The Christian Science Monitor has a nice book review of a photo book called Street Dogs, by Traer Scott. Here's another dog book that might make a good Christmas present for someone on your list?

A place for me? Amber, a dog rescued in Puerto Rico, was losing the battle to survive on her own on the street. Many street dogs rescued in Mexico and Puerto Rico find permanent homes in the US.
Traer Scott

To the rescue of stray dogs
A photographer captures the plight – and promise – of abandoned dogs.

By Marjorie Kehe
from the November 27, 2007 edition

Traer Scott rescued her first stray while on her honeymoon. She and her husband were in a cab in Antigua when she spied a scrawny Chihuahua mix on the street. The driver stopped, Scott opened the door, and the little dog hurled herself into Scott's arms.

Homeless dogs have been her concern ever since. Last year, Scott published "Shelter Dogs," a collection of photographs of dogs in shelters. This year, her new book is Street Dogs, 50-plus black-and-white photos of strays found in Puerto Rico and Mexico.

"Street Dogs" aims to draw attention to the needs of abandoned dogs. Most are former pets and are friendly and eager to reestablish human relations. Scott found these dogs working in tandem with rescue groups, and many have since been adopted by US families.

In the back of the book are capsules telling the story of each dog. Many (although not all) have met with happy endings.

Skippy, a Corgi mix, was found lame and hungry behind a housing development in Puerto Rico. He lives today with a family in Massachusetts. Sugar, a beauty with two differently colored eyes, was found as a tiny puppy in a cardboard box in the back of a truck in Mexico. Her rescuer, a shelter operator, came to love her so much that she kept her as her own.

In addition to helping publicize the global problem of stray dogs, Scott also hopes her book tells the story of these dogs as individuals, each with a unique personality, and yet all sharing some essentially – and delightfully – canine qualities. Even in harsh conditions, many of these dogs demonstrate affection, friendly curiosity, helpfulness, and even playfulness. Some of the dogs band together to aid one another and to guard any of the group's puppies. One pack of strays fought off violent assailants to protect a human rescuer.

The stories (and photos) of the people who help these dogs are touching as well. Felix Schmidt and his wife rescued a dog and her four puppies in Puerto Rico. They cared for them all but could not afford to keep all five. When the four puppies were taken by a rescue group to be brought to new homes, Schmidt cried and insisted on sending a letter to each new family, explaining the puppies's histories and preferences, and begging for news about them in their new homes.

For those who love dogs, this is a difficult and yet ultimately irresistible subject. It's worth the price of the book just to see the photo of Miss Trish – complete with funny fanglike teeth and a lovable personality – and to learn that she charmed everyone she met along the way as she traded homelessness in Puerto Rico for family life in New Jersey.

• Marjorie Kehe is the Monitor's book editor.

From the Inquirer.net, Philippines

Top dogs of 3G disasters search, rescue in demo
By Julie M. Aurelio
Inquirer
Last updated 02:47am (Mla time) 11/18/2007

MANILA, Philippines — Chairman, Piolo and Rebelle, top dogs all, have been through the worst “3Gs” in recent years — the Guinobatan (Albay) and Guinsaugon (Southern Leyte) landslides in 2006, and the Glorietta 2 explosion last month.

Of the three, it was Chairman, a female Belgian Malinois, who pulled the body of the last victim, Maureen de Leon, from the rubble at the popular shopping mall.

Chairman showed off her form at a training exercise in Taguig City last week, smartly trotting around piles of rock and concrete blocks and then nudging a piece of galvanized iron with her black, dusty nose.

When she had sniffed enough, she let out an excited, high-pitched bark to announce her find.

“Rescuers” retrieved from the rubble a “pretend victim,” who rewarded Chairman with a back rub as well as a long, satisfying chew on her toy—a rubber hose.

The exercise demonstrated how Chairman probably found Maureen de Leon’s body on the night of Oct. 20, a day after the explosion at Glorietta 2.

Called “mission-ready dogs,” Chairman and Rebelle, also a Belgian Malinois, and Piolo, a Boxer, have been trained by two American experts in canine search and rescue to prepare them for certification as “K9 disaster responders.”

The fancy title also applies to their human partners, whose skills will likewise be upgraded and certified by the National Association for Search and Rescue based in the United States.

“Chairman is good at finding cadavers, while Rebelle and Piolo do well in searching for live victims,” said Makati Councilor Junjun Binay, the president of the Philippine K9 Search and Rescue Foundation.

According to Binay, upgrading the dogs’ skills and certifying them as K9 disaster responders is timely “in the light of the Glorietta 2 explosion.”

“I think it’s very helpful that we have opportunities like this for our canines,” he said.

Binay has two “protective dogs,” both of the Belgian Malinois breed, trained to guard him. He also owns 5-year-old Rebelle, a black Labrador named Rambo and a couple of other dogs.

French and focused

Rebelle also showed off her prowess during the training exercise in Taguig, weaving in between mounds of rock in search of the “victim.”

