Free Republic

'We have extracted DNA from a 9,500-year-old dog from the Siberian island of Zhokhov, which the dog is named after. Based on that DNA we have sequenced the oldest complete dog genome to date, and the results show an extremely early diversification of dogs into types of sledge dogs', says one of the two first authors of the study, PhD student Mikkel Sinding, the Globe Institute. Until now, it has been the common belief that the 9,500-year-old Siberian dog, Zhokhov, was a kind of ancient dog - one of the earliest domesticated dogs and a version of the common origin...

Animal control officers in Maryland tracked down and captured a loose dog many residents believed to be a wolf. Prince George's County police shared photos which concerned several citizens due to its large size and wolf-like appearance. Police managed to track down and capture the animal at about 10:30 a.m. on Thursday and confirmed that it was a large dog. "It seems to be a mixed malamute/husky-type dog," Prince George's animal management Chief Rodney Taylor told WUSA. "He's definitely a dog." The dog was found without any kind of identification such as a chip or a collar and will be...

DENVER -- A US Postal Service letter carrier was attacked by two dogs in a Denver neighborhood Monday afternoon. Denver police said the postal worker was delivering mail at West 34th Avenue and Utica Street when she was bit. The female employee suffered extensive injuries and was transported to the hospital to be treated, said David Rupert, a spokesman for the US Postal Service. A neighbor saw what was happening and came to the letter carrier's rescue, but was injured as well, Rupert said. The two dogs were eventually corralled and taken away. The dogs were described as a Malumute...

Alaskan malamute Sunny’s reprieve from a death sentence may be short-lived, as the Board of Selectmen last night decided to appeal the court’s decision to spare his life. After going into executive session, selectmen announced in open session that they will appeal the decision made Friday in Leominster District Court to overturn the board’s Dec. 8 decision to kill the year-old dog.“We will be appealing the decision on the dog hearing,” said Selectman Raymond A. Dennehy III.Sunny’s owner, Leo J. Montagna, said he was shocked to hear about the selectmen’s decision when he was contacted by phone last night. Sunny...