Kennedy's Office Had Gone to the Dogs

No longer aloof, he's interested in local issues, collaboration

(NEWSER) - John Kerry is a changed man, his colleagues tell the Boston Globe. Gone is the seemingly aloof Kerry known for his solo speeches and patrician habits. These days Kerry is a consensus builder, holding weekly strategy sessions of the kind his state's senior senator is known for. Kerry’s also found a sudden interest in local issues, stepping into the current void left by Ted Kennedy's illness, and keeping in close contact with local officials. More»

(NEWSER) - Art and Martha Stern, the husband-and-wife breeder team that bred Ted Kennedy’s dogs, give theme names to all their litters. The batch they welcomed into the world six months ago had a portentous one: the Hope and Change Litter. One of those 10 puppies is Bo, the newly famous First Dog. Obama tried hard to keep the lei-wearing pooch a secret, but to no avail. The Washington Post breaks down the dog’s twisty tail. Er, tale. More»

Bo Obama to be newest White House resident

(NEWSER) - The newest Obama will be named Bo, the Washington Post reports in the latest in a series of leaks about the Portuguese water dog the first family plans to introduce to an entranced nation Tuesday. The White House tried to keep a lid on puppy information, but a blog released a picture and interview (yes, an interview) with a dog that looks just like one pictured elsewhere with the family. More»

At least 5K dogs would have been killed, cooked

(NEWSER) - Puppy lovers, rejoice. Officials in eastern China last week canceled the Jinhua Hutou Dog Meat Festival. If that name makes you a little queasy—well, there's good reason for that. The 600-year-old tradition saw at least 5,000 of dogs slaughtered on the spot, and served up as the main dish. As the story goes, the festival stemmed from a tradition begun in the 14th century, when the barking dogs that revealed an army's position were fed to the soldiers on the general's angry orders, reports the New York Times . More»

It could soon be illegal to keep 'impure' animals as pets

(NEWSER) - Dogs are unclean in the eyes of Islam, but man's best friend in Iran has until now avoided being outlawed. That could all change if a new bill recently proposed in parliament passes: It would make "the walking and keeping" of "impure and dangerous animals" illegal, subjecting owners to fines and rendering the fate of the confiscated animal uncertain. Iran's government has long seen dog ownership as a depraved practice, Time notes, and the proposed bill warns against the public health dangers as well as the cultural implications. More»