JAPANESE TOY MAKER DEVELOPS CANINE TRANSLATOR

Device Deciphers Growls And Puts Yelps Into Feelings
Detroit News and Free Press, August, 2001

A Japanese toy maker has the answer for pet owners curious about their dog's state of mind - the Bowlingual.Takara Co.'s hand-held device, which is smaller than a credit card, deciphers growls and yelps into six feelings - frustration, alarm, self-expression, happiness, sadness and desire. Depending on the type of bark, words pop up on the device display, such as "I can't stand it," or "How boring."

Similar to computerized voice recognition for human speech, the Bowlingual matches barks with digital patterns of various barks preprogrammed into the device. It translates pooch sounds into more than 200 pronouncements like: "I'm arf-ully lonely. Please play with me more."

The device also produces a diary summing up a dog's day: "So many fun things today. What an ultra-happy day."

Bowlingual comes with a finger-size microphone that attaches to the dog's collar. The device, which costs 12,800 yen - about $104 - will go on sale in Japan in February and may be exported later on, the company said.

IS THERE A SQUEAKY TOY WAITING FOR ROVER AT THE PEARLY GATES?

Americans, and even pet owners, are not so sure.
San Diego, San Diego Times August, 2001

There's little dispute among the public about the existence of heaven. Nearly nine in 10 adults believe in it. But whether or not man's best friend will be joining him there? Well, that's where Americans divide like cats and dogs.

Forty-three percent in a recent news poll think pets go to heaven when they die. But about as many, 40 percent, think heaven is reserved for people only. The rest are withholding judgment, possibly until Judgment Day. Not even pet owners, about six in ten adults are so sure that heaven awaits their assorted dogs, cats, hamsters, fish and ferrets. Forty-seven percent of pet owners say pets go to heaven, still not a majority. Thirty-five percent of pet owners say only people have a berth in the great beyond.

Younger people are more likely to think heaven is open to Fido, Fifi, et. al. And people living in the Northeast are more apt to say so. They're a bit more likely than Americans living in other areas to own a pet.