Now I’ve read that Scooter, the smallest dog in the world, has also passed on.

The tiny Maltese, who, at six months old, weighed in at only 14 ounces, passed away after a bad reaction to some medication. He had jumped out the hands of a handler earlier this week and broke one of his tiny legs, and the medication given to him caused ulcers in his stomach that he was not able to recover from.

Scooter wasn’t officially titled The World’s Smallest Dog — his owner Cheryl McKnight said she was waiting for his first birthday.

The three-inch tall puppy was put to rest in a favorite shoebox in McKnight’s garden in New Zealand.

[image: fame pictures]

Post from: Blisstree

World’s Smallest Dog Dies

The six-month old fluffy white puppy, named Scooter, is also only three inches tall and just under eight inches in length, from nose to tail.

Though he is still considered a puppy, his owner Cheryl McKnight, from the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island, says he seems to have stopped growing. If this is the case Scooter will take the Smallest Dog title from a U.S. dog named Boo Boo, a chihuahua that towers over Scooter at nearly four inches tall.

McKnight said the other pups from Scooter’s litter all seemed to continue growing but Scooter stopped around the two-month mark. “He was the same size as the other two pups when they were born but as they grew, he didn’t,” she said.

The typical weight for a Maltese is 4-7 pounds, with a height of 8-10 inches.

If you look at the picture accompanying the article you see that Scooter is just impossibly tiny. I was expecting to read that he was bred that way but from what the owner says it appears to just be a fluke. That is one amazingly cute face, though!

[image: sxc]

Post from: Blisstree

Scooter, the Smallest Dog in the World

Coco Conundrum struggles to free herself from the grasp of Tru!

Rick says we need a family dog. I’m a cat person. I’ve never lived with a dog. Growing up, Rick had dogs. He says every boy should have a dog, and according to him, our son is missing out.

Truman says he doesn’t want a dog until his cats “die and go up to heaven.” He worries dogs would hurt his two cats. Our cats were strays. We’re lucky to actually see them in eyeshot of Truman. They are frightened of him, and yet he adores them. He begs me to catch one so he can hold it. When he does, the cat yowls and threatens to rip him to shreds.

If we got a dog, I would be the primary caregiver. I work from home and would be spending most of the day with the pup. I would have to walk him and feed him and make sure he is potty trained. Since I’m not sure how dogs work, I told Rick I wanted to buy some books and take a class before a dog joined our family. And I gave him a distant deadline – Truman’s 6th birthday. But that deadline is drawing near.

Sweet Little Probie needs a home.

The other day the humane society brought an adorable field-breed golden retriever on Rick’s show. Probie is 13 months old and very mild tempered. And he’s adorable. Rick sent me this TwitPic of him. Over the weekend we went to the shelter and visited Probie. He was very sweet with our little boy and Truman enjoyed playing with him. Since we were about to leave town I suggested we not make any hasty decisions. And so we’re waiting. And waiting. And I suspect someone will snatch up Probie before we are (I am) ready for a dog. Which would probably be a good thing. Still, I’m just not convinced I want a dog. And Truman seems lukewarm.

After a few minutes playing with Probie, Truman’s focus immediately turned to the cats. He was smitten. Unlike our strays back home, the kittens there had been around people since birth. They were rag dolls in my son’s arms. One even purred as he slug it around.

Rick rolled his eyes. He says it’s beginning to look like we may end up with another cat rather than a new dog. I think two cats are plenty for this household. Truman says he wants a kitten. And a lizard and a bluebird and a tree snake and a fish and a mouse.

We’ve got about six months before Truman’s birthday. I’m just not sure… What do you think? Can I grow to love a dog like I love my kitties?

Photo, JWJourney

Post from: Blisstree

Dogs vs. Cats – Which Pet to Get?

The Daily Puppy iPhone app lets you browse the cutest featured puppies and grown-up puppies on a daily basis!

You can also shake the phone to view randomly selected Puppies via the Pupfolio feature.

The app can be downloaded for .99 cents and the Daily Puppy will give 10% of net proceeds received from the sale of the application to nonprofit Animal Rescue Organizations and Shelters.

[image used with permission from the daily puppy]

Post from: Blisstree

The Daily Puppy for Your iPhone

Just what do you say to your kids when they ask for a pet? It is perfectly true that growing up with a family pet can teach children responsibility and to develop their social skills. Also cultivating good feelings towards pet animals helps kids to develop a sense of self esteem and help them to establish trusting relationships with other human beings. But before you give in to your kid’s demands for a pony, rabbit, salamander, kitten, boxer, python, or macaw, there is plenty for you to consider. ”

I pulled that very same line with my parents when I wanted a horse and I was in my teens. Yes, having my own horse sounded so glamorous, but I was not prepared for all the work involved. I hate to admit it, but sometimes I wish they had said no.

“So with younger children, do you think that it is a good idea to give them a pet of their own or is your household a pet free zone?? ”

Photo
Continue…

Post from: Blisstree

Choosing the Best Pet for Kids