Pet Pardons Per Facebook has asked for your help!

Extremely Urgent - Dies Tomorrow!

If you live in or around the Gaston, NC region you may have heard that a "Demon" Pit Bull that had been killing farm animals has been caught.

Yup, a Demon. See how his eyes glow? Just like a demon... The farmer told reporters that the dog killed a pony, six goats and injured cows and other livestock.

http://www.gastongazette.com/articles/bull-63802-farm-pit.html

But here's the thing - nobody ever saw Dog #7454 kill any animals. The farmer saw a dog from a distance and assumed that this lone animal killed his livestock. And of course, that's a possibility but anybody who knows anything, knows that these animals were killed by a pack. The farmer stated that sometimes the animals were bitten all over, sometimes only on the neck area. This is pack behavior and in this area the mostly culprit is a pack of coyotes or a pack of feral dogs Odds are that #7454 only feasted on the left overs and therefore is blamed for the killing. Remember, nobody saw the animals being killed or what animal killed them. The farmer saw a brown dog running around the area and assumed. (Never assume. It makes an Ass out of U and Me).

I evaluated this dog on Wednesday, 11/23, and here are my findings:
He is not a starving stray dog. He is of good weight and excellent muscle tone. He's a well conditioned dog.

He's quite shy and lacks self confidence. He remained in a heel position on our walk in the park and would become nervous and unsure if I stopped or asked him to perform a behavior.

While I did not temp test for animal aggression (something that cannot be done at Gaston Animal Control) he made an effort to avoid other animals in animal control. While on our walk we saw Yorkies, cats and geese - all of which he turned his back to and tried to move in the opposite direction. This does not mean that he is not animal aggressive. It means that he is nervous and lacks confidence. My recommendation, if taken into rescue, is that he not be allowed loose with other animals until he can decompress and his true personality comes out. Then he can be tested for animal aggression. His fear and uncertainty about other animals could trigger a fight response if he feels threatened or cornered so please take caution.

He enjoys petting but rarely solicited affection.

Overall he's a good dog but confused to find himself in animal control. Given his physical appearance I do believe he has an owner. I also believe that this owner will not come forward because of the accusations against his or her dog.

Here is a video that I took on our walk:  http://youtu.be/9F6IkHOVNqk

Upon my recommendation, Gaston County Animal Control has made #7454 available for Rescue Only. If a rescue can take this dog they need to contact me at sukari1020@yahoo.com before 8am ET on Monday, 11/28.

Please cross post!

Thanks!
Jessica Rosman

Dogs of War: VIETNAM 1960-1975: First In.Last Out!

A Special Presentation From Hahn's 50th AP K-9, West Germany

There Is No Stronger Bond,Than That Of A HandlerAnd His Dog.

Were the dogs of Vietnam effective? Our military experts and "armchair Generals"  will probably be debating that question for the next hundred years.  But any Vietnam combat veteran, that happened to be part of a patrol, that was saved from an VC ambush because of a scout dog's alert or prevented from walking into a mine field...will tell you, the answer is definitely yes!!! *Estimates vary, but some state that the dogs may have been responsible for the saving of at least 10,000 lives in Vietnam.


In the last two years, four War Dog Memorials were dedicated to the Dogs Of Vietnam:

March Field, Riverside, California

Dedicated February 2000. Sponsored by the VDHA.

Fort Benning, Georgia

Dedicated October 2000. Sponsored by the VDHA.

Port Neches, Texas

Dedicated November 2000. Sponsored by the Citizens of Port Neches.

Streamwood, Illinois

Dedicated May 2001. Sponsored by the Citizens of Streamwood.

...all four Memorials honor the Four Footed Heroes of Vietnam and several include the war dogs of America's other wars and conflicts as well. Today the members of the Vietnam Dog Handlers Association continue  to sponsor a drive to establish the first National War Dog Memorial, to honor all War Dogs, who Served the United States of America in Combat.

To learn more about the use of Military Working Dogs by the armed services during the Vietnam War, please visit our Link Page (access from the, US: Department Of Defense Page) for an large selection of different sites, by the guys who were there! To read about it, may we suggest Michael G. Lemish's book 'War Dogs,' published 1999 by Brassey's, Washington, DC. "The first important work on the subject in the last forty years!" War Dogs is a complete history of the MWD from its orgins to after Vietnam. Available at most Book Sellers, world wide. "A very good read!"

**For more information and the full presentation including the timeline of the "Dogs of War" go to:

http://community-2.webtv.net/Hahn-50thAP-K9/K9History6/

Sterling Silver Awareness Ribbons & Beads.

Awareness ribbons help create change through causes!

Do your part to help awareness of a good cause. These charms are gorgeous keepsakes that are ideal for your own collection, and they also make thoughtful gifts for family or friends. Each year, the Charm Factory donates to fundraisers and educators, and we keep prices on our awareness products as low as possible to help support those of you working to find cures and supporting those touched by cancer and other diseases. Thank you for the work you do in your communities.

