The DogChannel Newswire (07-15-08)

Two-Legged Dog Becomes Symbol of Trapping Flap
Andre the two-legged dog was rescued last winter when a woman noticed the animal trailing blood across a country road. The large, friendly mutt lost most of the lower half of his left legs after getting caught in an animal trap or snare. Now, he’s become a symbol in Alaska for a gruesome and growing problem: pets accidentally caught in traps and snares meant for wild animals, The Associated Press reports.
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Dancing Goes to the Dogs in Canine-Crazy Japan
Rumba with your Retriever, polka with your Poodle, or samba with your Scottish Terrier in Japan, where dog dancing is the latest must-do activity in this canine-crazy nation. Dancing lessons for pets joins a long list of things to do with your animal companion in a country where the pet industry is worth one trillion yen (nearly $9.5 billion), Reuters reports.
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Dog Found in Sewer Reunited With Owners
There’s a happy ending to the story about the frightened dog found in a 60-foot-deep sewer hole on July 1, Kansas City animal control says. He may have not been wearing a collar when Water Services Department workers heard him whimpering, but the pooch has a family. His owners picked him up from the Kansas City shelter on July 7, the Kansas City Star reports.
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See Spot Luxuriate
The economy may be going to the dogs, but the animals themselves are going to spas and fancy hotels, flying on private jets, and enjoying the services of chauffeurs and masseuses. But not all animals are so lucky. Adoptions have declined at more than half the shelters and rescue groups across the country, according to a survey by Petfinder.com, and there's been a significant increase in pet surrenders due to home foreclosures, The Boston Globe Sunday Magazine reports.
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RSCPA Warns of Puppy Trafficking
The RSPCA on Friday warned dog lovers to be aware of the dangers of "puppy trafficking,” saying people were taking a risk if they bought their puppies from the Internet, newspaper ads, or some pet shops. The animal welfare charity said trafficked puppies risked having illnesses or behavioral problems, Reuters UK reports.
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