Michael Vick, the Eagles quarterback who spent more than a year in prison for dogfighting, told a reporter that he would like to own a dog again one day. That is currently forbidden by the terms of Vick’s probation. Vick has been active in visiting schools to educate students about the evils of dogfighting. He says that dogfighting was part of the culture he lived in while growing up in Newport News, Virginia. But he has come to realize that it’s wrong. Vick said the year in prison changed him to see many things differently.
+++
Mexican archeologists revealed last week that they have identified jaw bones found in the ruins of Teotihuacan as those of wolf-dog crosses that were apparently bred by the ancient city's warriors.
The National Institute of Anthropology and History said the jawbones were found during excavations in 2004 and are the first physical evidence of what appears to be intentional crossbreeding of canines in ancient Mexican cultures.
The jawbones were found with a warrior's skeleton at the 2,000-year-old site north of Mexico City.
The wolf-dog apparently served as a symbol of strength and power and many likenesses of it are found in Teotihuacan art.
+++++++++
In Kansas, 12-hundred dogs were euthanized at a large scale breeding operation when it was discovered that many were suffering from distemper. Kansas authorities at first quarantined the dogs at Beaver Creek Kennels near Oberlin, but they were forced to euthanize them because the owner couldn’t pay for their care and they couldn’t be sent to animal shelters because distemper is highly contagious and could have spread to many more animals. The owner, Jeff Fortin, was fined for various health violations and ordered to stay out of the dog breeding business for six months.
+++
The largest grocery store chain in the United States, Kroger, is recalling dog and cat food sold in stores in 19 states. The recalled foods were also being sold in Baker's, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Gerbes, Hilander, Jay C, Owen's, Pay Less, and Scott's stores. The foods were found to contain
Aflatoxins, which are among the most potent toxic substances that occur naturally. Ingestion of aflatoxins can cause bloody diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, and loss of appetite, jaundice, and severe liver damage.
Consumers who purchased dog and cat food from Kroger can visit the company’s website for more information, that’s Kroger.com.
++++
Congressmen Dan Boren (D-OK) and Paul C. Broun, M.D. (R-GA)
Successfully requested that their fellow Congressmen not to schedule a vote on HR 5434 the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety Act.
Boren and Broun wrote their chief concern is the manner in which the new law broadly defines "high volume breeder" in a way that would adversely affect small hobby breeders, show breeders, hunting clubs and dog trainers. Even those who breed only a litter or two a year would be considered "high volume breeders" under the act. The congressmen pointed out that all states already have in place laws forbidding negligence and cruelty toward animals. The American Kennel Club sent word that they officially support the congressmen’s action.
+++
That’s the news.
For more on these stories and interesting canine interviews, check out http://webtalkradio.net/shows/paws-effect. This week, find out about one of the most adorable terrier breeds, the Cairn. Learn why Victoria of Victory Dog Food thinks a raw diet is the best one and hear about a special website that’s only for big tall dogs. One of my favorite canine artists, Jodi Whitsell, explains why her art is so outrageous. And a scientist explains how he discovered that animals laugh. (They are probably laughing at us.)
Comments