Unlike other dogs, Rebelle does not waste time circling an area when looking for a victim, said Hector Reyes, board director of the foundation.

Said her handler: “Rebelle is more focused; she goes straight to the victim and barks really loud to alert us.”

And while other dogs respond to English commands such as “sit,” “down,” and “search,” Rebelle springs to action when addressed in French, obediently sitting, going down on all fours, and embarking on a search for a victim on cue.

It’s called “obedience training”—or conditioning a canine to develop focus and learn how to follow orders—said American trainer Kristine Lesperance.

“They also undergo training in agility and navigation. It is better that dogs like them are trained as early as 10 weeks old,” Lesperance said.

No robots

But not every dog can engage in search and rescue, even if it is a Boxer, a Malinois or a Labrador.

A good search-and-rescue dog has to be aware that it is doing its job in exchange for a reward—say its rubber hose toy or a ball.

“It has to be the dog that wants the toy,” Lesperance said.

The dogs are, however, far from being robots. During breaks during the training, for example, their human partners played tag with them or gave them long back rubs.

“They have to be good not only to their handler, but to all kinds of people and [other] dogs. They have to like people,” Lesperance said.

Search-and-rescue dogs, such as Chairman, Boxer and Rebelle, are probably the most friendly among trained dogs because they are eager to play and socialize with strangers.

While in training, search-and-rescue dogs are also required to undergo a “K9 good citizen" exam to find out if they are at ease with humans.
Only the handler

But a playful demeanor does not mean that a search-and-rescue dog will instantly obey a stranger.

“The dog will obey only the orders of his handler because that is what it is accustomed to do,” Reyes pointed out.

But he warned of the danger of a dog being too attached to the handler: “The dog might hesitate to obey or search for a victim if it is not his handler commanding him. The dog might look over his back to see if his human friend is just behind him. There’s hesitation.”

Lesperance, who came with her husband Ken, praised the foundation members for having done a good job of training dogs in search and rescue.

“I think they’ve done amazing work. The Philippines should be proud of its search-and-rescue dogs—they are at par with canines from other countries,” Lesperance said.

I really wish there was a picture for Kitai but we'll just have to imagine what this "cutest dog" looks like.

'Cutest dog ever' gains fame for a cause
By Cathy Weselby
Bay Area News Group
Article Launched: 11/15/2007 04:07:20 PM PST

Stacie Tamaki has found love with a shelter dog, and she wants to share that affection with others.

Kitai (pronounced "key-tie") was a year old when Tamaki adopted him from the Humane Society Silicon Valley. The name Kitai is Japanese for "to hope with confident anticipation." And, living up to his name, this scruffy canine has become an ambassador that gives hope to other shelter dogs.

It wasn't love at first sight. Her previous dog was a 110-pound Beauceron, and she was searching for a similar breed. She saw little Kitai lying in his kennel with his head on his paws and immediately dismissed him. Then she read his cage card and saw that he had already been at the shelter for two weeks and was in danger of being euthanized. She had a change of heart.
She took him out to the play area, and Kitai ignored her because he was preoccupied with the other dogs. Tamaki returned the next day and observed Kitai for three hours. This time, she had the opportunity to go to an area with fewer distractions, and Kitai immediately started playing with her. That clinched the deal.

Kitai is the first dog Tamaki has adopted from a shelter.

"I always thought shelter dogs were problem dogs," says Tamaki, who moved her business from downtown Campbell to the Internet, until she met an American Eskimo dog and was pleasantly surprised when she learned he was rescued from a shelter.

Now, when people ask her "What kind of dog is he?" she responds with, "He's a rescue from the shelter," to help build awareness that shelter dogs are cute.

Happy-go-lucky Kitai has a calm disposition and doesn't bark much. She thinks he's a mix between a Lhasa Apso and a wire-haired terrier.

"He loves playing with toys, and his favorite toy is his newest toy," Tamaki says. "He'll even go on walks carrying his toys."

She socialized him by walking him in downtown Campbell every day and then on Sundays along the sidewalk at the more crowded farmers market. Soon she was taking him with her everywhere.

As their love grew, Tamaki designed costumes for Kitai to wear, taught him tricks, and created a website that pays homage to the lovable mutt, www.cutestdogever.com.

One of her costume creations, a takeoff on Cesar Millan of Dog Whisperer fame, won her a trip to New York to be on the "Today Show." Kitai was one of five finalists to appear on the Oct. 31 show, but didn't clinch the grand prize.

"It would have been nice if he'd won, but I think he'll manage," Tamaki says. "He was perfectly happy with the consolation goodie bag prize."

While waiting backstage, one of the producers said, "Matt's just got to see your dog." Tamaki turned around and there was Lauer, coffee cup in hand, smiling at Kitai.

"He leads quite an exciting life," Tamaki says.

Tamaki has started a Cutest Dog Ever Spay and Neuter fund. She's working with the Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority to apply the funds for people to spay or neuter their dog or cat at no charge.

Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority executive director Dan Soszynski says the low-cost spay and neuter clinic opened on Nov. 7 for residents of Campbell, Monte Sereno and Santa Clara. It costs $30 for dogs and $10 for cats.

"Even though our prices are relatively low, some people may not be able to afford the services," Soszynski said. "Stacie's fund will close that gap."

The clinic is open one day a week, but Soszynski's goal is to expand the service to more days, as more funds for staffing become available.

Tamaki says Soszynski has been very helpful in mentoring her on how to start a charitable fund. She has raised $1,750 to date.

"That's 58 dogs that can be spayed or neutered at the shelter," she says.

Tamaki also found love with another human. She married John, a software engineer at Apple, a couple of weeks ago. Kitai was best mutt at the wedding.

For more information on the Cutest Dog Ever Spay and Neuter Fund, visit www.cutestdogever.com.

I love this story from Oklahoma. You have to admire this woman's spirit — and her dogs!

From KOCO.com

Woman, 78, Who Spent 2 Days Trapped In Car Saved By Dogs

OKLAHOMA CITY — A local woman who spent 43 hours upside-down in a vehicle after a wreck along an Oklahoma highway was likely saved by her four dogs, rescuers said.

Betty McCord, 78, has organized the annual Red Andrews Christmas Dinner for more than 30 years. However, while driving to see family in Hughes County three weeks ago, she wrecked, flipped upside-down and spent nearly two days trapped in her 1986 Oldsmobile.

"There was no way I could get out. There was no way. I tried for two and a half days to get out of there, and I couldn't," McCord said.

The car disappeared deep into the woods and landed on its top. The steering wheel busted McCord's teeth, and the force of her forehead shattered the windshield.

"I thought I was dead. I didn't know what the hell it was," she said.

However, rescuers said McCord's four Shih Tzu dogs — Mack, Misty, Ally and Tinkerbell — likely kept her alive by licking her face to keep her alert, long enough for Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Tyson Wright to notice some car tracks veering off the road.

"You couldn't see the car, (and) I still couldn't see it from right there," Wright said.

McCord described how the trooper came to help her.

"He stuck his little head right in that window (and said), 'Lady, are you all right now?' I said, 'I will be if you get me the hell out of here,'" she said.

That he did, smashing a window and calling for help, as well as getting Gatorade for Betty and her dogs.

"I will never forget how they acted, not just the wreck. I just won't forget how they acted," McCord said of her pets.

She said she is still pretty sore and is staying with family for now.

"It was just a hell of a mess, just to be frank about it … all I can tell you is I was lucky that I got found. That's all I know," McCord said.

Plans for this year's Christmas dinner, she said, are still on track.

Dog, cat honored for saving masters
By RICHARD PYLE, Associated Press

AP Photo: Debbie Parkhurst, of North East, Md., poses with her golden retriever Toby.

NEW YORK - When Debbie Parkhurst choked on a piece of apple at her Maryland home, her dog jumped in, landing hard on her chest and forcing the morsel to pop out of her throat. When the Keesling family of Indiana was about to be overcome by carbon monoxide, their cat clawed at wife Cathy's hair until she woke up and called for help.

For their nick-of-time acts, Toby, a 2 1/2-year-old golden retriever, and Winnie, a gray-eyed American shorthair, were named Dog and Cat of the Year by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

In addition, five humans were honored Thursday for their actions toward animals in the past year, including a Bronx firefighter who saved a dog and cat from a burning building.

Neither Parkhurst nor Keesling could explain their pets' timely heroics, though Parkhurst suggested her pooch's Heimlich maneuver might have been guided by divine intervention.

"That's what our veterinarian said," she said. "He wasn't making a joke; he's very spiritual, and now I have to agree with him."

Both pets were themselves rescued in infancy — Toby as a 4-week-old puppy tossed into a garbage bin to die, and Winnie as a week-old orphan hiding under a barn, so helpless that Keesling's husband, Eric, had to feed her milk with an eyedropper.

As the Keeslings recalled it, a gas-driven pump being used to remove flood waters from their basement in New Castle, Ind., last March malfunctioned, spreading carbon monoxide through the house. By the time Winnie moved into rescue mode, the couple's 14-year-old son, Michael, was already unconscious.

"Winnie jumped on the bed and was clawing at me, with a kind of angry meow," Cathy Keesling said. "When I woke up I felt like a T-bar had hit me across the head."

State police and sheriff's officers responding to her 911 call said the family was only minutes from death, judging by the amount of poisonous gas in the house.

Debbie Parkhurst's husband, Kevin, was at his job at a Wilmington, Del., chemical firm when she took a midday break from making jewelry and bit into an apple.

"Normally I peel them, but I read in Good Housekeeping magazine that the skin has all the nutrients, so I ate the skin, and that's what caused me to choke," she recalled.

"I couldn't breathe and I was in panic when Toby jumped on me. He never does that, but he did, and saved my life."

Both Toby and Winnie accompanied their owners to the awards luncheon at Manhattan's posh Rainbow Room atop Rockefeller Center.