Dog to English Translator
Tom Mazzetti, No More Woof

Leave it to the Swedes and Tomas Mazzetti, Project Manager of "No More Woof," to create a device that straps onto your dogs head, that translates their thoughts into one of eight different voices. While Tomas admits the technology is far from perfect, he raised over $20,000 on a crowd-funding website.

A group of Swedish inventors launched a funding campaign to produce a piece of technology that could one day help dogs better communicate with their humans.

The No More Woof, developed by Sweden's Nordic Society for Invention and Discovery (NSID), was the first gadget that translates animal thoughts into human language. Using existing electroencephalography (EEG) micro computing technology, the No More Woof headset prototype analyzes a dog's thought patterns, records them, then translates them into human speech you can understand and hear. The doggie headset includes a small gramophone-like loudspeaker, allowing Fido to "talk" to you in plain English.

If this sounds familiar, then it is, sort of. Remember the talking dogs in the 2009 Pixar film, Up? While the No More Woof isn't quite as advanced as the device worn by Dug, it is still capable of translating basic canine thoughts into words we can comprehend. NSID explains that while brain waves differ from dog to dog, there are common, more universal patterns they have been able to decipher.

NSID says, once released, the No More Woof will have at least 8 human voices to choose from, meaning you will be able to customize the device to match your four-legged friend's personality, or otherwise it would be an insult. Some of the phrases and voices are: Holly: This is splendid!; Harley: Leave me alone; Pudge: I am so very weary; Mandy: Who are you?; Vincent: Em, why are you guys leaving?; Da Vinci: Is that really you?; Roxy: Night-time!; and Abby: He must be a very nice animal.

At the moment the device is set to speak only English, with the hopes of adding Mandarin, French and Spanish versions. However, it is still a work in progress and not a finished product.

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Young Parents Choosing Pets Over Kids
Ron Reich

It may come to you as a surprise, but young couples are opting to have fur-kids instead of human children. While the causes are still unknown, Ron Reich's research suggests income and social media may play a role.

Ron Reich commissioned a survey on Google of over 1,000 people, and was surprised that survey showed younger parents (aged 25 to 34) are nearly 30-percent more likely to spend money on their pets than their kids during Christmas than parents over the age of 34.

The survey showed that trends are changing with the younger people, who would rather have "pet" children than a traditional household with human children.

Reich also noted that younger parents are more likely to use social media sites than their older counterparts. This allows them to post pictures of their pets. There seems to be more competition with social media to show how spoiled their pets are and to lavish them with as many gift as possible. Whereas older people are less inclined to spend their time on social websites.

"When it comes to the low end of the income ladder," Reich continues, "spending extra money on pets is still viewed as a luxury rather than a necessity. While there are many Americans who will not get that toy bike for their son in favor of more toys for their pets, this rarely happens with lower-income Americans."

The trend seems to be moving in the direction where this will continue to increase.

Ron Reich is a former attorney turned marketing consultant. After building up a successful publishing business in the relationship space he is now helping spread joy to the world by helping people maximize their relationships with their pets.

Life With A Vet A Continuous Pet Parade
Scott Reeder, Illinois Policy Institute

Scott Reeder is a veteran statehouse reporter and was the journalist-in-residence at the Illinois Policy Institute, who had been blessed with two veterinarians in his life, his father and his wife, Joan. Vets have an affinity for animals that most people don't understand. Animal doctors have such an intense love for creatures that their homes tend to become, well, menageries.

Life with a vet was never dull according to Scott Reeder. His wife was like most veterinarians. She ended up bringing homes animals that otherwise couldn't be adopted. If you walk into a veterinarian's house, you're likely to see animals that may be missing limbs, can't see or can't walk.

Scott told us when he was eight; his dad came home with a billy goat. His dad was vaccinating cattle at a sale barn, and as a joke, bid $5 on a lonely billy goat that didn't have ears. The ruminant had no respect for fences or screen doors. No sooner had the goat been put in the pasture than it jumped the fence, ran across their yard, peered through the screen door and baaed loudly. Scott's mother took to chasing Billy off the porch with a broom, until he ate the broom. Having no respect for fences, the goat took to sunning itself on the front porch, where more than a few drivers nearly swerved off the road after observing it.

Given this history, you'd think Scott would have gone into marriage to a veterinarian with his eyes wide open. Dream on. His wife brought a cat into the marriage that hated all men. Within a week, the cat marked his suit and every freshly pressed white shirt of his hanging in the closet.

When he asked his wife for her hand in marriage, he made her promise - no animals would be added to their family unless they both agreed.

A couple of years after they wed, his wife who was more than eight months pregnant at the time with their first daughter, came home with a kitten that was born without eyes. Between sobs, Joan said, "They wanted me to put it to sleep just because it was born this way. I couldn't do it, Scott. What happens if our child is born without any eyes?" As his pregnant wife stroked the blind kitten, she added, "It's just a foster cat. It will stay with us just until we find someone who will give it a home permanently." The foster cat ended up staying with them forever. It had the floor plan of the house memorized, avoided the kids' toys on the floor with an eerie sixth sense and lounged on the windowsill like a prince on a throne.

And there were the other creatures that were members of their family. Over the years, they have had dogs, cats, parakeets and a rabbit, and despite his childhood history with Billy, he found himself the owner of not one but three goats.

And who knows, maybe one day one of his daughters will become a vet.

Dogs Get The Flu Too - Canine Influenza - Dr. Debbie

Can you give your dog the flu, or catch it from him? No way. But dogs can become infected with their own strain of canine influenza. With much attention on the tough human flu season, it's a good time to talk about the differences, and similarities, between human and canine influenza.

