90-year-old Woman who Loves German Shepherds Donates Over $32,000 to the Sheriff’s Office for K-9 Bulletproof Vests and Training New Dogs for the Force

90-year-old Pamela Mobbs, passed away in October 2020, donating over $32,000 to the Volusia Sheriff’s K-9 officers. The sizable donation was from the generous woman’s estate and was whole-heartedly given to the K-9 police force.

Half of the money donated will be for supplying K-9 bulletproof vests for the German Shepherds working in the field, and the other for training additional dogs who will be joining the force. The Volusia Sheriff’s Office was given two separate checks from Pamela’s estate, each for $16,428.16 (which totals to $32,856.32).

To read more on this story, click here: 90-year-old Woman who Loves German Shepherds Donates Over $32,000 to the Sheriff’s Office for K-9 Bulletproof Vests and Training New Dogs for the Force

9 Most Common Dog Eye Problems

Dog eye problems are very common and in most cases it's just a mild inconvenience. However, certain conditions will be more serious and require veterinary intervention, including surgery.

Studies observed that German Shepherd Dogs and Maltese are twice more likely to suffer from different types of eye disease than any other breed. Dry eyes, cataracts, corneal ulcers, progressive retinal atrophy and glaucoma are the most common eye conditions in dogs, commonly occurring in breeds between ages of 4 and 7 

Eye disease are often inherited, and it's the most well-studied areas of all inherited diseases in dogs. Below is a list of nine most common dog eye problems with pictures, their causes, prevention and treatment.

To read more on this story, click here: 9 Most Common Dog Eye Problems

Dressed to Impress: Florida Police Dog Wears Uniform and Tie for His Official K-9 Badge Photo

The good boy often makes appearances on the Orange County Sheriff's Office's social media feeds

Say cheese!

On Thursday, the Orange County Sheriff's Office in Florida shared with followers on social media the brand-new official badge photo of their furry K-9 member Chico.

The steadfast pup, dressed in a decorated law enforcement uniform, looks directly at the camera for the picture as he poses for the shot in front of an American flag.

"K-9 Chico posed for his new ID badge today. He even wore a tie for the photo," the department wrote alongside the picture on Instagram.

To read more on this story, click here: Dressed to Impress: Florida Police Dog Wears Uniform and Tie for His Official K-9 Badge Photo

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

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

German Shepherd Hilariously Fails His Service Dog Training In Viral Video

This VERY good boy is not very good at being a service dog, unfortunately

Dogs are angels on earth in every discernible way. Some are great at being lifelong companions, others have talents in the service arena — as K9 police dogs, service dogs to those in need, etc. And some dogs have higher hopes and dreams than they’re capable of achieving, but that doesn’t make them any less Good. Take this guy, for example.

In a video that’s quickly gone viral all over social media, a German Shepherd named Ryker can be seen trying so very hard to meet the standards of a service dog. But Ryker, like many of us out there of the human variety who can relate, falls short during his test. In every single way.

Please enjoy the funniest, most adorable animal video you will see all day.

To learn more about Ryker and see his video, click here: German Shepherd Hilariously Fails His Service Dog Training In Viral Video

This Man Makes Everyone Smile When He Walks With His Pack of German Shepherds Unleashed (Video)

Augusto Deoliveira shared this video of him walking his pack of German Shepherds in public. All five dogs are unleashed and walk in a group, close beside him. What the video doesn’t tell is the story behind the dogs he’s walking with.

He wrote, “This video features Savannah on the left (not quite a year old at the time). Griffin next to her (almost 2). The one behind me was a rescue dog (3 years old) who came to me with no training or socialization of any kind, she was very sweet but not confident She had numerous health problems and to me this is amazing of how she was doing after only a couple of months of training, given the fact that she never left her small kennel ever!”

“Then Hannah (she came to me at 2). I did all the training with her. She is very confident. The one on the far right is another rescue who was tied on a leash outside day and night, even in the winter. She had just a tiny dogs house. She was in very poor shape when I got her. She had no training and again was not confident. Although those 2 [rescue] dogs will never to be 100% they are way better in this video than when I rescued them. They both have found great pet homes since then.”

“The other 3 still live with me. This video is 2-years-old and was filmed in the winter in a very cold day if you didn’t notice.”

Since the video went viral, Augusto has received many comments from people claiming the dogs were trained by shock collars or abuse because the dogs were not wagging their tails. But Augusto said this is simply not the case. “I know how much training and energy I put into these dogs to train them, and whether you use shock collars or not its not that easy to do this. I use my body language to let the dogs know I want them to walk close to me.”

