From discarded to highly regarded, Logan is a Canine College super star waiting to impress you with his impeccable manners and magnetic charm! This motivated and eager-to-please pup is a natural at obedience training. In just a few short Canine College sessions, Logan has mastered sit, down, stay, and loose leash walking. And he continues to shine as he works toward adding shake and roll over to his repertoire. And did somebody say “fetch”!? That’s Logan’s favorite activity! This lovable, brilliant boy is the perfect match for an active family looking for a loyal and appreciative companion. Could you be the hero Logan has been waiting for? Logan sure hopes so!

And here's a video of Logan living it up to an Olivia Newton-John song.

Come meet Logan! He's currently living at the Humane Society of Southern AZ, 3450 N. Kelvin Blvd. The Humane Society is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Their phone number is 327-6088.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has announced that 95 shelters in the U.S. have been selected to compete in the 2011 ASPCA $100K Challenge. Two of the shelters are in Arizona, and one of those two is right here in Tucson; the Humane Society of Southern Arizona.

Contenders in the ASPCA Challenge are in need of votes, with voting ending on April 15.

Per a press release:

“The idea behind the qualifying heat is to inspire communities to support their local shelters,” said Bert Troughton, vice president of community outreach for the ASPCA. “Casting a vote for your local shelter is a way of saying, ‘We care about the animals in our community and want to help our local shelter save animals.’ When people work together with their local shelters, more animals are saved, which has a positive impact on the entire community. Our contest provides added incentive because the public can both help save animals in their community and bring important grant dollars to their local organization.”

During the Challenge, the selected animal shelters will compete to save at least 300 more animals during the same 3-month period than from a year earlier. The shelter with the largest increase will win a $100,000 grant for their shelter. The shelter that gets the most community members involved in saving animals will win a $25,000 grant. Shelters that do the best in their region will be eligible to win anywhere from $5,000 and $25,000 in grants.

To cast your vote, go to this website.

Friday afternoons are made for adorable animal photos, am I right?

[Porlaputa]

What’s better than giving a second chance to the world’s best dog? How about making two terrific dogs blissfully happy? Zorra and Lucky are some very sweet little old ladies looking to retire with dignity, love and each other. After spending the past five years together in a loving home, Zorra and Lucky were brought to the Humane Society when their family suffered financial setbacks. Now these wonderful ladies are looking to embrace a new beginning and hope that you find it in your heart to keep them together and in good spirits. Among their many interests, Zorra and Lucky enjoy car rides, neck scratches, and treats! The quickest way to their heart is through their stomach, so keep those Milk bones coming! If you could give these remarkably well-mannered and affectionate girls the happy ending they deserve, please visit them soon at the HSSA. And with a 2-for-1 adoption fee, it’s easy to get twice the love!

And can you resist the video of these two cuties?

Come meet Zorra and Lucky! They're currently living at the Humane Society of Southern AZ, 3450 N. Kelvin Blvd. The Humane Society is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Their phone number is 327-6088.

And don't forget about Stoney the cat. She's still looking for a home, too.

An amazing tale of K-9 rescue: More than 20 days after the tsunami hit, the Japanese Coast Guard found a dog afloat amidst rubble of a house that was swept away.

With a thundering purr and electric green eyes that beg “pick me,” Stoney is ready to pounce into your arms! Although it takes a while for Stoney to acclimate to her surroundings, she’ll be your inseparable sidekick once she knows she’s safe and loved. A little heartbroken to find herself homeless after her lifelong owners could no longer care for her, Stoney now needs a cat-free family to claim as her own. Stoney likes kids and respectful dogs but prefers to steer clear of fellow felines. We’re told that Stoney is a professional at using her litter box and has never laid a claw on the furniture. At ten years young, Stoney is still strong, healthy and spry. All she needs is a little time with the right people to realize how great second chances can be. Could you give this affectionate girl her heart’s desire? Stoney has been anxiously waiting to meet you since the beginning of November, so hurry over to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona and ask to meet this very special Hidden Gem!

