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(Reuters) - Relatives offered words of comfort to a teary-eyed woman paying her last respects as an undertaker slammed shut the door of the cremation chamber and flames engulfed the small coffin of a cherished family member. The hastily arranged prayers, cremation and scattering of ashes in Vietnam's capital was for Capi, a 13-year-old dog that died that day after a battle with diabetes. Capi's owner had called Bao Sinh Dog-Cat Resort, a one-stop shop with services rivalling anything on offer to humans. "I'm so glad this place exists. Otherwise I wouldn't know what to do with Capi's body," said...

Rope gives Houdini a run for his money

I tried googling for some answers, but I think my question is too vague. I am the proud new dog owner of an adorable five-year-old female dachshund mix. I've worked with dogs for the last eight years in a medical setting, but have never had one of my own. Can I (or more to the point is it advisable to) bring my Lady with me on election day when I hand out sample ballots for my precinct? What kind of political activities are dog-friendly, and which should be avoided? Also, any recommendations for colorful doggie t-shirt/sweaters? Six in the morning...

Presentation of Beau (formerly Quaid) to Sgt. Brandon Tennery by Rebuilding Warriors. Quaid came to Rebuilding Warriors courtesy of German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County. Here is his profile: http://www.gsroc.org/2013/detail.gsr?id=2756

APPLE VALLEY • Town animal control officers seized 26 dogs while removing three dead dogs and dozens of dog crates Wednesday afternoon from an animal rescue organization located in an Apple Valley home, according to a town news release. Acting on a complaint to the Apple Valley Animal Services Department, authorities cited the owner on suspicion of cruelty to animals, exceeding animal limitations and disposition of dead animals

A few questions: Is there any doubt that the Federal Government is way too powerful? Is Jimmy Carter the second worst U.S. President? Is the National Park Service only following orders? Does a bear sit in the woods?

MELBOURNE: Malaysian drug mules are using the Australian Secrecy Act to prevent authorities from informing the Malaysian High Commission in Canberra, when they are arrested at airports, charged and sent to jail. “We are aware that many Malaysians are caught bringing illegal drugs to this country, but they can ask the authorities not to inform us because they don’t want their relatives and friends back home to know they are in trouble,” acting High Commissioner Eldeen Husaini Mohd Hashim told Bernama in a recent interview. “Even in court, they can ask their names to be suppressed, saying publication of their...

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - A retired police dog rescued from an animal shelter has found a new home. Last month, FOX 5 first reported on the story of former Greensboro, Ga. Police Department K-9 Dino. After the K-9 retired, his handler turned him over to a neighbor, who later left the German Shepherd at an animal shelter. Carla Brown and the Canine Pet Rescue group stepped in and got Dino out of the shelter.

Where's Sweet Pea? After 30 years - the Arizona Ash tree in the front yard had to come down. No more hours spent IN the tree. Might as well be where the tree WAS.

Dogs owned by Oakland Raiders’ cornerback Taiwan Jones attacked and killed a Chihuahua owned by one of his neighbors in Brentwood, California. Police are still investigating, but by the sounds of the report from the San Jose Mercury News, Jones fully accepts responsibility for the attack – and feels awful about it. “It was a tragic accident and he feels terrible about it,” Doug Hendrickson, Taiwan Jones’ agent, said. “It’s never happened before. He’s sick over this, no question.” The attack happened on Monday night while the neighbor, Olivia Paredes was out walking her Chihuahua when Jones’ two pit bull...

The US-based Barbadian R&B singer arrived in Phuket last week and has posted several photos on her Instagram account, including ones with the endangered loris and elephants at an unidentified location. Local...

There are characteristics of dogs that particularly ruthless politicians might be happy to possess. Energetic, loyal, aggressive and deadly are just a few comparisons that might flatter a country's leader. But Russian President Vladimir Putin will probably be less than happy when he discovers that one internet user has spotted an eerie resemblance between him and this dog

Take a break and enjoy a moment with some of the Creator's smaller creatures.

