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Alaskan Woman’s Bear-Punching Incident To Save Her Dog Brings Her International Attention

September 9, 2011 in Celebrity, Heroics, Inspirational, News

Bear Punching Alaskan Woman

Brooke Collins of Juneau, Alaska made local headlines this week after she punched a black bear in her yard to save her Dachshund Fudge from the bear’s grip.

The 22-year-old hairdresser became a local celebrity overnight when the story went viral, appearing in news outlets across the country and beyond.

Collins’ name has since appeared in newspapers and on websites. ABC, MSNBC, Fox News, The Huffington Post and NPR are just a few examples. Radio stations from Anchorage, Seattle, Chicago and others have been asking to interview her. Even large metro papers like the Miami Herald and The Washington Post have picked this up.

Besides news sites, several dog-themed websites have been on the story as well.

The next stop could be national television. CBS has contacted Collins about bringing her to New York with Fudge and her boyfriend, Regan O’Toole, who was at the house when the incident took place.

In fact, the network is interested in this story with more than its news shows. “The Late Show with David Letterman” has also contacted Collins. She’s returned the inquiry and is awaiting a response.

She said her employer will be more than understanding if she has to leave suddenly to be on TV.

She has even had to juggle opportunities, as shows have asked for first-appearance priorities.

Collins said her biggest “wow” moment was seeing her story appear outside the country when the South West News Service from the United Kingdom contacted her.

“This is overwhelming. I never thought this would happen,” Collins said. “I feel like a celebrity.”

Collins said people on the street have recognized her, taken pictures with her or stopped to shake hands. People have gone to her office just to say hello. She said she’s even gotten some offers to pay vet bills for Fudge.

“I’m liking a little bit of fame but at the same time it’s really overwhelming and I want it to go away,” she said.

Story by Elaine Furst for Dog Files

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New York City Dog Abandoned By Owner, Dies Of Starvation

September 9, 2011 in Endangerment, Inhumane Practices, News, Pit Bull, Tragedy

Cherika AlvarezA careless Bronx, New York woman was convicted of animal cruelty for leaving her dog to starve to death.

Cherika Alvarez, 30, abandoned her brown 1-year-old Pit Bull Alizé when she was evicted from her Bronx, New York basement apartment in mid-November 2009.

The malnourished dog ate nothing but razor blades, splintered plastic, wood chips, garbage and ketchup packets for six weeks before he died.

Officials from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals found the dog lifeless amid piles of garbage and bloody stools in Jan. 2010. The pup’s body had no body fat, and was so emaciated that his remains had to be scraped off the floorboards.

The single mom – who claimed she left some food and water for the dog in the bathtub – testified she had arranged for a neighbor she barely knew to pick up Alizé. But the unidentified stranger never showed.

“I didn’t know him from a hole in the wall,” testified Alvarez. “I didn’t get any information from him. I should have been more smart. Me being irresponsible, I didn’t check up on the dog.”

During a bench trial, Alvarez’s lawyer, Scott Levy, argued she had no idea the dog was left behind.

“She treated that dog like family,” Levy said. “If Ms. Alvarez had known the dog was in the apartment suffering, she would have done something.”

Prosecutors suggested Alvarez had fictionalized her story about making arrangements with a neighbor.

“She left Alizé in that apartment like garbage and she walked away,” said Bronx Assistant District Attorney Megan Mellem.

Judge Robert Sackett decided Alvarez’s behavior amounted to cruelty. She faces up to one year in prison and a $1,000 fine at her Sept. 28 sentencing.

Story by Elaine Furst for Dog Files

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California Dog Fighting For His Life After Owner Amputates Leg – To Avoid Vet Fees

September 8, 2011 in Endangerment, Inhumane Practices, News

A California couple have been charged with animal cruelty after carrying out a DIY amputation on their pet dog after he was hit by a car.

Alberto Castaneda, 51, and Maria Banuelos, 59, were arrested after animal control officers found their one-year-old black Lab mix in terrible condition.

The dog had part of his left hind leg cut off as Castaneda is believed to have tried to avoid having to pay expensive veterinarian fees.

The dog had not been treated with any drugs and is not thought to have been given any anesthetic during the cruel operation.

Vets were able to save the dog, who’s named Onyx, but had to amputate most of his leg due to the earlier botched DIY operation.

Matthew Mass, the manager of Kern County California Animal Control, said: “No animal, no person, and no living creature deserves to be abused in the manner that this animal was abused.”

