The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : November 2015 The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : November 2015

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Meet Frederik the Great: A Gorgeous Friesian Stallion


Frederik the Great is a gorgeous and beloved Friesian stallion and it's not difficult to understand why after watching the majestic animal gallop and prance, showcasing his signature power and grace. In a video uploaded to YouTube on July 21, 2012, Frederik's owners at Pinnacle Friesians reference his worldwide appeal, describing the striking physical beauty and playful "showy" personality that make him such a captivating horse to behold.

Reminiscent of the stallion in Anna Sewell's classic book, "Black Beauty," Frederik the Great is the standing stud at Pinnacle Friesians, a renowned Friesian breeder located in the Ozarks of the United States. It's there that breeder Stacy Nazario selects their stallions in an effort to preserve the bloodlines of this remarkably magnetic horse. Nazario feels particularly passionate about Frederik, telling Twin Springs Equestrian Center that the horse is like her "guardian angel." She specifically recalls Frederik's tender and attentive behavior after she broke her foot several years ago, demonstrating their deep emotional bond.

According to the Friesian Horse Association of North America (FHANA), the Friesian horse's roots originate in the Netherlands. Eventually exported to other parts of the world, it risked being crossbred and losing its purebred pedigree. (Pinnacle Friesians notes that the Friesian has almost gone extinct three times throughout history.) Yet the horse association states that thanks to the efforts of a small group of Friesian enthusiasts in the early 20th century, the breed has managed to endure.

The Friesian horse, which the association notes is known for its "high knee action" that makes it an excellent trotter, is undeniably special. Whether because of the breed's resilience over the centuries or its strikingly handsome appearance, the Friesian is mesmerizing to watch — even for individuals who know nothing about horses. However, Frederik the Great truly stands out as an equine treasure thanks to video footage like this, and Nazario's anecdotes on his tender-hearted disposition make him that much more lovable.




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A Family in Laguna Beach Says a Coyote Attacked Their Dog in Their Home


Los Angeles, California - A family in Laguna Beach says a coyote attacked their dog in their home.

Dog owner John Fischer says the coyote must've ran up the steps in his front yard to get inside his house and snatch his Chihuahua.

Fischer says when he heard the commotion in the middle of the night, he hurried down the hall and was stunned at what he saw.

"I saw him [the coyote] bolt and he definitely had something in his mouth, and it was white," Fischer told CBS Los Angeles.

The Fischer family's little white chihuahua Eloise was gone.

Surprisingly, this is not an uncommon story in the Laguna Beach area.

In the past, police have warned Laguna Beach residents to keep their small pets inside, after a series of small dogs were attacked by coyotes.

No matter what, Fischer says, pets in his neighborhood are getting attacked on a weekly basis and he is demanding the city step in to help.

"I'd hope that they'd be removed safely, but taken to where they belong," Fischer said.

"It's like two worlds colliding and it's just not working," he added.

Fischer says he will now keep his doors closed at all hours of the day, and is warning other residents to do the same.

We tried talking to animal services, but no one was available.

"We feel victimized at this point and it's to where I don't feel safe in my own house," Fischer said.







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Two Brothers Hunting in the Canadian Woods Free Bald Eagle and Take Epic Selfie


Two brothers, Michael and Neil Fletcher were hunting in the Canadian woods when they found a bald eagle caught in a hunter’s trap.

Instead of letting it suffer there, they covered the bird and freed it.

"It was attached to a stake and the eagle was trying to fly up, but it only had a foot of slack in the chain," Michael told the Sudbury Star.

Michael put his hoodie over the eagle's head while they worked to release it from the trap.

Once the bird was free, they went to set it loose, but first ... they took a selfie to capture the unforgettable moment!

"I was surprised by the size, and that it's such a beautiful bird," said Michael. "When you see the eyes up close, they're really amazing."







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Tennessee Bride and Groom Lets Dog Film Wedding Video


Most couples spend a fortune on wedding photographers, but one Tennessee bride and groom went a different route.

