On Dec. 4, the dog was discovered at the dumpster located on Knox Avenue shortly before 9 a.m.

An animal crate was also found among the trash, and the dog was wandering by itself in the waste and scrap.

Our news partners at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report Jwanna Martin is charged with animal cruelty and neglect.

Officials say she is the one who dumped her partner’s dog.

The dog is at Humane Animal Rescue.

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A Utah family is coping with losing their dog after a vet reportedly euthanized him by mistake.

Andrea Martinez took to Facebook to share the devastating story on Monday, writing that the family took their pet dachshund Ziggy to the emergency room after “his breathing got weird.”

The emergency vet recommended surgery for Ziggy, which the family agreed to, Martinez said.

While the pup was undergoing the invasive procedure, the vet realized it was going to be “a lot more work and money than they expected” and called to get permission from the family to continue with the surgery or “go ahead and lay him down.”

However, Martinez claims she never received that call.

“But they didn’t call me,” Martinez shared in the post. “[T]hey called another [dog’s] mom thinking it was me, and she said no to go ahead and lay him down.”

Martinez did not find out her dog had been euthanized until someone from the vet’s office called later to tell her Ziggy had been put down. She said that when she “freaked out,” the vet realized “they called the wrong person the first time.”

“Then he got back on [the phone] and he apologized and said, ‘I’m so sorry that this happened, we got confused and ended up calling another dog’s mom,’” Martinez told KUTV. According to the vet, there was another dog named Ziggy, and the vet initially contacted that Ziggy’s family.

According to Martinez, she said she would have never agreed to let her dog go “without trying more” and blames the vet for “rob[bing] me the choice of saying ‘at least we tried.’”

Since finding out the heartbreaking news, Martinez has said she “can’t stop crying” and doesn’t know how to break it to her 6-year-old that “her best friend died.”

“Ziggy followed me EVERYWHERE and cuddled me every single night. He made my anxiety bearable. I feel so sick that this happened,” she wrote on Facebook.

The name of the vet in Davis County was not shared, but according to KUTV, they apologized for the unfortunate incident and waived the bill, as well as gifted the family an urn, plaque and Christmas ornament with Ziggy’s paw print.

Though with Ziggy’s condition during the surgery, there is no guarantee he would have made it through if they continued trying, per KUTV. However, that does little to help Martinez cope.

“This whole thing seriously makes me so sick to my stomach,” she said.

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A 24-year-old Ypsilanti woman was arrested with her emotional support therapy dog by her side after she allegedly tried to steal about $1,000 in merchandise from a department store and was found with tools to defeat anti-theft devices.

The incident occurred at about 3 p.m. Nov. 25 at Walmart, 23800 Allen Road, in Woodhaven.

According to a police report, the woman was seen inside the store with the dog as she selected an all-in-one computer and numerous phone sockets.

She put them in her shopping cart with numerous other items.

While at the garden center she picked up a Santa hat from a display and allegedly concealed it in her backpack.

The report said a loss prevention officer kept an eye on her because many of the items she selected were “high theft items.”

She then, according to the report, attempted to leave the store, but was stopped by the loss prevention officer.

The officer recovered nearly $800 in merchandise from the cart and more than $170 from the backpack.

Also inside the backpack were pliers and magnets, allegedly used on store merchandise to enable the theft devices.

An animal control officer was called to the store and took custody of the service dog.

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Virginia-based veterinarian Dr. Katy Nelson has three words of advice for dog owners thinking about breeding their dogs: Don’t do it. “Just because your dog is cute and your neighbor’s dog is cute does not mean they should get together to make puppies,” says Nelson. “You need experience and know-how to breed. It’s not something to be taken lightly.”

Nelson suggests spaying and neutering to avoid unplanned pregnancies. If you do find yourself tasked with the care of a pregnant dog, there are important steps you can take to ensure a healthy pregnancy and delivery. Below, Nelson weighs in on how to provide the best prenatal and postnatal care for your pet.

Veterinary Visits
When you first suspect your dog is expecting, it’s important that her veterinarian examine her in order to confirm the diagnosis. “Infections to the uterus can mimic pregnancy, with an enlarged midsection and discharge,” says Nelson. “These infections can be life-threatening, so it’s important to rule this out.”

Once your vet establishes your dog is indeed pregnant, her vaccination schedule should be checked to make sure she is up-to-date. “Maternal antibodies last 12 weeks in puppies,” explains Nelson, adding that the puppies “benefit from having a fully vaccinated mother.”

Dogs gestate their babies for nine weeks. Your dog will see her doctor two or three times during this period. The veterinarian can help you to anticipate what to expect during labor, especially if your breed has notoriously difficult deliveries. “Dogs with large heads and small butts often have labor complications,” says Nelson. “For example, bulldogs almost always need C-sections.”

