It’s not uncommon for dogs to be presented to their veterinarian with vague symptoms including drowsiness, staggering and sometimes vomiting. After examining the dog, and questioning the owner, some of these dogs are diagnosed as being drunk or stoned!

Who would knowingly give their dogs illicit drugs? No doubt there are some who would do that, but in many cases, these dogs accidentally get intoxicated.

Having a mutually respectful relationship is something that is earned by your dog. When you first get a new puppy they do not know to respect you right away. You always want your dog to know their boundaries but you don’t want your dog to be afraid of you. This is your family pet and you are both very lucky to have each other. Showing appreciation will get you everywhere with your pet. Just think of how you like to be treated and the effects of abusing a child has on their life. It is the same thing for a dog. We all want to be treated with respect and know exactly where our boundaries lie.

I wrote a guest post on what dominance really is and why it is not the proper training technique:

If you have had an interest in dogs for any length of time, you’ve no doubt heard the comment that dogs are a pack animal, and you need to be the alpha, or leader, in your dog’s pack or it won’t respect and obey you.

This “dominance theory” method of training is popular with followers of some well known dog trainers who are often featured in the media. They use techniques such as the “alpha roll”, where a dog is rolled over onto its back in a submissive position, to establish their position as pack leader.

Check out the article in full for all the details on this topic.

This is a story that had immersed last month, and had generated global outrage. Prosecutors in Puerto Rico said criminal charges will be filed in the slaughter of dozens of dogs and cats seized last month from a housing project  and allegedly thrown from a bridge. They said the findings of an investigation into the killings would be released within a few weeks.

Demands for justice increased this week after an Associated Press investigation showed inhumane animal killings have been routine in Puerto Rico for many years.

The investigation, which includes eyewitness accounts from two former employees of two  companies, showed that hundreds of unwanted animals have been tossed off bridges, buried alive, injected with unknown substances while being restrained with a noose on a stick, and then “slammed” into waiting vans and other inhumane ways of disposal for years, despite promises to deliver adoptable strays to shelters and humanely euthanize the rest.

In the lawsuit of the most recent action, a government contractor, Animal Control Solutions, is accused of throwing the animals from a bridge instead of delivering them to an animal shelter or humanely euthanizing them. Only a couple of some 80 pets survived the 50-foot fall from the bridge, some with serious life threatening injuries.

According to an interview with an agent of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, drugs must be administered by a veterinarian or another authorized person in an approved location, such as a veterinary clinic.

We will keep you updated on this gruesome and disgusting tragedy. Although we don’t pledge to be much of a ‘breaking’ news source, stories like this need to be seen and heard by as many animal lovers as possible. Stay tuned.