Addie and Marshall Burnett strapped a GoPro camera to their beloved Siberian Husky, Ryder, and let her capture their special day - and the results were doggone good!

A two-minute YouTube video of Ryder's footage has been viewed nearly 3.5 million times since it was posted earlier this month.

"On November 2nd, 2014, Addie and I got married on the top of Roan Mountain, TN, in 2 feet of snowy wonder," Marshall wrote in the description for the video. "It was cold and magical. Our dog, Ryder, insisted on filming the wedding video, so we let her do her thing. She took a while to edit the footage, but we think she did a great job."

On "Fox and Friends Weekend," Addie explained that they love Ryder like a child, so they knew that she was going to be a part of their special day.

Marshall said that they decided using Ryder as their photographer would be a fun way to include her. They didn't have any expectations for how the video would turn out or how incredibly popular it would prove to be.

"It's been really touching to see people's comments on the video ," Addie said. "A lot of people have been emotional and said it's brought tears to their eyes. So it's really cool just across the board to see different people's perspective and take from the video."

Watch the "Fox and Friends Weekend" interview  and see Ryder's handiwork below:









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Family Sues ‘People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ (PETA) for Euthanizing Pet Chihuahua


A family is suing People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals after workers for the nonprofit snatched a pet Chihuahua off their porch and killed it.

Wilber Zarate and his daughter, Cynthia, seek more than $9 million. They each sued the Norfolk-based animal rights group Tuesday in Norfolk Circuit Court for $2 million and are asking for $5 million in punitive damages. Zarate and his daughter also are suing PETA workers Victoria Carey and Jennifer Woods for $350,000 each.

A PETA official declined to comment on the suit Tuesday, saying the group hadn’t read it yet.

Carey and Woods went to the Zarates’ trailer park home in Accomack County in October 2014 and took the young girl’s 3-year-old Chihuahua, Maya, off the family’s porch, according to court documents.

Carey was a contract worker for PETA and had been the nonprofit’s human resources director. Woods is PETA’s senior communications administrator and had volunteered to go with Carey on her own time.


Maya was euthanized that day, but state law required her to be held for five days.

Cynthia was distraught after Maya was killed, Zarate said of his daughter in the lawsuit.

“She cried for weeks, became lethargic, lost sleep, refrained from eating and lost weight,” he said. “Maya was irreplaceable.”

Carey and Woods had come to the park before Maya was taken. The trailer park’s manager had contacted PETA after a group of residents moved out, leaving behind their large dogs, Zarate said in his lawsuit. The PETA workers developed relationships with residents and promised to find good homes for their dogs once they caught them.

A security camera shows two children trying to lure Maya off the porch, according to the lawsuit. When they fail, Woods plays lookout while Carey snatches the dog. Carey and Woods paid the kids to coax the Chihuahua, Zarate said in the suit.

Four months after euthanizing the dog, PETA admitted it euthanized Maya and apologized.

In February, Daphna Nachminovitch, a PETA senior vice president who oversees the team that was responsible for the euthanization, said Carey mistook Maya for another Chihuahua.

Zarate said Carey met Maya during one of her visits and promised to get her vaccinated, Zarate said in the suit, adding that she never did.

The state conducted an investigation and determined that PETA violated state law by failing to ensure that the animal was properly identified and failing to keep the dog alive for five days before killing it, according to the notice from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Because of this “critical finding” and the “severity of this lapse in judgment,” the agency issued PETA the organization’s first-ever violation and imposed the largest fine allowed, $500.

“We were pretty devastated that this happened for obvious reasons,” Nachminovitch said after the investigation’s results were made public. “It shouldn’t have happened. It was a terrible mistake.”

PETA has made several changes to prevent such an incident from happening again, Nachminovitch said in February. Field workers who pick up animals now must complete a form to verify that all proper steps have been taken. Supervisors also must approve unscheduled “animal surrenders” in the field.

Carey’s contract was terminated, and Woods kept her job.


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Saturday, November 28, 2015

A Photo Posted to Facebook of a Dog with its Muzzle Taped Shut has Gained Worldwide Attention


A photo posted to Facebook of a dog with its muzzle taped shut has gained worldwide attention and created a social media frenzy.

