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Animal shelters are supposed to be loving places that work hard to save animals. Yet, all it takes is one heartless employee for things to spiral out of control. Anyone who doesn’t love animals shouldn’t be working in animal rescue, but Animal Care & Control Team (ACCT) in Philadelphia supposedly has several unkind individuals working there.

A family’s Pit Bull briefly stayed at ACCT after an incident with the police. The shelter promised it was the safest place for the pup to be. But that same day, they euthanized the dog without warning the family. Even though months have passed, the family still hasn’t gotten the justice they deserve.

One Rough Day Changes Everything

Bryan Landis and Tiffany Lavelle brought home their Pit Bull named Saint when he was only a puppy. Landis had just gotten out of prison, and the couple wanted their newborn son to have a best friend to grow up with. Landis was in prison due to crimes he committed during his heroin addiction, which is still a struggle for him today.

In August 2021, police pulled Landis over while he was in the car with Saint. Landis had to temporarily go to the police station. So, officers took Saint to ACCT during that time, which is normal protocol. Landis wasn’t charged with a crime, and he was told Saint could be picked up after he was released. But when Landis arrived at ACCT a few hours later, he was horrified.

“When he arrived at the shelter, he was told Saint had been injured by the police,” a Facebook post reads. “Bryan was taken to the back where Saint was covered in blood and his jaw was hanging by soft tissue! Saint had not been medicated nor had he received any medical attention. Saint was calm but couldn’t even lift his head to look at Bryan”

Animal control wouldn’t let Landis take Saint home unless he had a vet appointment for the broken jaw. Landis couldn’t schedule anything at such short notice, so ACCT staff assured him that Saint would be safe with them for the time being.

Shelter Stay Becomes Death Sentence

Landis went home without Saint, but he was furious. He and Lavelle called ACCT several times to find out more information, but no one answered. The shelter even hung up on them even though they scheduled a vet appointment for Saint.

Then, Lavelle got ahold of the police, who assured them that they hadn’t hurt Saint. The shelter later claimed that Saint broke his jaw by biting a metal bar, but the officer had a more horrific version of the story.

“Officer Corvey swore Saint was in perfect condition when he was dropped off at the shelter. He stated when they arrived at the shelter a male employee from the shelter was pulling Saint from the car so aggressively that there was blood and feces left in the back seat of the squad car,” a Facebook post read. “The employee then dragged Saint towards the building. At that point, Sergeant Dayton then called the shelter himself to get the name of the male employee. The shelter refused to give him that name.”

So, Landis and Lavelle rushed to the shelter the next day to pick up Saint. When they arrived, staff told them he had been euthanized after Landis left the day before. No one had attempted to contact the family before the euthanasia.

Family Keeps Demanding Answers

The family has video footage of them talking to shelter staff before and after Saint was killed. Before, the staff never said anything about his condition being life-threatening. After, the woman claimed that she had no idea where his ashes and collar were. The family had no piece of their furry friend left.

Aurora Velazquez runs ACCT, and she has been linked to numerous incidents like this. There have even been multiple reports of abuse and unapproved euthanasia at this facility. Even so, no one has been fired for abusing or euthanizing Saint without consent.

“I feel bad because he died alone,” Lavelle said.

Sadly, unapproved euthanasia like this happens far too often. No matter the reason for it, this is never acceptable. Any animal control employees who think it’s okay to euthanize animals without even telling their families should be fired. Lavelle and Landis will keep fighting to ensure that Saint gets justice. They’ve even created a Facebook page to share updates on the situation.

Watch the Heartbreaking Interviews and Evidence Here:

H/T: YouTube
Featured Image: Facebook

The post Animal Control Vows To Protect Family’s Dog, Then Euthanizes Him That Day appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

Veronica Lowe and her family quickly looked for help when their dog became sick. Their regular vet was booked, so they took her to one with availability. At first, everything went well, but then Lowe received an unexpected call. According to the business’ owner, the tiny dog named Sadie had run away from a staff member outside. Yet, Lowe hadn’t realized Sadie would be outside at all.

Lowe’s family is feeling a mix of overwhelming emotions, but they’re not letting it get the best of them. They’ve searched for Sadie for weeks, and they won’t rest until their furry friend is home safe and sound.

