Hard to resist this fundraiser 

Libby, a 1-year-old, snow-white Maltese, posed proudly Sunday with Santa Claus and with the girl who saved the pup’s life. It was a perfect picture, and Shantel Murphy snapped it quickly. Continued…

Find Out About A Great Dog Adoption Alternative: Maltese Breed Rescue Societies

Perhaps you’ve decided that you want to adopt a certain kind of dog that you can’t seem to find in a shelter. Or maybe you just don’t feel quite comfortable adopting from any of the shelters around you. That’s okay; there are other ways to give a good home to a needy dog, like breed rescue societies. It may take a little more innovation to find one of these, but they’re becoming more popular and easier to locate all the time, and they can help match you up with a great pup.

For practically every breed of dog, there is a national breed club with lots of local chapters. And in the last few years, many of those clubs have taken on the challenge of rescuing dogs of their chosen breed from shelters and pounds and placing them into secure adoptive homes. Now there are clubs devoted entirely to breed rescue, and if you’re interested in adopting a purebred, they’re a great resource.

Maltese Breed rescue societies rely on their volunteer members to rescue Maltese dogs from adoption facilities or from people who can’t or shouldn’t keep them. These volunteers, who are usually knowledgeable “dog people” who have experience with dog raising and training in general and the breed in particular, serve as foster parents to the dogs until permanent homes can be found. Ideally, they not only feed and groom and exercise the rescued dogs but also give them some socialization and basic education.

The foster-home system can translate into a big advantage for you when you adopt a dog through a breed rescue program, since your pup will have had at least some experience living in a household and learning rules by the time you get her. She’ll probably have begun to get used to other dogs, too, since most breed rescue volunteers already have dogs of their own. And her “foster parents” will be able to tell you a lot about her personality and her needs, since they’ll have lived with her day and night for some time. So it’s important to adopt from a rescue society whose members you trust and whose foster parents know what they’re doing.

You won’t find a breed rescue society for every single breed of dog in your area; sometimes there’s just not enough demand for one (after all, a Karelian Bear dog Rescue Society in central Texas probably wouldn’t be very busy), and sometimes there’s not enough interest or person-power. But most areas will at least have rescue clubs for the breeds that appear most frequently in animal shelters - that is, the most popular breeds at any given time. (Remember, if you want a dog of a very popular breed, be very patient and judicious in your selection, since popularity usually leads to overbreeding, and overbreeding usually leads to dogs with temperamental and physical problems.)

Female Maltese Dogs In Heat: The 4 Parts Of The Estrous Cycle

Speaking in averages - which Maltese dogs never are any more than their owners - the average small breed first comes into season at about six months and larger breeds usually at ten to fourteen months. Female dogs cycle about every six months. Some, however, come in as often as four times a year, or as seldom as once a year.

Some females can be clocked by the calendar. Others vary widely. The average heat runs twenty-one Maltese days. Some dogs show a bloody flow throughout the season, and others fade to pale pink after ten days. Certain female dogs have to be followed with a mop, others must be tested by flashlight and tissue to ascertain whether they are actually in season. Some keep themselves scrupulously clean; others rise and leave a pool of blood. The safest method of detection is to tissue the dog, particularly if there are males on the premises or a breeding is planned. Watch for enlargement of the vulva, which may precede flow.

Puberty varies due to breed. Small breeds mature sexually earlier than large breeds. Nature has a way of averaging everything. Small breeds reproduce younger and live longer than large breeds - but they also have smaller litters.

The Cycle

The estrous cycle contains four parts: anestrus, proestrus, estrus, and metestrus. Anestrus is the quiet time between heats, lasting three to five months or longer.

Proestrus is the onset of the heat and discharge. The follicles containing the eggs mature over approximately nine days. Most females refuse mating at this time, by whatever methods. Though flirtatious when it comes to actual mating, they discourage males by baring teeth, growling, snapping, and sitting on it. Some eager matrons, however, cooperate at any time. Fertilization cannot occur during proestrus.

During estrus, the female accepts, in fact invites, coitus with a male. The bleeding often decreases and becomes pale in color. The receptive period of four days to a week is when ovulation takes place. Some females become quite shameless and obvious in drawing attention to themselves. They rub against fences separating them from the male, encouraging his advances. They eagerly move (flag) their tails to the side or curl them completely over their backs.