The photo with the caption "This is what happens when you don't shut up!!!" was posted to a Facebook page belonging to a woman named Katie Brown, who according to her page lives in South Daytona.

Brown's post was shared more than 260,000 times since it was posted Friday morning.

The South Daytona Police Department received hundreds of calls from around the state, country and world including people from Canada, Germany and Australia, which spurred them to investigate the case.

Police learned the woman was out of state with the dog when the photo was posted.

"Police will be contacting this person once she returns to our city," police posted on the City's Facebook page. "Rest assured that a full investigation will be done and appropriate action will be taken. Again, thank you for the outpouring of concern and sharing of information."

Police later confirmed Brown has not lived in South Daytona for more than a year.

Police are now asking people to stop calling, sending emails and Facebook messages because their system was overwhelmed.

"Our email server has gone down, our station computers have gone down and out phone lines are having issues due to all the attention," said South Daytona Lt. Daniel Dietrich on Saturday.

After hearing the woman wasn't found, activists on social media then took it upon themselves to continue investigating.

Soon tips started rolling in to South Daytona police that the woman could be in Connecticut. Dietrich said the woman's family confirmed she had moved to Avon, Conn. about a year ago.

Calls then started flooding into agencies there including the Connecticut Emergency Animal Response Service (EARS) with tips about the woman's possible whereabouts.

"It has amazed us at how quickly this story is spreading and how many people are aware of it," said Jon Nowinski, Director of Operations at EARS. "It's great to know there are so many who care about the welfare of animals in situations like these. It's important people know their voices are heard and make a difference."

Nowinski said they received 70 calls within a few hours Saturday afternoon with tips. He said they're working with law enforcement to locate Brown.

"Her residence is listed as Florida, but apparently she has family here and that's why it is believed she may have been in our state," he said. "She apparently has family in Avon and Torrington and recently posted things from that area."

Brown posted again to her Facebook page shortly after people began to comment on the photo: "I can't lie. I did it for sixty seconds. It was time out and no more barking."

Then after the post garnered more attention she posted again.

"Don't panic everyone it was only for a minute but [the dog] hasn't barked since... POINT MADE!!!" the post read.

Dietrich said officers checked the woman's previous address in South Daytona and spoke to her son.

"He said the dogs are in good health and cared for," Dietrich said.

Brown could not be reached for comment.


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Friday, November 27, 2015

New Toy for Senior Citizens: Robotic Cats



If a real cat isn't an option for you, this could be a way around that.

The toy company Hasbro is offering a new adult toy, Companion Pets, targeted specifically for seniors. The "Joy for All" pets are robotic cats that "look, feel and sound like real cats," Hasbro says.

There are three different-colored cats to choose from on the website. 








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Thursday, November 26, 2015

An Autistic Boy Finds The Meaning of Love…Through a Pit Bull


Humans often face a lot of difficulties. Whether it’s financial, emotional, or physical, life is rarely easy. Joey, a boy with autism, had a hard time adjusting to many things. He especially had a hard time expressing love and affection, but that all changed once he met Roxy. Watch their amazing story unfold right here.




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Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Russia Has Offered to Send an Alsatian Puppy to France in a Gesture of Solidarity After a Police Dog Was Killed During a Raid


Russia has offered to send an Alsatian puppy to France in a gesture of solidarity after a police dog was killed during a raid on jihadists linked to the Paris attacks.

Russia's interior minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev said he had written to his French counterpart Bernard Cazeneuve offering to send a puppy named Dobrynya to replace Diesel, a Belgian Shepherd killed in a huge raid north of Paris last Wednesday.

Kolokoltsev said that as "a sign of solidarity with the people and police of France," he was offering the puppy, which "will be able to occupy the place in service of the police dog Diesel killed during a special operation to neutralise terrorists."

The dog is named after a hero of Russian folk legend, Dobrynya Nikitch, famed for his strength, goodness and courage, he added.

