Animals Unfolded

On Thursday, I was notified by a local veterinarian that there is a 4-month-old puppy in Jackson, MI  that is in dire need of a home. This red-nosed pit bull , is by all accounts sweet, submissive and needs to be adopted or taken into a foster situation. The pressing need? He is to be euthanized on Tuesday 1/19, because of a rule at the facility that he is currently housed, regarding pitties. Would you consider welcoming this young pup into your life permanently - or even for a temporary basis as a foster parent? There is one special medical need to consider: this puppy has demodex , caused by a parasitic mite. Demodex is non-contagious and is very treatable with prescription medication. This young fella can indeed make a complete recovery from it, providing that he has the safe, comfortable place to do so, as a stress-free environment is integral to allowing the immune system to work efficiently, helping the skin heal. Additionally, the treatment cost a...

It's no secret that times have been tough in Michigan , and in many respects, it's undoubtedly spilled over to the pet population. People have had to leave the state in order to seek a better way to make a living, and in some cases, abandoned ship completely: leaving homes, friends -- and in some cases, their companion animals behind. flickr photo courtesy of manitari Some pets have been relinquished to already strained Humane Societies and shelters , others, simply left behind to fend for themselves.   The Discovery Channel had an idea: to chronicle the life of stray dogs in Detroit from a four-legged point of view: attaching tiny cameras to the dogs and seeing what goes on day-to-day.  According to freep.com , the project, "A Dog's Life", estimated to be over one million dollars qualified for a $559,361 tax credit from the Michigan Film Office - but Mayor Bing's Detroit film office nixed the deal saying that it would be bad in too many way...

If you could change one thing about your pet, what would it be? - AnnArbor.com

Friday Pet Blogging: A child's vantage point - AnnArbor.com

Tiny pooch stays warm and stylish in Michigan winters - AnnArbor.com

There has been a lot of talk recently about one topic that I am fascinated by: the relationship between dogs and humans. It's been said that without dogs, humans would still be hunter/gatherers. Dogs co-habitate, travel and even work with us. Inarguably, dogs have had a tremendous impact on our lives through the ages, and as that's unfolded - we've impacted the species as well. With the domestication of dogs, we've changed the very landscape of each breed . On November 9, PBS will be presenting a program on NOVA called: Dogs Decoded - detailing the bond between canine and humans, past and present. What does the future hold for both species? We'll just have to see. Lorrie Shaw is a regular pets contributor for AnnArbor.com and is also owner of Professional Pet Sitting , providing pet sitting services and dog walking in the areas of West Ann Arbor, Dexter and Chelsea. She welcomes your contact by e-mail.

Did you see this? A resourceful dog - a chocolate lab named Honey - satisfied her penchant for fresh fish after the Skokomish river near Seattle, WA flooded. The fish were, as you can see, were frantically swimming across the roadway and Honey promptly sauntered over, picked up a salmon and took off with it. Check out the video . While I was at it, I found some more video of a yellow lab having a ball on a fishing trip, too. Enjoy! Lorrie Shaw is a dog walker and owner of Professional Pet Sitting , and is a regular contributor to AnnArbor.com's pet section with her blog, More Than Four Walls , where she also wrote the popular blog post, " Take your dog to work day, 2010: A tale of two local dogs ". Reach her via e-mail and follow her on Twitter @psa2