dogcents

Burbidge admitted shooting dead his mother and their four dogs
A man has been jailed for life after shooting dead his 71-year-old mother when bailiffs called to evict them.

Kevin Burbidge, 50, murdered Marion Merritt, a retired shop worker, at the home they shared in Lulworth Crescent, Hamworthy, Dorset, in March last year.

Burbidge, who admitted murder, then set the house alight and shot dead their four dogs over eviction proceedings.

Sentencing him at Bournemouth Crown Court, Mr Justice Royce ordered him to serve a minimum of 10 years.

Burbidge, who originally denied murder but changed his plea on Wednesday, also admitted two counts of unlawfully possessing firearms and one charge of possessing ammunition without a licence.

Police were called to the property on 3 March, where they found Mrs Merritt’s body in a bedroom.

She had been shot several times in the back of the head.

Burbidge also shot their two Rottweilers, and their Alsatian and spaniel in the head.

You had reached a stage of real desperation that day when you realised you and your mother were going to lose your home

Mr Justice Royce

Earlier that day a county court bailiff had attended their home to start a notified eviction process.

Nicholas Haggan QC, prosecuting, said Burbidge slammed the door in the face of the men and they then heard about 10 shots and left the scene.

He tried to shoot himself with a shotgun, but could not fire the trigger and gave himself up to police while still in possession of the firearms.

The court was told Burbidge had fallen behind with mortgage payments on the property over five years and lender Northern Rock had decided to evict them.

After the case, Supt Neil Redstone, of Dorset Police, said: “This is a particularly tragic case.

“Mrs Merritt had been in good health and had been enjoying her retirement with a close circle of family and friends.

Burbidge and his mother shared a bungalow in Hamworthy

“The exact circumstances of what exactly took place prior Mrs Merritt’s death may never fully be known, but Burbidge at an early stage admitted that he alone was responsible for killing his mother and the four dogs at the address.

“It is believed that Kevin Burbidge’s inability to prevent the eviction was the catalyst to his subsequent actions.”

Burbidge asked that no mitigation was given on his behalf.

Mr Justice Royce, told Burbidge: “You had reached a stage of real desperation that day when you realised you and your mother were going to lose your home.”

The judge said Northern Rock could not be criticised for the way it had handled the situation.

Source: BBC News

A “dog lover” has pled guilty to throwing a puppy across a room in Edinburgh and breaking its leg after it chewed his furniture. “This cold blooded man should have a jury of dogs not men. It hurts me so to know we are suppose to be human beings and yet sometimes we act like the animals. I ran across this story and it intrests me and I wanted to share it with all of you. Please be Kind to your Pets.”

Lawrence Boyle picked up the five-month-old Border Collie and flung it at a cupboard where it hit the door.

Boyle, 46, admitted causing the animal unnecessary suffering last August at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Friday.

Sentence has been deferred for six months for Boyle to be of good behaviour.

The court was told the “one-off incident” had cost unemployed Boyle more than £2,000 in vets and kennelling bills.

He lashed out at his pet, named Jed, at a flat in West Montgomery Place in Edinburgh last August.

I would urge the court to take the view that this was a one-off incident brought on by external pressures

Murray Robertson
Lawrence Boyle’s solicitor

A friend called the SSPCA after Boyle, who also owns a three-year-old dog, confessed what he had done the following day.

Fiscal depute Tessa Bradley, prosecuting, said the dog hit the door of the cabinet.

The dog is being looked after by the SSPCA until Boyle of Edinburgh, pays a £1,182 kennelling bill.

Boyle’s solicitor, Murray Robertson, said his client was “very upset and stressed” at what he had done and had “put himself through the mill because of it”.

He said Boyle was signed off work on income support due to mental health problems and family issues but said the SSPCA are happy for the dog to be returned to him when he pays his bill.

“He’s been a dog lover for over 25 years,” said Mr Robertson.

“I would urge the court to take the view that this was a one-off incident brought on by external pressures.”

Sheriff Raymond McMenamin said: “I do think you have had certain circumstances which mitigate what you did. It is still serious though.” Source: K9 News

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Best of all, you’ll be lessening the chance that your dog will have to suffer due to a preventable or avoidable problem.

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Coastguards have issued a warning after a woman walking her dog had to be pulled from mud in Kent.

Specialist rescue teams, including firefighters and an RAF helicopter, were called in to help rescue the 45-year-old off the coast of Folkestone.

She was stuck in about 18 inches (45cm) of mud but was able to be pulled free, clutching her dog, on Sunday morning.

