Presenting Lancelot Encore - A Clone

This story is excerpted and authroed by Michael Inbar:

The miracle of life made an encore for Edgar and Nina Otto. A year after their beloved yellow Labrador retriever, Lancelot, died of cancer, the Florida couple welcomed a cloned copy into their home Tuesday. They’ve dubbed their doggie double “Lancelot Encore.”

Speaking live with Al Roker via satellite on TODAY Wednesday, Edgar Otto said that it only took the 10-week-old puppy a few hours to assume his forebear’s place of preeminence in the family’s large menagerie, which includes nine other dogs.

“This morning, when the pack runs from the bedroom into the kitchen, he led the pack, which the old Lancelot did,” Edgar told Roker. “This is a puppy, 10 weeks old, and he led the pack!”
Nina added, “We noticed that he bonded immediately, within an hour, with every other pet in the house.”

Lancelot always occupied a special place in their hearts: Edgar called Lancelot “an unbelievable, humanlike dog, a true companion.” Thus the Ottos had the foresight to have DNA frozen from Lancelot six years ago.

Then, last June — six months after Lance’s death — they learned the Northern California biotech firm BioArts International was holding a dog-cloning auction. They threw their hat in the ring, and won.

The cloning didn’t come cheap — the Ottos shelled out $155,000 for the opportunity. But it worked. BioArts partnered with Dr. Hwang S Woo-Suk, of the South Korea biotech research firm Sooam, to bring a second Lancelot into the Otto household.

An egg containing the late Lancelot’s DNA was placed in a Korean dog to create Lancelot Encore. Once the pup was able to leave his birth mother and go out on his own, he was flown from South Korea to San Francisco before finally making his way to Miami International Airport, where the Ottos were pacing with anticipation.

Spitting image“He came out of the chute and he actually ran to us, so it was amazing,” Nina Otto told Roker. “He looked just like my original Lancelot, so I was thrilled. I had been getting updates and pictures over the past 10 weeks, but the real thing is what I wanted to see.”

Still, the couple have their critics. Dr. Sara Pizano, of Miami-Dade County’s animal services department, told the Miami Herald that for the price the Ottos paid for having Lancelot cloned, “we could do spays and neuters for six months.”

Edgar Otto told the paper he donates considerable sums to his local Humane Society — and promised that if the Ottos bring an 11th dog into their home, it will come from a shelter.
He admitted, “We have gotten some negative feedback from people on the price.” Yet, as Lancelot Encore squirmed in his arms, he added, "But we feel it is worth it.”

Pit Bull pup stabbed with sword - recovers.

Mission Viejo, CA (AP) - An 8 month old pit bull puppy is recovering after being stabbed seven times with a sword in an attack that Orange County authorities say may have been committed by a man intending to cause pain to a former partner.

Azure, an 8-month-old female, underwent surgery at a pet clinic after she was stabbed in the head, chest and abdomen and apparently suffered liver damage.

“She was just scared. She had her tail between her legs,” said Danielle Lawrence, a receptionist at Alicia. “She was in a lot of pain, crying, but she wanted everyone to pet her.”

She recovered enough to wag her tail despite being covered in stitches.

The clinic began a fundraising campaign Wednesday to cover Azure's medical care, and has already collected enough for the puppy's treatment, which is estimated to be between $4,000 and $5,000, said a spokeswoman with the center. Azure is on pain medication and antibiotics and will stay at Alicia for an undetermined amount of time.

Deputies suspect the dog was attacked late Tuesday by Justin Carrafield of Mission Viejo who was arrested for investigation of domestic violence battery, animal cruelty and cultivating marijuana. He was placed in Men’s Central Jail in Santa Ana on $20,000 bail.

Deputies believe he choked and struck a woman described as his ex-spouse or girlfriend at an apartment they shared. The woman sustained superficial injuries.

Chicken helps dog raise puppies

A hen in China has reportedly shacked up with a dog to help raise its three newborn puppies.

Owner Yang, of Anqian village in Fuqing, said the hen moved into the dog's kennel after it gave birth last month, reports Southeast Express.

Since then, the hen refuses to leave the kennel, staying inside all day and only walking out when the dog is nursing its puppies.

