Bite Me!

Every time my dogs go to the groomer--ideally every six weeks or they start to look like shaggy monsters--they get their teeth brushed and their ears cleaned out. Yes the teeth brushing costs a dollar or two extra, but after reading about a Vancouver couple who have been charged with animal cruelty for neglecting their dog's teeth, I am very glad I fork over the extra cash!

Dogster has the scoop on the couple, whose dog had to have 14 teeth pulled, they were so rotted. If the couple is convicted, they face some hefty fines (up to $5000), or six months in jail, and the possibility of being banned from every owning a pet again.

Apparently the dog, a black terrier named Pudding, was well known to the authorities, having been picked up near his home last year and diagnosed with horrific dental disease. Authorities ordered their owners to get the dental work performed, but they did nothing, apparently done in by the cost of their neglect.

To make matters worse, the dog was in horrible pain. Well, you would be too, trust me.
As of now, the dog has had the dental work performed and been taken away from his owner and re-homed.

Granted, every six weeks is probably not the ideal dental routine--teeth should probably be brushed every day--but for now it seems to be working. And apparently small dogs are more prone to dental issues than larger ones, but the entire episode just drives home the importance of truly taking care of your pet, from tooth to tail.