And here's a video of Stoney doing irresistibly cute kitty things.

Come meet the Stoney! She's currently living at the Humane Society of Southern AZ, 3450 N. Kelvin Blvd. The Humane Society is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Their phone number is 327-6088.

Skaters bring their dogs to skateparks all the time, but more often than not, they just run around the park and get in the way when you're trying to skate. I'm not saying that bringing dogs along for a session is a bad thing, I just feel like they haven't been utilized to their fullest potential. Filmakers Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert know exactly what I'm talking about. Check out their short film "Dogboarding" for some laughs, but please, don't actually shred the streets of Tucson on your poor pup.

There are days when I say to myself: Why didn't I study dog breeding, move to China and raise Tibetan Mastiffs? Today is one of those days.

From the Telegraph:

Tibetan Mastiffs are huge and fierce guard dogs that have stood watch over nomad camps and monasteries on the Tibetan plateau for centuries.

They are thought to be one of the world's oldest breeds, and legend has it that both Genghis Khan and Lord Buddha kept them.

More recently, however, they have become highly-prized status symbols for China's new rich. The dogs are thought to be a pure "Chinese" breed and they are rarely found outside Tibet, giving them an exclusivity that other breeds cannot match.

Accordingly, prices have risen from around 5,000 yuan a puppy five years ago to the hundreds of thousands and even millions.

Big Splash, or "Hong Dong" in Chinese, is 11-months-old but already stands nearly three-feet-high at the shoulder and weighs more than 180lbs, according to his breeder, Lu Liang.

"He is a perfect specimen," said Mr Lu, who runs the Tibetan Mastiff Garden in Laoshan, near the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao. "He has excellent genes and will be a good breeding dog. When I started in this business, ten years ago, I never thought we would see such a price."

Mr Lu said the details of the sale were confidential, but revealed that the buyer, who payed 10 million yuan (£945,000), was a multi-millionaire coal baron from the north of China.

"I could see he loved the puppy, or I would not have sold him," he added. "The buyer told me he thought he was a good investment. As a male dog, he can be hired out to other breeders for as much as 100,000 yuan a shot. He could recoup his money in just a couple of years."

Mr Lu said Big Splash had been fed a diet of chicken and beef, spiced up with exotic Chinese delicacies such as sea cucumber and abalone.

Maybe you think your pet is cuter than Big Splash. If so, there's still time to enter our Pet Idol contest. The winning pet gets its photo in the Tucson Weekly, instantly becoming the envy of all animals in the Tucson metro area.

One of the dandiest things about dogs is that they are always looking out for our survival — even if that means eating our toes.

• Photo Ryn Gargulinski
• Feet can be a natural delicacy for dogs.

Several dog owners have had the pleasure of finding this out firsthand, with the most recent being an Oregon man whose dog chewed off three of his toes last week.

James Little, 61, suffers from diabetes, a condition that makes his hands and feet numb, and he awoke up to find three of his toes gone, according to The Associated Press. The report notes his dog, a Shiba Inu, was acting on its instinct to do away with diseased flesh.

Evidently Little’s toes must not have been looking too good if his dog felt they were diseased enough to amputate. Although such a munch seems like it should be a healthy improvement, Little decided to show his appreciation by getting rid of the dog.

Some thanks.

While dogs eating off parts of our bodies might sound gross — because it is — we have to realize the dogs are, in fact, performing a vital service and saving us thousands of dollars in hospital bills.

• Photo by Pet Idol entrant "ghoulie"

If you feel like you have the cutest pet in Tucson, enter our Pet Idol contest, running now through the end of the month. The winner will be featured in the pages of the Tucson Weekly as the official Tucson Pet Idol, which is among the highest accolades available to the local pet community. There's a $5 charge to enter, but the proceeds go to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, so your pride in your pet will help others experience the same joy. It's a win/win.