Pit Bull saves family from intruder!

D-Boy, a pit bull living with his family in Oklahoma, saved the day when an intruder burst into their home recently. Although the dog was shot a total of three times - including once in the head - D-Boy survived and chased the intruder into the night!

Say, can anyone find the phrase "pit bull" anywhere in this story? Oddly enough, no. Looks like when the news is good, the evil phrase isn't spoken...

UPDATE: After many readers posted comments questioning why D-Boy wasn't identified as a pittie, this story was updated on 12/10/08 at 5:40 pm to include the phrase "pit bull." FINALLY! D-Boy gets his day! Go D-Boy!!

A Vicktory dog passes his canine good citizen test!

If Oscar, one of 22 Vicktory Dogs at Best Friends in Utah, wanted to even be considered for a foster home (never mind adoption!), he had to first pass his Canine Good Citizen tests with flying colors.

But Oscar wasn't going to let anyone down! He not only passed - he flew through the course meeting and beating obstacles that would have sent any ordinary canine back to his kennel in shame! Read more...

A REALLY Happy Thanksgiving!

A while ago, I told you about a friend of mine, Brandy. She had been at PAWS for FOUR YEARS. Well, her luck had finally changed when a really, really nice couple came in specifically to meet her!

They spent some time with the lovely Brandy (who was wearing a rather clumsy e-collar due to recent surgery), and it was love at first sight. This previously aloof dog pranced right up to this couple and sat on the fellow's lap as if to say "you're not going anywhere without me!"

The rest is history. They came back a few days later (the day before Thanksgiving) to pick up Brandy and bring her to her forever home.

This had to be the best Thanksgiving any of us has had in a very, very long time!

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Watch "Second Chances" - September 4th

National Geographic will kick off the new season of Dogtown on Friday, September 5, at 9:00 pm EST. "Saving the Michael Vick Dogs" is a special two-hour program which chronicles the arrival of 22 of Michael Vick's most challenging dogs at Best Friends Animal Society in Utah. This episode follows four of the dogs as they begin the lengthy process of healing and rehabilitation.

I know I'll be watching as these great dogs go from feared animals to loved companions!!

Hey! Where Ya Been?

Sorry folks, my mom's had a busy few weeks. The shelter has had so many dogs in and out - which is good news. The bad news is that they've had so many dogs - too many foreclosures and people can't take their pets with them when they move to their new digs. I can't imagine what I'd do if my mom couldn't keep me. :-(

But at least the folks at PAWS have been able to find homes for the dogs and cats that have been coming in by the droves. Hopefully, things will quiet down so I can see more of my mom!!

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the meanest of them all?

Say what?! How could you tell me that those sweet little wiener dogs are vicious? Well, these guys insist they're the meanest of them all. (Jeez, not pit bulls?!)

According to their study, behind the big brown peepers of that cute little Doxie lurks an evil, black heart, ready to nip the life out of your ankles.

[Side note: A friend's Cairn terriers made mincemeat of his finger last week, over the 4th of July weekend. Apparently, he tried to break up a nasty spat over a piece of hamburger that fell off the grill. Yes, Do's cherubic little dog bit through his fingernail, broke the bone in his fingertip, shredded - literally - his finger from knuckle to fingertip, on both sides, until the poor guy shrieked "uncle." That'll teach ya never to interfere with Mother Nature. Especially when there's food involved. As Toto said, "there's nothing like burger, there's nothing like burger..." You done with those fries?]

News Flash: Trixie finds a forever home!

I'm so psyched! My friend Trixie has found her forever home!!

Trixie is an older dog, blind, and a little hard of hearing. She'd been at PAWS for a while, and we were beginning to worry. But a really nice family came along and took this sweetie home yesterday.

She's a truly amazing dog. You'd think a nine-year-old, blind dog would want to put up her paws and sleep all day. Not this girl! She loves long walks, and is great at maneuvering her way around. She learned the layout of PAWS and I'm sure she'll quickly learn the pattern of her new home.

All the best to Trixie and her new family! Kisses and hugs to you sweetie!!

Mom! What's that "L" on your forehead?!

"Mom, why's your hand all bandaged up?"
"I don't know what you mean, dear."
"What's that "L" on your forehead?"
"What "L" is that, dear? It's probably just a shadow from the sun, honey."
"No, mom, it's clearly an "L." As in Loser."
"All right, dear. I broke the first rule of interacting with dogs."
"And that is...?"
"Never let your guard down when two strange dogs are near each other."
"English, please, Mom?"
"Okaaaay... I put my hand near an angry dog's mouth, and it became an hors d'oeuvre, okay honey? Happy now? Your mom is an idiot."
"I see. Was it a big, mean pit bull?"
"No, dear, it was actually a small breed. I've never been bitten by a big, mean pit bull. Just those little ones. Always the little ones."
"Stitches, mom?"
"You're enjoying this, aren't you honey?"

LA Times correction - It wasn't a Pit after all!

Earlier this month, the LA Times reported - then corrected - that a family's pit bull bit their toddler. The LA Department of Animal Services later reported that the dog was actually a shepherd mix, not a pit bull. Thank you, LADAS, for clarifying this for us!! (Best wishes for the child's speedy recovery!!)