Afghanistan Veteran and His Former Canine Comrade for Two Years, Reunite After they Both Returned from War

Any reunion between two war buddies is bound to be emotional, but after a nationwide search brought together a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran with the bomb-sniffing dog he served with, tears and wags were in order.

Lance Cpl. Dylan Bogue served in Afghanistan for seven months with the black lab Moxie, but hadn't seen his former partner for two years.

'I'm very happy, very grateful for the people that made this come together. It's really truly a dream,' Bogue told (WHDH- TV).


Bogue and Moxie were paired up at a training course in North Carolina in 2011 before being deployed to Afghanistan, where they worked to detect improvised explosive devices.

Still, Bogue insists that Moxie did more than just protect his unit from bombs.
"It was comforting and reassuring to myself and my unit to have a dog there in the stressful situations of a combat deployment," he told the Boston Herald.

Bogue said that he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, and believes that Moxie does too.

After returning to the U.S., Moxie began working with Boston's transit police and was an integral part of security at this year's marathon, searching for explosives on Boston's metro line.

"We did a lot of security work leading up to the last Boston Marathon, we were all over that Green Line," said Chip Leonard, the handler who gave up Moxie.

At the handover ceremony on Wednesday, Leonard was emotional as he saluted Bogue and said goodbye to his trusted partner.

"This was probably one of the toughest things I've ever gone through,' he told WBZ. Leonard later posted to Facebook that Bogue has "got his good pal back with him."

The reunion was made possible by Vietnam vet Lon Hodge, who sent out a call to find Moxie through his blog where he writes about the importance of service dogs to veterans' well-being.

Now that Moxie is retired from service, he'll join the civilian canines at Bogue's home, which include three pit bulls and an Australian shepherd.

Companion: Lance Cpl. Dylan Bogue had not seen his former partner Moxie for two years after the pair served together in Afghanistan.

Comfort canine: Bogue says that he and Moxie have PTSD but that his partner's presence with his unit was reassuring.

Service dog: Moxie will be with civilian dogs when he returns to Bogue's home. Here he dozes with Bogue and his unit.

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Lymphoma in Cats

Lymphoma (cancer that originates in the lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell) is one of the more common cancers in cats. Male cats, and cats in the Northeast in general, have an increased risk-probably related to an increased risk of feline leukemia virus. Cats who test positive for FeLV have a 60-fold increased risk of developing lymphoma, while cats who are positive for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) have a 5-fold increased risk for developing this type of cancer. Cats who are positive for both viruses have an 80-fold increase in their risk of developing lymphoma. Whether these viruses have a direct effect in causing the cancer or act primarily by interfering with the cat’s normal immunity is not known for certain.

The most common lymphoma sites in cats are the gastrointestinal system, the spine, and the chest cavity. The gastrointestinal type is the most common of the three forms of lymphoma and is not as closely associated with FeLV as are the other two. This type appears in older cats as weight loss and a drop in appetite. Some cats will vomit and/or have diarrhea, depending on the exact location of the cancer. Stomach cancers tend to cause vomiting and intestinal cancers are more likely to cause diarrhea. Siamese and domestic shorthairs seem to have an increased risk of developing this type of lymphoma.

Mediastinal lymphoma occurs in the lymph nodes inside the chest cavity. Cats under 5 years of age who are FeLV positive are at risk for developing this type of cancer, especially if they are Siamese or one of the Oriental breeds. Fluid will build up and leads to difficulty breathing, along with regurgitation and loss of appetite.

Spinal lymphoma tends to show up in 3- to 4-year-old male cats, especially if they are FeLV positive. The first signs may be problems with their hind legs.

