Pets in the paper – puppy mill bill held up
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Puppy mill proposal stalled by Senate committee. (state capitol) (Read more about the puppy mill bill here.)
- Primate skeleton may tell old tale. (New York)
- Pet costs can be burden, surprise in hard times. (local column)
- Critters in the classroom. (photos below)
And read this story now on NewsOK.com:
- Michael Vick leaves Kansas prison for home confinement in Virginia. (Read more coverage of Michael Vick on the Pet Show blog here.)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today, Sunday and Saturday -
- Baby elephant makes its debut. (Ohio)
- Judge’s decision sends Michael Vick scrambling. (Virginia)
- Hunger or poison blamed after owl dies. (Noble)
- Dogged volunteering defines Realtor of the Year. (Oklahoma City)
- Group will build homes for canines. (Oklahoma City)
- Urban coyote attacks are alarming residents. (Colorado, Sunday, page 10a)
- Two shakes of a bunny’s nose. (Connecticut, Sunday, page 10a)
- Rare Irrawaddy dolphins found. (Bangladesh, Sunday, page 13a)
- Wildlife advocates named. (statewide, Sunday, page 17a)
- Groups saddle up for companionship. (Piedmont)
- Airport to get bird nets. (Texas, Sunday, page 18a)
- Elephant joins Dallas zoo. (Texas, Sunday, page 18a)
- Last polar bear dies in St. Louis. (Missouri, Sunday, page 18a)]
- Prairie chickens close to being endangered. (Kansas, Sunday, page 20a)
- Bear, antelope and elk seasons created. (statewide)
- Prairie chicken conservation focus of festival. (Woodward)
- Moose art joins other. (Medicine Park)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
The Vick heebie-geebies
Maybe you sensed something in the air. Maybe you had that uneasy feeling that something was amiss in Oklahoma City yesterday.
If you’re a dog owner, it probably was this: Michael Vick was in town.
The notorious dogfighting criminal was en route from his cell in Kansas to Viriginia, so he spent the day at the Federeal Transfer Center in Oklahoma City.
No wonder I felt so sick yesterday.
Read more of our Michael Vick coverage.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
A new year, a new chance at life
The Michael Vick dogs are America’s dogs. I learned that from Molly Gibb, an Oklahoman who helped rehabilitate one of the pit bull terriers rescued from Vick’s Bad Newz Kennels. I’d never really thought of it that way, but she’s right. When the case became so public, everyone who’s ever loved a dog felt sick. We imagined our dogs inside those kennel walls, inside those fighting rings. And when those dogs were saved, we looked at our dogs with renewed joy and hope. Even the ones who were hurt the most – beaten, starved, mangled – could find a way to overcome.
Sports Illustrated has written a wonderful story about Michael Vick’s dogs in light of the new year. One of the dogs – Sweet Jasmine – is featured on the cover of the Dec. 29 issue. If you haven’t had a chance to see it, check it out. It’s worth reading.
If you haven’t had a chance to read about Molly Gibb and Alf, you can do so here. He’s an amazing pup, and Molly’s an impressive trainer.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Michael Vick due back in court
Pet Show’s least favorite person, Michael Vick, is due back in court. He’s facing state dogfighting charges after his conviction of federal dogfighting crimes. So he’ll have to leave federal prison to go back to our. Pet Show says hooray!
Want to see one of the survivors of Michael Vick’s dogfighting ring? Check out Alf, who lives here in Oklahoma.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Michael Vick dog from Oklahoma featured in video
If you haven’t met Alf, you’re missing out. The pit bull terrier is walking the long road to recovery after spending his life at Bad Newz Kennels, the horrific dog fighting ring run by former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Micahel Vick.
Alf could barely stand up or walk straight when he was placed with foster mom Molly Gibb of Arcadia. He was so used to standing in fear, ready to run, that he didn’t have a sense of balance or control of his body. Molly Gibb and trainer Kathy Cascade of Stillwater worked to change that. They used the TellingtonTouch method, also known as TTouch. The method teaches the animal how to keep good balance and not be afraid of various situations. Now Kathy has posted a video on YouTube showing Alf’s recovery process using TTouch. Check it out and leave a comment!
P.S. We ran a big feature story about Alf in the Sept. 15 edition of The Oklahoman. If you missed it, read it here.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Gallery – Michael Vick dog from Oklahoma
We only got to use one of our great pictures of Alf in the story about his recovery, so I thought I’d share them all. These pictures show Alf (the tan one with the big ears), Tyler (the brown one who’s bigger) and Molly Gibb (the person). Molly is Alf’s foster mom. She’s helping him become a normal dog again after spending his life in Michael Vick’s Bad Newz Kennels.
Staff Write Carrie Coppernoll