Customers of Walmart.com, Sears.com and Amazon.com have taken up social media arms today over an item sold by third-party resellers on each of the three respective sites, resulting in the “Dead Dog Prop” vanishing quickly from listings. The product description reads: “Foam filled latex prop of a skinned dog with a large tire track squished through its mid torso. Chain attached for dragging purposes. You have seen bloody road kill, this is bloody road kill.” As of this writing, the three companies above each had a number of customer complaints on their Facebook pages as well as expressions of outrage...

Today Andrea Neyes, an animal welfare advocate, found herself detained and searched by first two and then three San Bernardino police officers. What heinous crime did she commit to warrant the dispatch of three police officers in a crime-ridden city facing bankruptcy? She stands accused of giving treats to the dogs housed in the city’s animal shelter. To be more specific, Neyes was forced to state on videotape, “I will follow Debi Shuker’s rules” and sign a citation, agreeing to appear in November for violation of San Bernardino Municipal Code section 9.12.010, Interfering with City Business. Shuker is the shelter’s...

Russia's President Vladimir Putin proved he is equally happy befriending animals as he is hunting them when he shook hands with a walrus on Sunday. Putin was visiting an aquarium on Russky Island near the eastern city of Vladivostok when he was introduced to the giant sea creature. The president even broke his famously-steely demeanour to laugh as the walrus covered its eyes with its flippers in mock surprise and then gobbled down a fish.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. West is on the verge of a serious horse crisis, says a new paper in Science, which argues that the wild horse population is growing so fast that the government could soon be unable to manage the herds. There are currently some 33,000 wild horses roaming freely on public lands in the western United States, descendants of horses brought by Spanish conquistadors. Under a 1971 law, the Bureau of Land Management is supposed to protect these horses and make sure their numbers don’t get out of hand so they are not destroying the ecosystem or dying...

CHACHOENGSAO - In one village homes are raided, property is pinched and locals are attacked by dastardly gangs operating beyond the law - but the perpetrators are monkeys, not men. "They creep into my house when they see me sleeping, they go into the kitchen and take cooking oil, sugar and even the medicines that I hide in a cabinet,'' said Chaluay Khamkajit, after years battling with pesky primates who are thought to have been drawn into Khlong Charoen Wai village by habitat loss. "They took my snacks, I can buy more, but the medicines are important to me,'' the...

A highly trained police dog is being placed up for sale to the general public in Rusk County, Texas, reported Tuesday's KETK News. The rather unusual news was announced to the followers of the Rusk County Sheriff's Office Facebook page on Tuesday;

Japanese scientists have launched a sperm bank for endangered animals that uses freeze-drying technology they hope could one day help humans re-create animal populations on other planets, the chief researcher said Wednesday. The team at Kyoto University’s Institute of Laboratory Animals Graduate School of Medicine successfully preserved sperm taken from two endangered primates and a type of giraffe, associate professor Takehito Kaneko said. They mixed the sperm with special preservation liquid and freeze-dried it in a way that allows them to store it at just 4 degrees, Kaneko said. The temperature is much higher — and less energy intensive —...

Pest control in Xinjiang seems to work, but many fear felines will freeze Hundreds of stray cats have been released in northwestern China's prairies to control the region's rat rampage, but the effort has sparkled online debate and concern. In early August, eight stray cats were released in rat-plagued grassland in Bole, the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. They are among a group of around 100 cats that have been introduced this year to control the prairie's rat population. The city's prairie workstation started introducing urban strays for rat control as early as 2011. So far, more than 600 stray cats...

We hear about overzealous Police Officers on a regular basis. This morning my house was surrounded by Riviera Beach, Fl Police Officers. Except for the pure surprise of it, this encounter with the RB Officers was a most pleasant experience. There was a manhunt in progress. The officers were concerned that the suspect had broken into my house and was holding us hostage. They woke me by banging on the back door. I greeted them with a CZ75B.

So, my good friend Johnny Walker is in Kodiak, Alaska teaching kids how to ride horses and shoot guns while riding horses. He had to rent the horses for his project and the deal was, he had to help the rancher round up some cattle first. Seems like the bears were eating too many of them.Johnny: “What do you do when you see a grizzly?”Rancher: “Shoot ‘em. Shoot everyone I see.”Johnny: “What do you shoot them with?”Rancher: “My two, forty, three.”Johnny: “Really? Why do you use a .243?”Rancher: “Well, I can find ammo for it anywhere and at anytime. And,...

