At Petco, a dog was dropped off to get a routine grooming, then put into a drying cage. When the groomer returned to retrieve the dog, the dog was dead.  There is evidence that the complaints against groomers has increased 50%.  Currently, there are no rules and regulations in the dog industry particularly in Dog Grooming.  Although there are schools that certify grooming, it is not required.  At another groomer Lick Your Chops, a dog was dropped off to get grooming and was found hung by the tether.

This industry will need regulation.  It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.

One dog who made it onto TV…

A group of Los Angeles animal lovers convinced their pets were destined for fame are launching legal action against an animal training company.The owners of Goliath the Rottweiler, Rusty the pitbull, Milo the basenji and Poopsie the Lhasa apso took their pets to Hollywood Paws in a bid for stardom.

The company offers media training aimed at winning parts in films and on TV.

Disgruntled owners say they paid large fees for no tangible reward, although the company says nothing is guaranteed.

Goliath’s owner Rebecca Armstrong said she spotted her dog’s natural talent at an early age.

Excited by his “cool” and “mellowness”, she enrolled Goliath at Hollywood Paws, run by Larry Lionetti.

But she was left angry after paying out some $2,000 (£1,062) with little to show for her money – except a fleeting appearance on Tyra Banks’ TV chat show eventually cut before broadcast.

“I lost a lot of money,” Ms Armstrong said.

Parental pride

Lawyer Cynthia Mulvihill, representing the pet owners, said the animals put in for media training were like family to their devoted owners.

…and one who did not

Larry Lacourciere, owner of Wallace the labrador, admitted the same thing.

“He was only about six months old, and he could already do half a dozen things,” he told the Los Angeles Times, adding that his wife wanted to see their dog on TV.

“Like you want to see your kid on TV. The same thing.”

Mr Lionetti, who insists that some of his clients have won lucrative roles, maintains that the final say rests with producers and directors.

“Everybody knows down in your town that there are actors and actresses waiting on tables until a part comes along.

“Who in LA doesn’t know this?”

]]> http://mandatorydogtraining.wordpress.com/2006/10/04/hollywood-pets-seek-fame-in-court/feed/ 0 Rook Chips the dog in a BBC TV show A muzzled and leashed pitbull in Hamburg, Germany http://mandatorydogtraining.wordpress.com/2006/10/04/pit-bull-dispute-leads-to-charges-against-dogs-owner/ http://mandatorydogtraining.wordpress.com/2006/10/04/pit-bull-dispute-leads-to-charges-against-dogs-owner/#comments Wed, 04 Oct 2006 03:50:05 +0000 Rook http://mandatorydogtraining.wordpress.com/2006/10/04/pit-bull-dispute-leads-to-charges-against-dogs-owner/ ]]> CLEVELAND — A dispute between former next-door neighbors here over pit bulls has resulted in the dogs’ owner pleading guilty to communicating threats.

Ashley Farmer of Depot Street entered the plea in Rowan County District Court on Sept. 28, receiving a 10-day sentence, suspended for 12 months with unsupervised probation. She was ordered to not assault, threaten or harass her next-door neighbor, Cyndi Allison Wittum or her family, and to stay off Wittum’s property.

Farmer was also ordered to pay court costs, including the $250 fee for a court-appointed attorney.

Wittum said Farmer made the threats after she called Rowan Animal Control and complained to the Cleveland Town Board about the pit bulls. She said at the meeting that Farmer had at least five adult pit bulls and four to six puppies.

Two of the dogs were chained at the property line dividing the two lots, she told the board, preventing her children from playing basketball, causing her mother to be fearful getting in and out of her car and making it difficult for her now-deceased father to mow the lawn near the line because the dogs would “go crazy” barking and growling.

Farmer responded to the allegations in a subsequent Salisbury Post article, saying the dogs were friendly and had never bitten or snapped at anyone.

Problems between the two neighbors began to escalate after that.

When Farmer began threatening Wittum on June 26, Wittum said she went back in her house without responding and later filed charges with the Rowan County Magistrate’s Office. “I was just following the procedures as I was told,” she said.

Farmer moved to Iredell County the following week.

