erwin926's Blogs

Delta has banned three breeds of bulldogs from their flights, after learning that a high percentage of dog deaths on their planes were from that canine family, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

The new no-fly list was created in response to a Delta study that showed that 6 of the 16 pet deaths on the airline were from the bulldog family.

Of the 16 pets that died on Delta flights in 2010, six were bulldogs. A Delta spokesman told the "Atlanta Journal-Constitution" that the airline saw a pattern involving animals that were prone to respiratory issues.

Michael Markarian, the COO of the Humane Society of the United States, called Delta's move a "sensible response". Many short-faced cats and dogs, such as bulldogs, pugs and Persian cats, have difficulty breathing, especially in confined cargo holds.

Other carriers such as AirTran and Southwest only allow pets that can fit in under-seat carriers to fly; American banned snub-nosed dogs and cats last fall.

Delta spokesman Anthony Black told the paper: "The decision to transport animals ultimately comes down to the owner. Our goal is also to continue to work to do a better job of communicating processes and procedures in preparing animals to travel."

Of course a more sure-fire--albeit more expensive--solution for pet owners would be to fly your pet on PET Airways, which now services nine cities around the country.

The Telegraph calls it the most expensive wedding ever for a dog in Britain. 

Lola wore a designer dress that cost $1,700. The venue, on the grounds of a mansion in Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex, was about $4,000. You can see how the costs can add up.

Lola apparently isn’t in it for the looks. Her new husband is a Chinese Crested who has held the title of the UK’s ugliest dog since 2005. I’m not sure if Lola was glowing (it was an arranged wedding, with Harris and a retinue of internet voters making the final choice), but Harris is. She gushed to the Telegraph:

“I wanted Lola to have the perfect day. It was meant to only be a relatively small affair with 30 guests but the list just kept getting bigger and bigger because I didn’t want to leave anyone out! Just like most weddings I guess! “The day was perfect from start to finish and Lola loved being the center of attention all day..My dogs are my pride and joy so nothing is too good for them. I enjoy spoiling them because it makes me happy.”

Venue £2,500

- Jewellery £1,350 - Pearl necklace designed by Latimer couture with real pearls (£400), Swarovski crystal leg cuffs (£250) complete with Swarovski crystal lead (£350), Lulu wore a dress customised by Latimer couture (£100), Swarovski crystal necklace (£200) and head dress (£150).

- Dog outfits £1200

- Food for human food £2500

- Food for dogs £500

- Car hire of Bentley £500

- Dancers £500

- Make up artist £200

- Hairdresser £200

- Dog groomers £200

- Photographers £500

- Louise's outfits £600

- Favours £500

- Drinks £600

- Dog creche including doggy gifts £1000

- Gifts £1500

- Flowers £1000

- Designers to decorate the marquee £3000

- Chocolate fountain £300

- Cupcake tower £200

- Security £400

- Wedding planner £400

- Music hire £400.

I am sick over this story!

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty is investigating a gruesome case of mass slaughter of 100 sled dogs killed with a shotgun and a knife in Vancouver, British Columbia. The case came to light when a dog-sled tour manager filed a claim with a local worker’s compensation board for post-traumatic stress as a result of killing the dogs.

Reports say Outdoor Adventures and Howling Dog Tours chose to kill the dogs because of a slump in their dog-sled tour business, and after failed attempts to give the dogs away. Some of the dogs were used to pull tourists during the 2010 Winter Olympics.

According to the claim filed with the board, the dogs were killed in front of one another and reportedly attempted to crawl out of the mass grave.

 

 

 

 

 

What a beautiful site to see!

The endangered Rothschild's giraffe has made a spectacular return home after 40 years in an unprecedented and daring ferry ride across Kenya’s Lake Baringo.

“We have been waiting for four years since we began our conservancy to see these animals return home” said Richard Lotuliapus, Chairman of the Board of the Ruko Community Wildlife Conservancy where the animals will live in safety.

Originally named after Lake Baringo, one of the Great Rift's lakes in Kenya, the Rothschild's giraffe is one of the most endangered sub-species of giraffe in the world, with a population numbering only a few hundred.

It was a joint operation between Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) and the Ruko Conservancy which brought eight Rothschild's giraffe by lorry from Soysambu Conservancy and then by barge to the community-owned sanctuary on the shores of Lake Baringo.

This landmark translocation is reestablishing Rothschild's giraffe in an area where it had disappeared. The return of the giraffe is symbolic of the communities’ commitment to conservation and will boost tourism revenue to the local people.