All it takes is a matter of seconds for thefts to occur. Julia Salsich learned that the hard way when she was running a few errands with her Yorkie mix named Franklin. At one point, she parked on the 1300 block of H Street in Washington D.C. and put her flashers on. She exited the car for a second to drop something off, but as she was doing so, an adult man hopped in the car and drove off with Franklin still inside.
Salsich said she ran after the car screaming and begging for them to let Franklin out, but they didn’t stop. She was heartbroken. Cars are replaceable, but family members are not.
On that same road, two other incidents happened that day. The carjacking occurred at 4:30 pm, but at 12:08 am on the same block, someone shot a man and drove away. The man survived, and a white Toyota Camry is the vehicle of interest.
Then, an hour after Salsich’s car and dog were stolen, Commanders rookie Brian Robinson was shot just three blocks away during a separate carjacking. Robinson sustained serious injuries but survived. There is no evidence that these three incidents are related, but it’s scary that they all happened so close together.
Salsich’s car is a gray Honda Accord, and she believes Franklin is still inside. The thief used her card at a McDonald’s, and when she talked to the business, they confirmed that he was still in the car with her dog.
“I got an alert from my bank that [the suspect] used one of my credit cards at the McDonald’s that is on Nannie Helen Burroughs Boulevard NE,” Salsich said. “And, so we went over there and we talked to the person that was working in the drive-thru and he remembers seeing the guy. And, he remembers seeing Franklin on the front seat of my car.”
Salsich and her family are devastated that Franklin is gone, but they won’t give up hope. All Salsich cares about right now is getting her dog back. She’s offering a $300 reward with no questions asked. Her car and the belongings inside it aren’t her priority right now.
“I just want you to know that Franklin is really, really loved and really missed,” Salsich said, addressing the thief. “And, he is a part of our family.”
While the overall crime rate in the area has been down this year, the number of car thefts is on the rise. It’s a good reminder to never leave a running car unattended, especially if your furry friend is inside. If anyone has information about Franklin’s location, Salsich wants them to contact her at jcsalsich@gmail.com.
The mysterious illness that has been killing dogs and concerning Michigan veterinarians for a few weeks has finally been identified. Despite initially testing negative in screening tests, all 20 dogs have been confirmed to have died from parvovirus.
Most of the dogs were either young (less than two years old) or had reached senior status. Also, none were entirely up to date on their vaccinations.
What’s Parvovirus?
While not harmful to humans, parvo is problematic for pups. Not only is it extremely contagious through contact with contaminated feces, but symptoms can be severe.Within three to seven days of exposure to the virus, dogs may start to experiencebloody diarrhea, dehydration, lethargy, lack of appetite, fever, and vomiting.
This is especially true for animals who have not yet been fully vaccinated and is one of the main reasons the parvovirus vaccine is considered a “core” inoculation for canines.
“We have not seen any dogs that die that are properly vaccinated. If you do not know if your dog is properly vaccinated or what properly vaccinated is contact a/your veterinarian,” said a post made by the Otsego County Animal Shelter.
It was a few weeks ago, on August 19, when the Otsego County Animal Shelter shared on their Facebook page that a mystery virus was killing canines in their area. Initially, they weren’t sure why so many dogs were dying.The mystery virus presented like parvo, yet all the affected animals were testing “negative” on their screening tests.
But in the release from the Department of Agriculture & Rural Development, Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory director Dr. Kim Dodd stated that further testing showed that all of the deceased dogs did indeed have parvo.
“While those tests are valuable in the clinical setting, they are not as sensitive as the diagnostic tests we can perform here in the laboratory. We continue to further characterize the virus in hopes of better understanding why those animals were testing negative on screening tests,” said Dr. Kim Dodd.
In light of recent events, Dr. Dodd is nowencouraging area veterinarians who see sick dogs testing negative for parvo, yet presenting similar symptoms, to pursue additional lab work. Area officials have also been keen to remind dog walkers that this is one of the many reasons to make sure to clean up properly after their pup poops on their walk.
A mail carrier in South Dakota had to take a detour on her route when she found an abandoned puppy in the middle of a gravel road. The black and white pup with big ears appeared to be only a few weeks old at the time. He was exhausted and underweight, so the mail carrier put him in a box that normally holds packages. She kept him with her for the rest of the mail route, and he was a great companion.
The puppy has come a long way since then. At the end of the route, the mail carrier made one special delivery. She brought the pup to a shelter to make sure he was cared for.
The organization transferred the adorable puppy to Ruff Start Rescue in Minnesota. After hearing about his journey, they named him “Priority.” A woman named Taya offered to foster Priority so she could help him gain weight and become healthier.
