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Using sophisticated 3D imaging to analyze several fossil skulls, a study in this week's Nature Scientific Reports found dogs emerged much more recently than previously thought. Other studies in recent years had suggested dogs evolved as early as 30,000 years ago, a period known as the late Paleolithic, when humans were hunter-gatherers. Abby Grace Drake, a biologist at Skidmore College and one of the co-authors of the latest study, said there is an abundance of evidence -- including the skulls as well as genetic and cultural evidence -- to show dogs arrived instead in the more recent period known as...

When did dogs first become domesticated? A sophisticated new 3D fossil analysis by biologists Abby Grace Drake, visiting assistant professor of biology at Skidmore, and Michael Coquerelle of the University Rey Juan Carlos contradicts the suggested domestication of dogs during the late Paleolithic era (about 30,000 years ago), and reestablishes the date of domestication to around 15,000 years ago... Whether dogs were domesticated during the Paleolithic era, when humans were hunter-gatherers, or the Neolithic era, when humans began to form permanent settlements and take up farming, is a subject of ongoing scientific debate. Original fossil finds placed dog domestication in...

Scientists argue that friendly wolves sought out humans.In the story of how the dog came in from the cold and onto our sofas, we tend to give ourselves a little too much credit. The most common assumption is that some hunter-gatherer with a soft spot for cuteness found some wolf puppies and adopted them. Over time, these tamed wolves would have shown their prowess at hunting, so humans kept them around the campfire until they evolved into dogs. (See "How to Build a Dog.") But when we look back at our relationship with wolves throughout history, this doesn't really make...

It's no secret to any dog-lover or cat-lover that humans have a special connection with animals.... paleoanthropologist Pat Shipman of Penn State University argues that this human-animal connection goes well beyond simple affection. Shipman proposes that the interdependency of ancestral humans with other animal species... played a crucial and beneficial role in human evolution over the last 2.6 million years... "Having sharp tools transformed wimpy human ancestors into effective predators who left many cut marks on the fossilized bones of their prey," Shipman said. Becoming a predator also put our ancestors into direct competition with other carnivores for carcasses and...

<p>From Yorkshire terriers the size of a teacup to Irish wolfhounds near the size of a small pony, all dogs originated from a single species, probably an East Asian wolf seeking the warmth of the human hearth and an easy meal.</p>

My two dobermans (aged 10 and 13) have developed fatty lumps.

Taking a break from soliciting support for the Arthritis and Rheumatism Foundation, "Koko" the poodle pauses for a cigarette.

Oregon police dog ‘Cash’ fired for poor performance A Belgian Malinois trained to be the ninth member of a Cannon Beach, Oregon, police force has been given the boot, evidently unfit for the field of law enforcement. Two-year-old “Cash” was dismissed before he even got to see action, The Associated Press reported. Among his many faults: He was afraid of heights. He had barking difficulties. And he startled at the slightest of noises, AP reported. On top of that, he couldn’t perform one of his key roles — jumping into high spots, like counters, to sniff out drugs. Instead, he’d...

Meet Adam, the Dog Who Is Allergic to Humans • The adorable black Labrador confounded Lucky Dog Retreat Rescue in Indianapolis when he showed up with a mysterious inflammatory skin condition When Adam, a frail black Labrador, first arrived at Lucky Dog Retreat Rescue in Indianapolis, he was a mess. His fur was coming out in clumps, revealing dry, cracked skin underneath, and the dog’s pained gnawing only exacerbated his condition. Robin Herman and the staff at the center tried their best to ease his mystery inflammatory disease by starting a regimen of steroids, medical baths and premium food. And...

Dog shot dead by SWAT team during alleged dispute over neighborhood dog waste • A small dog was filmed being shot by advancing police officers in Racine, Wisc. on Saturday after police were called about violent threats made by the dog's owner, said a neighbor. Police Chief Art Howell said the owner threatened to kill the officers with an armor-piercing crossbow before setting his dog loose. A SWAT team sent to handle an alleged neighborhood dispute over dog waste ended up killing the dog, and igniting a firestorm of criticism against the local police force. In dramatic video capturing the...

