Lost dogs in 18th-century London

You might think that cosseted house pets are a modern phenomenon. It takes a certain level of affluence and leisure time to devote as much attention to them as we do, but a fun poston the history blog Wonders & Marvels reveals that even in grimier times, people were still preoccupied with their canine companions.

The post excerpts some of the nearly 500 advertisements for lost dogs that appeared in Central London newspapers between 1700 and 1800. Here’s a short one from the Public Advertiser, 1768: MORE>>

You can read more dog notices here.

Weird names all the rage at dog trials

Arriving at the championship sheep dog trials in Blenheim yesterday, I was met with calls of 'Dufus', 'Freak' and 'Thug'.

 "Charming," I thought, and carried on about my business. It wasn't until one competitor shouted, "Oi, Whanga" that I drew the line. Clearly, I misheard the stocky, rugged farmer-type, at least twice my size, and was soon regretting my instinctive retort, "you're the only whanga around here mate".

 As it turns out, competitors at the Tux South Island Championship dog trials have some bizarre names for their companions. How was I to know? My attempts to backtrack fell on deaf ears and quoting Shakespeare probably made matters worse.

 "What's in a name?" I said. "That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet."

 I think he thought I was coming on to him. MORE>>

Judge to pay $500 to walker injured by dog

Why did this go to court? Read on...

Judge Mary Beth Sharp yesterday (Wednesday) pleaded guilty in Auckland District Court to being in possession of a dog which startled a person causing injury, after Auckland Council withdrew a more serious charge of owning a dog that attacked a person, which she denied.

Margot Bryant was also going for a walk and the two were talking when George jumped up and injured Mrs Bryant's right forearm. "Day to day it wasn't easy," Mrs Byant said in court. "I'd hate it to happen to anyone else. I have two grandchildren, the love of my life. I'd hate it if anything happened to them," she said. The court was told the dog was on a leash and quickly restrained, and Sharp's lawyer, Michael Reed, QC, said it was accidental. "There was no intent. It wasn't even her dog." Sharp and her family had behaved "impeccably" towards the victim, offering financial assistance, even baking her a cake, Mr Reed said.  MORE>>

So why did this go to court if it seems that it was all dealt with . 

Dog trialling became a 60-year love affair

It is well over 60 years since Stella Wadsworth first got involved with sheep dog trials, but she still has a deep love for the sport and great respect for the shepherds and their dogs.

Originally from Blenheim, Mrs Wadsworth married into the farming lifestyle when she wed Wairau Valley farmer Melvyn Wadsworth in 1949.

For a "townie", adapting to farm life proved to be fun, and being married to an avid dog triallist she soon became involved as well.

"You soon get pulled in to help out. There were various things that needed to be done, but cooking was one of the most important," said Mrs Wadsworth. "We would be sure to give the triallists a good meal at midday; beef stew, vegetables, salad and steamed pudding made in old coppers."  MORE>>

Dog trials cancelled as drought bites

Farmers and rural communities have been hit hard financially as drought has wreaked havoc.

And now there is more disappointment on the horizon with dog trials in many regions being cancelled. 

The nationwide drought conditions are the worst in decades and farmers are shedding stock. But those left behind often are not in a state to be used in the trials.

 Brian Burke has been trialling for decades and says it is disappointing. "This is our sport really...you've got to feel sorry for the farmers and the stock because that's their livelihood," he said. MORE>>

Heroic dog bites owner's attacker

A dog came to the rescue of its owner, biting an armed man who was attacking her.

 The 19-year-old woman was in a Christchurch park with her dog just before 2am today when she was attacked, Detective Greg Dalziel said. The woman fought back, and so did her dog.

 The woman suffered cuts and bruises when she was jumped by the man who police said had a weapon on him in Jellie Park, Burnside. But she scratched her attacker and her dog bit the man in the shoulder or neck, Mr Dalziel said. "The injuries are likely to be causing the offender discomfort,'' he said.
. - APNZ

CCTV reveals dog burglar stole cafe's pastries

An Arrowtown cafe was left in short supply of bread after a dog with a penchant for panini, French sticks, doughnuts and bagels made off with $60 worth of stock.

