Big Controversy at Batavia Downs: Decision Reversed for Three-peat Champ Jake Arnold

The Wiener Dog Races at Batavia Downs on Sunday have been all the talk in Batavia, New York after speedy black and tan smooth dappled 'Jake Arnold' earned his three-peat championship only to have the win go under review again on Sunday night.  From high atop Batavia Downs it appeared that Jake had won, but cameras on the ground showed otherwise.  On Monday it was announced that the race was too close to call, and for now he's sharing the win with expeditious underdog red smooth 'Gordon Ryan.'  A rematch between Jake and Gordon is now in the works for Saturday evening.  Stay tuned....and may the fastest dog win!   Source.

Jane and 4-year-old Jake Arnold enjoy their short-lived win

Gordon and Lindsay Ryan look ready for a rematch.

Judge for Yourself.

Lost Dachshund Leads To Petition Against All American Dachshund Rescue For Her Return

'Alpina' from her facebook page:  Give Back Alpina

There is a highly volatile story emerging in the world of Dachshund rescue - a story where such words have been thrown that it is unlikely at this point that a happy ending will ever occur.  At the very center of the story is a beautiful chocolate girl named 'Alpina,' or as she was known while being rescued and fostered by All American Dachshund Rescue:  'AnnaJo.'  

AnnaJo was adopted by Megan Courtney, where she was to live with Megan's boyfriend, Tony, and a Dachshund sibling, in the Lowell, Massachusetts area.  Alpina, as she was now known, got away from Tony and was lost.  Luckily, she was found, and a rabies tag led her back to AADR.  At this point however, AADR has refused to give Alpina back to her adopters for various reasons, including breach of contract.

We first stumbled upon this story when we found this new petition on-line which as of today has over 850 signatures:

Tell All American Dachshund Rescue to BRING ALPINA HOME!

On the evening of June 8th, 2011, one of my sisters beloved dachshunds "Alpina" ran off. She had a collar, tags, she is chipped and of course, she was on a leash. After searching all night and using every resource available in order to find Alpina, my sister received a call from All American Dachshund Rescue.

Instead of being reunited with her family, Alpina is being kept at some unknown location without her owners permission. Rescue leagues work hard to place dogs forever in the care of nurturing, loving, and healthy homes. Her owners are experienced and responsible and in no way have breached their adoption contract with AADR. They have done nothing wrong.

This is a very unjust and heartbreaking situation. Im asking if anyone has any information that will help bring Alpina home to her family, it would be greatly appreciated. Diane Irwin, the president of the AADR has told me that the dog has already left the state of MA, has been fostered by several families, and already place with her "new family"... all of this happened within 24 hours. This doesnt sound very legal to me, at all.

The police don't have the time and resources to search for just one missing or stolen dog. We all understand that. But that shouldn't mean that this gets swept under the rug. I have to ask the question: has this happened before, or will it happen again?

This entire situation stinks like some sort of a scam, in order to recycle dogs through loving families, only to then say those same families are unfit, some time after. Im not argueing that adoption contracts, or the screaning methods of adoption candidates are unfair. Rather, the decision to take away a dog from an owner without any type of process or accountability.

How many times will Alpina (aka Anna Jo) go through the adoption process. How much money will this poor animal make for the people of this so-called non-profit organization. Another adoption "donation", a few shelter fees, vet costs, boardng, transportation... When will it stop? Where is Alpina?

Her owners are good people and the rescue group is taking advantage of everyone involved. Help us make this right. Help bring Alpina home.

Thank you.


If you can, please visit the facebook page we set up. It's main purpose is to show compassion and support towards a family who are missing an important part of their family.

