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Pet
TIPS 'n' TALES ©
Celebrates People and Pets
 Mary Ellen and Miss Wings Author & Columnist
Mary Ellen "AngelScribe" AngelScribe@msn.com
 Photo by Mary Ellen "Angel Scribe"©
Moses with Richard, Sam and Susan
TALES
Great Danes are not from Denmark. They descend from the Mastiff line of dogs, including Rottweillers, St. Bernards, plus large Greyhounds.
Great Danes are Germany's national dog, and initially bred to hunt wild boar.
To protect dog's ears from boar's tusks, they began cropping them.
A Veterinarian surgically removes sixty percent of the ear, medical tape and popsicle sticks train the cartilage to stand upright.
In Britain, this painful practice is outlawed. They considered it to be inhumane, but it remains popular in the U.S.
Susan says, "Great Danes are excellent companion dogs. Neither bashful nor aggressive; they simply live, to be by your side.
We researched this giant breed extensively, before settling on it."
On www.PetFinder.org they located a three year old Great Dane. Susan and her son, Sam, drove 600 miles to rescue him. They found an emaciated dog, with ribs and vertebrae protruding, who had to spent eight hours a day, in a crate.
He suffered from isolation and torture; both emotional and physical. His previous owners played 'chase' with him, then cruelly pelted him with rocks.
Susan and Sam bent down, peering through the cage's rusted metal grate, into the dog's eyes. In silence, they exchanged glances and softly asked, 'Comin' home?'
The dog trembled, then wagged his tail. "That was the wag of approval," says Susan, "He jumped in our truck (taking up the entire back seat) and we headed home."
Driving through, Moses Lake, they felt the city's name perfectly fit their new back seat passenger.
With security, loving care, healthy feed and calm, training, Moses matured into a dignified ambassador of his breed. He's never been in a crate again.
He is so big, that everywhere they go, people ask. "Where's his saddle?"
When their daughter, Cassie, brought a puppy home, they watched protectively.
Moses raised his head, looked at the puppy, trotted off and got his favorite toy.
He then taught the puppy how to play his favorite game 'tug of war'. Moses let the puppy drag him all over the yard, pretending to let the puppy win.
Susan's husband, Richard, a professional artist, drew a life like portrait of Moses. A wonderful way to treasure their memories.
TIPS
Susan's tip, "Great Danes must be inside dogs. Left outside, they can get hypothermia.
Their fur isn't hollow-cored, like a water dogs, and not insulative.
For them to be content and happy dogs, they require close proximity to their pack, their 'two-leggers'.
Also, feeding them on a platform, prevents the dogs from swallowing too much air, and bloating. Bloat can be a serious, and sometimes fatal condition."
Pet Adoption info: www.PetFinder.org  Swimming Cats on TV
Mary Ellen's Beautiful Cats Swim Lessons
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