An Unexpected Mishap

Sadie grew ill due to gastrointestinal issues, so her family wanted to get her to the vet as quickly as possible. They dropped her off at Alta Vista Vet Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, since there were available appointments. The vet had cared for Sadie as a puppy, so Lowe had no concerns when she dropped the dog off and left for a few hours.

The vet called Lowe once they had taken a look at Sadie to confirm the next steps of her treatment. Lowe and her boyfriend agreed to go through with the necessary bloodwork. Less than an hour after Lowe talked to the vet, she received a call saying that “a situation” had occurred.

“I thought the worst,” Lowe said. “I thought maybe she had passed, or I don’t know. Everything, you know, was going on in my head.”

Thankfully, Sadie wasn’t dead, but she was lost. A staff member took Sadie outside while someone cleaned her kennel space. They claimed that she didn’t want to come back inside, so they tried to pick her up. She bit them, causing them to drop her and focus their attention on the wound. While the staff member was distracted, Sadie took off, and they didn’t see where she went. The bite ended up not being severe.

Trying to Right Some Wrongs

Cyndi Jenkins, the owner of Alta Vista, says her staff have been tirelessly searching for Sadie. They made a post on Facebook and are even offering a $1,000 reward for Sadie’s safe return. While Lowe understands that things like this happen, she wishes there was more communication from the vet. The family wishes they could speak to the person who was last with Sadie to get more details.

“So, we’ve never really got a complete story from them,” Lowe said. “You know, they just continue to state that Sadie was taken out by a vet [and] that it’s typical procedure to take dogs out for potty breaks. Initially, we were talking to the owner, Cyndi, and she was great at communicating with us. And that just kind of stopped. … No return phone calls.”

However, Jenkins isn’t sure what more she could do. She said the employee feels terrible for losing Sadie, but she doesn’t think he would provide any information that the family doesn’t already know. Jenkins also said that she would be having a fence installed soon to prevent this from happening again.

While a fence is a step in the right direction, it’s unclear why the business didn’t have one before. They have space for it, and they’ve lost “less than ten” dogs during their 40 years in business. So, while it’s a rare circumstance, it has happened before. However, every other lost dog was found within two days.

Sadie Remains Missing

It has been about three weeks since Sadie went missing, and the search continues. There have been a few sightings, but no luck yet. Alta Vista is still helping with the search, but Lowe is also working with HARTT (Humane Animal Rescue and Trapping Team), which is responsible for finding many lost pets.

Even though Lowe wants Sadie back more than anything, she mostly wants to ensure that the pup is safe. She hopes someone is caring for her and will return her when they see the social media posts.

“This sounds horrible, but as much as I want my dog back, if somebody were to even just call and say, ‘You know what? We have her. We like her. We’re not giving her back to you.’ – just to know that she’s safe,” said Lowe.

Lowe urges people near Phoenix to keep an eye out for Sadie, but not chase her. If you see her, please call the number on the fliers.

H/T: azfamily.com
Featured Image: Facebook

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Army veteran Josh Rohrer and his service dog, Sunshine, were a pair of familiar faces often seen around the Charlotte, North Carolina area. Rohrer served in the Army from 2002 to 2006. He was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait and suffers from PTSD as a result.

Luckily, Rohrer found comfort in the love and companionship of Sunshine.

“She’s definitely not a pet. Sunshine Ray is a highly trained service animal that is task trained to perform duties toward my disabilities, so she is crucial to my ability to be able to function in society,” Rohrer told WIS 10 News.

Rohrer And Sunshine Were Local Icons

The two-year-old Belgian Malinois had been specially trained as a service animal. Rohrer and Sunshine were inseparable and had become well-loved members of the community. The pair was never aggressive when asking for help but instead would spend their days just smiling and waving at passersby.

“He wasn’t doing anything wrong,” Jordan Huxhold told WBTV News. “He wasn’t begging for money. He never came up to a car until you would give him money. He was just happy-go-lucky, smiling and waving at people. That was a joy for him.”

One Phone Call Shattered Rohrer’s World

Someone called the Gastonia Police Department last week to report that Rohrer was using a dog to panhandle. The police arrived and arrested Rohrer, firmly placing him on the hood of the cruiser during the ordeal. Sunshine jumped onto the hood in an attempt to help her dad, just as she had been trained.

