Two new dog-friendly parks will be open soon to canines and their owners in Putnam County.

Last year, the Kanawha/Charleston Animal Shelter received about 10,000 cats and dogs. About two-thirds of them did not find new homes. Instead, they spent their last few days huddled in a wire cage, waiting for a lethal injection. Their bodies were cremated in a small building out back.

Cpl. Will Reynolds is used to handling police K-9s that weigh around 100 pounds - trained to take fleeing suspects to the ground. But Wednesday afternoon, Reynolds says he combed through large piles of trash to get to a crying four-week-old puppy trapped inside an extremely hot car - that barely had ventilation. He and other K-9 and evening shift road patrol officers took the puppy under their wings, getting it necessary medical care and even a temporary roof over its head.

Five years ago, a heartbroken 5-year-old girl from Queens, N.Y., was hanging posters for the return of her lost beagle. Today, after years of wishes, little Natalie Villacis has been miraculously reunited with her beloved dog Rocco after he resurfaced some 850 miles away in Georgia - proving that every dog owner can have their day.

If Sen. Barack Obama becomes president, he'll instantly be faced with decisions that will affect millions of Americans. Obama will also soon be making a decision that could affect millions of American dogs. It has been reported that once the election is over, the Obamas will be looking for a new four-legged family member (much to his daughters' delight).

In this oft-times dog-eat-dog world, when someone has a bone to pick with you, the results are seldom pleasant. A happy outcome is as rare as seeing a Christmas tree in mid-July. But such is the paradoxically splendid case, on both counts, this month.

More on the mandatory spay/neuter (and why it might actually not be a good thing at all).

While tending this website recently, I was astounded by the response to a recent poll: "Do you believe we should have mandatory spay/neuter laws in West Virginia?"The question seemed a no-brainer. People who visited a pet-oriented web site would surely understand the need to fix their pets.  But nearly 3,000 responders voted No.

Commission chief says he was shocked to hear euthanization rate

88% NO12% YES Is this an actual reflection of how the public feels about mandatory spay/neuter laws?

The place of departed Saints (Bernard, that is) From hamsters to horses, cemetery marks last stop for beloved pets by Mary Childress Daily Mail staff

Kitten will be active despite amputated leg There are steps that can be taken to keep cat from from gaining weight by Allison Dascoli Ask the Vet

MU veterinary clinician-scientist develops a minimally invasive method to treat torn ligaments

Keep reading to learn how you can help The Kanawha-Charleston Animal Shelter. 

Should the task of bathing your dog become a sudsy, turbulent battle of wills (and won'ts) at home and canine chaos and resistance reign from the first to the last drop of water, perhaps you should try the "Spaw" treatment for your pooch.

Reprinted from a 4/15/08 article in the Charleston Daily Mail, written by Zack Pettit.

Our wheaten, Murry, has been such a nightmare to groom that he's been banned from ever returning to five local groomers (unless he's fully sedated).

I'm hoping we'll soon have an official story to post about the situation at the Logan and Boone County animal shelters, but what I'm hearing (via emails and phone calls) sounds tragic.

Please excuse the delay in getting some of these new photos uploaded. Still trying to work out the bugs!