Nutrition and Exercise
Because her most pressing need during pregnancy is for more calories, a pregnant dog should be fed a nutrient-dense puppy formula beginning immediately after her status as a mother-to-be is confirmed. Make sure, however, that the formula you choose is for small- to medium-sized pups, as large-breed puppy food contains fewer calories in order to slow growth.

Like a pregnant human, a pregnant dog can benefit from regular exercise. Stick with low-impact exercise, such as walking and chasing. If her muscles stay toned, she’ll have a safer labor and delivery.”

Labor Day
In advance, prepare a private, quiet place for the birth to occur. “Like human females, a female dog doesn’t want 10 people in the room when she’s in labor,” says Nelson. She suggests providing your pet with a birthing area — a comfortable bed or box. Nelson also suggests a room with a tiled floor to make cleanup easier.

Your veterinarian should speak with you about the signs that your dog is going into labor. “She may become very aloof, or on the flip side, very clingy,” says Nelson. Follow your dog’s lead: If she doesn’t want company, don’t force it on her. “Her hormones are raging. She’s very protective of these arriving babies. Read her body language and take it seriously.”

Postpartum
As with your pregnant dog, the most important consideration for your new mother is nutrition, specifically a higher caloric intake. She should continue to eat puppy food until her puppies have weaned (about eight weeks after birth). “Especially if the litter is big — more than three puppies — intense nutritional support is in order,” says Nelson. Consult your dog’s veterinarian about how much food she’ll need.

You should also be tuned in to the mother’s overall health. Postpartum dogs can develop eclampsia, which results from a calcium imbalance and can be life-threatening. It usually happens within a week of delivery, and signs include shaking, seizures and lethargy. If your dog exhibits these, get her to the vet immediately.

With the right medical and nutritional support, every dog can have a healthy pregnancy and a happy Mother’s Day — every day.

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Caroline County Sheriff Tony Lippa said deputies were called to Chilesburg just after 5:10 p.m. after a man reported his hunting dog had been shot and killed.

“The dog, equipped with a GPS tracking collar, was participating in an active hunt when the signal stopped suddenly on the property owned by Adam Beck,” Lippa said.

“Deputies arrived on scene and approached the house, at which time Mr. Beck refused to answer or come to the door,” Lippa said. “There was apparent evidence discovered and the deputies remained on scene to prevent the destruction of this evidence.”

While several deputies remained at the house, a lieutenant and sergeant obtained an arrest and search warrant, according to Lippa.

After the warrant for his arrest was issued, officials said Beck came out of the house and was “arrested without incident.”

Officials said animal control deputies recovered the animal’s body.

Additionally, officials seized two AR-15 rifles as evidence and the dog’s damaged tracking collar was discovered inside Beck’s home, Lippa said.

Beck was booked and released on a $2500 unsecured bond from the Pamunkey Regional Jail, officials said.

However, Lippa said additional charges are pending.

“This is a reminder to all that it is illegal to remove a dog’s GPS collar and identification tags, and it is a felony to harm or kill a hunting dog,” Lippa said. “On behalf of the CCSO, we offer our sincere condolences to the dog’s owner and family.”

Officials said their investigation into the case is ongoing.

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A New York woman is seeking retribution after a dog walker she hired from a popular dog-walking app was captured on video stealing from her home.

The homeowner, Shayna Bryan, posted a series of tweets on Thursday that contained security footage of an unidentified dog walker seen filling her bag with items from around the house as the woman’s dogs watched whelplessly.

The bandit, whom she hired from the pet care company Wag!, even attempted to snag a large winter coat allegedly worth thousands of dollars before Bryan — who had been watching live on her video camera — remotely sounded the alarm.

“I immediately sounded my alarm and demanded she take my handbag out of her bag, which she ignored and quickly left the apartment,” Bryan wrote on Twitter.

Following the incident, Bryan said she tried to contact Wag! three times before turning to the police, adding that no one from the company acted on the theft until her Facebook post went viral, according to the news outlet.

Wag! publicizes its walker vetting process on its website, which they told People magazine includes a criminal background check, Social Security number trace and facial recognition analysis.

The company said it is working with police during the investigation and they deactivated the walker’s account, according to CBS.

Bryan was refunded for the walk, but she said the walker also failed to buckle her dog’s harnesses, which she says, along with everything else, left her “utterly violated.”

“To add fuel to the fire, I subsequently discovered that the dog walker neglected to buckle the harnesses around my dogs’ necks, leaving them vulnerable to running off, getting hurt or worse,” Bryan wrote on Facebook. “She completely compromised their safety. I cannot stop thinking about all of the worst-case scenarios that may have manifested.”

