https://www.facebook.com/HettyNBCLA/videos/1178285932231482/

“Her previous owner didn’t want her to live out of a vehicle.  It was a very difficult thing for him,” said Gina Whiteside, who with the Apple Valley Animal Shelter.

Ginger didn’t want to surrender, and most certainly wasn’t going to just hang around the shelter waiting for someone to adopt her.  She did what anyone would have.  She broke out of the shelter and went looking for her human.  She jumped over a six-foot gate at the front of her kennel, snuck past not one, but THREE closed doors and around shelter staff to get out.

While making her escape, she accidentally set off the motion detectors in the shelter.  This prompted animal control to be called in to investigate, and when the officers arrived, the place looked as if someone was rifling through things inside, but Ginger was nowhere to be found.

“When the animal control officer came, he noticed that the front counter phones were all over the floor and papers as well,” said Whiteside.  “It looked like someone trashed the front area.”

Ginger was recovered three days later, completely unharmed and seeming no worse for the wear.  She was found just a short distance from her former home, so that’s why it’s assumed she was looking for her family.  Since the incident hit the news, there’s been a lot of interest from people looking to adopt her, and the shelter has put her in a more secure space.

The post German Shepherd Escapes Shelter and Goes Looking for Her Former Human appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

“We were outside with my telescope, looking at Jupiter with my next door neighbor,” neighbor Chip Dover told TODAY Parents. “We were getting ready to come in when we heard a big explosion, and the house just blew up. We ran over there immediately and it was burning like crazy, and then we realized the family was still inside.”

Using furniture on the porch, they broke the front windows of the Longwood, Florida home belonging to military veterans Margo and Brent Feaser.

“One of the neighbors saw an occupant in one of the rooms and picked up a table and smashed through the window, all the windows acutally, and pulled the woman to safety,” Seminole Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Dennis Lemma told News 13.

“The employee [Margo, an auto theft investigator], when she initially came out, her primary concern was to get back inside and rescue her children. She is an absolute trouper. She is a hero within our organization, and her actions tonight demonstrated that behavior.”

Firefighters arrived moments later and pulled Brent to safety.  But his four-year-old son and two-year-old daughter were still inside, along with Maxx.  The heroic dog led firefighters through the smothering smoke to the children’s bedroom.

All of the family members, including Maxx, were taken to various hospitals for treatment of their serious to critical conditions, but all are expected to recover.

“We are grateful to the neighbors who jumped into action, and we especially thank the firefighters who selflessly entered the burning structure and risked their lives for the Feaser family,” said Sheriff Don Eslinger.

“There is a long road of recovery and rebuilding ahead, but our Sheriff’s Office family will be with Margo and her family every step of the way. We know our community is behind them too, and we appreciate the tremendous outpouring of support the family has received.”

A fundraiser has been set up to help the Feaser family cover their medical costs and find a new home.  If you would like to donate, please click here.

Checks and money orders may be made out to “Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Employee Benevolent Fund” and sent to 100 Bush Boulevard, Sanford, FL 32773, attention: “Feaser Family Fund.” Anyone with questions is asked to call 407-665-6880.

The post Retired Police Dog Leads Firefighters to Toddlers Trapped in Burning Home appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

https://www.facebook.com/fox13newsutah/videos/10154053263455586/

Galliher served seven years in the Marines, and multiple tours of duty in Afghanistan. The pair were traveling through Utah, headed home to Washington after attending Marine promotion and retirement ceremonies at Camp Pendleton, when Raider slipped out the door of their motel room.

Heartbroken, the Marine searched throughout the night to no avail. And although he’d walked around the building of the nearby veterinary office next door numerous times, he didn’t think to knock on its door.

Raider hadn’t gotten very far; staffers there had picked him up pretty quickly.

Early the next day, employees at the Midvale office were able to reunite Galliher and his beloved German shepherd. The scene was touching and tearful.

“I got Raider when I felt like I felt like I was in a dark cave and there was no chance of seeing the light again and getting him was like having a little glint of hope,” he told Salt Lake City’s KSTU.

“Having him with me side-by-side makes me more confident, strong, and more like the sergeant in the Marines I once was.”

