Free Republic

Bystanders armed themselves with anything they could to fend off two pit bull mixes as they brought a boy to the verge of death. A recent court filing disclosed the harrowing detail, as 3-year-old Minnesotan Covil Allen's fate is all but sealed. The court document also revealed the dogs were not full pit bulls, but a mix between a pit and an American bulldog. Known as American bullies, the dog's breed boasts especially powerful jaws that inflict more damage than those of any other breed. This likely proved fatal for Covil, who remains in critical condition. His family has made...

This is the moment police descended on Donald Trump shooter Thomas Crooks’s van which he had abandoned on a side road near the Butler, Pennsylvania, fairground on which the former president’s rally was held Saturday. Obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com the footage clearly shows officers searching the battered white vehicle from which they removed explosives after they were led across fields to its location by their K9 unit. Local resident Cheyenne Thoma whose husband Billy recorded the scenes told DailyMail.com, ‘We could hear the dogs barking across the fields. They picked up his scent apparently and that’s what led them to...

“She was shivering, and she was cold,” said one of the cavers who executed the three-hour rescue. “She clearly had been there for several days.” Jesse Rochette is an experienced caver and has stumbled upon many things below ground. He’s seen glow-worms, salamanders, giant crickets, fossils, bat colonies and crystals. But Rochette was shocked by what he and a small group of cavers found this week deep inside a cave in Giles County, Va.: a wounded dog trapped 50-feet below ground. The first thing Rochette did was offer the stranded pup a slice of salami. She snatched it right up.

Thanks for letting me share the story of how I first met my dog Flip because Sinatra the boxer reminds me so much of him. Want to help rehabilitate dogs with me?

A few years ago, in Bozeman, Montana, a brain surgeon and his wife were walking through a farmers’ market when they came across a booth selling dogs. The breeder, called Svalinn, touted them as a one-of-a-kind hybrid: military-grade protection dogs with elite danger-sensing instincts but the warmth and temperament of a conventional family pet. The surgeon, Regis Haid, took a closer look at the dogs, which did indeed seem magnificent, intelligent, and powerful. Then he saw the cost: at least $150,000 each.Haid’s wife, Mary Ellen, was interested. He told her, “There’s no way I’m gonna spend that kind of money....

These 6 Dog Breeds Are the Best for Emotional Support!An emotional support animal (ESA) can provide comfort, companionship, and plenty of therapeutic benefits if you’re dealing with an emotional or mental health issue, whether it’s anxiety, panic attacks, depression, chronic stress, ADHD, or even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).In most cases, ESAs are dogs (but it’s not a rule). Under federal law in the United States, in order to qualify as an emotional support animal, you need a prescription letter from a licensed mental health professional, like a psychiatrist, psychologist, or even therapist.Unlike service dogs, emotional support dogs don’t need any...

Hundreds of thousands of pet owners have been left without coverage after Nationwide abruptly canceled pet insurance policies earlier this month. The company suddenly announced it was dropping policies for around 100,000 pets - blaming the soaring cost of veterinary care and recent underwriting changes. In a statement on June 14, it said the policies would be dropped when they expire, which is typically between now and next summer. Nationwide said the non-renewals are not associated with the pets' age, breed or prior claims history. But an affected pet owner has dogs aged 10 and eight who have recently had...

In the first time it has issued such a decision, a federal appeals court Wednesday cleared the way for a lawsuit against a Miami-Dade County police officer who fatally shot a resident's American bulldog. A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned key parts of a district judge's decision that dismissed a lawsuit filed by resident Sylvan Plowright after the shooting of his dog, Niles. The appeals court said Plowright can pursue civil claims against Officer Sergio Cordova for unreasonable seizure of property under the U.S. Constitution's Fourth Amendment and intentional infliction of emotional distress. While...

When my family moved to California, we traveled in a station wagon. I think my dad should have pulled a Mitt Romney and put our dog in a cage on the roof. Instead, our dog was in the back, near me. I was 6. Our German shepherd was named Prince. I think his full name was the Prince of Darkness. He didn’t like me. For the better part of 1,000 miles, I made a conscious effort to avoid making eye contact. I could feel him staring at me. I told my parents, but they thought I was making it up....

Hollywood movies like Marley & Me or Hachi: A Dog’s Tale have brought both joy and tears to millions of viewers around the world, with their ability to capture the special bond between humans and their canine companions – aptly dubbed “man’s best friend”. In some ways, not much has changed over thousands of years. The ancient Greeks had their very own stories concerning this special relationship between man and dog. Of all the tales in Greek mythology, one of the most touching and relatable is that of the loyal dog Argos separated from his master Odysseus. Argos was Odysseus’...

