Dog Breeds Banned By Home Insurance Companies

Aside from natural disasters and water, the three things that give home insurance companies agita are dogs, pools and trampolines. Basically anything fun.

The problem with dogs is the expensive liability claims against the dog owners. Homeowners insurance pays out for dog bites or other dog-related injuries—such as a fall when a dog jumps on someone or runs at them. The average dog bite claim has been around $44,760, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

To rein in costs, many home insurance companies have lists of banned dogs—cases where the insurer won’t provide coverage if a customer owns the breed. Not all home insurers have strict lists of banned dog breeds. Some take dog bite problems on a case by case in deciding whether to offer insurance to the owner.

To read more on this story, click here: Dog Breeds Banned By Home Insurance Companies

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Rottweilers Save Horses From Intruders Who Planned On Slaughtering Them

This is awful: authorities in Florida have recently been warning more owners about a statewide increase in horses being slaughtered and harvested for their meat.

Horse theft and slaughter cases in various counties across Florida have left owners reeling and searching desperately for solutions.

Brena Kramer of Zephyrhills knows about this horrific crime firsthand. She claims three intruders tried to slaughter her beloved horses for their meat.

If it weren’t for Brena’s two rottweilers, she says things would have ended much differently. She believes the dogs chased off the intruders.

Brena ran to their barn as quickly as she could and found one of the horses was left with a rope still tied around its neck.

The horses were left with cuts and scrapes all over their faces, especially near their eyes, along with rope burns near their mouths.

Brena is now sharing her story to warn other horse owners in her area and beyond.

“It is common down South. It’s something most horse owners know about, especially in Florida,” she told Fox13. “They will bleed them out and start butchering while the horse is bleeding.”

Thankfully, there are a couple of heroes who were watching over the horses during the incident.

Learn more in this video.



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Hip Dysplasia – Found Mostly in Large Breed Dogs

Large breeds are most likely to get hip dysplasia, though there are some large dogs such as Borzoi that have a low risk of hip dysplasia, and there are some medium sized dog breeds that have an increased risk. Breeds that are at a high risk of hip dysplasia include German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Great Danes, Rottweilers and Cocker Spaniels.

Hip dysplasia is an abnormal formation of the hip socket that, in its more severe form, can eventually cause crippling lameness and painful arthritis of the joints. It is a genetic polygenic trait that is affected by environmental factors. It can be found in many animals and occasionally in humans, but is most commonly associated with dogs, and is common in many dog breeds, particularly the larger breeds.

Hip dysplasia is one of the most studied veterinary conditions in dogs, and the most common single cause of arthritis of the hips.

Hip dysplasia is a genetically transmitted disease that has been seen in over 82 recognized breeds of dogs. Since first diagnosed in 1935, it has had the highest incidence in the larger breed animals.

Hip dysplasia is an inherited, developmental disease with a polygenic mode of inheritance. This means that there are multiple genes which must be present for this disease to express itself. Surprisingly, the hip joints of dogs which develop dysplasia are normal at birth. In most cases, dysplasia will occur in both legs bilaterally http://www.thefreedictionary.com/bilaterally. However, in approximately 7% of the cases only one hip will be affected.

Treatment
Once the patient usually an adult dog has radiographic evidence of degenerative arthritis, it is no longer a candidate for a triple pelvic osteotomy. Over time, many of these dogs will become less responsive to analgesic medications and surgical therapy should be considered. There are two procedures available.
.
Removal of the femoral head and neck and total hip replacement.

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Dog Shoots Man, Man Survives, Defends Dog: 'He Didn't Mean To Do It. He's A Good Dog.'

A dog named Charlie shot a man named "Tex" on the way to a jackrabbit hunt in the New Mexico desert.

“It went through my ribs my lung and busted up my collarbone on the right side," victim Tex Harold Gilligan told ABC News. "I had a gaping hole, you know, and a lot of blood there too,” Gilligan said. “I could see the blood and I felt it,” he said.

Gilligan, 74, was left with three broken ribs, and injured lung, a broken collarbone and three very agitated dogs -- Charlie chief among them.

Gilligan said that he had loaded up his pickup truck with his gun and his trio of dogs -- Charlie, Scooter and Cowboy -- climbed into the driver's seat, and headed out to the desert west of Las Cruces to hunt jackrabbits.

Charlie 120-pound Rottweiler mix got his foot in the trigger of the gun, caught the trigger and blasted a shot at his unsuspecting owner, who said that at first he thought he'd been hit by a sniper from a distance.