While Wag! does have an intensive vetting process, she hopes others will be careful when hiring people from the app.

“What concerns me is the thought that other families and dogs will experience what I have due to negligence on your part. In fact, my fears have been corroborated by several articles written as recently as last month regarding incidents of dog abuse and/or death as a result of poorly executed background checks,” Bryan said.

“I hope that you can appreciate my deep frustration and expect that you will respond expeditiously to further this investigation,” she added.

Wag!’s Vice President of Trust and Safety and Corporate Affairs, Heather Rothenberg, issued a statement to People and said: “Every service on the Wag! platform is insured and backed by the full support of our Trust and Safety team, which means in the rare case of an incident, we work directly with the pet parent and the appropriate authorities to address the situation.”

“In this case, our Trust and Safety team reached out to the pet parent to offer support as soon as Wag! was informed of the incident,” she said. “We continue to work directly with the local authorities on the investigation. Additionally, the walk has been refunded and the walker, an independent contractor, has been removed from the Wag! platform.”

“Every walker must pass a vetting process and a background check before being allowed to join the Wag platform,” she added. “Every applicant must pass an online test covering dog safety, equipment and handling knowledge before we allow them on the Wag! platform to care for your dog.”

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We’ve all been there. You go to visit your friend, your neighbor, your co-worker, etc., and then before you even walk in the door you hear it. Barking. Growling. Lots of anxious movement.

Dealing with an anxious and aggressive dog is scary and, for the owners, can be a bit embarrassing. Barring the invention of a time machine that would allow you to go back in time to when your dog was 6-12 weeks old to focus on behavioral training (which is what Oscar E. Chavez, DVM, MBA, Member of the American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition, says he likes to first suggest), there are a few specific things you can do to try to help curb your pooch’s bad (and oftentimes dangerous) behavior.

“Aggressive dogs, if truly aggressive, usually require professional behavior modification, and the attention of a trainer or professional,” says Dr. Chavez. “This doesn’t mean you need to work with them at all times, but it does mean that they need to be a part of the behavior modification program.”

The key when dealing with aggressive dogs is to identify which type of aggression your dog is exhibiting, and then develop an appropriate strategy to reverse it. “This process can take days, weeks, months or even years,” says Dr. Chavez. “But if done right, it can be effective over 90 percent of the time. Truly ‘evil’ dogs are rare, and most of the time it’s poor socialization or training during puppyhood that leads to problems.”

When it comes to training, the key is to ignore bad behavior (provided it’s not immediately threatening), and reward good behavior with attention. “Negative attention is still attention, so yelling and shouting your dog’s name when it’s lunging and growling may only fuel the problem,” says Dr. Chavez.

One common technique that helps in the initial stages is what Dr. Chavez called the ‘invisible dog’ technique. “This is where you literally are instructed to ignore the dog completely, except for only feeding and potty walks for two weeks,” he said. “Even during these allowable interactions, you are instructed to avoid eye contact and be very cold to the dog.”

Dogs who are being given the ‘invisible dog’ technique typically go through a mourning phase, where they miss the attention and affection of their pet parent so much that they become open to training and to being very cooperative. After this period, the dog’s behavior is usually better modified. “Invisible dog is tough, because the last thing we want to do is ignore a pet we love,” says Dr. Chavez. “But it must be adhered to very consistently for it to work, and when it fails, it’s usually our fault for giving in.”If your dog’s aggressive behavior worries you, Dr. Chavez suggests checking out The Animal Behavior Network as a great place to start for advice.

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City police accuse her of assaulting the animal at her Parade Street apartment on Monday.

Erie police detectives investigating the death of an 11-month-old Labrador mix named Izzy after the dog was beaten with a hammer inside a Parade Street apartment early Monday morning picked up on inconsistencies in what the dog’s owner was telling them, Deputy Chief Mike Nolan said Wednesday.

Investigators also received information from other people that led them to question the owner’s initial report that an unknown person entered the apartment while she was away and attacked the animal, Nolan said.

The dog’s owner, 37-year-old Justina Robison, additionally gave police two different versions of what happened to Izzy before she eventually admitted to hitting the dog, he said.

Robison was charged by Erie police Detective Christopher Clement early Wednesday morning with a third-degree felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals for causing Izzy’s death, as well as misdemeanor counts of possessing an instrument of crime, cruelty to animals and false reports to law enforcement.

She was placed in the Erie County Prison on $50,000 bond following her arraignment by Erie 5th Ward District Judge Paul Bizzarro.

Nolan said Robison lied to police in her initial report, and it cost patrol officers and detectives a lot of time and effort in working the case. It also upset members of the Erie community to the point where citizens were trying to raise money to offer as a reward for information leading to the apprehension of the suspect, he said.