The post Touching Reunion: Marine Veteran Finds Missing Service Dog appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

Hospitalized in critical condition, Thomas was started on warm IV fluids and warming packs were placed around his body to help stabilize his dangerously low core temperature. It would take weeks of wound care and IV antibiotics for Thomas to finally be given a clean bill of health.

It was then that we focused on Thomas’ emotional recovery. This can sometimes be just as challenging. After spending many hours with TAF’s therapy dogs, Thomas learned that when we raised our hands it wasn’t to hit him and when we approached him he did not need to cower… he learned what it meant to be loved and how to trust those that watched over him.

Now for the happy ending… it is with great joy that we announce that Thomas has found his forever home! Thomas’ new dad is a Chicago police officer and knows all too well the abuse that Thomas has gone through. He knows that he has a very special pup on his hands and will continue to watch over and protect Thomas, just like those before him. Thomas has already bonded with his new dad and they are inseparable… buddies for life!

A big thank you to everybody that helped to sponsor Thomas’ medical care and to his medical team at Heal. Without all of your help, Thomas would not have made it. Thank you so much for saving his life!

The post Dog on the Absolute Brink of Death Makes an Unbelievable Recovery appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

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.

But every dog has his day. And sometimes the working German Shepherd Dogs have to kick back and relax. So just like us, they may also have their lazy days. But if not, then I guess the dog in the video below must be the world’s laziest German Shepherd!

This dog’s human is feeding him some crackers, and he’s eating them lying down. But when one cracker lands too far away for his mouth to reach, he doesn’t bother to get up and get it! Nope! He just stares at it, and waits for his human to push it towards his mouth! Watch the video below!

The post This Has Gotta Be The World’s Laziest German Shepherd appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

When service dog Kai went missing from his home last November, owner Alexandra Melnick was distraught.  But after many months of ardent searching and Facebook posting, Kai was found hundreds of miles away, and has finally been sent home to his overjoyed family.

Melnick served a nine-month deployment in Afghanistan and came home with a traumatic brain injury and PTSD.  She got a German shepherd puppy and trained him to be a service dog.

“He helps me with things like PTSD and insomnia, she told ABC 10News in December. “He puts me to sleep. He wakes me up for nightmares.”

Kai was stolen from Melnick’s Vista backyard the day after Thanksgiving.  She set up a Facebook and GoFundMe page to get the word out and have money for a detective and a reward.  She handed out thousands of fliers and drove thousands of miles, looking for him.  Months later, she still hadn’t given up.

“I spend my days searching for him, I spend my nights dreaming about him and having nightmares still and I really hope that we get him home,” Melnick told San Diego 6 in April. “He saved my life, I owe this to him. I want to do anything in my power to get him home.”

In August Kai was found, and a week ago, a happy update was posted by Bring Kai Home:

I want to thank every single one of you for all your constant support and help. I also want to say from the bottom of my heart how sorry I am that I have left you in the dark this past week. I had suspected he may have been stolen but didn’t have any idea who it may have been. So, I had to search for him as if he was running around the wilderness. For all I knew, someone took him and got spooked by the media attention and dumped him. I have been looking for breadcrumbs for months with no luck. I have driven thousands of miles the last 9 months looking.

Last week, I found him searching through social media posts. I flew to Texas the very next day. The people who had him didn’t initially know he was missing, stolen, or that I was looking. When they found out, they didn’t want to give him up. In Texas, they have laws regarding this situation. While the Denton County dispatch, deputies, constables, ACOs and clerks were extremely patient, understanding, and worked on this more than I expected, they wanted to make sure I got him back legally and wouldn’t have any issues down the line. We feared him being moved again before the hearing. Animal Control seized him and has had him for time being. They have a beautiful facility and spoiled him for me while I’ve waited. My San Diego County detective worked hard and fast to get the needed paperwork to them.

Relaxing after a much-needed trip to the salon to be flea-bathed and have his painfully overgrown claws clipped.

This morning the judge ruled that Kai is to come back home to California with me.

There is still an investigation to be done over how he left my home and ended up in Texas. In the meantime, I feel beyond blessed to have my baby boy home. I’m focusing on his health right now. The people who had him allowed him to become flea infested to the point he was going completely bald in many places with open sores. He has some trust issues. I believe, the people who had him used heavy negative reinforcement.* He cowers if you move too quickly, has scars that resemble strikes across his body, and his nose has some damage to it.

