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Thanks, “This American Life”: Break your heart with stories of WWII soldier dogs  »

This American Life’s most recent show is called “Animal Sacrifice,” and its first act features Susan Orlean reporting on World War II soldier dogs, expanded from her book Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend. The U.S. military had a program where they recruited citizens’ pet dogs to serve. Like, one day your dog is performing Houdini-style escapes from every confinement you try to impose on her; the next, she’s flushing enemy soldiers out of caves in the Solomon Islands.

Here’s a training video, starring the cutest little terrier you ever saw.

[Can’t see the video? Watch it on Vegansaurus.com]

In light of the army’s latest findings on canine PTSD, this story is especially heartbreaking. Many of the dogs who weren’t killed in action had such bad PTSD they couldn’t be returned to their civilian families after the war, and so were euthanized. The use of dogs in service continues today, but at least now there are options beyond killing a dog we forced to undergo personality-altering trauma. Still, if we’re going to have robots in war, can we make some to replace the canines? It’s appalling, the sacrifices we ask of dogs, things we have no right to demand of them.

[photo from the national archives via TAL]

Pet CPR: Learn how, with vet tech David Watts!  »

This is David Watts, an Antioch, Calif., vet tech, demonstrating how to perform CPR on Caspar, a “resusci-dog” used as a veterinary teaching aide.

Did you know that there are animal-specific CPR techniques? The Contra Costa Times ran a neat little article about Watts, who owns a pet-ambulance company and teaches people how to perform life-saving techniques on their pets, specifically cats and dogs. Could you perform the Heimlich Maneuver on a hamster? Maybe, but you’d have to be awfully careful.

It seems like the techniques don’t differ too much between people and animals, but while my parents made me take a class on adult, child, and infant CPR before offering my services as a babysitter, I’d never heard of pet CPR before my friend Kelly sent me this article. “The thing is,” she said to me, “I’m not sure I’d be able to do it on my own dog, even if I knew how.” Which I think is interesting. I wonder if it’d be less terrifying doing chest compressions  or mouth-to-mouth on a dog than a baby. What do you think? Is the concept of holding your precious pet’s life in your hands more or less intimidating than an infant’s?

You definitely should check out the article for basic instructions and tips on preparing for domestic animal emergencies. Plus, for interested parties in the Bay Area, Watts offers classes on both pet CPR and combination pet CPR/trauma management. They cost $35-$45, and interested parties should call (925) 956-2911 for more information. Presumably they happen around Antioch, where Watts is based.

[Photo by Dan Rosenstrauch for the Contra Costa Times]

War is unbearable: Canine PTSD is real  »

The LA Times has a detailed, depressing article about the diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in dogs deployed in combat patrols. What do you know: “Dogs experience combat just like humans,” and they experience PTSD like people, too.

The article focuses on a Belgian Malinois named Cora, who returned two years ago from several tours of duty in Iraq, suffering serious behavioral problems. She was diagnosed with canine PTSD, and is undergoing rehab in Yuma, Ariz.

Calling Cora’s condition canine PTSD drives home a point that [Chief of behavioral medicine and military working-dog studies at Lackland Air Force Base Walter] Burghardt feels is key: “This is something that does not get better without intervention.”

Two factors slowed down the decision to label canine PTSD. For one, Burghardt and others did not want to suggest disrespect for the military personnel who have been diagnosed with the disorder.

Second is the problem faced by any veterinarian. “You can’t ask them questions,” Burghardt said.

The Times also has a photo gallery of military dogs you might want to check out. We understand much more about the dogs we use in war, and the terrible consequences they can suffer alongside the soldiers who work with them. War is unbearable for every being involved in it, whether deliberately or involuntarily, and we need to treat all our veterans with respect and care.

[Photos, from top: U.S. Army, Beverly & Pack, both via Flickr]

Paul Shapiro’s Animal News You Can Use!  »

It’s Paul Shapiro’s weekly dose of all things animals! Yes!

It’s almost Thanksgiving…Wondering how most turkeys are treated? Check out the newly-released Mercy For Animals investigation documenting appalling abuse of turkeys raised for Butterball.

(You may also want to take a look at this week’s NY Times’ major feature on vegetarian Thanksgvings.)

On that note, Los Angeles became the biggest city in the country to official start promoting Meatless Mondays. (Even the Today Show covered it!)

Finally, if you’ve got some time and want a fascinating read, here’s Washington Monthly’s new feature, “Obama’s Game of Chicken.” As they bill the story: “The untold story of how the administration tried to stand up to big agricultural companies on behalf of independent farmers, and lost.”

Video of the week: Not quite the lion and lamb laying down, but at least the dog and the fawn…

Little abused dog on death row just wanted to be loved  »

Can’t see the video? Watch it on Vegansaurus.com!

Here’s another bittersweet, heartstring-tugging video from Hope for Paws. It’s a few years old but it’s new to me. I could watch videos from this site all day. If I wanted to have puffy cry-y eyes at work! Really though this makes me so sad. I understand that a lot of dogs have to be euthanized, because what the hell do we want people to do with them? There’s just too many to take care of. But the idea that a dog like Chase could be euthanized after years of abuse, never knowing what it’s like to be loved or even treated nicely? Heartbreaking. It’s like, were they born just to be abused and die? And so many of the dogs in these videos are the kinds of dogs people pay thousands of dollars for, when dogs like Chase are waiting, scared and alone in shelters. So senseless.

Emergency dog foster home needed in California! Please help!  »

On Sunday, this dog was found on a lonely country road near Stockton. She was half-starved and covered in fleas; swimming in a muddy irrigation canal. She was rescued by the kind-hearted folks at Harvest Home Sanctuary, where they cleaned her up and named her Lydia. They’d keep her and adopt her out but the issue is, she’s not great with small animals, and they’ve got a lot of small animals. Plus, they are just overwhelmed and need our help. Lydia’s in need of training but she’s receptive and already knows how to sit. Smart girl!

They need a foster home or adoption miracle right now like never before! These are the people who step up to rescue animals ALL THE TIME, animals that society has neglected and thrown out, and they need our help! There has to be SOMEONE out there who can take Lydia in and show her some love?  

If you think you’re up to task, please please please email info@harvesthomesanctuary.org TODAY! She only has a couple days and they are desperate for a good home. Save Lydia!!!

And if you do foster her but can’t adopt, I can promise you that we will feature her on Vegansaurus EVERY WEEK until she has a new home. Seriously, we will get her forever home in no time! She just needs a safe house until then! Or maybe you are that forever home? LOOK AT THAT FACE LET”S GIVE HER ALL THE KISSES.