Doodles In the News! - Everyone May Update

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

In response to the news that the Obamas will choose a Poodle as their presidential dog, Catherine Burr of The Globe and Mail Suggests The Obamas consider a Doodle....

Yankee Doodle Doggy
CATHERINE BURR

August 30, 2008

London, Ont. -- I'd like to suggest an alternative to the poodle as the choice for the Obama family's dog (Poodle For Obama - Life, Aug. 29): a doodle - either a goldendoodle, a golden retriever/poodle cross, or a Labradoodle, a Labrador retriever/poodle cross.

Not only are these the designer dogs for the 21st century, they reflect a wonderful diversity of doggie characteristics: great temperament, intelligence and good looks. Sounds like the Obamas.

Americans Elect Poodle as Obama's Top Dog



NEW YORK, Aug 28, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ --

Now that Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama has chosen his running mate, it's time for him to concentrate on another important selection: family dog. The American Kennel Club(R) (AKC) announced today that the public has elected a Poodle as their breed of choice for the Obama family.
The AKC launched its poll to find a breed for Obama ( http://www.presidentialpup.com) after reports that -- win or lose -- the Obamas promised their two daughters a dog after the presidential election. More than 42,000 people cast their vote over the seven-week campaign. The Poodle clinched the nomination after the breed battled it out with the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier in a race almost as tight as Clinton and Obama's run for the Democratic nomination for president. The Poodle won by a (dog) hair, with just a few hundred votes separating the top two contenders.
The Miniature Schnauzer, Bichon Frise, and Chinese Crested were also nominated, due to the distinct characteristics that make them uniquely suited for the Obama family. Every family is unique, but for the Obamas who have a daughter with allergies, a hypoallergenic breed with a very consistent and predictable coat is crucial.
"Most of our Presidents kept purebreds in the White House," said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson. "When times get tough -- during a bad economy or when presidential pressures are at their peak -- these dogs serve as devoted and non-judgmental companions that bring joy and relaxation to our first families."
If the Obamas follow America's advice and choose a Poodle, the AKC will assist them in responsibly acquiring a puppy or adult rescue dog. The AKC's puppy-buyer resource page at http://www.puppybuyerinfo.com offers links to responsible breeders who are members of AKC clubs as well as to affiliated breed rescue-groups that have dogs for adoption. For instance, the Poodle National Breed Club web site can be located at http://www.poodleclubofamerica.org/usamap.htm.
The Obama family may be adding a dog to their household for the first time, but Republican nominee John McCain is ahead of the pack with 24 pets, including four dogs. Therefore, animal lovers may be ready to help him "fetch" the election. According to a recent Associated Press survey, "Pet owners favor McCain over Obama 42 percent to 37 percent, with dog owners particularly in McCain's corner."
"It's no surprise the American public chose a Poodle for Obama," said Peterson. "Poodles are currently the eighth most popular breed in the U.S., according to 2007 AKC registrations statistics, and it spent more than two decades in the top spot -- a true testament to its suitability as a family pet. And while Poodles require frequent grooming, their consistent and predictable coat is crucial for their daughter and all who suffer from allergies."
Poodles, often considered high-maintenance show dogs, can also be kept in a simple one-length clip. They are exceptionally smart and athletic, excel in obedience training and are great hunting companions. They are the only breed that comes in three sizes, any of which can easily adapt to life in the urban environment of the White House or the rural setting at Camp David. The Standard variety is the largest size, measuring over 15 inches at the shoulder. It is the oldest of the three varieties and developed for water retrieving. The Miniature measures over 10 inches but less than 15 inches and it is speculated that it was used for truffle hunting. The Toy Poodle measures 10 inches and under and was often used in performances and traveling entertainment groups. Learn more about the Poodle and its suitability for your family at http://www.akc.org/breeds/poodle/.
Founded in 1884, the American Kennel Club (AKC) is a not-for-profit organization which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function. Along with its nearly 5,000 member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. More than 20,000 competitions for AKC-registered purebred dogs are held under AKC rules and regulations each year including conformation, agility, obedience, rally, tracking, herding, lure coursing, coonhound events, hunt tests, field and earthdog tests. Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Companion Animal Recovery and the AKC Museum of the Dog. For more information, visit http://www.akc.org.
SOURCE American Kennel Club
http://www.akc.org