Coastguard Bob Giles warned people to take care when walking near areas where boats are moored. Source: BBC News

This is a question I always think about! I think it is such an un-feeling person who uses a dog such as a greyhound and uses him for profits until he no longer can run and win races at the dog track, then he is cast aside like an old shoe no longer of interest or of use. If such a wonderful dog made me money and helped me to buy the things I wanted and could not have until he won races. I would make sure that once he could no longer win or run tht he would be retired into a pet and be given a wonderful home and yard where he could run free and be happy. Where he could become a loving pet and be loved and taken good care of for the rest of his life. It is only right such a great dog be taken care of the remaing days of his life after he gave all he had to give and put his heart into winning for you so that you could live a comfortable life style. It is only right that you reward him when the time comes and he can lo longer race… I ran across this article while surfing the web and it expresses what I mean… Its an interesting article and I hope you all will read it and open your hearts to these great dogs the Greyhounds………..

I worked in kennels from the day I was old enough to leave school. I’ve been lucky enough to travel to different countries, see other kennels in action, see lots and lots of dogs from lots and lots of different backgrounds and disciplines. From top level competition dogs to ‘ordinary’ - but much loved - pets.

I have never met an unpleasant Greyhound.

I’ll qualify this. I feel I need to.

I reckon, on a conservative estimate, I’ve personally met about 10,000 dogs. Working in a commercial dog training kennel and a boarding kennel and, for a short period, being resident at a quarantine kennel, I think I’ve met at least 10,000. Easily.

The vast majority of dogs I’ve encountered I have enjoyed. But I won’t lie, some of the dogs - particularly dogs who have come from owners who haven’t installed any kind of discipline or manners in their pets - have left a less than favourable impression on me.

The first Shih-tzu I ever met tried to pull the tendons out of my arm. All I did was pick her water bowl up to clean it. Fortunately I’ve met some real gems from this breed since then.

The very first dog that ever properly scared the pants off me was a Doberman x GSD. His name was Scooby. He barked in a fashion that lead me to believe he was a maniac and wanted to eat me. He was a big chap too. Big and loud and scary and, it seemed, a little unhinged. I was only young and very wet behind the ears and I was astonished that my boss thought it would be ok for me to take Scooby out for a walk. “He’ll kill me”, I whimpered. “No he won’t. He’s just got a cob on when he’s behind bars”, was the unreassuring attempt at reassurance my boss offered. For those not from the North, a ‘cob on’ means he’s moody when in kennels.

I duly approached Scooby’s kennel. He duly threatened to tear my heart out and cast me in to a lake of fire should I dare to keep heading toward him. I braved it, opened the door and slipped a lead round his neck, gritted my teeth and hoped that if my demise was to be at the jaws of this brute, at least make it quick and as bloodless as possible.

As it turned out, Scooby was a real charmer the second his paws found their way out of his kennel. He was actually a fun loving dog who had a real sense of humour. I liked him. I really, really liked him because he gave me one of my first lessons about dogs in general. Not that I hadn’t already had the ‘books should not be judged by their covers’ lesson when I was 5-years old, but here it was again, the canine embodiment of that oh so very glib phrase.

I was sad when Scooby’s owners came to collect him for we had become friends. Every morning when I’d turn up for work, Scooby would shout through his kennel door at me, using canine language which I can only assume would make his mother and father blush. Boy, he was rude. He really did have a cob on about being behind bars. He’d keep the shouting game up right until the point where I’d let him out, at which point he’d instantly turn in to a Care Bear - all sweetness and light.

Where am I going with all this?

Ah yes. Dogs. Books and covers.

The Greyhound. I’ve met loads of them. Lots and lots. In fact next to Springers, Cockers and Labradors I’ve met more Greyhounds than any other breed. And unlike even the three gundog breeds I just mentioned, hand on heart here, I’ve never met one that wasn’t nice to me.

Big deal? You might think. So what? Hardly the world’s greatest endorsement is it?

Well no. But it’s an endorsement all the same. An endorsement that I wanted to air.

You see anyone who’s ever worked in kennels and around lots and lots of other people’s dogs in an environment that is alien to them will probably testify to the fact that other folks dogs can have a habit of being - shall we say - ‘distant’. But Greyhounds never were. They were always incredibly friendly and giving of themselves.

Very often they’d sit at the back of their kennel space, cowering. Laying in their bed peaking over the side and generally making themselves ill with worry. They seemed timid. And it was my experience that timid or nervous dogs were the ones most prone to launching themselves at me in a frenzy of teeth and claws (except for that Shih-tzu, she wasn’t timid, just a bitch.). Not Greyhounds though, I’d go in to their space and have a chat with them and they’d get up, check me out and make friends pretty fast. I’d take them out for a walk and they’d be thrilled for the company and conversation. I developed such a fondness for them for, as I have said, I never, ever met one that wasn’t nice to me - every last one. In fact there’s only one other breed I can say that about and somewhat ironically it’s a breed that has similar problems to the Greyhound, The Staffordshire Bull Terrier - the other breed that is literally elbow to elbow with far, far too many of it’s own type in British rescue shelters.

So I want to know, why is it that Greyhounds seem to have earned this image as second class canine citizens?

It’s just something that stands out to me. They get abandoned in their thousands and they have been terribly shortchanged by the industry that profits from racing them. What did they do to ‘deserve’ this?