Yang says the hen is very protective of the puppies and refuses to allow strangers to come close to the kennel.

"Quite possibly the hen is envious of the dog because it has no offspring of its own, and so it is trying to take over the puppies," he said.

"The dog seems to have given up the idea of driving the stubborn intruder out and has decided to share the space with the hen."

Pennsylvania Boy Offers Puppy to Obama Family

UNIONTOWN, PA. -- Two western Pennsylvania county commissioners will be bringing more than best wishes to President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration in Washington, D.C.

Fayette County Commissioners Vincent Vicites and Vincent Zapotsky are also delivering a letter from fourth-grader Zack Shiley who is offering his puppy to the Obama family.

The Obamas have been searching for a dog to be their White House pet.

Shiley attends Wharton Elementary School in Farmington. The labradoodle puppy is the only survivor of a litter born to the family's two dogs on Nov. 26.

Vicites says it's a long shot the Obamas will accept the dog, but he noted the First Family has to get their puppy from somebody.

Owner, Friends Rescue Dog From Icy Lake

GENOA TOWNSHIP, MI (AP). -- Cold waters couldn't stop the warm love of neighbors who helped rescue a dog who had fallen through an icy lake.

Ossa, a 64-pound Rottweiler's rambunctious spirit took her from her back yard to the Lake Chemung Tuesday.

"I took a look and there was a circle with all the ducks around and about 10 feet from it I see a little black head. And I said, 'That's my dog,'" said Ossa's owner, Dan Fyvie. "She was in there for a good 45 minutes before we got her out."

Fyvie and two neighbors came to her rescue.

Neighbor Thomas Coppola and Fyvie fell through the ice themselves while trying to get the dog. Another neighbor, Victor LaRoue, came to their aid.

"Her and I fell through the ice. Then Victor grabbed me and got me up out of the water, then he started working with Dan," Coppola said.

"It was a team effort; each neighbor had a different thing that they brought," said LaRoue. "One had a rope, one had a ladder, and one had the inner tube."

Coppola, 75, said he had no reservations about going after Ossa.

"We love this dog like a child, like it's our own family," he said.

Abandoned poodle survives cold for 20+ days

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. -- The owner of the poodle left to fend for itself in frigid temperatures at a Vermont airport for three weeks has been located and ticketed by police.

Pascal Bellon, 50, of Frelighsburg, Quebec, was ticketed for cruelty to animals and fined $100, according to Burlington police. He agreed to relinquish custody of the dog and pay for a variety of veterinary bills, police said. Bellon told police he left the dog in the van unintentionally.

The miniature poodle named Michou was discovered inside a VW Eurovan with a Quebec plate Jan. 6 and had somehow managed to survive for nearly 20 days, police said. Local veterinarians are calling the poodle's survival nothing short of a miracle.

The Eurovan, with the poodle, sat parked in the airport's parking garage, unknown to officials, during a bitter cold stretch of weather. The poodle was discovered after a concerned citizen noticed a stench coming from the vehicle and notified authorities.

Michou had no food or water during his time in the van and lost most more than half his body weight, police said.

"I feel really bad for the dog, and I really wouldn't want it to be my dog," said Phoebe Roda.

Anyone who wishes to contribute to Michou's ongoing recovery can call 802-540-2396.

Firechief pleads not guilty to killing puppy, Karly

RIVERSIDE, CA -- A Los Angeles County assistant fire chief accused of pummeling his neighbor's six-month-old puppy to the point it had to be put down pleaded not guilty Tuesday to felony charges.

Glynn Johnson, 54, faces an animal cruelty charge, with sentence-enhancing allegations of using a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony in connection with the Nov. 3 beating.
Johnson, who is on administrative leave from the fire department, remains free on $10,000 bail.
He's scheduled to return to Riverside County Superior Court for a felony settlement conference Feb. 20.

Johnson maintains he was attacked by the dog and hit it only to defend himself.

The shepherd mix, Karley, had gotten loose from her owner's property on the day of the incident. She was picked up by a neighbor, who was taking the dog back home when Johnson apparently intercepted him and offered to return the animal himself, according to authorities.

The neighbor, Travis Skaggs, handed Karley over and watched as Johnson walked her toward her owners' house. Skaggs told sheriff's investigators that, seemingly without provocation, Johnson turned and struck the dog "with his closed fist, 10-15 times."

