The Water Bowl: Did Small Dogs Come from the Middle East? Plus, Snakes in a Drain!

These stories are worth a click:

Where did Chihuahuas come from? Researchers say the Middle East. One study has linked a gene in small dogs to those of wolves from the region, where archaeologists have also found remains of small dogs dating back 12,000 years. –BBC News

After a zoo keeper inadvertently left open the door to their enclosure, two non-poisonous snakes at the Calgary Zoo found their way into a pool drain. –CBC News

Raccoons have taken up residence in a D.C. metro station, and some have been spotted running around in circles. Metro workers have been feeding the critters. –Washington Post

In the case of a Miami teen accused of mutilating and killing 11 cats, tests find no DNA from the suspect on the victims’ mouths or paws. –NBC

For competitive canine athletes, there’s field trialing, a “unique American subculture” in which owners and their dogs travel cross-country in competition, spending thousands on gas, food and lodging. –New York Times

Kansas City school children learn “bite-prevention” techniques in pooch class, where they are taught how to be around dogs without fearing them. –KMBC Kansas City