Many major causes are covered. There are autism awareness charms, AIDS awareness ribbon charms, breast cancer awareness ribbons and several other cancer awareness charms, just to name a few, and yellow ribbons to support our troops. All of our charms are beautifully designed using only the highest quality sterling silver. Each charm was also made in the US, assuring you of even greater quality.

Please click on the link below for more information on awareness ribbons.

http://www.charmfactory.com/awareness-ribbons.aspx

A guide to giving birthstone's this year for Christmas

Giving birthstones make a special personalized gift for all.

Precious stones & jewelry are wonderful gifts that sparkle & shine with unique timeless beauty & make a special personalized gift family & friends will remember forever. Birthstones ground & amplify celestial energies. Each of the twelve signs of the zodiac has traditional crystal affinities. Some from the birth month, others from the planets of the sign.

Use the chart below to find your friends & family's birthstones.

Capricorn(Dec 22 - Jan 19)	Jet, Onyx, Amber, Azurite, Carnelian, Fluorite, Garnet, Green & Black Tourmaline, Labradorite, Magnetite, Malachite, Peridot, Quartz, Ruby, Smoky Quartz, Turquoise, Aragonite, Galena.
Aquarius    (Jan 20 - Feb 18)	Aquamarine, Amethyst, Amber, Angelite, , Blue Celestite, Blue Obsidian, Boji Stone, Chrysoprase, Fluorite, Labradorite, Magnetite, Moonstone, Atacamite.
Pisces       (Feb 19 - Mar 20)	Moonstone, Amethyst, Aquamarine, Beryl, Bloodstone, Blue Lace Agate, Calcite, Chrysoprase, Fluorite, Labradorite, Turquoise, Smithsonite, Sunstone.
Aries           (Mar 21 - Apr 19)	Ruby, Diamond , Amethyst, Aquamarine, Aventurine, Bloodstone, Carnelian, Citrine, Fire Agate, Garnet, Jadeite, Jasper, Kunzite, Magnetite, Pink Tourmaline, Orange Spinel, Topaz.
Taurus        (Apr 20 - May 20)	Emerald, Topaz, Aquamarine, Azurite, Black Spinel, Boji Stone, Diamond, Kyanite, Kunzite, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Rose Quartz, Rhondonite, Sapphire, Selenite, Tiger's Eye, Topaz, Tourmaline, Variscite.
Gemini       (May 21 - Jun 20)	Tourmaline, Agate, Apatite, Apophyllite, Aquamarine, Blue Spinel, Calcite, Chrysocolla, Chrysoprase, Citrine, Dendritic Agate, Green Obsidian, Green Tourmaline, Sapphire, Serpentine, Tourmalinated  and Rutilated Quartz, Tiger's Eye, Topaz, Variscite, Ulexite.
Cancer(June 21 - July 22)	Moonstone, Pearl, Amber, Beryl, Brown Spinel, Carnelian, Calcite, Chalcedony, Chrysoprase, Emerald, Opal, Pink Tourmaline, Rhondonite, Ruby, Moss Agate, Fire agate, Dendritic Agate.
Leo              (July 23 - Aug 22)	Cat's or Tiger's Eye, Ruby, Amber, Boji Stone, Carnelian, Chrysocolla, Citrine, Danburite, Emerald, Fire Agate, Garnet, Golden beryl, Green & Pink Tourmaline, Kunzite, Larimar, Muscovite, Onyx, Orange Calcite, Petalite, Pyrolusite, Quartz, Red Obsidian, Rhondochrosite, Topaz, Turquoise, Yellow Spinel.
Virgo           (Aug 23 - Sept 22)	Peridot, Sardonyx, Amazonite, Amber, Blue Topaz, Dioptase, Carnelian, Chrysocolla, Citrine, Garnet, Magnetite, Moonstone, Moss Agate, Opal, Purple Obsidian, Rubelite, Rutilated Quartz, Sapphire, Sodalite, Sugilite, Smithsonite, Okenite.
Libra          (Sept 23 - Oct 22)	Sapphire, Opal, Ametrine, Apophyllite, Aquamarine, Aventurine, Bloodstone, Chiastolite, Chrysolite, Emerald, Green Spinel, Green Tourmaline, Jade, Kunzite, Lapis Lazuli, Lepidolite, Mahogany Obsidian, Moonstone, Peridot, Sapphire, Topaz, Phrenite, Sunstone.
Scorpio     (Oct 23 - Nov 21)	Topaz, Malachite, Apache Tear, Aquamarine, Beryl, Boji Stone, Charoite, Dioptase, Emerald, Garnet, Green Tourmaline, Herkimer diamond, Kunzite, Moonstone, Obsidian, Red Spinel, Rhondochrosite, Ruby, Turquoise, Hiddenite, Variscite.
Sagittarius(Nov 22 - Dec 21)	Topaz, Turquoise, Amethyst, Azurite, Blue Lace Agate, Chalcedony, Charoite, Dark Blue Spinel, Dioptase, Garnet, Gold Sheen Obsidian, Labradorite, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Snowflake Obsidian, Pink Tourmaline, Ruby, Smoky Quartz, Spinel, Sodalite, Sugilite, Wulfenite, Okenite.