Humane Rescue Alliance – Seeking Any Information Leading to The Arrest of Person(s) for This Horrific Act of Animal Cruelty - Please Share!

Content warning: sexual assault

Washington, DC - This week, the Humane Rescue Alliance, along with Friendship Hospital for Animals, rescued a puppy from deplorable sexual abuse and violence.

A few days ago, we received a call about a dog abandoned outside, next to piles of trash, and unable to walk, just like Ladybell not even one month ago. When our Animal Control officer arrived on scene, he found a 7-month-old brindle pit bull-type puppy wagging her tail as he approached. She couldn’t move and was covered in both scars and fresh wounds but was still excited to see him. We named her Luna.

She was quickly transported to our partner Friendship Hospital for Animals where she received a full examination. Veterinarians at FHA determined Luna had five broken vertebrae, two of which required surgical stabilization, and two wounds, possibly stab wounds, on her chest. Other injuries indicate she had been brutally sexually abused and was likely strangled. Veterinarians were able to determine these injuries occurred over weeks, due to the varying stages of healing of each injury.

We estimate the cost of her critical care will exceed $20,000. Friendship Hospital for Animals has stepped up to cover the entire cost of her surgeries, and is working to stabilize her spine, with the hopes that one day Luna will be able to walk again. Despite the extent of her injuries, veterinarians are optimistic that Luna will have a good quality of life. We are so grateful for their incredible generosity and their shared commitment to saving animal lives.

“The person responsible for torturing Luna has certainly demonstrated their propensity for extreme violence,” said Chris Schindler, vice president of field services at the Humane Rescue Alliance. “Study after study has shown that individuals who commit cruelty to animals, particularly sexual abuse crimes, are known to perpetrate these crimes against humans, especially children. To ensure the safety of the entire community, we will do everything in our power to find who is responsible and are asking for the public’s help to do so.”

As Luna begins to heal, our humane law enforcement officers begin their investigation into the person or persons responsible for this heinous act of sexual assault and cruelty. They are looking for anyone who may have noticed anything unusual near Fort Dupont Park on or before August 11. If you have any information that could help assist in the arrest of those who abused Luna, please call 202-723-5730 option 3.

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Owner Dumped Wolfdog At Kill Shelter When He Got Too Much To Handle, Luckily This Sanctuary Saved Him

The strength, incredible instincts, sharp intelligence, and social abilities of the wolf is what has made them one of the most respected animals in the world. The stunning animal has been featured in legends, books, movies, paintings and other products of culture for centuries which slowly taught us to appreciate them even more. So it’s understandable that people wanted to take a bit of that wilderness home. With the idea of combining the best of both worlds, people created a wolfdog. Wolfdog is basically a mixture of wolf and domestic dog, both of which are members of same Canis species.

You probably wouldn’t think twice about his descent when meeting Yuki, and no wonder why. Yuki is one of the highest content wolfdogs at the sanctuary where he is currently staying.“His DNA testing came back as 87.5 % Gray Wolf, 8.6 % Siberian Husky, and 3.9 % German Shepherd,” – a staff member of Shy Wolf Sanctuary Brittany Allen told Bored Panda.

To read more on this story, click here: Owner Dumped Wolfdog At Kill Shelter When He Got Too Much To Handle, Luckily This Sanctuary Saved Him

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Reddit Has Suddenly Exploded With Photos of Dads Who Did Not Want Pets

You know a dad like this, or you’ve at least seen one on the internet, the kind of dad who adamantly refuses to have a pet and then once that cuddly fur ball is brought into the house, that pet becomes his best buddy. Sounds familiar, right? Well, the internet loves these dads, too. Reddit’s https://www.reddit.com/r/dadswhodidnotwantpets/community saw a 98% increase in traffic this week, according to a Reddit communications staffer, and it makes sense why.

To read more on this story, click here: Reddit Has Suddenly Exploded With Photos of Dads Who Did Not Want Pets

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Couple Custom-Builds ‘Mega Bed’ So All 8 Of Their Rescue Dogs Can Sleep With Them

For most of us, our rescue animals are like family. From the moment we take them home, we blend them into our daily lives and quickly grow to love them fiercely.

It’s pretty clear that the couple in this story feel that way about their rescue dogs — all eight of them! They love their pooches so much, and feel so strongly that they are part of their family, that they did something that not many pet owners do — they allowed all of their pets to sleep in one bed with them!

To read more on this story, click here: Couple Custom-Builds ‘Mega Bed’ So All 8 Of Their Rescue Dogs Can Sleep With Them

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Veteran Reunited With Pet Who Got Him Help During Emergency

NEW BERN, Craven County (WCTI) — A Navy Veteran living by himself on a houseboat in Oriental turned to his pet for help during an emergency recently, the duo was finally reunited on Friday.

Rudy Armstrong says he normally keeps to himself and mostly spends time with his dog Boo-Boo, so when things went wrong, he turned to her.