Timeliness can be checked by rubbing the female Maltese just above the root of her tail. If she flags, she is approaching ovulation or rather doesn’t care where or when. Toward the end of the season, the discharge becomes brownish.

Metestrus is the stage that readies the uterus for pregnancy. If fertilization doesn’t occur, this stage soon reverts to anestrus. A prolonged metestrus (called a false pregnancy) is common. If pregnancy exists, metestrus continues until delivery.

Local News 

Man to be extradited over rape charges Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna yesterday ordered the extradition to Australia of 41-year old John Mary Chircop, currently residing in Sliema, to face charges of rape of a 14-year-old girl. The court… Continued…

A Great Way To Exercise Your Maltese Dog If You Live In The City

As someone who lives in the city, there are many ways to exercise a Maltese dog in your area. Why limit your dog’s exercise just with a walk in your neighborhood? There’s an attitude among some city dwellers that having a dog in the city isn’t fair to the dog. Somehow, there is this myth that dogs are happiest in rural areas where they have plenty of room to roam, or in suburban areas with big backyards.

The city offers many options for exercising your dog. Owners should view the city as a vast playground. Often, it is a matter of using your imagination. One of the best ways to take advantage of your city area is to go running with your dog. When an owner runs with a dog, it is a beautiful thing to watch.

Many breeds of dogs were meant to run. Why not share a runner’s high with your dog? Good advice when running with your dog is to run with him on leash and to observe the rules of the street, of course. I know runners don’t like to stop at street corners with their dogs while they are running, but I hate to see a dog being taught that he can run across the street without stopping and not given the proper cross command. As a runner, you have to stop at street corners with red lights while running in place, so do the same thing whenever you arrive at any given corner.

It is not advisable to take a young Maltese puppy on a run since it will be hard on his hips and his bones are too soft. But when a puppy reaches his ninth month, he should be able to go safely on long runs with you. Check with your vet to find out when your dog is ready to start running with you.

If you run in the park, you don’t have to worry about crossing at different streets. But you will have to teach him to stop at strategic areas along the path, such as cross paths, parking lots and other congested areas. Keep a leash on your dog so that it will be a smoother run. There are too many distractions around, and your run will be interrupted if he starts chasing a squirrel or rabbit.

Running teaches your dog to follow you since he will be running at your side. Your Maltese dog does not have to be at a perfect heel during a run. What you basically want to share with your dog is a good rhythm. If you are using a harness, he can run in front of you.

Running is also great for developing the musculature structure in dogs. Just take care that you don’t run on days that are too hot for your dog. You will also want to inspect his pads after a run since they can take a beating on asphalt.

A Game Your Maltese Dog Will Love: Retrieving-By-Memory

Even if they never go hunting, many Maltese love to learn the tricks of hunting retrievers. A busy hunting retriever may have to remember where several birds fell and bring back every one. Hunters call this marking, but you don’t have to go hunting to enjoy this challenging game.
Warm up with a few throws where your dog can see exactly where the item lands. Then throw the retrieving item so it falls just out of sight, perhaps in tall grass or behind something. Your dog should have no problem finding and retrieving it.

Next, hold him or have him sit and stay until the item has landed before sending him to retrieve it. As he gets better, make him wait slightly longer, up to 30 seconds. Now he is using his memory to find an item he saw land earlier but can’t currently see. But can he find two such items? Probably not at first, unless he can cram them both in his mouth. More likely he will run to one and then take it to the other and either trade items or stand there and wonder what to do. You need to show him how to bring them both back to you, one at a time.

If you used the hallway trick to teach him to fetch, you have a head start. That’s where you sit in the middle of your hallway and throw a toy one way and when he brings it back, you immediately throw another toy the other way. That way he already understands the concept of bringing back something and immediately leaving for something else. But the hallway doesn’t work for big dogs; there’s just not enough room. Besides, you’ll be throwing both items before he brings one back, which makes a big difference. Still, one concept remains: You need to make it impossible for him to get to the second item without going past you first. One easy way to do this is to stand at the corner of your house (or the outside corner of a fenced yard). Another, and more ambitious, way is to divide your backyard almost in half with temporary fencing and stand at one end of the fence.

