The DogChannel Newswire (01-14-09)

Wee Dog Nearly Killed by Wii Remote
A wee dog is lucky to be alive after a run in with a Wii remote in Marquette, Mich. Ozzy, a 5-month-old Sheltie, was watching his owners play with their new Nintendo Wii console when he was accidentally hit with one of the game’s remote controllers, MSNBC.com reports.
Read now >>

Indoor Dog Park Gives Pets, Owners Shelter From Weather
People are not the only ones who get cabin fever during a Minnesota winter. Fortunately, pet owners and their four-legged companions now have an indoor option to escape frigid weather. With a new indoor pet park at Leashes & Leads in Byron, owners can relax, and their pets can exercise and socialize, the Rochester (Minn.)  Post-Bulletin reports.
Read now >>

Beagle Mix Weighs In at More Than 60 Pounds
When poor little Patch, a Beagle mix, found his way to Glasgow’s Dogs Trust center in December, he topped the scales at almost 62 pounds. His owner passed away, leaving no one to care for him, and it was clear to Dogs Trust staffers that he was in bad shape. The BBC explains: His legs could not support his weight – roughly equivalent to an 8-year-old child – so he had to be carried around in a special harness, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Read now >>

Pit Bull Amendment Adds Restrictions For Owners
The latest debate over Sioux City’s pit bull ban was put to rest after council members voted to add more restrictions to the rules. Attendance was lower than past hearings regarding pit bulls, still, about a dozen pit bull owners spoke and discussion carried on for hours as the council decided how to deal with pit bulls that were in the city before the ban went through this fall, kcautv.com (Iowa) reports.
Read now >>

Animal Activists Protest Dog Electrocutions in Mexico
Recent events confirm what Dallas-based director Bill Buchanan was trying to convey in his film “Companions to None” – how cultural attitudes toward dogs in Mexico contribute to the continuation of electrocution as a means of getting rid of unwanted animals. Animal-rights activists in the state of Mexico – which borders Mexico City – are up in arms following the electrocution of more than 200 dogs found near a dump last week, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Read now >>