Charity walk: Puss in Boots move over

Walking all the way around the South Island with a dog wearing shoes is proving a novel way to raise money for the Cancer Society. Mike Butler and his Border collie Rapid (right) - accompanied in the photo by occasional companion kelpie Ella - journeyed from Queenstown to Cromwell yesterday. Looking chirpy considering it was the 44th day of his hike, Mr Butler (59) said he MORE>>

UK pet expert calls for canine friendly city

An international 'urban pet' expert is coming to Christchurch to advise authorities on how to create a more dog-friendly city in the wake of the earthquakes.

Stephen Jenkinson, a pet behaviorist from Scotland, will speak how the needs of dogs and pet owners must be incorporated into the rebuilding of the disaster-hit city.

He has been invited to "enable informed discussion" on urban dogs post-quakes.

Mr Jenkinson, who describes himself as a consultant specialising in dogs and access management issues, said: "It's a tragedy what has happened to Christchurch, and without any disrespect to the 181 people who lost their lives, I believe we can salvage something good out of this, because it's so rare to have such a blank canvas to work from."

He said that the emphasis on dogs has gone up the political agenda in the UK, with research showing that "well-designed, well-placed and welcoming" places for dogwalkers, provides many social benefits.

Mr Jenkinson said: "If we provide good spaces, dog owners don't go to places where there is livestock or native animals and can prove more troublesome.


"By planning and providing new spaces, articularly around new home developments, dog owners are more responsible, they feel much more part of the community, and the whole thing is a lot more positive."I want to give some ideas of what we've been doing in the UK so they can apply them in the rebuilding of Christchurch."

Mr Jenkinson will speak at a public meeting on September 26 at Cashmere Library, in the Sydenham Room, at 7pm.

He added: "I'm honoured to have this opportunity to speak to, not just dog owners, but local councillors and council representatives.

"Good management of spaces for walkers with dogs, is good for everybody - people who like dogs, people who don't, livestock owners, and wildlife bodies."

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In Defence of Dogs Audio

John Bradshaw, author of 'In Defence of Dogs: Why Dogs Need Our Understanding' and the foundation director of the Anthrozoology Institute at the University of Bristol in England. He has devoted the last 25 years to studying the domestic dog and his best-selling book is described as a major rethink about the way we understand dogs.

'No regrets' after being helpful goes too far

A Christchurch man and his massive dog put their lives on hold to help the broken city after the February 22 earthquake.

Sean Scully, 37, and his 86-kilogram Irish wolfhound Guinness worked obsessively after the quake, helping residents in Christchurch's shattered eastern suburbs. But his obsession came at a personal cost.

After rallying hardware stores and friends in the North Island, he soon found himself leading a fleet of Bobcats and handing out 800 shovels, 200 wheelbarrows and 1100 bottles of water.

Scully worked 12-hour days in the east for three weeks while Guinness, known as the earthquake dog, carried children on his back around silt-laden streets.

Scully helped clear thousands of tonnes of silt from hundreds of properties, but said his determination to help took a personal toll on his life, and he needed hospital treatment for exhaustion. MORE>>

Shedding kilos a challenge for chow-loving canine

A clinically obese two-year-old chow chow is battling the bulge.


Louie, affectionately known as Mu-mu, could have been a canine poster boy for a biggest loser contest after shedding 15 per cent of his body weight in just four months.

But yesterday the chubby chow disappointed his vet and left his owner "gutted" when he tipped the scales at a hearty 37.7 kilograms – more than 2kg heavier than his last weigh-in.

"This boy needs to cut back," said vet Geoff Mehrtens.

Since a rotund 40kg Mu-mu was classed as clinically obese in March he has been on a strict dry-food diet and had lost almost 5kg of puppy fat.

North Canterbury owner Katie Carville said she was "very proud" of her big boy – until a reluctant Mu-mu was dragged on to the scales yesterday.

"I am just gutted. I thought he was doing so well," she said.MORE>>

This owner only went to vets with her dog because she thought that the dog has some medical problem because he wouldn't walk up the stairs. She didn't even know that her dog was obese !!!

How can you NOT know ?!?

Man charged after dog shot in head

A 24-year-old Christchurch man has been charged after a dog was found alive with bullet wounds to the head.
The dog was found on the bank of the Waimakariri River at West Melton on August 6. It had been shot three times in the head.
It later had to be put down because of its injuries.
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Touch, paws, engage ...

World Cup fever is spreading across the nation and even the four-legged rugby fans are getting in on the act.

Pixie the dog showed some real skill during at outing on the rugby pitch at Riverton, giving the crew from Wanaka-based Sunshine Video and Design a real eyeful.

Between the cutsie pooch and and the equally cutsie rugby players who have been wandering around the streets of Invercargill lately, this is shaping up to be one of the most visually stunning sports events for a long, long time.

Elmo pulls a 705kg class-load of kids

Elmo had a heavy start to the morning - he pulled a class-load of Christchurch 10-year-olds, packed onto a trailer, around a playground.

The Alaskan Malamute competes in weight pulls around the South Island, and the 705 kilograms he shifted this morning was nothing compared to his 1005kg record.

Cathedral Grammar School year 4 and 5 pupils were surprised and excited by his visit.

''I never expected to be pulled by a dog on a trailer,'' Alice Abraham, 10, said.

''And I never expected to be on TV at the same time.'' Nine-year-old George Lill said the experience was ''quite spectacular''. ''I couldn't believe a dog pulled us - I didn't think it would.'' Grammar principal Malcolm Long said it was a morning that would go down in the school's history.

''It's amazing. The children are so excited.'' Elmo declined to comment to media, ahead of a competition in Timaru in the coming weeks.

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