What is Dog Flu?
Canine Influenza, also known as H3N8, was identified in 2004. The disease mutated from a strain of the equine influenza virus and was first detected in racing greyhounds. Canine influenza has unfortunately migrated across the country.

Although the human flu peaks in winter seasons, canine influenza doesn't show seasonality; rather dogs can acquire canine influenza all year round.

The Illness
A dog sick with canine influenza develops respiratory infection signs similar to kennel cough that last three to four weeks. Symptoms include coughing, gagging, sneezing, runny nose and high fevers up to 104-106 degrees. Normal dog temperature ranges 101-102 degrees Fahrenheit.

Most dogs infected with canine influenza will get sick and recover. But like the human flu, fatalities can occur. Approximately 5-percent of canine influenza infected dogs may die, usually to secondary pneumonia. Older pets, pups, or those with chronic illness are more likely to develop pneumonia than the average healthy dog.

There isn't a specific treatment for dogs infected with canine influenza, but most dogs recover with supportive care including good nutrition, rest and maintaining adequate hydration. Severely ill pets with secondary bacterial pneumonia may be hospitalized and treated with IV fluids and antibiotics.

Dog Flu Transmission
Dog flu is similar to human flu in that it is spread by aerosol transmission as well as through contact with contaminated items. Since dogs don't cover their cough or sneezes, the virus is easily carried through respiratory droplets to other dogs and items in the immediate area. Any place that canines frequent, or spend time around, can become contaminated by infected dogs - that includes water bowls, surfaces and even human hands.

What do you do if you notice your dog's play pal is coughing, sneezing and has a runny nose? Separate your dog immediately and closely monitor your dog for symptoms for 7 days - the time it takes for symptoms to appear after exposure to the virus. If symptoms develop, call your veterinarian.

Past that timeline and you are probably fine. But don't forget that 10 to 20-percent of infected dogs will shed the virus, but never show any symptoms of illness. These apparently healthy carriers can go on and spread the infection to other dogs without ever becoming ill.

Vaccination for canine influenza isn't recommended for every dog at this time. Lifestyle and geographic location influence an individual dog's risk of acquiring canine influenza. Dogs that frequent high-density dog areas are at increased risk of canine influenza and are candidates for vaccination. So if your dog goes to areas like the dog park, trainer, groomer or boarding facility, ask your veterinarian if vaccination is a good idea.

Don't think you have to keep your dog locked in the house forever to hide from canine influenza. For most dogs, the risk of contracting canine influenza is quite small. Good sense and preventative steps are useful to avoid dog illness. These include quarantining new or sick dogs, using good hygiene through disinfection and hand washing and avoiding unnecessary contact with suspected infected dogs, especially if your dog is young, old, or has a compromised immune system.

What Should Pet Owners Do?
Flu awareness and preparedness makes good sense - for both people and pets. But remember that there are other causes of canine respiratory disease. So just because you hear a cough doesn't mean your dog has the flu. Ask your veterinarian about your pet's individualized risks for acquiring canine influenza.

Animal Radio News with Stacey Cohen

Worst Dog In America
We've all heard the popular phrase, "bad to the bone," but Lucy, an adopted husky mix, was so bad, her unmatched destructive nature earned her the title prestigious "Worst Dog in America." When Lucy was adopted, it wasn't until she managed to chew through her metal crate they knew she was a prime candidate for Camp Bow Wow's contest to find America's worst of the worst. Lucy gnawed her way to the coveted crown. The prize was a year of pet "rehab" at Camp Bow Wow, where she received training, working on focus exercises and group play. But this bad dog behavior is a real issue in homes across the country. "It's responsible for 80-percent of all animal abandonment in animal shelters," veterinarian Ernie Ward explained. Lucy eventually became very manageable and was be able to pass the torch to a more deserving pup.

Device Translates Dog's Woofs Into English
Soon you may no longer have to wonder what your dog's barking means: a device is in the works to translate the canine's thoughts into English. Coming out of Malmo, Sweden, No More Woof aims to translate your dog's thoughts via a headset that essentially reads your pooch's mind. Sensors in the gadget pick up EEG signals from the canine's brain, and software in the device attempt to translate those thoughts (however roughly) into English. The device is set to speak only English, with the hopes of adding Mandarin, French and Spanish versions. However, it is still a work in progress and not a finished product.

Sea Lion Poop Lawsuit
Sea lion poop was at the center of a lawsuit filed by an upscale San Diego neighborhood. A group of La Jolla residents were suing the city to get someone to clean up the animal droppings covering the rocks by a nearby cove. The residents, who dubbed themselves Citizens for Odor Nuisance Abatement, said the city had "Exclusive dominion, control, and responsibility" to maintain the cliffs and keep the area free of noxious odors. They also wanted the city to take down a new fence that keeps people away from certain areas of the coast. The residents argued that the lack of traffic has gradually led to a buildup of excrement.

Pampered Pets Private Club in Las Vegas
VIP lounges and entrance fees are commonplace in Las Vegas, but there was a social club downtown just for pampered pets and their owners. The view from the outside is what most of us were likely to see. You needed a special key card to get inside the Hydrant Club private park. Members paid a monthly fee that many people would find expensive, considering nearly all other dog parks are free to the public. But, these dog lovers said it was worth every penny. A field of grass felt good on the paws and some trees provided shade. However, it was eventually closed and the owners are hoping to open a new facility

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