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Chicago Police Save Life of Dog Shot in Domestic Dispute

While responding to a call regarding a domestic dispute late Wednesday afternoon, Chicago Police officers Steven Ommundson and Eugene Shields came across Sophie, a 6-year-old Shepherd/Lab mix.

Sophie had just been shot in the head, apparently by a man who also shot another man and then turned the gun on himself. The men died, but Sophie was still alive.

“It was kind of emotional because I grew up with dogs and just seeing a dog in that state, I mean, it’s a lot to take in,” Ommundson told WLS.

“I kept thinking to myself, how could someone do this to man’s best friend? You know, the dog didn’t do anything to anybody. It just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

The officers carried Sophie to their patrol car and rushed her to BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Skokie, Ill.

“She was extremely disoriented and distressed when she was brought in,” Dr. Lauren Nazarian, a veterinarian with the hospital, told the Chicago Tribune. “We didn’t know at that point whether it hit her brain or what her outcome would be.”

Both Dr. Nazarian and Dr. David Wilson, a veterinary surgeon, credit the quick actions of officers Ommundson and Shields for saving Sophie’s life. She arrived at the hospital less than 15 minutes after she had been shot.

The day after she received emergency treatment, Sophie was able to stand on her own and even walk with a little assistance.

“Under the circumstances, she is doing quite well,” Dr. Wilson said today in a news release. “We’re mostly concerned about the trauma she sustained to her nervous system. We’ll know more about the extent of her injuries in the coming days. But I’m really impressed with her resiliency.”

Sophie suffered damage to her skull and jaw. Fragments from the bullet are lodged in her neck and shoulders.

Dr. Nazarian told the Tribune it could have been a lot worse had the bullet hit Sophie’s brain.

Sophie is expected to need about another week of care at BluePearl, and then she will be available for adoption. The hospital has already been getting calls from potential pet parents.

The medical expenses for Sophie’s treatment could reach more than $10,000. The non-profit Frankie’s Friends has launched an online fundraiser to help pay her bill. As of late Friday afternoon, more than $5,000 has been raised. All funds raised above the goal will go toward other pets in need.

“Sophie has a long road to recovery,” Dr. Wilson said, “but so far, she’s off to a great start.”

Photos via BluePearl Veterinary Partners

Petco Takes ‘Full Responsibility’ for Death of Dog in Drying Cage

AUG. 7, 2015 UPDATE: Two former employees of this Petco store have been charged with a class 4 misdemeanor for animal neglect.

Following an investigation into the death of Colby, a 2-year-old Golden Retriever who died of heatstroke after being left in a drying cage at a Petco grooming salon in Midlothian, Va., Petco announced today it is taking full responsibility for the tragic incident.

“We take full responsibility for what happened in Midlothian, and remain heartbroken over Colby’s untimely passing,” Petco said in a statement, according to WWBT.

“Pet parents place their trust in us, and we realize that trust is earned. We understand there is no way to make up for the loss of Colby, and our thoughts continue to be with his family during this difficult time.”

On May 29, the Petco store’s assistant manager told Colby’s dog mom, Allison Marks, that a groomer had put Colby inside a drying cage and then left the store to go to a graduation.

That employee was immediately suspended, and was terminated after the investigation.

To prevent similar tragedies in the future, Petco said it would make changes, such as removing drying cages from all of its grooming salons, and providing additional training to groomers. The company said no heat was used in the drying cages, but didn’t offer an explanation as to why Colby died of heatstroke.

Marks told WVTR May 31 she planned to press charges.

“You can’t replace a dog like that,” she said. “He was the most lovable dog ever.”

Photo via Twitter

Rescued Black Lab Saves Dog Dad from Texas Flood

Zeva, a Black Lab mix rescued from a shelter four years ago, is usually a fairly quiet dog.

But the night of May 24, as floodwater rushed into her home on the Blanco River in Wimberley, Texas, Zeva wouldn’t stop barking.

“She had a penetrating bark. Enough to wake me up, and the water was already three feet,” her dog dad, who only wanted to be identified by his first name, John, told FOX 7 News. “In another 10 minutes, it was another four feet.”

John, Zeva and a friend climbed up to the attic. The water was soon reaching the second story of the house.

“You’d look down and see big tree trunks coming through here, furniture, everything, and it was just roaring,” John told FOX 7.

The Blanco River rose 40 feet that night, sweeping away 12 people. Among them were three members of the McComb family, whose dog was found alive in a tree.

After six hours, a rescue crew finally arrived at John’s house. John refused to leave without his dog. “It was harder getting her out then getting her up,” he said. All three were safely evacuated from the attic.

By the next day, the house had been extensively damaged, yet its frame was still standing. John hasn’t decided whether to rebuild.

One thing he knows for certain is that Zeva is a hero. “She’s my best friend,” he told FOX 7.

Photo via Facebook

Click here for information about how to help some of the animal shelters and rescues affected by the severe weather in Texas.

