The dogs came from as far away as New Jersey and Tennessee, in hopes of landing a new nickname: 'Beautiful Bulldog.' They were all defeated by a native who likes eating snow and watching turtles. A 2-year-old dog from Des Moines named Tank won the 36th annual Beautiful Bulldog contest Sunday, at Drake University. Tank received top honors as well as a crown and cape. He will appear before more than 16,000 fans, or, royal subjects at the university's Drake Relays to be honored as mascot of the event, which will be held from Thursday through Saturday, according to the contest's website. The tongue-in-cheek beauty pageant, which featured 50 dogs, is the kickoff event for the Drake Relays track meet. "He's funny," said Tank's owner, Duane Smith. "He's a real good one." Pageant organizers narrowed a pool of more than 100 hopeful pups by a lottery held last month. Judges weren't looking for beauty though. They wanted to see the slobber, drool and bulging, bloodshot eyes synonymous with English bulldogs. They got all that and more from Tank, who now willingly shares his house with a Pomeranian and some turtles after Smith found him on Craigslist a year ago. Should Tank be unable to fulfill his duties as the Drake Relays mascot, fellow Des Moines dog, Steve will step in. Steve was second even though he was initially so shy about the makeshift catwalk set up on Drake's basketball court that his owner had to pick him up and plunk him down, much to the delight of the few thousand spectators on hand. There also was a 'Best Dressed' winner in Linus, the Lovebug, who had to be dragged around in a wagon because of arthritic legs, and the congeniality award went to a dog named, Princess Mabel. If there was an award for driving the furthest to enter the contest it would have gone to Ronnie Sussman, and her dog, Bex, who drove 17 hours from Union, New Jersey. Sussman and Bex will go home empty-handed, but she said the trip was more than worth it. "This is just like a bucket list item of life for me," said Sussman.
Winner: Tank, a 2-year-old bulldog from Iowa won Drake University's 36th annual 'Beautiful Bulldog' contest Sunday
A real beauty: Tank, who enjoys eating snow and watching turtles, will now serve as mascot of this year's Drake Relays
Owner: Here, Tank enjoys a rub from his owner, Duane Smith, after winning the 36th annual contest
Pageant: The tongue-in-cheek beauty pageant, which featured 50 dogs, is the kickoff event for the Drake Relays track meet
Bex in a tutu: Ronnie Sussman, of Union, New Jersey, walks her dog, Bex across the stage during the contest as part of the Drake Relays
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Ernie the dog wasn't able to move his back legs when he first arrived at the Colorado Animal Rescue, but he miraculously regained mobility after he was adopted. The medical mystery has Ernie's veterinarians scratching their heads. When Ernie was evaluated upon his arrival to the rescue by veterinarians who were having trouble figuring out why he couldn't move his back legs. "It was kind of a big puzzle," Tracey Yajko of the Colorado Animal Rescue,told Life With Dogs. "We had X-rays done and it didn't look like any slipped discs." Perhaps the cure for Ernie's mysterious condition was the unconditional love from a human. Just a few days after Susi Cooley called the rescue and said she was interested in adopting Ernie after seeing his story on the rescue's Facebook page, the pup amazingly started walking on his back legs. "It was literally a miracle," Yajko told Life With Dogs. Cooley went on to finish the application process and was happy to hear of Ernie's improvement, although she was ready to give him a forever home even if he had to have a wheelchair. "It was amazing because we were prepared to always have a dog that was in a wheelchair," Cooley told Life With Dogs. "We were OK with that."
Canyon County, Idaho - Firefighters thought they were looking for people who were yelling “help” and “fire” from inside a burning house Friday night. But, according to news reports, what the firefighters were actually hearing were two parrots who the firefighters found and removed from the home. Once they got the flames contained, though, they discovered that the noises were actually coming from two parrots that were “talking”. Firefighters say the birds were actually saying “Help!” and “Fire!” Crews removed the birds from the home and gave them oxygen. They are expected to be all right.