“She was just doing her job, licking me and trying to calm me down,” Rohrer told Yahoo News. “The cops started yelling at her and me, telling me to get her to settle down but they wouldn’t allow me to physically get control of her.”

Sunshine was ultimately tased and took off with a prong still stuck in her side. Someone who knows Roher was able to find Sunshine and was caring for her while Rohrer was in jail. Somehow, Sunshine managed to escape. Her body was found a few days later. The vibrant, loving, protective little girl had been run over by a car.

Community Members Want Justice

Now the community is asking for justice, not just for Rohrer but for Sunshine also. Dozens of people came together to hold a vigil for sweet Sunshine. Rohrer is hoping to be able to find another dog, though he knows his bond with Sunshine was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of love. Despite what he has been through recently and the current exacerbation of his PTSD, Rohrer has one message:

“We can all come together as a community and stand up to the things we believe in,” Rohrer said. “It’s so easy just to be kind to one another and show support, and just smile.”

h/t: wbtv.com
Featured Photo: Facebook/JoshuaRohrer

The post PTSD Service Dog Tased During Veteran’s Arrest Is Hit By A Car & Killed appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

One of the most frustrating aspects of working in animal rescue is seeing incredible dogs spend day after day in the shelter until they’ve been there for months (even years) without interest. So many loving dogs get passed over because they can’t show their best selves from inside a kennel.

That was the sad predicament a senior dog named Cano found himself in. The 9-year-old was taken to Orange County Animal Services after he was found tied up behind an animal hospital, “all alone and very fearful.” 200 days later, he remained in that shelter.

Cano’s Rescue And Long Term Stay

Poor Cano had a difficult time adjusting to life in the shelter, largely due to his fear and distrust of other dogs. He also needed a family willing to adopt a senior dog with no other animals at home.

In an August 2021 Facebook post, OCAS expressed some optimism that those people were out there:

“We get it – we’re basically looking for a unicorn adopter here; someone willing to take in a senior dog who doesn’t currently have any pets of their own. That person is a rare find, but we know they are out there.”

The shelter continued to post about him, sharing videos that demonstrate his love of people. Cano’s smiling face was even plastered onto billboards.

In spite of all their efforts to find this boy a home, nothing worked. OCAS shared:

“He even had his own billboard campaign! And still, no one seemed interested. We could not figure out why, because we had tried everything.”

“Finally On His Way To Happiness”

Nearly 7 months later, Cano’s time finally came. The Rodriguez family, who had seen Cano’s billboard many times, came to the shelter.

“They saw he was a sweet senior dog, eager to be loved. They couldn’t bear the thought of Cano spending another day without a home. So they opened up theirs to him.”

OCAS described that fateful day when Cano was adopted, and it will melt your heart:

Those “unicorn” adopters do exist, and thanks to the shelter’s dedicated efforts to finding them for Cano, he’ll live the rest of his life surrounded by love, not kennel bars.

H/T: People
Featured Image: Facebook

The post After 200 Days & One Billboard Campaign, Senior Shelter Dog Finally Finds A Home appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

When a tiny puppy known as Chicken arrived at her foster home, her foster mom was shocked. Not only was the pup much tinier than expected, but she had the worst case of mange they’d ever seen. Chicken had to be wrapped in a cozy towel since most of her fur was gone. Courtney Davis welcomed the trembling puppy into her home without a second thought.

Chicken went from being a sick, terrified puppy who could barely move to an energetic dog who thrives on attention. The secret to this canine’s success is love! Having a foster home changed her life.

Puppy Begging to Be Loved

I Stand With My Pack, an animal organization, took Chicken in when she was at the lowest point in her life. The mangey puppy was missing most of her fur, and she had the saddest eyes that begged for help. So, Davis took her home, offered her water, and kept her curled up in a warm blanket.

“We did the first bath, and it was the first time she’s probably had human contact,” said Davis.

On her second day in foster care, Chicken finally accepted the food that was offered to her. She gobbled down fresh chicken, which made her start to realize that things weren’t as scary anymore. Not long after, she stood up and tried to walk on her own for the first time. Her first steps were wobbly, but it was still a miracle.