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An unknown number of crocodiles remained at large on Thursday after a flood set them free from a slaughter farm in south China's Guangdong Province, local authorities said. Villagers and rescuers have been on high alert since the escape at a crocodile farm in Longtian Township in the city of Shantou, caused by a rain-triggered flood last Saturday which damaged their enclosure. Farm workers said dozens of reptiles have probably fled into flooded rivers and swamped farms. As of Thursday evening, 27 crocodiles had been captured but others remained unaccounted for. "Runaway crocodiles are very dangerous. We are very nervous...

FORT BLISS, Texas — Ten dogs that were being transported across country to a canine training center at Fort Bliss, Texas, died and another two were sickened when the air conditioning in the vehicle malfunctioned, the El Paso Times reported. The surviving dogs were immediately given medical care, Fort Bliss officials told the Times. Five other dogs were unaffected in the Monday incident. Read more: http://q13fox.com/2013/08/21/10-dogs-die-while-being-transported-to-training-center-in-texas/#ixzz2cjtLg4Cq

A mysterious sea creature featuring what appear to be horns on its head was discovered in the advanced stages of decomposition along the shoreline of Luis Siret Beach in Villaricos, Spain, on Thursday. A woman first discovered the head and then found the body farther down the beach, according to ThinkSpain.com. The entire carcass with the head stretched 13 feet.

Australian morning host interviews Grumpy Cat via satellite and asks her what she thinks of Aussie politicians. It's 2 minutes of hysterics.

The bear was known to the hunters, and had even been given a name.  It was shot when it advanced on their camp after the attack. The caribou had been shot by the hunting party that Mr. Tuttle was with.  More details will emerge, I am sure.     I wonder if he was armed when he was attacked.    From citytalk: Mr Tuttle told Mr Bowerfind he was walking to the caribou carcass when the bear attacked him on Alaska's remote Brooks Range. "The only thing he remembers is hearing a grunt and a grumble from the brush, and...

An unknown citizen in Selma Township, Wexford County may be the hero that stopped near term bear attacks in Michigan this last week. On Thursday,  12 year old Abby Wetherell was jogging in Haring Township when she spotted the bear.   It was about 9 p.m.   She started to run faster, but bears can run twice as fast as people can.  The bear easily ran her down and knocked her over.  Abby was able to get up and attempt an escape, but the bear knocked her down again and mauled her. A neighbor heard Abby screaming and was...

Grumpy Cat, Shocked Cat, Lil Bub – their images are the currency of the web, passed between friends, family, and co-workers. When they go viral, funny cat pictures heal daily drudgery with a dose of furry, cuddly cheer. But, in terms of the reverence they receive, these cats are hardly the first of their kind. Ancient cultures had cat memes too, and archaeologists have their own term for them: feline motifs. The word meme, itself a meme, feels ultra-modern, but was coined in the 1970s by Richard Dawkins to refer to any non-genetic unit of replicated information. And it would...

GREENE COUNTY, Ga. - A former police dog was rescued from death row at an animal shelter just in the nick of time. Dino was a former drug dog with the Greensboro, Ga. Police Department. After a long and distinguished career, Dino retired from police work last December and went home with his handler. That officer gave Dino away to a neighbor, who later took the dog to the Greene County Animal Shelter.

At least one of the German shepherds needs to learn table manners.

A California man is learning a lesson about the seriousness of dog-killing threats after making a Facebook post that summoned police to his doorstep. Mark Joiner II posted a photo of his dog Stella on his Facebook page Wednesday, saying he wanted her gone because she pooped on his bed and chewed up some of his things. “Anybody want her? … She’s FREE,” he posted. “Pick her up today or she will be shot and stuck in a hole by 9 pm.” He then offered to pay someone $20 to take her.

Similar to Imam Obama's, her presidency would be an historic first in many ways. Former Republican presidential candidate John McCain recently called Ms. Clinton a "fine" Secretary of State and observed that he would find it "tough" to choose were she and Senator Paul to be opposing candidates for the presidency in 2016. Senator McCain makes "tough" choices poorly -- like his RINO colleagues -- so why should he bother?We, however, need to make some choices and they need not all be "tough" ones. Mike at Make an Effort today contended, The only viable option left to us is a reformation within...

