Our hearts go out to the family and friends of 'Smokey' and 'Bandit,' two little Dachshunds who lost their lives while staying at the Jasper Animal Hospital in Jasper, Texas, while their humans were on vacation. Read more and see more photos at KCENTV.
Thanks to the many readers who sent in links to news stories about 'Boniface,' the Russian Diving Dachshund. We got so many emails about the story, we can't begin to thank everyone, but trust us, we're humbly grateful for the story tips! It's funny how odd little stories like this blow up to be global news. We first featured Boniface back on May 6, 2010 with little fanfare, but once The Associated Press sends out a news story, it sure goes viral - which happened over the weekend. And it's great when Dachshunds get such global attention! Here's the breakdown from the AP:
MOSCOW — Any dachshund owner knows the feisty breed rarely backs off from a challenge, but one in Russia is taking that reputation to new heights — or depths. The dog named Boniface is learning how to scuba dive. Owner Sergei Gorbunov, a professional diver in the Pacific Coast city of Vladivostok had a diving suit complete with helmet made for the dog and is teaching him the tricks of the trade. In a recent demonstration, Boniface barked eagerly as Gorbunov readied the equipment and uncomplainingly endured being hung upside-down as Gorbunov fitted the suit on him. Once underwater, he seemed to have a different outlook, emitting some high-pitched whines. Gobunov says, "Underwater, I don't think he experiences any stress."
Now honestly, we're not the biggest fans of this story - we're not so sure that deep under water is the place for a Dachshund to be. Sure, we might dive down a little depth to fetch a ball or something, but generally that's because we want to, and some of us Dachshunds are comfortable doing that. Not all of us though.
Personally, we tend to agree with these ABC World News Now correspondents: "Oh, Good God." What's your take?
The Diver Training Center at Vladivostok Maritime College in Vladivostok, Russia carried out an unusual experiment for the 15th anniversary of the college. The divers persuaded the center’s director, Sergei Gorbunov, to send his pet dachshund, Boniface, into the depths. The dog-motivated divers made a striped diving suit for Bonnie, as they fondly call the dog. They made a square mask out of Plexiglas thinking the dog may want to breathe under water.
Bonnie used just one air bottle during the diving. The bottle was attached to the dog’s belly allowing Boniface to not just immerse, but to actually swim under the water as well.
According to the center’s canine experimentalists, Boniface felt good during the fur-raising effort, which some hasten to label a success. Nevertheless an offshore dive may be premature. Bonnie will have to dive in a special swimming pool before he can try diving in the open sea.
The staff will train the diver dog for the All-Russian Underwater Hunting Tournament to take place in September.
Do you have any last words before we turn it on? Red longhair 'Laki' takes a canine shower machine called Aqua for test rinse at a pet show in Makuhari, Japan on Sunday.
This Frenchie named 'Makaron' shows off a different model. You humans have gone too far this time.
Rugged-up miniature Dachshunds 'Maverick' and 'Frankie' find a puppacino from Paradise Point Deli nothing to howl about.
Need a break? If you live near Brisbane, Australia, head on over to Canine Comfort Pet and Coffee Boutique, where not only can you get a puppacino, but also meatloaf, muffins, and puppabananaramas - all of which are made with edible ingredients for dogs. Puppacinos are the most popular; they sell 30-40 a week. Source.