 Bread was delivered to Arrowtown's Espresso Love cafe at the earlier time of 3am last Saturday and left in an outside area. Cafe owner Jacynda Wallace said she arrived at the cafe to find nearly all of the bread destined for the day's customers gone.

 The theft was reported at 9am and Ms Wallace expected police to be looking for a two-legged culprit. Arrowtown's CCTV system was used to identify who had stolen the bread and after scouring the tape, Arrowtown community constable Senior Constable Beth Fookes discovered the offender was a black Labrador.  MORE>>

Care call after dog swallows fish hook

A dog owner is pleading for fishermen to take care after her young dog swallowed a fish hook on the beach and needed major surgery costing $2500.

 Stephanie Hodges was walking 20-week-old Rottweiler Mila along Papamoa Beach last Friday morning when the dog swallowed a large hook. Mila started gagging and Ms Hodges noticed the trace from a long-line hanging from her mouth.

 "We'd been warned about it at puppy class and they said never to pull it out," she said. She wrapped the rest of the cord around Mila's collar and got her to the vet as fast as possible. MORE>>

Pet bonds may ease rental woes

Cantabrians are spending thousands of dollars on "pet bonds" to ensure their four-legged friends can move house with them. A lack of pet-friendly rentals has seen animal protection groups swamped with abandoned pets. The Tenants Protection Agency (TPA) knows of one man who paid a $2000 pet bond to secure a rental, and "picky landlords" are being blamed for the increase in the number of abandoned pets. Pam Howard, manager at Bromley's Dog Watch Adoption Centre, said the centre received "heaps of calls weekly" from people looking to rehome their dogs. "There's a shortage of decent rental properties and so much demand. Landlords can be picky nowadays." She said the main reasons for people giving up their dogs were because they were leaving New Zealand, their relationships were breaking up or they could not find a rental that allowed pets. "Another problem is people who are having earthquake repairs done on their homes are struggling to find a short-term lease for two or three months, and if they can find one, then they can't find one that will let them take their pets," she said. MORE>> Holmes For Rent is a company that offers pet-friendly accommodation in Christchurch.

 

Should dogs be allowed in pubs?

Mel Hadcroft was ''very disappointed'' when he was told his four-legged companion could not join him for lunch at a country pub.

While allowing any animal on food premises is technically illegal, many Christchurch cafes and bars are biting back.

Hadcroft, of Bryndwr, was driving back from the Weka Gorge on Sunday when he saw a sign for a ''historic English pub'' near Leithfield.

His faithful companion Stan, a german shepherd, was in the car with him.

''On ordering a beer and a meal, I found the beer garden, so got the dog and his water and settled down for a nice lunch.''

He said the waitress told him no dogs were allowed because it was a health risk.

''When I went in to pay for my meal the owner, who had already told me she had two cats, was standing behind the bar holding one of them and going on about how there wasn't going to be any dogs in her pub.''

Old Leithfield Hotel publican Soni Goodley said it was the hotel's policy not to allow dogs.

''We're a restaurant and people eat in the garden. I have signs stating that dogs aren't allowed and I have cats. This is my house and it's my cats' house too,'' she said. MORE>>

So, what do you think??

Pound death row for dogs

Almost 1800 dogs were seized or impounded in Hamilton last year and despite the best efforts of animal control officers to rehome the animals, more than 600 were put down.

Figures obtained by the Waikato Times show seizures have jumped by 30 per cent in the last two years, and owners are often to blame, officials say.

Most seizures are for roaming or unregistered dogs, and city animal control staff say they constantly deal with dog owners who don't know the rules.
(...)

"We'll hold a good dog for [adoption] as long as we possibly can," he said.

However, seized dogs are battling the odds. Only 8 per cent find new homes, while 37 per cent are euthanased - more than 1140 in the last two years.

In an effort to avoid an influx of abandoned animals being put down in the new year, animal safety campaigners are urging people to think before they give a pet as a Christmas present.

New Zealand Veterinary Association veterinary resources manager Wayne Ricketts warned of the associated costs involved with the cute ball of fluff that is presented on Christmas morning and people need to consider this before signing up to own a pet.

"Think about how it will be looked after, when will it be de-sexed, vaccinations, health checks, how much it will cost on a daily basis and whether it will still be loved when it grows out of the cute kitten or puppy stage," he said.

