Big Raid in Arizona

6 arrests in dogfight links
4 Pima County sites raided in bust of suspected breeding operations
By Erica Meltzer
ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Pima County sheriff's deputies seized at least 150 dogs and made six arrests Tuesday in raids across the metro area targeting dog breeders suspected of links to organized dogfighting operations across the country.
Those arrested include Mahlon T. Patrick, 63, a man believed to be among the top...

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/mailstory-clickthru/226011.php

A death at the dog park

REPRINT -

Terry Jester
arriniranch@aol.com

I had a client the other day, a beautiful Springer spaniel named Charlotte, who experienced a terrible trauma while at the local dog park. Since then, she had started to behave peculiarly. Charlotte's owner had asked her roommate, another college student, to not take Charlotte and the roommate's 8-week-old puppy to the dog park, but the roommate did anyway. Unfortunately, Charlotte then witnessed a dog at the dog park viciously attack and kill the puppy. Charlotte was horribly traumatized by the incident. This terrible tragedy gives me an excellent opportunity to once again talk about the dangers of dog parks. Dog parks can be a great place to have fun and reduce your dog's excess energy. It can also be a place for dogs to get hurt, learn anti-social behaviors and practice their dog-on-dog aggression skills. Dogs don't learn dog fighting techniques over night. It's something that they need to practice in order to become more skilled and confident. The dog park is an excellent place for these practice sessions to occur. Owners who refuse to see their dog's escalating aggression allow their dogs to become more confident and proficient at being bullies. Eventually, this bullying behavior will develop into a full-blown attack. This is one reason why young puppies are not allowed at dog parks and why I discourage owners of small dogs from taking their pets there. The youngsters and small dogs can easily be severely injured or killed in these attacks. In a perfect world, all dogs would get along and everyone would play nicely with each other. Unfortunately, the world is not a perfect one. Dogs, suffering from pent-up energy, frustration and in some cases mental illness, attack smaller and defenseless dogs. Death can be the result. The incident that Charlotte witnessed is the second death at a dog park that I'm aware of within a year. What can be done? In both cases of dog attacks resulting in death, animal control was not notified. This needs to change. Aggressive dogs need to be banned from the parks and their owners put on notice that the dog's behavior will not be tolerated. Some people can use the parks effectively to teach their dogs social skills with other dogs, and that is fine. But people who allow repeated aggressive acts to continue without punishment and consequences are only teaching their dog to become better and more confident at fighting. These people are actually training their dogs to some day attack and seriously injure another dog at the park. If you see such attacks, ask the dog's owner to leave. Call animal control if they don't. Get the person's car license plate, and give it to animal control if the person continues to be a nuisance. Animal control can trace the plate and have a chat with the owner. Be proactive. You may be saving a dog's life. Terry Jester is a nationally recognized companion animal behaviorist. To learn more about companion animal training, visit www.rockymountainrawhide.com. For questions about your own pet, call Jester at 568-7585 or send e-mail to arriniranch@aol.com.

Associated Press on VA animal fighting/puppy mill bills

http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/virginia/dp-va--xgr-animalbills0212feb12,0,4095652.story

dailypress.com
House passes animal fighting, puppy mill bills

By the Associated Press

February 12, 2008

RICHMOND, Va.

It was a good day for dogs at the General Assembly.

Without debate, the House of Delegates passed bills on Tuesday cracking down on dogfighting and so-called puppy mills.

The dogfighting bill makes it easier for authorities to investigate people who engage in the blood sport. The measure was prompted, at least in part, by the Michael Vick dogfighting case. The suspended Atlanta Falcons star is serving 23 months for a federal dogfighting conspiracy.

The bill applies to all forms of animal fighting and makes cockfighting a felony for the first time in Virginia. The vote was 93-2.

The puppy-mill measure passed 91-6. It would regulate and license large commercial dog breeders, whose operations would be subject to inspection by animal control officials.

Copyright (c) 2008, Newport News, Va., Daily Press

Dog treat recipe of the month

Go Bananas Training Treats

3 cups oatmeal
1 1/4 cups flour
2 eggs
1/4 cup oil
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup milk
2 mashed bananas

Blend liquid ingredients, eggs and mashed bananas, making sure to mix well. Add flour and oatmeal. Mixture will be similar to cake mix. Spread into a well-greased pizza pan and bake at 325 degrees for about 25 minutes. Cut into tiny squares or strips using a pizza cutter. Keep refrigerated; store unused in freezer.