Australian Dog Keeps Owner Alive for Four Days After Crash

Dogster reports that a Kelpie dog named Boydy kept his owner, Herbert Schutz, 76, alive for four days following an SUV crash in a remote area of Australia before a neighbor finally found him. He was injured in central New South Wales, Australia and was trapped in his vehicle. The dog would sit on his chest during the cold nights there and keep him warm while he was waiting for someone to find him. He had broken ribs, a fractured pelvis, and a fractured shoulder. He will recover from this accident thanks to his canine friend.

The Australian Kelpie is a dog that has been bred to herd sheep with little or no supervision. The city of Ardlethan, in New South Wales, touts itself as the birthplace of the Australian Kelpie.

Missouri Senate passes bill easing Proposition B restrictions on dog breeders

The Missouri Senate removed a year's worth of efforts to restrict Missouri dog
breeders by passing a bill that dilutes most Proposition B restrictions.

The bill, passed with a vote of 20-14, removes the measure's limitation on 50 dogs
in breeding facilities and also dissolves requirements for bigger cage sizes.

Missourians voted 52 percent in favor of Proposition B in November general election.

Since then, some lawmakers have argued voters were unaware that the measures passed
in Prop. B were harming good breeders and a legitimate industry in the state.

Humane Society spokeswoman Barb Schmitz said this isn't true.

"The issue was thoroughly debated for a year," Schmitz said. "Voters knew what they
were doing. And if lawmakers are really intent on overturning the will of the
people, then I find that extremely disappointing."

Sen. John Lamping, R-St. Louis County, warned there is a problem with easing the
restrictions Missourians voted to pass with Proposition B.

"There's a risk to legislating this way, by proposition," he said. "I think I'm
quite confident that my district read the bill, did their best to understand the
bill and voted their will. I think this is a very dangerous way to legislate."

Sen. Maria Chappell-Nadal, D-St. Louis County, voted against changing the law, but
she acknowledged supporters' arguments about voter confusion in November.

"Proposition B does not deal with pounds, yet it is messaged to our constituents
that Proposition B is saving puppies," she said.

The bill now will be sent to the House for debate. If it passes, it will be sent to
the governor to sign into law.

Senate Advances Measure to Go After Unlicensed Dog Breeders in Missouri

The Missouri Senate gave second round approval today advancing a measure that would create a new crime targeting unlicensed dog breeders, as well as strengthening the guidelines and increasing the number of inspections of licensed dog breeders in Missouri. Sen. Mike Parson, R-Bolivar, sponsored Senate Bill 113 & 95. The bill now moves to the House for similar consideration.

Parson said the bill keeps the heart of the proposition Missouri voters adopted by strengthening provisions and inspections of licensed dog breeders and cracking down on unlicensed breeders. It is estimated there are more than 1,500 unlicensed breeding facilities in Missouri.

“We all want puppies and dogs to be bred and raised under healthy and safe conditions,” said Parson. “That is why we have created a new crime and funding mechanism to hire more inspectors to go after and shut down unlicensed breeders in our state. We also build on the will of the people by making sure licensed breeders must follow common-sense guidelines to protect the health and well-being of their dogs and new puppies.”

Senate Bill 113 & 95 allows the Missouri Department of Agriculture to refer cases of unlicensed breeders to the Attorney General, circuit attorney, or local prosecutor. It also makes it a crime to operate without a license, with punishment ranging up to a Class A Misdemeanor. Parson said the bill also raises the cap on the license fee for breeders from $500 to $2,500, and creates an additional fee of $25 per breeding facility to fund Operation Bark Alert. The fee structure funding would potentially go to hiring an additional five inspectors to join the department’s current staff of twelve inspectors.

“This legislation will truly make a difference as it gives the Dept. of Agriculture every tool they need to combat bad operators, and go after unlicensed facilities,” said Parson.

