Friday, March 13, 2009

Rufus The London Underground Commuter

A canine commuter has become a minor celebrity on the London Underground thanks to his giant frame (He's a whopping 55kgs!).

Rufus the Pyrenean mountain dog travels on the capital's transport network with his owner Michael Stavrides and has won the hearts of fellow commuters. Stavrides, 50, takes the tube journey from Pinner to Baker Street daily with his oversized pal and says that the reaction to the five-year-old dog has been overwhelmingly positive.

Canine commuter: Rufus the Pyrenean mountain dog on the tube with his owner Michael Stavrides

'It's amazing the reaction of people as I take Rufus on the train.

'Although he does tend to slump across the carriage floor people absolutely love him,' says Michael, who owns the Fine Art Gallery in Marylebone.

'People actually tell me they get on the train that isn't their train just to go to the next stop with him.

'They tell me it makes their day, particularly as we're going through a credit crunch.'

Michael also says famous fans including Matt Lucas, Barbara Windsor and Dale Winton have all stopped to pat Rufus.

'I've even had people park their cars just to get out to say hello and take a picture with him.'

But some grumpy travellers aren't so happy to share carriage space with the friendly pooch.

A lively debate started in a London paper when someone calling themselves NOTDOGLOVER texted in to ask if anyone had seen "pony-like" Rufus and stated that they objected to his poochy presence on the rush hour commute.

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Dog Who Can Say "Mama"

Armani is a 2 year old minature bull terrier who lives in Berlin with his owner, Zouleykha Kogan. He must love Frau Kogan so much cos' he can actually say the words "Mama"! Check out the link below and if it does not work, go to the second link as it includes the full story besides the video!

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1488655367/bctid13718301001

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/4732918/Dog-who-says-Mama-takes-Germany-by-storm.html

What a smart doggie!!!

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Friday, March 06, 2009

Family dog saves toddler from deadly snake


Its an old story from 2007. I forgot to post it up!

A doberman saved a toddler from a deadly snake by throwing her out of harm's way as it attacked.The pet hauled the 17-month-old girl up by her nappy and flung her over his shoulder like a rag doll.As he did so, the snake struck, biting him on the leg. Charlotte Svillicic's family firmly believe the dog, called Khan, acted deliberately.

They said yesterday he may have been repaying their kindness for rescuing him from an animal shelter.

"He saved her life by risking his own," said Charlotte's mother, Catherine.

"From now on, he's Khan the Wonder Dog."

The drama happened as 17-month-old Charlotte played in the garden of her home near the Australian city of Cairns when Khan began to bristle.

He had spotted the king brown snake - the world's third most venomous - about to strike from its hiding place beneath their house.

Mrs Svillicic said yesterday: "Khan was really concentrating and was acting aggressively towards Charlotte-and kept trying to nudge her but it wasn't working."So he grabbed her by the back of the nappy and threw her over his shoulder more than a metre, like she was a rag doll."

At that point the snake leapt out, Mrs Svillicic added. "Charlotte looked pretty shocked and Khan screamed, like he'd been stabbed."I realised he had been trying to get in between her and the snake before he threw her."

The dog received a shot of anti-venom from a vet and made a full recovery.

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