Print Edition - Section Front

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

From The Marin Independent Journal

Pooch Relaxes Reluctant Readers
Jennifer Upshaw
Article Launched: 08/08/2008 04:02:25 PM PDT


On Friday afternoon, 10-year-old Isabella Scott of San Anselmo sat on the floor in the children's room at San Rafael Public Library reading her heart out. She had a captive audience. Nestled quietly between her and reading specialist Leslie Park, his snout resting on the girl's lap, Bumps took in each word.

Bumps, a "Labradoodle," is a specially trained assistance dog who helps young readers relax. A popular new attraction to the library this summer, Bumps is expected to continue his appearances this fall.

"Reading to a dog is a little goofy," said Hollie Stanaland, children's librarian. "Because it's goofy, because it's silly, because it's ridiculous, these kids are in a relaxed state.

"The heart of children is the heart of a dog," she said. "They're one and the same."

The program is part of Reading Education Assistance Dogs, a national organization based in Salt Lake City that improves literacy skills using therapy assistance animals. Similar programs put on by the Marin Humane Society are under way at libraries in Corte Madera and Novato.

In San Rafael, Bumps' owner, Park, an independent specialist with a private practice, volunteers the team, offering slots to kids who make appointments or to children such as Isabella who are recruited to entertain the dog during down time.

"He is excited about every kid that comes in," said Park, explaining that the child's reading "makes him feel better - it makes them feel better."

Seated on a quilt surrounded by books starring dogs, with titles such as "Dogzilla," "Dog Breath: The Horrible Troubles with Hally Tosis" and "One Nosy Pup," Isabella contemplated the difference between reading to people and reading to a pooch.

"It's strange, but it made you feel good," she said. "He doesn't say 'you didn't say this right, say this again' - he just listens."




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read more San Rafael stories at the IJ's San Rafael section.
Contact Jennifer Upshaw via e-mail at [e-mail]

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

From The Journal Pilot

Animal Rescuers Offer Reward to Find Dog Abuser

By Joy Swearingen, Managing Editor

Several young dogs were reported on a rural road near Bentley last week. When animal rescue worker, Anissa Sadeghi found the dogs, at least two were dead, and the others showed signs of neglect and starvation. They are not the first of this mixed breed of Labrador retriever and poodle that have been found abandoned. She has offered a reward to find who is responsible.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008 6:06 PM CDT

West Hancock Canine Rescue has offered a reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the brutality to dogs abandoned near Bentley.

“Anyone for any reason can contact Mike Wright, county animal control officer, to surrender a dog or puppies,” said Anissa Sadeghi of West Hancock Canine Rescue. “What was done to these pups was cruel and inhumane. We have seen a huge surge in abused, injured, neglected and emaciated dogs and puppies this year.”

The most recent call came about seven Labradoodle puppies dumped near Bentley, with one dog reported dead. Sadeghi met the caller who had contacted the sheriffs department and was let to the pups

“I was horrified to see these beautiful creatures staring back at me, wild and scared and almost starved to death,” she said. “With the help of the two people that found them, we corralled them until I could get close enough to grab them one by one. These pups out of fear were biting, pooping, peeing and screaming the whole way back to the crate in my truck.”

They chased the last panicking pup into an old hog house. Several people stood in the opening so he wouldn't run out as Sadeghi slowly crawled to him throwing the slip leash around his head.

“The gentleman (who called) was able to drape a blanket over him and put him in the crate with the others. Now, that is the “happy” partŠthe gut wrenching part is the dead puppies,” she said.

Two more dead Labradoodles were found in the area, one appeared to have been hit by a car, and both had been cannibalized by the other starving dogs. The dogs were taken to the crowded rescue center.