Priority was only about seven pounds when he entered foster care, but he had no problem keeping up with the bigger dogs. He was very friendly and confident despite everything he had been through.
“You might say he’s a much bigger dog in a small body. He has fit right in with our resident pack,” said Taya. “Despite being ten times smaller, Priority definitely holds his own in some epic wrestling matches!”
Once Priority was ready to begin the search for his forever family, the rescue posted about him on Facebook. No one would be able to resist his bunny ears and head tilt, so they knew he wouldn’t be available for long.
Sure enough, Priority found his forever home shortly after his post went up. Priority’s foster family handed the pup to his new mom, and both of them seemed ecstatic to see each other. She plans to keep his name.
His new family said they have about five acres of trails at their home that Priority can explore with them. It’s clear that he’ll never have to feel abandoned again.
Azure Davis from Ruff Start Rescue hopes this story reminds people to call an organization if they find an abandoned animal. One call could save a life.
“It’s important people know there are many organizations like ours that can step in and help provide resources to find the owners of a lost pet and if that doesn’t work, find a home for the animal,” said Davis. “We just want to empower more people to make that initial save.”
There won’t always be a kind mail carrier around to save dogs, so we all need to do our part. Priority found the amazing life he has today because so many people helped and supported him.
Stephen Foster works as a part-time maintenance man at a gas station in Dade City, Florida. Since the recent death of his wife of 35 years, Stephen has come to rely on the love and companionship of his little dog, Ollie. The pooch even accompanies him to work, happily watching her dad from the end of a tether.
A few weeks ago, Ollie was hit by a car driving through the gas station parking lot and was left with a broken leg. The vet told Stephen euthanasia was his only option, but he and Ollie were about to meet a guardian angel. Actually, a whole bunch of them!
An animal control officer with Pasco County Animal Services urged Stephen not to give up hope. The next day, the officer returned with veterinarian Christine Glenn, who transferred Ollie to the PCAS shelter for further care.
“Ollie is a special girl. He is this gentleman’s whole world. And without her he doesn’t sleep well at night. This is his companion since his wife passed away,” Dr. Glenn told ABC Action News.
Upon examination, Dr. Glenn discovered that Ollie had internal injuries in addition to her broken leg and would need to undergo surgery. The PCAS medical team, along with volunteers from theHumane Society of Tampa Bay, went to work repairing Ollie’s ruptured diaphragm. Her prognosis was guarded, but she proved to be a fighter, heading into yet another surgery—this time for her fractured leg—just days later.
With all that under her furry belt, Ollie began the long road to recovery. Stephen visited her in the medical suite every chance he got over the next few weeks. It was clear to all who witnessed their time together that Stephen and Ollie truly love one another.
“Her eyes soften when she sees him, and her little body wags. The love between man and dog is clear, and we at PCAS want to preserve this bond,” the shelter wrote in a Facebook update.
Finally, the day the pair had been waiting for rolled around. On Thursday, July 29, Ollie was released from the clinic!
She is not fully healed yet, but she is strong enough to spend the remainder of her recovery at home with Stephen—with several follow-ups at PCAS along the way. Once she gets medical clearance, Ollie’s pals at the shelter will provide her with a crate so she can safely accompany Stephen to work once again.
“Ollie means everything to me. Like I said, she’s my kid,” Stephen confided to ABC.
In addition to Dr. Glenn and the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, PCAS credits a grant fromMaddie’s Fundand a partnership withHuman Animal Support Services with their ability to save Ollie’s life.
Now Stephen can sleep soundly once again with his beloved Ollie back by his side!
With over a million subreddits for all sorts of specific communities, Reddit has a lot to offer. Particularly for us dog lovers, a subreddit called “BeforeNAfterAdoption” lets rescuers and dog parents share the stories behind their adoptions. Naturally, all these photos and videos are touching, a nice reminder of why we love to save animals.
Graham Whatmough, or as he’s known on Reddit “u/WhereTheHighwayEnds” shared a beautiful video of his dog Willow happily enjoying the outdoors to the page. You’d never be able to tell she had such a rough past before they met. This happy, outdoorsy pup was once found starving and immobile in the woods. The meeting between her and her rescuer just had to be fate.
An Unusual Discovery In The Woods
Four years ago, Whatmough quit his job in the oilfield to pursue his passion of being a freelance photographer and videographer. He spends much of his time outdoors exploring beautiful places. One day, he discovered something a little different on a hike through the woods.
Whatmough usually took the same path through these woods, but today he decided to take a different trail. As he stopped to take a photo of some berries he found, he noticed something else.
