Wednesday, September 14, 2011

911 memorial ground zero dog rescue

NEW YORK CITY (USA) — The post-9/11 recovery will always be remembered for its spirit, its dedication and—to those who know it intimately—its dogs. Wherever you may find yourself today on the anniversary, remember the victims, remember the unity, and remember to say a prayer for the pups.
Revisiting a place they'll never forget,
FEMA US&R Task Force 1 members "Hawk" and Cathy Schiltz take a moment to reflect at Ground Zero in New York, which they haven't seen since last September. Hawk, an Australian Shepherd, never found any survivors, only the remains of dozens of victims. Says Ms. Schiltz: "Sometimes he would look at me as if to say, 'Sorry.' " (Photo: Lauren Hobart / FEMA)
Big dogs (left) and little dogs (below) contributed in big ways.
In a disaster response of unprecedented magnitude, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) deployed 25 of its 28 nationwide task forces to the WTC and the Pentagon. In all, there were 80 FEMA-certified dogs at work. The effort was joined by the NYC Police K9 Corps, as well as some 300 search dogs from around the country. And don't make the mistake of overlooking the Port Authority dogs, airport security dogs and therapy dogs who contributed immeasurably.
A wall of red, white and blue honors those killed aboard United Airlines Flight 93 near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where passengers and crew overpowered the hijackers and sacrificed themselves to avert a much greater disaster, possibly aimed at Capitol Hill or the White House on September 11th, 2001. Yesterday, United Airlines flight attendant Carol Wood, Red Cross Volunteer Patty Dershem, and "Star", a Red Cross dog remembered their loved ones. (Photo: Dan Loh / AP)
These two were not at "the pile", but their sentiments were.
This fantastic photograph, often mistaken for a Ground Zero picture, is not from the WTC but has its own amazing story of human-canine heroics. In 1999, firefighters saved this pregnant Dobie from a house fire in Charlotte. This is how a dog says "thanks." (Humans, don't try this at home.)
(Photo: Patrick Schneider / The Charlotte Observer)
"A fire fighter from Brooklyn approached me since I was wearing a K-9-11 T-shirt provided by a neighbor and fire fighter buddy. The Brooklyn fire fighter asked me if I was a fire fighter. I told him I was a volunteer K-9 handler with Hal Wilson on September 12th at WTC. The guy broke down, telling me how much of a morale booster the dogs were on the pile. 'One came up and licked me, as if to say, I understand how you feel.'

"Then he walked away, teared up, couldn't talk any more. This guy was so big and strong he could lift a car."

Message from Paul Morgan (and "Cody Bear"), Sep. 1, 2002.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Ear Infections in Dogs Why Cleaning Your Dog's Ears is Important

Ear Infections in Dogs
Why Cleaning Your Dog's Ears is Important




Cocker Spaniels Prone to Ear Infections
Dog owners who notice head shaking, ear scratching, or tilted head in their pet may be seeing symptoms of ear infection which needs prompt treatment for cure.

Ear infections are quite common in dogs. Although any dog can get an ear infection, breeds such as Cocker Spaniels with heavy pendulous ears and Yorkshire Terriers with lots of hair inside the ears are most susceptible.
Causes


Ear infections are most commonly caused by bacteria, yeast, or mites. Anything that impairs drainage and promotes moisture in the ear such as waxy buildup, dirt, hair mats, growths, or ticks can bring on infection. Sometimes pollen, dust, mold, fleas, and even certain foods can cause irritation within the ear.
Symptoms


Dogs with an ear infection may scratch at the ear, shake their heads excessively or hold their heads tilted, or scoot the side of the heads with the infected ear along the ground or carpet. They may shy away from being petted around the ears. Upon examination, dog owners may find the ear to be red and irritated or filled with dark or yellowish discharge. Often a smelly odor is detected.
Prevention
Regular cleanings with a good ear cleansing solution go a long way toward preventing ear infections. Dogs with hair growing inside the ears will benefit from keeping it clipped.