"We learned today that one of our volunteers and foster mommy left us yesterday. Kim was one special lady whom I wish I had met in person. We talked numerous times on the phone as well as through emails. Kim was an inspiration to me while going through some difficult times myself. She talked about her family, animals and her love for God, who we thought would let her stay with us a little longer. Guess He needed another angel by His side. My prayers and the prayers of all the volunteers with WolfSpirit's Rescue are with the family." –Robin K. Aufderheide, WolfSpirit's Toy Breed Puppymill Rescue

"I received the staggering, shocking news that a dear, precious friend from long ago moved on to her new Home. Kim was one of my background vocalists for awhile during the 70s. But more importantly, she was my dear sister in Jesus. She was a very special lady who was heavily involved in dog rescue, home schooled her children, all of whom have grown up to be successful, dynamic, spiritually-minded people, she had a wonderful background in theater, was a great singer, and a more beautiful person inside you'll never meet. Her husband Bob (another dear friend whom I was privileged to introduce to Kim way back in 1977), all of their children and the rest of their family are in my heart, and I hope that you'll all join me in offering prayers and positive thoughts for them all during this terribly hard time." –Stephen Alexandersen Sharp

"As I sit here on this beautiful afternoon with the sun shining and a nice breeze blowing through our wind chimes, I see our Jaxon and Maddie doing zoomies in our large fenced yard. Kim had mentioned to me how she wished she had a large fenced yard for all her fur babies to run and play. She now has that and is enjoying watching all her babies with whom she is reunited running and playing. I know she is smiling her gorgeous smile and her laughter is filling Heaven. Such beautiful music! I will love hearing it one day." –Rebecca Stivers

"Heaven has gained an Angel... one of our foster homes, Kim has passed away." –Amber Kay, Fur Angels Animal Sanctuary

"Kim, I am so sorry to hear of your passing. Fur Angels was truly blessed to have you in our rescue. You were my friend. You inspired me to keep moving when times got tough. I am so blessed to have you on my team. Rest in peace sweet angel. We shall meet again." –Julie Johnson, Fur Angels Animal Sanctuary

"I am at such a loss for words... I only knew you through Starfish Animal Rescue, I worked with you a few times, and in that small time from it was immediately obvious what an amazing person you are! You had one of the biggest hearts, and positive outlooks I had ever come across!! You were selfless in everyway. Your family and friends were so lucky and blessed to have had you in their lives and I know that you will be watching over them from above taking care of all of them any way you can. You were the foster mom for my last dog, we named her Minnie.... we love her! Thank you so much for everything you have done, and I know will continue to do from up above. Thoughts prayers and love go out to your family. you will be deeply, deeply missed...." –Amber Spitzer-Peacock, Starfish Animal Rescue

"I am so sad to hear that Kim has passed. She was such a wonderful person and such a phenomenal animal advocate. I will forever be thankful for the love and care she gave Rex when he was so very sick. I'm sure Kim that you are working at the Rainbow Bridge. God bless you." –Donna Bartolac Eliades

"Kim was an amazing woman. I had the pleasure of meeting her through transporting and rescuing pups. This world lost an amazing woman. My prayers go out to your family, may peace find your hearts in this terrible time." –Mandy Myers

"So sorry to hear of Kim's passing. I'm grateful to have been included in the fundraising & celebration of her life. Thank you for the opportunity to be a small part of her life." –Shannon Cole, Shannon's Pet Sitting

"In the midst of sorrow, such gratitude. So many of my college students where I teach have never known a mother's committed faithful love of them, much less Christ. Marriages that remain committed in faith, friendship, and passion – unheard of. Friendships unwavering through the years – non-existent. Extended family with a sense of respect, friendship, and humor. What is that? I hope you all know how rich and blessed you are – we are.... In a world where everything spins toward death, how beautiful is the person who mirrors eternal life. That would be Kim." –Edie Hill

