This Photo of an Absolutely Adorable, Brown Ball of Fluff is Indeed of a Dog… Not a Bear

The first great Internet mystery of 2016 has been solved. This photo of an absolutely adorable, brown ball of fluff is indeed of a dog -- not a bear.

The dog is actually a female Pomeranian-mix named Bounce, according to Ryan Horn, an employee of The Dog Spot, West Nashville, Tennessee, a retailer, dog supplier and daycare store with three locations in the Nashville area.

Horn told ABC News that Bounce checked in The Dog Spot last Monday, when he took a photo of her and texted it to his friends, joking, "Somebody brought this bear into doggie day care."

One of his friends, Lanier Basenberg, posted the photo to Reddit and Imgur with the same text as a caption. The post took off, and hundreds of users got into a debate over whether Bounce was indeed a bear or a dog. The photo of the smiley "bear dog" on Imgur had nearly 1 million views as of Tuesday afternoon.

"Bear with me -- I think he might be a woof," one user, carson9910, wrote.

Horn explained that Bounce is actually owned by Elizabeth Maguyon, a 19-year-old chemical and bio-molecular engineering student at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Maguyon told ABC News today that she and her family were on vacation in Tennessee when they checked Bounce into doggie daycare.

"We hate leaving her at home and try not to board her as much as possible, so we decided to take her on the road trip with us and then board her there if the hotel wouldn't allow pets," she said.

Maguyon said that while walking Bounce in downtown Nashville,"every single person who walked by her stopped, took photos of her and commented about how cute she was, saying things like, 'Is that dog a bear?!'"

"Since she was getting so much attention, I actually made a joke on the trip that Bounce would become famous without us even knowing because of all the pictures people were taking of her, and little did we know she actually did!" Maguyon said.

The 19-year-old and her family were shocked after several family friends texted them about seeing Bounce on the Internet.

Maguyon said that funny enough, Bounce isn't just like a bear in appearance but also in personality.

"My mom thinks she looks like Paddington, and she also loves to sleep," she said. "She could sleep all day long. She doesn't ever bark either. She naps all day and in that way, I guess she's like a little bear who sleeps lots in winter. We joke all the time she's not even like a real dog."

In light of the Internet fame, Bounce "hasn't let all the attention get to her head," Maguyon said, adding, "She's just a normal, very, very friendly and nice dog."

         

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American Kennel Club: We Have Two New Dog Breeds – The American Hairless Terrier and the Sloughi Have Joined 187 Other Recognized Breeds

A hairless terrier and an ancient North African hound are ready to run with the pack of dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club.

The organization announced Tuesday that the American hairless terrier and the sloughi have joined 187 other recognized breeds. The newcomers can now compete in most AKC shows and competitions, though not at the prominent Westminster Kennel Club show until next year.

Many American hairless terriers are, as advertised, bare-skinned, though others have short coats but carry the hairless gene. Their rise began when a hairless puppy emerged in a litter of rat terriers in the 1970s, wowing a Louisiana couple and leading to deliberate breeding of the hairless dogs, according to the American Hairless Terrier Club of America.

The lively, inquisitive terriers can do well at canine sports and as pets for people with dog-hair allergies.

"They're terrier-smart" but somewhat calmer than some other terrier breeds, said club secretary Lynn Poston of Fontana, California. "They're very easy to live with because they're very trainable."

The sloughi (pronounced SLOO-ghee), also called the Arabian greyhound, was developed to hunt game as big as gazelles. The lean, leggy dogs have some similarities to salukis, another hound breed from North Africa.

Sloughis are known for speed, endurance, grace and rather reserved demeanors.

"They are very attentive to their family, but they are not the kind of dog that will jump on your lap - they are not after you all the time," says Ermine Moreau-Sipiere of Como, Texas, president of the American Sloughi Association. She has owned them for nearly 40 years.

The dogs need patient training, opportunities to exercise, and a substantial fence if they're allowed to be loose in a yard because they may follow their hunting instinct far and wide if they spy prey, she said.

Criteria for AKC recognition include having several hundred dogs of the breed nationwide.