Parson said the bill also dramatically increases veterinarian involvement. It requires breeders to consult veterinarians to determine how often a dog can breed and must have a veterinarian approved exercise plan for each dog. Stacked cages would be allowed, but only if they include an impenetrable barrier keeping waste and fluids from dropping on the dog below.

The bill also requires breeding facilities to keep sale and veterinarian records for two years on every dog, and make them available to Dept. of Agriculture inspectors upon request. The measure also changes the definition of "pet" to only apply to dogs.

Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter, said it was important to clarify provisions in Proposition B.

“These common-sense changes will protect the health and safety of ‘man’s best friend,’ while allowing this important industry to continue in Missouri,” said Mayer. “It reforms the industry by making the care and health of the dog the number one priority of any breeding facility.”

Missouri Department of Agriculture Keeping Watch on Dog Breeders

The Missouri Department of Agriculture has been keeping a watch on Missouri dog breeders and has been stepping up efforts over the last two years. The Missouri Department of Agriculture regularly revokes the licenses of dog breeders who do not follow state and federal standards regarding dog breeding and places the animals in question in homes around the state in conjunction with local organizations. These activities undermine the argument made by Proposition B supporters that it was needed in order to combat animal abuse in the state.

The latest instance was when animal care inspectors from the Missouri Department of Agriculture worked with the Stone County Sheriff's Department to remove over 60 dogs from a Crane, Mo. facility today. The dogs removed were Standard Collies and Bichon Frises and included adults and puppies.

The Animal Care Facilities Act (ACFA) license for Kneedeepincollies was revoked prior to the rescue as a result of violations identified during an inspection conducted Feb.17, 2011. The facility was previously inspected Mar. 2, 2010.

Violations of ACFA identified during the inspection directly impact animal welfare. Rescued animals will be placed with licensed shelters and rescues in Missouri, including the Humane Society of Missouri.

ACFA inspectors routinely work with local organizations to rescue animals. Since January 2009, actions taken by the Department of Agriculture have resulted in over 4,100 dogs being rescued.

For more information regarding the Department of Agriculture's animal programs, visit mda.mo.gov. Missouri has some of the most stringent animal regulations and enforcement in the country.

Jack Remembers for 11-19-08

I am so sad. I lost my best friend last week. Buddy was a big black dog who was 10 years old, weighed 140 lbs, and had a curl in his tail. One day my sister came by with a friend and her friend’s granddaughter. When the little girl saw Buddy, she asked, "Grandma, how did they curl that dog’s tail?"
Buddy never had a leash or a collar, nor was he ever penned up. When he was a pup, he rode to town with me to my office one night. I left the door of the office open. He normally came on in, but this time when I came out Buddy was gone. I drove all over town calling him until about 1:00 a.m. The next morning I went by the city worker’s garage and told them if they found my dog, I would give the finder a hundred dollar bill. About an hour later, here came one of the city employees with my dog to the coffee shop. He made the mistake of going to City Hall bragging about finding Hackley’s dog. The City Manager overheard him and made him give me the money back.
Buddy was the perfect companion, friendly, loyal, and always took a walk with me. One day on our walk he discovered a litter of pups someone had thrown over Horseshoe Creek Bridge and he wouldn’t leave until they were finally rescued by the Oak Grove Police Department.
Buddy loved deer meat and would drag a carcass someone had shot and left lay up to the house for me to butcher, cut up and freeze. I carried a saw in my truck and when I would see a deer along side of a road, I would stop and saw off the hind quarters for Buddy. I was at a Rotary Luncheon in Paris. The speaker was the local conservation agent. I asked him a supposedly hypothetical question if it would be legal to cut meat off a carcass found on the road for my dog. He assured me it was illegal, and if anyone was caught doing so they would be issued a summons. I quietly left the meeting and drove my truck out of sight behind the restaurant. Just that morning, I had found a deer south of Paris on Highway 15 and had the hind quarters in the back of my pick-up to take home to Buddy.
Jack can be reached at PO Box 40, Oak Grove, MO 64075 or jackremembers@aol.com