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Video description - quote: Al-Qaeda Linked "Al Shabaab" Suicide Bomber Kills At Least 19 In Mogadishu **GRAPHIC** December 3, 2009 -Mogadishu - A suicide bomber disguised as a veiled woman killed at least 19 people, including three Somali government ministers, on Thursday at a medical graduation ceremony in a Mogadishu hotel, witnesses and officials said. It was the worst attack in the lawless Horn of Africa nation since June, when hardline al Shabaab insurgents killed the security minister and at least 30 other people in a suicide bombing at a hotel in the town of Baladwayne. he United Nations-backed government...

A pet owner knows the enormous joy and comfort that an animal can provide, especially in troubled times. Most pets are considered important members of the family and irreplaceable companions. A growing body of research now documents the value of the human-animal bond in child development, elderly care, mental illness, physical impairment, dementia, abuse and trauma recovery, and the rehabilitation of incarcerated youth and adults. In two articles in a recent issue of Family Process, titled "Human-Animal Bonds I," (focused on the benefits of companion animals) and "Human-Animal Bonds II," (focused on their role in couple and family dynamics and...

My introduction to Adam, a scrappy little puppy, white, fluffy-coated, pug-nosed Shih Tzu, was sudden, thrust upon me be my then wife. We had agreed not to get pets without consulting each other. “But, he was sooooo cute, and Sarah (our not quite one-year old) just loves him,” she said. “And he only cost $600!” “What!?!” I exclaimed. She quickly retorted that it was an investment. We could breed him because he was pure and had papers. A week later, she had poor Adam fixed. So much for my Shih Tzu Ranch Empire. Maybe that’s when I started to feel...

Chandler said he voted against the “Wall Street bailout” proposed by the Bush administration because he thought it “did too much to help the Wall Street folks who caused our economic troubles” and not enough for ordinary Americans.The federal economic stimulus program, which the Chamber of Commerce supported, was “absolutely crucial” in getting the GDP to grow again, as well as improving the housing and automobile markets, Chandler said.

Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act (Introduced in House) HR 3501 IH 111th CONGRESS 1st Session To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for pet care expenses. [snip] Mr. MCCOTTER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means --------------------------------------------------------------- A BILL To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for pet care expenses. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as...

Deputies say a Cumming woman was concerned enough to take her sick pet to the veterinarian, but left her 22-month-old son alone in a hot SUV. Dawn Myers, 38, was arrested on charges of cruelty to children. Deputies were called to a Cumming vet’s office on Thursday for a report of a child unattended inside a Ford Expedition, said Capt. Frank Huggins, spokesman for the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. “The child was in the car for 30-40 minutes,” Huggins said. “The engine was not running and the windows were rolled up.” Myers took her two other children inside the vet’s...

Richard Hutchison didn't get to see his brother, Maj. Steven Hutchison, return home alive from Iraq. But Monday he got at least a tiny comfort: Laia, the dog the soldier rescued and loved in Iraq, landed in the United States after being saved by his former comrades and Operation Baghdad Pups, an offshoot of SPCA International.

Today is a very sad day for me. I lost my nine year old best friend, Spunky. I came home this afternoon and found him paralyzed in his back and legs. I rushed him to the vet and he said some large cat, at his age, will develop blood clots. He said there was nothing that could be done. I agreed to have him put down. H leaves a brother, and me.

LIKE many longtime couples, Carlie and Bob, independent animal rescue workers in upstate New York who have been together 21 years, have a difference of opinion about one big issue in their relationship. In their case, it is about a 7-year-old Hamadryas baboon named Higgins, who spends a good part of most evenings watching HDTV in his heated monkey house, often holding hands with Bob. Carlie thinks that it is time to ship Higgins to a baboon preserve, and Bob wants to keep him at home. “Here’s the bottom line,” Carlie says. “I only believe people should have pets that...

Adopt Mr. Spock and boldly go where no human has gone before! Spock is a very friendly, extremely smart and good natured 1 year old black Giant Schnauzer...

A parrot is taking Prozac for depression following the death of its owner. Fred, an African Grey parrot, was owned by George Dance, who had rasied him from a chick. After Mr Dance died nine months ago, Fred became depressed and bit off all of his neck feathers. He also began to bob his head up and down all day as a result of his low mood. The bird has now been prescribed a twice-daily liquid dose of a bird-friendly version of Prozac, called Clomicalm. George's widow Helen, from Somerset, told The Sun: "He has been in quite a state...