Some animal-rights advocates are critical of dog breeding and emphasize that many mixed-breed dogs need adoption. The AKC says breed characteristics help owners anticipate a dog's characteristics and make an enduring match.

This undated photo provided by the American Kennel Club (AKC) shows an American Hairless Terrier, one of two newcomers recognized by the AKC that can now compete in most of the organizations shows and competitions, though not at the prominent Westminster Kennel Club show until next year. The two new breeds announced Tuesday, Jan 5, 2016, are the hairless terrier and a sloughi, also called the Arabian greyhound. (American Kennel Club via AP)

This undated photo provided by the American Kennel Club (AKC) shows a sloughi, also called the Arabian greyhound, one of two newcomers recognized by the AKC that can now compete in most of the organizations shows and competitions, though not at the prominent Westminster Kennel Club show until next year. The two new breeds announced Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, are the sloughi and the American hairless terrier. (American Kennel Club via AP)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The full list is as follows:

Jack Russell

Staffordshire bull terrier

Pitbull terrier

German shepherd

Rottweiler

Daschund

Boxer

Great Dane

Doberman pinscher

Husky

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Tips for Feeding Backyard Birds in the Winter

If your community gets consistently cold (below freezing) in the winter or has extended periods of snow and ice on the ground, you may be surprised to learn what a huge difference you can make by feeding wild birds right outside your own door or window.  A large-scale winter storm, with deep snow or ice cover, cuts off many birds from their natural food supplies and can actually cause them to starve by the thousands and even millions. Backyard bird feeding can make a real contribution to their survival and even thriving during the winter months.   Here are ten pointers for a successful winter bird feeding season:

1.  Put out feeders with good size capacity:  And/or use multiple feeders to provide ample food especially during snow and ice storms.  There are many stores in your area that sell excellent bird feeders including bird-specific stores and most lawn and garden centers. You can also visit the National Wildlife Federation’s online backyard store to purchase feeders while also supporting the Federation’s conservation work:

2.  Provide nutritious winter seed foods: For most birds theses often include seed mixes of: black oil sunflower seed, hulled peanuts, niger seed and white millet seed.  Mixed seed bags can be purchased at local bird and lawn and garden stores or you can go on line and visit the Scott’s Songbird Selections website for a store locator or to learn more about wild bird feeding:

3.  Offer fatty food too:  Birds need to burn more calories in the winter just to stay warm.  Suet is considered a high energy food because it consists of fat that has 9 calories per gram compared to 4 calories per gram for carbohydrates or protein. Peanut Butter is also popular with our flying friends but is more expensive than suet. Suet feeders are a favorite of woodpeckers and other insect-eating birds

4.  Keep your feeders full: Winter birds need to stock up on calories especially for those long, cold winter nights.

5.  Be consistent and keep feeding through the winter: Birds grow accustomed to your feeders especially in severe weather when the snacks you offer may mean their very survival.  If you leave home for an extended period, try to have a neighbor or friend keep the feeders going.

6.  Remember water: Birds can become dehydrated in winter even if surrounded by ice and snow.  Putting out a pan of water near the feeder on warmer days is a terrific idea.

7.  Stamp down the snow below: Ground-feeding birds such as dark-eyed juncos, doves and many sparrows will be able to gather up the seed that drop from the feeders if they don’t have deep snow to try to manage. 

8.  Hang feeders in cat-safe locations: Place bird feeders in locations that do not also offer hiding places for sneak-attacks by cats and other predators. Think of placing the feeders ten to twelve feet from shrubs or brush piles.  This gives the birds some time to react.

9.  Remember feeder cleanliness: Your feeders can get a little grimy. Because natural food sources are scarcer in the winter, more birds may be attracted to backyard feeders and those feeders will need to be cleaned with some hot water and dried a few times during the season.

10.  Save some money and stock up on seed: Bird feeding veterans say it is best to stock up on birdseed in the Fall when many lawn and garden centers are discounting it to make way for winter merchandise. Stored properly, (in cool dry places) seed can easily last for months, particularly seed mixes and sunflower seeds.