People Can Now Adopt Dogs Who Failed Government Training For Being Too Friendly

For people who’d like to adopt a German Shorthaired Pointer, a German Shepherd, a Labrador Retriever, or a Belgian Malinois, they can now choose from beautiful puppies who are just too nice and carefree to pass the training for government work. The Transportation Security Administration has organized an adoption program to find lovely homes for the energetic and adorable training ‘dropouts’.

The complete list of minimum requirements that are needed for submitting an adoption application can be viewed on the TSA website. Some of the requirements are having no plans of moving within the next six months, having a yard that’s completely fenced, and being able to provide the dog training, exercise, proper medical care, and love. Approved applicants will be asked to travel to San Antonio, Texas twice. The first purpose of the first visit is to meet the dogs while the second one is to take the pet home.

To read more on this story, click here: People Can Now Adopt Dogs Who Failed Government Training For Being Too Friendly

Former Vice President Joe Biden, And His Wife, Dr. Jill Biden, Adopted A 10-Month-Old German Shepherd From The Delaware Humane Association

Former Vice President, Joe Biden, and his wife Dr. Jill Biden, adopted a 10-month-old German Shepherd from the Delaware Humane Association (DHA) on Saturday, after fostering him for several months. The pup’s name is Major.

DHA posted about the lucky dog on their Facebook page  as the Bidens took him to his new “forever home.”

“Today is Major’s lucky day! Not only did Major find his forever home, but he got adopted by Vice President Joe Biden & Dr. Jill Biden!” the post said. “The Bidens have gotten to know Major while fostering him and are now ready to make the adoption official. Best of luck and thank you for being one of our Friends for life!”

According to DHA, Major is from a litter of German Shepherd pups that were given up for adoption and are currently “not doing well at all.”

“Once we posted about them… Joe Biden caught wind of them and reached out immediately. The rest is history!” DHA said.

The Bidens are proud owners of another German Shepherd named Champ.

In a statement, the Bidens thanked the shelter for their help finding dogs permanent homes.

“We are so happy to welcome Major to the Biden family, and we are grateful to the Delaware Humane Association for their work in finding forever homes for Major and countless other animals,” the statement read.

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.

What Gives Huskies Their Piercing Blue Eye Color?

Have you ever wondered why huskies, border collies, and some shepherd dogs have those piercing blue eyes?

Consumer genetics, made popular by companies like 23andMe and Ancestry, may have provided an answer, according to a new study conducted by researchers from the canine DNA startup company Embark Veterinary, Inc.

The study was published in the journal PLOS Genetics and it’s the first of its kind to use consumer genomics with non-humans as well as the largest canine genome-wide association study ever conducted.

Consumer genetic testing has given people an unprecedented look at their DNA and genetic history.

This is all made possible thanks to large databases of genomic data, and now this new study shows how consumer genomics can shed light on animal traits that have yet eluded scientists, like the blue eyes of the Siberian Husky.

To read more on this story, click here: What Gives Huskies Their Piercing Blue Eye Color?

Should Police Dogs Wear Bullet Proof Vests?

Over the years several police dogs have been shot and have died while pursuing a criminal.

Did you know that more than 500 Police Service Dogs (PSDs) have been killed in the line of duty? A vest increases a 98% chance of survival in an attack.

A police dog put its life in danger every day just as the police officer. The police officer wears a bullet proof vest to protect them…so should his dog also wear a bullet proof vest?

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) said that they support the use dogs in law enforcement provided that the animals are humanely raised, trained and afforded every consideration for their safety and well-being, including the use of bullet-proof vests.

There are some police departments that do provide protection to their K9 members with stab and/or slash resistant vests. These vests are used because they are lighter, and do not protect the dog if it is shot.

However, you have to wonder if the weight of a bullet proof vest would be uncomfortable for the dog and possibly flop around as the dog runs.

What do you think? Should police dogs wear bullet proof vests?

United Suspends New Bookings for Pets in Cargo After Loading 3 Dogs Onto Wrong Flights

United Airlines is suspending new reservations for pets traveling in the cargo compartment after three dogs were loaded onto the wrong planes last week and a fourth died in an overhead bin.

United will honor reservations that have already been confirmed for PetSafe, its program for pets traveling in cargo, the airline said Tuesday. The suspension does not affect pets traveling with their owners in the cabin.

“We are conducting a thorough and systematic review of our program for pets that travel in the cargo compartment to make improvements that will ensure the best possible experience for our customers and their pets,” United spokeswoman Maggie Schmerin said in an emailed statement.

The airline said it would complete the review by May 1.

To read more on this story, click here: United Suspends New Bookings for Pets in Cargo After Loading 3 Dogs Onto Wrong Flights

Matthew Morrison Says His ‘Heart Is Broken’ Over Alleged Dog Abuse On Film Set

Actor Matthew Morrison expressed outrage on Friday over reports that a dog was abused during the filming of “Crazy Alien,” the upcoming science fiction movie he stars in.