Not that it means anything, but I’d just like to give the Greyhound my ringing endorsement and hope that anyone who’s in the process of thinking about getting a dog might consider a Greyhound. Personally, I’ve never met one that I didn’t like. A 100% record.

Author Details
Ryan O’Meara is editor-in-chief of K9 Magazine

I came across this picture while surfing the net at funny dogs.net and altho it does look like a cute picture I thought to myself ” this dog does not look like it really feels like smiling and then looking at the picture closely I realized that the teeth were not the dogs own teeth but some nickle and dime store bought Vampire teeth. This dog really has no real reason to smile he problably feels uncomfortable. Do dogs have emotions? pets and dogs: do they love, have feelings and what does that mean for humans… I read an article where it said why should we pay attention to pet’s emotional lives when scientists have always thought the very idea that any species less then human knows the chosen volition of love and free will. Man is unique in his ability to choose and to love, according to modern science.. yet several free thinking scientists have found much more to ponder in doing the unthinkable.. studying animals, without preconceptions or expectations… and coming to the conclusion that animals do indeed know how to love…. ” Marc Bekoff, professor of biology at the University of Colorado, has published more than 175 papers and 15 books related to animal emotions. Some of his books were co-authored by the famous Jane Goodall. There are some dogs that are very special they can sniff out drugs and others can sniff out cancer. Some dogs are so loyal and love their masters so much that as soon as their owners pass away they also die of broken hearts. Many dogs put their lives in danger in order to protect those they love. So Im sure those of you who do own dogs and love them know already that you do not need to read all those books about dogs and their emotions to know that dogs do have emotions and that they do love us. Take care of your animals and love them for they love us unconditonally.

Does your dog do this crazy dance around your house?Looks cute huh? but I bet your cute doggie doesn’t like to do this dance! Its called the “Flea” and thats because altho your dog can scratch himself and lick himself to try and keep those nasty little buggers from itching he still needs your help to get rid of them! Here are a few tips I know work becasue I have tried them on my dogs and as of yet they are no longer doing this goofy dance… When you wash your dog use Dawn dishwashing liquid. Half water and half dawn liquid mixed in together works wonders… Just add it onto your dog as you would his regular dog shampoo,be sure to leave it on for five minutes to kill the fleas…and if you use a white towel to dry him off you will see the fleas on the towel…. You can also keep dog free of fleas by using an old folks remedy such as garlic… You can rub it on his skin or sprinkle garlic powder on their food… Dogs love the taste but the fleas hate it!!! I know this works, for I’ve tried it on my dogs and I still use it and so far my dogs are no longer doing that goofy dance the “FLEA” so if you don’t want your beloved pooch to be dancing the “FLEA” then I hope you follow my tips…There are also anti-flea mineral powders and salts in your drugstore or at your vets that keep your home free of fleas. Make sure these powders are non-toxic and non-irritating to your dog. These products keep fleas and lice away from your carpets and your dogs sleeping area…………………written by Lilyruth ……….. I also found this small article in the ezine site which I thought pertained information to the article I have written ” Outside your living areas, look to your yards and garages, too. These areas must be kept free not only of trash, but also other items that may be dangerous for your pet. Stray gardening tools and mechanical tools left lying around pose special hazards for your pets.

Controlling pests especially fleas is an important aspect of holistic healing for your pet dogs. Preventive as it is, it helps ensure a clean environment for your dog that will not be able to discern whether his surroundings are clean or seemingly clean, hiding insects and pests underneath.” Source: ezine articles…

I hope you all had a Happy New Year and lots of good stuff as for me I spent mine enjoying what I love to do and that is watch lots of spookey movies. Yes on the cable channel on the Sci-Fi channel that is all they showed all day and all night, and of course I made myself comfortable and placed a t.v. tray next to my bed and had lots of good munchies on it so that I could enjoy the movies and I did all day and all night long. I hope you all enjoyed your New Year’s eve and New Year’s day doing whatever makes you happy. Wow it was scarey, they showed some vampire movies that were really spookey and I loved them. Some of my friends ask me why is it that you like to watch movies that scare you and I still cannot give them a straight answer? cause I guess I really do know the answer but those kinds of movies are the ones I like the best. Maybe Im just a weird sort of person huh? I hope this does not keep you all from stopping by to visit me! Oh and Im never alone when I watch those scarey movies. No way, Im surrounded by my loyal friends my dogs they keep me company and lay on the bed with me. OF course I share my munchies with them. Smile … ITs about the only way I can keep them all still and quiet. I do hope you all have a good year and that you all who have loved ones were with them and enjoyed doing something you liked bringing the New Year in….

I came across these two beautiful sketches on the wide world dog web and I had to share them with you all for I love the way a pencil brought beauty to these pictures. So many fantastic colors, such talent. Hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I do. The drawing with the colors is titled Andys-pop-elegant-colors…Enjoy