June 20, 2012

White Dog and the White Dog Army

Wonderful World Wednesday

White Dog and the White Dog Army have, on occasions, attempted to follow political conversations that crop up over dinner or to listen as I share some news tidbit or another with Steve over the sad state of human affairs all over the world. They usually exchange glances with each other, disgustedly shake their heads and quietly leave the room. Without a word, the WDA makes clear their opinion of how well humans handle peace-making and compromise and diplomacy.

It is clearly their belief that like most higher order thinking skills like unconditional love, compassion, and living without regret, the four-leggeds are going to have to gently lead humanity in the right direction…hopefully while we still have a wonderful world capable of saving.

It seems their lesson to us has begun as a young Akita girl is being called upon to heal wounds older that most of us bloggers...going back to World War II. The White Dog Army salutes this fearless peacemaker and send this special little girl extra White Dog strength, wisdom, and positivity…she has a big job ahead of her.

The Akita puppy is only the third such dog to be given by Japan to an international figure.

Diplomacy Goes to the Dogs

Wednesday June 20th, 2012  Dogtime.com

Diplomacy has never been quite this adorable.

Japan and Russia are trying to heal age-old wounds today caused by the countries’ long-standing WWII territorial dispute over the Kunril Islands, and it appears that all it takes to improve diplomatic relations is a cute, cuddly puppy.

The Japanese Akita Prefecture announced June 19 that it has decided to give one of the region’s iconic Akita dogs to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as a symbol of goodwill between the two nations.

“The puppy can bring Japan and Russia closer together despite the fact that there are a number of unresolved issues between the two countries,” says Akita Prefecture Governor Norihisa Satake. “I hope issues between Japan and Russia are solved,” he adds.

A spokesperson from the Akita Prefecture explains that the gift is meant as a well-deserved token of appreciation after the Russian Prime Minister’s assistance following Japan’s devastating earthquake and tsunami disaster last year.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda approached Putin at the G-20 Summit in Mexico and told the Russian leader about the 2-month-old red-and-white haired female Akita puppy. Putin, known as a dog lover, gladly accepted the generous — and super cute — offer, and is set to receive his new pup by August of this year.

The puppy will join Putin’s two other dogs: a black Labrador Retriever named Koni, given to Putin in 2000 by a Russian army general, and 2-year-old Bulgarian Shepherd Buffy, which Putin received as a gift from the Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

Putin’s new Akita pup is only the third Japanese Akita to be gifted to an international figure. In 1937, American Helen Keller received an Akita from Japan. When the dog died unexpectedly, Keller received a second Akita two years later.