6-Year-Old Police Dog, Nero, Beloved K9 at the Oviedo Police Department, Laid to Rest in Emotional Ceremony

Oviedo, FL -  Nero the beloved K9 German Shepherd, made a lasting impression on the Oviedo Police Department.

After 6-year-old Nero was diagnosed with terminal cancer, the department decided to put him down. On Friday, they laid him to rest at local animal hospital. His fellow officers had their hands up in salute and police dogs sat at attention, while Officer David Capetillo walked him for the last time. Nero was given a ceremony with full honors - a testament to the love and loyalty he exhibited during his time on the force.

Nero had spent the last four years of his life working as a police dog, proving himself as an invaluable member of the team. Training video shows just how agile he was, capable of easily bounding into the bed of a pick-up truck to attack a mock suspect.

"He and his K-9 officer, David Capetillo, are credited with numerous drug busts and are also credited with tracking numerous criminal suspects, lost children and missing, endangered adults," said Oviedo police in a statement.

Nero had also played the part of local celebrity. He and Officer Capetillo had performed demonstrations at several events throughout the year, said the department, including each of the DARE graduations at four elementary schools in the city.

Thank you for your service.

Oviedo Fl. police officer David Capetillo walks past an honor guard of fellow K-9 officers from the Central Florida area as he walks his partner, Nero, to the veterinarians office one final time. Nero suffered from cancer and was laid to rest on Friday March 20, 2015.  Ed Ruping, Oviedo Fire/Rescue

Oviedo Fl. police officer David Capetillo walks past an honor guard of fellow K-9 officers from the Central Florida area as he walks his partner, Nero, to the veterinarians office one final time. Nero suffered from cancer and was laid to rest on Friday March 20, 2015. Ed Ruping, Oviedo Fire/Rescue

Officers from the Central Florida area salute after Oviedo Fl K-9 Nero was laid to rest after four years of service to the City of Oviedo police department. Nero suffered from cancer and was laid to rest on Friday March 20, 2015. Ed Ruping, Oviedo Fire/Rescue

Oviedo Fl. police officer David Capetillo and his wife Lt Heather Capetillo walks past an honor guard of fellow K-9 officers from the Central Florida area. His partner, Nero, who was diagnosed with cancer earlier in the week was laid to rest on Friday March 20, 2015. Ed Ruping, Oviedo Fire/Rescue


Condolences on The Lake Mary Police Department Facebook page:

Asking for thoughts and prayers today as Officer D. Capetillo and his family say goodbye to Oviedo Police Department’s K-9 Nero . It was discovered that this sweet boy has an inoperable tumor on/in his heart. A gut wrenching decision was made to hold his paw while he crosses the bridge today. Officer Nero, we thank you for spending your days dedicated to your work and your handler. As the Capetillo and Oviedo Police Department deal with this loss, we send them our love and support.

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Camp Springs, Maryland - Adorable Cats/Kittens Available for Adoption at Coolridge Animal Hospital - Take a Look at These Cuties…and Pick Your Favorite

In February, I shared with you several adorable cats/kittens being fostered at the Coolridge Animal Hospital. Now they are all available for adoption.

While Coolridge is an Animal Hospital, and not a shelter, the staff came upon three cats and took them in, treated them, and now they are ready for their forever homes.

One cat, Iris was found alone, and later the staff found that she was the mother of two cute kittens. The staff named them Frito and Cheeto.

Our fosters Garrett and Gracie seeking their forever home together. They are an adorable pair that love playing together and have a special bond.

Garret, is a 1 -2 year old lovable male. We have been fostering him until we can get him a forever home, hopefully with his sister Gracie. He is healthy and need no medical care for 6 months at next check-up, has been neutered and tested.

We found Gracie, after we found Garrett.  They are from the same home. Gracie is 1-2 years old and up to date on all annuals, and spayed, she will only need a 6 month check-up in 6 months, she is a healthy and happy girl!

If you have room in your home and in your heart for Garret, Gracie, Iris, Frito or Cheeto,
please contact:

Coolridge Animal Hospital
6801 Old Branch Avenue
Camp Springs, Maryland
(301) 449-1610

Website: http://www.coolridgeah.com/



Take a look at their pictures below:

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Washington, DC - Cat Found in the 1400 Block of G Street, NE with Eye Injury: $5,000 Reward For Information Leading to the Arrest/Conviction of the Person(s) Responsible for this Horrific Act of Animal Cruelty - Washington Humane Society

$5,000 REWARD: On Friday March 13, 2015, a community cat was recovered from the 1400 Block of G St. NE with an eye injury. The cat was found for have a BB lodged in his eye while receiving treatment. Based on the condition of the eye/wound it is suspected that the cat was shot not much earlier than the day he was recovered.