The Gofundme account is how I was able to find him. Without all your donations, I wouldn’t have been able to spread the word so far and get help from professionals. The remaining money will be divided up between various organizations, ones that helped me find Kai and ones that help others find their missing animals.

This picture is from the shelter last week in Denton County. I will post a video that will help answer questions that you may have. Right now, I’m taking some time to be with someone who I’ve missed very much.

*What she meant is positive punishment.  Negative reinforcement is a misnomer.  What it actually means is subtracting something to reinforce a behavior (i.e. hitting snooze on the alarm – when the noise is taken away, a person will repeat the behavior of shutting the alarm off).  Positive reinforcement is adding something to reinforce a behavior (i.e. giving a dog a treat for learning a trick).

Positive punishment is the addition of something to curb a behavior (i.e. striking a dog – adding pain – to stop it from barking).  Negative punishment is the removal of something to stop a behavior (i.e. taking away a video game because a child misbehaved).

The post Social Media Reunites Marine Veteran with Stolen Service Dog appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

Three years ago Arce went through a bad breakup, and her former partner kept the dog. Ever since that day Arce knew nothing of her pet, let alone that during the past three years the dog somehow traveled to Virginia and got lost.

Rico was picked up by animal control and thanks to his microchip Arce was contacted. Transportation was arranged and Rico boarded a plane headed back home.

Filled with emotions Arce arrived at the airport with her daughters to pick up their pet. The children, ages eight and six, had no idea who they were picking up but as soon as they saw the dog they recognized their four-legged friend.

The post German Shepherd Reunited With Family After Three Years and 2,500 Miles Apart appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

The post Spaghetti-Eating Competition: Golden Retriever vs. German Shepherd appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

The post A Baby Goat Thinks A White German Shepherd Is His Mama (Oh. MY. God!) appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

In the video below you’ll see a 5-year-old girl being protected by her German Shepherd. (By the way, this is all just an act; all part of the training.) The girl is approached by two “bad men”. When one of them tries to reach for the girl, the dog quickly engages and bites the bad the guy. When the second man tries to get the girl, the dog lets go of the first guy to engage the second bad guy! Take a look at the video below!

A loyal friend, an amazing protector, and an awesome guard dog rolled into one! Great job, doggy! You got those bad guys and protected your little friend!

The post Watch How This German Shepherd Reacts When 2 “Bad Guys” Threaten This 5 Year Old Girl appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

Turns out, humans aren’t the only ones who get the acting bug! In this video, we meet a German Shepherd named Sam who takes his craft very seriously. His owner prompts him to play dead, and, including convincing sound effects and all the works, Sam diligently obeys, putting on quite the show!

Talk about raw talent! We wonder how long it took Sam to master this hilarious trick. Watch the cute performance below:

Move over Brad Pitt…Sam’s headed for Hollywood! What’s the funniest, most entertaining trick you’ve taught your dog? Do they enjoy the attention? We hope to see Sam on the red carpet sometime soon…

The post This German Shepherd Might Be Your New Favorite Actor…(WATCH) appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

Everyone, meet Ryder, a very protective German Shepherd. Ryder loves the newborn baby Madison, and he has made it his duty to protect Madison from anything at all costs. He watches over Madison, and protects her from anything, even from his Husky buddy. So when the Husky gets too curious about the baby, Ryder makes sure he doesn’t get anywhere near the baby. In fact, at first Ryder didn’t really want Husky to get near the baby. Watch the video below and see how Ryder protects little Madison!

Wasn’t that adorable? Ryder is so protective isn’t he?
(By the way, to those who are concerned, the family has already trained/desensitized both the dogs with a lifelike baby doll several weeks before the baby arrived. And even though they trust their dogs, they never leave the baby alone with them.)

The post German Shepherd “Protects” The New Baby from This Curious Husky appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

It is not known how long the dog had been trapped in the canal, but rescuers noted the pet was thin and dirty. When firefighters learned the canine needed help getting out of the steep canal, two firefighters descended the concrete canal walls to reach the pet and bring him to safety.

Once the stray was secured, he was hoisted to safe ground and then transported to animal rescuers.

Thank you firefighters for helping this pet in need.

The post Firefighters Save Stray German Shepherd Trapped in Canal appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.