The Ontario SPCA is probing a case that's both a tragedy and a triumph. It involves a cat that took a very strange trip and lived to tell the tale. It happened on Tuesday when the animal experts arrived at a building at Dixie and Orchard Hill Roads in Mississauga to find a feline badly injured but still alive. The animal had broken teeth, needed surgery to repair them and was bruised in a number of places. That's the tragedy. But here's the triumph: officials think the furry friend fell 17 storeys, and somehow survived. Cats are famous for plunging...

Welcome to the ~ Freeper Canteen ~Share Your Pet Pictures & Stories! Time to pay tribute to our beloved pets who give us unconditional love & joy. Have a funny story about a childhood pet? Perhaps your pet has some funny quirks or habits? Come share your stories! "An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language." ~ Martin Buber "We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." ~ Immanual Kant "My little dog -- a heartbeat at my feet." ~ Edith Wharton "A cat is a puzzle for which there is...

A Florida man risked his own life to save his four legged friend from the jaws of a shark. It happened in Islamorada, in the Florida Keys. Jake, a rat terrier, was swimming when a five foot shark attacked, pulling him under the water. His owner, Greg LeNoir, dove into the water and punched the back of the shark's neck, causing it to release Jake from its grip. Jake has teeth marks in his abdomen, back, and chest, but he is expected to fully recover.

A Florida Keys man punched a shark to save his dog from becoming a meal. The rat terrier named Jake, who was badly bitten, is expected to recover.

I am not a "cat person;" I could live perfectly fine without cats, other than that out here on the edge of the Sandhills of Nebraska, out in the country, cats come with the environment; they're part of the territory.When I was a little lad, I learned perhaps the most important lesson in my life; from my religion, Roman Catholicism, that one is obligated to respect all life, from eastern European Yiddish stories for children that one must always welcome a stranger because one never knows who that stranger might be, and from the usual standard customary cowboy habit of...

Kangal Dogs; anyone have any information about them?

A British family said a crow they adopted as a pet has begun taking on the characteristics of their five dogs, even going so far as to attack the mailman. The Notaro-Livingstones of Huntsworth, England, said they adopted Jack the crow about 10 months ago when they discovered him outside of his nest and unable to lift his own head, The Telegraph reported Wednesday. The family said that as Jack recovered, he began mimicking the family's other pets -- a pack of five dogs. They said Jack steals dog treats from the other pets and will often jump onto the...

A mother carrying her four-month-old baby watched in horror as police doused her family's beloved pet dog Daisy in capsicum spray and then shot her dead. Daisy had become tangled in her leash causing her to fight with the family's other dog Princess but, before Kirsten Small could intervene, plainclothes police killed the Staffy Cross.

They may not look as threatening as some of the larger canine, but research revealed that the dachshund is the most aggressive breed of dog. Citing a study published by Applied Animal Behavior Science, the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported that one in five dachshunds has bitten or tried to bite strangers, and one in 12 has shown aggression toward its owners. The study involved researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. About 6,000 dog owners were questioned about their dogs' behavior. Thirty-three breeds were ranked on their aggression. Ranking below the dachshund was an even smaller dog, the Chihuahua....

Surprisingly, nothing smells about this story… (A woman turning heads by taking her pet skunk for a walk on a lead has been told by a council that it may have to go, BBC Scotland can reveal. Hannah Chapman, 23, takes de-scented Ichi for walks in Aberdeen. People have been stopping her to take pictures of the unusual sight in the Rosemount area of the city. An Aberdeen City Council spokeswoman said Hannah did not have permission to keep a skunk in her council flat but should get in touch.) I think it should be pretty easy for the council...

TOKYO - When Yosuke the parrot flew out of his cage and got lost, he did exactly what he had been taught — recite his name and address to a stranger willing to help. ADVERTISEMENT Police rescued the African grey parrot two weeks ago from a neighbor's roof in the city of Nagareyama, near Tokyo. After spending a night at the station, he was transferred to a nearby veterinary hospital while police searched for clues, local policeman Shinjiro Uemura said. He kept mum with the cops, but began chatting after a few days with the vet. "I'm Mr. Yosuke Nakamura,"...

