Issue #15
Drug kits & pension for police dogs. I’d never thought about it, but drug sniffing dogs bare the risk of inhaling powerful opioids on a daily basis. Law enforcement officers are now carrying Naloxone, a drug that has already been used for years to reverse overdoses in humans, in the case of an accidental overdose. In other news, California Assembly’s next proposed budget includes $100,000 to provide retired CHP police dogs with a $2,000 retirement plan to help pay for medical costs.
You can now travel the world free by pet-sitting. I’m sorry, did you say dream job? It’s true. It’s like air-bnb and rover.com had a baby. Several companies, including TrustedHousitters, Hecktic Travels and Mind My House, now enable animal-lovers to stay free at homes around the world in exchange for pet-sitting. There is no money exchanged. You’ll need to create a profile, go through a criminal background check and pay a membership fee to the site -- but then you’re free to travel either by going off to pet-sit in another city or by leaving your pet behind with a trusted sitter staying in your home. #winwin
Uber for Pets. Now your pet can have its very own chauffeur. Patrick’s Pet Care is launching its “Pet Force One” van today that will take pets to places like the vet, groomer, and airport. Unlike Uber or Lyft, Patrick's new offering doesn't require owners to join the pets for the ride. They say their lift has pet-friendly climate control, private transport spaces for animals, filtered water dispensers, and other features.
Do you even lift bro? L-carnitine, a widely used recovery supplement for humans, has demonstrated positive health effects on performance, muscle mass and recovery of working dogs. The research, sponsored by Lonza, a pharma & biotech manufacturer of Carniking, which is a “special grade of L-carnitine”, found that Carniking contributes to higher lean muscle mass, improved muscle recovery, and less oxidative stress during vigorous exercise. Note, the research conducted over a 2 year period analyzed 96 labrador retrievers and no other breeds.
June marks the official start to hurricane season in some parts of the US. Not all of us are lucky enough to live in sunny California, but hey! We have earthquakes, ok?! Here are some tips to be prepared and keep your pup safe.
Dog flu spreading the southeast US. So far, 12 dogs in Florida and 2 dogs in NC have tested positive for a strain of dog flu virus known as H3N2, and many other dogs in central and north Florida are suspected to have it as well. Most dogs recover within a few weeks, but the virus is easily passed around - when dogs a cough, they can spread the virus up to 20 feet - most often in kennels and grooming parlors. Nearly all dogs exposed to the virus become infected, but only 80% show symptoms. There is no evidence that H3N2 canine influenza virus infects humans.
Google sells robot dog company Boston Dynamics to SoftBank. Boston Dynamics' robots, which include the dog-like Spot, the six-foot humanoid Atlas, and the sprinting Cheetah, have become sensations on YouTube but have failed to become marketable products and Alphabet put the business up for sale last year. The size of the deal was not disclosed but is believed to be over $100m.