Welcome to the 2007 Q3 Edition of the Barking Bulletin!

In response to our last Barking Bulletin request for heart-tugging stories about our four-legged friends, two of the stories we received were from Buz in Texas and Tom in Ohio. Following are their special tales. We thank all of our readers who sent us stories and regret that we are not able to publish all of them.

Here's a heartwarming story about the special bond that developed between a sensitive dog and a young leukemia patient who was very frustrated and had little to smile about. It begins with Monica and her therapy dog, Bama, who live in Virginia. Over the past 6 months they have been volunteering at the Medical Center of Virginia (MCV) in Richmond with the Dogs on Call program. "When Bama and I visit patients we learn a lot about them, we listen, we talk, we pet Bama and we share tears," says Monica. "Every patient has taught me something -- from facts about Bloodhounds to life regrets to their happiest moments to their saddest day."

The practice of using pets as part of therapy programs in hospitals, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes is becoming increasingly popular and studies have shown positive results. According to the Alzheimer's Association, more than five million Americans are currently suffering from Alzheimer's Disease and someone new is added to those ranks every 72 seconds. Felicity's Diamond Jim, affectionately known as James, is more than just a purebred, award-winning canine. Before being crowned National Champion at the 6th Annual AKC/Eukanuba Championship last December, this English Springer Spaniel worked as a Certified Therapy Dog.

The welcome months of spring and summer bring lush green lawns, balmy days and nights, fragrant flowers and thoughts of relaxing vacations. Unfortunately, they also bring those ever-present and annoying insects and creatures of all kinds. We humans are used to shielding ourselves from insects and reptiles in a variety of ways, to avoid being stung or bitten. Our pets, however, are unaware that these unwelcome pests can become a source of danger.

If you're planning a summer vacation in America's heartland this summer, you may want to consider a stop at the fascinating American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog, just outside of St. Louis, Missouri at Queeny Park. For a modest admission fee, museum visitors can discover canine themes in over 500 paintings, drawings, watercolors, prints, sculptures and a variety of decorative art objects. The museum is located on 570 acres at Jarville House, a charming and historic (1853) Greek Revival-style home that has recently been expanded into a 14,000 square foot facility.

In its continuing effort to improve the pet recovery process in America, the American Kennel Club's Companion Animal Recovery (AKC CAR) announced that it is introducing a new microchip identification system to the market.  The new AKC Companion Animal Recovery ID System^TM microchip is one of the most technologically superior and affordable microchips currently on the market. This new low cost chip combined with CAR's historically low one time lifetime fee for enrollment in the largest not for profit recovery database in the country offers excellent value and protection for any pet for the rest of its life.