In January 2016, Jethro was shot and killed by Kelonte Barefield while he was reporting to a burglary at a grocery store with the Canton Police Department.

Jethro and his human partner, Officer Ryan Davis, were investigating the break-in at the Canton, OH, grocery store when Jethro was shot and killed in the line of duty.

Hundreds attended Jethro’s funeral to honor the dedicated K-9 officer who gave his life for his job. Davis had been with Jethro since the dog was 8 weeks old and was devastated when he died at only 3 years old.

Hundreds attended Jethro’s funeral to honor the dedicated K-9 officer who gave his life for his job. Davis had been with Jethro since the dog was 8 weeks old and was devastated when he died at only 3 years old.

Seven months after his death, justice was finally served. Kelonte Barefield was sentenced to 45 years in prison.

He pleaded guilty to many charges, including an unrelated robbery, and was given the maximum of six years, included in his full sentence of 45 years, for killing Jethro.

Since the uproar over Jethro’s death, Officer Eric Stanbro, who runs the Canton K-9 unit, has received 2,000 letters. The Ohio state legislature is currently working on increasing the sentence for people who kill K-9 officers.

If you are happy to see justice for Jethro, you will also be pleased to know that a little girl donated all of her allowance after hearing about Jethro’s death, in hopes of getting bulletproof vests for K-9 officers!

The post Man Who Shot And Killed Beloved Police Dog Jethro Sentenced To 45 Years In Prison 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.

Meet Deuce. After being born with just two legs, this playful pup was set to be euthanized. His original owners believed that there was something wrong with little Deuce. He was different. Sadly, Deuce would have never known what it was like to play with other dogs or to curl up and snuggle with his loving owner. Or the odd sensation of his leg twitching uncontrollably as his belly was rubbed. All because he was a little different.

Thankfully, the caring folks at the Evergreen Animal Protective League heard about little Deuce and decided that his fate was to be different. He would have a life…a family. They just needed to find the right person, with a special heart.

Meet Ken Rogers (no, not the gambler!) and his wife Melissa. These were just the special people that the rescue had been hoping for. So great was their heart for dogs that they instantly fell in love with Deuce, not seeing him as a pup missing two legs, but as a beautiful little dog missing a home.

For some the responsibility of raising a special needs puppy might have been too much, but this amazing couple had a secret weapon. Experience. See, Deuce wasn’t their first two-legged companion. Ten years prior, they had adopted KanDu who was also missing his front legs from birth.

So now, Deuce and the rest of the Rogers’ dogs enjoy a healthy, happy, normal life. As humans, there is a lot we can learn from Deuce and his owners. We’re all a little different…and that’s what makes us special.

The post This Puppy Was Going To Be Killed For Being Different. Love However, Had A Different Ending In Mind appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.