MSNBC Report – December 20

The Kroger Co is recalling select packages of dog and cat foods at some of its retail stores because the products may pose a health risk to pets.

The company said on Saturday the recall involves certain bags of Pet Pride Cat Food, Pet Pride Tasty Blend Poultry & Seafood Cat Food, Pet Pride Kitten Formula Food, Old Yeller Chunk Dog Food, Kroger Value Cat Food, Kroger Value Chunk Dog Food. The products carry expiration dates of Oct. 23 and 24, 2011.

Kroger issued the recall because the items may contain aflatoxin, a fungus-produced carcinogen found in some corn.

Cincinnati, Ohio-based Kroger says it is using a customer recall notification system in an effort to help customers determine if they purchased the affected pet food.

States with Kroger-affiliated stores included in the recall are Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

Kroger also said the recall applies to Dillons and Gerbes stores in Kansas and Missouri; Baker’s stores in Nebraska, Food 4 Less stores in Nebraska, Illinois and Indiana; and Jay C, Hilander, Owen’s, Pay Less and Scott’s stores in Illinois and Indiana.
—End Article

The American Kennel Club is welcoming a trio of new breeds to join the 164 already in its registry. The Icelandic sheepdog joins the Herding Group, while the Cane Corso and the Leonberger are new entrants in the Working Group.

When a vet told Nancy Gates that her dog Arabella had heart problems, needed surgery and it would cost $500, she had no choice but to put her pet down.


Surgery – Heart – Animal – United States – Health

Buying an adorable puppy or kitten at your local pet store may become a thing of the past, if more American cities join a small but growing movement to ban retail pet sales.

Dog – Pet store – Pet – United States – Recreation

Dogs emit two primary growls: one for play and one for all other times when dogs are angry, a study confirms.

Dog – Pets – Recreation – Rescues and Shelters – Poodle

A Scottish terrier is America’s new top dog. Four year old, Sadie the Scottie walked off with the title by winning best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club. This is the eighth time a Scottish Terrier has won the title.

About two weeks before Christmas, Deacon, an 85-pound German shepherd, went missing from his family home in rural Stuart, Va. As weeks passed, his family feared the worst — until a curious phone call from Florida in late February changed everything.

I can relate to this story, as a child my German Shepherd, Buck, was found in Michigan from Ohio.  The irony, the people who found our dog also had a dog named “Buck”.  Their dog was a dachshund!

German Shepherd Dog – Dog – Florida – Pets – Recreation

The 4-year-old Great Dane weighs 250-pounds and stands 3 feet, 7 inches tall from paw to shoulder — three-quarters of an inch taller than his closest rival, according to Guinness World Records.

Guinness World Record – Great Dane – Dog – Breeds – United States

Jan. 27:  Gina DiNardo, a spokeswoman for the American Kennel Club, tells TODAY’s Natalie Morales which breeds are the top dogs. (Today Show)

American Kennel Club – United States – Dog – Pets – Recreation

Greyhound advocates are scrambling to find homes for hundreds of dogs that will no longer be racing after nine tracks around the U.S. closed in 2009, including several just last week.

Greyhound racing – United States – Dog – Homelessness – Greyhound