This Just In ...

The Barking Lot (11/20/10)

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 20, 2010

The Barking Lot

The Barking Lot is a regular weekly feature of this just in…Written by my lovely wife, Jennifer and me.  It opens with the weekend dog walking forecast followed by the main blog from dog lover, Jennifer. Then it’s DOGS IN THE NEWS and our close. Enjoy!


THE WEEKEND DOG-WALKING FORECAST: We grade the weather outlook for taking your pet outdoors. 

TODAY:  Partly cloudy. High of only 39.   "D"  It would have been an “F” if not for the sun.

SUNDAY:  Morning showers. High of 56.  "B"

Here’s my lovely wife, Jennifer with this week’s main blog:

I have written about war hero dogs in the past, and Kevin has had SEVERAL Dogs In The News items about them as well.  We, like many people, feel that dogs provide an incredible service to our brave men and women in the armed forces.  Whether they are in combat zones or convalescing after a tour of duty, soldiers rely on dogs for safety, companionship, and many times as service animals due to injuries.

Thanks to organizations that reunite soldiers and their dogs there have been many happy stories.  Baghdad Pups “provides veterinary care and coordinates complicated logistics and transportation requirements in order to reunite these beloved pets with their service men and women back in the U.S.”  The mission of Hope For The Warriors  is “to enhance quality of life for U.S. service members and their families nationwide who have been adversely affected by injuries or death in the line of duty.”  The first dog-related request for help to Hope For The Warriors came from Sgt. Chris Duke.

Sgt. Duke and 50 other soldiers feel they owe their lives to three dogs, Sasha, Rufus, and Target.  These dogs prevented a suicide bomber from killing all of them in their barracks.  Rufus and Target were nursed back to health; Sasha had to be euthanized due to her severe injuries.  After Sgt. Duke returned home, he contacted Hope For The Warriors asking that Rufus and Target be brought home to the United States.

Thanks to the hard work and generosity of many, his wish was granted.  Sgt. Duke adopted Rufus and Target went to Arizona to live with Sgt. Terry Young and his family.

Last week, Target slipped out of the Young family’s back yard.  She ended up at the Pinal County Animal “Care” and Control Center.  (Quotations mine.)  Sgt. Young found out she was there but did not pick her up because he thought the shelter was closed for the weekend.  When he went Monday morning to get his dog, he was told she was accidently euthanized. 

?????????

Excuse me?  Seriously?  My question:  How does this happen???????

Total idiocy is my first answer.

But the best part?  The moron who euthanized this incredible animal – life saver, beloved family pet – was simply suspended.  SUSPENDED.  Not fired, suspended.  

To borrow a line from a dear church friend, when faced with absurdity, lunacy or other forehead-slapping moment:  “I can’t bear it.”

Well, someone at the shelter finally came to their senses.  On Friday, it was announced that the Mensa member of the Animal “Care” (again, quotes mine) facility was fired. 

Another question:  What took so long???
---Jennifer Fischer


Thank you, Jennifer. Well done. Yes, how can you make such a horrendous error. This is a lawsuit waiting to happen.

Time now for DOGS IN THE NEWS, canines that made headlines the past week.


Service dog Pepsi prohibited from attending school with autistic child.  A similar case is happening with Madison.


Blind Muslim student  uses guide horse instead of dog.


Woman walking dog attacked........by raccoons.


Dog owner can't forgive Michael Vick.


Paralyzed RuRu needs help.


Dog needs to be rescued after chasing a sea lion.


Dog falls down cliff.


Jitterbug is saved.


Harley is a lifesaver.


Don't forget the  senior dogs.


Inside the science of how dogs think...


Naughty dog! And let this be a lesson. The hell with Mexico! Honeymoon in the good ol’ United States!


That's it for this week. Thanks for stopping by. We close with our closing video, and this week, it's plural.

NUMERO UNO

Those nasty bedbugs have reached Chicago.

OK, Scooby, that's great.

But some question how accurate Fido really is in finding these nasty critters.