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First Canine Flu Vaccine Now Available

The first vaccine for canine influenza H3N8 has been given conditional approval by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).  H3N8 was first identified in the U.S. in 2004 and has spread to 30 states.  Dogs have no natural immunity to H3N8.  It can sometimes lead to fatal pneumonia.

The vaccine is administered by injection in two doses two to four weeks apart.  It can be given annually for greater protection.

Canine Influenza Vaccine, H3N8 was developed by Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health.

Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health press release (with link to USDA press release)

Take Your Dog To Work Day!

Friday, June 26th, is the 10th Annual Take Your Dog To Work Day!

Harry loves going to work because he gets to wear a tie in addition to his topknot!

Visit the official event Web site for a photo contest and more 

4th Annual Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition

Go to their blog and check out the photos!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Employees' Dog Photo Contest Raises Over $1000 For Guide Dogs

Employees of BAE Systems in Greenlawn, New York, held a dog photo contest to raise money for America's Vet Dogs.  The entry fee was $10 and they raised over $1000.  America's Vet Dogs provides assistance dogs for disabled U.S. Veterans.  World War II veteran Sy Lederman and his dog Lucy came to pick up the cheque.  Lucy is unique because both Mr. Lederman and his wife are blind, and Lucy has been trained to work with both of them.

Here's the original news article

Shot dog bites drunken gunman

Bernese Mountain Dog released from hospital after surgery to remove bullet!

Shot dog bites drunken gunman

Swim Nearly Ends In Disaster

A dog went for a swim in the Pacific Ocean and got caught in a rip tide, dragging him away from shore.  Two passers-by tried to swim after him, but were also caught in the rip tide.  Two kayakers had to rescue the humans.  Someone had also called 911 and the police rescue boat quickly arrived on scene.  The police then made sure everybody, dog and humans, made it safely back to shore.

Rip tides occur at some beaches in the Greater Vancouver area.  They move you away from shore at a very quick rate and eventually you get tired, with fatal results.  If your dog wears a flotation jacket while swimming, that would improve the chance of survival in an incident like this.

Water accidents happen fast and without warning.  Only swim at beaches with lifeguards!  Even then, the "rip current" article on Wikipedia states that in the U.S., "Over 80% of rescues by surf beach lifeguards are due to rip currents totaling 18,000 lifeguard rescues a year."

The news article calls it a "daring dog rescue."  Not true!  Somebody lost control of their dog and two people, unable to stand by and watch him drown, bravely risked their own lives in an unsuccessful attempt to save him.  They had to be rescued, too, by other bystanders and by properly trained and equipped police.

Read "Daring dog rescue off Vancouver's Third Beach" in the Vancouver Sun

UPDATE: Florida lifeguards rescue 500 from rip currents in 3 days!

Hachiko: A Dog's Story debuts at Seattle International Film Festival

We took this photo of bas-relief sculptures of Akitas outside Shibuya Station in Tokyo (click on it to open hi-res)

A new movie has been made based on the story of Hachiko, the faithful Akita.  The real Hachiko lived from 1923 to 1935.  For a year after moving to Tokyo with his owner, Professor Ueno, Hachiko met him at the train station every evening after he returned home from the University of Tokyo.  Then one day Professor Ueno did not return, having passed away at work.  Hachiko was given a new home, but every day for 10 years he returned to Shibuya Station to wait for his friend.

Hachiko became a national legend.  A bronze statue honouring him was erected at the station in 1934 and Hachiko was present at the unveiling.  A memorial ceremony is held at the station every April 8th.

The movie debuted at the Seattle festival last Saturday and will open in Japanese theatres on August 8th.  The North American release date has not been announced.  At least that gives you some time to stock up on Kleenex!

Richard Gere plays the lead role and is one of the producers of the new film.  The screenplay was adapted from on a 1987 Japanese movie.  Richard Gere also starred in Shall We Dance, a 2004 Hollywood remake of a 1996 Japanese movie.

Shelters Struggle to Find Homes For Black Dogs

A report from the U.S. says that black dogs spend longer in shelters before being adopted.  Apparently the same is true for black cats.  One theory is that it is harder to see a black animal's face and that is how adopters usually make their first connection with a new pet.

Shelters have responded by trying to do a better job of "marketing" black animals so adopters will notice them more.  They've improved lighting, put colourful collars on them, and given them unique toys.  They've even reduced adoption fees and held special adoption events for black dogs.

Read the news article

Puppy Rescued After Toddler Flushes It

A four-year-old boy tried to give his puppy a quick bath in the toilet.  Things went badly wrong.  A plumber inserted a camera into the sewer and was able to locate the puppy 20 metres (66 feet) from the house.  The plumber was then able to dig up the pipe and rescue the puppy.

Read the story here

Chihuahua vs. Cougar 2

A woman who lives near Sage, in Riverside County, California, woke Saturday to the sound of her three chihuahuas barking madly.  Looking out one window, she saw that the dogs were in front of the garage.  Going to another window, she could see into the garage and inside was a cougar!  Sage is in the hills about a 2-hour drive southwest of Anaheim and 1.5 hours north of San Diego.

She called 911 and waited 45 minutes for police to arrive, leaving the chihuahuas standing guard over the cornered cougar!  She grabbed her camera and shot some video while she waited.  When the police finally arrived, they called for the Department of Fish and Game.  Meanwhile, the chihuahuas were still on duty!

It was only when the Fish and Game officers arrived that the chihuahuas were called off.

Here's the news story