“I am not sure what we are going to do now,” Sadeghi said. “They are very unsocialized and in pretty bad shape. I have had 19 adult labradoodles that have been dumped at this animal control and we have yet to uncover who is breeding these dogs at such a large number. What was done to these pups is criminal and we want justice for them and their siblings that didn't survive.”

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

Denver and the West
Canine Foot Soldier Assists Paralyzed Thornton Veteran
By Kieran Nicholson
The Denver Post

Tyler Wilson, 23, plays with Antoine, his Golden Doodle who can switch on lights, among other chores.

Article Last Updated: 09/03/2008 06:33:20 AM MDT


The day Tyler Wilson, pictured above with canine pal and helper Antoine, took a bullet in Afghanistan and lost the use of his legs. (Dana Romanoff, Special to The Denver Post)THORNTON — A knock at the apartment's front door elicits loud, deep barks from a dog inside.

But when the door opens, the dog, a 70-pound Goldendoodle, quickly morphs from guardian to welcome wagon, sniffing visitors while wagging his tail.

Meet Antoine, an 18-month-old canine trained with a variety of skills to support his master, 23-year-old Tyler Wilson.

Wilson was a specialist with the Army's 173rd Airborne in May 2005 when he was shot during combat in Afghanistan. His wounds have left him paralyzed below the waist.

Last month, Wilson spent two weeks in Massachusetts, where he met Antoine, who was trained by the National Education for Assistance Dog Service Inc.

"It was more or less relationship-building," Wilson said of his introduction to Antoine. "We have to build a relationship from scratch."

Antoine, who went into training when he was 8 weeks old, still has a bit of puppy in him.

The dog is pretty much in constant motion, circling Wilson's living room picking up dog toys, including a tug rope, and presenting them to visitors in hopes of sparking some play time.

But when Wilson gives a command, "Antoine, come," the dog snaps to attention.

"Antoine, sit." He strikes an alert, straight-up, sitting pose by Wilson's side.

On command, Antoine can grab the telephone when it rings and bring it to Wilson. He's also trained to turn light switches on and off, and to hit automatic door buttons, among other chores.

Under Taliban fire

Wilson, who was raised in Durango, joined the Army after graduating from Durango High School.

He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2005. On May 3 that year, Wilson and other paratroopers took off in a CH-47 Chinook helicopter to join a battle against about 150 Taliban in the Argandab Valley, a remote region of southeastern Afghanistan.

Wilson's helicopter was hit by enemy fire, but it was able to land. The paratrooper found himself in a bad spot, low open ground with the enemy holding the high ground above. Wilson was hit by gunfire. He went down and couldn't move.

Staff Sgt. Matthew Blaskowski rushed toward Wilson to help him, even though intense enemy fire was blanketing his position.

As Blaskowski covered Wilson, the sergeant was shot in the leg.

"I couldn't move or do anything," Wilson recalled. "I was in and out of it. We were still getting shot at; you could hear the crack of gunfire over our heads."

Even though he was wounded, Blaskowski continued leading his men, Wilson said. He credits the sergeant with saving his life.

In September 2007, Blaskowski, 27, was killed by a sniper in eastern Afghanistan.

"He was my mentor," Wilson said. "Easily the best non-commissioned officer

Tyler Wilson, 23, plays with Antoine, who can switch on lights, among other chores. (Dana Romanoff, Special to The Denver Post )I served under."
In July, before going to pick up Antoine, Wilson competed in the 2008 National Veteran Wheelchair Games in Omaha. He entered five events and medaled in each, including gold medals in trap shooting and air guns.

Funny bone intact

Wilson's competitive juices still flow, and his wit and sense of humor are intact.

"I'm the same guy I was before. I just sit down a lot more," he said with a smile.

As he uses a wheelchair to get around, Wilson said he feels eyes upon him, but he senses people are reluctant to engage him.

Now, with Antoine at his side, barriers are being broken.

"It takes the attention off me and puts it on him," Wilson said. "Especially with little kids."

Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or [e-mail]

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

How a Labradoodle Came to Help Kentucky Girl Deal With Her Autism
By Kate Braser (Contact)
Updated August 12, 2008
Serge Giachetti / Courier & Press

'Rocky' Auction
Mattilyn Zehr, 3, middle, plays with her brother Jackson, 5, and the family's labradoodle, Rocky, as her mother, Julie, keeps her legs steady at their home in Morganfield, Ky., last month. The Zehrs thought a dog might help Mattilyn, who is autistic, overcome some of her sensory issues.

The story of how Rocky, a black labradoodle puppy, came to live with Matt and Julie Zehr and their three children in Morganfield, Ky., is one the couple still are telling.

That's because were it not for a table of people recently gathered at a fundraiser auction for Albion Fellows Bacon Center, the Zehrs still might be saving money and searching for the puppy that's able to assist in their 3-year-old daughter's development. Mattilyn peeks from underneath the table next to Rocky. Mattilyn's mother, Julie Zehr said the dog, a cross of a gentle Labrador and a smart poodle, was her choice for her daughter's pet.

Mattilyn Zehr was diagnosed with autism about one year ago. Since then, her parents have tried everything to ensure she gets the best treatment and therapy available.

That quest recently led them on a search for a labradoodle. The couple were told that a dog — especially a hypoallergenic breed with a good disposition — would help their daughter with communication, interaction and exploring her senses.

"Sensory issues are huge with autism," Julie Zehr said a few weeks ago as she watched Mattilyn throw a ball for Rocky to retrieve.

"She'll talk with the dog and say things to him that she won't say to us," Julie Zehr said. "She'll say things to him like 'Rocky, you're so funny,' and just complete sentences and conversations that we don't see from her often. And just the fact that she'll pet him now and touch his wet nose, those things are huge."

But labradoodles can be expensive, and as of early April, the couple hadn't found the puppy they desired for their daughter.

That all changed on the evening of April 12, when Julie Zehr got a phone call from her brother-in-law, Darren Baumberger. A deputy with the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Department, Baumberger was at the Albion Fellows Bacon Center dinner/auction with his wife, Elizabeth.

The couple noticed that among the items up for auction was a labradoodle.

"I was a drug interdiction detective with a K-9 for three years, so Julie and I have discussed using a dog to assist with Mattilyn's autism," Baumberger said. "labradoodles are the perfect match for an autistic child due to the calm nature and low allergen."

Baumberger told his wife to call the Zehrs and ask if they wanted him to bid on the dog.

The Zehrs happened to be on their way to Evansville with friends to see a movie, and told Baumberger to bid up to $600, but no more.

"Once the auction started, we realized that the puppy was the last item on the list," Baumberger said. "The tension continued to build during the auction because we were excited that we may get a puppy for Mattilyn."

But when the bidding finally started on the puppy, the price quickly hit the Zehrs' limit.

"I then placed a bid for $700, but my wife told me to stop because the price was getting too high," Baumberger said.

The Baumbergers were attending the dinner with Jeff and Chris Rothschild. Their table had been purchased by Bob Rothschild, owner of Evansville Garage Doors.

Up until that point, Jeff Rothschild, a friend of the Baumbergers but a stranger to the Zehrs, only had observed the bidding.

As a bidding war rocketed the puppy's price to $1,000, Chris Rothschild grabbed his bidding card and continued with the auction, Baumberger said.

"Chris looks at me and states, 'Don't worry, we're not leaving until we get the puppy for your niece,'" Baumberger recalled.

Elizabeth Baumberger was on the phone with Julie Zehr during the bidding. From the other end of a cell phone, Zehr was getting nervous.

"I was freaking out and kept saying, 'What do you mean you're still bidding? We don't have that much money,'" Julie Zehr recalled.

But the Rothschilds kept their bidding cards in the air until the price hit $1,300.

The auctioneer looked over at their table and said "sold."

