A five-month-old Cane Corso named Sidon was saved by Penn Vet’s Shelter Dog Specialty Medical Treatment Project, making him the 100th dog aided by the program since its launch in March 2015. The life-saving program is made possible through the generosity of the Richard Lichter Charity for Dogs.

When a shelter dog has a medical problem that requires specialty care, shelters often do not have the resources necessary to address the animal’s needs. Experts from Penn Vet’s Shelter Medicine Program and partner facilities select dogs to enroll in the

Shelter Dog Specialty Medical Treatment Project. Through this program, veterinarians at Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital provide specialized medical care to dogs from area shelters that are in need. All diagnostic and medical services are covered free of charge to participating shelters. Following treatment, dogs are placed in foster homes and made available for adoption.

“It is incredible that we’ve been able to give 100 dogs a second chance at life through Richard’s tremendous support,” said Dr. Brittany Watson, Director of Shelter Medicine and Community Engagement at Penn Vet. “The Shelter Dog Specialty Medical Treatment Project has been so impactful for our students, staff, and shelter partners, enabling us to collaborate with the shelter community to save the lives of dogs in need.”

“This has been a wonderful opportunity to give a helping hand to dogs who just need some medical assistance in order to be adoptable,” said Richard Lichter.

Sidon arrived at the Pennsylvania SPCA with an extremely swollen neck and shoulder. The swelling appeared to be progressive, so he was sent to Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital for advanced diagnostics, intensive care, and possible surgery. Sidon was placed on antibiotics, which helped to lower his fever and swelling. A CT scan revealed a fluid-filled tract that spread from the base of his tongue to the thorax and the mediastinum, as well as to the shoulder blade and along the back. The extensive infection was the result of an unknown injury, most likely a penetrating foreign body.

Drs. Lillian Aronson and Christine Hsueh performed surgery to debride and flush out the abnormal tissue. They also placed a closed suction drain to remove additional fluid post-surgery.

Sidon recovered very well and the drain was removed after 36 hours. Today, he is happily residing with his foster parent, Allison Vetter, CVT, one of the nurses who cared for him at Ryan Hospital.

“I tell everyone how wonderful the Shelter Dog Specialty Medical Treatment Program is,” said Vetter. “It makes a big difference for dogs who wouldn’t otherwise have a second chance at life. I have high hopes for Sidon.”

Established in 2006, the Penn Vet Shelter Medicine Program programs consultative, educational, and veterinary support to regional shelters and residents of the Greater Philadelphia community. The program has a significant impact on how many homeless animals are given quality care and placed into permanent homes. In addition, the program provides interdisciplinary and authentic instruction to veterinary students through the lens of shelter medicine, by integrating best practices in educational techniques and research with community outreach, collaborative partnerships, and service learning.

Ranked among the top five veterinary schools worldwide, the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) is a global leader in veterinary education, research, and clinical care. Founded in 1884, Penn Vet is the first veterinary school developed in association with a medical school. The school is a proud member of the One Health initiative, linking human, animal, and environmental health.

Penn Vet serves a diverse population of animals at its two campuses, which include extensive diagnostic and research laboratories. Ryan Hospital in Philadelphia provides care for dogs, cats, and other domestic/companion animals, handling nearly 35,000 patient visits a year. New Bolton Center, Penn Vet’s large-animal hospital on nearly 700 acres in rural Kennett Square, PA, cares for horses and livestock/farm animals. The hospital handles nearly 4,900 patient visits a year, while the Field Service treats more than 38,000 patients at local farms. In addition, New Bolton Center’s campus includes a swine center, working dairy, and poultry unit that provide valuable research for the agriculture industry.

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She was rescued by Muttville Senior Rescue in San Francisco.  When she was found, her teeth were in such bad shape, they had to all be removed.  This may have left her without teeth, but it also gave her a deep understanding of what it means to suffer with this type of problem.  Perhaps this is what makes her absolutely perfect for her current job.