WHS is seeking the help of the community for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this horrific act of animal cruelty. The Washington Humane Society is offering a $5,000 reward that will be given to any person who provides such information.

If you have any information about this case, please contact the
Washington Humane Society Humane Law Enforcement Department:

Officer D’Eramo
dderamo@washhumane.org
(202) 723-5730
Information will be kept confidential upon request.

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Did You Know That There Are Only About 600 Black Jaguars Left in the World? Take a Look at this One Found Swimming in the Amazon River in Brazil

Juruena National Park, Brazil, -The President of the World Wildlife Fund and his boat crew captured footage of a rare black jaguar taking a swim in the Amazon River in Brazil.

Carter Roberts, President and Chief Executive of the WWF, said he and his team were out on the Amazon River in Brazil's Juruena National Park in late January when they spotted the "huge male jaguar" swimming near their boat.

Roberts said the sighting serves as "evidence of the importance of this intact region and how interconnected it is."

The WWF estimates there are only about 600 black jaguars left in the world.

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Remember the Video of Hulk the Worlds Largest Pit Bull? Dynasty K9’s, is Now Charging $20,000 for His Stud Services

If You missed it, you can view it here:

This Pit Bull is 17-Months-Old, and Already Weighs Over 173 Pounds: Appropriately, His Named is Hulk

The public debut of Hulk, the worlds largest Pit Bull, caused a great deal of controversy last month. The 174 pound dog sparked debate over backyard breeding, the safety of Pit Bulls as a breed, and the ethics of breeding dogs (in any capacity) for size and aggression. Well, Hulk is making more waves, this time over the price tag of studding him out. Dark Dynasty K9’s, who are responsible for Hulk, are charging $20,000 for impregnation services. Yes, for about half of the average household income, you can contribute to this heinous practice. What a sweet deal.

The Animal Rescue Site has written about the dangers of breeding, especially when done in puppy mills or for specific traits, like Hulk. What makes his story so tragic is not just the considerable damage he may have, or may pass down, from linear breeding, but the way Dark Dynasty is advertising him.

Their website also features a video section, every single one highlighting how dangerous and deadly these dogs are. There is much to be said about the kind of clientele they are cultivating, and the fuel they are giving anti-Pit Bull advocates, but they are also contributing to the “designer dog” field. Well over a million dogs are euthanized in shelters every year, nearly 800,000 being Pit Bulls.

Overpopulation is a major concern among Pit breeds (some states consider American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or any breed with similar “characteristics” to be Pit Bulls), and the fact that there is a market for $20,000 semen is only adding to the list of dogs that don’t “make the cut.”

Another concern about this now-famous pup is how his breeders encourage dog fighting, unintentionally or not. Dark Dynasty uses shock collars, choke chains, heavy restraints, and antagonizes them with violence in order to make them “the best security dogs” that they can. These practices are disturbingly close to how dog fighting rings are ran, and these animals are the exact target of underground rings.

Animal lovers are well aware of these issues. However, Hulk’s viral debut was met with a great deal of awe, and his newly priced services are keeping him in the public eye, a public that doesn’t know about how terrible the world surrounding him really is. To them he’s huge, adorable (or scary), and apparently worth $20,000.

There must be a reason right? The takeaway is that Hulk is worth it, encouraging people to look at purebred animals and bypassing shelters. This glorification is why shelters are overcrowded, why states are banning Pit Bulls, and why the breed is among the most contentious and misunderstood.

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Are You Leaving Dog Poop in The Yard?: The Dangers of Not Cleaning Up After Your Dog

Is dog poop dangerous?
Cleaning up after your dog can be a stinky job, but somebody's got to do it!
Constant clean up is necessary for a healthy environment for you and your family.

Love, food, and shelter were all things you actively agreed to
providing for your new pet when you purchased or adopted them.
Sanitation and cleanup are also important facets of pet ownership
that are critical to the health and well-being of your entire
family.