"All of us at Bald is Beautiful Dog Rescue are devastated to hear the news of Kim's passing. She had a heart of gold and was a fantastic foster mom. She will be missed by all who knew her. Hugs to all of you." –Stacy Snell Smith, Bald is Beautiful Dog Rescue

"She was an angel to the many dogs she saved and loved. I can only imagine what a wonderful mother she was." –Ellen Westkaemper, Bald is Beautiful Dog Rescue

"Kim's enthusiasm about rescue and life overall was palpable. We spoke on the phone several times and it was clear to see what a vibrant,caring and loving woman she was." –Sue Bickford, Bald is Beautiful Dog Rescue

"As I look at your picture and see you smiling, I can't help but think, you is seeing now what we can only imagine. Set free, healed and worshiping at His feet, lying down your very LARGE crown at His feet as well! God comfort the family as only HE can as you begin the most difficult task of saying goodbye, for now. He will bring people along to lift your hearts. He will carry you, no matter how heavy your load. This night, my heart is broken. RIP Kim, enter into the joy of your Lord. Every life matters." –Linda Babikian

"My heart breaks to hear that Kim has passed away. She was one of the kindest and most genuine people I ever had the honor of knowing and she will be missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to her wonderful family." –Julie Plagge

"I am deeply saddened to hear about the news of Kim today. I was fortunate enough to have met Kim almost 2 yrs ago when I was looking into adopting a dog she was fostering. From the moment I met her I knew she was special. She had rescued a very scared & malnourished puppy & she loved him back to good health before I adopted him in 2013. I chose to name him Mateo, which means God's gift, because he truly was a gift!!! Kim & I always stayed in touch and I knew how special Mateo was to Kim. I will always, always be grateful to her for what she did for my little Mateo. She was his first "mom" and I never would've experienced all the love & joy he brings me each day if it wasn't for Kim. May God be with all of you during this difficult time & know that Kim touched so many lives and that she was deeply loved & will be greatly missed by many." –Chrissy Schramm Berger

"So so sorry to hear this news, Kim has always been a Ray of sonshine to me...and I'm sure Many, even many cannines....When Jesus was at Lazarus tomb and saw the grief, He was grieved to tears and angry with death.... that is why He did what He did and conquered the grave so we can be together forever...Thank You Jesus!!! And till you all see your precious Kim again, I pray His supernatural comfort." –Sandy Moberg Marschall

"You know those old friends that you have known for so many years that you had babies together...prayed together, talked way into the night over your dreams and hopes?... Yeah. Kim was one of those." –Cathi Basler

"Lost an amazing friend today. Our hearts are completely broken... She is and always will be the heart of our family. Always so full of love and touched everyone around her – Kim was loved and will forever be a part of our lives...." –Nancy Thaxton, USSPN State Apostolic Coordinator for West Virginia

"Thank you to all those who stood in faith and prayed with us for Kim, our daughter-in-law Joy's mother. She fought a hard and courageous battle with cancer, but she is standing totally well and whole in the presence of her Savior, Jesus. Now please focus your prayers on her husband of 35 years, Bob, and her five children and their spouses. Our hearts are broken because we all expected a different outcome, but we do not grieve as those who have no hope. We will see her again. We pray the peace of God and the comfort of His Spirit to rest on all the family." –Bonnie Hammer

"Oh Lord Jesus, You have such a precious woman there in your embrace now. May your Love dry all her tears. We will miss her terribly. We look to You. May You restore us somehow... Oh God we pray for Hope for Bob and their children." –Steve Murray

"Heaven is going to be an amazing place because the dazzling array of people like Kim Sperlazzo will be reflecting the light of Christ. My love and prayers go out to you, Bob. Love you, Paul Clark"

Dr. Andrew Jones, DVM
Modern medicine and modern medication can do some pretty amazing things – it can instantly deal with parasites, or give immediate comfort to a dog or cat in pain.