How is lymphoma in cats diagnosed?
Diagnosis of lymphoma in cats is based on results of a physical examination and microscopic examination of biopsies or cells taken from affected tissues. This will not only confirm the diagnosis, but help to determine how aggressive the cancer may be, and provide a basis for treatment and prognosis. A complete blood count, serum chemistry, urinalysis, radiographs (X-rays), and/or ultrasound examinations are generally performed to assess the health of the cat and determine which organ systems may be involved. Testing for FeLV and FIV may reveal that a cat is positive for one or both of these diseases, which will affect the prognosis. A PCR for Antigen Receptor Rearrangement (PARR) test can help differentiate lymphoma from other diseases. Examination of samples taken from the bone marrow may also be indicated in some cases.

How is lymphoma in cats treated?
Treatment for feline lymphoma usually consists of chemotherapy. In almost all cases a combination of different drugs is given over the course of many weeks. These drugs may include chlorambucil, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, L-asparginase and prednisolone or prednisone. In some cases, such as cats with nasal lymphoma, radiation therapy may also be used. In general, cats tolerate chemotherapy very well. If side effects become severe, the treatment protocol can be modified to decrease the effects.

Treatment: Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy have all been used to treat lymphomas, depending on the exact location and whether the cancer has spread. The prognosis is best for a cat with a single intestinal nodule and worst for a cat with a spinal growth.

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Lymphoma in Dogs

Canine lymphomas are a diverse group of cancers, and are among the most common cancers diagnosed in dogs. They collectively represent approximately 7-14% of all cancers diagnosed in dogs. There are over 30 described types of canine lymphoma, and these cancers vary tremendously in their behavior. Some progress rapidly and are acutely life-threatening without treatment, while others progress very slowly and are managed as chronic, indolent diseases. Lymphomas may affect any organ in the body, but most commonly originate in lymph nodes, before spreading to other organs such as the spleen, liver, and bone marrow.

What is lymphoma?
The term “lymphoma” describes a diverse group of cancers in dogs that are derived from white blood cells called lymphocytes. Lymphocytes normally function as part of the immune system to protect the body from infection. Although lymphoma can affect virtually any organ in the body, it most commonly arises in organs that function as part of the immune system such as the lymph nodes, spleen, and bone marrow. By far the most common type of lymphoma in the dog is multicentric lymphoma, in which the cancer first becomes apparent in lymph nodes.

Other common lymphomas in dogs include cutaneous lymphoma (lymphoma of the skin), alimentary or gastrointestinal lymphoma (lymphoma of the stomach and/or intestines) and mediastinal lymphoma (lymphoma involving organs within the chest, such as lymph nodes or the thymus gland).

What causes lymphoma in dogs?
Unfortunately, the cause of lymphoma in dogs is not known. Although several possible causes such as viruses, bacteria, chemical exposure, and physical factors such as strong magnetic fields have been investigated, the cause of this cancer remains obscure. Suppression of the immune system is a known risk factor for the development of lymphoma in humans. Evidence for this includes increased rates of lymphoma in humans infected with the HIV virus or are on immune-suppressing drugs following organ transplantation surgery. However, the link between immune suppression and lymphoma in dogs is not clearly established.

How is canine lymphoma diagnosed?
The best way to diagnose lymphoma is to perform a biopsy. A biopsy is a minor surgical procedure to remove a piece of lymph node or other organ affected by cancer. The most common methods for lymph node biopsy are Tru-cut needle biopsy, incisional wedge biopsy, or removal of an entire lymph node (excisional biopsy). The larger the biopsy sample, the better the chance for an accurate diagnosis of lymphoma.

We routine perform biopsy procedures to diagnose canine lymphoma at the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (PUVTH). Dogs are placed under heavy sedation or general anesthesia to perform a biopsy. Although discomfort associated with this procedure is typically minimal, we often prescribe oral pain medication afterwards just to be sure your dog is comfortable following the biopsy.