After reading this petition, we were struck more than anything with the word 'scam.'  Do you really expect us to believe that a non-profit organization who tirelessly donates all its time and resources towards Dachshund rescue are out to scam anyone?  We contacted Diane Irwin, President of All American Dachshund Rescue for any sort of statement against the petition.  She gracefully agreed, and we thank her for taking time out of her busy schedule to respond:

Thursday morning Diane [AADR rep] got a call at 7:30am from a vets that AnnaJo was reported found in Lowell, MA and was giving the name of the lady that had her. Diane called and she was found, cold, wet and scared with a leash still attached to her. Diane contacted the person that had her and told that person that someone would be there to get her and to keep her safe until then. Diane then call Megan Courtney to find out what happened she told Diane that her boyfriend, Tony was walking the dogs and the leash slip out of his hands and then he went to step on the leash and she took off (We now believe he was trying to train her to stay with him without him having the leash in his hand and this is how she got loose). She then told Diane that Diane could call her boyfriend and get the story which Diane did and he said the same thing but went on to tell Diane he just doesn't understand why AnnaJo doesn't like him when she will let other men pet her. He also admitted that the other dachshund they have is allow off leash cause she "can be trusted and never leaves their side" but he said he turned to see where the other dachshund was and that's how AnnaJo's leash slipped/fell out of his hand. Then he tried to step on the leash and missed and then she was running off. These are TWO big red flags and encouraged Diane and another board member to not give AnnaJo back to these people that were in breach of their contract for not keeping Annajo safe. They were told repeatedly that it was not the fact that AnnaJo got loose but the fact that if their other dog is off leash so will AnnaJo and more than likely the boyfriend was trying to train her to do just that also we are concerned why AnnaJo is afraid of the boyfriend but has no issue with the man in the foster home that she's at now.
They have unfortunately not taken this well and have posted a petition, set up a Facebook page and even gotten another rescue to agree that what we are doing is wrong by not giving back AnnaJo. We feel they are trying to discredit AADR and all the hard work that this organization has done in the 7 yrs it's been a rescue.
We like all other reputable rescues do not just pull a dog away from a family without good reason and careful consideration. The morning that Megan was called we had plans to let her know where AnnaJo was until we heard that the boyfriend had the other dachshund out without a leash and his attention was diverted to her and the leash slipped fell out of his hand. We are inclined to now believe that he didn't even have the leash in his hand but on the ground to "step on if needed" as we believe he was trying to train her to be and "off leash" dog as well. By his own admission AnnaJo was scared of him and we do not put our dogs in homes where they have to live in fear. She is now in a foster home where the man of the house is able to pick her up, carry her around and she goes to him for attention. Do we want Annajo to live a life of fear and why after having been in the adoptive home for a month would she still be afraid of the boyfriend that lives there daily but at the foster home that she's been in less that a week is very relaxed and happy? We are not just about finding ANY home for our dogs but to find the right home for our dogs, in AnnaJo's case we are just happy that we found out that Megan's home was not the right home for AnnaJo and luckily we got her back safe and sound.
Diane even tried to tell Megan about the dangers of allowing a dachshund off leash even when the owner thinks they have them properly trained, this fell on deaf ears. Then the next day when Diane was talking to Tony again she tried to convince him that Dachshunds should never be allow off leash for any reason and again he could not or would not see reason. With all this there is no reason to believe that AnnaJo would not be kept on a leash. We are here to save dachshunds and put them into loving homes where they will be loved and cared for for the rest of their life not to have their life shortened because someone feels they know the breed better than the experts.

Per her application that she sign to be true:



If you do not have a fence are you willing to leash walk at all times?: Yes
Would there ever be an occasion where our/your dog would be allowed to walk/run off leash?: Only at a fully- fenced in dog park
If you do not have a fenced yard, how will you exercise your dog? This answer is required if you do not have a fenced yard.: In the morning they will be taken for a walk on leash, and since I am a dog walker, the dog will be walked while I'm on my walks in the afternoon and at night the dog will be walked on leash around where we live.

Diane S. Irwin, President
All American Dachshund Rescue

And so, sadness has ensued on all sides of the story of 'AnnaJo/Alpina.'  We can only imagine the heartbreak and despair her adopters, Megan and Tony must feel.  It takes special people to rescue Dachshunds and offer them the love of a forever home - we're quite sure that Megan and Tony have that love to offer in spades.  But on the other side of the coin, we can see how the contract may have been breached.  This is where rescue organizations often come into question, but what we've learned over the years is that they are the ones doing the tireless work to save the dogs, and as such, they are the ones who make the rules. 
All we can do is support them in their efforts, and if we don't like the rules, we can look elsewhere.  Our Dad learned this the hard way when he tried to rescue a Dachshund many years ago.  He was refused by organization after organization because he didn't have a fenced-in yard.  That was it.  No fence?  Don't bother filling out an application.   Things have changed since the year 2000 however, and we will continue to support the rescues who save our Dachshunds and our animals whenever we can.
For AnnaJo/Alpina's sake, we're hoping that Megan, Tony, and AADR can come to terms for a solution.  If only for AnnaJo/Alpina.

