease the burden of finding rental housing or hotel accommodations that will allow your dog, cat or other animals. We started in a few metro cities: Atlanta, Dallas, Austin, Orlando, Jacksonville and Raleigh-Durham. We have since then expanded to include the entire United States with pet friendly places to call home. If you find an apartment from our site, please tell them you found them on PeopleWithPets.com so we can continue to provide this FREE service to you. Happy home hunting for you and your best friends!

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Dogsters and Catsters know that dogs, cats and others animalshave a different yet important type of intelligence. So this National Geographic article will probably not surprize you too much. Bit it will confirm some of what you already feel and know.

Personally, I’m thrilled to see this information talked about openly by reputable publications because there are way too many people who still believe that there is nothing we can learn from dogs and other animals.

Those of you who have visited me at the science fiction conventions know I am usually on panels about how humans view and write about non-humans. A few years ago I was on a panel with a successful writer who actually has a good-selling series with aliens. But he has little interest in non-human animals on THIS planet. When i asked him why he said it was because there was nothing else we could learn from other species on Earth. I hope this writer gets a chance to read this article. There are so many excellent scientists who know better. I hope the writer and others like him can learn from these true scientific pioneers.

There is so much we can learn about and from our canine and feline symbiotes, as well as the other species with whom we share this planet.

Thanks to Michael K. (who saw the convention panel with the other writer) for barking in this article from National Geographic.

Minds of their Own
Animals are smarter than you think.
By Virginia Morell
Photograph by Vincent J. Musi

In 1977 Irene Pepperberg, a recent graduate of Harvard University, did something very bold. At a time when animals still were considered automatons, she set out to find what was on another creature’s mind by talking to it. She brought a one-year-old African gray parrot she named Alex into her lab to teach him to reproduce the sounds of the English language. “I thought if he learned to communicate, I could ask him questions about how he sees the world.”

When Pepperberg began her dialogue with Alex, who died last September at the age of 31, many scientists believed animals were incapable of any thought. They were simply machines, robots programmed to react to stimuli but lacking the ability to think or feel. Any pet owner would disagree. We see the love in our dogs’ eyes and know that, of course, Spot has thoughts and emotions. But such claims remain highly controversial. Gut instinct is not science, and it is all too easy to project human thoughts and feelings onto another creature. How, then, does a scientist prove that an animal is capable of thinking—that it is able to acquire information about the world and act on it?

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Yay for Rex! big barks!!!

Thanks to the Telegraph for this article.

Dog comes to the rescue of baby kangaroo
01/04/2008

A dog has rescued a tiny baby kangaroo, gently carrying it to safety in its mouth after the joey’s mother was killed by car.

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