Tiger’s Dogs; Microchips; Paw- and Carbon Footprints
FIRE HYDRANTS AND TREES share a new bond. In addition to being among the favorite places for dogs to pause, they now share headlines with the golfer, Tiger Woods! The recent headlines regarding this talented golfer have worried and enthralled us over the last several days. Tiger owns two dogs–a Border Collie named Taz and an Australian Labradoodle named Yogi. Yogi is more than a cross between a Labrador and a Poodle–his parents are both Australian imports. Yogi’s ancestors thus include Irish Water Spaniels and both the American and English Cocker Spaniels. The breed club began in 2005 and has a standard and a web site (worth checking out before considering a puppy purchase) and perhaps AKC recognition aspirations. The Standard stresses that the breed must be “Good family companions with temperament and soundness as key elements” . Size, however, is a problem–three sizes are now accepted. Also, coat colors read like a stylist’s dream–bleaching and discoloration are considered ideal. Color and coat texture alone will be problems for recognition–without a much longer history of consistency. Thus, it would seem that it will be awhile before the Australian Labradoodle joins the Bluetick Coonhound, Redbone Coonhound and Boykin Spaniel as AKC recognized breeds. The next breeds in line for AKC recognition are the Icelandic Sheepdog, Cane Corso and Leonberger. The Labradoodle will also not be eligible for any of the new AKC events since its parents are not AKC recognized breeds. Sorry, Tiger, no majors for your dogs! Of course, the most famous dog connected in a way with Tiger Woods bears his name–the Wolfhound that won the 2009 Hound Group at Westminster!
AT LAST–MICROCHIP PROGRESS. For a long time the AVMA and many humane societies have had as their goal improving microchipping as a form of pet identification. This involves developing universal scanners that can read ALL microchips. It also involves enrolling microchips IN REGISTRIES. Now the American Animal Hospital Association has a free web site where a microchip number can be MATCHED WITH THE MANUFACTURER even if the dog owner didn’t take the critical and important step of enrolling his dog in a registry. The site of this valuable resource–AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup tool — www.petmicrochiplookup.org. Another resource is Chloe StandardChecktheChip.com. The most important advance, however, would be to make it mandatory for all dogs and puppies sold in Pennsylvania to have proof of a microchip or tattoo (Pennsylvania lifetime license number) at time of sale. This would provide more security for lost dogs–and perhaps act as a deterrent when people decide to dump a pet. We might lower license fees with identification.
PAW PRINTS AND CARBON FOOTPRINTS. As many readers know, there is a new book out titled, “Time to Eat The Dog–The Real Guide to Sustainable Living”. The authors maintain that dog owning is much worse for the planet than owning a SUV. And, they cite dog owners for driving larger-than-necessary cars and even RVs for carrying dogs to dog parks, dog shows and dog events. Would they approve of canine car pooling en route to do therapy at a nursing home or to attend a training class?
Apparently Bill Smith (Main Line Rescue) didn’t read the book. He chartered a jet to rescue PA puppy mill dogs which had been taken to a Ohio auction. He was able to purchase six and cruelty charges will be brought against six puppy mills as a result of his mission. The puppy mills which are to be cited have approximately 500-plus dogs each. The rescue jet was a big carbon footprint–but perhaps thousands of dogs will now have a chance at better lives with footprints free from pain! We can’t always measure compassion and caring in carbon footprints.
Did you ever wonder where these thousands of dogs will spend the holidays with the Commonwealth’s overflowing shelters?
Dec 04, 2009 | | Uncategorized