Thanks to Davis’ dog, Shakes, Chicken grew more comfortable and learned how to act like a dog. It wasn’t long before Davis realized that Chicken needed to become a permanent family member. So, she adopted her!

An Unbelievable Transformation

Davis said it took about two months for Chicken to fully walk on her own and another two months before her fur started growing back. But the more time she spent with the family, the more she came out of her shell. Shakes taught her to play fetch, wrestle, and chew on squeaky toys. The two dogs quickly became best friends.

As Chicken learned to play, she started hopping like a bunny whenever she was excited. At the dog park, she bunny hops her way through the grass and water to keep up with her big brother.

“A lot of her curiosity and confidence came from Shakes,” said Davis. “Chicken was totally a part of the family, and her and Shakes became bonded. She was like, ‘this is my life. This is my ride. I’m hitched into this.’ Yeah, she wasn’t going anywhere.”

Now, Chicken’s fur has fully grown back, and she’s full of energy. You’d never know that she was the scraggly puppy that came in months ago. Her personality shines through, including the way she play fights with Shakes and how she rubs her eyes when she wakes up in the morning.

Davis never expected to add another member to her family, but she says Chicken is the perfect addition. The pup never would’ve gotten where she is today if she hadn’t been surrounded by so many loving, caring humans.

Watch Chicken’s Journey Here:

H/T: youtube.com
Featured Image: Instagram

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Animal Aid Unlimited in India responded to the most heartbreaking puppy screams they’ve ever heard. As they got closer, they discovered three tiny pups stuck in rock-solid tar. The dogs couldn’t move any of their legs, so all they could do was cry. One puppy’s mouth was even stuck open because of the tar.

Those poor babies were likely stuck in tar for hours, terrified for their lives. Even when rescuers tried to save them, they still screamed in agony because they had no idea what was happening. But with enough hard work and dedication, the rescuers were able to give them the most incredible transformation!

Hours of Fear for a Lifetime of Happiness

Neighbors reported the suffering puppies after overhearing their cries nearby. When rescuers arrived, they quickly realized that the tar was too dense to pull the dogs free. So, they had to take the entire slab of tar with the puppies still stuck to it.

Freeing the dogs from the tar was no easy task, but the animal lovers didn’t hesitate. They spent hours cleaning up the dogs and removing as much tar as possible. Then, they had to continue cleaning them for days afterward.

“Determined volunteers and staff spent hours to soften the tar with oil and dish soap, with time out only to plant kisses on the puppies’ noses,” Animal Aid Unlimited wrote on Facebook.

The puppies were so thirsty and tired, but after several days of continuous cleaning and care, they were able to run around and play just like every other dog at the shelter.

Turning Their Lives Around

Every day, the puppies transformed even more until they looked like completely different dogs. They became fuzzy, cuddly puppies with joy in their eyes. They were so excited to interact with each other and chew on toys.

“Multiple warm baths later…and wow. For babies who had been on the brink of death, this is what happiness looks like,” Animal Aid Unlimited wrote.

Once the puppies were safe and healthy, rescuers returned to the spot where they were found to look for their mother. After several days of searching, they found the mom, who quickly began nurturing her tiny pups again.

The puppies have come so far since the moment they were found near death. They stayed by their mom’s side until they were ready to find families of their own. Their adorable transformation video will melt your heart!

Watch the Emotional Video Here:

H/T: reshareworthy.com
Featured Image: YouTube

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Michelle Kimball didn’t think anything of it when a stranger wanted to pet her dog. After all, who wouldn’t fall in love with Nilla, the German Shepherd? The man even wanted to take a picture to show his friends, but hours later, Kimball realized something wasn’t right.

She got strange text messages from an unknown number, which turned out to be a man who met her dog. It also wasn’t the last time that something like this has happened to her. The experience shocked her, so she’s now warning other dog parents to be careful and not put too much information on their dog tags.

Friendly Encounter Turns Creepy

The man who took a picture of Kimball’s dog seemed kind and friendly, but things quickly took a dark turn. When Kimball received an unfamiliar text message, she immediately asked who it was. They said, “Oh, I got it off your dog’s collar.”