Officials said the animal had been hit by a car with such force that he suffered a double fracture of the pelvis and a dislocated hip.

His rear left leg was also badly damaged but he had not taken for any treatment by a veterinarian.

Castaneda allegedly carried out the operation himself in his Bakersfield, California, home.

“This person did not have the proper equipment and drugs to treat this animal,” said Dr. Cynthia Martinez.

Onyx is now in stable, but critical condition at a local vet hospital.

Dr Martinez added: “Just imagine a 70 pound dog getting hit with the force to be able to break both sides of his pelvis that’s very painful and not getting the care, just horrendous to think about the pain.”

The Friends of the Kern Animal Shelters Foundation is raising money for the dog.

They hope to send the animal to Los Angeles for surgery, which will cost at least $8,000.

Story by Elaine Furst for Dog Files

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Former Cowboy Lassos Dogs Swept Away In Washington Canal

September 8, 2011 in Heroics, Inspirational, News

Cowboy Lassos Dogs

A farmworker who says he learned how to lasso 30 years ago while working on a cattle ranch in Mexico still knows his ropes.

Jesus Villanueva was working last week when he heard a disturbance along the Roza irrigation canal in Yakima, Washington. As it turned out, a woman and her husband were trying to save their two dogs being swept away in the current. The dogs couldn’t climb up the steep concrete sides of the canal and a Yakima sheriff’s deputy had a rope but was having no luck.

Despite signs warning folks to stay out of the canal, Noya Deats said she has let her dogs, Fawn and Nia, off their leash before without any problems. But when they decided to take a swim they were swept away.

Matt Deats attempted to save the dogs by climbing down a canal ladder, his body half submerged in the water. He barely touched a collar as it passed by. Fawn, a Labrador mix, seemed to be keeping her head above water but Nia, an Australian Shepherd mix, was struggling, Deats said.

“I was trying to figure out a safe way to try and jump in and grab them myself,” he said. “You feel hopeless — you don’t know what to do, how to handle it.”

As this was occurring, Villanueva was putting agricultural chemicals into a bin when he heard the commotion and saw the deputy struggling to rope the dogs. That’s when Villanueva took his lasso and said: “Let me see.”

Seconds later, he lassoed each dog in rapid succession, pulling them to safety.

“I was amazed,” Noya said. “He just kind of came out of nowhere. It was amazing how fast he lassoed them.”

Villanueva was equally amazed. He said he learned to lasso in Jalisco, Mexico, where he worked on a cattle ranch, but it had been 30 years since he had roped anything.

The dogs are lucky Villanueva came along, because it’s nearly impossible to make it out of the concrete-lined canal this time of year, Roza Irrigation District assistant manager Tim Collett said.

“There’s nothing to grab onto and the sides are slippery, “ he said.

“Follow the signs, that’s what they’re there for,” he said. “Canals are very dangerous, especially if they are concrete lined like those up there. They’re very swift, and if critters or animals get in them, they can’t get out.”

Story by Elaine Furst for Dog Files

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Hawkeye Finds New Home

September 8, 2011 in Adoption News, Military, News, Working Dogs

Dog Lays Next To Navy Seal Coffin

The loyal Navy SEAL dog named Hawkeye who captured millions of hearts when he lay at the foot of his master’s casket has found happiness and comfort in a new home.

Slain Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson’s longtime friend Scott Nichols and his family are Hawkeye’s new owners, confirms Carol Darby, a public affairs officer from Fort Bragg supporting the Tumilson family.

“Scott is Hawkeye’s new owner and that is according to Jon’s wishes,” said Darby. “He’s very happy. He’s with a family that he has known for a long time and that has loved him for a long time.”

The Nichols family cared for Hawkeye when Tumilson was away on duty. Darby said that Hawkeye has gained a human family and a dog family, including two or three other Labradors owned by the Nichols.

Hawkeye may find himself in the limelight once again in November when the University of Iowa’s football team the Hawkeyes honors fallen service men and women, including Iowa native Tumilson, at a home game in November. The university is working with the Tumilson family to determine what role the dog will play in the day’s events. Some have suggested that Hawkeye the dog could lead the Hawkeyes onto the field on game day.

“Jon’s death is a tragedy that reminds us of the great personal sacrifice made by many who serve our country, our state, and our community,” said University of Iowa Director of Athletics Gary Barta in a statement. “We are very pleased that Jon’s family has agreed to allow us to honor Jon and all citizens lost while serving others later this fall.”