There is a "but" here... These conventional medications can have a host of side effects that can seriously harm your dog or cat. There are also the unquantifiable effects of chronic medication use on your pet's immune system or organ function, and how that may make them more likely to develop serious disease such as cancer.

Consider the FDA reports on this common anti-inflammatory drug, Rimadyl.

Cumulative Veterinary ADE Reports
January 1987 to January 2014
Drug: CARPROFEN (RIMADYL)
Species: DOG

This NSAID (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) has numerous reported and under-reported side effects from permanent organ damage to even death. It is in your pet's best interest to avoid this medication, and similar medications, if possible.

Dr. Andrew Jones, DVM

Preparing a Meal of Dog Meat in South Korea

(NEWSER) – For centuries, people have been eating dog meat – neither legal nor banned – in South Korea. Some 30 years ago, chef Oh Keum-il even traveled around North and South Korea, tasting everything from dog stew to dog taffy, to learn the craft of cooking dog. Today, however, customers aren't quite as interested in eating an animal many keep as pets. Oh, for example, served her last bowl of dog stew, or boshintang, this week, closing up South Korea's longest-running dog meat restaurant as young customers avoid the spot and animal activists protest her controversial meals.

Typical Dish of Dog Meat

Though an expert guesses up to 2.5 million dogs are eaten in South Korea each year, "there is too much generational gap in boshintang," says Oh. That's clear for a 30-year-old Korean woman who says she argues with her grandfather about the meal. "Whenever he saw my dog at home, he would say it's the size of one bowl of hot soup," she says. A butcher adds that "dog is not an industry with a long-term future," noting that about 800 restaurants serve it in Seoul, when 1,500 once did. It's sad to see the end of such a lengthy tradition, says Oh, who now plans to open a barbeque restaurant that serves beef instead.

PETITION: "Stop the Dog Meat Festival" Campaign

A black Labrador retriever that spent two stints at a Kansas animal shelter is living the good life on a 120-acre Florida farm, thanks to an affluent heir who felt a personal connection to the dog and dispatched a private jet to claim her.

Despite guidelines that recommend vaccinating dogs with key vaccines every three years, many veterinarians continue to push annual vaccinations, a CBC Marketplace investigation reveals. And when dogs get annual jabs, pet owners may be getting gouged. See the full-length investigation video (22 mins.).

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) shows TV commercials of abandoned and abused cats and dogs, raising money off of the confusion that it’s a pet shelter umbrella group. (It doesn't run a single pet shelter anywhere.) Maybe its commercials should instead show HSUS's lawyers paying a racketeering settlement with their tails tucked between their legs.

Recently, news broke that HSUS and its co-defendants, including two HSUS employees, have agreed to pay $15.75 million to settle a long-fought lawsuit filed against them under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act – a law that's been used to go after the mob.

The suit stems from litigation that animal rights activists, including an HSUS affiliate, pursued against the owner of the Ringling Bros. circus, Feld Entertainment. In that case, activists claimed that the circus was unlawfully harming elephants in its care, and their key witness was a former Feld handler.

However, as that case unfolded over a decade, a payment scheme was discovered going from plaintiffs and their lawyers to this witness. The court eventually threw out the lawsuit, finding that the witness was a "paid plaintiff" who was "not credible." This paid witness even "lied" to the court.

Feld then filed suit under RICO, alleging bribery, illegal witness payments, and other torts. The ASPCA settled in late 2012 for $9.3 million. And today, the other co-defendants have paid $15.75 million.

The animal liberation movement has long been associated with extremist, bullying, and sometimes even terroristic tactics in pursuit of its radical goal to institute prohibition on how we use animals, whether for food, fiber or entertainment. The FBI cracked down on the terroristic fringe over the past two decades. And the suit-wearing, lawyered-up part of the movement has now had its day in court. It comes up $15.75 million poorer, but with its inner workings exposed, the rest of society should feel better off.