Texas Department of Transportation that claims it has no money for roads uses $20 million in gas tax funds to build a park. Woodall Rodgers ParkThe Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation announced yesterday that the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) would hand over $20 million in gas tax funds to help build a 5.2 acre park near downtown Dallas. The $67 million park is intended to serve as a model public-private partnership with a restaurant, a children's playground and a dog park. It will have no roads. "The park... will connect Uptown, Downtown and the Arts District, and is expected to...

The world is a far, far darker place for the loss of a little black cat Pitch was a rescue cat. We went to a black cat rescue group 11 years ago to see about picking a cat, and we got picked instead. I sat down on the floor, and this little kitten with the crank in his tail came right up to me and climbed into my lap, and that was it. Originally, Pitch was supposed to be “my” cat, as much as a cat can belong to anyone. However, when we got him home, he instantly adopted my...

Should I Get a Dog? Dogs are one of the most popular pets in the world. They have enjoyed this status for a very long time, probably from the time 10,000 to 15,000 years ago when Stone Age cave dwellers lived and hunted with dogs. If you think you want a dog, you're following a well-established tradition. Why You Might Want a Dog There are a number of reasons that people think they might want a dog for a pet. The most universal is the desire for the companionship of an animal who will be a loyal friend for many...

Does anyone have a pet that is diabetic??

This bunny is named Pancake, likes to fall the sleep listening to the hymn, Pass Me Not Oh Gentle Savior. This is a very peaceful arrangement of a pet rabbit that is adorable. Revski

Does Your Pet Seem Almost Human? It May Be A Clever Response To LonelinessHigh five! If people feel lonely, they are more likely to describe a pet as having humanlike mental states. (Credit: iStockphoto/Annette Wiechmann) ScienceDaily (Jan. 20, 2008) — New research at the University of Chicago finds evidence for a clever way that people manage to alleviate the pain of loneliness: They create people in their surroundings to keep them company. "Biological reproduction is not a very efficient way to alleviate one's loneliness, but you can make up people when you're motivated to do so," said Nicholas Epley, Assistant...

A dog is just for the afternoon By Danielle Demetriou in Tokyo Last Updated: 9:07am GMT 25/11/2007 "Saying goodbye is the hardest part," says Saori Aya Soejima, kissing the bouncing Labrador on the nose before tucking a red leather leash into her handbag and walking away. For Miss Soejima, saying goodbye to dogs has become a regular refrain. For the past four months, she has been renting a pet dog several times a week, for periods ranging from one hour to two days. Saori Aya Soejima rents Rolo the labrador regularly Pet rental in Japan is booming. The number of...

A MAN who lived in his own “zoo” of lizards and insects was fatally bitten by a pet black widow spider — then eaten by the other creepy-crawlies. Police broke in to Mark Voegel’s apartment to find spider Bettina along with 200 others, several snakes, a gecko lizard called Helmut and several thousand termites had gorged on his body. Neighbours alerted police after becoming alarmed by the stink. And horrified officers were met by a nightmare scene. A police spokesman said: “It was like a horror movie. His corpse was over the sofa. “Giant webs draped him, spiders were all...

State plans for pet shelter during hurricanes Thursday, July 26, 2007By DAN MURTAUGH Staff Reporter Two years after Hurricane Katrina claimed the lives of some Gulf Coast residents because they refused to evacuate without their pets, Alabama officials say they can now provide shelter for every animal evacuated during a storm. The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries plans to open three pet-friendly shelters in Dothan, Montgomery and Birmingham the next time a major hurricane threatens coastal Alabama. The Mobile County Emergency Management Agency will also open a smaller pet shelter in west Mobile County, according to an agency official....

More people turn to chickens as pets By GRANT SLATER, Associated Press Writer Fri Jul 20, 4:33 AM ET The leaves shiver, the branches quake and 9-year-old Sophia Genco bounds out of the bushes, clucking at the top of her lungs while sprinting after a flock of scurrying chickens. She isn't chasing down dinner. She's just playing with one of the family pets. The Gencos are among a growing number of urban and suburban families keeping chickens in their backyards. While the birds don't cuddle like kittens or play like puppies, owners say they offer a soothing presence in the...