FINALLY! Speaking Out Against Wiener Races On Ice

Don't get us wrong - we love wiener races.  They are a great opportunity to spend quality time with your Dachshund, have fun getting their attention them from 50 feet away, and seeing whose Dachshund can dash down that track the fastest for a ball, a toy, or a piece of fried chicken.  Wiener races are truly entertaining for kids of all ages, and they are a great way to socialize your dog. 
When wiener races go bad is when there is any talk whatsoever of them being organized as a public exhibition - whether for wagering at a racing facility, or where the Dachshund's human is not directly involved with the racing to ensure the safety of their charge.  We've covered a bit of this in When Wiener Races Go Bad.
In our opinion, wiener races also go bad when the Dachshunds race on ice.  Obviously, Dachshunds are prone to having some sort of back issue or IVDD problem, and we see no reason to push the envelope by asking them to run at full speed across a slippery surface of ice.  It's a no-brainer.
We know that many of our readers feel the same way, but finally some folks in Huntsville, Alabama, are doing something about it with a boycott of the Havoc game.  Excerpt from ABC31:

The Huntsville Havoc will host a wiener dog race on the ice this Saturday as they try to raise money for the Ryan Newman Foundation. However, Dachshund owners say that’s a bad idea.
Karen Borden is the president of Dixie Dachshund Rescue. She says, “I think it's a great fundraising event, weiner races. But, I was really upset with the environment that it was going to be held in.”
Borden says running the dogs on ice is dangerous because the breed is already prone to back problems. She says, “Because of the overbreeding that has gone on, many are born with the propensity to have blown discs or bad disks.”
Valley residents are so upset, they have created a page on Facebook encouraging folks to boycott this weekend’s game. They say it endangers and exploits the breed. However, not everyone agrees with the boycott. Melissa Horne is a Veterinarian at the Animal Care Clinic in Huntsville. She says, “As long as they're not having any problems and don't have a history of problems, there shouldn't be any reason they can't participate.”
On Tuesday, Ashley Balch, the HAVOC's Vice President issued a statement addressing the safety concerns. HE SAYS "The race will take place at the first intermission, after the ice has been cut-up by the player's skates for a full period and is no longer very slick to the people or the dogs."
If the surface is not slick, Dr. Horne says running should not be a risk.  “If it's agility or something like that where they're going up ramps and things like that then that may not be the best exercise for them,” she says.

We're thrilled that someone is finally speaking up about Dachshund races on ice, and we challenge all Dachshund Lovers to set up public boycotts of such events in your area.  Here's the facebook page for this boycott:  Boycott Huntsville Havoc Game - Endangering and Exploiting Dachshunds.



Just a few weeks ago, there were wiener races on ice at a Knoxville Ice Bears hockey game.  The youtuber notes:  In the second heat, watch for a guy in a blue shirt to wipe out. And in the final race watch the bottom of the screen for two dogs to crash. Hilarious!

Not really.

Controversy in the Motherland

Meet Michael Künzel and his sweet nearly 16-year-old red longhair 'Dalia,'  who hail from Mönchengladbach, Germany.  They are in a bit of a bind with local authorities after Dalia's vet has stated that the deaf girl should not be using a leash due to her IVDD issues - any sort of strain could lead to acute paralysis.  And even though Herr Künzel has a written certificate from his vet which explains the issue, he has racked up 700 € in fines, nearly 1,000 US Dollars for walking Dalia untethered. 

After going to court twice to fight the fines, Künzel must pay in full or go to prison.  "There are no exceptions to this law," the city has stated.

Read more (you may need to translate the link) at RP Online.

Dachshunds: The Noisiest Dogs In New York City

Who, Me?

Labels.  Hhhmph.  We've had a run at being called the oldest dogs as well as the most aggressive dogs, and now we're being called the noisiest dogs.  What's a Dachshund to do?  Certainly we are the most lovable dogs, right?  Meet one of Ruth Carmelitano O'Sullivan's two Dachshunds, who are the noisiest dogs in New York City.  Yep, 'Elizabeth' and 'Emily' have had 2 animal noise violations issued against them, the most issued to anyone in New York City over the last year.  Excerpt from the New York Daily News:

One neighbor at the John Jay House co-op on E. 76th St. said residents "suffered through [the barking] for over a year" and it made them "miserable."