Sadly, the real losers in this case are the thousands of individual donors who gave money to HSUS thinking that they were helping local animal shelters, only to find that their donations are footing the bill for HSUS's mismanagement (not to mention the hundreds of thousands of dogs and cats that needed that money for their keep and care).

NEW YORK (MainStreet) – Millennials are usually seen as a demographic that is irrational, debt-saddled, underemployed and financially irresponsible. That inevitably means low disposable income. But you may be surprised by how much money 20-somethings are willing to spend when it comes to taking care of their dogs.

According to a report aggregated by an Arlington, Virginia-based market research firm Wakefield Research, 76% of Millennials are more willing to make impulse and pampering purchases for their pet than they would for themselves on certain pricey items, such as expensive treats or a custom bed. By contrast, only half of Boomers would like to spoil their pets by purchasing those items.

"It's a trend that Millennials are becoming the major power to the future consuming market in the pet industry," says Nathan Ritcher, CEO of the Wakefield Research. As the pet industry is predicted to be a $59 billion market in 2014, according to American Pet Products Association, Ritcher said, "It's good evidence to show that Millennials are redefining which products are more important."

Millennials made up less than a third of the U.S. adult population, yet their spending power is expected to surpass that of Boomers at $3.39 trillion in the next four years. As pet owners, they are grandiose, conscientious, and irrational; they think differently about what is "essential" when purchasing products.

Wakefield's report shows more than half of the younger shoppers own clothing for their pets and think it's important to carry their pets as a kind of accessory so that they are able to travel with their pets easily; meanwhile, pet supplies that contain chemical-free, natural, organic and hypoallergenic elements are more demanded by them than Boomers, since they usually value health and food safety more than their parents and grandparents.

But how come the younger generation who often asks for financial support is actually the main force of pet ownership with large expenditures?

The psychological explanation behind their consuming behavior is that most Millennials are narcissists who are pursuing self-recognition by all kinds of means, according to Dr. Peter Noel Murray, principal of a consumer psychology practice based in New York City.

"Their choices of what to acquire in life are made in large part on how well they validate their positive self-image," he told MainStreet.

Unlike most pet owners who are looking for companionship and love from their pets, said Murray, "the appeal of a pet to this young adult is more likely to be how well it reflects on the individual and captures the attention of friends."

To be noticeable, social media encourages Millennials to be exposed actively as pet owners, which also applies to the characteristic of being narcissistic. According to Murray, self-focus on social networks and the obsession with "selfies" both explained their unquenchable thirst for recognition.

"They see themselves, and want others to see them, as special and unique," he said.

Wakefield's report indicates that only 10% Millennials are not on social platforms. For Millennials who have a social media account for their pets, 66% are on Facebook, 38% are on Twitter, and 34% are on Instagram. Also, more than half of Millennials share "selfies" while only 9% of Boomers would do the same.

As the irrational behaviors have stimulated the pet industry, marketers are seizing the opportunity to cater to the potential market demand from Millennials.

"We are creating incredible mobile friendly website and apps and personalized offers to interact with our younger shoppers," says Jeff Eckerling, CEO of Doggyloot.com, a Chicago-based e-commerce site for dog products. Currently, the online shopping hub has more than one million subscribers, according to Eckerling, and most of them are at their mid-40s. That said, Millennials have brought one third of the web traffic to Doggyloot's website and 23% of them are being active on its Facebook fan page.

In the Wakefield report, despite the fact that Millennials see their pets as their family members like Boomers do, they are more likely to feel that raising a pet is part of the preparation for having a family.

"A lot of Millennials view their pets as a way to train themselves to be a good parent in the future," says Ritcher.

In response to that, Murray thinks it's wrong to confuse the relationship between having a pet and raising a kid.

"They think it might be helpful to develop their responsibilities [to be a future parent] but it's unrealistic; it's not happening," he said, "They are focused on valuing things but they don't care how they attain those."

