Kelontre Barefield, 23, received the sentence after pleading guilty to charges related to the police dog's death and other charges in an unrelated robbery case, a spokeswoman for the Stark County Clerk of Courts told ABC News today. Barefield's attorney, Steven Reisch, didn't immediately respond to ABC News' requests for comment. Jethro was killed in January after suffering multiple gunshot wounds while responding to a burglary at a grocery store, according to Officer Eric Stanbro, head trainer of Canton PD's K-9 unit. The death of the 3-year-old German shepherd devastated Canton PD Officer Ryan Davis, who had been Jethro's partner since he was an 8-week-old puppy.
In March, an 11-year-old girl donated all of her allowance money to help get bulletproof vests for all of the department's dogs. "Officer Davis has received 2,000 letters since Jethro's death, and he was catching up with them over the weekend," Stanbro previously told ABC News. "He came across this girl's letter and donation, and it really touched him." In the letter, an 11-year-old girl named Allison tells Davis, "I sorry about Jethro. So here is my allowance for the bulletproof vests. God bless you and the dogs."
An 11-year-old girl named Allison donated her allowance money to the Canton Police Department to help get bulletproof vests for dogs in the department's K-9 unit. On Wednesday, the Canton PD's K-9 Unit shared a video of some its dogs and handlers on Facebook "[i]n honor of Jethro's killer being sentenced to 45 years in prison." To video video, click HERE.
We’ve all heard that we shouldn’t do it: inviting your dog into your bed. People believe it’s dirty, and it’s just not good for you. People have been saying it for years. But, what if we told you that maybe that isn’t entirely true. There are actual health benefits to letting your four-legged best friend spend the night, and it isn’t just you who’s better for all that cuddle time. It’s better for your dog, too! And who doesn’t want to do everything they can to make sure their little one is as happy as possible? So to all you dog lovers who love snuggling up with their warm, fluffy buddy at the end of the day, keep doing what you’re doing. Chances are, you’ll sleep better at night and we all know that better sleep leads to a better day. It really is a win-win situation for everyone involved! They Give You Comfort
Whether it’s their warm body or rhythmic breathing, there’s just something so comforting about a dog. They make your bed feel even cozier! They Fight Insomnia
Their presence promotes calm, stress relief, and a feeling of safety. So, basically, they take away all of the things that keep you up at night! Snuggling With Them Relieves Stress And Anxiety
As therapy dogs have shown, a pooch’s presence is a great stress reliever. Their positive outlook seems to be contagious, and their attentive nature can be very reassuring. They Provide Warmth
Their warm bodies and tendency to curl up as close to their humans as possible work as a little radiator in the bed. While this can be tough in the summer, who doesn’t love a little bit of natural warmth on a chilly night? They Help Fight Depression
One thing that dogs offer without question is unconditional love. For someone battling depression, this type of connection can feel hard to come by. To receive it, with no questions asked, can work wonders during a particularly tough time. They Make You Feel Safe
Knowing that there is another presence watching over you when you’re at your most vulnerable is such a comforting feeling. Their super hearing and tendency to bark at strangers are all factors in this. It's Good For Your Dog, Too
There’s nothing in the world that your dog loves more than you, so allowing them to spend that extra snuggle time will make their day. They receive comfort from you in the same way that you do from them, so this sleep arrangement is good for everyone!
Sacramento, California - Californians who see an animal trapped in a hot car can now break a window to set them free without fear of prosecution under a bill signed over the weekend by Gov. Jerry Brown. Rescuers can break into the car as long as there is no other way to free the animal, for instance if the animal appears to be in peril, the car is locked and law enforcement is not arriving quickly enough. The rescuer must stay at the scene until law enforcement respond to the situation. The bill was introduced after a series of incidents in which dogs died after being left in closed cars on hot days. Many of those cases have led to criminal charges. CBS San Francisco reports Assemblywoman Ling Ling Chang co-sponsored the so-called “hot dog” bill. To see how a dog would feel, Chang and the other politicians behind the bill locked themselves in a car without air conditioning on a hot day. After just eight minutes, the politicians couldn’t take the heat. “We need to highlight the point that we are cooling down by sweating and dogs can’t sweat. A dog would be dead by now,” Chang said.
