The DogChannel Newswire (10-01-08)

A Fight to Save Urban Youth From Dogfighting
The vast majority of dogfighters are not rich and famous like former football star Michael Vick, or as organized as the pit masters who schedule high-stakes blood battles that rake in thousands of dollars a night. The most active and numerous dogfighters, experts say, are 13 or 14 or 17 years old — inner-city youths who have trained their Pit Bulls to fight other dogs in the neighborhood, USA Today reports.
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Cheyenne Considers Scaling Back Rabies Requirement
Dogs and cats in Cheyenne might soon be required to get a rabies shot only every three years instead of the annual shot that’s currently required. Pet owners would still need to get a current rabies tag from a veterinarian. The tag serves as proof of immunization and annual registration, The Associated Press reports.
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Treat Toddlers Like Dogs, Expert Says
A British animal behavior expert says raising a toddler shouldn’t be much different from training a dog. Pat Moore, a behavior expert with the Battersea Cats and Dogs Home, told the Telegraph newspaper that misbehaving toddlers should treated with the same techniques used to correct disobedient dogs, the Los Angeles Times reports.
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Officials Investigate Fire That Killed More Than 30 Dogs, Cats
Fire officials were working to determine the cause of a house fire that killed more than 30 dogs and cats in Plano, Texas, the Dallas Morning News reports.
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Owners Learn Lesson in Dog Safety
It was not a common sight for Foresthill resident Wesley Smith to see when he was driving down Baxter Grade Road last Sunday. He watched as a truck was driving and an Australian Shepherd mix was running alongside it with its leash attached to the car. And what could’ve turned into an unfortunate case of animal cruelty ended up being a valuable lesson for two conscientious pet owners, the Auburn (Calif.) Journal reports.
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