In West Toledo, Ohio a SWAT team showed up at the home of Sean Gillespie. They were there to arrest a friend who was renting a room in his house.

When the police were entering Gillespie’s property his dog Jozie, a pit bull, ran out into the yard. The police shot the pit bull, firing five times. According to neighbors who watched the incident the pit bull was not on the attack, she was wagging her tail.

“It’s one thing that they may have to protect themselves but from what we’ve heard from the neighbors and stuff she was sitting there wagging her tail,” Gillespie said.

When Gillespie questioned police as to why Jozie was shot, he was told to get back on the sidewalk or risk arrest. According to the owners the police were even laughing after the shooting.  “The one officer came in and said, ‘Yup, that’s the only good pit bull,  a dead one,’” Gillespie said.

Police Chief Mike Navarre has stated the shooting will be investigated by the officers’ supervisors.

We do not have comment from the police as to their side of the story,  but if this is true the officers involved need to be charged and brought to justice.

* The beauty above is Dogster member Pita. According to her owner she is part of the NPC, aka Naughty Puppy Club.

Here’s a story in the holiday spirit, something to be thankful for.

A man wanted on dogfighting charges  was caught by a dog.  Does it get any better than that?

DAYTON, Ohio - Authorities said a police dog bit and helped apprehend a Dayton man wanted on dogfighting charges. Dayton police Lt. Patrick Welsh said a 31-year-old man fled on foot Sunday as officers were responding to a call.

The  police dog grabbed Welsh by the wrist and held him until handcuffed.  He was treated for bites and taken to jail.

There’s a working dog that deserves an extra doggy treat.

* The K-9 above is Dogster member Drago.

An investigation by the Humane Society has discovered some disturbing facts about the puppies sold at Petland stores.  While the pet giant claims to only get puppies from reputable breeders the facts show otherwise.  The Humane Society goes so far as to allege that Petland supports puppy mills.

According to a report by the Humane Society of the United States, many stores of the Ohio-based Petland Inc. pet store chain support puppy mills while telling customers the dogs come only from good breeders.

The animal protection group made the charge at a Washington, D.C. news conference, saying it conducted an eight-month investigation of the chain headquartered in Chillicothe in southwest Ohio.

Petland Inc. did not return repeated calls from CBS News seeking comment on the report. But in a message posted on the company Web site, Petland said the company does not support substandard breeding facilities and provides each store with humane care guidelines developed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

While Petland has stated prior that the Humane Society reports surface every year around holiday time, the same time as their fundraisers.  Implying they are using “sensationalism” to help raise funds for their cause.

If you look at the facts found in the investigation it’s very hard to dispute the allegations. The Humane Society said investigators visited 35 breeders and brokers that sold puppies to Petland stores.
As well as reviewing hundreds of additional interstate import records from other breeders.

“We found very classic puppy mill condition,” the Humane Society’s Stephanie Shain told CBS News. “Dogs in small cages. These animals were living in those cages 24 hours a day, 365 days out of the year.”

In puppy mills, hundreds of breeding dogs are packed into cramped, barren cages with no socialization, exercise or human interaction, she said.

The stores investigated are perpetuating an abusive industry where dogs are treated like a cash crop instead of as pets, said Shain, director of the Humane Society’s campaign against puppy mills.

“They know that consumers won’t stand for the cruelty inherent in mass-breeding facilities, so they make outrageous claims to hide the reality that the dogs came from puppy mills,” Shain said.

Shain is right, now that consumers are aware of what goes on behind closed doors we will do anything in our power to stop it.  We, as dog lovers, have banded together to sign petitions and help change legislation.  The voice of 60 million dog owners can no longer be ignored, we will not allow it.

We are their voice, the only one they have. Take action by going to the Humane Society site where you can learn how to contact Petland’s corporate headquarters to express your concern for puppy mills and ask them to stop selling puppies.

