The DogChannel Newswire (12-08-08)

Dog Frozen to Wisconsin Sidewalk; Fat Helped Him Survive
A dog weighing more than 120 pounds survived being frozen to a sidewalk overnight, probably because he was insulated by layers of fat, authorities said. The Sheboygan County Humane Society says the "morbidly obese" dog, an aging Border Collie mix named Jiffy, froze to the sidewalk when he was left out overnight Wednesday, The Associated Press reports.
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ACLU Questions Use of Drug-Sniffing Dogs in Canton
The Canton, Conn., school board is being asked to end the policy of allowing police dogs to sniff student lockers and school parking lots for drugs. The American Civil Liberties Union asks for the end to the practice in a letter sent to Superintendent Kevin Case. Drug searches have been a focus of controversy in Canton since a random sweep at middle and high schools in June put classrooms in lockdown and resulted in the arrest of one student, The Associated Press reports.
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iPhone-Controlled Dog Treat Dispenser Rewards Fido From Afar
When you're away from home and want to check on your dog, what do you do? Well, if you're an enterprising Ph.D. student, you create a custom dog-cam system/treat dispenser that runs via your iPhone, allows you to see just what your dog is doing at all times, and rewards it with treats when it isn't peeing on your sweaters, DVICE.com reports.
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Woman Whose Dog Died in Crate Given Jail, Probation
A Florida woman was sentenced Thursday to eight months in jail for leaving her dog to die in a locked crate, but that punishment wasn't stiff enough for some impassioned animal-rights activists. Christine Abrams’ case has elicited outrage since March, when authorities found her dog, Ella, starved and virtually mummified after not having any food for two months, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
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College Student Creates Business That’s for the Dogs
Modesto, Calif., college student Kaity Krajcek has found a way to help pay for school and to help animals. Krajeck started her business six months ago and has been gaining more and more customers ever since. It's called Doggersize.com and it's a website devoted to fighting dog obesity, the Fort Worth (Texas) Star Telegram reports.
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