Sounds like a joke, but as far as I can tell its a real news story all over the net.

 US Scientists have succeeded in reviving canines to life after three hours of clinical death. This supposedly paves the way for trials on humans within years.

U.S. Scientists Create Zombie Dogs

"Pittsburgh's Safar Centre for Resuscitation Research has developed a technique in which subject's veins are drained of blood and filled with an ice-cold salt solution.

The animals are considered scientifically dead, as they stop breathing and have no heartbeat or brain activity, but three hours later, their blood is replaced and the zombie dogs are brought back to life with an electric shock.

During the procedure blood is replaced with saline solution at a few degrees above zero. The dogs' body temperature drops to only 7C, compared with the usual 37C, inducing a state of hypothermia before death.

Although the animals are clinically dead, their tissues and organs are perfectly preserved. Damaged blood vessels and tissues can then be repaired via surgery. The dogs are brought back to life by returning the blood to their bodies,giving them 100 per cent oxygen and applying electric shocks to restart their hearts.

Tests show they are perfectly normal, with no brain damage."

Quoted from full story at Nick Buchan of NEWS.com.au

( WOW, thats really creepy I say.   I just hope I don't wake up one morning sometime soon to find hordes of undead roaming my street =D )