In addition, he is also concerned since Millennials are highly prone to discard items when they no longer serve their purpose. When their pets have slowed down middle-aged or grown old and need comfort and care, Millennials may not be able to fulfill the psychological needs of their formerly pampered pets, Murray says.

"It could well turn into a crisis for animal shelters in the not-too-distant future," he said.

Kandu's story began in October 2005 when his owners, believing that Kandu would never have a good quality of life, took him to a veterinarian to be euthanized. Very luckily he was rescued by the Evergreen Animal Protective League (EAPL) where his next life began. There are so many people that helped from the EAPL but special thanks to Robin, Betsy, Laura and Linda. You can read about everything they have done for Kandu HERE. And please check all of the other pets they have helped along the way.

Once Kandu made it to his new home, the fun began. Martin Kaufmann with Orthopets fabricated the initial design for Kandu's wheels and winter monoski. This truly turned Kandu's life around. He can now run with the other dogs, dash from room to room, roll up and down the driveway, and yes, he has even been in two parades in Steamboat Springs. Many, many thanks to Martin and Amy for their creativity and energy.

Kandu now lives outside the little town of Oak Creek near Steamboat Springs, Colorado. He spends a lot of time with his step brother Bob and house cat Bookie. But as important Kandu is now a certified therapy dog with Heeling Friends in Steamboat Springs. Heeling Friends is a Delta Society Pet Partner affiliate that takes pet partner teams to hospitals and care facilities to offer comfort and companionship to those in need. Kandu has help lift the spirits of many patients at the Yampa Valley Medical Center. This is something he simply loves to do and gets excited every time he sees the front door of the hospital. Please take a moment to check out Heeling Friends and learn more about the pet partners program.

As you can tell, Kandu has had the help and support of many people along the way. If it had not been for Jodi Brooks at KCNC television in Denver, we would never had seen her great story (CBS News4 Story) and met Kandu. Also, our thanks to one of the top mechanics with the Yamaha Racing Team, Geoff Cesmat, for his cleverness as Kandu's wheels evolved. Thanks to Campo Design and to Traci Schalow for their help in putting together Kandu's Web site and all the graphics. And finally our thanks to Drew and all the folks at Colorado Plastic Products for supplying Kandu with materials as we keep building better gizmos for Kandu.

By Deidre Grieves, Pet360.com
People make money buying houses for low prices and then reselling them for profits. It's a practice known as flipping – and it looks like this may be happening with dogs as well.

A Craigslist ad is sparking controversy after a woman who adopted a Jack Russell Terrier from a Hawaiian animal shelter allegedly put the dog up for sale just an hour after picking the pooch up from the shelter. According to a report from KHON2 News, the advertised rate for the dog was "$200 or best offer," which is more than double what the woman paid in adoption fees.

The 10-year-old Jack Russell named Sally Mae was adopted by a young woman, but an hour later, the same dog was offered up for sale in an ad on Craigslist that stated that the woman and her boyfriend were caught up working two jobs and couldn't take care of the dog. The posting immediately sparked outrage and sadness from the local animal community.

Christina Kam, the shelter's communications and event coordinator, told reporters, "It's really disappointing to think that animals are really seen as a commodity versus your loving pet that's part of your family, so that's really hard for us."

Sally Mae, the Jack Russell Terrier listed on Craigslist Immediately after Adoption

The shelter did attempt to call the new owner and get Sally Mae returned to the shelter so that they could find her a loving home. However, when reporters reached out to the woman who adopted Sally Mae, the woman explained that it was a misunderstanding. She told Hawaii News Now that she was selling Sally Mae because she was loud and energetic and wasn't fitting in.

Ultimately, the woman told reporters that her family would help care for the dog, and that she plans on keeping Sally Mae.

People that return animals to the adoption center within 30 days are given a full refund and Kekama Amona, who volunteers to make videos of the animals for the shelter, believes that is exactly what the woman should do. "I think she should return the dog and give it to somebody who really wants to keep the dog," he told Hawaii News Now.