Baumberger said besides Jeff, Chris and Bob Rothschild, others at the auction also chipped in money, including Greg Baumberger — a relative of Darren Baumberger — and his business, Baumberger's Mattress Plus.

Informed that the other couples had helped pay for the dog, the Zehrs went to the auction to meet their new puppy, then headed home to Kentucky.

When the Zehrs walked in the door at 10 p.m. that night, their three young children — Steven, 10, Jackson, 5, and Mattilyn — were still up and waiting.

"Their eyes got really wide when we set Rocky down and told them this was their dog," Julie Zehr.

"We were just so floored that they all did this for us," she said.

"Jeff and Chris Rothschild have never met our niece," Baumberger said. "It wasn't the money they spent on the puppy that amazed me, it was the passion and compassion in their eyes that made us realize how awesome this was."

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

I agree!

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

Santa Cruz, California
Labradoodle Saves Owner from Santa Cruz Cottage Fire
By Jennifer Squires
Sentinel staff writer

SANTA CRUZ — Hours after the fire, Bella wouldn’t venture into the backyard.

“What happened to your house?” Matt Carcerano gently asked Bella, his 16-month-old blonde “Labradoodle,” as he shined a flashlight into their fire-ravaged two-room cottage on South Park Way.

“The dog won’t even go out there,” he said.

Firefighters credit Bella with saving Carcerano from the blaze.

It was just before 3:30 a.m. Monday when Bella woke the 32-year-old welder for Granite Construction. The mix of “growl, whimper and bark” roused him after only an hour of sleep — he’d gotten home late from a trip to San Francisco — and just in time to rush out of the flame-engulfed cottage.

“It was weird. I was sound asleep and she made noises I’d never heard before,” he said. “I opened my eyes and it was just orange”

The floor-to-ceiling wall heater in the 50-year-old Eastside cottage was on fire.

Mike Venezio, a Santa Cruz Fire Department battalion chief, called Bella a lifesaver. There were no smoke detectors in the studio.

In socks and pajamas, Carcerano ran through the flames to get a garden hose, but the water inside it was frozen and just “dribbled out,” he said. So he woke Kyle and Karla Wade, his landlords and longtime friends who live in the front house.

Kyle Wade went for a fire extinguisher while Karla called 911, then gathered her family’s dog and Bella — a cross between a Labrador and a poodle — to watch the firefighters from inside the main house.

Sixteen firefighters, three engines and a fire truck fought the blaze, which also burned the Ward’s storage shed, and controlled it within 10 minutes, Venezio reported. Crews stayed on scene for hours, pulling piles of smoking clothes out of the cottage.

“They had a challenge,” Kyle Wade said. “It kept smoldering”

Firefighters countywide have responded to several heater-caused blazes and chimney fires this month, which they attribute to residents cranking up the heat during the cold snap.

“More heating devices are being used,” said John Lucchesi, a Santa Cruz Fire battalion chief. “Sometimes they get a little bit careless”

A floor furnace sparked a fire on Berkshire Avenue on Sunday, causing $150,000 in damage to the house. Last week a blaze traced back to a mattress leaned against a wall heater in a Live Oak apartment killed the resident’s cat.

The fire in Carcerano’s cottage was accidental, officials said. It caused $120,000 damage to the building and Carcerano’s belongings; he could only save photo albums as he rushed out.

“I gotta go buy shoes,” Carcerano said, forcing his size-11 feet into a pair of borrowed white Adidas sneakers, size 101/2.

Monday night, Carcerano’s charred belongings still littered the backyard. His bed was reduced to a blackened frame and the heat melted his other belongings, but Carcerano was good-natured, considering the situation.

“There are two ways you can act,” he said. “You can be completely mad or move forward”

The Wards plan to rebuild the cottage and Carcerano said he has lots of options, calling the fire a “pitchfork in the road”

“It’s good to have good people in your life,” he said.

And he has Bella, who should be back for her two-hour morning excursions at Lighthouse Field and Its Beach soon.