U.S. Postal Service workers are facing a growing number of dog attacks, with 5,800 letter carriers suffering bites last year, according to the USPS. "Letter carriers are exposed to potential hazards every day, none more prevalent than a canine encounter. All it takes is one interaction for a letter carrier to possibly suffer an injury," said Leeann Theriault, USPS Manager, Employee Safety and Health Awareness, in a news release to highlight a promotional campaign running this week to draw attention to the problem.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's (R-GA) vicious grilling of Dr. Anthony Fauci in today's House Select Committee on the Coronavirus hearing leads to multiple breakdowns over her "personal attack." Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more:

There were 5,800 mail carriers attacked by dogs last year — about 500 more hair-raising incidents than in 2022, according to the latest rankings from the United States Postal Service. “Letter carriers are exposed to potential hazards every day, none more prevalent than a canine encounter,” said Leeann Theriault, USPS manager of employee safety and health awareness. “All it takes is one interaction for a letter carrier to possibly suffer an injury.” ... New York ranked 6th in most dog attacks on mail carriers ... As in 2022, California topped the list of states with the most dog bites. ....

Joel Bueno shed tears of joy as his four-legged guests entered the intensive care unit where he had been admitted due to a blood clot. Bueno, 34, said being showered with affection by therapy dogs Vida and Lu reminded him of his own dog back home. "It's great to have someone that loves you more than anything else in the world," he told Reuters with a broad smile. "They give everything for you, no matter how you are with them." The visit was part of a trial launched by the Hospital del Mar in Barcelona and the Affinity Foundation, which...

In the annals of pet ownership, two species reign supreme – Dog vs. Cat. They’ve become integral parts of our lives, and each brings a distinct range of traits and characteristics. Heralded as “man’s best friend,” dogs are known for their loyalty, playfulness, and ability to form strong bonds with their owners. Cats, while also deeply attached to their human companions, showcase independence. They are agile, graceful, and often mysterious, keeping their owners constantly intrigued. The choice between a dog and a cat often depends on personal preference and lifestyle. Let’s explore the unique qualities of these beloved companions...

A Missouri police officer gunned down a beloved deaf and blind dog Sunday, first claiming he was putting it out of its misery before backtracking and saying the 13-pound pup made him fear for his life. The disturbing killing was captured in the cop’s bodycam footage — and happened just three minutes after the officer arrived to find the escaped dog exploring a neighbor’s yard. “If you watch the video, the dog is very playful and happy and kind of turned his head when he noticed somebody’s there, looking for somebody to touch him as he’s always done,” grieving owner...

Teddy the tiny Shih Tzu mix was gunned down in Sturgeon, Missouri on Sunday The pooch's owner Nick Hunter was seen angrily confronting the cop Residents are outraged as it was revealed the cop was sent to help the pet A small Missouri town is up in arms after a local cop fatally shot a blind and deaf dog after he mistook is for a stray. Tiny 13-pound Shih Tzu mix Teddy was tragically gunned down in Sturgeon, a town of just 900 people, on Sunday, leaving its owner Nick Hunter enraged. In footage from KOMU of Hunter confronting police...

Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD) has been banned from all nine of South Dakota’s tribal nations. On Tuesday, the final tribe that had not yet banned her, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, voted in favor of banning Noem from its reservation. Flandreau President Tony Reider called an emergency meeting in response to some of the governor’s comments. “President Reider informed the governor that a ban from our territories is imminent and requested that the Governor refrain from making future blanket statements that offend the tribes within the boundaries of the State of South Dakota, some of which depend on state services...

ROME — Pope Francis lamented the West’s continued demographic decline, insisting on Friday that fewer children signals a lack of hope in the future. Countering “outdated” myths of dangerous overpopulation, the pontiff contended that far from being a problem, human beings are the solution to the world’s difficulties. Without naming names, the pope seemingly referred to characters like Stanford biologist Paul Ehrlich, who penned the 1968 doomsday bestseller The Population Bomb, which sparked hysteria over the future of the world and the earth’s ability to sustain human life.

A zoo in China has come under fire after it was revealed that they painted chow chow dogs to look like pandas. The zoo, located in Jiangsu Province, showcased the "panda dog" on Labor Day holidays from May 1 to May 5. While thousands of people came to see supposed pandas, a few thought that their behaviour was strange as they shook their heads like dogs. Nevertheless, many people believe that they are real pandas, as per reports. Visitors' clips seemed to depict the puppies as having black limbs, ears, and eye rings, but their doglike characteristics were still clearly...