Karma was adopted by Debra Garrett.  She was looking for a companion dog for her elderly mom, and from the moment Garrett met Karma, she thought that it would be a perfect fit.

“My mom is 82 with Alzheimer’s and really wanted a dog,” said Garrett to The Dodo.  “We did not want her to have a dog that was likely to outlive her or that would require a lot of training and energy. Muttville provided us with the perfect solution for my aging parent, an older dog that was tried and true.”

However, things just weren’t meant to be.  It became very clear very quickly that Garrett’s mother just wasn’t ready to take care of Karma.  Garrett and her husband didn’t want to take Karma back to a shelter or rescue, and ended up taking Karma in themselves.

“Karma is the sweetest, quietest, most loving little dog we ever could have asked for,” said Garrett.  “She loves people and just wants to be held or cuddled by someone.”

Garrett and her husband both work at a dental practice.  The job often requires them to work long hours, which when they didn’t have a dog was fine.  However, they didn’t feel right just leaving Karma at home alone for all of that time.  So, they eventually decided to bring her to work with them.

Karma being the sweet dog that she is, and having such a strong desire to just be with someone, it didn’t take very long for the Garrett’s to realize that this was where Karma belonged all along.  She seemed to have an innate ability to calm patients that were very anxious to be in the dental chair in a way that no human had ever been able to before.

“It’s magical to watch a true dental-phobic patient melt while holding Karma in one of our chairs,” said Garrett.  “Even patients who didn’t think it would help much found that their appointment went much better with Karma on their lap.”

Maybe it’s because she’s been through it all herself and knows just how scary the dentist can be.  Maybe she’s just so full of love and thankful every day for being rescued.  At the end of the day, the reasons don’t really matter, Karma is PERFECTLY suited to do what she does, and she enjoys it so much.  Apparently, having a mouth full of really healthy teeth are NOT a requirement for being a dental therapy dog.

“She fills me with a sense of contentment whether I am holding her myself or watching her with one of my patients or seeing her in her little bed,” said Garrett.  “The office is a much better environment with Karma working beside us!”

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A few years later, while Alex and his mother were driving, they happened upon an injured pit bull running in the middle of the street. Naturally, Alex had to help

“I was pulling off the side of the road when I hear Alex’s car door open,” his mother, Valinda Cortez of Canton, North Carolina, told The Dodo.  “Before I could stop him, he was out in the middle of the road with this dog.”

Completely disregarding his own personal safety, Alex grabbed up the injured pup and got the dog into the car.

“He picked up this bloody baby and brought him to the car,” she said.  “We got him all healed up and now he lives a wonderful spoiled life.”

Now, Alex is 16.  Recently, he became a part of a vastly different kind of rescue than what he was used to.  It was the kind of rescue that be highly emotional, and can push people to their breaking point.

“He’s helped before in animal shelters and homeless shelters but this time was different,” said Valinda.

Alex had a day off from school, so he decided to go do some work with his mother that day.  She’s a volunteer with many other people that are parts of various animal rescue organizations.  They’ve all come together, and are working at a warehouse that’s been turned into a makeshift shelter for animals that were a part of a terrible hoarding case.

There were more than 140 animals taken from the property in question.  They were in various states of poor health, almost all of them had never known life outside of a cage, and many of them were small Chihuahuas and dachshunds.

“Most of them had only had little or no human contact,” said Valinda.  “They were so scared. They would tremble and cower if we tried to pet them.”

That’s where Alex first met Trouble.  Trouble was a bundle of fear at first, but for whatever reason, Alex was drawn straight to him cage.  He did spend a bit of time walking around and talking to the other dogs, but as his mother explains it, Trouble was, “The One.”

“He held him, played with him and, probably for the first time in this dog’s life, he felt loved,” said Valinda.  “He fell asleep while Alex was holding him.”