Dobrynya is two months old and lives at a police dog centre in the Moscow region, Channel One television reported. He will have to undergo medical checks and quarantine before going to France.

Two dog-handlers from Moscow police's special forces also posed with their dogs and signs with the hashtag "Je Suis Diesel" on the service's Instagram account.

"Our four-legged friends also serve the police, protecting society from terrorist threats," the Moscow police service said.

The hashtag #JeSuisChien (I am a dog) trended on Twitter after French police announced that seven-year-old Diesel died in the raid targeting Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the suspected ringleader of the November 13 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people.

Three people died during the massive operation at the apartment in Saint-Denis north of Paris -- Abaaoud, his cousin Hasna Aitboulahcen, and a suicide bomber who has yet to be identified.

Seven people arrested during the raid were freed on Saturday.




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Thursday, November 19, 2015

An Animal Rights Group is Suing to Get a Chimpanzee Out of an Amusement Park Where She is Given Cigarettes


An animal rights group is suing to get a chimpanzee named Candy out of an amusement park where, it says, she smokes cigarettes and is given soft drinks instead of water.
Candy is isolated in an inadequate cage at the Baton Rouge park, and should be moved to a sanctuary, according to the federal suit filed in Baton Rouge on Tuesday by the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

"Defendants have for decades allowed members of the general public to throw items into Candy's cage, including lit cigarettes that Candy smokes. Just as with humans, cigarette smoking is very harmful for chimpanzees," and letting her smoke violates the Endangered Species Act, the suit states.

The lawsuit is the first filed under a new federal rule that requires captive chimps get the same protection as wild chimps, said Carter Dillard, the group's attorney. That rule, which was made public in June and took effect Sept. 14, changes captive chimps' classification from threatened to endangered, the same classification as wild chimpanzees.

Jennifer Treadway-Morris, attorney for park owner Sam Haynes, said she had not had time to read the lawsuit. However, she said, government agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service cannot make rules retroactive.

She also cited a letter from a veterinarian stating that an attempt to retire Candy to the Baton Rouge Zoo failed.

"She was returned because she couldn't adjust and couldn't assimilate," Treadway-Morris said. "It seems that if they want her to have company, she doesn't want it."

The animal rights group said it went to court for Cathy Breaux, 62, and Holly Reynolds, 96, who have campaigned for decades to get Candy moved from the Dixie Landin' park and its predecessor.

"Cathy and Holly remain upset, distressed and concerned that Candy is isolated throughout the day, deprived of companionship with other chimpanzees, and insufficiently stimulated in her empty cage," the lawsuit states.

It said the women have seen visitors throw lit cigarettes into Candy's cage for the chimp to smoke.

City animal control officials cited the park in 2012 for not providing water for Candy, according to the suit.

"Defendants provide Candy exclusively with Coca-Cola instead, claiming that Candy does not like water. However, Candy has readily accepted and drunk water offered to her by visiting experts. Water, not Coca-Cola, is an essential requirement for chimpanzees," according to the suit.


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Sunday, November 15, 2015

Did You Know That These Hybrid Animals Are Still in Existence?


Hybrid is defined as “the offspring of two animals or plants of different breeds, varieties, species, or genera, especially as produced through human manipulation for specific genetic characteristics.” Take a look at some of these animals that still exist today.




Liger

The animal made famous by Napoleon Dynamite is actually real. Ligers are the offspring of male lions and female tigers. While there are legends of Ligers prowling the wilds, they currently only exist in captivity, where they are deliberately bred.
  
There is a myth that Ligers never stop growing their entire lives, which is untrue. They just grow to freakish sizes in their normal growth window. Ligers are the largest cat in the world. Hercules, the biggest individual Liger, weighed 922 pounds.




Tigon

When a male tiger and a female lion mate, the tigon is the result. It used to be believed that tigons were smaller than their parent species, but they can grow just as large. They are, however, smaller than ligers.

Both ligers and tigons are capable of producing their own offspring, leading to confusingly-named hybrids such as titigons and liligers.




