Greetings Earthlings!

He was a dog that really had a lot of spark. There were a couple of stories on TV about him and e captured the camera even then.

( We loved you Moose )

As most of you know I adore the Australian Shepherd breed. Smart, agile, loyal, and love please their people. I was glad to an Aussie win at the Crufts Dog Show in Birmingham England this weekend.

( take a chance )

Orphaned Piglets Feed Off Street Dog
Dog Witnesses Death Of Mother Pig

GODHRA, India -- A street dog in western India is feeding three orphaned piglets along with her puppies.

The dog apparently witnessed the death of the mother pig almost two weeks ago and has since allowed the piglets, then just days old, to feed.

The piglets are often seen scrambling for the best place to feed on their foster mother, along with their adopted brothers and sisters.

Some locals think the piglets must have been puppies in a previous life.

New dog quickly becomes family's best friend
Hero elkhound's howls alert owners to house fire
Monday, March 06, 2006
BY JULIA M. SCOTT
Star-Ledger Staff

A South Brunswick family escaped their burning home yesterday thanks to their new dog that woke them up by barking "like crazy," police said.

The howls of the Norwegian elkhound, a hunting dog that the family had adopted just two weeks ago, stirred John Cramer at about 6:30 a.m., said police Detective Jim Ryan.

Cramer, 54, went downstairs to calm the pooch, a young male named Toby, who was in a crate on the first floor, Ryan said. Cramer saw the fire creeping up the walls from the basement and the flames were a few feet from Toby.

"He heard the dog barking like crazy," Ryan said. "He discovered the fire had already spread to the first floor."

Elkhounds are loyal dogs known for alarm barking, according to Sally Spear, president of the Garden State Norwegian Elkhound Club. They have a bushy gray-and-white coat and a bear-like face.

"They will bark when something is not right so they were just following their instincts," said Spear, who said she knows the Cramers because the wife is active in the club.

John Cramer opened Toby's crate and ran upstairs to rouse his wife, Cheryl, 44, and their 9-year-old daughter, Lee, who were still sleeping. A second elkhound, a champion named Casey, also was asleep upstairs.

As the smoke thickened, the family and the dogs made it to safety. Three cats were not so lucky and died in the fire on Old New Road, Ryan said.

The Cramer family was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, treated for smoke inhalation and released within hours, Ryan said. The elkhounds are being kept in a nearby kennel.

The fire started in the basement near an electrical outlet and investigators are trying to determine if a faulty circuit sparked the flames, Ryan said. The preliminary assessment of the fire is that it was accidental.

It had been burning for 30 minutes before the dog woke the Cramers, Ryan said.

Firefighters arrived at 6:39 a.m. and had the blaze under control in 25 minutes.

The outside of the house does not appear badly damaged, Ryan said. But the walls are badly charred on the first floor and basement and the second floor is soggy and smells of smoke.

"As far as living in it, I don't think that's going to be possible," Ryan said.

Investigators are determining whether the house will have to be demolished.

Stray dog makes it to Crufts show

A stray found wandering the streets of a Dorset town has made it to one of the world's most prestigious dog shows.

Sexi-Lexi, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross, has been selected for the agility competition at Crufts in March.

The three-year-old was only 12 months old when she was picked up from the street by a team of dog wardens and eventually adopted by one of them.

Stephanie Miller, from Bridport, has since trained Sexi-Lexi, and has now qualified for the Kennel Club show.

Ms Miller said: "I started taking Lexi to agility training classes about two years ago just after I took her on.

"She shone at all the activities from the start. She's taken to it like a duck to water, has extra private training and really loves it.

"I hope she does well but I'm sure she'll just enjoy taking part."

Ms Miller also urged dog owners to make sure their pets wear a collar and tag with their owner's details.

But, she said: "Dogs are still found wandering about with no identification.

"We have to take them to the kennels where they are cared for, giving owners time to claim their dogs.

"Sadly, some are never claimed so they are re-homed."

Crufts is being held between 9 and 12 March at the NEC in Birmingham and Sex-Lexi will be competing on 11 March.

A while back I wrote about Tech. Sgt. Jamie Dana and Rex and her efforts to keep him after they were both injured in Iraq. Here is the happy ending.

( a happy ending )

I am a big fan of small dogs, but this chihuahua is cute. They have some photos and a replay of the story on the news.

( meet midge )

In other news I have a damn sore throat that is turning into a cold. I knew my luck this winter couldnt hold out forever.

Moo Moo the Hero

UPPER MARLBORO, MD-February 7, 2006 - Moo Moo the wiener dog has helped save its owner from a hot situation.

The little Dachshund kicked up a big ruckus as smoke filled a home in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, outside of Washington, D.C.

Prince George's County Fire officials say the batteries in the smoke detector were dead. But Moo Moo began barking and scratching at its owner's bedroom door.

The woman awoke to find thick smoke filling the home. She called 911 and locked herself and Moo Moo in the bedroom.

Firefighters rescued Moo Moo and the woman from a second-floor window.



In other stuff supposed to get down to 12 degrees tonight I am not looking forward to patrolling the parking lot tonight. Me hate puny winter.