While most pet cats have 18 - five on their front paws and four on their rear - the 10-year-old boasts seven on his front and six on his back paws. The extra digits have left owner Alison Thomas, of Felindre, near Swansea, pondering whether it is a UK record. One expert said cats with extra toes were common in the area around the old county of Cardiganshire and were sometimes known as "Cardi-cats". An animal with too many toes is called a polydactyl. There are unconfirmed reports in north America of cats with up to 28 toes - but...

... The chemical, melamine, is believed to have contaminated rice protein concentrate used to make a variety of Natural Balance Pet Foods products for both dogs and cats, the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday. Previously, the chemical was found to contaminate wheat gluten used by at least six other pet food and treat manufacturers. Both ingredients were imported from China, though by different companies and from different manufacturers. A lawmaker said Wednesday the Chinese have refused to grant visas to FDA inspectors seeking to visit the plants where the ingredients were made. An FDA spokesman later said the visas...

Some recalled pet food still on shelves WASHINGTON, April 12 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned pet owners that recalled pet food might still be on the shelves of some retail establishments. The FDA said it is urging U.S. retailers to be vigilant in removing all products associated with the pet food recall, which began March 16. In an effort to verify the effectiveness of the recall, FDA officials conducted approximately 400 checks of retail stores and discovered some companies have not removed all of the recalled products. "FDA's priority is to make sure that cats...

China rejects blame for pet food recall By David Barboza Published: April 5, 2007 SHANGHAI: China said Thursday that it had no record of exporting any agricultural products that could have tainted the pet food that has been linked to the deaths of at least 16 cats and dogs in the United States. The Chinese government said that wheat gluten, which has been linked to a pet food recall in North America, had not been exported from China to the United States or Canada. The government also disputed some reports that a chemical called Aminopterin, a rat poison, could have...

Home-cooked pet food not always safe TORONTO, April 3 (UPI) -- The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association says pet owners need to be aware of the risks of serving home-cooked foods to their pets. Recent deaths from tainted pet food has increased the appeal of home-cooking for some pet owners, but the CVMA says people need to do some research first, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported. One of the biggest concerns is a risk of salmonella poisoning associated with raw pet food diets. While animals in the wild have always eaten and survived on raw flesh, CVMA spokesman Danny Joffe told...

UNABLE to come to terms with the death of their pet dog, a childless couple in southern India hanged themselves. The bodies of 67-year-old retired soldier C.N. Madanraj and his wife, Tarabai, 63, were found yesterday in their home in a suburb of Hyderabad. Police said the childless couple had held a burial ceremony for their dog of 13 years, called Puppy, and hosted a feast for friends before hanging themselves in their bedroom. "The couple described the grief over their pet dog in the suicide note they left on March 29," said police inspector V. Anantaiah.

Topeka, KS (March 30, 2007) - In accordance with its over-riding commitment to pet health and well-being, Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. is voluntarily recalling Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry food from the market. Hill's is taking this precautionary action because during a two-month period in early 2007, WHEAT GLUTEN for this product was provided by a company that also supplied wheat gluten to MENU FOODS. U.S. Food and Drug Administration tests of wheat gluten samples from this period show the presence of a small amount of MELAMINE. Prescription Diet m/d Feline Dry represents less than one half of one percent...

Topeka, KS (March 30, 2007) - In accordance with its over-riding commitment to pet health and well-being, Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. is voluntarily recalling Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry food from the market. Hill's is taking this precautionary action because during a two-month period in early 2007, wheat gluten for this product was provided by a company that also supplied wheat gluten to Menu Foods. U.S. Food and Drug Administration tests of wheat gluten samples from this period show the presence of a small amount of melamine. Prescription Diet m/d Feline Dry represents less than one half of one percent...

More brands added to pet food recall STREETSVILLE, Ontario, March 19 (UPI) -- Pet food manufacturer Menu Foods of Streetsville, Ontario, has added seven brands to its list of potentially dangerous pet foods. The manufacturer issued a recall "cuts and gravy"-style cat and dog food brands including Americas Choice, Iams and President's Choice sold at stores across North America after it was revealed that the foods may contribute to kidney failure and death in cats and dogs, ABC News reported Monday. At least 10 pet deaths have been linked to the recalled foods. "It's very possible other companies will have...

