We’ve all heard about the conditions in puppy mills but were you aware that most pet stores buy their puppies from these sorts of enterprises? On this week’s “Good Dog”, we hear from Stephanie Shain, director of the Stop Puppy Mills Campaign for the Humane Society of the United States. They’ve just completed an 8-month investigation and the results are grim.

To see images of the puppy mills that sell to Petland, Inc., check out this video:

When our dogs develop disabling illnesses or injuries, we often have a decision to make. For Vicki Tiernan, it wasn’t too difficult. It was figuring out how to help Ruby get around that was the challenge. Soon, with the help of a special harness with wheels, Ruby was running on the trails, inspiring all sorts of people.

Vicki’s story is just one that appears in the anthology “Almost Perfect - Disabled Pets and the People Who Love Them“, available for purchase through “Smarter Shopping” on gooddogpodcast.com. Hear her story on this week’s Good Dog podcast.

Every now and then you hear about a project that really works. Check this out. Lynn Loar got a 3-year grant to bring shelter dogs to tough SF neighborhood apartment buildings to (more…)

If you’ve already voted in the U.S. Presidential Election and feel the need to vote again, go to podcastawards.com and help us win a few Peoples’ Choice Podcast Awards. Good Dog is nominated in the General category and you can vote through November 6, 2008. A few other podcasts in our network are also up for awards:  Golf Better @Edwin Watts Golf for Best Produced and Sports and Golf Smarter Tips for the Peoples’ Choice.

Now, on to today’s Good Dog episode, about being a medical advocate for your pup. Veterinarian Dr. Nancy Kay, author of “Speaking for Spot,” is sensible, articulate and definitely worthy of your time. We discuss some of the basic medical issues that dogs face and what we as pet owners can do to provide the  best possible care.