1. Allergies are common in people, and they can often accompany animal contact, triggering symptoms such as itchy eyes and sneezing. But do allergies work the other way around? Can dogs and cats be allergic to us? According to Dr. Heather Edginton, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, our furry friends can have allergic reactions to people. "The three main categories of allergies we see in dogs [and cats] are flea allergies, food allergies and environmental allergies," Edginton told Live Science. "An allergy to humans would fall in the category of environmental allergies.” (via Live Science)
2. Whether it is jumping up at strangers, tugging on a lead or disappearing into the distance, the UK’s pandemic puppies are still in the doghouse. Research by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has added to growing concerns that many owners who acquired a puppy during the height of the Covid pandemic were struggling with their dogs’ behaviour as they reached 21 months. Among other findings, a fifth of owners surveyed reported their dog had eight or more problem behaviours at that age, such as pulling on the lead, clinginess or aggression, while 33% of owners found training their dog harder than expected – something that was more common among first-time owners. (via The Guardian)
3. In regions where dogs often run loose, don't wear tags and aren't microchipped, it can be difficult for authorities to keep track of which ones have already been vaccinated against rabies. A new app could help, by identifying individual dogs via facial recognition technology. Currently being developed by scientists at Washington State University, the app is a modified version of one created by Canadian company PiP My Pet, for identifying lost pets. The basic idea is that when a dog is initially vaccinated, a smartphone photo of its face will be taken and entered into a database via the app, along with information such as the animal's age, color and sex. When veterinary staff later return to that same area, they will take a facial photo of each dog they encounter. (via Net Atlas)
4. If you spend much time in the dog-loving corners of the Internet, you’ve probably heard of Jen Golbeck—or you’ve at least seen her dogs. As a computer scientist at the University of Maryland who studies social media, Golbeck wanted to create a space on these platforms that felt like a respite from the widespread anger she’d witnessed across the political spectrum after the 2016 presidential election. Every day for the past seven years, she and her husband have shared photographs and videos of the “Golden Ratio”—their punny name for their pack of golden retrievers—with the world. The dogs dance in anticipation of their food bowls, swim in the ocean behind their Florida Keys home and wrestle each other. Golbeck hoped this window into her dog-full world would be a soothing place for others. (via Scientific American)
5. If you could see my search history, you’d probably be worried. About me, not my dog. In the past couple days alone, I have asked the internet whether my dog’s eye gunk is a normal color, if she will be emotionally scarred from having to poop in the snow, and whether she thinks I’m her mom or her wife. (Yes, no, and both.) If my dog were a human child — which, in many ways, she is — I’d be teetering on the edge of helicopter parenting. This type of parent is typically characterized by being overly attentive, excessively cautious, Googling questions like “best everyday body armor for kids,” and general hovering. Understandably, this level of parental hyper-vigilance comes with a stigma. (via The Wildest)
6. A two-year-old German Shepherd in Whitehorse is Canada's northernmost avalanche dog. Kipper has just completed his avalanche-dog-in-training certification, and could become fully certified in a year. He will be spending most of his time at Whitehorse's Mt. Sima Alpine Adventure Park, but is also available to respond to incidents in the wider Yukon, and northern B.C. His handler is Mt. Sima's head of mountain safety and risk management, Kirstie Simpson. Kipper is Simpson's fourth avalanche dog since the ski hill opened in 1993. In the unlikely event an avalanche burial does happen, she said a dog like Kipper can help access the debris field "in four-wheel drive." (via CBC)
7. Adopting a new pet is exciting, and can bring warmth and companionship into your home. It can also make a difference for the millions of animals living in shelters. The majority of American households own a pet, with dogs being more popular to own than cats. However, cats are adopted from shelters more often than dogs. Pet ownership is increasing amongst young generations, with millennials having the highest share of pet owners (33%). About 6.3 million animals enter shelters every year but only two-thirds are adopted from shelters annually (4.1 million). (via Forbes)
8. The US Air Force has trained medical teams to improve care services for military working dogs (MWDs) with critical injuries. Led by the agency’s healthcare specialists and canine handlers, Canine Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) provides swift and effective” care required by combat dogs. The project delivered lessons for medics to ensure that the well-being of MWDs is treated at the same level as warfighters during tactical missions. During the program, participants simulated complex medical operations for the canines. The hands-on training involved respiratory, airway, circulation, and head injuries, as well as massive hemorrhaging and hypothermia. (via The Defense Post)
9. According to the National Deaf Center, almost 2% of people in the U.S. are deaf. A privately funded nonprofit in Malibu has been training dogs for the deaf and hard for hearing since 2003. The Sam Simon Foundation, started by the co-creator of the animated television show The Simpsons, is not only providing a way to help those who have lost their hearing, but also helping to clear animal shelters. The animals trained to become hearing dogs come from local shelters. The program director, Barb Velasquez, says only a quarter of the dogs successfully complete the six-month or so course. The dogs that have a “career change” and are not quite the right fit for a hearing dog are put up for adoption to find their forever homes. (via Spectrum News 1)
Dog Photo of the Week
Photo by Jennie Ross, “Pets Really Can Be Like Human Family” (via The Atlantic)
Dog Video of the Week
Video by WTVR News 6, “Bizarre’ dog situation stumps Virginia animal shelter”.
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