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!

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They take them and breed them, they make them fight, they use them for entertainment, or they just simply leave them for dead.

Every dog or animal rescued from unsafe or unsanitary living conditions makes everyone wonder, what is wrong with these people?

There is no silver lining to these situations unless the puppies are taken out of their bars, and their owners are put behind them.

Luckily for these 130 animals in North Carolina, an anonymous tip finally came in about a puppy mill taking place inside someone’s home.

The local police, along with the Humane Society, went into this residence to find cages on top of cages on top of cages.

In all, 105 dogs, 20 cats, and three goats were rescued. But some of them were holding on for life.

Their custody depends on the end result of the court case, but with this footage, I can’t imagine who would give another animal to this owner ever again.

The Humane Society of the United States has a reward program that will offer up to $5,000 for tips about animal cruelty.

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The deputies had all but departed from the call they had just been on when they heard the faint cries coming from an empty lot. Many people would have just ignored them, but not these guys.

James Gettings was one of the officers who found the little puppy struggling to stay afloat in a septic drain. He was scared and exhausted, nearly ready to give up when he was rescued.

They gave him several baths to get him smelling like a dog again, and then tried to find his family. But it seems there was none, and Gettings believed their meeting had to be fate.

So he took him home, and aptly named him Puddle. Now he is growing up very comfortably, and wants for absolutely nothing.

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This morning, deputies responded to an Animal call in South District. A large Pit Bull was running around and neighbors were worried. Upon arrival, the deputy discovered that this wonderful dog was just out looking for friends to play with. After sufficient play time and fun, deputies were able reunite the dog with his owners. A gate was accidentally left open and this beautiful dog was able to be taken back to his loving home.

This was one of the hundreds of comments on the photo post:

Ray Mcphatter Similar story, got a call in reference to a pit bull running loose. Got it came running to my patrol unit and put her paws inside my window. I rubbed her on the head and got a lot of slobber. Popped my trunk and got out to get my rope I keep for calls like this. Got my rope looked around and she was gone. Went to get back in the car and yep she was sitting in the driver’s seat. I put the rope on her and she walked me to her house.

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Neighbors and residents said the dog could be seen on the 16^th floor balcony of an apartment.  It was very cold outside, and witnesses said that the dog was trying frantically to get back into the apartment.  Apparently, the dog’s human was not in the apartment at the time, but decided that the balcony was going to be an OK place to keep the dog, despite the frigid temperatures.

Someone put pictures and information about the dog on social media website.  That set off a domino effect that lead to tons of posts all over social media outlets about what was going on.  It was only a matter of time before someone called the police in.

They did show up to the apartment, and finally did get a hold of the person living there.  The people that live in the building and in the surrounding area relentlessly called law enforcement of every kind, trying to get someone to at very least let the dog in.  The dog was put back in the apartment, but that was as far as law enforcement could take things.

The police filed a report, and advised the person that should something of this nature, or anything that could be considered neglect or abuse will be very bad for them, legally.  At this time, the dog is still there, but that hasn’t stopped people from commenting on social media.  Many believe that the dog should have been removed, but given that there were no prior reports of animal neglect or abuse by the resident in question, the warning is the best they could do.

Todd Hofley is the president of the Liberty Village Residents Association (you can click the link to view the Facebook page).  Since the incident occurred at the complex, he has proposed a new set of regulations.

“I will bring forward a potential template for pet owners that stipulates if there is reasonable belief that their pet is in immediate and life threatening danger because of getting outside that the condominium corporation has the right to enter the unit and bring the animal inside,” said Hofley on Facebook.

What do you think?  Those of us that live in colder climates would assume that not putting your dog outdoors in the cold for hours while you leave is simply common sense.  How far would you go to save a dog’s life?  Have you, or has anyone you know had to call law enforcement because of someone else’s neglect?  Share your stories with us and your fellow Life With Dogs fans right here in the comment section below, or on our Facebook page, which you can view by clicking here.

Special thanks to The Dodo for sharing the story.  To see their article on what to do if you see a dog chained up outside in the cold, click here.

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The nerve-racking experience happened when the small dog fell into the river from a bridge overpass. He was able to seek refuge among large boulders in the middle of the river, but as the crowd and rescue workers gathered around him, he got spooked and jumped back into the water.

The violent tumbling left him with a laceration to a paw and the blunt force he felt by the submerged rocks knocked the air out of him. Additionally, the cold water temperatures froze his extremities making it harder for him to swim.

As the river dragged the dog away from rescuers, from one bridge crossing to the next, a taxi driver watching the rescue jumped into action and saved the dog himself. The man descended to the river’s edge and caught the drowning dog as he floated nearby.

Soon after, police met the man and CPR efforts were initiated. The dog was found semi unconscious but thanks to rescuers, he was brought back to life.

Once out of danger rescuers transported the pet to a local veterinarian. The vet donated his services, treated the pet for hypothermia, and cleaned and closed the laceration on the paw. Afterwards, the lucky survivor was taken to a shelter and will soon be placed for adoption.

Thanks to police officers and the taxi driver, the dog who almost drown in the river now has a second chance in life.

[facebook id=”549637918533642″]

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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!