1924: Pep, “The Cat-Murdering Dog” Pep "The Cat-Murdering Dog" was a black Labrador Retriever admitted to Eastern State Penitentiary on August 12, 1924. Prison folklore tells us that Pennsylvania Governor Gifford Pinchot used his executive powers to sentence Pep to Life Without Parole for killing his wife’s cherished cat. Prison records support this story: Pep’s inmate number (C-2559) is skipped in prison intake logs and inmate records. The Governor told a different story. He said Pep had been sent to Eastern to act as a mascot for the prisoners. He and the Warden, Herbert “Hard-Boiled” Smith, were friends. Pep was...

Every dog has it's day ... and in the case of the Lab/Chow mix that viciously attacked a little boy only to be scared off by hero cat -- his last day was Saturday. Sources at the Bakersfield animal shelter tell TMZ ... Scrappy was euthanized at the end of a 10-day hold following the attack. We're told the dog was aggressive during his stay at the shelter, even trying to bite a couple of employees. Scrappy was so ornery ... we're told he would try to attack staff even when they tried to give him food and water.

More than 1,000 dog deaths may now be linked to toxic jerky treats according to the Food and Drug Administration. And the agency says since 2007, there have been almost 5,000 complaints of pet illnesses related to the treats.

A dog is invited to vote in the European Parliament elections Zeus, an eight-year-old Rottweiler mix, was sent a polling card to vote in the upcoming elections for the European Parliament. The pup belongs to RussellHoyle of Norton, a village in north east England. Hoyle told The Evening Gazette, “I can remember when the people came round to do the census. I remember saying ‘There is myself and my wife. My son is not old enough to vote. We have got Zeus living here as well and he is 63 in dog years.’ When the polling card addressed to ‘Zeus...

Dog receives jury duty summons Recently man’s best friend has been called upon to perform duties beyond simple unconditional love and loyalty. Earlier this week, there were reports thata canine in England was invited to vote in the upcoming European Parliament elections. Now, canine civic responsibility has hit the States. On Friday, a jury duty summons was sent to “IV Griner,” a New Jersey German Shepherd. As reported by WKYW CBS 3, the name on the summons is the same name that appears on the pooch’s vet record. IV’s owner, Barrett Griner told the station, “Nobody in my house is...

RATCLIFFE, Texas — Deep in the back woods of South Texas, you never know what might be lurking around the corner, or in your tree. “He saw this strange animal up here eating corn,” Jackie Stock said. In Ratcliffe, a small town in DeWitt County, residents are certain they've found the mythical, despicable chupacabra, and this time, it's alive. Ratcliffe Resident Jackie Stock said her husband caught the creature Sunday night. “He called me to come and look, and I said ‘Bubba that looks like a baby chupacabra,’” Stock said. With its hairless back, large claws, countless teeth and ferocious...

New Levels Of Cruelty Reached by Arabs in Jerusalem Update: The source for this post is the “0404 News“, an internet based outlet that report predominantly about Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, IDF. More often than not, they are tipped directly by IDF and Police personnel about items, especially items that do not gain media attention, like rock throwing, firebombs, and other attacks on armed forces and civilians, often accompanied with private photos taken with their cellular phones. While I personally do not doubt the veracity of this report, it should be stated that as of now, no other news outlets...

Blind woman suing nudist community that told her to get rid of service dog In 2011, a medical condition caused Lutz, Florida woman Sharon Fowler to lose her vision. Legally blind, she had to acquire a service dog, named Laura. Ms. Fowler and her husband, Craig, moved into the Paradise Lakes Condominiums complex in 2012 with Laura. However, after they had settled in, Sharongot a letter from the property’s management that was very upsetting, as WTSP 10 News reports. She was told that because Laura, a black Labrador, was over the 25-pound weight limit, she needed to go. This, despite...

Police officer to disabled veteran denied service: “You’re not blind, you don’t need a dog” Aryeh Ohayon served in the armed forces for 23 years as a member of both the Army and Navy. Like many other military men and women, Ohayon’s experience hasled him to having depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). And that’s why his service dog, Bandit, is important. As he told KHOU 11 News, “He’s the alert if I start to if I have a panic attack or start to go back into a flashback mode…He’s my ground. And my family.” However, Ohayon claims that a...

Did the nazis really have a school for talking dogs? Just when you think you've gotten to the end of the bizarre by-products of World War II, you learn about talking Nazi dogs. The question is: How official were they? We'll look into the school — or possibly the con game — of talking dogs. Here's what we know. In 1930, Margarethe Schmidt lived with her mother in a relatively large house, and kept Asra, a Great Dane. Asra gave birth to five puppies, and the Schmidts took in a terrier. Somewhere along the line, all the dogs began learning...