In Brooklyn Center, MN Edgar was stolen out of his home nearly a month ago. On October 23rd Meaghan Poe came home from work, discovering she had accidentally left the back door unlocked.

Thieves had made off with a variety of items, including her best friend Edgar, a Miniature Dachshund. His dog bowl, food, and kennel were also missing indicating that he did not just take off.

“He’s by my side, he is a mama’s boy, wherever I go he goes kinda thing,” Dop explained with a sheepish smile. “He’s always at my feet, wanting to be picked up.”

That description explains why Dop’s life has been empty for nearly a month, since the day Edgar was stolen by burglars.

“Every day it gets a little bit harder just because we’re coming up on four weeks now that he’s been gone,” she said, “but I’m not going to give up hope on getting him back.”

There is a reward for information that leads to the return of Edgar, contact Meaghan Dop at devilbunny6000@yahoo.com.

A Reno, Nevada  couple who was selling English Bulldog puppies out of their home were the victims of a home invasion on Wednesday.

Ross Harwood said he had been asleep on his couch around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday when he heard someone breaking down his front door in the 10000 block of Robilee Drive, in South Reno. He awoke to see two men reaching into a nearby dog pen, snatching two of three puppies.

The thieves had used either a sledgehammer or device that unhinged the door. Harwood ran after them, and Wendy, the mother of the pups, followed. The suspects’ dark red small sports utility vehicle struck Harwood during their flee, knocking him down. Then they ran over Wendy, who had been at the rear of the vehicle. She soon died.

The couple had been advertising the puppies for sale in the Reno-Gazette Journal for the last few weeks. On Tuesday a couple had stopped by to look at the $1,800 puppies, but did not buy one.  Arlene and Ross Harwood suspect this is the couple who broke into their house.

What a sad story, these thieves need to be caught.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact detectives at (775)334-2115. Secret Witness is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the suspects. They can be reached at (775)322-4900.

Another story about dogfighting, but this one with a twist.

Mitchell Beasley, and live-in girlfriend Lindy Louise Andrews, were running a dogfighting ring on their property in Waynesboro, TN.  At their initial court appearance they were ordered to put up money to take care of the dogs that were confiscated.

“They have 10 days to get the bond money up,” Wayne County Sheriff Ric Wilson said.

The sheriff said bonds were also established at $25,000 cash each or $75,000 property each.

“If they do get out, they can’t go back to the property until we get the dogs properly cared for,” Wilson said.

Now that’s what I’m talking about, it’s payback time. The pair were each charged with 22 counts of aggravated animal cruelty and 22 counts of dog fighting.

The immediate need is to find a safe place for the confiscated dogs, talks with the local Humane Society will be taking place in hopes they can help.

“We hope that each one can be saved. At one time, there is no doubt they were beautiful animals,” Wilson said. “It’s just sickening to think about what has happened to them and what they have been through.”

I’ve left out some of the details because it was just to disgusting to post.  I’m glad to see that the courts have taken the extra step of ordering the couple to pay for the dogs care.  I applaud the judge for taking that step.

These people should be made to pay for the care for the lifetime of the dogs, their  property should be taken away and sold at auction, and they deserve to rot in jail.

In Tampa, FL the PM Tinies breeding facility owner is facing criminal charges.

Two weeks ago the Department of Animal Services stepped in and seized over 30 dogs, of various small breeds.

Starting today at 11a.m. the Hillsborough County Animal Services, located at 440 Falkenburg Road in Tampa, will place approximately 30 of the dogs for adoption.

Those wishing to adopt dogs from the breeder seizure may be subject to special restrictions, home visits or other screening by Hillsborough County Animal Services.

Most of the dogs will require spay/neuter surgery and may not be available to leave immediately.

The dogs offered will range in age from 8 weeks to 14 years of age, and many suffer medical issues such as heart worms, heart murmurs and periodontal disease.

For the first  24 hours priority will be given to Hillsborough County residents.

