A Volunteer Firefighter in Peru Tied a Stray Dog to the Back of his Vehicle and Dragged it Through the Streets to Teach Him a Lesson

A volunteer firefighter in Peru tied a stray dog to the back of his vehicle and dragged it through the streets to teach him a lesson for allegedly biting his son.  

Fortunately, locals were outraged and barricaded his car and got the dog to a veterinarian.

Five-year-old Paco suffered four broken legs and lost all the pads on his feet as he struggled to keep up with the SUV he was tied to as it sped through the streets of Salamanca de Monterrico in Peru.  He had also been kicked several times before being tethered to the car.

Jose Percy Chiroque Chacon told the questioning police that he was punishing the dog for biting his son.  He said he grabbed the dog and tied it up before heading off around town.

Residents saw the tormented dog and blocked off Chacon’s vehicle, forcing him to stop.  They detached Paco and took him to an animal hospital.  Vets said all his pads were scraped off and he lost several claws.

Locals are outraged and say that Paco is a beloved member of the community and has never bitten anyone.

“Everybody around here knows Paco,” one neighbor explained.  “He is really friendly and that’s why he gets fed a lot and hangs around.  Nobody has ever heard of him biting anybody and we very much doubt he bit the man’s son.”

An animal protection law was passed in Peru in 2000, but it is unclear if charges are being brought against Chacon.  However, General Commander Gonzalo Lostaunau Silva of the Volunteer Fire Department of Peru said the man’s actions do not represent the oath their firefighters take and go against the values for which they stand.  He will no longer be working for them.

Hopefully Paco will be well-cared for a recover.

Food Allergies Could Cause Your Dog to Scratch Excessively

There is an ever raging debate of what dogs should and shouldn't eat. Dogs are scavengers by nature and most dogs will munch down on almost anything, but that doesn't mean everything that gets in their way is good for them. Food allergies are fairly common amongst dogs, and a pet can develop an allergy at any age.

The most common allergy in dogs is flea bites. The second most common is created by inhaling allergens, such as molds and pollen. Food allergies come in on third place.

Allergies happen when the immune system overreacts to something that's not really a threat; the immune system believes something is foreign and should be eradicated. This is normally an important defense mechanism that protects the body, but when it comes to an allergy the immune system reacts to something that wouldn't otherwise be a problem.

Dogs are most often allergic to beef, dairy products, chicken, eggs, corn, soy, and wheat. To develop a food allergy, a dog must be exposed to the same ingredient for at least a couple of years.

Symptoms include excessive scratching, paw licking, paw chewing, repeated ear infections, rashes, and stomach problems. Some dogs with food allergies scratch until they lose all hair in an area.

If your dog develops a food allergy, he or she needs to stay away from that specific ingredient. In order to find out what causes the problem, you will need to feed the dog something completely different from what they've eaten in the past.

The dog should eat the new food for two to three months. During this time there can be no treats or tastes of human food. Once the dog is free of symptoms, add back one ingredient at a time to see if and when the immune system reacts.

What To Do When Your Dog Is Afraid Of Thunderstorms

Some dogs demonstrate radical behavior in response to storm or noise phobias. Some researchers believe it is more than simply the noise of the thunder that triggers their fear. Studies have shown that dogs may hear distant thunder claps of approaching storms long before we do, and they also may be able to smell the moisture of coming rain, maybe even sense static electricity generated by electrical storms, and feel changes in barometric pressure.

To read more on this story, click here: What To Do When Your Dog Is Afraid Of Thunderstorms

Watch: Hippo Charges at Boat Full of Tourists (Video)

The tourists definitely did not see that coming.

In a video posted to YouTube on Jan. 11, folks experience a hippo charging at a Pangolin Photo Safari boat in Kasana, Botswana.

The hippo dashed at the boat on the Chobe River, which runs along the northeast border of the Chobe National Park in Africa.

YouTube user David Jackson said in the comments section that the video was taken by his son Craig Clive Jackson while the pair were on a safari.

To read more on this story, click here: Watch: Hippo Charges at Boat Full of Tourists

Why This Stray Cat Is Being Hailed a Hero

While some cats don't have the sweetest of reputations, Masha, a stray cat from western Russia, is being called a lifesaver. The long-haired cat stumbled upon an abandoned baby boy in a box on the street. With frigid temperatures, the baby ran the risk of freezing or worse. Before that could happen, Masha jumped into the box to keep the baby warm.

To read more on this story, click here: Why This Stray Cat Is Being Hailed a Hero

How to Handle a Seizure Emergency in Dogs

Seizures are extremely frightening, especially when they occur out of the blue and your dog has no history of seizures.  Seizures in dogs can be caused my many health issues or trauma so during your initial response to your dog’s seizure, it is important to look for any signs of trauma or incidence of poisoning.

To read more on this story, click here: How to Handle a Seizure Emergency in Dogs

Los Angeles Woman Has Her 8 Foot Alligator Pet Seized by Cops After Claims She Was Feeding it Feral Cats After the Creature Was Found Surrounded by Kitten Carcasses

California animal control discovered an eight-foot alligator surrounded by the bodies of two cats at a suburban Los Angeles home on Monday.

The female crocodile named Jaxson was found in a box with a lid at the home of Laura Mattson, who had been caring for the reptile for years, possibly decades.

'It was found under foliage and debris. You had to be looking for it to locate it,' said Mark Salazar, of field operations director for Los Angeles Animal Services, who said experts estimate Jaxson is 40 years old.

To read more on this story, click here: Los Angeles Woman Has Her 8 Foot Alligator Pet Seized by Cops After Claims She Was Feeding it Feral Cats

9 Totally Fascinating Facts About Cats (Video)

Cats have a reputation for being a bit mysterious, but devoted owners often come to love their kitten's quirks and personality. However, as the folks at Buzzfeed discovered, there's still much to learn about the everyday feline. Watch this fun video to find out why your cat purrs, whether its right-pawed or left-pawed (yep, they're just like us!), and more.

To see video, click here: 9 Totally Fascinating Facts About Cats