To read more on this story, click here: Dog Shoots Man, Man Survives, Defends Dog: 'He Didn't Mean To Do It. He's A Good Dog.'


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Jack Russells Are More Likely to Bite Their Owners Than Any Other Breed of Dog

Jack Russells are more likely to bite their owners than any other breed of dog, according to police.

Data from the city of Liverpool – the second worst area in the UK for dog attacks – ranked the small terrier as the most likely to bite humans.

A total of 71 dog attacking incidents were reported to police over the last 12 months in the city, which ranks only second to Oxford.

Officers were able compile data on the most aggressive dogs based on reports, with Jack Russell coming out on top.

The terrier, which has its origins in fox hunting, is a popular dog, but is known for its high energy and considered mainly suitable for experienced owners.

It topped a list that includes Rottweilers and Staffordshire bull terriers.

In Liverpool in 2015, Jack Russells were responsible for six attacks where police could definitely say what the dog was.

Pitbull and Staffordshire bull terrier-type dogs accounted for five recorded incidents during the year, with German Shepherds accounting for three.

Elsewhere on the list is the rather surprising addition of the Daschund.

A recent YouGov study put the worst city in the country for dog attacks as Oxford, with Liverpool, Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, Hull, Leeds and Wakefield also on the list.

However, Phillip Gower, of solicitors Simpson Millar, which commissioned the study, said argued breeds have nothing to do with attacks.

He said: “In 20 years working on dog attack cases I haven’t spotted a trend in the breed of dog that attacks. It’s usually down to the owner.”

The full list is as follows:

Jack Russell

Staffordshire bull terrier

Pitbull terrier

German shepherd

Rottweiler

Daschund

Boxer

Great Dane

Doberman pinscher

Husky

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Hyattsville, Maryland - From Rescue to Beloved Mascot: Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department’s Hailey, an Adorable Rottweiler Passes Away

The members of the Hyattsville VFD are in mourning over the loss of our beloved mascot Hailey, who passed away peacefully Friday, January 1 after a brief battle with cancer. She was just six years old.

Hailey came to the HVFD in April 2010 from the Washington Animal Rescue League — rescued along with her Rottweiler sisters, Rylie and Lilla, from a dangerous situation in Washington, D.C. They were found with an owner who placed heavy rubber bands around their limbs and necks, which began to cause further harm as they grew. When Hailey was adopted by the HVFD she still had a scar around her neck from where the rubber band had become embedded.

Her sister Rylie, who paid a final visit to Hailey a few weeks ago, had one of her front legs amputated as a result of the abuse.

Hailey moved into the firehouse at just about 16 weeks old and quickly became popular and beloved not only by our members but also all those visited, joining her predecessors Chile and Clyde as a friendly, loveable mascot for our department.

Notorious for chasing her own shadow and nicknamed “Hailey Lazydog” by those who loved her, Hailey was a fixture at the firehouse for the hundreds of volunteers, career staff and visitors who have come through our doors since 2010. Hailey was also a staple of our Open House and other public events.

To read more on this story, click here: From Rescue toBeloved Mascot: HVFD’s Hailey Passes Away

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Woman Finds a Dog that Was Thrown from Car in an Accident – Family Thought Dog Had Died: Dog is Reunited with Family

Kathy Wilkes-Myers was walking along the highway one day when she noticed something bizarre. It wasn’t unusual to see a stray animal wandering the open roads, but there was something about this Rottweiler that told Kathy she wasn’t a stray.

“I could just tell right away she was somebody’s baby. She just didn’t act like a stray dog to me,” Kathy told CBS. The dog, Ella, was emaciated, surviving only on the water from a drainage ditch.

Although it isn’t unheard of for someone to dump a dog in the middle of nowhere, Ella was communicating, somehow, that she wasn’t thrown away. Kathy did some digging.

  

She remembered there had been a terrible car accident right where she found Ella. When she returned to the accident site, she noticed something: It was a pile of wreckage and personal items.

Ella had been collecting what was left of the car accident — what was left of her family.

“She was hoping her family could come back. But they couldn’t. They couldn’t come back. It just breaks your heart,” said Kathy. “It was like she was sleeping with them — or waiting with them.”

It may seem unusual for a dog to remember its owners, but it happens all the time. In another story, veteran Jessica Gutierrez was separated from her dog for 5 years. When they reunited? The dog remembered her as clear as day.