A whistleblower reportedly sent animal rights group PETA disturbing footage of what the group says is a caged German shepherd being dropped into a river on the film’s set in Changsha, China.

“I’ve just been made aware and seen a video from the set of a film I worked on in China,” the “Glee” star tweeted. “My heart is broken to see any animal treated this way. Had I been on set or known about this, I would have made all efforts to stop this. I’ve called the producers to express my outrage.”  

To read more on this story, click here: Matthew Morrison Says His ‘Heart Is Broken’ Over Alleged Dog Abuse On Film Set

Stephens City, Virginia – Meet Gus and Laurie, 7-Month-Old Bonded Pair Looking for Their Forever Home Together

Sharing from: The Shenandoah Shepherd Rescue: "They've only ever known each other. They were found as strays at three months old and have since lived in someone’s barn. They’re around 7 months old now and we are so hopeful that we can find someone to keep these two together. If you’re looking for a bonded pair, look no further."

If you're interested in adopting Gus and Laurie, you can apply at shenandoahrescue.org/adoption-process.

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Meet Rumor, the Beautiful German Shepherd that Captured the Top Prize in the Herding Group the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

If you didn't tune in to last Monday night's portion of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, you might have missed the raucous cheers for the beautiful German Shepherd that captured the top prize in the Herding group. Her call name is Rumor, and she won best in show last Tuesday, becoming only the second German Shepherd ever to take home top honor at Westminster.

At last year's Westminster, Rumor also won the Herding group to advance to the best in show judging, but she fell short of taking home the big trophy, which went to CJ the German Shorthaired Pointer. This year, she staged a valiant comeback, and by the chanting from the crowd at Madison Square Garden, her many fans are thrilled.

Rumor, whose full name is Lockenhaus' Rumor Has It V Kenlyn, is a 5-year-old pup hailing from Wisconsin. She has countless championships under her belt and spends nearly all her time with her handler, co-owner, and cobreeder Kent Boyles. Immediately after winning, Kent was asked what's next for Rumor, as it is common for Westminster champions to retire. His answer was simple: he's going to find her a husband so they can have some puppies.

The Man Who Shot and Killed K-9 Officer Jethro, of the Canton Police Department in Ohio, Has Been Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison

Kelontre Barefield, 23, received the sentence after pleading guilty to charges related to the police dog's death and other charges in an unrelated robbery case, a spokeswoman for the Stark County Clerk of Courts told ABC News today.

Barefield's attorney, Steven Reisch, didn't immediately respond to ABC News' requests for comment.

Jethro was killed in January after suffering multiple gunshot wounds while responding to a burglary at a grocery store, according to Officer Eric Stanbro, head trainer of Canton PD's K-9 unit.

The death of the 3-year-old German shepherd devastated Canton PD Officer Ryan Davis, who had been Jethro's partner since he was an 8-week-old puppy.

In March, an 11-year-old girl donated all of her allowance money to help get bulletproof vests for all of the department's dogs.

"Officer Davis has received 2,000 letters since Jethro's death, and he was catching up with them over the weekend," Stanbro previously told ABC News. "He came across this girl's letter and donation, and it really touched him."

In the letter, an 11-year-old girl named Allison tells Davis, "I sorry about Jethro. So here is my allowance for the bulletproof vests. God bless you and the dogs."

An 11-year-old girl named Allison donated her allowance money to the Canton Police Department to help get bulletproof vests for dogs in the department's K-9 unit.

On Wednesday, the Canton PD's K-9 Unit shared a video of some its dogs and handlers on Facebook "[i]n honor of Jethro's killer being sentenced to 45 years in prison."

To video video, click HERE.

A Memorial Service for Canton Police K-9 Jethro, the First of the Department’s Dogs Ever Killed in the Line of Duty, Drew Hundreds from Across the Country

Canton, Ohio - Jethro was shot in killed in the line of duty over the weekend. Police said he was responding to a call of a burglary on Saturday, when he was shot multiple times. He died from his injuries on Sunday. 

The city held a funeral for the German Shepherd Thursday at the Canton Civic Center, on what would have been Jethro's third birthday.

Speakers included the Canton Police chief and the mayor. 

"Jethro's legacy is to remind us all is that bravery and devotion can travel on four legs, and that loyalty and love can be delivered by the playful nudge of a wet nose," Mayor Thomas Bernabei said to those assembled.

K-9 officers from as far away as Virginia and the New York Police Department attended the service. More than 100 K9s from various departments walked in a five and a half minute long procession in front of those gathered.