How is canine lymphoma treated?
The most effective therapy for most types of canine lymphoma is chemotherapy. In some cases, surgery or radiation therapy may also be recommended. There are numerous chemotherapy treatment protocols for dogs with multicentric lymphoma. As discussed below, most dogs with lymphoma experience remission of their cancer following treatment, and side effects are usually not severe. Currently, the protocols that achieve the highest rates of remission and longest overall survival times involve combinations of drugs given over several weeks to months. The protocol we use as a “gold standard” for the treatment of canine multicentric lymphoma is a 25-week protocol called UW-25. It is based on a protocol called CHOP that is commonly used to treat lymphoma in humans.

The UW-25 protocol may not be appropriate for all dogs with lymphoma. Different types of lymphoma may be treated with different chemotherapy drugs. For instance, the most effective drug for cutaneous lymphoma is thought to be lomustine (CCNU). The veterinary oncologists and oncology residents at the PUVTH will help you decide on a chemotherapy treatment protocol that is appropriate for your dog.

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A Zoney, a Cross-Breeding Between a Zebra and a Donkey, Born at Crimean Zoo

A zoo in the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea has welcomed its latest arrival – a "zonkey", which was born after a lonesome zebra got intimate with a donkey.

Named Telegraph by keepers at the Taigan zoo park in southern Crimea, the foal's head and body are the solid brown of a donkey but his legs have the characteristic black stripes of a zebra.

Born last week, "Telegraph is very popular with visitors" who can watch him romping around with his mother, according to zoo director Oleg Zubkov.

Cross-breeding between zebras and other members of the equine family is not unheard of, although it is rare that the zebra is the mother.

But the breeding of zonkeys or other hybrids is normally frowned upon by the zoo community.

"Such things don't happen in civilized zoos, but can occur at private zoos or on farms," said Anna Kachurovskaya, a spokeswoman for Moscow Zoo.

"This sort of marketing is not justified or scientific ... zoos are for preserving wild species, that is one of their most important goals."

Zubkov said Telegraph's mother, who had not had a mate for a long time, was lonely and uncomfortable in her enclosure at the private zoo founded two years ago about 20 miles from Crimea's main city Simferopol.

"So on the advice of a zoologist we moved her in with several other hoofed animals and she really liked the donkey. As a result of their affection for one another we've gotten Telegraph," Zubkov said in an email to AFP.

Telegraph was named after a local newspaper which recently celebrated its fifth anniversary.

Russia seized the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in March in a move hotly contested by Kiev and the international community.

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Brooklyn, New York Residents Set Up "Wall of Shame" for Messy Dog Walkers

Dog walkers who don’t clean up after their pets on one Brooklyn street could find themselves in for a surprise nastier than the messes their pooches leave behind, thanks to a group of fed-up residents.

The South Oxford Street Block Association said on its Facebook page that it is setting up an online “wall of shame” of photos and videos of dog owners who don’t pick up after their pets on walks.

The group's president, Abby Weissman, already posted surveillance footage of a woman walking off after her dog stopped to do its business by a tree box on a sidewalk.

Weissman encouraged other members of the group to be on the lookout for more scofflaw dog walkers and to send in similar photos and videos.

“There is no excuse for this behavior,” Weissman said in a Facebook post. “If you can’t clean up after your dog you shouldn’t have one.”

Some residents in the neighborhood said they supported the idea.

“I am with y’all all the way (about) catching dog-walkers leaving their poop on the ground,” one longtime Fort Greene resident said in a post to the group’s Facebook page. “Oh does that drive me nuts.”

Under city law, dog owners who don’t pick up after their pets could face a $250 fine.

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Esteemed NIH Scientist Crushed Roommate's Skull with Hammer in a Fight Over a Dog

Rockville, Maryland - A longtime scientist from the National Institutes of Health http://www.nih.gov/ is behind bars, accused of trying to kill his female roommate with a hammer. Police say the attack started because of a fight over a dog.

Timothy Oliver, a longtime scientist from the National Institutes of Health is behind bars, accused of trying to kill his female roommate.

On Aug. 4, Timothy Oliver, 68, of Rockville, left his dog, a 3-year-old Maltese, in his roommate’s care while he was at work. Around 9:30 that evening, Oliver received a blitz of frantic phone calls; it was his roommate reporting a car had run over his beloved pet in the condo parking lot.

