And the Winner Is

The American Kennel Club has once again released its annual league table of America's most popular breeds. And the winner is.... the Labrador Retriever! Again!

This is the 18th consecutive year that the Lab has come in as the most popular purebred dog in America as determined by the AKC's 2008 registration statistics.

The statistics show some interesting differences between regions.

For example Californians seeem to love the Miniature Pinscher, which is number 6 in San Diego, but ranked 32 nationally and the Bulldog and the Boxer are on the rise nationwide. For a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel owner like myself, there is no surprise that this breed has increased in popularity by over 200% in the last 10 years!

So what are the top 10 breeds of pedigree dog in the USA for 2008?

2008 Most Popular Dogs in the U.S.

1. Labrador Retriever

2. Yorkshire Terrier

3. German Shepherd Dog

4. Golden Retriever

5. Beagle

6. Boxer

7. Dachshund

8. Bulldog

9. Poodle

10. Shih Tzu

To see the complete list of Top Breeds recorded by the AKC in 2008, visit the American Kennel Club website.

Trip to the USA

Dr Mark and I have just returned from a trip to the USA and Canada.

In the US, we spent time in California, Nevada and Arizona and while we have been to the US many times 

before, we continue to be impressed by the helpfulness of the people and the beautiful country side. Watching the dolphins and seals off Venice Beach in LA was as real highlight, as was Hoover Dam and  the deserts of Nevada and Arizona, although much to my disappointment we didn't see a road runner (clearly I spent to much time in front of the TV watching cartoons as a kid!).

We didn't make it to the Grand Canyon this time unfortunately but we did get to see all the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas! Seeing the re-creations of Venice, Paris, Egypt, and more was just a mind blowing experience.

 We were a little concerned about the welfare of the wild animals kept in some of the Casinos but we made inquiries and where assured that the highest standards are adhered to.

We did not attend any shows involving animals, as we support the stand of organizations like AnimalsAsia.org and Wildlifewarriors.org that it is inappropriate to have animals perform tricks that they would not normally do in the wild, and that such shows have very little or no educational value. We did see some great shows with animals of the two legged variety!

It was not all fun however, and we took the  time to visit various suppliers and service providers we work with to ensure that everything is working smoothly and to see what new animal health products are in the pipeline.

We also got out on the ground and talked to lots of pet lovers about what they are looking for in an online pet med site and how  we could serve our customers better. Just like Australian's, Americans sure love their pets and are not afraid to show it! We even meet some existing customers of VetShopOnline.com  who gave us some  great feedback on how we are performing. Maybe next time we will try and organize some formal way of inviting our customers to meet us and give us some feedback. Of course, in the meantime, if you have something to tell us, just send us an email.

Tragic Losses in Victorian Bushfires

Australia was hit by the worst bushfires in its history, with more than 330,000 hectares destroyed, and more than 700 homes razed to the ground in Victoria. Several towns were affected and the death toll is rising fast as firefighters and aid workers make the most of the recent cooler weather in the affected areas.

The confirmed death toll has risen to 181 and authorities are bracing themselves for more casualties.

Marysville is possibly the worst hit town. The destruction exceeds all previous experience.

It is the worst possible start of the year for the families and friends who have lost their loved ones as well as everything they owned. The Australian government and aid workers were quick to act, with millions of dollars worth of aid pouring in via government grants and public donations.

Australians were angry, and sad, when they learnt that the police revealed their strong suspicions that arsonists are responsible for the bushfires. Police confirmed the Gippsland area fires were started by arsonists.

VetShopOnline has donated $1000 to the Victorian Bushfires Appeal 2009. For those who would like to donate (and we encourage you to), click here. The appeal is organised by the Australian Red Cross, and donations can
easily be made online. We send our condolences to the families who are affected by the bushfires and our heartfelt prayers and thoughts are with them.

As the ferocity of the fires abating, we are reminded of selfless human spirit and love shown by the brave rescuers and firefighters.
See how the firefighters saved a Koala, that is now fondly known as Sam.

Koalas are known to be shy and tend to keep their distance from humans or animals. Not this one.