The first days or winter are a great time to start feeding birds.  Once you have bird feeders, some water sources, some shrubs and trees for habitat cover you are well on your way to qualifying for certification as a backyard habitat with 135,000 other U.S. residents.  Learn more about NWF’s Certified Wildlife Habitat™ program and see if you might like to join up.  The winter birds surely need you.

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Feeding Bread to Birds: May Actually Do More Harm Than Good

Many people have memories of going to a park and tossing out scraps of bread to feed the pigeons and ducks.  It is not unusual for people to put out bread that has gone stale in their backyard feeders, too, so that it "doesn't go to waste".  However, caution must be taken with offering bread, as it may actually do more harm than good.

Bread molds fast outside and injesting these molds can cause a whole range of illnesses in birds.  Bread offered in too large pieces may also cause blockages in birds' digestive tracts.  Crop stasis, a condition where the crop fails to empty properly and food ferments leading to secondary yeast infections, can result from bread consumption.

Bread is more likely to attract nuisance bird species, particularly European Starlings, House Sparrows, and pigeons.

The biggest problem with offering bread is that it does not offer proper nutrition to birds.  Birds that fill up on bread feel full, but have not obtained the fats and proteins needed for survival.  Many of our favorite feeder birds have digestive systems that rely on calories obtained from dietary fats, not dietary carbohydrates, for daily health and survival.

Consider the following facts:

• Dietary fats supply bird with energy, essential fatty acids, and pigments. 
• Fats are the most concentrated energy source that a bird can consume. 
• Fats are the only dietary component that is deposited intact into a bird’s tissue. 
• Stored fats are the primary energy supply that fuels a bird between meals, throughout migration, and during a chick’s embryonic development. 

• In small passerines the amount of fat stored is a function of overnight energy expenditure used to maintain metabolic rate and body temperature. Up to ¾ of fat reserves may be used in one night and replenished the next day. 
• When fat reserves are depleted, protein, mostly from muscles, is depleted to sustain energy needs.

100 grams of white bread contains only 28.6 calories from fat; you may get up to 40 calories in some multi-grain breads.  By comparison, 100 grams of black oil sunflower has 354 calories from fat.  How about other favorite seeds of our backyard birds?  The same amount of safflower offers 322 fat calories, peanut chunks give 413 fat calories, and sunflower chips offer a whopping 429 fat calories.  Those tiny nyjer thistle seeds that goldfinches love?  Yup, they're fatty too, providing 342 fat calories per 100 grams.

These seeds all also offer more protein calories than bread.  100 grams of bread offers about 30 protein calories, while black oil sunflower gives 74 protein calories.  There are 56 protein calories for safflower, 91 for peanut chunks, 70 for sunflower chips, and 84 for nyjer thistle.

If you do decide to put out bread, we suggest following these guidelines:

• Only put out an amount of bread that the birds will eat in a day; food left on the ground overnight may attract undesired visitors such as rats and raccoons.

• Brown bread is better than white.

• Crumble bread into tiny pieces.  This is especially important during the breeding season so that it is only eaten by adult birds.  Dry chunks of bread will choke baby birds, and a chick on a diet of bread will not develop into a healthy fledgling.

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Australian Sheep Found After 6 Years: Wearing 46 Pounds of Wool

Buckland, Australia - An Australian sheep has been found after being missing for 6 years.

Sheila the sheep went missing when her owner lost her in dense forest fog.

Six years later, Sheila was found on the side of a road. She couldn't move because of the weight of the wool on her body. Luckily, an experienced sheep shearer stepped in and freed her from her wool: all 46 pounds of it!

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A 600 Pound Elk Fell Through a Plexiglass Window into a Living Room

When Matthew Siegel heard a loud noise coming from his basement, he rushed to find out what had happened.

A 600-pound elk stood staring back at him.

"To see a full-size elk standing in your downstairs living room when you get down there is something that you'd never expect," Siegel told KTVB.

Siegel and other residents in Idaho have seen snow levels rising in the mountainous northwestern state. Rising snow levels in the mountains kill elk and push them from the snowier regions.

