Russian Strays or Around the Campfire Again

wldrose's most recent post set me to blogging http://doggedanimalwelfare.blogspot.com/.

"A tiny group of zoologists study Moscow's stray dogs and how they're adapting to a rapidly changing city. Among them is Alexei Vereshchagin. He set out to study wolves -- "such a romantic creature," he says -- but as science funding crumbled with the Soviet government, he couldn't.

WSJ's Mark Schoofs on why stray dogs are everywhere in Moscow, having adapted to the construction boom and learning to share space with humans. Also, zoologist Alexei Vereshchagin on these dogs' behaviors. (May 20)

So the 31-year-old, rust-bearded Mr. Vereshchagin started studying strays instead, and loved it. "The behavior of stray dogs is like theater," he says."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121123197068805001.html

Don't Do That!

Yes, there is a new dog in the White House. No, he did not come from a shelter or a rescue. While I believe it is best to lead by example (this is miss-step as I see it) there are still plenty of other opportunities to do the right thing (training, socialization, neutering, etc).

What am I pointing a wagging finger at?
1) not adopting a dog after saying they would adopt
2) insisting that these dogs are hypoallergenic
3) LEANING OVER A DOG, STARING AT THE DOG, REACHING FOR THE DOG'S HEAD (This is the recipe for how not to greet a dog, how to get yourself bitten if the dog is so inclined. Do not put your face in the dog's face!)

*grrr*

How to meet a dog:
Stand tall but with loose body language, pivot sideways shoulder to the dog, make a "soft-paw" with your fingers and thumbs tucked in and your palm down, raise that "soft-paw" slightly, avert your eyes and lower them a bit, and wait for the dog to approach you. With a cautious dog, kneeling down but keeping your upper body vertical is an option.

Edit: It seems that Bo is already neutered.
See the very bottom of this article -
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090413/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_dog
"Stern worries that puppy mills will try to capitalize on the Obamas' dog choice and start churning out PWDs for an eager public. It's the responsibility of good Portuguese water dog breeders to try to prevent that, she said.
As for Bo, he has already been neutered, Mrs. Obama's spokeswoman said."