Dogs "rescue" girl abandoned by mother

Tue Apr 22, 10:49 AM ET

PATNA, India (Reuters) - Hundreds of villagers have flocked to a remote Indian village to see a baby girl who was saved by stray dogs after she was abandoned in a mound of mud by her mother, officials said on Tuesday.

Villagers in the eastern state of Bihar saved the newborn on the weekend after they saw three dogs barking near a baby covered with mud.

The dogs removed the soil around and began to bark and the baby started crying which drew attention of the local villagers," Ram Narayan Sahani, a senior government official, said on Tuesday from Bihar's Samastipur district.

"The girl is crying but is safe in the lap of a childless couple who have adopted her."

Police said they were looking for the girl's mother, who they think had left the girl to die.

Female foeticide, though illegal in India, is widespread as boys are traditionally preferred to girls as breadwinners, and families have to pay huge dowries to marry off their daughters.

The United Nations says an estimated 2,000 unborn girls are illegally aborted every day in India.

(Writing by Bappa Majumdar; Editing by Alex Richardson)

Dogs that Blush

I'm a Pharaoh Hound and my breed are the only dogs that blush. I blush when I am excited or happy; and my ears, nose and eyes turn pink!

Help me, I'm Teething!

When I'm a puppy and I'm teething, purchase a few (inexpensive) wash clothes. Soak the wash cloth in water and put it in the freezer. When fully frozen give it to me to chew. Be careful when doing this if I'm a very small dog, as I may get a chill.

Veggie Dog Biscuits

• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup margarine
• 1/2 cup cooked carrots or peas (or combination of both)
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• Soy milk

Combine the cheese and margarine. Mix in the carrots and/or peas and flour. Add enough milk to form for a stiff dough ball. Chill dough for 1 hour.

Roll dough out on floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness and cut into desired shapes.

Bake at 375*F (190*C) for 15 minutes or until nicely browned.

How to Stop me from Jumping on You and Others

When I jump up, do not be aggressive and punch me with your knee -- that is mean and it's not effective in solving the problem.

Here's how you can teach me not to jump up. When I jump up, simply hold me up by my front paws and in a loving voice tell me you love me. I have jumped up so you react by holding me up. Do not let me down immediately, keep me up as long as you can. By keeping me up, I mean gently stretching me up, and up and keep talking. This is really not pleasant to me and I will then start to mouth your hands. When I do this, drop me down. Do not place me, gently drop me.

When I am on all four legs love me outrageously, cuddle and talk. Then encourage me to jump again -- as soon as I do grab my paws and repeat the whole exercise. It is important to get the timing right and it is important that the whole family learn this process. I will learn in a few minutes that to jump will make you react and I will not find this rewarding. Its easy, simple and kind..

Natural Pest Repellent

Before you take me out during high mosquito hours, spray me down with a good mix of natural oils. This recipe keeps fleas, ticks and bees at bay!

• Tea Tree Oil
• Rosemary Oil
• Sage Oil
• Cedarwood Oil
• Peppermint Oil
• Sweet Orange Oil
• Eucalyptus Oil
• Citronella Oil
• Pine Needle Oil

Mix 3 drops of each oil with 16 oz water in a spray bottle. Shake before each application and spray over my entire body, avoiding my eyes. Store in refrigerator.

How to Perform CPR on Me

It’s possible that you may at some point find me lying lifeless after an accident, heart attack or fire.

If my heart is beating but I’m not breathing, please perform artificial respiration on me.

First, you should check my mouth for any objects or mucus that may be blocking my throat and breathing passages. If you see something blocking my throat, you should remove it thoroughly. Then you need to pull my tongue out of my mouth to make sure it isn’t blocking air flow, as well. Then gently place my tongue back inside my mouth and close my mouth and lay my jowls evenly over my lower lips.

Next, wrap one hand around my entire mouth to keep it shut while you perform artificial respiration. Wrap your lips around my nose and breath even, slow breaths into me until I start breathing.

If I don’t have a heartbeat, you’ll need to perform CPR. Roll me onto my back and (if I’m a small dog) place your hands on either side of my chest and compress in even steady beats and (if I’m a large dog) lay me on my right side and compress my chest manually.

As soon as you jump start my heart, you can then start or continue artificial respiration.