In August, an order was issued in Rowan Civil Court prohibiting Farmer from having any contact with Wittum and her family for a year.

Contact Kathy Chaffin at 704-797-4249 or kchaffin@salisburypost.com.

A special committee headed by City Council Chairman Stephen Zanni is mulling several proposed changes to Methuen’s dog ordinance. The goal is to better protect residents.

At first, Zanni had proposed muzzling all pit bulls but now the idea is to hold dog owners more responsible. “Alot of towns have vicious dog ordinances on its books. But nothing specifically desinged towards the owner,” said Zanni.

Zanni said that the way the city law is written now, a dog can commit two or three vicious acts before any law enforcement action is taken.

“I think we’re going to see how we can make that better, so we can attack the issue at the root, instead of the pet or the particular incident,” said Michael Keiley of Nevins Farm Animal Shelter.

An alternative to behavioral school is a more aggressive system of tracking dogs that could be deemed dangerous.

Zanni’s committee is expected to make a decision within the next month.

Jerrica Seals, 17, was already safely out of the house by the time firefighters arrived, the News-Press of Fort Meyers reported.

“She called me screaming,” said Leticia Vega, 36, the sister of Seals’ boyfriend Javier Garcia, 23, who owns the home. “She said the dog woke her up barking, jumped on the bed and bit her on the leg.”

Seals was taken to the hospital for a checkup, but Garcia said she was going to be fine.

Deputy fire Chief Steve Clyatt said blaze appears to have been caused by a bad extension cord on a window air conditioner.

Vega said her oldest brother, Gabriel Garcia, found the dog while he was working.

“He didn’t pay no mind to it,” Vega said. “He just kept working and the dog just stayed there so he brought it home. He doesn’t usually bark. He’s real friendly.”

Last updated:Tuesday 19-Sep-2006 04:33:36

Workers increasingly want “peternity” leave to be at home when they buy a new animal, according to new research.

Owners are pulling a sickie so they can stay in the house with a new cat, dog or other pet.

Pet insurance provider Petplan said a study of 100 of its customers showed that some people had the same approach to pet ownership as child rearing.

Single bite to the upper and lower lips of a 9 y.o boy by a Dalmation.

Multiple bites to the leg of a 9 y.o. boy attacked by two pit bulls. The victim also sustain serious bites to other parts of his body.

A single bite to the face of a 10 y.o. boy causing serious injury by a mixed-breed German-shepherd.

A single bite to the hand by a 2 y.o. male English bull dog resulted in two puncture wounds (circled) to the hand of this person. The puncture on the ring finger was substantial and was probably caused by one of the upper canine teeth. The puncture on the middle finger was very slight. There were no contralateral punctures on the bottom side of this person’s hand.

Injury sustained to the right arm and breast from a series of bites by a mixed doberman.

One or possibly two crushing bites to the first finger and thumb of this person. The incident in which this injury was inflicted involved two dogs, and Akita and German shepherd. During litigation there was serious contention between parties as to which dog inflicted the injury. Behavioral analysis showed however, that most likely it was the plaintiff’s own dog, the german shepherd, which inflicted this injury.

A laceration and several punctures inflicted to the leg by a Great Dane.

The severly mutulated face of a young boy by a wolf-hybrid.

The arm of this person’s right arm was severed severly from at least two bites by a pit bull. Note the lack of puncture wounds. Instead, the bites resulted in markedly open lacerations.

The tip of the nose of this girl was severed by an Akita.

An attack to the head by a male pit bull. The circular nature of the wound is a feature found in other dog bite injuries.

Facial bite inflicted by a mixed pit bull. Incident happened when this lady bent over the dog in an attempt pet it. The circular nature of this dog bite woumd is frequently found in many bite injuries.

Facial injuries to a young girl caused by an attack from a Great dane. Note the circular nature of one of the wounds.

Bite to the right forearm by a Rottweiler and possibly one other dog. Incident happend when victim was in close proximity of two dogs engaged in a fight. Black dots show locations of puncture wounds. Exactly two inches to theleft of one of the punctures is a laceration. In this case the puncture and laceration match the distance between the upper canine teeth of the Rottweiler and not the other dog, thus positively identifying the Rottweiler as the one which inflicted the injury.