“I think she knew she needed to get me up,” Carcerano said. “She got me out”

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

'Savior' Dog Survives Rattler Bites
By Shar Porier
Sierra Vista Herald
Tucson, Arizona

SIERRA VISTA (AP) — A few months back, he was just a cast-off dog, unwanted, unloved and headed for the “sleep-forever table” at a California animal shelter.Today, Phillip is a hero in the eyes of his owner Linda Reynolds after protecting her and his companion, Jake, a Labradachshund, from a very large female Western Diamondback rattlesnake.

The snake had somehow found its way onto Reynold’s enclosed sun porch at her 33-acre ranch in Elfrida on Sept. 29. “I was going to let them go out in the back yard and opened the door to the sun porch. That’s when I heard it. I couldn’t believe how loud it sounded. It was just echoing around the room. I wasn’t even sure it was a rattlesnake, it was so loud,” recalls Reynolds.

The 11-month-old chocolate Labradoodle placed himself in harm’s way as he nudged Reynolds and Jake clear of an armoire, underneath which the poisonous snake had taken up residency.

After she and the dogs went back into the house, she called the Cochise County Sheriff’s office and a deputy came to help her out. He shoved the armoire forward and found the snake curled and poised for trouble.
“He told me it was a big, fat one,” she continued. “The snake was more than six feet long.”

The deputy caught the snake with a special device and told her he would take the rattler to a new home where she had plenty of room to roam.
Reynolds thought that was the end of it and was grateful that no one had been hurt. But, then nearly three hours later, as she was readying for bed, she noticed Phillip was having difficulty breathing, was drooling, swollen and looked bad.

“I knew something was wrong when he didn’t get into bed beside me. I looked for him and found him at the front door dying. It was then that I found the bites,” said Reynolds. “He was bitten twice on the head, twice on the leg and once on the chest. I don’t even know how or when he got the bites.”

At the site of each bite, swelling had set in and Reynolds became afraid that she would lose the dog she had come to love.

Phillip Dillard, his full name, came to her by way of a friend, her old Army buddy and best friend Dallas Russo, in January. He had had parvo, worms and kennel cough in addition to starvation and dehydration. Over the months, Phillip grew in height, strength, health and confidence and had turned into a beautiful chocolate Labradoodle with lovely wavy fur.
Now, he was in trouble again and Reynolds did not know what to do.

She called her vet and was told she needed to take him to the emergency veterinary center in Tucson. For $2,000, the vet possibly could help Phillip. “But, there was no guarantee that Phillip would get better. What was I going to do? I didn’t have $2,000 to spend with no guarantee that the treatment would save him,” she added.

She believed Phillip was going to die, so she kept him in the bedroom with her and held him through the night, elevating his head so he could breathe easier and did what little she could to make him comfortable.
“He was so swollen all over. His head looked like a football. I just didn’t believe he would make through the night.”

But, he did. The next day she started calling friends hoping to find someone who could help her.

Reynolds had heard that some horse groomers use DMSO, or dimethyl sulfoxide, on wounds and that it helps healing. DMSO can reduce inflammation, work as an antioxidant and prevent leakage from cells. On the Equine Medical service Web site, it states that DMSO can be used to reduce swelling in horses from rattlesnake bites.

“They say cowboys swear by it,” she said. “So, I figured I may as well try it out on Phillip. So, first I gave him one ounce of it orally in the morning, and then I followed with another ounce in the evening. I also put it on the wounds and on the swelling.”

He had taken a bite to his lip which caused a paralysis of half of his mouth.“Everything he tried to eat fell out of his mouth,” she added. “He drooled constantly.”

Reynolds has continued the treatment and now Phillip is looking perky again. The swelling is gone, but the bite marks remain, especially the big one on his nose. Those two holes may take a bit more time to heal, but there is no sign of infection.

“I’m going to keep using it until all signs of the bites are gone,” she said.
Now, Phillip is healthy and back to his happy-go-lucky self.
“He stops and sniffs at the armoire every time he goes out now,” Reynolds said. “Wouldn’t you?”