Police from the Canton, Ohio police department responded to a call about an alarm at a grocery store on the night of Saturday, January 9^th.  Officer Davis and Jethro arrived on scene and were fired upon by the suspect, Kelontre D. Barefield.  He struck Jethro in the face, neck, and shoulder.  Police returned fire, and Barefield was struck in the leg.

Jethro was rushed to a hospital, and Davis remained by his side throughout.

“One of the problems is Jethro is refusing to rest. He’s just trying to beat this thing the way he’s used to, by fighting,” the Police K-9 Association posted. “So they have given him a sedative that has finally allowed his brain to settle enough to actually close his eyes and rest. He hasn’t closed his eyes since 0200 yesterday. Hopefully he rests through the night.”

Sadly, the next morning, he had succumbed to his injuries.

“He was a fighter,” Davis told Fox 8. “He fought extremely hard… there came a time at the hospital when the vet told me with that look that there was nothing else they could do. I just needed to let him go be in peace.”

The memorial service was held at the Canton Memorial Civic Center on what would have been Jethro’s third birthday. Hundreds of human police officers and 106 K-9 officers attended the service, and the dogs walked in the procession.

“They teach you from day one that this could happen – they’re there for you, for this, to sacrifice for you if need be, but it doesn’t make it any easier. It hurts. I’d gladly take his place if I could,” Davis said tearfully.

Barefield is currently recovering in a hospital, but when he is released, he will be charged with assaulting a police dog and felonious assault on a peace officer. A petition has been created asking politicians to create a law so that murderers of K-9s would face the same charges as if they had killed a human officer in the line of duty.

“There is no doubt in my mind that I am here because of what he did,” Davis noted.

A fundraiser has been set up in honor of Jethro to provide other K-9s in the Canton area with bulletproof vests so there are fewer fatalities on the job. Click here if you would like to donate.

“My husband and I own a veterinary clinic in Canton, Ohio. This morning our team asked if we could help in any way. We are purchasing Pet Oxygen Kits for the Canton PD K9 Unit,” said Angela Gainey, a commenter on the fundraiser page. “They have been contacted about what we are doing. I am letting everyone know so that they money goes towards other things needed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Canton PD and K9 Officer Jethro’s family.”

The post Over 100 K-9s Walk in Funeral Procession for Slain Police Dog, Jethro appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

Const. Dave Ross was one of three Canadian Mounted Police officers reportedly slain during a Moncton man’s Shooting rampage last week.  A memorial service was held for the fallen officer where Danny, a German shepherd who was also Ross’ partner, was a guest of honor.

It was said that Danny could be heard whimpering during his human’s funeral.  Friends, family, and fellow officers gathered together in a hockey arena, which was required for the large turnout for the funeral and memorial service.

Ross was a police Dog Services handler.  He had been teamed up with Danny, and they were together since December 2012.  His family said he “took a lot of pride” in being with Danny, and what he did with the Canadian Mounted Police.  It could be said that Danny felt exactly the same way.

“Anytime Danny barked at home, it would be to get Dave to open the truck door so they could go to work,” Ross’ wife Rachel said.

While the procession was taking place, observers said Danny could be seen padding alongside his best friend and work partner’s casket, and could be heard whimpering throughout the ceremony.  At one point, in what was described as an attempt to find any trace of his buddy, Danny had been sniffing at Ross’ Stetson.

Even though the RCMP said it is highly unusual for police service dogs to change handlers, Danny will be kept as part of the crime-fighting team he has been with since 2012.  A new potential handler has been found, and there will be a trial bonding period they undergo to be sure Danny will still perform just has well as he always has with his team.

“It wouldn’t be fair to Danny to retire him as he loved his work as much as Dave did,” said Rachel.

Ross had been prepping dinner as he got the call about the shooter at large.  He immediately dropped everything he was doing to respond.  He didn’t even close the barbecue grill lid he had been cooking at, and the garage door had been left open to make as quick of a response as was possible.  Ross was very dedicated.

“For those closest to Dave, that barbecue left still open says everything about who Dave was and his devotion to those around him,” said Dave’s brother-in-law, Adrian Vander Ploeg, during his eulogy.

Justin Bourque is the man charged with three counts of murder after allegedly being responsible for shooting and killing Ross and his colleagues.  The names of the other two officers slain in the course of duty were Const. Fabrice George Gevaudan, 45 and Const. Douglas James Larche, 40.

Bourque’s trial is set to begin on the 3^rd of July.

The video below was posted to YouTube, and shows that even though Danny has lost his partner and best friend, he is doing alright and is still being well cared for.

The post Canine Partner of Slain Mountie Cries at Funeral appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

Then, in the midst of a loss, the responsibility of planning a funeral is thrust upon you, adding even more stress at a time when even the tiniest thing can serve as the last straw. This stress, however, can be relieved.

That’s where Seger, a chocolate Labrador, comes in. Once on a path to become a service dog, he found that simply wasn’t the life for him…he liked having time to relax, play with people, and do simple tricks for treats. So where did he go from there? He became a permanent fixture at Duffield & Pastrick Family Funeral Home in Coloma, Michigan, where he eases the sadness and stress that comes with planning a family member’s final goodbye.

He’s an extremely valuable member of the staff!

Having a dog around can make almost anything better. Even in the toughest of times, a wagging tail and a smiley, sometimes drooling face can be enough of a distraction to put a smile on your own face, too.

The post The Reason This Dog Is Wandering Around A Funeral Home Will Have You In Tears appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

When her health began to fail, she moved to Cuernavaca, Mexico, where she continued to care for her animal friends despite her own diminishing well-being. After only a few weeks in her new home, she passed away.

When her family held a funeral on March 15, 2015, they were surprised to find a few unusual guests stop by to say goodbye.

Initially, they assumed the stray pups were simply regular visitors to the funeral home.

But when her daughter, Patricia Urrutia, spoke to the funeral workers, they claimed to have never seen the animals before that day.

The dogs followed along with the casket as it was taken to the church for Suárez’s service, then back again to the funeral home.

The dogs only left her side when the remains were taken in preparation for cremation. No one is sure how or if they knew who was in that casket, but Urrutia is convinced they were some of her mother’s strays coming to say their last goodbye.

Most dogs are known for their adorable devotion, but this case definitely takes that loyalty to a whole new level.

The post These Stray Dogs Showed Up At A Funeral – The Reason Why Is Heart Breaking appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.