His mother’s heart was overflowing with joy.  Her 16-year-old son is just a big softy when it comes to the animals, but what’s even more, he seemed to know that this particular dog was really in need of some love and attention.

“My wonderful 16-year-old son has a giant soft spot in his heart for the animals that are ‘less desirable,’” she said.  “He has asked me several times this evening about Trouble.  After he gets home from school tomorrow, we’re going back to the temporary warehouse where the remainder of the dogs are.  I hope Trouble got adopted, but if not, I’m sure we will be bringing him home, if only as a foster.”

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“My last dog Petey had dementia,” O’Connor said when talking with The Dodo.  “He required a lot of care.  It was really heartbreaking and sad, but it sort of became my daily routine.”

Petey passed away in 2014, which left a big hole in O’Connor’s life.  She knew that she would need to bring another don into her life.  One that she could help the same way she was there for Petey.  When O’Connor was contacted by someone from the American Maltese Association Rescue (AMAR) called her and asked if she’d like to foster a dog with kidney issues, she jumped at the opportunity.

“I hadn’t even seen her yet,” said O’Connor.  “[The dog] needed to have surgery in a specialized hospital, which was only about 20 minutes from my house.  The intention was to get her medically taken care of, then adopt her out.  But I think I always knew I was going to keep her.”

When the time came for O’Connor and the dog called Pez to finally meet, there was something that O’Connor noticed straight away.  Something was VERY different about Pez.  She has this row of teeth and an odd looking snout that basically makes her look like she is smiling all of the time.  O’Connor was in love.

“It’s sort of like a cleft palate, but the palate is actually closed,” said O’Connor.  “Literally every time I look at her, my heart explodes.”

Pez may look like she’s smiling all the time, but her start in life was most certainly nothing at all to smirk about.  O’Connor may not know 100% of Pez’s history, but what is clear is that Pez was abandoned at a shelter by someone because this person just didn’t want to pay medical bills for a dog.  She spent some time in a New York City shelter, but was later rescued by AMAR.

According to the doctors, Pez’s condition is almost purely cosmetic.  She’s not in any pain because of it, and there aren’t really any surgeries to do anything for her.  It wasn’t her face that the medical bills were going to get extreme from, but her kidney problems were really bad.  She has to be kept in diapers of some sort almost always.

“It’s just like a quirk,” she said.  “I don’t know what else to say besides that she’s charming. I know that’s a weird way to describe a dog, but she has a lot of spunk.  She’s constantly glued to you the whole time, and wants to be having a good time.”

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In the pictures below, each photographer happened to catch a one-in-a-million shot of a pooch positioned perfectly in his or her element. From mutts that look like magicians to dogs that seem to be silly animal hybrids, we hope you enjoy these 20 perfectly-timed photos of dogs!

1. This pup is sniffing a chalk drawing’s butt…

2. This pooch found a not-so-secret hiding spot…

3. This pooch looks like a scaredy cat…

4. Then there’s this fire-breathing dragon dog…

5. Check out this pup, who’s got the most intense concentration we’ve ever seen…

6. And this model, whose portrait is the perfect depiction of his personality…

7. This magical dog can fly when she thinks no one is looking…

8. And this pooch is trying to chomp this poor lady’s arm…

9. And this pup? He’s going straight for the head…

10. You’ll love this canine, who’s totally feeling his Halloween costume…

11. And this pup who’s lost in the artwork…

12. This giraffe-dog has a shockingly long neck…

13. And here, you see a rare dog-deer hybrid…

14. Then there’s this strange breed, which is known for its teeny-tiny head…

15. And this commuting canine patiently rides the train…

16. This mutt has a grudge against the guy on the sign…

17. And this man-dog just wants a hug.

18. This pretty pooch has long, flowing locks…

19. This guy just wants to be in the pyramid with his friends…

20. And as if you didn’t think dogs were amazing enough, this one can walk on water!

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“The fight is far from being over, but we are very pleased with this first victory,” Sophie Gaillard, a lawyer for the Montreal SPCA, said in a press release.  “We are particularly delighted to be able to continue finding adoptive homes for all of our healthy and behaviorally sound dogs, regardless of their physical appearance.”