What started off as a normal day for the 86-year-old veteran in his houseboat quickly turned into an emergency situation.

To read more on this story, click here: Veteran Reunited With Pet Who Got Him Help During Emergency

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Humane Rescue Alliance is Participating in NBC Washington's Clear the Shelters

HRA is participating in NBC Washington's Clear the Shelters, but it looks a little different this year. Instead of dedicating just one day to the event, we’ll be virtually celebrating all month long by sharing some of our favorite Clear the Shelters success stories, as well as dogs, cats, rabbits, and more who are available for virtual adoption!

On August 29, we will not be holding the in-person event at our shelters out of an abundance of caution due to COVID-19. Instead, we’ll be celebrating the day online. Keep an eye on our social pages for more details about our digital celebration!

Can’t adopt but still want to participate in the fun? You can with a donation to HRA! Your donation will help support the animals in our care, from medical treatments to daily enrichment and beyond. Donate here: SUPPORT

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Animal-Saving Volunteer Pilot Flies Shelter Dogs to Safety Each Weekend

Pilot Julian Javor doesn’t just fly the friendly skies—he makes the skies friendlier by volunteering to transport dogs from high kill shelters to safety. Whether it’s to a rescue shelter, foster home, or permanent home, the man who works in construction and property management during the week, dons his wings for the weekend to help dogs in need.

Those flying skills and his dedication to helping animals came in handy this past June when Javor received a Facebook plea from Debbie Newton of RSQ209, a Valley Springs, CA-based animal rescue group.

To read more on this story, click here: Animal-Saving Volunteer Pilot Flies Shelter Dogs to Safety Each Weekend

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Researchers Trained Dogs To Sniff out COVID-19 Infections In Just A Few Days

After just a few days of training, dogs in Germany proved capable of identifying people infected with COVID-19, according to researchers. The dogs, part of a study by a veterinary university in Germany, were able to sniff out the coronavirus with stunning accuracy.

To read more on this story, click here: Researchers Trained Dogs To Sniff out COVID-19 Infections In Just A Few Days

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Little Shih Tzu-Poodle Leads Firefighters In Wild Chase On Washington D.C. Highway

WASHINGTON D.C. - There was a wildly adorable chase down a busy highway in Maryland, but the culprit was no human. It was a little dog.

"Astro," a Shih Tzu-poodle mix who is a year and half old, led firefighters in a game of cat-and-mouse on a closed portion of Interstate 495 in Washington D.C. Officials said the ordeal started when they responded to a multi-vehicle crash on the highway Friday.

To read more on this story, click here: Little Shih Tzu-Poodle Leads Firefighters In Wild Chase On Washington D.C. Highway

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SEE IT: Capitals Pup Captain Celebrates 1st Birthday With Amazing Puppy Party

Wow, it's already been one year?

It's hard to believe, but Washington Capitals team dog Captain celebrated his first birthday on Wednesday. To celebrate, Captain's owners threw him an incredible puppy party!

Captain's Instagram page posted multiple pictures of the puppy party, and to say they went all out is an understatement.

To read more on this story, click here: SEE IT: Capitals Pup Captain Celebrates 1st Birthday With Amazing Puppy Party

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Ranger Saves Overheated Dog, Carrying Him Miles Down A Rocky Trail

The summer is really heating up! A group of hikers recently witnessed just how harmful the stifling temperatures can be for a dog. Thankfully, a strong and caring park ranger came to the rescue, carrying an overheated dog on his shoulders all the way down a mountain trail and saving his life.

Group of Hiking Friends Came Upon a Struggling Dog and His Human Companion

Lexie Daniel and a group of friends hit the trails on the hills in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area. It was a brutally hot day, with temperatures in the 90’s. They came upon a man and his dog, who was obviously overheated and struggling.

To read more on this story, click here: Ranger Saves Overheated Dog, Carrying Him Miles Down A Rocky Trail

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Woman Adopts Special Needs Dogs To Honor Late German Shepherd

Sadly, special needs dogs are often the hardest dogs to find homes for. Many dog lovers are worried that these dogs will cost them too much time and money. However, Tracy Fowler knows first-hand that caring for special needs dogs is such an exciting and rewarding experience.

After her German Shepherd named Hayden passed away, Fowler felt a strong urge to help more dogs in need. So, she started adopting disabled dogs in his honor. Before she knew it, she had nine dogs living in her house at once!

To read more on this story, click here: Woman Adopts Special Needs Dogs To Honor Late German Shepherd

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Puppy Dog Eyes Are REAL, Says Science

You know that look your dog gives you when he wants something—whether it be food, a walk, a toy, or maybe just attention. His eyes get bigger and droopier, and he looks so sad that you just have to acquiesce to his wordless request. But how does he DO that? It turns out science can tell us a lot more than we ever thought we’d learn about puppy-dog eyes.