  
Zebroid

A Zebroid is a cross between a zebra and any other equine. Zebroids have been around for a long time – they were even mentioned in some of Darwin’s writings. They tend to be male and to have the physiology of the non-zebra parent, with zebra stripes adorning parts of their body. Zebroids are more wild than domestic, are hard to tame, and are more aggressive than horses.




Coywolf

Coyotes are very genetically close to red and eastern wolves, with whom they diverged only about 150-300,000 years ago. Interbreeding between them is not only possible, but becoming more common as wolf populations rebound. Coyotes are not, however, very compatible with gray wolves, which have about 1-2 million years of genetic estrangement separating them. Some hybrids do exist, though they are rare

There are a number of different coywolf hybrids, and their populations dot North America. Generally, they are larger than coyotes but smaller than wolves, and share behavioral characteristics of both species.




Grolar Bear

Grolar bears, also called “pizzly bears” by the less charitable, are a cross between polar and brown bears. Their natural ranges rarely, if ever, overlap, and most grolar bears live in zoos. However, there have been a handful of confirmed sightings in the wild. In 2006, an Alaskan hunter shot one.

They look pretty much like an even split between polar and grizzly bears. Behaviorally, they are closer to polar bears than to browns.



Savannah Cat

This uncommon but awesome breed of housecat is a cross between a domestic cat and a Serval, a kind of wild cat that lives in Africa. They are exceptionally large and behave remarkably like dogs, following their owners around the house, wagging their tails to express pleasure, and even playing catch. Savannahs also do not fear water, and will invite themselves into the shower with you. Unfortunately, they are extremely expensive.




Wholphin

When a male false killer whale and a female bottlenose dolphin love each other very much, they produce a wolphin. “Wolphin” is a portmanteau of “whale” and “dolphin,” which is misleading. False killer whales are actually not a whale, and are in the same family as dolphins.

Nevertheless, they are extremely rare. They are occasionally spotted in the wild, and there is currently only one individual in captivity.


   
Beefalo

Beefalo are crosses between buffalo and cows. They’ve been around since the 1800s, when they were called “cattalo.” Beefalo are heartier than cattle, and do less ecological damage to the prairies they graze on. However, beefalo breeding has led to conservation problems for wild bison. It is now estimated that only four total herds still exist that are not polluted by cow genes.



Hinny

Hinnies are basically reverse mules. A mule is a product of a male donkey and a female horse, and a hinny is a product of a male horse and a female donkey. Their heads look like horse heads, and they are slightly smaller than mules. They’re also much less common.



Narluga

Narwhals and Belugas are the only two members of the monodontidae family of whales, so it should be no surprise that they are able to crossbreed. However, they are extraordinarily rare. Sightings have been increasing in the Northern Atlantic recently, which some researchers consider a warning sign of climate change.





Cama

Camas did not exist until 1998. Some mad scientist at the Camel Reproduction Centre in Dubai decided to cross a male dromedary camel with a female lama via artificial insemination, and out popped the first Cama. The intention was to breed them to produce fur that could be clipped and sold, and to serve as a pack animal. To date, only five have ever been produced.




Dzo

The dzo (male) and dzomo (female) are hybrids between domestic cows and wild yaks. They exist mostly in Tibet and Mongolia, where they are prized for their high yield of meat and milk. They are larger and stronger than both cows and yaks, and are used as beasts of burden.

The lines can blur – it is believed that most yaks and cows in the region now carry at least some of the other’s genetic imprint.



Leopon

If a male leopard is intrepid enough to mate with a female lion, a Leopon is the result. It’s almost impossible for this combination to occur in the wild, and every known Leopon has been the product of breeding in captivity. Leopons appear to have the head and mane of a lion, and the body of a leopard.




Geep

Goats and sheep appear to be very similar, but they are more different than you might suspect. Natural hybrids between the two animals are typically stillborn, and if they aren’t, occur extremely rarely. An animal called a “sheep-goat chimera” has also been produced by artificially combining goat and sheep embryos.