The woof-fests occurred during the daytime, when O'Sullivan was at work, residents said.
After warning O'Sullivan about the noise, the city's Department of Environmental Protection hit her with a $70 violation on Nov. 17. She was slapped with another noise violation, for $175, on Jan. 14, records show.
O'Sullivan didn't comment, but her ex-husband, Larry Genovese, defended his ex-wife and the dachshunds.
"It was ridiculous," said Genovese, who lived with O'Sullivan when she was ticketed.
"She didn't deserve what she was put through."
O'Sullivan eventually paid both fines, and residents said she's taken steps that have kept Elizabeth and Emily quiet.

Read more of this blusterous story and see another pic at the New York Daily News.

Wiener Dog Drama

If you like drama, you'll love this story.  Us?  Not so much.  According to News 4 Jax, a war of words has erupted between The National Dachshund Races out of Findlay, Ohio, and the North Florida Doxie Days races.  Here's an excerpt:

Dale Fisher will host a dachshund race at the St. Johns County Fairgrounds to raise money for the local 4H club. He said he contacted Toni Gossard, the founder of the National Dachshund Races to see if they would like to help out.

He said Gossard agreed, and Fisher said he will pay for her travel expenses from Ohio to St. Augustine. In exchange, Gossard would provide a dog racing track and her 10 years of dog racing experience.

As the plans were laid out, Fisher said the expenses became more than he could handle.

"As the months went by, as we started to develop this more, it went into multiples of thousands of dollars," he said.

Fisher said when Gossard asked for half of the money up front, it went beyond his 4H Club budget. Fisher said he canceled his deal with Gossard and planned to go forward with the races without her help. That is when he said the war of words began through e-mail.

And that's where we stop excerpting, but if you like drama, read it all at News 4 Jax.  Is this really news? 

Would You - Could You - Debark Your Dachshund?

Could you debark your dog?  That's the question thousands of dog lovers are answering all over the country after this article was published in The New York Times on Tuesday.  Meet 'Nestlé,' right, a Dachshund-terrier mix who had his vocal cords cut by a veterinary surgeon after a neighbor in the family’s apartment building on New York's Upper East Side threatened to complain to the co-op board about the noisy dog. His human, Dr. Mike Marder, who is also a veterinarian, says that the new addition to the family, 'Truffle' will also probably be debarked unless she quickly learns to play quietly.  Excerpt from The New York Times:

Although there is no reliable estimate as to how many dogs have had their vocal cords cut, veterinarians and other animal experts say that dogs with no bark can readily be found — but not necessarily heard — in private homes, on the show-dog circuit, and even on the turf of drug dealers, who are said to prefer their attack dogs silent.
The surgery usually leaves the animal with something between a wheeze and a squeak. The procedure, commonly referred to as debarking, has been around for decades, but has fallen out of favor, especially among younger veterinarians and animal-rights advocates.
Dr. Marder said that Nestlé’s surgery stopped the neighbor’s complaints, and “it really did not change the dog’s personality whatsoever,” adding, “He’s certainly a tail-waggy, happy guy.”

Read all about it, see another photo, and listen to Nestlé "bark" at The New York Times.  Thanks to our pals at Flying Dachshunds Films (one of our favorite videographers!) for sending in the link.

The Changing Shape of the Dachshund

The Dachshund is one of 4 breeds featured in a short photo exposé on the changing shape of dogs by The BBC News, and states:  The original German Dachshund was larger than the modern variety with longer legs.  Today's short-legged breed tends to suffer from knee and also spinal problems because of its long back and short rib cage.
This follows a new report which recommends that responsibility for the health and welfare of pedigree dogs be devolved to an independent body outside of England's Kennel Club, the oldest of the world’s all-breed kennel clubs.  Read more about the report at BBC News.

While we agree that Dachshunds should be bred for health over conformation, we've certainly featured photos in the past of Dachshunds from around 1900, like this one, which look much more like today's Dachshund than the drawing in the insert of the BBC's photo.