More than a dozen armed police raided an animal shelter after air surveillance documented that the facility was providing care for an abandoned fawn named Giggles in Kenosha, WI as reported by Colleen Henry for WISN: ""it was like a SWAT team,' shelter employee Ray Schulze said." Apparently, it's against state law to rescue wildlife. The fawn was taken away in a body bag, and will be killed. Meanwhile, the Mexican drug cartels have taken over vast swaths of public land throughout Wisconsin, and grow operations worth $70 million have been uprooted from the state's forests over the last four...

WOODSTOCK, Ga. (AP) --A Georgia police officer has been suspended and fined after his police dog partner was left in the officer's patrol car and died. Woodstock officer Chad Berry is being reassigned to the department's traffic unit after his 10 day suspension. The move to that department drops Berry's salary by $6,000. He has also been fined $325. The fine has been paid.

We've all seen the touching videos of dogs reacting to soldiers coming home after months or even years of leave. Let's see how a kitty reacts.

And for proof, you have to check out this video of a muddy horserace in New York City last month. Just watch what happens. �I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.� — Acts 20: 24 2013 Brooklyn Handicap - Calidoscopio + Post Race

Cats try to understand treadmill

Watch how a plain speaking American explains why Muslims kill dogs and the lengths they will go to carry out deadly attacks on dogs where they feel they safely can. The tipping point seems to be 6%. When the Islamic population hits that number they start their attacks on “man’s best Friend.” What do we do about this?

URGENT PRAYERS NEEDED!! "He had a massive heart attack early evening. Dogs alerted me. Doc doesn’t think he’ll make it through the night."Prayers needed for BG's husband, Ron!!

Darrell Fortner lost his dogs to the Black Forest fire. On Saturday, he got one back. A group of soldiers led by Chief Warrant Officer II Brennan Avants from Fort Carson, The American Red Cross and Black Forest Animal Sanctuary joined forces to find a German shepherd to help replace the dogs buried by Denver firefighters who were battling the wildfire.

The reasons that pets are surrendered to animal control facilities are many...moving, baby on the way, dog is too big, no time, digs, barks, or perhaps this...going on vacation. On Monday, a shelter volunteer captured a heartbreaking video of a dog who was surrendered to the San Bernardino, Calif., city facility because his owners were going on vacation.

So, my wife and I were in a restaurant this evening, enjoying a cup of coffee. In walks this woman with her dog on a leash. The dog is running around and goes up to a lady who had her young daughter with her. The lady asked the dog owner to keep the dog away from her little girl, who is allergic to dogs. The dog owner ignores her. One of the employees tells the dog owner that animals aren't allowed in the restaurant because of Health Department regulations. The dog owner tells the employee that the dog is a...

The Problem There are people sentenced to capital punishment, awaiting their fate on death row, who have not committed any crime, not been accused of anything, not stood any trial, not been found guilty by judge or jury. If these people, biologically, were members of the human species, the outrage at this earth-shattering injustice would reach the sky and beyond, leaping into the stratosphere. But because the biological status of these persons, who feel and think like you and me, or at least like you and me when we were little children, happens to be a different one from Homo...

Little baby pug puppy gets a new mom

More Federal studies and grants are needed and we can't wait. Editor's note: This is a guest post by the Very Honorable Ima Librul, Senator from the great State of Confusion Utopia. He recently explained some of his difficulties in growing pineapples and focuses here on other major problems and opportunities facing modern American society. We are privileged to have a post of this caliber by a quintessential Librul such as the Senator. He is a charter member of President Obama’s Go For It Team, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of the Meretricious Relations Subcommittee. He is also...

FORWARD OPERATING BASE PAYNE, HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (December 19, 2011) — He defends Marines and sailors with love and tenacity, protecting them as any Marine would protect a brother-in-arms. He is the epitome of man’s best friend, shielding service members from the enemy while providing companionship and camaraderie. His name is Willy Pete, and he’s a warrior, a protector, a friend. He’s also a dog.