Jaglion

A Jaglion is the offspring of a male jaguar and a female lion, and are very rare. The two pictured above were the result of a close friendship between a jaguar named Diablo and a lioness named Lola, who were bosom buddies at Ontario’s Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctuary. They’re named Jahzara (left) and Tsunami (right).




Mulard

The Mulard is a cross between a mallard and a muscovy duck. The muscovy duck is native to South and Central America, and is easily recognized by its bright red Darth Maul face. Mulards are bred for food, and are unable to produce offspring of their own




Żubroń

The żubroń is a cross between a domestic cow and a European bison (also called a “wisent”). They are, in many ways, superior to the domestic cow, as they are stronger and more resistant to disease. They were thought to be a possible replacement for cattle, but now only exist in one small herd in the Bialowieski National Park in Poland.




Blacktip Shark Hybrid

Until recently, there were no known hybrid shark species. But the Australian black-tip shark is mating with the common black-tip, and are regularly spotted on the Eastern Australian coast. Opinion is divided about exactly why they have begun to hybridize.
  


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Facial Recognition Technology Now Being Used to Track Lost Pets


Los Angeles, California - Facial recognition technology used by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies is now being used to track lost pets.

A new app can now help pet owners search through a smart phone or computer. John Polimeno, CEO of the app Finding Rover, said people can upload a photo of a lost or found dog along with some key information. Then a database will conduct a facial recognition to help find the animal's location or its owner.

The app uses similar technology used for human facial recognition and pinpoints certain characteristics on the animal's face.

Polimeno partnered with the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles and VCA Animal Hospitals to unveil the free app.

In a couple of weeks, the Finding Rover app will also include cats in its service.


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A Rare Pygmy Hippo Calf Was Born at the San Diego Zoo


A rare pygmy hippo calf was born at the San Diego Zoo on Wednesday—the first surviving hippo birth at the zoo in over a decade.

The little hippo weighs about 12 pounds and was born to its mother, Francesca.

The significant birth adds to the world's smallest species of hippo which is currently on the endangered species list. There are approximately 2,000 pygmy hippos left in the world, according to the San Diego Zoo.

"Bringing species back from the brink of extinction is the mission of San Diego Zoo Global," the zoo said in a press release.

As of now the sex and name of the calf is unknown. Francesca and her baby will be alone in a private barn until the calf is ready to swim in the larger pool on exhibit, the zoo said.




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Saturday, November 14, 2015

The Poughkeepsie Police Department is Adding a New Member to Its K9 Team: A Pit Bull, Named Kiah


The Poughkeepsie Police Department (located approximately 85 miles outside of New York City) is adding a new member to its K9 team – a dog named Kiah.

But what makes this canine so special is the breed. While must dogs that join the police force are German shepherds and Belgian malinois to chase suspects and sniff out drugs, or beagles and bloodhounds to track scents, this police department decided to welcome a pit bull to the team.


Kiah (pronounced KY’-uh) will be used to sniff out drugs and find missing people. It is reported that she is also an ambassador for her breed and police.

“The breed isn’t important,” Brad Croft, a dog trainer for law enforcement agencies and the military, told The AP.  “It’s what’s inside of the dog that’s important.”

Croft rescued the dog from a Texas animal shelter after her previous owner was arrested for animal cruelty. In partnership with Croft’s company San Antonio-based Universal K9, an Austin animal shelter and Animal Farm Foundation, a sanctuary in New York, Kiah was provided to the police department free of charge (often K9-trained dogs can cost up to $15,000.)

Croft told the AP he often looks for dogs in shelter to train for police departments and chose Kiah after a staff member “recognized something special in the dog.”

The dog’s human partner is Officer Justin Bruzgul, who told the AP, “She wants to work. She’s high-energy. Affectionate. I couldn’t ask for a better partner.”

While often pit bulls get bad raps, they are also known to be very sweet, loyal and eager to please. George Carlson, the Ulster County sheriff’s deputy who trained Kiah in Stone Ridge, N.Y. told the outlet he believes she is the only pit bull on the East Cost working for a police department and is a sweetheart. He added,  “Dogs are individuals. They have their own personalities, just like people.”











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