How to Help Animal Shelters and Rescues Affected by Texas Floods

AUGUST 2017 UPDATE: Here’s how to help animal shelters and rescues affected by Hurricane Harvey.

JUNE 3, 2016 UPDATE: Exactly one year later, Texas is again being pounded by record-breaking rain. Here’s information about how to help more animal shelters and rescues.

Texas, as you know, has been deluged with rain over the past couple of weeks, resulting in devastating flooding.

Animal shelters and rescues throughout the state are being overwhelmed by the influx of homeless pets. The following are just a few that need our help so they can continue helping these four-legged flood victims.

Dallas DogRRR

Back in March, Dallas DogRRR–Rescue.Rehab.Reform. made news headlines twice: for rescuing a puppy daddy who led volunteers to his puppy mama and their litter; and, just two weeks later, for rescuing “Pitty and Kitty,” a starving Pit Bull and the abandoned 2-day-old kitten she was nursing.

Now, after severe weather hit the area, Dallas DogRRR really needs our help.

“Boarding, vet bills and supporting the fosters are costing us thousands, and especially with the recent flooding and weather here in Texas, we’re struggling keeping up our donations to support those efforts,” said volunteer Jennifer Garrison.

You can make a donation to Dallas DogRRR through their Crowdwise donation site.

Dallas DogRRR also needs to find forever homes for homeless dogs like best friends Ellie and Lily. Ellie is a young Black Lab who thinks she’s a lap dog. She gets along well with other dogs, cats and kids. Lily is a Chocolate Lab mix who has a big personality and, like Ellie, also gets along well with other dogs, cats and older kids. For more information, email LindsayDallasDogRRR@yahoo.com.

The rescue will be holding two dog adoption events this month at these Texas locations:

June 6 – Hollywood Feed, 2170 FM 423, Little Elm; 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
June 27 – Alamo Drafthouse, 100 S. Central Expressway, Richardson; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Austin Pets Alive!

When local animal lovers found out the Austin Pets Alive! shelter had been flooded over Memorial Day weekend (that’s the shelter in the photo at the top of this post), they lined up in the rain to do what they could to help. Many of them fostered the displaced pets, while many others helped clean up the mess at the shelter.

Thanks to these awesome people, as well as a grant from the Petco Foundation, APA! was able to save 340 animals.

To make a donation to help APA! help more animals, click here. The rescue will also be holding several fundraising events this month. Check its website for the dates and locations.

Maybe the city’s famous slogan “Keep Austin Weird” should be changed to “Keep Austin Weird — and Compassionate!”

Houston SPCA

“Due to the severe weather, there have been a lot of stray animals caught in precarious situations,” Lisa Rotter, community outreach manager for the Houston SPCA, told ABC News last week, after a tornado swept through part of the city.

Volunteers supplied loving care, food and water to four-legged survivors staying in an American Red Cross evacuation center, while other volunteers worked at the Houston SPCA shelter.

“Dedicated staff and volunteers made their way to the Houston SPCA despite flooding and road closures to ensure that the animals are cared for and safe,” the Houston SPCA wrote on its Facebook page May 26.

To make a donation to the Houston SPCA, click here.

Photos: Austin Pets Alive! Facebook page; courtesy of Dallas DogRRR; Houston SPCA Facebook page

Vote Now for AHA 2015 Hero Dog Awards

The second round of voting is now open for the Fifth Annual American Humane Association (AHA) Hero Dog Awards, presented by the Lois Pope LIFE Foundation.

The purpose of these awards is to “celebrate the powerful, age-old bond between dogs and people – and give recognition to courageous acts of heroism performed by our four-legged best friends,” according to the official website.

The first round of voting, which ended May 15, selected three semifinalists in each of the eight Hero Dog Awards categories: Law Enforcement Dogs; Arson Dogs; Service Dogs; Therapy Dogs; Military Dogs; Search-and-Rescue Dogs; Guide and Hearing Dogs; and Emerging Hero Dogs (ordinary dogs who do extraordinary things).

Now, through June 26, you can vote online once every day for your favorite semifinalist in each category. You must be a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years old to vote.

The winner of each category will appear at the Hero Dog Awards ceremony, to be held in Los Angeles on Sept. 19. The 2015 winner will be announced during the ceremony.

To help hero dogs everywhere, AHA will donate $2,500 to each category winner’s charity partner, and an additional $5,000 to the grand prize winner’s charity partner.

Last year’s grand prize winner was Susie, a Pit Bull/German Shepherd mix who survived a horribly abusive puppyhood and became a therapy dog. She was the inspiration for Susie’s Law, which bumped up the crime of maliciously abusing, torturing or killing an animal in North Carolina from a misdemeanor to a felony.

Founded in 1877, AHA was the first national humane organization in the U.S., and is the only one dedicated to protecting both children and animals.

It’s a bit early to mark your calendar, but the 2015 Hero Dog Awards will be televised in October. Good luck to all the semi-finalists, whose heroism makes them winners already!

Photo via Facebook