“It is one of those years (that) we have a lot of elk and we have our first normal snow levels in the past five years and elk are being pushed into the valley and getting into trouble,” said Daryl Meints, Magic Valley Fish and Game regional wildlife manager.

But homeowners like Siegel never expected to come face to face with the massive animals.

The elk fell through Siegel's durable Plexiglass window.

"It's Plexiglass and able to hold a couple hundred pounds, but obviously not a full elk," he said.

After hours of trying to lure the elk out of the house, officials almost gave up. But Siegel encouraged them to try one more time.

“It took us about 2.5 hours, but we got her out uninjured,” said Alex Head, Fish and Game senior conservation officer. “The basement will need a good, deep cleaning, but we are glad it worked out as well as it did.”

Siegel is hoping homeowners insurance will cover the costs of the damage.

Mountain snow levels are killing elk and driving them into the Wood River Valley of Idaho.

At least one was found trapped in a Hailey-area resident's home on Wednesday after falling through a window into a basement, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game said.

“It is one of those years, we have a lot of elk and we have our first normal snow levels in the past five years and elk are being pushed into the valley and getting into trouble,” said Daryl Meints, Magic Valley Fish and Game regional wildlife manager.

Matthew Siegel was awakened at around 12:45 a.m. Wednesday when a cow elk ended up in a basement room after falling through a window well.

"It's Plexiglass and able to hold a couple hundred pounds, but obviously not a full elk," Siegel said. "To see a full-size elk standing in your downstairs living room when you get down there is something that you'd never expect."

After hours of unsuccessful attempts to get the elk out of the home, Blaine County Sheriff's Office deputies and Fish and Game officers drove the elk up the basement stairs and out the front door by barricading a path with furniture.

“It took us about 2.5 hours, but we got her out uninjured,” said Alex Head, Fish and Game senior conservation officer. “The basement will need a good, deep cleaning, but we are glad it worked out as well as it did.”

The elk did end up with a minor cut on her neck that left blood on the Siegels's floor.

"There is some pretty good damage. I mean, the window is totally destroyed... It looks pretty nasty down there," Siegel told KTVB-TV.

He is hoping homeowners insurance will cover the costs of damage. Siegel says this is the first time in four years that he has seen elk right there in his neighborhood. Fish and Game says that's because there hasn't been enough snow in recent years to push them out of the high country and into lower, more visible, areas where forage is available.

In another incident, at the Hailey Cemetery on Tuesday 10 elk died after eating a bush called the Japanese Yew.

“Japanese Yew is known to be extremely toxic,” Meints said. “This has happened before in the Wood River Valley and other places around the state to both elk and moose.”

Since then, the Yew has been removed from the grounds, and Fish and Game officers removed the dead elk from the cemetery.

"You're seeing them in downtown Twin Falls," Fish and Game Regional Conservation Educator Kelton Hatch said. "In Boise, you're seeing a lot more deer and elk move down to the foothills and stuff, and up there in Sun Valley."

Other elk are being hit and killed on area roads, Fish and Game said. Idaho Department of Transportation is encouraging drivers to pay special attention on I-84 near Mountain Home.

"Particularly during dawn and dusk hours when elk and deer may be on the move looking for food," ITD Communications Officer Jennifer Gonzalez told KTVB.

Fish and Game is urging drivers to be aware, watch the shoulder of the road and go slow enough that you can react if an elk or deer happens to jump in front of your car.

“The best thing for people to do is slow down when driving, when you have elk in your backyard give them a wide berth and don’t push them, and if you have a problem call Fish and Game or local city police or the county sheriff,” Meints said

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Rabies: What Happens When You Get It

Rabies is spread through saliva, the wet stuff in your mouth. It´s not spread by blood, urine, or feces. If an animal has rabies and bites you - or licks its claw before it scratches you - then you could get rabies, too.

You can´t get rabies just by petting an animal with rabies.

If you´re bitten or scratched by an animal with rabies, the good news is that there are shots you can take that can keep you from getting the disease.

What happens if we get rabies?