While blanket legislation has been staved off for the moment, a new battle begins as city officials and animal welfare groups try to decide on whether pit bulls should be outlawed in all 19 of the city’s boroughs.

“A city has the right to decide on its territory how to best protect it citizens,” Montreal mayor Denis Coderre told reporters after Wednesday’s decision.

To see our first coverage of the BSL in Montreal, click here.  To see the second story, click here.  Be sure to stay tuned to Life With Dogs for more information as it’s released!

The post PUPDATE: Montreal Puts Indefinite Hold on Anti-Pit Bull Legislation! appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

Starbucks in the State of Washington has started a new program that’s all about dogs.  They feature a special, “Dog of the Week” drinking a “Puppuccino” and the whole idea is to hopefully spur more adoption in the area.

Every Tuesday, a volunteer brings a dog from the Kitsap Humane Society to a local Starbucks for a specially made Puppuccino.  The dog also gets to hang around for a while and greet customers as they come in, and they are featured as available for adoption on the shelter’s website.

In case you were wondering or maybe even worried, no they’re not actually giving coffee to dogs.  The specially made “brew” is actually just a cup of whipped cream.  What dog isn’t going to love that?  The dog is even photographed sipping their drink, and the photos have such a charm to them.

This can take place at any number of Starbucks locations in Washington.  A poster of the dog that will be coming in for that day is even posted in the store a few days before, so people can come and met the dog for a possible adoption.

If the program is successful, you may even see this going on at a location near you.  Stay with Life With Dogs for more details on any expansion the program may be doing in your town!

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Sammie was rescued after being shot, dragged by a car and spray painted.  What makes the photo even more special is the fact that Sammie and Simon are perfect strangers.

Both dogs were rescued from South Carolina.  Both dogs know just how cruel some humans can be.  However, they seem to know when the other just needed a friend.  It just goes to further prove that animals have feelings, just like we do.  We can learn a lot from this photo…

Sammie is doing better now.  He’s undergone a few surgeries, however is nowhere near out of the woods just yet.  He’s survived being shot with a .22 caliber bullet, and the wound from that is now healing nicely according to vets caring for him.

Hopefully, both Sammie and Simon will find that forever family that they both so greatly deserve.

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Every year they make a new one with a different theme, and all of the proceeds go to Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Westmead Children’s Hospital Burns Unit.  The photos in this collection are taken from the new 2017 line up, and this year, they went with rescue puppies.

This year, along with their regular donations, they be making an additional donation to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.  All of the dogs featured are rescue puppies, and all are available for adoption.

The post Australian Firefighters Make Charity Calendar with Adoptable Rescue Puppies appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

Whether he’s checking out what’s going on at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, or just hanging out and people watching, he always get a lot of attention.  It’s not hard to see why, wearing his little hat and striped shirt while relaxing in a doggy-sized BMW is not something one see every day.

“I gave it to him for his fifth birthday,” said Lakhani.  She’s a former teacher, and the author of the novel “Schooled.”  “My little Luigi has always been an Upper East Side high-roller, and nothing could be more fitting for him than a Beemer.”

We agree.  He looks downright adorable, and there’s no doubt about that.  Would you ever buy your dog a BMW?  Or is your pooch more of a Harley Davidson Dog?  Share your dog photos and stories with us on our Facebook page, or in the comment section below!

The post Luigi, the Dog With His Very Own BMW! appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

Ashley works for Remax United Vision in Carina, Queensland.  She came up with the idea about two years ago when she was having an issue finding pet-friendly housing.  It took a lot of work just to figure out where would and wouldn’t allow pets.

