RSS feeds | Carson City Nevada News

Dartmoor: Dog Walkers Told Short Leads Now Mandatory

Dogs on Dartmoor now need to be on short leads to protect nesting birds and other animals, park bosses have said.

The protective period will last from now until 31 July, Dartmoor National Park Authority said.

Dartmoor rangers have been out advising dog walkers, while handing out treats, leads and poo bags, they said.

Their advice included how vital it was to protect birds, as well as lambs, foals and calves.

The initiative was organised by Dartmoor National Park Authority, The National Trust and Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society.

Ella Briens, deputy head ranger, said: "The weekend of engagement was an important way for us to highlight the breeding season and explain that it's a particularly vulnerable time for Dartmoor's wildlife.

"We found most people were incredibly positive but were surprised to find some people didn't think the rules applied to them."

The park authority said birds such as the meadow pipit and skylark were building nests on the ground to incubate eggs while lambs, foals and calves were taking their first steps.

Dogs could frighten adult birds from their nests, while the animal could also cause "distress" to grazing livestock and their young.

Dog owners were also advised to stick to paths and pick up waste to take home.

Follow BBC Devon on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.Co.Uk.

View comments

Rescuer Steps In To Save Dog With Box On Head For Months — And Takes 'sweet' Pup Home

The man who freed a dog with a box stuck on his head for months forged a bond with the "sweet" canine.

Now, the Cane Corso is the "newest member of the Miller household."

The dog, now named Bear, was seen running around with a black box stuck on his head, evading Alabama rescuers for months, McClatchy News reported.

'Ninja' dog with box on its head evaded Alabama rescuers for months — until now

Rescuers with the City of Mobile Animal Services attempted net guns, traps and tranquilizers to free the stray dog from his predicament, but none of those options worked, director Robert Bryant said.

"The best word for that dog is he's a ninja," Bryant told WKRG.

Finally, on Feb. 21, a team used barricades to corral the dog into a smaller area, where shelter volunteer Martin Miller was able to yank the box off the dog's head as he ran by the group.

With the box off the dog's head, they were finally able to trap him in a standard box trap, Miller shared on Facebook.

"The staff absolutely LOVE him and he is being treated like a king," Miller said. "He is very sweet and has a long happy life ahead of him! His name is Bear and he is amazing. Thanks to all involved."

Accompanied by a video of Bear licking his face, Miller said the dog "came out of his shell" and enjoyed the attention of those at the shelter.

Staff described him as a "sweet gentleman."

In a series of social media posts, Miller began documenting the bond he was forming with the dog he helped save, taking him for car rides and later introducing him to his own pets at home as he began the process of adopting the "big guy."

Miller still had to go through the process of applying to adopt Bear and making sure his family was the right fit before he got to take him home.

"Trying to find a good home for a dog that's garnered this much publicity is always a big deal," Bryant said in an interview with WKRG. "There's gonna be a ton of people that wanna take him home."

Eventually, the shelter determined Bear would settle in nicely with Miller.

"We got to thinking about it, and really, who better than one of the team members that spent so much time trying to get him off the streets in the first place," Bryant told WKRG.

Bear is recovering from his ordeal in Miller's home, which he said is likely the first place Bear has ever had a real bed to sleep on. Despite his size, the 150-pound dog is likely underweight and gulps down water that Miller gave him in a cooking pot, his new owner shared.

"It's just an absolute miracle I feel," Miller wrote. "I'm just a soft hearted guy but I feel he has a purpose on this earth."

Family made 'very hard decision' to give up their dog of 6 years. Then came good news

14 puppies abandoned outside with no food or water. Now, they get a second chance

Owner goes to all lengths to find lost Colorado dog. Turns out, she was just feet away

Confused shelter dog thinks cars pulling up are his family. But he still needs a home

What Could Be The Cause Of Dog's Seizure?

Dear Dr. John,

Last night, our three-year-old Shepherd X was in the middle of what looked like a seizure at 1:30 am. He thrashed around and was clearly disoriented. He also peed and drooled a lot. It lasted for about two minutes and then slowly things got back to normal, and we went back to sleep. This morning, at 7 a.M., the same thing happened, and he almost bit my son's hand. We have made an appointment to see a neurologist at a local veterinary specialty center. What could be the cause of the seizure or whatever our dog went through?  I.S.

Dear I.S.,

I'm glad to hear that you are taking your dog in for an evaluation so soon. Cases in which dogs have repeated seizures in a short span of time need to be seen sooner rather than later.

It is important that when a dog has a seizure to limit the ability for them to hurt themselves by clearing objects nearby, avoiding stairs, and not reaching for them since they are disoriented. It is also important to document the date, time, and length of seizure to help in diagnosing and putting together a treatment plan.

The possible causes for seizures include idiopathic epilepsy, exposure to and ingestion of toxins, brain lesions or masses, and more. In all likelihood, your dog most likely has epilepsy. It is typically first seen in dogs between 1-5 years of age and your description is very accurate of what is typically observed. The cause is often unknown, but genetics is commonly considered.

If everything checks out to be within normal parameters, they might send you home with one of the several anti-seizure medications used for dogs with epilepsy to prevent seizure recurrences. These include phenobarbital, potassium bromide, Keppra, and zonisamide. These kinds of medications are started when dogs have a few seizures monthly or when a cluster occurs within 24 hours such as what you experienced.

While a lifetime of medication and possible periodic adjustments might be needed, the good news is that your dog can live a normal life.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He can be reached at 781-899-9994.

---