“I took just a few steps more and I saw a fallen tree and an off-white animal laying behind it. I thought it must be a small deer or a coyote hiding because it wasn’t moving or making any sounds. Then I saw a pink collar and realized it was a dog.”
Earning The Woods Pup’s Trust
At first, the dog showed signs of fear aggression, baring her teeth and growling. Whatmough didn’t get any closer than 15 feet from her, afraid she would run off. He tossed her some of the berries he had picked, the only food he had to offer. To his pleasant surprise, she ate the berries and even wagged her tail a little bit. He also offered her some water from his bottle, which she drank quickly, so he returned with more water from his truck.
Considering her willingness to trust, Whatmough figured she was a runaway or lost dog. She looked only a few months old.
“I still thought she was just a runaway and was maybe dehydrated and a little starved. The berries and water had allowed me to get close enough to her to start scratching her snout and she really liked it.”
Even though she seemed a little friendlier, Whatmough noticed the dog didn’t seem to want to move much. Something definitely seemed wrong with her hind legs.
“Now that she warmed up I coaxed her to get up and walk I saw she was almost walking entirely on her front legs at some points both her back legs seemed to come right off the ground. I still thought that she was maybe just needing food and exercise after being stuck in the forest for a while.”
Soon, Whatmough would learn that both of the dog’s back legs were broken, and as a result, had started to heal improperly. Her condition didn’t look too good.
The Road To Recovery
Whatmough brought the dog to the veterinarian for treatment and x-rays. They determined that she would need to have her legs amputated or she would require expensive, risky surgery. In the meantime, no one came to claim the poor girl.
Whatmough wasn’t sure what to do at first. He wanted a dog, but was he ready to care for one with many physical challenges ahead of her? Could he even afford that type of care?
“When the vet started listed my options as amputation, a very expensive surgery or surrendering her to bylaw where she would most likely be euthanized I decided to take care of her at least until I could find someone that was able to adopt her.
As he’d been sharing updates about the dog he found in the woods, people became invested. Whatmough explained that his community pitched in donations to help pay for surgery. They were able to come up with $4000 in a single day!
That’s how he knew, there was no way he could give this dog up.
“After seeing how my community rallied around her with the donations and having her for a few days I knew I wouldn’t be able to give her up.”
He named the forest dog Willow, fittingly. Every day, Whatmough stretched Willow’s legs and walked her. At times when she seemed to struggle, he regretted not getting her surgery. But brave Willow pulled through her tough recovery.
“She also would show some signs of discomfort when I would stretch and pull her back legs but I would always stop and then she would let me stretch her some more. She progressively resisted less and less and now she doesn’t seem to mind at all when I really pull hard and work to stretch her.”
A Family That Does Outdoors Together
Willow didn’t let her past experiences turn her off to romping through the woods. She and Whatmough spend all their time together, especially now that he works at home.
“I am outside hiking 2-6 hours everyday summer and winter and she loves it all. She really loves the snow but after about 4hrs in -30C she starts to try and get her paws off the snow and looks for shelter and I know it’s time to go back home.”
For a dog with formerly broken and malformed back legs, Willow runs like an absolute champ now!
Willow and Graham’s story reminds us that every dog is worth it, and sometimes fate pushes us into the right dog’s path. Here’s wishing them a lifetime of happiness together!
An animal shelter in Georgia was holding a Pardons week where they tried to get all the animals into permanent or foster homes so no one gets euthanized. The week was about to end and it seems like some animals are not gonna make it. One of them is Jimmy, a very scared and timid dog. Jimmy was feral, and they could barely touch him. Thankfully, a kindhearted man took a chance on Jimmy. Watch Jimmy’s amazing transformation in the video below!
Tears welled up in my eyes as I watched this video..I’m so happy that somebody rescued Jimmy, and gave him the love that he needed.
I think Kermit the Frog said it best: it’s not easy being green. Especially as pet parents, we know it’s difficult to balance our pets’ needs and be environmentally conscious. And we’re not just talking to the proudly-eccentric eco-warriors out there – all of us can make a difference, even if it’s just pocketing our trash until we find a bin or picking up after our dog plops their poop in the park. It’s about making the world – even if it’s just our local areas – a pleasant place to be.
More and more companies are making a commitment to making the world a better place for future generations of both people and pets. This year’s largest pet trade show in North America, SuperZoo, saw several companies that are promising to provide great products while doing what they can to protect our planet. These products aren’t just for avid environmentalists – they’re making it easy for all of us to make a difference by choosing products for our pets that are made with Mother Earth in mind.
