From catwalk to dog sled

Here is an interesting story about a woman who traded her modeling career for a life working with sled dogs.

Her work rehabilitating unwanted sled dogs stands out in marked contrast to the comments made by many following the slaughter of more than 100 in Whistler earlier this year.
http://bit.ly/eOiOdi

Woman files $60k claim against Seattle power co.

The woman whose dog was electrocuted on Thanksgiving day has filed a $60,000 claim against Seattle City Light.

                            Photo c/o Lisa McKibben

She agrees to accept half that if they take sme proactive steps to educate the public and employees, and prevent this type tragedy from happening again.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014472670_dogclaim12m.html
more after the jump

the joy of dogs

If you ever doubt the healing power dogs or the simple joy they can bring, check out this story. It is about the therapy dog at Swedish Edmonds Hospital.

There's also a pretty good story on it in the Seattle Times. There is also a touching story about yet another case of animal cruelty, however this one has a happy ending.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014449886_phoenix10.html

Also, I got a rather patronizing email from Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe about the State Senate's failure to pass Sb 5649- the anti-tethering bill. She gives some pat rhetoric about how important it is to focus on the economy, etc. I guess she forgot the days lawmakers worked on tough subject like the steps required to get a hair dressers license (HB 1085) or -and I am not making this one up- Carpet Stewardship(SB 5110). With work like that on the docket, really, who has time to care about the thousands of dogs freezing and starving to death while chained alone to a tree in some redneck's backyard?

Why laws need to be stronger

To many of us, Hawaii conjures up images of an island paradise. However, for some 150 dogs, it was a real-life hell. Police busted a backyard breeder for animal cruelty, taking dozens of dogs that the Humane Society, officers, and vets say were in horrible shape. However, the slimeball's lawyer is now saying "these aren't household pets, they're breeding machines, no different from farm animals." He also is arguing the difference between animal cruelty(which his client is accused of) and simple animal neglect, which is what he says happened and carries a lighter punishment. This case is a prime example of why animal cruelty/neglect laws need to be toughened up. Get the details after the jump.