Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Old Dogs, New Shoes

Police dogs in Duesseldorf, Germany, are being outfitted with blue bootees.

The shoes aren't a fashion statement, however. They are needed to protect the dogs' paws from broken glass between the cobblestones in the city's historic district. The area is popular with partyers who seem to enjoy smashing bottles in the streets, which has led to a high rate of paw injuries among police dogs.

All 20 canines are being trained to walk in the shoes. "I'm not sure they like it, but they'll have to get used to it," police spokesman Andre Hartwich said.

Every day since a tornado damaged their home and scared off their dog, Katresa and Tim Harris checked to see whether Pongo had returned.

On Friday he did.

The 9-year-old mixed breed fled 2 1/2 weeks earlier as deadly tornadoes swept through the South. The Harrises were unable to stay in their damaged Gassville, Arkansas, home, but they went back daily and put out food in case Pongo made it back.

"We never gave up on him," Tim Harris said.

The producers of "Ratatouille" weren't sure people would want to see a movie about a rat cooking in a fancy French restaurant. But audiences liked it, and Sunday night "Ratatouille" won the Academy Award for Best Animated Film of 2007.