Crystal Brown's world was turned upside down a month ago when Chevy, her 4-year-old Australian shepherd mix, didn't come home. "I told him everything and he never shared any of my secrets," said Crystal, 17, who has had some troubled times in her young life. Chevy was her therapy dog, and she leaned on him for comfort and support. Two weeks ago, a gift-wrapped box was left at the house where she lives with her grandmother in St. Paul's Rice Street area. Inside the box, Crystal was horrified to find her dog's head. "This was so cruel," Crystal said Wednesday....

Dogs are scarce in Abuja because many now eat dog meat openly The famous reverse news headline "Man bites dog!" is old news to some restaurants in Nigeria's capital, Abuja."Welcome to animal kingdom where man pikin dey show dog pepper," says Chibuzo Eze in Pidgin English, meaning: Welcome to place where the son of man is giving dogs a hard time. Mr Eze then hungrily gets back to tugging his chunk of dog meat. He is standing under a mango tree in "South Africa", the name of an open-air restaurant hidden behind the living quarters of a Western construction...

My 10 yo lab came up 3 legged lame today, diagnosed with a torn ACL. My vet is suggesting doing a procedure called a TPLO. I have seen pros and cons about this on the net and I was wondering if any FReepers had any experience with this. He is currently on Rimadyl and the poor thing is in a fair amounnt of pain. I do not see either one of us getting too much rest tonight. Thank you

CINCINNATI - A 13-foot boa constrictor wrapped itself around its owner's neck and killed the man in his home, authorities said. An acquaintance found Ted Dres, 48, inside the snake's cage Saturday and called police, the Hamilton County Sheriff's office said. The snake was still strangling Dres when deputies arrived, and the officers had to work with members of an animal protection group to remove the reptile, the sheriff's office said. Dres' snake will be kept at an animal shelter awaiting instructions from police or Dres' family, said Andy Mahlman, spokesman for the Cincinnati Society for the Prevention of Cruelty...

Madonna has revealed she's "never been happier" after an emotional trip to Malawi to adopt a 13-month-old baby. After being allowed to take little David Banda home, the superstar added: 'It's so worth it. He's just the best baby ever. Guy and I have never been happier.' Madonna set for further adoption hurdles in Britain Madonna, 48, wants David to be a brother to her children, Lourdes, nine, and Rocco, five. And she has already got her eyes on a three-year-old girl from the same village as David. Describing the moment she saw her, she said: "I looked at this...

WASHINGTON - Congress called for emergency preparedness plans that include helping individuals and families with pets, under legislation sent Wednesday to President Bush. It was during Hurricane Katrina that people saw the images of anguished pet owners asked to abandon their animals to gain shelter or be rescued. "It became evident during Hurricane Katrina, when asked to choose between abandoning their pets (and) their own personal safety, many pet owners chose to risk their lives and remain with their pets, and some of them perished," said Rep. Christopher Shays (news, bio, voting record), R-Conn. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, an Ohio Democrat...

Gov. Rick Perry's campaign opponents are hoping his Trans-Texas Corridor becomes a central campaign issue, and it is now the focus of a new online campaign attack. It's an animation, like the JibJab cartoons that took aim at President Bush during the last election. But the creators say their message is anything but funny. It's the latest shot in the Texas governor's race, and it takes aim at Perry's Trans-Texas Corridor. An online animated video calls Perry's Trans-Texas Corridor a land grab that will use eminent domain to kick Texans out of their homes, farms and ranches. "Eminent domain is...

PHILADELPHIA - A toddler who climbed out a second-story window onto the porch roof of his family's row house was followed by his dog, whose barks alerted neighbors who rescued the child. Phillip Redmond Jr., who will be 2 years old next month, apparently climbed out of a broken bedroom window Sunday and scampered across the narrow porch rooftops of at least eight homes, neighbors said. The row homes have connected porch roofs; neighbors heard barking and saw the boy running from roof to roof followed by the family's German shepherd, Alfie. "He was following the baby across," neighbor Tina...

WASHINGTON, July 18, 2006 – Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld hosted China's senior military officer here today to build on the growing U.S.-China military relationship and discuss issues of mutual interest, including North Korea. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. Peter Pace (left) and Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld (second from left) meet with Gen. Guo Boxiong, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China at the Pentagon July 18. Photo by Staff Sgt. Gary Hilliard, USA   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Gen. Guo Boxiong, vice chairman of...