A CASSELTON, NORTH DAKOTA, FARM FAMILY has what may be the world’s tallest and longest dog.  They’ll find out after they hear back from the Guinness Book of Records people later.

“Boomer” is a 3-yr.-old Landseer Newfoundland canine that stands 3 ft. at the shoulder and is 7 ft. long.  The 180-lb. pup startles drivers when he makes eye contact with them while standing next to their car.

The Associated Press filed this video report on Boomer:

EASTERN DERRY VFD (PENNSYLVANIA) FIRE CHIEF Derrick Bollinger and a few of his FF’s were dispatched Friday to rescue a couple of dogs that had become stranded on a cliffside.  After one of the firefighters rappelled 20 ft. down to get them, and then brought them back to safety, they took the dogs to the local animal shelter for treatment and security.

While they were there, the director told Bollinger she had a dalmatian that would be an ideal mascot for the fire company.  When he took a look, it was only a moment before he realized the dog was orginally his own pet that he had to give away five years ago when he moved to a new house.  You know the rest of the story.

“Halligan” the dalmation is back home again.

A LASTING MEMORY FROM THE APOLLO 11 LANDING WAS WATCHING OUR DOG RECOVER FROM A CHAMPAGNE HANGOVER ON MONDAY JULY 21st.

My parents hosted a neighborhood moon landing party. TVs were playing in four different rooms and the house was jammed with their friends and neighbors. There was a huge buffet and a lot of champagne.

Neil Armstrong did not step on the moon until 10:56 PM (east coast time), four hours after the lunar module landed. The party went into high gear and continued for a couple of hours.

My brother and I were working the party as indentured teenagers. As the relief of a successful walk on the moon filled the home, we decided to share the joy (and the champagne) with our dog, Brutus. He loved parties and enthusiastically lapped up the bubbly.

I am sure many people were late to work that Monday morning. We were tasked with cleaning up the house and the dog’s vomit.

Paley Center for Media Apollo 11: 40 years later … My how the technology has changed!

Apollo 11 moon landing As It Happened with Walter Chronkite/CBS (youtube 9:45 minutes)

NASA Apollo 11 mission page

FD’s ARE ALWAYS USING DOGS TO ASSIST.  Originally the dalmations were used to protect the horses and watch the stations.  Today we use dogs to sniff out accelerants and track down arsonists.

But in Nigeria, a new need has arisen.  Who else but a dog is best suited to sniff out a human being disguised as a goat?  Police needed one last month when an armed robber attempted to elude capture by transormation.

The Week reports:

Police in Nigeria are holding a goat on suspicion of armed robbery. A group of citizens were on an anti-crime patrol in the capital city of Lagos when they found a pair of armed “hoodlums” trying to steal a Mazda 323. The vigilantes say they chased the men, but one escaped and the other used black magic to turn himself into a goat.

“We cannot confirm the story,” said a police spokesman, adding that the goat will be held, but not prosecuted, until “it can be proved scientifically that a human being turned into a goat.”

Reuters has the full STORY HERE.

Just imagine, if your fire marshal had a dog that could detect magic goats and tigers, he could patrol the bystanders at your next 4-banger and maybe even nab the magical evil-doer.

Firegeezer adds:  Don’t be too hasty in questioning their scientific skills over there.  Remember that these are the people who have successfully convinced thousands  of Americans to contribute millions of dollars to help out their deposed royal family, including most recently a generous $2.5 million disbursement from the Utah State Treasury (HERE).

IT’S A SHEEP GUARD DOG.  THERE IS A DIFFERENCE, it turns out.

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Free Lance-Star photo

A sheep farmer in Culpeper County, Virginia, is handling the problem of predators such as coyotes by bringing in an Italian dog breed that is largely unknown in America.  After consultation with a guard dog authority, the Campbell family has placed two Maremma’s on their 1,000-acre farm.

This unusual breed does not herd sheep, such as a border collie does, but it guards and protects the herd.  The dogs actually live with the sheep, wandering with them in the pastures and staying  with them day and night.

Firegeezer finds this to be a very interesting story about an unusual animal and I thought you would enjoy reading this REPORT.

EVERYBODY KNOWS HOW DOGS LOVE to lap up spilt beer….or even a bit of brew in their water dish.  Well, the good times are a’coming, Fido.  Dog Star Brewing Co. is now running off batches just for doggies.  Happy Tail Ale is a non-alcoholic beer enhanced with natural beef flavorings.  Who says times are tough?

THE LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARTMENT’S RENOWNED SEARCH DOG “BELLA” died last week at age 14.  She was a rare canine in that she was certified in three search categories:  wilderness search, disaster rescue and cadaver recovery.  click the link for the complete story.