Out-of-County residents (non-Hillsborough) are encouraged to consider other adoptable pets or visiting the shelter on Thursday, November 20th to check availability of these dogs.

If interested stop by the Hillsborough County Department of Animal Services, there you can get contact information and adoption paperwork.

It’s hard to believe this stuff goes on, unfortunately it does.

HOUSTON - State officials said late Friday that they had begun dismantling one of the largest dogfighting rings in the country that night, arresting eight people and seizing 187 dogs used by a sophisticated network of bettors throughout eastern Texas. Investigators continued to search for suspects Saturday.

In all, 55 people were indicted after an undercover investigation that lasted 17 months. Officials said the network’s matches drew crowds of up to 100 people, who placed tens of thousands of dollars in wagers on a single fight.

Gamblers commonly placed bets as high as $500 to $1,000 on the matches. The fights took place weekly or twice a month, they were by invitation only. That’s one invitation I never want to receive.

An undercover investigation started after receiving a tip from someone in a different state. The investigators gathered evidence, even managing to video tape a few of the fights. Authorities stated that during raids to seize the animals, state troopers also found firearms, marijuana, cocaine and stolen property.

The indictments charged the defendants only with engaging in dogfights, a felony that carries up to two years in prison, or misdemeanor charges of being a spectator at a dogfight, which carries up to a year in jail.

This is a despicable crime and the laws need to be changed to reflect the severity of the crime, stricter punishments need to put into place.

At least a bite has been taken out of one more dogfighting ring.

In Napa, California six dogs have been poisoned using snail bait.  A warning for anyone in that area not to leave their dog(s) outside unattended.

The first incident took place on October 29, someone placed snail bait in the backyard of a home resulting in the death of three dogs. A week later the second poisoning incident took place.

Three dogs, including a police canine, were poisoned in Napa last week and a $4,000 reward is being offered for information about the suspect.

Police Sgt. Michael Hensley said the dogs were found around 11 a.m. Nov. 3 at a police officer’s home showing signs of poisoning. Two of the dogs, German short hairs, are the personal dogs of the officer. The third, a German Shepherd, is a police dog.

According to Hensley, all three dogs were transported to a veterinarian’s office but one of the German short hairs died on the way there.

The other two dogs were treated and are in fine condition, he said.

A reward of $4,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible. “We’re pursuing this [as a] full felony case:.torture to animals. Four animals … were killed and we’re taking it very seriously,” said Napa police detective Mike Walund

Anyone with information can call the Napa Police Department at (707) 257-9223 and ask for the investigations bureau.

Jenna  was found hurt and limping in an area notorious for dog fighting.  She was picked up by the Vero Beach, FL Humane Society who  have been desperately  trying to find her owners.

She was named “Jenna” by the staffers,  who have quickly gotten attached to her.

She is a Catahoula leopard hound mix found in the Fellsmere area limping, scarred and scared.

Now Vero Beach Humane Society officials are hoping to locate the veterinarian whose unique operation helped give this dog her day.

The pooch was found limping in an area notorious for dog fighting, officials said. But after reviewing X-rays, shelter veterinarian Dr. Elizabeth Bybee recognized the pooch had previously undergone extensive — and expensive — lifesaving surgery.

“The surgery would have cost her family several thousand dollars,” Bybee said. “It’s clear that someone, or some family, really loved her.”

The details of the operation are unique and details are not being released, to make sure she is returned to the rightful family.

Humane Society officials speculate the dog may have been stolen and then used as practice for the fighting dogs.

“She’s too gentle to have been used as a fighting dog but our fear is that she may have been used as what’s called a bait dog,” said Janet Winikoff, director of education at the Humane Society of Vero Beach.

It’s horrible, and sickening,  to think that she was dognapped to be used as bait. If anyone has information about Jenna, or can help the Humane Society reunite Jenna with her family  please call (772)388-3331, ext. 31.