It can take one month, two months, or even longer for you to know something is wrong. The rabies virus attaches to nerve cells, working its way through the nervous system. Eventually the virus makes its way to the brain, and by then it´s usually too late for doctors to help.

What should I do if I'm bitten by an animal?

Tell an adult right away! Have them wash the wound with soap and water for at least five minutes. Then have them take you to a doctor as soon as possible so the doctor can decide if you need more medical attention.

Have an adult contact your local animal control officer. If the animal that bit you is a pet like a dog, cat, or ferret, the animal may be watched for signs of rabies for 10 days. If it´s a wild animal, the animal control officer will try to catch it and then it may be killed so it can be tested for rabies.

What wild animals cause the most problems?

In the United States, more raccoons have rabies than other wild animals, but it is bites from bats that cause the most rabies in people.

The problem is that bat bites can be so small you might not think they are very serious and tell anyone about them. If you discover a bat in your house, especially in the room where you´re sleeping, you should act as if you were bitten and tell an adult as soon as you can. If an adult can trap the bat, then it can be tested so you will know if it had rabies.

What's the treatment?

You can get anti-rabies shots right away. There are five of them that will be given over 14 days. Two shots are given the first day; one shot goes near where you were bitten and the second in the arm. The rest of the shots go in your arm.

The shots help your body make "antibodies". An antibody is a special molecule that will attack the virus and make it harder for it to enter a nerve cell. If your body makes enough antibodies, the virus will die.

For more information on Rabies, visit the following websites:

Rabies Vaccine:  What You Need to Know

Rabies: Questions and Answers

Information about the disease and vaccines

When Should I Seek Medical Attention for Rabies?

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The Rescue of 66 Dogs from a Dilapidated Rockville Home Being Treated as a ‘Criminal Case’

Rockville, Maryland - The staff at the Montgomery County Animal Services Center remains perplexed after staff there rescued 66 dogs from a dilapidated Rockville home on Friday, January 1st.

"We literally doubled our dog population in one day," Tom Koenig, director of Montgomery County Animal Services, told ABC7. "It's remarkable to me."

On Thursday, December 31st, animal control officers responded to a dog bite call at a home along the 13200 block of Glen Mill Road. While on-site, the female homeowner acted hostile and was overall uncooperative. Officers sensed a large number of dogs were inside her three-bedroom home. They wrote a report and obtained a search warrant. Then around 6:30 p.m. Friday, they returned, search warrant in tow, and discovered the 66 dogs of all shapes, sizes and breeds.

It took 16 hours for staff to transport, catalog, and provide medical care to every animal over the holiday weekend. Although specific treatment has not been disclosed, Koenig says it ran the gamut from minor to major remedies.

Now, officers are constructing a criminal case. Was this a dog fighting ring? A puppy mill? Or a homegrown animal rescue gone awry? Investigators have their suspicions, but have not publicly identified the alleged motive.

"The homeowner could certainly face charges, but that has not been decided yet," Koenig added. "We'll charge as the law provides and there will be due diligence in that regard."

The criminal evidence list is long. It includes all 66 dogs, which has prevented the animal services center from releasing photos or pictures of the rescued animals.

"It was not healthy for them and we feel now they are in a better situation with us than they were there," Koenig concluded.

Veterinarians hope all 66 dogs will one day be available for public adoption, but many have a long road to recovery.

Related: Animal Control Officers Seized a Total of 66 Dogs from a Home in Rockville, Maryland

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A Big Thank You to the Oakland Firefighters Local 55, Who Revive Dog with a Snout Breathing Mask

It’s good to know that firefighters are there to protect our family when we need them to, even our non-human family. This week, Oakland Firefighters Local 55 responded to a working fire. With no visibility and high heat, the firefighters went to work to put out the flames while conducting a search of the area. They found a small dog crate with an unconscious dog inside.

They hauled the crate out of the blaze and immediately provided care to the unresponsive pup. After some rescue breathing, the Ambulance Supervisor arrived with a snout-shaped breathing mask to slip over the dog’s muzzle and give oxygen. With the mask doing its job and workers giving lots of pets and care, the dog regained consciousness.

