The DogChannel Newswire (07-08-10)

New Jersey census calculates canines; New York considers animal-abuser registry; other news.

Posted: July 8, 2010, 2 a.m. EDT

New Jersey Census Calculates Canines
While the federal government continues its effort to count every person in the country for the 2010 U.S. Census, this summer Montgomery Township, N.J., will be trying to count every dog. Township employees will be out in the community in the coming months, canvassing neighborhoods and going door to door looking for unlicensed dogs, CentralJersey.com reports.
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Animal-Abuser Registry Proposed for New York
Across the country, every state has passed laws requiring sex offenders to register with police. Now there is a proposal for a registry for convicted animal abusers. It's the idea of a local New York assembly member hoping to help stop repeat animal abuse, WCBSTV.com reports.
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Distemper Outbreak Puts Adoptions On Hold
Bladen County officials in North Carolina have stopped pet adoptions as staff work to control a distemper outbreak at the local animal shelter. A handful of dogs were showing symptoms of the disease last week, shelter staff said, and at least one case had been confirmed by Tuesday morning. Four animals have been put down because of the virus so far, The Fayetteville Observer reports.
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Attack Creates Worries in the West About Sheepdogs
Two sheepdogs’ attack on a Colorado mountain biker has prompted ranchers in the West to seek better ways to manage the large dogs that protect their herds against predators. The American Sheep Industry Association has been working with state groups and federal agencies to address the problem as more people make their way into once-remote areas where sheep graze, The Associated Press reports.
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