The audio in this 41-second video clip seems to provide evidence that the dog’s owners think their loving canine is quite funny.

If one of my dogs ever displayed such behavior, I don’t believe I’d stay in the same room for very long.

The source of this video is unknown. If this is your video, then you are very lucky … at least you can still operate a computer. I would hope you have the rest of your digits, as well.

As we have probably all heard: “If you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem.”

I believe, in this situation, it does hold true.

First, my credentials: I do not have any training in veterinarian medicine, I do not have any advanced training in statistical analysis, and I am not a recognized mathematician nor a scientist.  My point is that it does not take a genius to figure this out.

At random, I selected a county that I was able to access historical animal-handling data.  The following is from fiscal years 1999-2006, Merced County Animal Control in central California. The numbers do not include dead animal recovery (i.e., road kill).

• 70,219 pets were handled

Of those 70K pets …

• 4,528 were recovered by owners … approx 6%

• 6,211 were adopted … approx 9%

• 49,340 were euthanized … approx 70%

• the remaining 15% were transferred to shelters, etc.

Therefore, in Merced County alone, almost 600 animals per month were euthanized (or 20 per day).  Where did they come from?  Why did no one claim them?

The total Human Population in Merced County was 240,162 (latest available 2005).

Let’s extrapolate …
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Other than the description in the subject line, I can think of no other reason for this post.

Sorry if this caused you to miss your bus.

This time I lost a best friend … an adopted family member.

In early 1996, I received a call from a business associate and fellow dog-person. It was 4PM on a Monday afternoon.

She told me that a dog, brought to the animal hospital three days earlier, was the victim of a hit-and-run.

A witness stopped her car in the traffic lane to protect the dog from being hit again. A police car arrived at the scene shortly after and was able to transport the injured canine to the hospital.

A male, estimated to be at least two years old and about 80-pounds, was wearing no identification. An x-ray discovered a fracture in the dog’s pelvis, which would mend itself. Continue reading…