This story has a happy ending. The dog made a full recovery and is doing just fine. I’m glad to know that these snout masks are being used to keep our fur families safe. A big thanks to all the firefighters and ambulance workers who were on the scene and made sure to value all lives in danger.

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The Benefits of Spaying/Neutering Your Dog

Many folks hesitate to spay or neuter their pet, fearing that it’s painful and wondering what the actual benefits are. Here is a discussion of the procedure and why you should consider it for your dog.

What is it?

Spaying is the surgical removal of the reproductive organs of female dogs and neutering is the surgical removal of a male dog’s testicles.

Both operations are performed while the dog is under anesthesia. Your veterinarian may want to keep your dog under observation for anywhere from a few hours to several days. The length of the stay is dependent on your dog’s age, size, and health. Do not leave your dog overnight at the vet’s office if they do not have techs in attendance.

Certain procedures will require that you bring the dog back in a week to ten days for suture removal. Your veterinarian will be glad to answer any questions you may have about spay or neuter procedures, as well as help you determine the best age at which you should sterilize your dog.

Spaying or neutering is good for your dog

• Spaying and neutering helps your dog live a longer, healthier life.

• Spaying and neutering reduces, or can eliminate, a number of health problems that are difficult and/or expensive to treat.

• Spaying greatly reduces the chance of mammary cancer, especially if your dog is spayed before her first estrous cycle, and also eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer.

• Neutering will decrease the possibility of prostate disease and eliminates testicular cancer.

Spaying and neutering offers benefits for you too

• Spaying and neutering makes your dog a better, more affectionate companion.

• Neutering dogs makes them less likely to spray and mark territory.

• Spaying a dog eliminates her heat cycle, which lasts an average of six to 12 days, twice a year. Females in heat can get blood on your furniture, exhibit nervous behavior, and attract unwanted male dogs to your home.

• Dogs that are not sterilized often have more behavior and temperament problems than dogs that have been spayed or neutered.

• Spaying and neutering can make digs friendlier, less likely to bite.

• Neutering makes dogs less likely to wander looking for females or get into fights.

Spaying and neutering are good for your community

• Communities spend millions of dollars to control unwanted dogs.

• Irresponsible breeding is the root cause of most vicious dog bites and attacks.

• Animal shelters around the country are overburdened with surplus dogs.

• Stray and homeless dogs get into trash containers, urinate and defecate on private lawns and/or public property, and frighten or anger people who do not understand their misery or needs.

• Some stray dogs scare away or kill wildlife and birds.

The cost to spay or neuter your dog is relatively low if you consider all the benefits you and your dog will reap over his lifetime, as well as the satisfaction of knowing you are doing your part to prevent the birth of even more unwanted animals.

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Pet Owner Alert: Most Restraints for Pets in Cars Fail Crash Tests

Many pet owners enjoying taking their dog or cat for a ride in the car, but experts say that when you do, you should keep your pet restrained — for your own good as well as theirs.

"In the event of a crash they can be a projectile hurting everyone, including themselves," said Dr. Flaura Winston of the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She advises: "Keep your pets restrained on every trip."

But experts say many of the restraints being sold in pet stores don't work in a crash. In crash tests by the Center for Pet Safety, a nonprofit watchdog group, 25 of 29 products failed in one way or another.

To read more on this story, click here:  Pet Owner Alert: Most Restraints for Pets in Cars Fail Crash Tests

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A Woman Who Was Protected by Her Pit Bull After a House Fire Early December is Being Charged for an Arson

Landover Hills, Maryland - A woman who was protected by her pit bull after a house fire early December is being charged for an arson that happened on the previous day, Prince George's County Fire Department said.

The woman is being charged with multiple crimes in connection with the December 2 fire that happened in the 4800 block of 66th Place in Landover Hills.

A man was transported for minor burn injuries and then released from the burn unit. The woman was also taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation. Officials later learned of an unreported fire that happened the day before on December 1.

The unreported fire that happened on December 1 was an arson in an occupied home.