Bite to face by husky dog. Note circular nature of injury.

This man’s nose was partially severed by a Malamute.

Attack by a male pit bull to the left arm of a 10 y.o. boy. This was the only part of the victim’s body that was bitten during the attack .

Attack by a male pit bull to the right leg of a postal carrier. The victim’s shoulder and arms were also severely bitten.

  Contact:
  Stephanie Bell 757-622-7382

  Chicago, Ill. – This morning, PETA sent an urgent plea to Cook County
  Assistant State’s Attorney Ankur Srivastava urging him to
  vigorously prosecute Ami Moore, the so-called “dog
  whisperer” of Chicago’s Doggie Do Right 911, Inc. Moore
  faces charges stemming from her alleged mistreatment of dogs with
  shock devices—in violation of the manufacturer’s
  guidelines—during training sessions. Moore allegedly placed a
  shock device on one dog’s genitals, apparently in accordance
  with her “When your dog does something that you don’t
  like, then make nasty things happen for the dog” training
  premise. Moore is scheduled to face these charges in court tomorrow,
  September 6, at 9 a.m.

  “If these allegations are true, Ms. Moore violated the trust of
  her clients as well as the law,” says PETA Cruelty Caseworker
  Stephanie Bell. “The way to train dogs to behave well—as
  well as to love and respect their guardians—is not by causing
  them pain but by using positive reinforcement.”

  PETA is asking that¯if convicted and in addition to serving a
  period of incarceration—Moore be prohibited from owning or
  harboring animals and that authorities seize any animals currently in
  her custody. In addition, PETA is asking that Moore be required to
  undergo a thorough psychological evaluation followed by mandatory
  counseling.

  For more information, please visit HelpingAnimals.com.

  PETA’s letter to Assistant State’s Attorney Ankur
  Srivastava follows.

  September 5, 2006

  Ankur Srivastava, Assistant State’s Attorney
  Office of the Cook County State’s Attorney
  Branch 43, Misdemeanor Division
  3150 W. Flournoy St.
  Chicago, IL 60612

  Dear Mr. Srivastava:

  People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the
  world’s largest animal rights organization, with more than 1.1
  million members and supporters dedicated to the protection of animals.
  This letter concerns a recent case of cruelty to animals that your
  office is handling, involving Chicago resident Ami Moore, the
  purported “dog whisperer” of Doggie Do Right 911, Inc. Moore faces
  charges stemming from her alleged recent use of electronic shock
  devices on dogs who were evidently brought to her for training. We
  understand that Moore is accused of using the shockers in manners that
  were inconsistent with their manufacturer’s guidelines; she
  reportedly strapped the devices on one dog’s genitals in an
  apparent manifestation of “When your dog does something that you
  don’t like, then make nasty things happen for the
  dog”—one of the dog-training rules professed on Moore’s
  Web site.

  We understand that Moore is scheduled to answer to these charges in
  court tomorrow, September 6, at 9 a.m.

  Mental health professionals and top law enforcement officials consider
  cruelty to animals to be a red flag. The American Psychiatric
  Association identifies cruelty to animals as one of the diagnostic
  criteria for conduct disorders, and the FBI uses reports of these
  crimes in analyzing the threat potential of suspected and known
  criminals. Experts agree that it is the severity of the
  behavior—not the species of the victim—that matters.
  Abuse is abuse, whether or not it’s couched in the context of a
  “training method.”

  On behalf of our thousands of members and supporters in Illinois, we
  respectfully ask that, if convicted and in addition to serving a
  period of incarceration, Moore be required to undergo a thorough
  psychological evaluation followed by mandatory counseling (and anger
  management classes, if applicable) at her own expense. Because repeat
  crimes are the rule rather than the exception among animal abusers and
  given the violent nature of her alleged actions, we implore your
  office to take every measure necessary to ensure that the convicted is
  prohibited from contact with animals and to immediately seize any
  animals who may remain in her charge.

  Thank you for your diligence in this matter and for your time and
  consideration.

  Sincerely,

  Stephanie Bell, Cruelty Caseworker
  Domestic Animal and Wildlife Rescue & Information Department