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U.S. on the 1992 Olympic boxing team; “Every time he’d reach, I’d counter,” he said. “He had my hand in his mouth.” At one point, Nicholson said he was down on one knee, choking the dog. Nicholson suffered bites to his legs, stomach, and hands. “He was strong as hell,” Nicholson said.

PARADISE VALLEY, Wash., - A Washington state animal rescue group said a pair of lost dogs were found with one of the canines keeping watch over its friend trapped in a cistern. The nonprofit Vashon Island Pet Protectors group said it posted pictures of lost dogs Tillie, a setter, and Phoebe, a basset hound, to the group's Facebook page and received a tip Sept. 14 that a "reddish" dog matching Tillie's description had approached a person on their property several times before heading back into a ravine. A follow-up Facebook post said VIPP volunteers searched the ravine and heard Tillie...

Hialeah police officer Nelson Enriquez may have been “neglectful” when he left two police K9s to swelter to death inside an SUV at his Davie home, but he didn’t intentionally kill them, an investigation by the Broward state attorney’s office found. And since there is nothing equivalent to a manslaughter charge in the state’s animal cruelty statute, Enriquez should not be held criminally liable for the death of Hektor, a 3-year-old Belgian Malnois, and Jimmy, a 6-year-old bloodhound. “In order to be held criminally liable for his acts, proof would be required that officer Enriquez intentionally left his dogs in...

A 65-year-old man was killed and a woman seriously hurt when they were attacked by two pit bulls in Southern California, police and local media said on Wednesday.

A former Marine’s missing service dog turned up in Texas last week, nine months after the German shepherd disappeared — and was possibly stolen — from a North County home, a Vista-based sheriff’s detective said Tuesday. On Aug. 31, a tip led Kai’s owner, Alexandra Melnick, to a home in Aubrey, about an hour north of Dallas. The Vista woman flew to Texas and confirmed that her dog was at the home, Detective Debra Hutches said.

<p>PATCHOGUE, N.Y. (AP) — Officials say a pit bull mix deemed "sociable" on behavioral tests was euthanized after viciously attacking his new owner's teenage daughter on the day he was brought home.</p> <p>40-year-old Stephen Neira bought Alex on Thursday after seeing him on a website for rescuing "death row" pets.</p>

Peoria, AZ — When a Peoria resident pulled out her cellphone to record police raiding a neighbor’s home, she never expected to what would happen next. The woman filming, who wishes to remain anonymous out of fear of police retaliating against her, said she pulled out her phone after she heard police say, “I know you’re in there, come out with your hands up.” What she saw next was animal abuse. The K-9 handler lets the dog run to the door and then, for an unknown reason, walks up and whips the dog with his leash. As if the leash...

CHARLESTON, SC – 41-year-old William Leonard Dodson was back in court on Friday, July 17 for a bond revocation hearing. The judge ruled Dodson will stay in prison because he is a flight risk. Dodson faces a felony charge of Ill Treatment of Animals for allegedly taping a female dog’s muzzle shut (Caitlyn) in North Charleston in May. Dodson is currently in jail, being held on a $50,000 bond. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

CALAIS, Maine — Calais officials say an officer who shot a dog Sunday night acted properly. Calais Police Chief David Randall said the department received a call at approximately 9:59 p.m. July 19 about two dogs that tried to attack a third dog at a home on South Street. People at the residence got their animal inside, then attempted to get the other two dogs out of their yard, according to the police chief. “The dogs attempted to bite them,” Randall said. When the officer located the dogs and tried to get them into the police car, one of the...

He said it was when he returned to the campsite that a female cougar emerged from the woods and grabbed 1-year-old Bailey — quickly pulling the dog into the bushes. That's when Hanson said he ran after the cougar in order to save Bailey's life. "I just kept pushing the bushes so I could see and dropped down into a muddy, dry creek," he said. "I was able to spring out of the mud and was screaming at it the whole time.” Without another thought, Hanson said he lunged at the animal, grabbing a handful of her skin. "I was...