Kimball couldn’t believe someone would go that far to ask her out. But then, she received another text from someone else who remembered her number from her dog’s collar. They also claimed to know her address too.

As it turns out, this issue is fairly common. Another woman named Shay Grayson said the same thing happened to her while she was walking her Maltese. When she realized the person was taking a photo of the address on the tag and not the dog, she demanded that the person delete the image.

“My home could be broken into. Or whenever I took my dog out one day, he could be out there to either kidnap my dog or to do something to me. There were so many things that could happen with him having my address,” Grayson said.

Experts Warn Dog Parents

Kimball turned to news channels and TikTok to share her story and warn others. Safety expert Barb Jordan explains that it’s common for predators to use dogs to get closer to people. She recommends only putting a phone number on a dog tag and never an address.

“We never think that people are going to be using our dogs to get close to us. But predators, they have no limits. They have no boundaries,” Jordan said.

Some experts also suggest microchipping your pet and then writing, “I’m microchipped” on the tag. That way, people have to go to a vet or shelter to access your information. Of course, having contact information on the tag can be beneficial, but it can also be dangerous.

Predators will even use other people’s dogs in dating profiles to attract more women. Some go as far as to borrow dogs on walks. So, even if someone else seems trustworthy, it’s best to be cautious.

H/T: nypost.com
Featured Image: YouTube

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If you’re a NASCAR fan, odds are you already know all about driver Alex Bowman and his passion for four-legged friends. If you’re not aware, the professional racer has spent a lot of time and money giving back to animal shelters across the U.S.

Bowman has two of his own dogs, Finn and Roscoe, the latter of which was rescued from a shelter in North Carolina. The joy and love his dogs bring to his life makes this racing superstar want to help get other shelter dogs into loving homes.

A Race To End Kill Shelters

Bowman and the No. 48 team have been working with Best Friends Animal Society since march of 2021. Now the NASCAR driver is working with Ally on a ‘Clear the Shelters’ campaign. The 28-year-old driver explained:

“The Ally ‘Clear the Shelters’ initiative is really cool. Working with Ally all year and working with Best Friends earlier this year and donating to a bunch of shelters, it’s really cool that they are all about giving back and helping a cause that’s close to my heart.”

As Team 48’s sponsor, Ally pledged to donate $1,000 to a Best Friends affiliated shelter near every track the team races in the Cup Series. Alex vowed to match each of those donations as well. Plus, whenever he wins a race, Ally will donate $10,000.

Those thousands of dollars in donations can have immense impacts on the shelters and the individual animals housed within them. Bowman even said the initiative inspires him to win even more if that’s possible.

“It’s hard to motivate me any harder than I already am, but that donation going up is really cool. I really want to win knowing that we can help a lot more animals if we do win. It’d be really cool to make that happen.”

Bowman also added his own pup inspires him to help:

“I have a rescue dog named Roscoe, so it’s something I’m really passionate about.”

Through financial donations and public support, Bowman hopes to help Best Friends Animal Society with their mission to end kill shelters and save as many animals as possible.

The Two Bowman Dogs

Roscoe the beagle mix came into Bowman’s life when the driver was 19 years old (9 years ago). Supposedly, he didn’t even intend on adopting when he and a friend went to that North Carolina shelter. Of course, we know how these things go.

“He was just the cutest little thing. I couldn’t leave without him.”

Finn and Roscoe are very different dogs, and they constantly keep Bowman on his toes.

“They have really big personalities. At home, Roscoe’s all well-behaved and Finn’s the wild child, but as soon as you get outside of the house, Roscoe’s behavior is awful and Finn is like an angel.”

Most importantly, Bowman advocates for animal rescue because his dogs provide him with unconditional love and support.

“I get home and they don’t care how my weekend went. They don’t care if I won or didn’t win — they’re happy to see me regardless.”

This might just make me a new NASCAR fan. Or at least a fan of Alex Bowman.

H/T: Inspire More
Featured Image: Instagram

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Locals are calling a Pit Bull/Boxer mix named Tyson a “doggone miracle.” He proved himself indestructible when he survived a situation that should have been fatal. The pup fell 170 feet into the Red River Gorge in Kentucky. While his human feared the worst, Tyson surprised everyone in the end.