San Bernardino, California - Hundreds of spectators watched the fight break out when workers allegedly tried to stop the activists from forcing their way inside after the Ramos Bros. Circus show began. Two protestors were arrested following the melee, while two circus employees were injured when the fight broke out at 8:08 p.m., according to a San Bernardino Police Department spokesman. Ringmaster, Oliver Ramos claimed his lip was split after he was hit on the face with his megaphone in trying to keep protestors outside. "All of a sudden when I turned around one of them jumped on top of my uncle - he's over 68-years-old - and they started beating on him and I reacted," Ramos said. "When I pulled them off they hit me with a megaphone in the face and all these ladies started scratching me on the face." However protester Nicholas Shaw-McMinn claimed they were protesting non-violently, and that protesters were the ones attacked by the circus workers. LA Kings' Jarret Stoll Arrested for Possession of Cocaine and Ecstasy "Employees locked us on the property and wouldn't let us leave. They assaulted... multiple protestors, some with weapons," Shaw-McMinn said. He also claimed one of the workers placed him in a choke hold during the clash. The activists, who said they are members of the Direct Action Everywhere group, provided video which showed them protesting outside the big top before the melee. The Ramos Bros. Circus website boasts that the show features "animals from all over the world," showing images of lamas, camels and horses. Ramos said he does not mind activists protesting on the street but wants them to stay off the property where the circus is performing. He also believes something has to be done to prevent further clashes occurring. "These people are just crazy fanatics… it has to stop. These people are getting out of hand," Ramos said. However it seems they will not be staying away, as more than 100 protesters are expected to show up for more demonstrations taking place Saturday. The "Protest Ramos Bros. Circus" Facebook page says: "Traveling animal acts perpetuate animal cruelty, inhumane care, public safety hazards and distorted images of wildlife. "As compassionate animal lovers we must stop animal entertainment and extend our love to all animals. Animals are not our (sic) to use, they are not our property; they are beings that desire the same freedoms as us." It also claims circus animals are trained using methods such as whipping, hitting, poking, and shocking with electrical prods.
Akron, Ohio - Police pulled over a man after they received multiple 911 calls from concerned drivers about caged puppies tied to the roof of a minivan. The Nova, Ohio man told Akron police that he was taking the 3-month-old puppies to his wife’s family in Pennsylvania after his father couldn’t take care of them any longer. A trip that would have had the young dogs on the van’s roof for over 300 miles. The man, who had his wife and four children with him, told police he didn’t understand that he was doing anything wrong by leaving the caged pups on the roof of the car. “We had more important things to put inside the vehicle. We have four children,” he said, "If I had known, I’d never agree to it. I would have kept them in Nova.” The Mennonite family wasn’t charged but was educated on the proper transportation of animals. “He had absolutely no idea what he was doing was wrong,” Sgt. Kris Beitze stated, “In this case, the cultural issues, he now knows that this is absolutely not the way to transport puppies." The mixed-breed puppies, who were shaken but okay, were handed over to the Humane Society of Greater Akron. "The puppies are traumatized," Beitze comments, "but I think they’ll come around with a little love and attention."
A Texas sheriff said Saturday that he could not arrest and charge a veterinarian shown in a Facebook post bragging about killing a cat with a bow and arrow unless an investigation determines the picture of the dead cat is genuine. Austin County Sheriff Jack Brandes said he was disturbed by the image that shows Kristen Lindsey holding up what she described as a dead feral tom cat. He has assigned two deputies and an investigator to the case. "I've had people calling me from all over the country expressing their concern," Brandes said, speaking from a pasture while inspecting his cattle. "I just want everybody to know several things. We can't arrest and charge someone like that based on a picture on the internet. We have to make sure that is true and correct. "Anybody can take a computer and alter a photograph." The operators of the clinic where Lindsey worked in Brenham, about 100 miles northwest of Houston, said Friday she was fired after they learned of the posting earlier in the week, which has since been removed, along with her Facebook account. The posting prompted hundreds of phone calls also to the Washington Animal Clinic. "We are absolutely appalled, shocked, upset, and disgusted by the conduct," the clinic posted on its web site. "We do not allow such conduct and we condemn it in the strongest possible manner." Bruce Buenger told Bryan-College Station television station KBTX, which first reported the story, his clinic's goal was to "try to fix our black eye and hope that people are reasonable and understand that those actions don't anyway portray what we're for here." "We put our heart and soul into this place," he said. A sign outside the clinic that lists its vets had her name covered with tape. No telephone listing for Lindsey could be determined Saturday and she could not be reached for comment. The sheriff said his office had reached out to her. "She didn't want to talk to us at this time," he said. "She said she was going to come in with her attorney. Hopefully early next week, we get something cracking. Hopefully this girl comes in. She may. She may not." The incident is believed to have taken place in his county, which is adjacent to Washington County, which includes Brenham. The results of the investigation would be turned over to the county district attorney, who could present the evidence to a grand jury or issue a warrant. Depending on the nature of the charge, animal cruelty can be a misdemeanor or a state jail felony in Texas. Brandes said while Lindsey's posting described the animal as a feral cat, he was aware of some reports that it was a lost domestic cat. "We haven't determined that 100 percent at this time," he said. The Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners lists Lindsey as holding a valid license since June 2012 and with no disciplinary actions. "All these people are jumping up and down, they want action," Brandes said. "The wheels of justice turn slow. You want to be sure once you accuse and arrest someone."