Kathy assumed the drivers must’ve been dead, but she called the highway patrol anyway.

“She gave me the mom’s name and the dad’s name and the mom’s name was Michelle. And I thought, ‘Oh my God, this is their dog,’ ” she said.

The full story? Ella was thrown from the car during the accident. The rescue crew didn’t see her and she spent 13 days scavenging and waiting for her family to return.

But there’s more: the family survived. They thought Ella was dead. Thanks to Kathy’s big heart and detective work, she was able to reunite Ella and her humans. Watch the sweet reunion below!

Please share this story if you think everyone should be as thoughtful as Kathy when they encounter a stray animal.

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Washington, DC Area - This Rottweiler Mix Has Been Lost For Over a Year - Family is Devastated: Generous Reward for His Return - Have You Seen This Dog?

Havoc, a 5-year-old Rottweiler Mix has been missing since November 9, 2013. He was lost in the area of the Decarlia Reservoir at the boarder of NW Washington, DC and Bethesda, Maryland.

From His Family:

Havoc is a beloved member of the family, and we are devastated. It has been many tears and sleepless nights since our wonderful boy disappeared.  Havoc has been roaming Northwest, Washington, DC, since early November, 2013, as confirmed by k9 scent tracking teams. He is routinely seen, but to get him home, he must be kept in sight until Janet can arrive on the scene. It only takes a minute for Havoc to run off and disappear again. A generous award is being offered for his safe return.

Havoc is a 5-year-old neutered, mixed breed male. He is mostly black with tan-colored paws, muzzle and spots over his eyes. He weighs about 50 pounds and does have a microchip.

He is normally friendly, but after so long on his own, he's grown extremely frightened. He will run away if approached.

If you see him, please call Janet at (248) 755-7594, and follow him to track what direction he is moving in.

If you have a sighting of Havoc or would like to help in the search, please call Janet Mihalyfi (248) 755-7594 (Email: JanetMihalyfi@gmail.com)

Please visit our facebook page: Bring Havoc Home, for updates on Havoc

Take a look at pictures of Havoc from different angles:

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Dog Rescued After Being Stuck for 3 Days on Roof of Ohio House

A frightened and hungry Rottweiler named Isis was rescued after being stuck on the roof of a house in Ohio for three days. Rick Chambers resports for the KTLA 5 News at 6 on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014.

To read more on this story, click here: Dog Rescued After Being Stuck for 3 Days on Roof of Ohio House FOLLOW US!

Top 10 Dog Breeds with the Shortest Lifespan

Some dog breeds are known for short lifespans — especially those who grow to be large size. Here are the dog breeds who live the fewest number of years, according to the Life Span data in the DogTime Breed Center.

To read more on this story, click here: Top 10 Dog Breeds with the Shortest Lifespan

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Dead Puppy Brought Back to Life

In Cleveland, Ohio, A one-month old puppy, trapped in a sewage drain pipe rescue was caught by FOX 8 cameras and is still being treated at Gateway Animal Clinic.

It’s hard to believe that just 24 hours ago, the dog was dead, but brought back to life, according to Veterinarian Bob Litkovitz. He says he’s now eating and drinking on his own but on a long road to recovery.  The Rottweiler/German shepherd mix is still in the midst of the biggest battle of his young life after being trapped in the pipe, in the basement of a home on East 110th Street, for two days, with no food or water.

Doctors at Gateway say he was extremely hypothermic when brought there Wednesday, and they say that most likely saved his life.  Litkovitz says, “He was not breathing. But his body was cold enough, he didn’t suffer any brain damage apparently from it, so he was able to come back. Took about three hours to warm him to a point where he even had a registered temperature.”

The drama unfolded Wednesday afternoon. The Lewis family says the litter of puppies, born on January 16, had been huddling in the basement of the home when one of them wandered off. They say someone removed the cover from a sewage drain, and the puppy fell through the hole. Johnny Lewis says he initially called police and fire for help, but they didn’t have the proper equipment.

It was FOX 8 who called the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District for help, and they quickly sprang into action. They used cameras to determine the pup’s exact location underground, then dug him out to safety.

Right now, the puppy is on fluids and antibiotics to ward off any infection.  The family has relinquished ownership of the dog, who has yet to be named, to Gateway.  Right now, two people from the sewer district are interested in adopting him. He is expected to be released from the hospital on Saturday.

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