According to charging documents filed in Montgomery County District Court, that roommate, whom ABC 7 News is not identifying, told bystanders, "He [Oliver] is going to kill me."

Oliver raced to the Metropolitan Emergency Animal Clinic in Rockville, where his roommate had taken the dog. Staff there attempted CPR, but the animal's injuries were too severe for resuscitation. The Maltese died shortly after arriving. Oliver placed the dog's body in a cardboard box and took it back to his condo along 6000 block of California Circle.

Feelings inside the first-floor unit quickly became tense. Oliver's roommate reportedly attempted to explain what had happened, prompting Oliver to start pacing around the condo. Oliver then allegedly retrieved a hammer from the kitchen, stormed toward his roommate, and hit her repeatedly in the head with the blunt-force object, cracking her skull.

"Are you serious? Oh my God! I didn't know that," neighbor Leila Neza said.
Following the attack, Oliver allegedly kicked his roommate out of his unit, leaving her unconscious on the sidewalk with a depressed skull fracture.

"It’s hard for me to believe,” said Mary Krause, who lives directly next door. "His action went from bad to worse. You don't attack somebody over something like that."





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An 809 Pound Tiger Shark Caught in the Gulf of Mexico, Was Cooked and Served to More Than 90 Poor and Homeless Texans

Corpus Christi, Texas - An 809-pound tiger shark caught in the Gulf of Mexico earlier this month has been cooked and served to more than 90 poor and homeless Texans.

Timon's Ministries in Corpus Christi set up the donation of about 75 pounds of shark meat. Executive director Kae Berry tells the San Antonio Express-News that the 12-foot, 7-inch shark was the biggest fish ever donated to the center. A volunteer chef breaded and baked the meat.

Fisherman Ryan Spring, of San Antonio, had said he caught the shark after reeling it in for more than seven hours.

"It was like playing tug-of-war with a giant," Springs told KSAT-TV. "He’s pulling us and the water is just slapping against the back of boat. It was like a scene from the movie 'Jaws.'"

He said reeling in the giant predator marked the end of an epic battle.

"It’s hard to explain this thing about a fisherman fighting a fish," Springs told the TV station. "You’re probably just talking to yourself but you feel like you’re talking to the fish and saying things you probably can’t say on TV."

Berry says the volunteer chef did a great job preparing the food and "most people really enjoyed it." And the center says there are enough leftovers to serve up some shark stew next week.

The newspaper said Spring's giant catch did not beat the Texas record for a tiger shark, which is 1,129 pounds caught in 1992 by Chap Cain, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife.

The world record for a tiger shark catch is 1,785 pounds, which was caught in 2004 off the coast of Australia, according to the International Game Fish Association.

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Crew Members from Coast Guard Station Cape May Rescue and 800 Pound Leatherback Turtle in New Jersey

Atlantic City, NJ -  A huge leatherback turtle got a second chance at life thanks to the Coast Guard and some animal experts in New Jersey.

Crew members from Coast Guard Station Cape May and the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine rescued the approximately 800-pound turtle Saturday.

It had become tangled up in fishing gear 30 miles off South Jersey.

A good Samaritan aboard a recreational fishing boat spotted the distressed turtle and notified watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay.

A boat crew from Coast Guard Station Atlantic City took a Marine Mammal Stranding Center crew member to the Station Cape May boat crew located near Corson's Inlet.

They traveled to the GPS coordinates provided by the Good Samaritan and located the entangled turtle.

Once on scene, the Station Cape May boat crew and the Marine Mammal Stranding Center crew member assessed the situation and worked to free the turtle from the fishing gear.

"Everybody was excited," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Nick Giannaris, the crewman who physically removed the entanglement from the turtle. "It was one of my better experiences being in the Coast Guard, just seeing the animal so close and helping marine life. Everyone was pretty energized about the whole experience."




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