Dog feces is as high as 3rd on the list of contributors to
contaminated water. Cleaning up after your dog is one guarantee in
the life of every pet owner. Left un-checked, your yard can quickly
turn into a mine field of feces in a week or less. On average, dogs
do a number two twice per day which adds up to about 14 piles of
poo in just one week, per dog. Contrary to popular belief, dog
feces is not fertilizer and does not provide any benefit to the
soil.

So, what's in it?
Dog feces may contain parvovirus, whipworms, hookworms, roundworms,
threadworms, campylobacteriosis, giardia, and coccidia. If left
unattended, these parasites will contaminate the water, soil, and
can even cause infection in both pets and humans (especially
children). The microscopic Hookworm larvae can be passed to another
pet or person directly through the skin or by accidental ingestion
as can other bacteria.

What bacterias can cause infections in both pets and humans?
Yes, humans are capable of contracting hookworms, tapeworms,
threadworms and campylobacteriosis. This is the most significant
reason to avoid allowing dogs (especially puppies) to like your
face and mouth - affectionately known as "puppy kisses". If a dog
has recently eaten feces or attempted to groom their hind quarters
and come into contact with this infectious material, there is a
chance the parasites will be passed directly into your mouth.
Children are especially venerable to infection because they tend to
enjoy playing in the dirt, where parasites such as hookworm larvae
lay dormant waiting for a new host. Young children may also put
dirty hands or toys in their mouth, further increasing the chance
for infectious material consumption.

What can you do to prevent the spread of infections/bacteria?
Pet feces can be catastrophic to the local water table,
contaminating nearby ponds, lakes, rivers and drinking water. When
feces is allowed to remain on the soil for long periods, rainstorms
will begin to dilute and break apart the feces and slowly spread
the bacteria on other contaminants into local water sources. If
your yard happens to hold water for extended periods of time, the
problem may be amplified.

To avoid potential infection, dog feces should be removed from the
yard every 1 - 7 days, depending on the size of the dog and number
of dogs in the household. Larger dogs will need more frequent
cleanup, as will households with more than 1 dog. A family with one
Pomeranian will have a much lower environmental impact than the
family with 2 Great Danes.

If you are too busy to clean up after your dog, or the thought of
it just makes you gag, there are many services available today,
that will gladly do the dirty work for you.

A sanitation expert will locate and remove any feces found on
premises 1 or more times per week for a fee. Some
areas do have legal statutes that regulate the cleanup and disposal
of pet waste, so be sure to contact your local health board for
more information.

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A Man Rescued and Raised a Lion Cub in a Wildlife Park: Each Time They Meet the Lion Holds Him in an Affectionate Embrace

Valentin Gruener, rescued a young lion cub In 2012.  He raised him at a wildlife park in Botswana. Little did he know that this would be the start of an extraordinary relationship. Now an astonishing scene is repeated each time they meet - the young lion leaps on Gruener, and holds him in an affectionate embrace.

The lion cub, Sirga, was rescued from a holding pen established by a farmer, who was tired of shooting animals that preyed on his cattle.

"The lions had already killed two of the three cubs inside the cage. And the mother abandoned the remaining cub. She was very tiny, maybe about 10 days old," said Gruener.

The farmer, Willy de Graaf, asked Gruener to try to save her.  He agreed and took her to a wildlife park, financed by de Graaf and became her adoptive mother, "feeding her and taking care of her".

"You have this tiny cute animal sitting there and it's already quite feisty," he says. "It will become about 10 times that size and you will have to deal with it."

She's much bigger now, and when Gruener opens her cage, she still rushes to greet him,- ecstatically throwing her paws around his neck.

"This happens every time I open the door. It is an amazing, and happens every time we meet.  It's such a passionate thing for this animal to jump and give me a hug," says Gruener.

"But I guess it makes sense. At the moment she has no other lions with her in the cage and I guess for her I'm like her species. So I'm the only friend she's got. Lions are social cats so she's always happy to see me."

They spend their time hanging out in the Botswana bush, doing the kind of things that cats enjoy, such as lying around under trees, play-fighting, and hunting.

"I don't believe we have to teach the lion to hunt. They have this instinct like a domestic cat or even a dog that will try to hunt. Any cat will catch a bird or a mouse. The lion will catch an antelope when it gets big enough," said Gruener.

"I'm definitely giving her that opportunity to hunt, about three times a week at the moment. Each walk takes five hours - sometimes up to nine. We sort of hunt together and I'm helping to show her how to kill something rather than catch it."