Unfortunately, the Craigslist poster did not technically break any laws. There are no rules or regulations that make the reselling of adoptable animals illegal or punishable. The shelter does not have language in its adoption contracts preventing owners from "flipping" pets, but after this incident, the shelter is looking into making that a part of contracts in the future.

This is a truly sad story, and the victim here is undoubtedly Sally Mae. That Jack Russell deserves a loving pet parent, not one that tries to sell her for profit just because she is loud and energetic. If the woman had done any research beforehand, she would have known that Jack Russells have plenty of energy and need an active family. All we can hope is that Sally Mae manages to have a good life, whether she remains with the woman who adopted her or with a completely different family. Dog-flipping of any kind – no matter the circumstances – should absolutely be prohibited by law.

UPDATE: The Hawaiian animal shelter announced that the 10-year-old Jack Russell Terrier was returned and successfully placed with another family.

Stray dogs in Moscow take the train. Many of Moscow's stray dogs actually live in the suburbs and take the subway downtown daily to forage for food. While on the train they do normal commuting stuff like napping and listening for their stop to be announced. They find seats and sometimes remind one another where to get off the train.

Once their workday begins, they go looking for easy targets like people eating street food and children. They employ a number of tactics to get fed, based on the mark. They bark at noshing adults to alarm them into accidentally dropping their food. They rest their heads on the laps of kids and flash them their cutest puppy dog eyes. When the day is done they head back to the suburbs and rest up for the next day's adventures.

SB 648 Would Result in More Killing at Illinois Animal Control Shelters

  

Senate Bill 648 is a disastrous bill for shelter pets. It would prohibit animal shelters from accepting stray dogs or cats unless they were released from animal control. Any strays who come in would have to be transferred to the county or city pound, greatly increasing the number of animals housed at local government facilities. Some of these facilities don't even have adoption programs. This is a huge waste of lives and also a waste of tax dollars.

The bill has other poorly thought-out provisions, such as requiring humane investigators to notify local law enforcement or the local animal control agency prior to investigating neglect or cruelty.

Please take action HERE and send an email or letter to your state representative to ask him or her to oppose this ill-conceived legislation. If you could also CALL your representative today and politely ask that they vote "NO" on SB 648, it would be greatly appreciated.

Together, we can Save Them All.

Sincerely,
Ledy VanKavage, Esq.
Sr. Legislative Attorney

Source: Best Friends

Lobbying for the New York State Devocalization Bill is Playing with Fire...

A proposed devocalization ban is now before the New York State Senate. Please do NOT ask your Senator to pass it (yet)!

New York lawmakers have repeatedly advised Animal Advocates of Western New York and Coalition to Protect and Rescue Pets that:

The Senate will NOT step on the toes of the veterinary lobby, which is particularly strong in New York and is fighting to keep devocalization legal. Last year's experience with this legislation supports that.

If Senators are pushed to pass the devocalization ban, they may feel their hands are tied and do that.

But lawmakers warn they will ONLY pass it if amendments are added. Appeasing the veterinary lobby means these amendments will ALLOW and LEGITIMIZE DEVOCALIZATION, which would cause even more dogs and cats to have their vocal cords cut.

Once that happens, there's no turning back. Bad laws are worse than no law. And they never become good laws.

LEARN ABOUT LOOPHOLE AMENDMENTS THAT HURT ANIMALS

Loopholes are rarely obvious. And they can be added to a bill any time before it's signed into law – often during the final vote on the floor.


►CLICK HERE to learn about sneaky loophole amendments that turn devocalization bans into laws that sanction this cruelty.

HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW

Because caring people consider devocalization a shameful practice, individuals who have animals devocalized and the vets they pay to perform it have kept it in the shadows. They pretend it's not happening or trivialize the great damage cutting even a little vocal cord tissue causes.