The 34-year-old woman, April Newell was determined to be the suspect. She is being
charged with arson first degree, arson second degree, arson threat, malicious burning first degree and malicious burning second degree.

She was arrested on December 31 and is being held on a $500,000 bond.

According to the authorities, the first that happened the following day, on December 2 is still being investigated.

Related: Loyal Pit Bull Who Refused to Leave Unconscious Owner’s Side After Fire, Finds a New Home

Related: Remember Precious, the Dog that Stood Guard OverHer Injured Owner During House Fire? She is Up for Adoption: Please Share Her Story 

  

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A Couple Whose Dog Died Battling Cancer is Now Battling Stafford County and a Criminal Charge

A Virginia couple whose dog died battling cancer is now battling Stafford County and a criminal charge.

For about eight years, Travis and Aaren Evans say Buxton, their Labrador Retriever, was a part of their family. He even served as a volunteer dress-up friend to their 5-year-old daughter.

Travis Evans, who purchased Buxton, is now facing an animal cruelty charge, a Class 1 misdemeanor, after he brought Buxton in to a county animal shelter to be put down.

“I can’t have a misdemeanor on my record and try to keep a career to support my family. They can destroy my family," Travis Evans, a local government employee, said.

The couple told WUSA9 their 8-year-old Labrador Retriever had been fighting cancer.

“He was actually a good dog, we never had any problems with him until he had cancer," Evans said.

A few months before July of this past summer, Aaren Evans said Buxton had a biopsy done on an amputated toe. That is how doctors discovered the cancer. Travis Evans told WUSA9 by the time they got the results back, Buxton had another growth on his paw.

On July 2nd, Travis Evans said Buxton suffered a seizure but appeared to bounce back, so they did not take him to an emergency appointment Aaren had made.

Days later, the two said the 8-year-old lab was visibly weak. They said he was collapsing and decided it was time for euthanization.

On a tight budget, they chose to take Buxton to the Stafford County Animal Shelter, where the service is done for free for county residents. They claim, twice, Travis Evans was told they did not need to bring any documentation of Buxton's medical history.

Travis Evans went alone and said when he got to the shelter, a county animal control officer claimed the dog was seizing and soon after accused Travis Evans with not getting Buxton emergency care.

Depriving any animal of necessary food, drink shelter or emergency veterinary treatment is considered “cruelty to animals” according to a Stafford County code. But the couple says the shelter never told them to go to an animal hospital first and claims a shelter staff member lied about this in court.

“I’m up at night thinking 'did we do something wrong' because, at the first trial, they’re making us out to be monsters," said Aaren Evans.

WUSA9 called Stafford County for a statement but was told their animal control offices are closed on Sundays. The Commonwealth's Attorney's Office is also closed for the holiday weekend.

The Evans' attorney, Jason Pelt, told WUSA9 over the phone, the couple already knew their dog was very ill and added, "the Stafford County courts completely overstepped their boundary."

“He had cancer. That’s what happens to dogs with cancer. That’s awful ... And for this to be happening to us afterwards is awful," said Aaren Evans.

The couple's attorney appealed a judge’s ruling. Travis Evans will now go before a jury for Buxton’s death on February 23.

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The 12 Most Common Plants That Are Toxic to Cats and Dogs

Cats and dogs don’t usually know what things make them sick, so their curious nature occasionally gets the best of them. To keep your pets safe, avoid having any of these common plants around your home.

This visual guide, from Pots Planters and More, provides information from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, and Texas A&M regarding toxic plants that will harm or kill your pets. Not only does it list the plants, like castor bean, dumbcane, and oleander, it also lists what parts of the plant are toxic, how much of it is considered to be harmful, and warning signs that may signal your pet being poisoned. It also features photographs of each plant so you know exactly what you’re looking for. The ASPCA’s Poison Control hotline receives around 150,000 calls due to accidental pet poisonings, so it’s very important you keep these plants away from your pets. You can view the entire graphic below.

To read more on this story, click here: The 12 Most Common Plants That Are Toxic to Cats and Dogs

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