After Sirga's first kill, Gruener wasn't sure if it would still be safe for him to get close to the lion. But "she let me come in", he says.

"It's a bit cruel because she will catch an antelope and hold it down, and when it gets tired she could simply go and bite it in the throat and kill it. But because it's so exciting she's like a cat that keeps on playing with the mouse.

"It's not so lovely to watch when a lion has an antelope in front of her and she's having fun playing with this antelope."

Willy de Graaf has given Gruener two miles or land to create a "miniature park" where Sirga can roam freely, but she will not be released into the wild. Not because she could not survive, Gruener says, but because she has lost her fear of humans.

Under those circumstances she is likely to get too close to humans, and if there is an accident she will end up getting shot. "And that's not really the whole point of raising a lion," said Gruener.

In the park Sirga can live like a wild lion, but remain safe, he says. "That's the plan for her future."

And what of his own future? Gruener has put aside work on a PhD while he has been raising Sirga, and has hardly ever left her alone.

"If she gets into a bigger enclosure with gets more space, then maybe I can get another lion to give her companionship. Then I would be able to leave her for longer periods of time, and I can finish my studies.

"But as long as she needs me, and as long as I feel I want to be there, she I will be my priority.

"I doubt anything will change much between me and her."

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The Peninsula Humane Society and SPCA in Burlingame, CA - Giving Free DNA Tests Under the Slogan "Who's Your Daddy?"

Burlingame, CA - A quarter of the dogs taken in by one California animal shelter look like Chihuahuas. So how do you make a pet stand out when it's similar to so many other dogs at the shelter? Check the DNA.

The Peninsula Humane Society and SPCA in Burlingame, a 30-minute drive south of San Francisco, began free DNA tests under the slogan "Who's Your Daddy?" Scott Delucchi, the shelter's senior vice president, came up with the idea to speed up adoptions of Chihuahua-centric dogs.

Because pets become part of the family, the $50 tests allow owners to find out the background of their pooches and certain traits they could exhibit. The tests also allow the shelter to get creative by coming up with clever breed names that can boost adoption odds.

For example, the Chihuahua-Australian shepherd-Jack Russell terrier-collie became a "Kiwi collier"; a Yorkshire terrier and beagle mix became a "Yorkle"; and a golden retriever-miniature pinscher-Chihuahua was proclaimed a "golden Chinscher."

In February, the shelter tested 12 lookalike dogs. One of the results was inconclusive, but 11 showed mutt combinations that the facility had never seen before. The tested dogs were all placed within two weeks — twice as fast as any 11 untested small, brown dogs in the previous months.

Twelve more dogs were tested, and once the last few in that group are placed, 24 more dogs will find out their breed backgrounds, Delucchi said.

In the two batches of tests, only 10 of 23 dogs had no Chihuahua in them. Chihuahuas took over from the glut of pit bull mixes that dominated the shelter until five or six years ago, Delucchi said.

There are a lot of reasons Chihuahuas became so popular, he said, citing Hollywood stars toting them in purses and the "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" movies.

Seeing one of the tiny dogs at the shelter changed Lynn Mazzola's mind about what kind of pet she wanted.

Mazzola of San Carlos, California, wanted a big dog, but 2-year-old, 6-pound Lily stole her heart. DNA results showed her that her new dog was part miniature pinscher, part Yorkie terrier and part Chihuahua, which the shelter dubbed a "Chorkie."

Knowing Lily's DNA gives you clues to her behavior, Mazzola said. For example, "it explains why she goes after birds and mice and she's not nervous like a Chihuahua," she said.

Mazzola's husband was about to undergo surgery and she wanted the dog to keep him company while he recovered.

After his operation, "he walked in the door, she ran up to him and hasn't been out of his lap since," Mazzola said of the dog that had been at the shelter for seven months.

The adoption promotion helped Lily, but it's going to take more than a gimmick to reduce the "alarming" number of Chihuahua mixes coming in, Delucchi said.

"Another part is making spay-neuter low-cost or free to the community," he said. "If you have a lot of one breed, you target that breed and those owners and make it easy for them to do the right thing and get them fixed."

He said facilities also work with states that need small dogs, such as Florida and New York, by flying in as many as they can handle.

Despite the promotion's tagline, the question that never gets answered is "Who's Your Daddy?" The DNA tests describe two parents, but they don't reveal which one is dad.

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