Here's how you can fight back to protect animals' vocal cords and lives:

• Educate the public by sharing pages and videos from this website (with attribution to Coalition to Protect and Rescue Pets), and posts from the United Against Devocalization Facebook page.
• Bring your vet or vet tech or vet nurse on board by having him or her submit this online form. Even without legislation, it's important for vets to take this unequivocal stand against elective voice-altering surgery:

SMART LOBBYING 101

If you're serious about protecting animals, lobby with your eyes wide open. You must know exactly what you're supporting every step of the way – or you shouldn't support it. Even trusted animal organizations can get it wrong.

• Always read the bill you're being asked to support directly from the legislature's Web site. Animal advocacy organizations can get it wrong. Have your lawmaker or his/her staff explain it if you don't understand it. That's part of their job!
• Read the bill AGAIN before lawmakers vote on it, in committees and on the floor, to make sure sneaky language that hurts animals, including these loopholes, hasn't been added.
• Then, read it ONE LAST TIME before it goes to the governor. If loopholes were added, urge the governor to veto it.

This takes a little more time than reading an action alert. But it's the ONLY way you can be sure you're lobbying for – not against – animals.

• And They Call this "Bark Softening"?
• Devocalized: Kandi's Story
• Meet Duke: Needed More Surgery to Survive "Bark Softening"
• Jaxon's Story: Abandoned and Unable to Bark for Help
• More Videos of Some of the Victims

BEIJING (AP) – A Chinese dog breeder said that a property developer paid him 18 million yuan ($3 million) for Tibetan mastiff twins, highlighting how the breed has become a status symbol for China's rich.

The large, slobbery dog with massive amounts of hair used to be best known for herding sheep in Tibet, but has now become a luxury for the ultra-rich who want to spread their wealth beyond stocks and real estate.

In this AP photo taken March 18, 2014, a Chinese man working for a dog breeder bids farewell to two Tibetan mastiffs he had been caring for outside a hotel in Tongxiang city in east China's Zhejiang province. A Chinese dog breeder said Thursday that a property developer paid him 18 million yuan ($3 million) for the Tibetan mastiff twins, highlighting how the breed has become a status symbol for China's rich. One of the twins – a golden-haired Tibetan mastiff – was sold for $12 million yuan, and his red-haired brother went for $6 million yuan.

Breeder Zhang Gengyun said he sold the 1-year-old twin male dogs to a single buyer at a luxury dog fair Tuesday in wealthy Zhejiang province, located on China's east coast. The sales were reported by the local Qianjiang Evening News.

One of the twins – a golden-haired Tibetan mastiff – was sold for $12 million yuan, and his red-haired brother went for $6 million yuan. Zhang said the buyer, from eastern Shandong province, paid him the 18 million yuan with his credit card.

Zhang denied the sale was a ploy by breeders to hype the price of Tibetan mastiffs and said he was reluctant to sell the twins. "It's a real deal," he said.

The more expensive golden-haired dog was 80 centimeters (31.5 inches) tall and weighed 90 kilograms (200 pounds).

"His hair is bright and he has a dead-drop gorgeous face," said the breeder. "Usually he's quiet and gentle, but when a stranger shows up, he could bark endlessly and bite."

Zhang said the unnamed buyer might start breeding Tibetan mastiffs himself.

"The Tibetan mastiff is as treasured in China as the giant panda, so people consider it a symbol of higher social status," he said.






















Liu Na, organizer of a Tibetan mastiff fair in Beijing, said the average price for one of the dogs is several hundreds of thousands of dollars. The price tag usually depends on the breeder's expectations, the buyer's appreciation of the dog and the bargaining between the two, she said.

"It's just like deals done when buying antiques," Liu said. "But it isn't uncommon for a breeder to hype a price in order to raise his profile in the industry, just like a celebrity can inflate his or her appearance fee."

Source: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2014/03/19/2980267/chinese-pays-2-million-for-tibetan.html
©2014 The Tribune