A Ramsey County deputy is on administrative leave after he was charged with hitting his canine partner, the Carlton County Sheriff's Office said. The charges are from an incident that happened early June 15 at the Black Bear Casino in Carlton. The sheriff's office says 48-year-old Brett Arthur Berry is charged with assaulting a public safety dog and animal cruelty, both misdemeanors. Berry has been a Ramsey County deputy since 1996. Black Bear security told deputies they had been called into the Cobalt Lounge to ask a man to leave. Security followed him with video and saw him return to...

Ginger Wolfe said ever since her 9-year-old golden retriever Chelsea was a puppy, she has always been a big softie. "There's not a mean bone in her body," Wolfe said. "She's just a sweetheart." But as Wolfe found out over the weekend, nobody messes with Chelsea's family. The 85-pound dog showed her mettle when she took on an angry mama moose that had charged at Wolfe's boyfriend and his family — including two young children — while they were camping between Nederland and Ward. Wolfe, of Louisville, and her boyfriend, Jeremiah McLaughlin, of Boulder, were camping near Ruby Gulch. McLaughlin...

Here are five (mostly) scientific reasons why dogs trump cats. 1. Exercise motivation While dogs demand physical and recreational activity, all cats demand is food and a comfy sofa to sleep on all day. Great job being a role model, Felix! **** 2. Give the elderly a purpose Pets are wonderful stress relievers for people of all ages, but the elderly in particular benefit from owning a dog. **** 3. Sniff Out Cancer Cats have an attuned sense of smell, but they're difficult to train. The top cats also can't match the top dogs nose for nose. **** 4. Smarter...

In family movies featuring dogs, Doberman Pinschers are often cast as the baddies. Why not? After all, they’re large with mask-like features, and if they’ve had their ears cropped, they can look a little frightening. In real life, Dobermans are often employed in police and security industries because of their intelligence, readiness to work and their inherent strength. This dichotomy has led to wild public misconception about the breed – and their role in family life. Ready to separate the facts from the fiction about Dobermans? Here are the myths you may have heard, and the truth behind them. Myth:...

A Cleveland family has been left devastated after an officer shot and killed their beloved one-year-old golden retriever as he was on a leash in the family’s backyard. Cleveland police told the family the officer felt threatened by the dog after the dog barked, even though the officer was aware it was leashed. The incident took place Friday when dog owner Tyler Muzzi saw a stranger walking around his neighbor’s home. Muzzi contacted his neighbor and then called police to check on the situation. Minutes later, police arrived and arrested the man who had by that time broken into the...

When Jessica Gutierrez was deployed to Afghanistan n 2010, she left “Cookies Chanel” with her sister in New Mexico, according to Missouri TV station KMBC. While Gutierrez was gone, Cookies disappeared. Gutierrez never thought she would see her pet again, she told the station. But somehow, five years later and over a thousand miles away Cookies was discovered in San Diego, the station reported. Gutierrez got her puppy micro-chipped on the day she adopted her, which enabled animal services workers in San Diego to reunite Cookies with her rightful owner, who was now living in Missouri

The golden retriever, Figo, underwent surgery and has a leg splintAuthorities say a service dog has thrown itself in front of a school bus to try to protect its blind owner as the pair crossed a road in New York. The golden retriever, Figo, came between Audrey Stone and a mini school bus Monday in Brewster. The crash injured both of them and left fur stuck to the bus' front wheel

Neighbors used canoes to help rescue a woman and her dogs from a flooded home near Lewisville Lake on Saturday.

Donations From Around the World Pour in for Stray Dog ‘Fighting for Her Life’ After Her Muzzle Was Taped Shut for Days Since horrific images spread of a South Carolina stray dog found with her muzzle tightly shut by electrical tape, donations and support from around the world have been pouring in for Caitlyn, the 15-month-old Staffordshire Terrier mix who was receiving treatment Friday at an emergency veterinary clinic. And the reward shot up Friday from $1,000 to $6,000 for information leading to the conviction of those responsible for what one official called ”the most malicious case of animal abuse...

Dogs have been man's best friend for up to 40,000 years, suggests new research. The study shows dogs' special relationship with humans might date back 27,000 to 40,000 years. The findings, published in the journal Current Biology, come from genomic analysis of an ancient Taimyr wolf bone.