Dogs

Barking and baying up a storm, Uno lived up to his name Tuesday night by becoming the first beagle to win best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club. The nation's new top dog was clearly the crowd favorite. Uno got right into the act, jumping up on handler Aaron Wilkerson and confirming his other title: noisiest in show. The only dog consistently listed among America's most popular breeds for nearly 100 years, a beagle had never won in the 100 times Westminster picked a winner.

Staff Sgt. Iron quakes with fear at the sound of explosions. He brawls with other soldiers. He whines when he doesn't get his way and slows others down when he stops to relieve himself during patrols through hostile territory. But nobody complains, because when it's time to enter a building that might be rigged to explode, or cross a pasture that could conceal a minefield, Iron is at the front of the line, making sure it's safe for those who follow.

The Iditarod, an 1,112-mile dog sled race in Alaska, got underway Saturday, and it turns out the offbeat sport is quite similar to many mainstream sports in at least one way: The participants are subjected to drug testing. USA Today reported: "The 40-pound Alaskan huskies are subject to urine tests that check for steroids, stimulants, opiates, muscle relaxants and other substances -- anything that could mask pain, increase strength or improve endurance." Testing of the dogs began in 1992, and there have been only a handful of positive tests, but nothing that led to a ban. Still, some have suggested that the human competitors -- called mushers -- might be in line for testing.

Snickers is only 8 months old. But the cocker spaniel already has spent three months adrift on a 48-foot boat and survived four months on a tiny Pacific atoll where his owners had to leave him behind when they were rescued by a cargo vessel that wouldn't allow the pup on board. Now Snickers is in Honolulu, rescued by cruise ship workers, the Humane Society, an airline, and others who have united to find him a home.

Help is on the way for hundreds of household pets left behind after a volcano erupted in southern Chile, an animal welfare group said. The Coalition for Ethical Control of Urban Fauna said the Emergency Bureau offered to carry food to pets in Chaiten, a town six miles from the volcano of the same name. An estimated 450 dogs and 350 cats were left when residents were evacuated after the initial eruption May 2. Alejandra Cassino, a group representative, said, "There are some people among us thinking of a commando operation to reach the town."

Through the sickly sweet fog of designer fragrances, past gleaming cosmetics counters, the giant, furry critter pads across the polished tile. The prim sales clerks don't even bat an eye. They might even reach behind cases of creams and powders to pull out a treat. Welcome to Orange County's unofficial dog mall, otherwise known as Fashion Island -- an upscale collection of shops and restaurants in the even more upscale enclave of Newport Beach.

How do you know when a dog is a geek? When he's wearing the latest in doggy hi-tech bling, a GPS locater. The satellite-linked devices, which have found their way to cars, big rigs, boats and even bicycles, are now available for the canine set. Two companies are making collar-attached models that send a warning if a dog leaves its designated area. The gizmos then gives the animal's location, allowing you to find it without driving endlessly around the neighborhood, shouting its name.

Without the help of choreographers or voice coaches, Leroy, Andrew and 10 other contestants have been preparing for stardom on a new reality show. They're intensely training by running, jumping, fetching and just looking adorable. They're all vying for the title of "Greatest American Dog," CBS' new unscripted series hosted by pet expert-zoologist Jarod Miller. With weekly challenges and a three-judge panel, the program offers a grand prize of $250,000 for the winning dog-and-human team.

A bear attacked and seriously injured a woman hiking with two dogs Tuesday in the Walker Basin area east of Bakersfield. The woman, who suffered severe cuts to her face and head in the 10 a.m. attack, drove herself to a fire station about four miles away for help, said Kern County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Whors. She was airlifted to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where her condition was not immediately available, said Harry Morse, a spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Game, which is investigating the attack.