Somehow, Tyson left the gorge virtually unscathed, and it’s hard to comprehend how. The only explanation is that Tyson is a miracle, and he will do anything to stay by his human’s side. Situations like this remind us to give our dogs endless amounts of love and affection while we can.

From Hiking Trip to Horror Story

Tyler Stinson brought Tyson on a hiking trip in the Daniel Boone National Forest. Tyson is no stranger to hiking, but everyone can get carried away at times. Stinson took Tyson off-leash for a bit, but when the dog saw a lizard, he bolted.

The lizard scurried down the Indian Staircase of the Red River Gorge, but Tyson couldn’t stop himself in time. He slid past the lizard and off the edge of the cliff. Stinson watched helplessly and feared the worst.

“He kind of flipped himself backward, tumbled twice, and then I saw him roll off the edge,” said Stinson.

Stinson wasn’t sure what to do, so he called 911 and the Wolfe County Search and Rescue Team. Rescuers arrived at the scene and looked everywhere for the pup, but they only expected to find a body. Then, they came across a group of hikers who said they spotted an unleashed dog, and they even had a picture. Stinson couldn’t believe his eyes!

Pit Bull Defies All Odds

As soon as the rescue team learned that Tyson survived, they searched harder for the dog. After splitting up, they quickly located the lost pup, who seemed fine despite his nasty fall.

“Adrenaline was running through my body, and the only thing I could think about was, ‘Holy crap, he’s alive,'” Stinson said. “The minute I saw him, I just folded onto him. That dog is my everything.”

Stinson rushed Tyson to the vet and was even more shocked with the results. The pup had a few small scratches but was otherwise unscathed. He had no damage internally.

“How Tyson survived 170′ fall is nothing short of miraculous and he was basically unhurt,” wrote Wolfe County Search and Rescue.

Everyone is trying to wrap their heads around how a dog survived such a massive drop. But when it comes down to it, the exact reasoning doesn’t matter. What’s most important is that Tyson is still alive and well despite it all.

H/T: dogtime.com
Featured Image: Facebook

The post Miracle Dog Falls 170 Feet Into Gorge, But Comes Out Unscathed appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

It’s a sad truth that crime doesn’t care if you’re just trying to take your dog for a walk. An aggravated robbery on a Houston sidewalk shortly after sun down last month proves that.

On September 25th, 2021 at 7:19 p.m. in the Houston Heights neighborhood of the Texas city, a woman and her dog were taking a stroll past a gas station. Suddenly, a red car screeched to a halt and a man with a weapon got out, ran right up to them, and demanded her purse.

As the man tried to run back to the car to flee, the woman got caught on the passenger door. Both she and her dog were then dragged down the street while the car peeled away. Eventually, the thieves pushed her off, breaking her arm in the process.

Houston police released the disturbing video of the assault and robbery in October. They uploaded it to YouTube in the hopes the public may be able to identify the suspects, but be wary, the footage is a bit upsetting to watch.

Caught On Film But Not Identified

The camera that captured the video is situated across from the gas station where the assault and robbery occurred. In it, you can see the woman and her dog, on a leash, crossing the sidewalk.

Then a red four-door Chevrolet HHR pulls up to the corner, and a man gets out of the back. Police describe the individual as a Hispanic male, “thin build, black pants, and multicolored jacket.”

If you’re reading this and you happen to have any information about this particular crime, contact Crime Stoppers of Houston directly. You can remain anonymous by calling 713-222-TIPS (8477,) and you can also submit a tip online through the Crime Stoppers mobile app or at www.crime-stoppers.org.

Any information leading to a charge or arrest could earn you up to $5,000. Most importantly, you could help ensure these suspects receive the punishment they deserve.

The entire video is below. Viewer discretion advised!

The internet will be the internet, so naturally, some commenters accused the woman on tape of putting her life and her dog’s life at risk for property. However, there was no indication or confirmation from police that that’s how she got caught on the vehicle.

The victim of this robbery likely maintained her grip on the dog’s leash both out of shock and instinct to protect her dog. Another possibility is that the leash was somehow attached to her or the bag. Either way, it’s lucky both the woman and the dog came out of the scary incident alive.

Follow the Houston Police Robber page for any updates.