In either case, you’ll throw one item to one side of the corner or fence, and the other item to the other side. Let your Maltese dog watch both of them land. Send him first to get the item you threw second; this will make it easier for him. Encourage him to bring it back and, once he’s given it to you, turn him to face the other object and send him for it. You may have to run part of the way with him if he seems confused.

As he gets more experienced you can back away from the fence or corner, leaving a gap between it and you. Call him toward you if he forgets and heads directly to the second item without first bringing the first one to you. It may take some practice - nobody said this was easy - but eventually he’ll be able to do this in an open field. And that’s when it’s lots of fun.

Local News 

Brothers jailed for raping two boys - Natalino Fenech Two brothers were yesterday jailed for 10 years each after being found guilty of raping and defiling two boys aged 10 and 11, on and before 2002. Denis Pandolfino, 58, and… Continued…

PLANTATION, Fla. (WSVN) — A store owner hopes the several surveillance cameras inside her pet store will help capture a group of thieves that stole puppies worth thousands of dollars. Continued…

PLANTATION, Fla. — Plantation police officers are once again hunting for puppy thieves. In surveillance video taken at the Precious puppies store in Plantation, a woman is seen holding a black and white puppy in one arm. She then opens her purse and puts the puppy inside. Continued…

Having, not long ago, been rear-ended by a young woman motorist (whose crisp turn of phrase revealed her to be no lady) I became a bit nervous when, a few mornings ago, I found a yofex (young female executive) driving a hair’s breadth from my rear bumper and chatting away on her cellphone. Continued…

DVD Review: A Halloween Treat in Heroes of Horror  

The Grand Finale (part 3) When last we left Iloz Zoc, Steve Brown, and Glenor Glenda, they were waiting for a chance to rescue Zombos from the Shudderites, those dastardly invaders from the Eighth Dimension. With Halloween fast approaching, the pending rescue becomes more dire. Will they rescue Zombos in time for Halloween? Will Steve Brown be able to make his UPS deliveries on time?
Source: blogcritics.org

Pregnant woman, man die after rescue of illegal migrants in sea off Malta 
VALLETTA, Malta - A pregnant woman and a man, part of a group of illegal migrants who had been rescued from the sea by the Maltese army, died Tuesday while being transported aboard helicopters to a hospital for treatment, Maltese rescue authorities said.
Source: www.khaleejtimes.com

Trekkers ‘lost’ on Mount Etna return home 
The 19 trekkers who got caught in a blinding fog on Mount Etna, in Sicily, on Sunday arrived yesterday evening confident this incident had primed them for their final challenge - conquering Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro in January.
Source: www.timesofmalta.com

Rescued adventurers safely back in Malta [MaltaMedia.com] 
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit MaltaMedia.com for full news, links, and other content. ]]
Source: feeds.feedburner.com

Immigrant couple from Laos win $55 million

Macon Telegraph - dog Kennel - 10/22/2006 09:13 PM EDT 10 x 10 x 6 Chain Link dog Kennel. Save money by not paying retail or state we do have cutie yorkies for adoption they are all vet checked ,dewormed and highly socialised with cute maltese for free
Source: www.macon.com

Donna Fielder: Trip to the groomers perfect fit for Chloe
Denton Record-Chronicle - So I called my dog s beauty shop. Did they, perhaps, clip cats? They did. I tricked her into the carrier the Kiefer, my male Maltese, has started looking at her funny. Today, I heard him ask her, Bonjour mademoiselle, what s
Source: www.dentonrc.com

Pacific Bay Co.
AZCentral.com - In the Sherlock Holmes story Silver Blaze , the great detective unravels the mystery when he realizes that a dog that should other winner is grilled sea bass ($20), a moist piece of fish set atop a crisp potato cake, finished with an offbeat Maltese
Source: www.azcentral.com

Grooming is more than beauty issue
Indianapolis Star - Beauty is more than skin-deep when it comes to your dog. Keeping your pet well-groomed not only gives you a clean-smelling Silky-coated dogs such as Afghan hounds, cockers and Maltese also need constant brushing to keep tangles from forming.
Source: www.indystar.com

Online Press Release

PRWeb - Majorium has documented training retention in excess of over ninety percent through monthly testing as compared to the Due to their sunlit beaches, 300 days of sunshine, and first-class entertainment infrastructure, Maltese Islands, also known More