PETS

Dog DNA business cracks down on errant droppings

A DNA registry for animals is keeping apartment and condo complexes in Minnesota free of errant dog droppings. "It's kind of like the 'CSI' of dog ownership," said Patti Trongard, marketing director of the company that manages a 180-unit apartment complex in Roseville.

By Associated Press , May 23, 2012

Finding and funding Fido’s vet: Programs help rural veterinarians pay off debt

The North Dakota Department of Agriculture since 2008 has helped 15 veterinarians set up practice in rural communities and helped them repay a significant portion of their student loan debt.

By Brian Gehring , May 21, 2012

Have leash, will travel: Tips to make trips easy for you and your dog

Since dogs are a beloved member of the family, many people like to travel with their four-legged friends. With a little extra planning and savvy packing skills, vacationing with your dog can be a wonderful experience. To help make your next vacation a stress-free one, the American Kennel Club offers tips on what to pack for your pet.

By McClatchy Tribune , May 15, 2012

Drive to stiffen animal cruelty laws cites beating death of Grand Forks dog

People working to increase North Dakota penalties against animal cruelty are citing the recent killing of a pet dog during a Grand Forks home invasion and robbery as an example of why the cruelty laws should be toughened.

By Chuck Haga , May 04, 2012

Rabies cases on the rise in North Dakota this year

A mild winter and spring have led to a spike in rabies cases in North Dakota. State officials are urging pet and livestock owners to make sure their animals are vaccinated against the deadly virus. There have been 40 confirmed rabies cases so far this year — double the 20 cases in all of 2011.

By Associated Press , April 24, 2012

Dog caught in Hastings, Minn., fire given mouth-to-mouth by woman

Two dogs were rescued from a house fire Monday, with one of them receiving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation from a neighbor. The dogs were rescued from a burning home by firefighters from the Hastings Fire Department.

By Chad Richardson , April 23, 2012

Minnesota dog breeder accused of drowning puppies

A Dakota County dog breeder is accused of drowning puppies in a bucket and another dog in a pool. Sixty-one-year-old Dayna Kristine Bell is facing 16 counts of animal cruelty. She owns Bell Kennels and Farm in Sciota Township. Three former employees told police they witnessed Bell mistreating dogs.

By Associated Press , April 17, 2012

Pet rabbits raise alarm on Finley house fire

Some pet rabbits warned a Finley woman and man about a garage fire that damaged their home. The rabbits were kept in the garage. Steele County Sheriff Wayne Beckman says Tracy Jacobson noticed the fire after she heard the rabbits making noise early Thursday.

By Associated Press , April 13, 2012

S.D. woman credits dog with saving husband's life

Connie Piotter tells KFGO radio that her husband Marvin was doing chores with their dog Buddy when one of the cows attacked him. Connie says the dog held the cow at bay until Marvin could crawl to safety.

By Associated Press , April 07, 2012

Beyonce the tiny puppy fit into spoon at birth (VIDEO)

A very tiny puppy is sitting inside a coffee mug, trying without success to escape by scratching its little paws against the slippery surface. In recent days, this famous dog has been placed alongside a variety of small objects — an iPhone, a business card and a tape measure, among other things — to demonstrate just how tiny she really is.

By Meghan Barr , March 28, 2012

Petitions for initiated measure on animal cruelty get N.D. secretary of state’s OK

An effort to increase penalties for animal cruelty in North Dakota took a step forward Tuesday as Secretary of State Al Jaeger approved for circulation a petition to place an initiated measure on the ballot. The initiated measure would make it a class C felony “to maliciously and intentionally harm a living dog, cat or horse.”

By Chuck Haga , March 27, 2012

Golden Gate Bridge part of 85-mile ride by kitten in van's engine compartment

A Santa Cruz County (Calif.) Animal Shelter spokesman says the 8-month-old female feline was probably just looking for a warm place to sleep.

By Associated Press , March 22, 2012

Yoda, reigning 'world's ugliest dog,' dies in California

Yoda, who was 15 when she died Saturday, won the 2011 World's Ugliest Dog contest at the Sonoma Marin Fair for her short tufts of hair, protruding tongue, and long, seemingly hairless legs.

By Associated Press , March 18, 2012

Crippled dog's story gains admirers

Collection aims to pay for surgery
Even as the man walked out the door, Nancy O’Hearn knew she’d never see him again. He had just surrendered a cream-colored toy poodle to the Humane Society of Richland and Wilkin counties after saying his family had been recently evicted. He assured O’Hearn that he would be back shortly to give away a second animal, a cat, and to pay the $50 surrender fee. O’Hearn, the organization’s secretary, knew better. The man left behind one of the saddest-looking dogs she had seen in her four years with the Humane Society. The 6-year-old pooch, named Millie, had no use of her back legs.

By Tammy Swift , March 17, 2012

Woman accused of swinging dog around by leash in Fargo bars (VIDEO)

A 27-year-old Fargo woman was arrested early Thursday after customers and employees at two downtown bars reported she was abusing a small dog and screaming hysterically, at one point threatening to kill the animal, Fargo police said.

By The Forum , March 16, 2012