Dog saved after eating 111 pennies —

Jack, a 13-year-old Jack Russell, is recovering after an operation to remove the $1.11 in pennies that he had eaten. [NY Daily News] — Rob •

Why do dogs bark? (And what are they saying when they do?) —

Barking might just be a reflex for agitated dogs. It might be a side-effect of domestication — i.e., when you select for less-aggressive animals you get ones that tend to bark. Or, it really might have meaning, both for other dogs and for humans. At Scientific American, Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods describe some of the research on dog communication, including studies that show both humans and dogs can tell the difference between barks associated with, say, food, and barks associated with the presence of a threatening stranger. — Maggie •

What is a Scottie Pinwheel? Glad you asked. (HT: Joe Sabia)

A sketchy guy was selling a darling Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in a NYC park. Kind-hearted Tena Cohen saw this and paid to get the super cute dog away from him! Scanning the pup's micro-chip helped her return the Ruby to its owners, who apparently missed it quite dramatically.

Stealing a Cavalier! Tsk.

(via ABC)

A photo shared in the Boing Boing Flickr pool by BB reader Fred Facker.

Photographer, animal-lover, and Boing Boing reader heiney shares this photograph in our Boing Boing Flickr pool, and explains that this was a shot from the Animal Network Holiday Adoption Low Cost Vaccination/chip Photo Event at Ann Road Animal Hospital, Las Vegas NV.

Read the rest

Until her death last year, the lead singer of deathgrind metal band Caninus was a dog. Enjoy "No Dogs, No Masters", a popular cut from their album. Previously.

Warning: it gets loud. Link, from Illustrated Primer.

(Thanks, Joe Sabia!)

Excellent photorealistic dog t-shirts by The Mountain are available at Amazon for around $20 in a variety of styles, er, breeds. Dog Face T-Shirts (via Super Punch)

Rolling Stone reports that the band DEVO "are set to release a track later this month entitled "Don't Roof Rack Me, Bro! (Remember Seamus)." It is inspired by Mitt Romney's notorious road trip from Massachusetts to Ontario, during which he transported the family dog, Seamus, in a kennel strapped to the roof of his station wagon." More at THR. (thanks, GEF)

A thief caught on CCTV at a pet store made his escape by stuffing a $1,400 puppy down his pants.

Recorded by Zoo-Rama in Elmont, New York, footage shows the dog snatcher grabbing the pup out of a cage, stretching open his waistband, then shoving it into the darkness—start from about 5m in. Trapped inside his sweats, the Pomeranian writhes as its captor heads for the exit. If you know anything about the caper, the store owner has $500 for you.

Video Shows Thief Stuffing Tiny Pomeranian Down His Pants At Elmont Pet Store [CBS]

200+ Chihuahuas rescued —

"More than" 200 Chihuahuas were rescued earlier today after a search warrant was executed in Benton, Pa. [AP] — Rob •