| Vietnam War tale told from a dog's point of view
The Vietnam War ended more than 30 years ago, ancient history for today's 10-year-olds. Two novels may not offer a full overview, but they do illuminate interesting corners of the conflict and its legacy. Dogs figured prominently in the conduct of U.S. military operations in Vietnam, as we learn in Cracker! by Newbery Award winner Cynthia Kadohata (Atheneum; 309 pages; $16.99; ages 10-up). Alternating between human and canine points of view, Kadohata recounts the story of one German shepherd and her wartime experiences, sniffing out booby traps on the ground. Cracker starts out life as a show dog, then breaks a leg, becomes pet to a boy who can't keep her and ends up in training for service in Vietnam with recruit Rick Hanski as her devoted handler. What happens can be read as a classic dog story or as a gripping account of war.
Pet of the Week - Champ
Champ is a dog with a heart of gold. A beautiful German Shepherd mix, he is a polite dog, who sits calmly and watches people with big brown eyes. After a walk or a swim, Champ always sports a giant grin. He is well behaved around other dogs and loves to be with people. Give him a good scratch behind the ears and you will find yourself with a new best friend. He is used to walking on the leash and is a quick learner he recently graduated from Beach Training Classes with flying colours, and will sit and stay on command. He needs a companion who appreciates his loyalty, intelligence and love of human companionship. He is a young dog but fully grown, with a gorgeous short coat of marbled black and brown. If you could provide a good home to Champ, or have a friend who could, feel free to come meet him at the Cayman Islands Humane Society on North Sound Road and spend some time with him, or log on to www.caymanhumanesociety.com Back...
Police puppies named by sick kids
Two German Shepherd puppies are poised to start training for their future careers as police service dogs with the Edmonton Police Service. Shadow and Hutch made their public debuts Thursday morning at the Stollery Childrens Hospital. Kids at the Stollery were asked to come up with names for the puppies and the contest winners were selected by the EPS Canine Unit. Shadow is a black female dog while Hutch is a black-and-brown male puppy. Both are 10 weeks old. Theyre scheduled to start preliminary obedience training in mid-May and enrole in official EPS basic training when theyre 14 months old. If they ace their training, theyll go on active duty by the fall of 2008. Twelve dog-and-handler teams currently make up the EPS Canine Unit. .
Police dog suspended from duty after biting dispatcher
NORTH ANDOVER - Kyzer, the 3-year-old police dog, is in the doghouse for biting a Police Department dispatcher.
Inspector Daniel Cronin said acting Sgt. Chuck Gray, Kyzer's handler, and dispatcher Nathan Kenney were in the parking lot behind the police station when the dog bit Kenney on the right arm.
Kenney was treated at Lawrence General Hospital for a minor bite and was released, Cronin said. Kenney is on injury leave because he has a sore arm.
Kyzer was being withheld from duty pending completion of an investigation into the incident, Cronin said.
According to notes on the police log, Gray suffered scrapes to his knees and elbows trying to restrain Kyzer during the 7:30 p.m. incident.
Cronin said the incident was the result of a chance meeting between Gray and Kenney in the parking lot.
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