Chorus of 1,000 barking dogs launches Alaska’s Last Great Race (AFP via Yahoo! News)
A chorus of a thousand barking dogs echoed through the streets of Anchorage, Alaska Saturday as the Iditarod dog sled race pulled into action.

Ice Dogs rally for win at Stockton (Long Beach Press-Telegram)
ECHL: They move out of last place, close in on playoff spot. STOCKTON - Since the start of the season, the Ice Dogs have not known any other place than last place.

Expert on prairie dogs suddenly in demand / Environmentalists seize on professor’s decades of research (San Francisco Chronicle)
The world’s expert on lust, violence and cannibalism among prairie dogs uses a slide in his lectures that sums up a lifetime of research. A pack of the squirrel-size creatures are shown perched on their hind legs: cute, cute, cute, cute, cute. But…

Volunteers see guide dogs through their training (Independent Tribune)
Leigh Ames, right, feeds Ocala a treat for being obedient as Susan Shinn, left, leans over to congratulate Walt. Both dogs are being raised to be seeing-eye dogs.

Dognap Suspects Nabbed; 3 Of 4 Dogs Found (CBS News)
Purebred puppies have been snatched before but this case is a little different: police believe the robbers didn’t intend to sell the dogs ? valued at about $2,500 each ? but instead planned to give them as gifts. One dog is still missing.

Lady Dogs are the real outstanding players (3/5) (Lake Charles American Press)
After watching the Iota Lady Dogs basketball team dust off its 43rd opponent of the year with no losses on Saturday, I almost feel like I should thank them for letting us all hitch along for the ride.