AKC Adds 3 New Breeds

The American Kennel Club (AKC) has officially recognized three new breeds: the Bluetick Coonhound, Boykin Spaniel, and Redbone Coohound. This process, according to the AKC, can take up to three years.

A Bluetick Coonhound

According to USA Today, The Bluetick Coonhound "gets its name from a coat pattern, which is dark blue in color and covered in a ticking or mottled pattern. Working ability is very important to owners who prize the sturdy and athletic Bluetick for its skill in trailing and treeing raccoons and other small animals."

The Boykin Spaniel is the official State Dog of South Carolina, and it "is a medium-sized, all-around hunting dog with a cheerful, energetic personality...Originally used to hunt wild turkeys, Boykins now typically work with ducks and other waterfowl. With a rich, chocolate-brown coat and charm to spare, the breed thrives on human companionship and enjoys children and other dogs."

And the Redbone Coonhound? "Known for its flashy red coat, the dog is a versatile worker and possesses the ability to hunt and swim over a variety of terrain while still maintaining its speed and agility."

You can read more about the history of all three here.

What Your Dog Says About You

Thought you all may want to read this article that Cityfile did on what you can learn about a dog owner just by looking at the type of dog he or she owns.

To read the full article, click here. 

What do you guys think? Do you think the dog behaviorist is accurate?

30 Pet Health Innovations

Another favorite website of mine, Trendhunter, recently did a slideshow of 30 recent pet health innovations. It includes everything from pills that combat dog obesity to anti-stress pet vests to doga (yes, that's doggie yoga). It takes just a couple of minutes to click through. I promise it's totally worth it.

To view, click here.

Iams' Home 4 the Holidays Pet Adoption Drive

Iams started its Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption drive 10 years ago. Last year, they set a record with more than 1.2 million adoptions. This year, their goal is to find homes for 1.5 million animals. To find out more about adoptable pets, go to http://www.iams.com/iams/pet-adoption.html.

You can also vote for your favorite local shelter. Says Iams: "The participating shelter with the most votes at the end of the month will receive one month of free, dry pet food for dogs, cats or a combination of both. Each participating shelter is eligible to win once a year, but you may vote daily."

For more information, click here.

Have You Heard About Oreo?

By now, you have likely heard of the case of a pit bull named Oreo. It has been widely reported by the New York press. Oreo was thrown off of a roof by a Brooklyn man named Fabian Henderson. Both of her front legs were shattered, and the ASPCA spent several months trying to save this dog and socialize her. Sadly, she was euthanized Friday after being deemed a danger to both people and other animals.

To read more of Oreo's story, check out the Gothamist link below. They did a good job reporting the details.
http://gothamist.com/2009/11/13/oreo_dog_thrown_off_building_will_b.php

If you would like to write or call the judge handling this case to ask that her for the maximum sentence for Fabian Henderson, below are the details. He is to be sentenced on December 1st.

Case #06995-2009
Honorable Cassandra M. Mullen
Kings County Supreme Court
320 Jay Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(347) 296-1436