IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR DISH SUBSCRIBERS – SERVICE INTERRUPTION – CLICK HERE WASHINGTON COUNTY (KFSM) – The owner of a dog that attacked a cyclist is speaking out. Ashtyon Slavens, owner of “Bebe” the pitbull mix, said she was home when the attack happened. However, contrary to previous reports, she claimed her dog was provoked prior to the attack. “I am very sorry for what happened to [Richard Holt,]” Slavens said. “My dog had to have been provoked. Because, my dogs are not known for violence. My dogs do not attack anybody unless there is a reason.” Holt told 5NEWS he felt the dog attacked him without cause. Friday (Feb. 19) night, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office took Slavens dogs from her. Sheriff Tim Helder said the deputies felt the dog was vicious. The dog, Bebe, was taken to the pound. Two other dogs, Gracie and Diesel, were also taken by deputies. Slavens said Diesel and Gracie were not directly involved in the attack.

Slavens said the dogs are not vicious, and have never had any issues before. “I have had random officers knock on my door, and [the dogs] did nothing to them,” Slavens said. Slavens planned to pay the necessary fines for the attack, as she took responsibility for Holt’s injuries. “I feel so sorry for him. But, my dogs will not be put down. My dogs will not be hurt because of one mistake,” Slavens said. “I am perfectly fine with paying a lot of money, if that is what it takes for my dog to live. Because, they are like my kids.” Police: Elderly Neighbor Comes To Woman’s Rescue During Dog Attack Further Protections May Be Added To Vicious Animal Ordinance Hundreds Of Dogs Rescued From New Jersey House 5NEWS Exclusive: Woman Adopts Dog Diagnosed With Distemper Springdale Man Accused Of Torturing, Mutilating And Sexually Abusing Woman Three-Day-Old Baby Killed By Family Dogs In California Owner Of Animal Shelter Asks Sheriff’s Department For Help, Nearly 50 Animals Removed

Humane Society Program Allows Dogs To Get Away For A Weekend NWA Championship Golfers At 17th Hole Get Greeted By Lucky Dog Health HealthWatch News Seen on TV Nail Biting And Thumb Sucking Help Reduce Allergies Five Pups Graduate From Soldier On Service Dogs Training Suspected Madison Co. Puppy Mill Owner Faces 177 Additional Charges Prosecutors Say Video Shows Oklahoma Dentist Fatally Abuse Baby, Then Grab Piece Of PizzaNot long ago I wrote about the breeds I miss seeing, those that used to be more popular but no longer caught the fancy of the general public. It wasn’t an argument for those breeds to start filling the veterinary offices again — raging popularity has never been good for any breed — but rather a nostalgic yearning for the wonderful pets I saw more of at the very beginning of my veterinary career. Yes, I miss seeing all those Collies, Cockers, Brittanies, Irish Setters and Scotties, but that just means I enjoy them even more when I do see one in practice these days.

And that got me thinking about the breeds I see too much of, now that I am in my third decade of practice. I like these dogs; in fact, I own two of the five on this list. But I am still concerned about these breeds. I love all pets. I wouldn’t be a veterinarian if I didn’t, and I celebrate the human-animal bond every day. House Sale Near Bally HowrahI do look forward, though, to the day when these five breeds aren’t as popular. House For Sale Otago PeninsulaThe reasons vary, but in many cases the problems are health-related, and overbreeding by puppy mills and other less-than-ideal operations has a lot to do with that.Jacuzzi Whirlpool Bath 1999 What would help these breeds is for there to be a lot less of them. A couple of them need many more adopters and far less breeding, and all would benefit from people who are well-prepared for the challenges of owning a dog, and who make sure to look to rescue, shelters and reputable breeders for their pets.

As always, whatever pet you choose, we veterinarians are here to help you make healthy choices for life. Bulldog: The Bulldog is the beloved breed of the advertising world, today more than ever. There’s no denying the adorability factor here, and I’m as much in love with the look of the Bulldog, French Bulldog and Pug as anyone else. But the exaggerated features of the Bulldog and other related breeds have produced a perfect storm of health problems that diminish the quality of life for many of these dogs, and often make them extremely expensive to own. Many need surgery to shorten their soft palate and enlarge their nostrils just so they can breathe somewhat normally. Must as I love them as individuals, as a veterinarian these problems make me hurt for these dogs and their families.Caucasian Mountain Dog Puppies for Sale Show Quality, most even-tempered Enter your email address: * Receive special offers and puppy buying tips: Receive special offers and puppy buying tips

The Caucasian Mountain Dog is a very large, muscular, powerful dog. It needs an experienced owner who can show strong leadership. This breed is not recommended to families with small children. The Caucasian Mountain Dog is recommended to you if you are prepared to spend time socializing and training your dog and if you have a property that requires strong protection. If you are looking for a family pet, this is not the right breed for you. We’ve got you covered The Hipster rehabilitation brace provides support and important rear leg exercise for dogs with hip dysplasia. View gallery (15 images) Nothing can break a dog's spirit – but hip dysplasia can sure ruin your best friend's mobility and make life very painful. That's why the funky-looking Hipster rehabilitation brace could end up being such a significant product. It's designed to hold the hip in place to prevent further dislocation and injury, while providing resistance to strengthen the dog's leg muscles and connective tissue to the point where your pup doesn't need the brace any more.

Hip dysplasia affects different breeds of dog at different rates, but either way, it's a painful and nasty condition that restricts mobility for our four-legged friends. Mind you, it can't squash their jubilant spirits, can it? Who's got a jubilant spirit? Hip dysplasia develops when the muscle and connective tissue around the hip joint loosen up enough to let the "ball" in the ball-and-socket hip joint arrangement dislocate itself slightly and start damaging the hip socket itself. Over time, bone-on-bone contact can cause pretty sever damage to the socket, resulting in painful, arthritic hips. Eventually, some dogs lose all muscle tone and the ability to stand up unassisted. It's a real heartbreaker. There are numerous slings and walking aids you can get to try to assist affected dogs, but we haven't come across an actual rehabilitation harness before, which is why we find the Hipster brace by Israeli designer Galia Weiss so intriguing. The Hipster is designed to do two things.

Firstly, it lifts and supports the dog's rear end, holding the hips in place with a rigid frame. Secondly, it provides additional resistance that the back leg muscles have to work against. Developing those rear leg muscles is the key point here. Low-impact exercise that strengthens those rear leg muscles can help tighten up the muscle and connective tissue in the hip area and help the dog's hip get back to a condition where it's mechanically stable again. The Hipster brace provides a safe way to exercise those muscles while keeping the hip in place to prevent further damage. The Hipster isn't a product yet – Weiss is doing some testing to prove the concept – but the idea seems sound, and Weiss is hoping to commercialize the idea if there's enough interest. I suspect there's going to be a lot of interest. With that, I'd like to dedicate a section at the end of our photo gallery to my goofy lab Eva, who has between 8 and 11 percent chance of developing dysplasia according to OFFA statistics, and who wants you all to know that nobody ever feeds her, ever.