Earthborn Holistic is a brand that understands that though our planet is important, our pets need meat in their diets. They produce a variety of foods for both dogs and cats that contain high-quality ingredients including meat, grain, and superfoods like blueberries and butternut squash. Though meat production puts a strain on our planet, they’re hoping to make up for it in other ways, like using sustainable, recyclable packaging made from sugarcane. They also plant a tree for every UPC they receive from their consumers – so clip those barcodes and send them in to make the world a little greener. Kermit would be proud.
There are few things I love more than a good burger, but I’m aware that meat production is taking a toll on the earth. Livestock farming consumes land, resources, and water, and produces a pretty hefty amount of greenhouse gases. And cows are pretty darn cute when you look at them. Unfortunately, our pets need protein to survive – but Chippin is helping reduce the “eco pawprint” by providing alternative-protein treats for dogs! Their treats (and coming soon: food) is made with more sustainable animal proteins, like silver copi carp andcrickets.It may seem a little unusual to feed your pup insects, but according to studies, crickets are actually an excellent source of protein, pack a ton of nutrients, are hypoallergenic for sensitive dogs, and not nearly as cute as cows.
We don’t often think about what happens to our pets’ toys once they’ve been loved to death, but we all know what the answer is: the landfill (or ocean). The matted plushies with the missing squeakers and fluff sticking out would make pretty sad animals if they could all just Velveteen Rabbit themselves real anyway.
West Paw is making great products out of recycled materials including soft, comfortable beds and a variety of fun, durable toys that any pet would love! Got a pet that wants to cuddle? There are soft, fuzzy toys. Got a dog that likes to chew? There are durable toys made with thick plastic that will challenge your pup’s chew. I was most impressed with West Paw’s SeaFlex line, which is made from ocean-bound plastic. So far, they’ve saved over 17 million pounds of plastic from our oceans by reclaiming it from the water and turning it into something fun for Fido.
Help save our oceans and get your pet some sustainable fun from West Paw at Amazon.
I think I can safely say that of all the eco-friendly companies at SuperZoo, no company is doing more for our planet than Applaws. Applaws is an all-natural pet food company for both dogs and cats that believes that quality starts with great ingredients. There are no additives and no preservatives, just good, healthy, tasty food. Unlike many pet companies who focus on dogs, Applaws is “cat-led”, having started their company making only food for kitties.
More than just making great pet food, Applaws is a pet food company that truly cares, and their commitment to do better business for our planet permeates their entire process, from the bottom to the top! Applaws is a certified B corporation – and that comes with some heavy responsibility to maintain. They’re choosing sustainable sources for their ingredients, recyclable packaging for their products, and they’re even encouraging their employees to make better choices so far as consumption and conservation go. They’re leading the pet industry by example. Their love of both animals and the environment is at the heart of their company, and they’re truly proud of this attitude being a big part of their culture.
Support Applaws, a company that truly believes in protecting the environment on Amazon.
I don’t know anyone who is genuinely excited about picking up poop – but I know I don’t want to live in a world where walking in the grass is a risk to my shoes, so I do my part. Still, I really hate the amount of plastic I use per each little Shih-poop. One of the things I was hoping to find at SuperZoo was a solution that would allow me to pick up after my dog without using so much plastic. I found The Marvelous! Company’s DooGood bags.
DooGood bags look and feel like regular plastic poop bags. They’re durable, they’re thick, and better than plastic, they’re made from corn flour, which is 100% biodegradable! They are 100% organic, vegan, and petroleum-free, so you can pick up poos and throw them away without guilt. The Marvelous! Company is also making pee pads for your elderly or potty-training pup (or, your dog who refuses to go in the rain, like mine). They’re made from bamboo, are durable and leakproof, and use as few chemicals as possible while still doing their job.
Do something truly marvelous. Ask your local retailer to add The Marvelous! Company’s line of eco-friendly pet supplies and vegan treats to their stock.
We humans are a picky bunch. Apple a little mealy? Throw it away. Bruised banana at the grocery store? Not for me. Potato looks a little too much like grandpa? Too weird, toss it out.
Food waste has become a huge problem, not just in our homes where we often shop too much and eat less than we buy, but also in stores. Your local grocery store knows you want the pretty fruits and vegetables, and won’t carry the homely, misshapen produce that is likely to sit at the bottom of the crate. These ugly items are still beautiful on the inside, and perfectly fine to eat, but get wasted and lost to rot. Globally, humans lose about a trillion dollars in food waste. But Impawfect is now “upcycling” these foods and “rescuing them from humans.” Instead of rotting in a landfill, these perfectly-imperfect healthy fruits and veggies are becoming treats for our pets and making the world a better place.