The answer, it seems, lies in two muscles, called the retractor anguli oculi lateralis muscle and the levator anguli oculi medialis muscle (RAOL and LAOM, respectively). These two muscles connect the ring of muscle around the dog’s eye to either end of his eyebrow. By using these muscles, he can tilt his eyebrows so the inner corner is lifted, giving him that wide-eyed sad look that we all know and love.

To read more on this story, click here: Puppy Dog Eyes Are REAL, Says Science

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9-Year-Old Boy Sells Custom Pet Paintings For Food and Supplies For Shelter Animals

You don’t have to be supersized to do something wonderful. In fact, even the smallest of people can make a difference in this world. That is what you will see with this young child, who is stepping up to the plate and making a difference in a big way.

The nine-year-old Russian boy, Pavel Abramov, is doing his part to help animals at local shelters. He is an artist at such a young age who lives in the small city of Arzamas in Nizhny Novgorod. He has been busy painting pictures of pets but he isn’t collecting money to buy the latest gadget, he is exchanging the pictures for supplies and food to be donated to a local shelter.

To read more on this story, click here: 9-Year-Old Boy Sells Custom Pet Paintings For Food and Supplies For Shelter Animals

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An Illinois Woman Was Mauled to Death by Pet French Bulldog, Officials Say

A suburban Chicago woman was fatally mauled by a French bulldog that she recently adopted that had been bred to fight, authorities said.

Lisa Urso of Ingleside, Illinois, was found unresponsive on the patio of her home on Saturday. Investigators said that she died from an attack from one of the three dogs she had. The 52-year-old woman had a second French bulldog, which was found with some blood on it, and a border collie.

To read more on this story, click here: An Illinois Woman Was Mauled to Death by Pet French Bulldog, Officials Say

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Swarm of Bees Attack and Kill Three Dogs in Arizona

Three dogs have been killed by an aggressive swarm of bees in Arizona, according to officials.

The swarm attacked three dogs on Wednesday in Tuscon, according to The Tuscon Fire Department.

Firefighters were forced to kill the bees during the incident after one of the dogs died at the scene from the attack.

To read more on this story, click here: Swarm of Bees Attack and Kill Three Dogs in Arizona



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You Need to See Inside This Retro Camper Where Rumer Willis's Dog Lives

Usually being in the doghouse is far from a good thing, but, if it’s a celebrity dog house like the ones seen in Quibi’s new show Barkitecture, we will gladly accept our fate. House Beautiful spoke to the co-hosts of the show, Bachelorette alumTyler Cameron and Brooklyn designer Delia Kenza, for the scoop on the exceptional dog houses created for this show, and it’s certainly not a *ruff* life for these lucky dogs. The celebrity clients on Barkitecture include Kyle Richards, Lisa Vanderpump, Wilmer Valderrama, Teyana Taylor, Rumer Willis, Joel McHale, Lilly Singh, and Norbert the dog. Barkitecture premieres on Quibi today, May 11th.

To read more on this story, click here: You Need to See Inside This Retro Camper Where Rumer Willis's Dog Lives


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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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Pets in Prison: The Rescue Dogs Teaching Californian Inmates Trust and Responsibility

Bringing rescue dogs and prisoners together in a remarkable rehabilitation programme in California is helping inmates learn valuable lessons

On an idyllic sun-drenched day in California, I find myself in jail. But unlike the 5,000 or so inmates of North Kern State Prison, located 150 miles north of Los Angeles, I’m here voluntarily, accompanied by Zach Skow, a man on a mission to bring dogs into every US prison.

Skow is the founder of Pawsitive Change, a rehabilitation programme that pairs rescue dogs with inmates. He began a pilot programme at California City Correctional Facility in January 2016, teaching inmates to become dog trainers, and it’s now been rolled out to four more California state prisons and one female juvenile correction centre.

To read more on this story, click here: Pets in Prison: The Rescue Dogs Teaching Californian Inmates Trust and Responsibility

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Can Pets Get The Coronavirus, And Can We Catch It From Them? Here's The Science

Humans and animals share many diseases. And as dramatically shown by the tigers that tested positive in the Bronx Zoo, the coronavirus is one of them.

As three veterinary epidemiologists who study infectious disease, we have been asked a lot of questions about if and how the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 affects pets.

Can my pet get the coronavirus?

When talking about a virus, the words "get" or "catch" are vague. A more precise question is: Can my cat or dog become infected with SARS-CoV-2?

The answer is yes. There is evidence from real-world cases as well as laboratory experiments that both cats and dogs can become infected with coronavirus.

In Hong Kong, health officials have tested 17 dogs and eight cats living with COVID-19 patients for the coronavirus. They found evidence of the virus in two dogs: a Pomeranian and a German shepherd, though neither became sick.

None of the eight cats were infected or had been sick. However, there is a separate report of an infected cat from Hong Kong.

To read more on this story, click here: Can Pets Get The Coronavirus, And Can We Catch It From Them? Here's The Science


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