Pugs, bulldogs, French bulldogs and shih-tzus have become sought-after in the UK, despite wide-ranging health problems. Their appeal is attributed to having "squashed" faces and wrinkled noses. The British Veterinary Association said the surge in popularity of these dogs had "increased animal suffering". Sean Wensley, president of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), said: "Prospective owners need to consider that these dogs can suffer from a range of health problems, from eye ulcers to severe breathing difficulties. "We strongly encourage people to choose a healthier breed or a crossbreed instead." The warning has been echoed by the PDSA, the Royal Veterinary College, the RSPCA and the Kennel Club. Meanwhile, evidence suggests that an increasing number of the dogs - more correctly known as brachycephalic or short-muzzled dogs - are being abandoned by their owners. Six dog rescue companies told the BBC that the breeds were being given up in greater numbers. To read more on this story, click here:Vets Warn People Against Buying 'Flat-Faced' Dogs
Borysew, Poland - Four rare white lion cubs have been born in a private zoo in central Poland.
The lion cubs were born on Sunday at the Zoo Safari in Borysew and are doing well under the care of their mother, 5-year-old Azira. They are the fourth litter for Azira and 7-year-old Sahim. There are at most only a few hundred white lions in the world. Head of the zoo Andrzej Pabich said the genders of the cubs was unknown because keepers have not touched them yet. On Thursday, a white tiger also gave birth at the zoo, and Pabich believes there are three cubs.
The old saying goes even a broken clock is right twice a day. If you're going by the premise that one dog year equals seven human years, the broken clock is right more than you are. Once in Pal's life that might be right, but exactly when depends on his size and breed. Canine Aging Dogs age at a faster rate than their human friends. Think about Pal during his puppy months: he packed a load of growing in during that formative first year. On the average, a dog will age to the level of a 15-year-old human during his first year. At 1 year old, you might have been standing and taking your first tentative steps. By Pal's first birthday he should have an understanding of basic commands, is sexually mature and may be transitioning from puppy food to adult food, depending on his breed. Size and Age If Pal's a Chihuahua, he's more apt to live well into his teens; if he's a large dog, such as an Irish wolfhound, his life expectancy is about half as long. Smaller dogs not only live longer as a rule, they also mature quicker in their first few years of life. Large dogs mature slower, yet reach senior status at a younger age, often around 5. Small and toy dog breeds aren't considered geriatric until they're around 10 years old. Medium-sized breeds are usually around 7 or 8 before they're considered seniors. Age Calculation Whether Pal's small, medium or large, you can figure by the time he celebrates his second birthday, you're living with a 24-year-old guy. After his second birthday, his growth rate will vary according to size. Small dogs age four years per year after two; medium dogs generally gain five years for every birthday beyond two; large dogs age six years for every human year. If Pal's a 6-year-old Chihuahua, he's about 40 in human years; if he's a golden retriever, he's closer to 45 in human years. All age calculations and charts are guidelines; Pal's health and "age" depend on his diet, exercise and general physical condition. Estimating Age If you don't know Pal's birthday and want to get an idea of his age, a good exam can provide clues. Teeth are a great indicator of age. Puppies have their permanent teeth by the time they're 7 months old. If Pal has a full set of beautiful white chompers, he's probably about a year old. Slight yellowing on the back teeth begins around age 1 or 2, and tartar starts building up around 3 to 5 years of age. If Pal's teeth are worn or missing, he's probably in his senior years, when teeth show the effects of age. Cloudy eyes, graying hair around the muzzle, face, head and body, and stiffness also indicate senior status. Younger dogs have more muscle definition than older dogs, who tend to be either bony or chubby, depending on their activity level. To figure out your dog’s age, click here:How to Figure Out Your Dog’s Age