Jethro's partner, Ryan Davis, was presented with a flag and a fallen officer medal honoring his four legged best friend. At 12:27 pm the department officially declared Jethro's end of watch.

"A lot of people love dogs obviously, and they know the dog is doing it for us and he doesn't really have a choice, so to speak, so I think people really identify with that - that a lot of people have dogs that they believe would do this for them," said Eric Stanbro, the Canton Police K9 head trainer.

Stanbro said to those who may criticize giving a memorial service for a dog, that this was the least the department could do.

"We owe it to them. I believe 100% that without Jethro, today it's Ryan's funeral and not a dog's funeral," said Stanbro.

The suspect, Kelontre D. Barefield, received a gunshot wound to the leg and was taken into custody after being treated. He is being held on $5 million bond.

There is a GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/h8xbvs8s account to pay for Jethro's vet bills and buy new K-9 vests for the department.

"I absolutely think Jethro is a hero. The dog did his job and it's tough to take. And for that  some officers went home safe," said Tim Wilmoth, a canine handler and retired police officer.

The Canton Police Department is not actively seeking donations. However, those that wish to donate can make a check out to the Canton Police Department and write K9 donation on the memo line. Donations and condolences can be sent to the Canton Police Department at 221 3rd St. SW, Canton, OH 44702.

Jethro's Procession

K-9 Jethro is Laid to Rest

Cop Mistakenly Shoots a Mother Dead Instead of Her Attacking Dog

(WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO)

Iowa regulators plan to sue the police department that has long refused to release video showing a cop mistakenly shoot a mother dead instead of her attacking dog — a horrific saga that played out in front of her 3-year-old son.

The Iowa Public Information Board voted Thursday to launch legal action against the Burlington Police Department and other agencies, pushing for the release of records from the January day Officer Jesse Hill shot and killed 34-year-old Autumn Steele.

Hill was responding to a disturbance on Jan. 6 when he found Steele in front of her house hitting her husband, police said. The 34-year-old mom spent the previous night in jail after being arrested on domestic abuse charges, the Des Moines Register reported.

The cop fired his gun when the family’s German Shepherd, Sammy, pounced on his back and bit him, police said. The bullets hit Steele instead of the attacking dog, police said.

Steele’s 3-year-old son was standing next to her when she was shot.

The dog attack justified the shooting, prosecutors determined. Hill was cleared of any charges and returned to work earlier this year.

Cops previously released a 12-second body cam video showing the cop fire twice without warning.

“Get your dog!” Hill yelled as a dog growls in the background. The video does not show the shepherd jump on the armed officer. Animal officials later determined Sammy was not vicious and returned the pet to the family.

But Steele’s family and local media have long pushed for the release of the full body cam video, plus footage from the cop’s squad car and 911 phone calls.

The Iowa Public Information Board sided with the family and media in the Thursday decision.

The board, which oversees the state’s open records laws, voted 4-3 to pursue charges against Iowa Department of Public Safety, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Burlington Police Department and the Des Moines County Attorney.

“I’m, for one, uncomfortable with law enforcement determining what should and shouldn’t be released,” said Information Board member Bill Monroe, who voted in favor of the lawsuit.

Formal charges will be filed in the coming weeks, and the case will be handled by a judge who can recommend the release of the records.

Officer Jesse Hill (l.) shot and killed 34-year-old mom Autumn Steele in January.

Steele's husband Gabriel reacts after the Burlington Animal Hearing Board unanimously decide that the family dog, Sammy, a German shepherd mix, is not vicious or dangerous and should be returned.

Steele's 3-year-old son was by her side when she was shot and killed.

Tiger, a Young German Shepherd Surrendered by Owner: Looking for Loving Forever Home – Read His Story

On June 13, a handsome young shepherd named "Tiger" was loaded into a car and taken for a ride...unfortunately, the destination was not the park, it was the Chicago Animal Care and Control facility in Illinois. Today, the 11-month-old German shepherd is wondering why he is locked away behind bars, and why his person is no longer by his side.

On Thursday, the volunteer-run Facebook page, CACC Transfer Team, notified their page followers that the young dog is "timid" while kenneled, but he becomes more puppy-like once he is taken out of the cage. 

According to the shelter volunteers, Tiger loves to chase tennis balls and he already knows how to sit on command. The volunteers also noted that Tiger is "very personable and affectionate."

Please take a moment to network on Tiger's behalf - he should be chasing after tennis balls, not sitting in a lonely kennel run. Tiger's identification number A131202.

For adoption information, click HERE. 

If you would like to make a donation for the homeless cats and dogs at Chicago Animal Care & Control (CACC), click HERE. 

Animal Care and Control

Phone: 312.747.1406

Fax: 312.747.1409

2741 S. Western Ave

Chicago, IL 60608

Please Share Tiger!