A veterinarian has been fired from her clinic after she posted a horrifying image of her holding a cat she had killed by firing an arrow into its head on Facebook. Kristen Lindsey, 31, who lives in Brenham, Texas, allegedly hunted the animal down in her backyard and shot it with a bow, believing it was feral. But a local rescue center say the cat, believed to be called Tiger, was domesticated and had been missing for around two weeks. Beneath the shocking image, Lindsey, a Wyoming native, wrote: "My first bow kill... lol. The only good feral tomcat is one with an arrow through it's head. Vet of the year award... gladly accepted." She also said in a comment, before she learned she no longer had a job: "And no I did not lose my job. Psshh. Like someone would get rid of me. I'm awesome." The Colorado State graduate lost her job at the Washington Animal Clinic after the image began circulating online and staff have since been distancing themselves from the former employee. Staff at released a statement on Facebook on Friday saying: "We are absolutely appalled, shocked, upset, and disgusted by the conduct. We have parted ways with Ms. Lindsey. We do not allow such conduct and we condemn it in the strongest possible manner," the clinic said in the statement. "Please know that when informed of this we responded swiftly and appropriately and please do not impute this awful conduct to the Washington Animal Clinic or any of its personnel." Local prosecutors are now considering whether she should face criminal charges. A Facebook page, called 'justice for the cat murdered by Kirsten Lindsey' has already been 'liked' by more than 7,000 people. A video of the six-year-old cat that Lindsey is believed to have killed riding on top of a tractor has also surfaced online. Austin County Sheriff, Jack Brandes, says he was disturbed by the image. He told KBTX: "This kind of stuff shouldn't happen in our society," Brandes said. "It's a very sad thing." "Hopefully we will get to the bottom of it and get the truth, 100 per cent truth, and get it to the DA and put it in his hands if it needs to go any further." The Texas Veterinary Medical Association also condemned her reactions, insisting her conduct does not reflect the standards of other vets. In a statement, they said: "The Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) strongly condemns the actions of a veterinarian who claims to have recently shot and killed a feral cat with the use of a bow and arrow. The veterinarian, who worked in Brenham, Texas, and is not a TVMA member, posted a picture of herself holding the deceased cat on her personal Facebook page along with some insensitive remarks about the incident." "This individual’s actions directly violate the veterinarian’s oath taken to use his or her scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health and the advancement of medical knowledge.” "We are saddened and disturbed by the unfortunate actions of this individual, and we remind Texas residents that this conduct is not reflective of the veterinary profession or of the veterinarians who strive to embody the words of the veterinarian’s oath every day." Upon learning of the troubling misconduct, the Brenham clinic, where the veterinarian was practicing, immediately condemned her actions and terminated her employment. The clinic’s ownership and staff have expressed their deepest shock and disgust at such behavior and are regretful that the individual acted in a manner that so drastically deviated from the conduct and values the clinic has upheld in its community for years. "We hope you will stand strong with us against this type of behavior against animals. TVMA values the trust built between veterinarians and the public based on mutually shared care for animals. We hope that we can unite to prevent actions like this from occurring in the future. She was also condemned online by a number of people in her profession." Larry Wallace, who said he had been a veterinarian for 40 years, said on Facebook: "I have never in my long career heard of such an atrocious act by a member of my profession. This person most be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. She took an oath to protect and heal not to killing innocent life. I will be contacting my national association about this matter as she has tarnished the profession for which she has chosen." Underneath the clinic's statement, Sheilah Christensen wrote: "She needs to be in jail for animal abuse - follow your state statutes on animal abuse. Take her license away -- my God, what did she do to the animals in her care at your clinic." Cruelty to animals is a Class A misdemeanor under penal code 42.092: “A person commits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly tortures an animal or in a cruel manner kills or causes serious bodily injury to an animal.” Lindsey interned at Equine Sports Medicine & Surgery in Weatherford from 2012 to 2013. She created a personal blog called Wyo-Girl-Kristen Lindsey and posted about herself in 2011, saying: "I love Wyoming and the mountains....the Big Horns especially...but any will do when it really comes down to it. I love hunting, fly fishing, pack trips, the outdoors in general, horses, skiing, dancing, whiskey, my friends, my family, God, raising hell, my daddy, and sheep."
Kristen Lindsey from Brenham, Texas, allegedly hunted the animal down and shot it with a bow believing it was feral and then posted the image on Facebook
Lindsey, pictured with her mother Becky, said after the picture was uploaded that she didn't lose her job - claiming no one would fire her because she is 'awesome'. However she later learned she had been fired
Local prosecutors are now considering whether she should face criminal charges. She was also slammed online with a number of people saying she should lose her veterinarian license
A video of the six-year-old cat that Lindsey is believed to have killed riding on top of a tractor has also surfaced online
The Colorado State graduate lost her job at the Washington Animal Clinic (pictured) after the image began circulating online. She has yet to respond to the image The clinic issued a statement confirming Lindsey had been fired and distanced themselves from the employee. They said they were 'disgusted' by her conduct
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Please join us to find out about animal welfare issues in our city and get an update on the status of the temporary animal shelter in Bowie. Dogs from the PG Animal Shelter and information about kitties available for adoption will be present to raise awareness of homeless animals in PG County. WHAT: Meet & Greet and Adoption Fair DATE: Sunday, April 26, 2015 TIME: 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Bowie Town Center (Front of the Food Court) 15606 Emerald Way Bowie, MD 20716 We hope to see you there!
