Cool Animal Facts

Time Magazine recently included http://www.dogster.com/in a list of their “50 Coolest Websites”. Check it out for a wacky fun version of “MySpace” for dogs! Surrounded by over 250,000 fellow dog lovers registered with the site, you'll find digital images, “paw-mails”, videos, and blogs from a dog's eye view of living with their people from all over the world. This information doesn't come without a warning, however! There's serious addiction potential here folks. Play in moderation!

For the cat lovers out there, there's also http://www.catster.com/. Great fun!

A recent study published in the journal of Applied Animal Behavior Science, finds a genetic link between a dog's hair color and attitude! Evaluation of a large population of English Cocker Spaniels revealed that golden-red Cockers were most crabby, followed by the black ones, with the most congenial being awarded to the white, with multi-colored patches. Although genetic coding appears to be involved, the authors remind us that 80% of aggressive behaviors are due to environmental factors, or how the dogs are raised.

Good News! A study conducted by veterinarians from Iams Pet Food, the University of Pennsylvania, and the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation recently found that all 10 working dogs among the first responders to the 9/11 World Trade Center terrorist attack are healthy! Considered a high risk for respiratory disease and nasal cancers due to potential airborne toxins, extensive diagnostic studies were performed for these American heroes five years after the event. All dogs received a clean bill of health.

The dog's powerful sense of smell is utilized for search and rescue work so wearing a protective respirator device is not possible while on the job. Their help with this catastrophic event is but one example of millions in which dogs (and many other animals) positively affect our lives daily, oftentimes despite great risk to them. Please support service animals in any way possible as we would all be greatly hindered without them.

Where are all those cat lovers?! In a recent national survey of American households including both dogs and cats, pet people concluded the following when comparing the two:

• They spend more time with their dogs, compared to their cats, 50% to 10%.

• Label dogs more ‘fun' than cats, 42% to 6%.

• View dogs as true members of their family, over their cats, a full 30% to 3%.

• Feel that dogs ‘fit' their family better than cats 26% to 8%.

According to these findings, cats everywhere are wondering, “Where's the love, America?"