“I found it very hard to work out which properties were pet-friendly, or weren’t,” said Ashley to Mashable Australia. “I thought, wouldn’t it make it easier for buyers if I could put Tiffany in my properties that are pet-friendly.”

The idea seemed to pay off very quickly.  The website that contained all of the property listings got way more hits when homes were featured with Tiffany in the photo spread.  At this point, Tiffany appears in almost every photo for every listing that is on the site.  In fact, anyone wishing to have Tiffany featured in their listings absolutely can do that.

“Sellers are ringing up and saying, we’ve seen your photos with Tiffany, can we get you to sell our house with her in it,” Ashley said.  “It’s kinda snowballed … we even get buyers asking us if Tiffany has been in other listings.”

She has even started to bring Tiffany with her to do open house events.  Tiffany really seems to enjoy what she’s doing, and most certainly enjoys the extra attention that she gets for all of her hard work.

“I now have her at the open homes to greet the buyers as well,” said Ashley. “Rather than people turning up and taking down names and numbers, making it a very clinical deal, it’s a real icebreaker to have the dog and makes buyers receptive to us.”

If you’d like to see more of Tiffany and her work, you can click here to see her Facebook page, or click here to check her out on Instagram.

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Is your dog a master of expression? Do you kind of always know what they’re thinking just by looking at them? Share your dog’s photos and stories in the comments section on Facebook.

The post Meet Mutka, Perhaps the Most Expressive Dog Ever! appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

The phrase, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” may be a very old one, but age has not diminished the true meaning of the words.  That’s most likely the reason that a photo of a bride getting to spend some time with her therapy dog to calm her nerves before she ties the knot has become as big as it has.

Valerie Parrott and he dog Bella are pictured in the photo above.  Bella is Parrott’s dog, and she helps out with stress and anxiety management.  They go everywhere and do everything together, and at her wedding, Bella got to wear a specially made dress for the occasion.

The photographer managed to snap off this heartwarming photo before the ceremony took place.  It especially encapsulates the love and understanding between the two, and really shows that Bella has an understanding of why she is as important as she is to Parrott.

“She will do things like lick my hands or lean and put her weight on me to get me to focus on her instead of my surroundings,” said Parrott in an interview with The Huffington Post.  “Basically it helps me to take a moment away from whatever is causing the anxiety and keeps me from having a panic attack.”

Not only was Bella a standout at the wedding, but the other attendees enjoyed her so much, that the positive feedback from them was overwhelming according to Parrott.  It has inspired her to start her own blog about life with Bella as a service dog.  As soon as it is up and running, we’ll have more for you.  Stay connected to Life With Dogs at our blog site, www.lifewithdogs.tv, or on our Facebook page for more information as we have it!

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To see Presley, is to see the definition of the term “gentle giant.”  His human says that despite his enormous size, he is afraid of everything.  Presley’s fear of everything, and his expressive face make for some truly funny and adorable photos.

“Presley is definitely a real-life Scooby Doo,” said his human, Sian Barrett.  “He is afraid of everything.  He is always getting scared off by smaller dogs and I’ve had to start hiding the plastic bags from him because he’s afraid.”

And it’s not just those pesky plastic bags that scare poor Presley.  His concept of size seems to be a bit off, as the smaller the dog he comes across, the more terrifying he finds them.  Barrett tells a story of them coming across a West Highland Terrier, not at all what most would see as a “large breed.”

“There was a time recently that I was walking Presley in the park and he got scared off by a West Highland Terrier, which is tiny compared to him.  Presley wouldn’t come back out until the other dog had gone and he knew he was safe.  His temper doesn’t match his size at all – he’s 38 inches at the shoulder, but scared of anything,” said Barrett.

What about you, dear readers?  Do you have a gentle giant at home that has no clue just how big they really are?  Do they imagine themselves lap dogs, or take up an entire bed but still expect you to cuddle in?  Share your pictures and stories with us at www.lifewithdogs.tv, or at our Facebook page!

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