(...)

The city council is legally required to hold seized and impounded dogs for seven days to give owners the opportunity to collect them.  which means that if you have a friend caring for your dog, make sure they pay the fine !! otherwise you might come home to NO dog!!

The dogs then become the property of the council and are all put through a behavioural assessment to decide whether they're suitable for rehoming by adoption.

All dog owner rules and responsibilities are explained on hamilton.co.nz, and dogs available for adoption are listed on hamilton.co.nz/adoptadog.

Call to kill dogs that mauled sheep

Two "cute" spaniels that ripped the skin off a terrified sheep and ate it alive should be destroyed, says an Invercargill woman who witnessed the attack.

Angela Castle said she tried to shield her children from the "gross" spectacle as the two dogs attacked the lamb in a paddock off Kew Rd yesterday morning.

"I saw them ripping at it, I kept saying to the kids, ‘don't look'. It was gross, they were really pulling it to pieces, they ripped its skin off."

It reminded her that dogs, no matter how domesticated, were still primal animals, she said.

"I wouldn't have expected those cute-looking dogs to have done that."   why not? dogs are dogs@

She believed the dogs should be destroyed so they could not do the same to other sheep.  At least she made sense in so much that the farmer said no, they were someone's pet. So if the dog is cute, they don't get killed, but if it's an ugly dog, then slaughter house?!?

When the sheep's owner, Selwyn Helms, was alerted to the attack he rushed to the scene and caught the dogs, who did not resist.

(...) 

Despite this (3 times dogs ate his sheep), he was not so sure the dogs responsible for yesterday's attack should be destroyed, saying they were someone's pet.

He said he wanted the owners to keep better control of their animals, before adding: "I don't really want to see them put down but if they do that when they are around sheep they have to be."  Aren't farmers happy that sheep don't kill! 

Police and city council animal control officers were quickly on the scene. The bloodied dogs were led to the animal control wagon, put in the back and taken to the city pound.

MORE>>

Helping man's best friend to be a lifesaver too

Man's best friend has long been a solid companion for many people around the world. But one Kiwi charity is working hard to raise special pups that will act not only as a companion but, in some cases, a lifesaver for dozens of New Zealanders with disabilities.

Assistance Dogs NZ, based in Te Awamutu, will receive $10,000 as part of the Auckland Airport 12 Days of Christmas giveaway this year.

The money will go towards raising and training a pup that will one day be paired with a child or adult with a disability.

Dog trainer Julie Hancox, who founded the trust in 2008, has successfully trained several dogs which are now working with child clients. MORE>>

Third talented driving dog still homeless

While adoption offers have been pouring in for last night's two canine stars ofCampbell Live, a third driving dog is still homeless.

Last night Porter, a 10-month-old beardie cross and Monty, a giant schnauzer cross, got behind the wheel of a Mini Countryman on TV3's Campbell Live.

Viewers had since shown "a lot of interest" in adopting the dogs, said Auckland SPCA CEO Christine Kalin.

But the people ringing in only seemed to want the rescue dogs with the most airtime.

"Probably the least interest has been in Ginny... I think because she has less profile driving the car," she said.

One-year-old beardie whippet cross Ginny also went through the same eight-week intensive training course but didn't front on the day.

The Auckland SPCA has not yet received any offers of adoption for the equally intelligent Ginny, said Kalin.

"We've had people offer to adopt Monty and Porter. We've had less interest in Ginny so she's the one we'd really love not to have in the shelter too long."  MORE INFO>>

Dogs get a sniff of remedy

Dog owners in Christchurch with pets stressed by the earthquakes are turning to an unusual remedy - aromatherapy.

Bottles of the anxiety treatment brewed up by trained aromatherapist Jo Thomas are being snapped up and Christchurch customers now make up about 20% of her business.

 Aromatherapy uses essential oils from herbs, flowers and other plants and has been used for centuries to treat humans. For dogs, a few drops are placed on their chests or their bedding.

 The medical profession is divided on how it works - or even if it works - but Mrs. Thomas, who operates from her home at Wallacetown, near Invercargill, said the proof for post-earthquake Christchurch was relieved dog owners and happier pooches. MORE>>