All dog owners will know that once a pet finds the perfect spot on your bed, they’re not willing to give it up. Nope, not even if you drop a load of cash on the fanciest dog bed you can find. They’re not budging. After months of struggle to sleep comfortably with all eight of their dogs in one bed, one couple came up with a creative solution. Chris and Mariesa Hughes are the couple behind The Mr. Mo Project, a senior dog rescue that places senior and sick dogs in foster homes. They have eight dogs of their own, and were struggling to get a proper night’s sleep with all of the dogs trying to fit in one bed. So they had a local craftsman build them a giant mega-bed, with plenty of space for themselves and all eight dogs. Chris told metro.co.uk: “When we go to bed, all of the dogs try to beat us there and take up all the space on the bed. We didn’t want to allow one dog and not the other so we would manage and often times wake up needing a hip replacement. Having this bed allows all of the dogs to not only sleep on the bed with us but to also allow us to sleep comfortably.” The couple hired Michael, who runs Michael’s Custom Interiors, to create the bed, which is fourteen feet long and seven feet wide. The bed takes two mattresses and is twice the size of your average king-size. It also features under-bed storage, plus a little set of stairs for the dogs who have trouble jumping up on to the bed. “We are sleeping very well,’ said Chris. “Each one of the dogs has his or her spot and it makes it easy now. Gremlin will sleep up at the top of the bed with us and often use one of our pillows. Stig will wait until the light goes off and then jump up with Mariesa and lay under the covers next to her. Sammy likes to sleep at the bottom of the bed under the covers until he gets too hot and then he moves on top of the covers. Money sleeps on the bottom of the bed with his paws in the air, Quinn sleeps wherever he can find a spot, Meatball sleeps as close to Chris as possible.” “Tejas is the only dog that likes his space so he usually sleeps on one of the many decorative dog beds on the floor. Mabel will start out sleeping next to Chris under the covers but because she only weighs 3 pounds we move her to a pack and play next to the bed so she doesn’t get stepped on. They love it, they love the space. They always want to close to us, and each other. They respect our space now, and we’re all able to get a good night’s sleep.”
This is great news. They really need a good night’s sleep to be able take care of the dogs. The bed is now big enough to accommodate a few new pups, if Chris and Mariesa end up adopting more.
When planning a wedding, there's a lot that has to be arranged. The flowers, the venue, the dress, the food — and for one wedding that took place recently, the puppies. Sarah Mallouk Crain works for Pitties Love Peace, a rescue organization in central Pennsylvania. She and her now husband, Matt Crain, are huge animal lovers and have three rescue dogs of their own, and often foster dogs waiting for their forever homes as well. When they decided to get married, it seemed only fitting that they should include their shared love of dogs on their big day. And so, in place of bouquets of flowers, the wedding party posed with adorable puppies. Photographer Caroline Logan photographed the wedding party with six tiny rescue puppies, each with their own unique story. "Having the puppies involved in the wedding brought so much additional joy to Matt and Sarah's day," Logan told The Dodo. "Though they weren't a part of the ceremony, they were involved in their portrait time." Martha, Abigail, Dolley, Elizabeth and Louisa (named after the first few first ladies), are a litter of boxer-coonhound puppies who were rescued when they were just under a week old. They are now 8 weeks old and thriving in their loving foster homes, and absolutely loved posing with Crain's bridesmaids. Biggie Smalls is a 9-week-old pit bull mix puppy rescued from the streets of Brooklyn, New York, and he was the lucky pup chosen to pose with the bride herself. "The puppies of course caused the photos to be extra natural, candid, and carefree — exactly what I strive for in my work," Logan said. "The wedding party was loving all the puppy snuggles."
Even the groom and his groomsmen got to get in on the fun, and there was no shortage of smiles with the puppies around.
The puppies were all on their very best behavior for the wedding, and proved without a doubt that they were definitely a better choice than flowers. If you're interested in adopting one of the wedding puppies, you can fill out an application with Pitties Love Peace to get started.