H/T: Click 2 Houston
Featured Image: YouTube

The post Fleeing Robbers Horrifically Drag Woman And Her Dog Down The Street appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

Pets are one of the biggest concerns during breakups and divorces. Many couples see their dogs as family members, but the court usually treats them as belongings. Even though the ways of dog custody are improving, there are still a lot of inconsistencies.

When a couple in Madrid, Spain, broke up, one of their biggest concerns was their dog. Even though they had never been married, the girlfriend filed a lawsuit for custody of the dog. It took nearly a year for a conclusion to occur, but both parties were shocked by the results. For once, the judge referred to the dog as a sentient being rather than a possession.

Fighting for a Family Member

The man and woman dated for about 20 months, and they had their dog named Panda for over a year. Panda grew up with both of them by his side, each one caring for him equally. So, the woman filed a custody lawsuit in September 2020 since they couldn’t make the decision themselves.

Lawyer Lola García specializes in animal rights. So, when she took on the case, she had a different approach than most lawyers. She saw that Panda was a family member to both parties, and evidence showed that he had an equal bond with both humans. So, García settled on a unique ruling.

“The evidence in the proceedings reveals an affectionate relationship between the plaintiff and the dog that is worthy of legal guardianship,” the ruling states. “The possession of the animal by the couple, when they were living together, for more than a year, has generated an affective bond between the plaintiff and the animal that has been shown in various tests.”

So, when the judge made the final ruling, she considered the dog’s best interest. She hopes her decision will help shift the future of dog custody battles.

The Dog’s Fate

On October 7th, 2021, García granted the two parties joint custody of Panda. Each person will take turns getting Panda for a month. They will share the costs of medical bills and other expenses just like they would have when they were together. The judge refers to them as “co-caretakers” rather than “co-owners.”

“What is novel is to be able to use the convention to avoid having to define the pet as a shared thing or property and instead to focus on the animal’s welfare, the emotional bond, and the shared responsibility of taking care of an animal, beyond the pet being considered a property,” García said.

Sharing custody of a pet isn’t easy, but García strongly believes that it’s in the dog’s best interest. She said it was a “pioneer ruling” because it was one of the first of its kind. It’s time for more officials to acknowledge that dogs shouldn’t be called belongings or property because as we know, they are family.

H/T: washingtonpost.com

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When you buy items from the iHeartDogs store, a portion of those proceeds are donated to Greater Good Charities. This organization uses donations to help many animals in need. Through their Rescue Bank program, they supply healthy meals to shelters and rescues, allowing them to save more money for other funds. Bosque Animal Rescue Kennels (BARK) is one of the many organizations that benefit from Greater Good donations.

BARK in Clifton, Texas, is a non-profit animal rescue that provides a loving temporary home for dogs who have been lost, abandoned, or mistreated. They provide plenty of time for the dogs to play in their outdoor space so the dogs will be less overwhelmed when they find a forever home. The rescue cares for about 160 dogs per year, and they always have at least 30 dogs in their shelter space at once.

How Does Rescue Bank Help BARK?

30 dogs at a time is a lot of mouths to feed! So, Greater Good’s Rescue Bank program provides healthy meals for the dogs at BARK. That way, the rescue can use their personal donations for other aspects of the dogs’ care, including vet visits and supplies. Most of the animals were strays or abandoned by humans, so they deserve good meals more than anyone.

“They come in very skinny and malnourished. It’s so wonderful to have name brand quality food at a discounted price to help them and the community who need the food. Most of the dogs are on a twice a day feeding schedule and their quality of life improved dramatically!” BARK wrote.

Without Rescue Bank’s contributions, BARK couldn’t afford to give dogs the level of quality food they do now. Even though their shelter space is in a rural area, many people dump dogs nearby because they can’t afford to keep them. BARK is determined to take in every dog in need and give them a quality diet. The food and care these dogs receive could change their lives for the better.

Every item purchased from the iHeartDogs store can help feed malnourished rescue dogs. Even small purchases can make huge differences for dogs in need. So, thank you to the many heroes who have bought products to save lives!

Shop & Give Back!

The following products provide quality dog food for shelters and rescues, helping them reserve more of their precious funds for medical expenses, supplies, and spreading the word about their adoptable pups.

Images provided by BARK

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