?

I just saw this...I am in shock.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/nov/03/3...

How could this happen? What can be done to prevent it happening anywhere else? And action should be taken against any and all employees of the shelter?

Beautiful Gypsy Vanner horse for re homing

Price Free

Address Chicago, IL, USA

He has an outstanding soft,shiny hair coat . Linzy has a very sweet and affectionate personality,very energetic,and can run for very long distance . He loves to cuddle and play with little stuffed animals . if you are looking for a little buddy to take with you then contact for more information and pictures .

Because I have seriously always wanted a horse that PLAYS WITH LITTLE STUFFED ANIMALS and IS A LITTLE BUDDY THAT I CAN TAKE WITH ME!!!

Read more: http://chicago.kijiji.com/c-Pets-Lost-found-Beauti...

Okay here is the deal. My godson (25) who has a job, lives in a great house with plenty of room for a dog to run, fenced yards and all the rest is a lover of the bully breeds. He was the part-owner of a wonderful APBT who my vet rescued from an abuse situation and we agreed to take in, do multiple surgeries on (with our vet's help in getting all done at reduced fees - he is an angel BTW). Anyway, my godson and his long-time girl friend split up and agreed that she would take the dog. He gets some visitation rights but they are almost two hours apart so it is not as much as he would like.

Anyway, he would love another dog. I am thinking of buying one for him as a birthday present this coming June but I know very little about the breeds myself. I would obviously like a well-bred dog. He has talked about going through a rescue and that is a possibility.

So what I would love to know is

1) what are the differences between the two breeds and how would one chose which breed is right for a particular situation.

2) any thoughts on a rescue dog vs a dog from a quality breeder

3) and any special recommendations for selecting a breeder for these particular breeds that might be different from other breeds - if any and maybe there are not. There just seem to be a whole lot of less than reputable bully breeders out there (not that there aren't a lot of crappy breeders of other breeds - so maybe this is just a mis-perception on my part).

Sorry this is so long. I guess I should add that when I lived in the city there were a lot of really aggressive pitts around us (very popular among a certain portion of the population in my area). I realize that these dogs were made to be that way but I guess I personally have a bit of an unfair perception of the breeds - same as Saint Bernards and I own one (and he is a doll) but he is the only Saint I really trust having had neighbors who owned ridiculously dangerous and aggressive saints - I know its not fair but I can't really help it). I would like to make sure that my godson gets a wonderful dog and not a potential problem.

Thanks for reading!

I do horse rescue when I can and am on a bunch of email lists but damn if emails like this one do not just make me nuts. Now I am going to have a sleepless night because I cannot take in this pony - I have just taken in a few others and she is going to be expensive and I can't afford it right now. Who the f&*^ abandons the pony they have had for 30 years??? Sorry just venting but this pisses me off.

"We are located in Ohio, but got contacted by someone in Chicago to help rescue a 35 year old Shetland Pony Mare named Jessie. She is not current on shots and we are told she has some dental issues, too. We are unsure the condition of her hooves. She was found tied up to a tree outside with just some type of shed for shelter. She has lived with her current owner for almost 30 years and she finds herself unable to care for Jessie anymore"

Anyone want one of my now fat and sassy rescues who need work so I can take this mare in?

Every year around this time our house becomes infested with house mice. I hate to kill them but they are just too nasty so every year I try traps but finally break down and get poison and then I spend weeks being totally paranoid that my dogs will eat a poisoned mouse (or somehow get into the poison even though it is nowhere that they can get it). So I was searching online to find the "safest" poison to put down around dogs and I found several sites that list the amount of bait which must be consumed by a dog to be a lethal dose for 50% of the dogs eating the bait. It is for a 10kg (22lb) dog. My dogs are all over 60 lbs so they would have to eat three times the dose listed. So for the poisons listed below would my dogs really need to eat pounds and pounds of bait to be poisoned?

This doesn't seem possible but I found the same information in several places. Last year I bought the difethialone which comes in 2.5 oz packages and put down maybe six packages over the course of the winter so basically 18 oz total bait. According to the lethal dose information one of my dogs could eat something like 10 times that amount. So can this possibly be right. Can I put the bait down (obviously in safe places as usual) and not drive my whole household crazy for the next three months worrying about my dogs eating a poisoned mouse, somehow getting ahold of a bait package, etc. or am I totally missing something?

Generic Name - Quantity of Bait to Give LD50 in10 kg (22 lb) Dog

bromadiolone 2,200 g (77.6 oz )

chlorophacinone 10 kg (352.7 oz)

difethialone 1600 g (57.1 oz)

source http://www.liphatech.com/vetguide.html

section - Acute Oral Toxicities to Dogs

Many moons ago (around 20 years ago), I spent some time working with our labs in AKC obedience. I had a great time, the dogs had a great time. Since then I haven't had the time or a dog I felt would really enjoy serious obedience work. But I have a new dog that I feel would enjoy the training and I am seriously thinking about starting to work with her. Its a big time commitment and at this point I haven't decided yes or no for sure.

I am wondering if over the time period things have changed as far as training styles, level requirements and so on. As I remember it Novice required heeling on leash, free heeling (off leash), stand, sit and down for relatively short periods (a few minutes), the second level added longer stays in sit and down positions, work with the dumbell and recalling / retrieving the dumbell over jumps, down in the middle of a recall, group work and relatively long (15 minutes?) stays with the handler out of sight and the third level - which I did the least of :) included eliminating voice commands and using hand signals, selecting the correct dumbell for retrieve by scent -- and I feel like I am missing some things in the third level.

The training methods I recall were a combination of positive and negative reinforcement. We used no food treats and used choke collars, throw chains. Is this still basically the same or has the theory changed?

Answers from folks who are currently training/competing in AKC obedience would be greatly appreciated since that is where my interest lies.

Well the girls broke down a fence yesterday and apparently proceeded to find a giant patch of burrs to play in. Montana (our clyde mare) has managed to become a giant burr. I am actually serious here - her tail, mane and forelock are now compacted masses of burrs (looks like she now has a docked tail). I do not want to chop off her beautiful tail so ANY great tips to get this matted horrible mass of burrs out of her tail would be tremendously appreciated. Tried oil which is what I normally use but it is not even making a dent! I am sure someone must have run across this at one time or another. Thanks!!!