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The poor lass was struck by a train on January 20^th.  The train conductor saw her run onto the tracks, but there was nothing he could do to stop in time.  He was completely devastated.  McMullen was called to the scene, and immediately rushed to her aid.

“Molly’s left hind leg had been cut completely off all the way to her hip. She had severed an artery, and she had lost more than half of her blood,” said Bailey Deacon, communications director for the Baltimore Animal Rescue & Care Shelter.  “She lost the end of her tail, and she had very large lacerations on her face and her side. It’s a miracle she survived.”

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When the passenger door was opened, the impish little runaway hopped in and made herself right at home by curling up on the seat.  Maybe she’s always wanted to be a K-9, or at the very least, go on a ride-along.

While they waited for her owner to come collect her, she got to hang out with Officer Taylor as he wrote up a report.  It looks like they both had a marvelous time.

The photo, which was posted on the Facebook page of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, has received thousands of likes, shares, and comments.  These two comments really encapsulate the moment:

Larry Ackerman: Welcome to the brotherhood Officer Taylor. Enjoy every day, help who you can and never lose that smile. Be cautious and compassionate with everyone you contact. Go home every day and love your family. Congratulations!

Barbara West: The real test of a person of integrity.. When an animal trusts you and wants to spend time with you. Also the smile on this officers face.. Tells of his kindness and sense of humor.. Long life and happiness to you sir.

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According to El Heraldo, on the night of Jan. 25, 2016, Osorto Cruz was kidnapped and dragged to an area known as El Durazno, near Tegucigalpa, Honduras. There his life ended violently. The only witness to the horrific crime is the man’s loyal dog. He followed his owner and the criminals to the very spot where the young man’s life ended.

The next morning local police officers found the deceased and Clifford guarding the body. At first officers were not able to go near the victim but after the pet was removed, authorities were able to identify the man and remove his body from the crime scene.

There are no leads on who committed this crime. The loyal dog mourns his owner’s death and by his actions we know he misses and wishes his human would still be alive.

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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.”

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I can’t find the original video in where I saw it, but there it was stated the dogs owner was standing outside of the house as it was burning and said to the dog: “Buddy, we need to get help.” It was only at this point that the dog ran off until it found the trooper. It’s somewhere around this point that the gif begins and the dog starts running back home (Also note that there’s a good chunk of video missing in the image). The trooper stated that the dog on numerous occasions looked over it’s shoulder and slowed down if the distance between them was too far, as if to make sure that he was following. Also, when the fire had been extinguished, the trooper told the firefighters about what the dog had done. They then told him that the dog had done the exact same thing with them, when it saw their truck.
You can try using fear and instincts as a rationalization for the dogs actions, but fact of the matter is that the dogs owner was in deep shit and told his dog to get help, to which the dog responded by bringing back a police cruiser and a firetruck.”

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An animal cruelty investigation is underway in Riverside County, California.  An unidentified dog was found with his muzzle wrapped up with rope.  The dog had been abandoned, and now authorities are asking for help from the public in identifying the dog and finding his abuser, so justice can be served.

The dog was discovered by a woman around 7 pm yesterday, while walking along Granite Hill Drive near Pedley Road.  The dog is assumed to have been dumped in that area very recently.  The woman that came across the helpless dog called the Riverside County Department of Animal Services.

A sheriff’s deputy was sent to the scene, and managed to get to the dog and cut off the ropes binging his mouth closed.  According to John Welsh with county animal services, the rope was tied so tightly, it was almost impossible to get it off.

“There was very little space for him to get his knife between the dog’s muzzle and the rope to cut it.  That’s how tight it was around him,” said Welsh.

The dog is approximately 2 years old, and other than the obvious, was in pretty decent physical health.  He’s said to have a very sweet disposition, despite the abuse that he’s had to endure.  He has been taken to the Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter in Jurupa Valley.  While there he was checked for a microchip, but does not have one.

Authorities are asking for any and all information that anyone may have on the dog.  Who is he?  Is there a family out there looking for him, or was he horribly abused and dumped off by some one?  Animal services wants to know, and they are asking anyone with information to come forward

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In western Massachusetts, police are calling a dog a “real-life Lassie.”  Almost out of nowhere, a random dog approached an officer, barking his little head off and making quite a commotion.  His friend was trapped and needing rescue, and if he hadn’t gone for help, the story might have been quite different.

The little dog lead the officer to a very icy, 30-foot deep embankment.  That’s when the officers discovered the dog’s canine friend stuck at the bottom, and tangled up in the undergrowth.

The officers called in the fire department.  They brought a large ladder truck to easily access the dog stuck below, and make sure he was rescued.  After pulling the dog out, they took him to a local vet for a medical evaluation.

Although the dog was very scared, and did have some scrapes and bumps from the fall and subsequent tumble in the underbrush, he was otherwise in good health.  The family that the dogs belong to were then contacted, and a happy family was once again made whole.

The family said that the dogs had run off together hours earlier.  Their human mother unfortunately had a medical emergency, and while emergency services were taking her out of the house and to the hospital, the dogs bolted.  Police officers that showed up to the home tried to corral the dogs, but ultimately failed, and the dogs got away.  No further information on the condition of their human mom had been issued at the time this article was written.

In a press release, the police department that helped rescue the dogs said, “Apparently, any dog in the right circumstances can turn into Lassie.”

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