The world first fell in love with Hawkeye after seeing a photo of the canine at Tumilson’s funeral in Rockford on Aug. 19 where his beloved canine lay at the foot of the casket throughout the ceremony. Tumilson’s cousin Lisa Pembleton took the heart-wrenching photo of the devoted dog, known to Tumilson’s family and friends as his “son.”

“I took this picture and that was my view throughout the entire funeral. I couldn’t NOT take a picture,” Pembleton said.

Darby also said that while the Tumilson family appreciated the outpouring of love and support coming from the photo, they want people to remember that 30 people lost their lives that day.

Tumilson’s family has started a memorial fund and contributions can be made to Frogman 238 Memorial Fund, First Security Bank and Trust, 201 West Main Ave., Rockford, IA 50468.

Story by Elaine Furst for Dog Files

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Toy Poodle Credited With Utah Fire Rescue

September 7, 2011 in Heroics, Inspirational, News

A dog is being credited with helping rescue a 19-year-old man during a house fire in West Jordan, Utah early Friday morning.

West Jordan Fire Battalion Chief Reed Sharman said the fire was reported at 3:10 a.m. when a passer-by saw flames coming from the side of a home.

A mother and two children made it out of the house before firefighters arrived, but her 19-year-old son was still inside. Sharman said it was the family’s dog, a toy Poodle named Ted, who led emergency responders to the man.

“Two of our paramedics, Don Chase and Erik Andersen, had gone inside to search the structure, and when they opened the door, there was the dog. When they went to grab the dog, though, he ran downstairs,” Sharman said.

“He stopped on a landing, looked back at our guys, waited for them to catch up and then ran down to the next landing,” Sharman said.

The dog waited again for the paramedics to approach, then ran over to a basement couch where the man was found asleep. By that time, smoke had begun to fill the house.

Chase and Anderson woke the man and took him and the dog outside. The man was treated at the scene for minor smoke inhalation and released. The dog was uninjured — though “grumpy,” Sharman said.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation, but Sharman said a leaking gas meter on the side of the home may have been a factor.

Story by Elaine Furst for Dog Files

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Dog Attacks On Guide Dogs Doubles In UK

September 7, 2011 in Endangerment, News, Service Dogs, World

Guide Dog Attacks

Attacks on guide dogs by other dogs have more than doubled, according to a new report published by the UK‘s Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

The report stated that more than seven attacks on guide dogs by other canines have occurred during each month of 2011.

The figure is more than doubled from last year when a previous study, published in June 2010, showed an average of three attacks per month.

Association officials have urged police to take these attacks more seriously and called for the compulsory microchipping of all dogs in England and Wales.

In more than nine out of ten cases, the attacks occurred in public places such as parks, town centers and shopping areas.

The association’s chief executive Richard Leaman, has written to all chief constables asking them to help safeguard guide dog owners against attacks, but it said too many owners are still worried police take no action after an attack.

In his letter Leaman said: “We recognize that police forces are under pressure but these attacks are anti-social and have a devastating effect on vulnerable people.”

“We want police to recognize the enormous impact that these attacks have on people’s ability to live independently and respond accordingly.”

The association said one owner who was a victim of an attack wanted to move afterwards while others said they were left too frightened to go out.

Other victims said they were left upset, angry or shaken.

Story by Elaine Furst for Dog Files

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U.S. Marines’ Four Legged Mascot Dies In Indiana

September 7, 2011 in In Remembrance, Military, News, Tragedy

Marine Buddy Alice

Alice during happier times.

The Dog Files is sorry to have to bring you such sad news today. Our heart goes out to Captain Matt Taylor and all the Marines that spent time with Alice. Here is the earlier story from the Spring.

– Kenn Bell

Alice, a stray dog that was discovered in bad shape in Afghanistan and was quickly adopted by a group of U.S. Marines and made their unofficial mascot, has died 3 months after arriving in Indiana.

Alice was brought home to Lebanon, Indiana by her owner, Captain Matt Taylor who was able to do so thanks to the students at Lebanon Middle School who helped raise the money for Alice’s trip.

Taylor said that the dog appeared tired and when she was taken to the vet for overnight care, Alice died the same night of massive liver failure.

Though it’s still uncertain as to what caused the dog’s sudden death, what is certain however, is that Alice will be sorely missed by the Marines who came to love her and relied on her to help them ease their pain and loneliness.

Story by Elaine Furst for Dog Files

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