According to an affidavit filed in support of an arrest warrant, Skaggs yelled at Johnson to stop and "even tried pulling him off Karley, but was pushed away."

Skaggs said Johnson tried to pry open the animal's jaws and then "picked up a rock and began striking Karley in the head," the affidavit stated.

The defendant left the dog alone after it went limp, Skaggs said. Karley was able to get on her feet and stumble to a ravine, where she was retrieved by her owners, Jeff and Shelley Toole, who rushed her to a veterinarian, authorities said.

The vet told sheriff's investigators that Karley had a shattered skull and appeared to have a broken jaw. At the Tooles' request, the dog was euthanized.

During a news conference at his lawyer's Beverly Hills' office last month, Johnson told reporters he would "never harm a dog that posed no danger to me."

He said while he was carrying the puppy home, it lashed out, biting down on his right thumb in a "vise-like grip" that required the fireman to defend himself.

Johnson's attorney, John E. Sweeney, argued Karley was a mature dog capable of inflicting harm on his client, whose "dominant hand was in the mouth of the dog, being shredded."

Sweeney said the Riverside County District Attorney's Office caved to pressure in charging Johnson.

Several local protests were held, demanding Johnson face criminal charges, in the weeks immediately preceding the announcement that he would be charged.

Wii-mote almost kills puppy.

Five-month-old Ozzy, a miniature Sheltie, lives with his owner, Kathy White, in Marquette, Michigan. One night, Ozzie was watching his owner trying out her brand new Wii Bowling.

As White drew her hand back, Ozzy leapt up at her, and Kathy's swing connected squarely with poor Ozzy's head, knocking him out cold.

Luckily, White's screams drew the attention of her neighbor, Pene Honey, who gave the puppy the kiss of life (yes, actual mouth-to-mouth), saving him from the brink of death.

Ozzy was then rushed to a local vet, where he was treated for cardiac arrest and severe brain swelling. It's taken him several weeks to recover, but according to White, he's almost back to normal now.

Now when the family is bowling, Ozzy is kept locked safely away.

Games: Hotel for Dogs

In the Hotel for Dogs video game, players enter the old hotel to help two siblings, Andi and Bruce, feed and entertain an adorable collection of canines by building amazing gadgets, playing with the pooches and keeping the dogs happy in their new Hotel home.

Navigating through 10 levels of fun and challenging game play, players must accomplish various goals to keep their beloved canines healthy and amused.

Players will even explore the areas outside of hotel as they attempt to locate and rescue additional pups in need of some major TLC.

There is a Nintendo Wii version for $39.99 and a Nintendo DS version for $29.99, and both are available now.

Sorry, we don't have any reviews at this time to comment on either vesion of the game.

Violin Shop logo inspired by owners dog.

Classic Bows Violin Shop is a music store located in San Diego, CA. owned by Lois Bach and Greg Gohde.

Recently they commissioned a four foot piece of art of their miniature schnauzer, Maggie, to adorn the oustide of their shop and website.

Artist Mirto Golino of Oakland, CA designed the violin-playing art and can be seen in the picture with Lois and Greg.

Dogs once again top box office.

We'd like to welcome everyone who is checking back in with us over our extended holiday break and wish you a prosperous 2009. With so much going on in the world these days, it only takes a few minutes of spending quality time with your dog to get you grounded again.

So if the news is getting you down, economy proving troublesome for others....take your dog out for a nice walk and you'll once again realize your pooch doesn't care about any of those things.....just cares about being with you.

Anyway, for the second week in a row the Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson flick "Marley & Me" (based on the true story by John Grogan) is the number one movie in North America, bringing in over $106.5M by Sunday, January 4th.

It's proving that family stories and more importantly ones with dogs are translating to big business. Remember teh success of Beverly Hills Chihuahua just a few months back? And with the a new installment to the Beethoven franchise (Beethoven's Big Break to be released directly to DVD) and the upcoming Hotel for Dogs (Jan 15), expect to see more canine related features in the future.

By the way, if you haven't read the book yet, by all accounts reviewers are stating the movie is a very good translation of the book....and be prepared to bring your Kleenex.