“Once again it shows the dedication of Erie police in solving cases like this,” Nolan said. “It was great work. These guys put aside their personal lives to work through the night.”

Robison did not give detectives a reason for why she assaulted her dog when she eventually confessed to the crime, investigators said.

Izzy was euthanized after the dog was taken by an Erie Humane Society officer to the pet emergency center because of the extent of the dog’s injuries following the attack, which happened in Robison’s apartment in the 300 block of Parade Street.

Clement charged in Robison’s criminal complaint that she used a hammer to strike the dog numerous times, then called Erie police and reported that someone entered her residence while she was not there and assaulted her dog.

City police officers who responded to the apartment on a report of an unknown situation involving a lot of blood on Monday at about 2:30 a.m. were told by Robison that she returned home at 1:40 a.m. to find the dog on the kitchen floor, and it appeared to have been beaten. Robison had taken the dog into the bathroom, where officers located it, Clement wrote in the affidavit of probable cause filed with the criminal complaint.

Officers said they recovered a bloody hammer suspected of being used to assault the dog and some duct tape suspected of being used to muzzle it. A Humane Society cruelty officer who was also involved in the investigation also turned over to city police a damaged broom handle that the dog’s owner said she believed may have been used to assault the dog, police reported Monday.

Detectives investigating the case said no evidence was found indicating that anyone broke into Robison’s apartment. They also found no evidence that anything was taken from the apartment.

There were two other dogs and a cat in the apartment but none were reported injured, according to police. The animals were turned over to a relative of Robison’s, investigators said.

Nolan said detectives spent a lot of time at first investigating Robison’s report of a burglary and following up on information she and a number of citizens provided them. That information revealed inconsistencies in Robison’s initial report, and it led to additional interviews with her, Nolan said.

The ongoing investigation eventually led detectives to no longer look at Robison as a victim, he said.

Detectives interviewed Robison on Tuesday afternoon and spoke to her again on Tuesday night, and it was during the last interview that she admitted to striking the dog with the hammer, according to police.

Robison is tentatively scheduled to appear in court for her preliminary hearing on Monday. The aggravated cruelty to animals charge she faces is a felony offense in Pennsylvania, punishable by up to seven years in prison, under changes to state law adopted during the summer of 2017.

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PORT ORANGE — Pups and their people are may soon have the option to dine together in outdoor restaurants throughout the city. That is, legally speaking.

On Tuesday, the City Council voted 4-1 in favor of creating a dog-friendly dining program, where local eateries could pay a permitting fee, apply to participate and — as long as they follow state-mandated rules — designate outdoor areas for well-behaved, leashed pups and owners to eat together.

“This is kind of like a tail wagging the dog situation,” said Councilman Scott Stiltner to laughter from the room. “Some of these places, they do it now anyway. They’ve been doing it for years.”

While the practice is not officially allowed in city limits, several eateries already offer dog-friendly dining spaces, according to Senior Planner Penelope Cruz. She said city staff has observed dogs in outside dining areas at Panera Bread, Tomoka Brewery, Starbucks, Neighbors Ice Cream Parlor and the Original First Turn Steakhouse.

“We have allowed animals on our deck for many years,” said Denise Hilliard, co-owner of The Original First Turn Steakhouse & Lounge on U.S. 1, speaking in favor of the practice. “We supply water bowls. We supply treats. We have a doggie menu for our canine friends.”

While most elected officials voted in favor of the ordinance, allowing restaurant owners to decide for themselves whether to let their outdoor spaces go to the dogs, Councilman Chase Tramont, the lone dissenting vote, had lingering concerns about health and safety of diners.

He called the issue “tricky.”

“Frankly, it’s one of those issues that I wish had not come before us, because I’d rather just go on, you know, and not know about it,” said Tramont.

But since it did come up, he felt the city shouldn’t allow the practice.

City Manager Jake Johansson told leaders he has never personally received a complaint about dogs at any city restaurants. But Cruz said if there are ever any concerns from patrons, they can contact the city and staff will keep track of complaints.

“I think the people that own these animals are well aware that they’ve been given a privilege,” said Johansson. “I’m not saying it’s never happened, but I’m saying it’s never come to the city manager’s attention.”

After the vote, leaders suggested an annual permitting fee of $50. The ordinance is expected to go to a final vote Dec. 17.

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You’ve heard of Florida Man, but what about Florida Dog?

In a cul-de-sac in Port St. Lucie, neighbors watched in confusion as a dog named Max managed to lock himself in his owner’s car Thursday morning, accidentally put it in reverse, and drive in circles for nearly an hour.

“First I thought I saw somebody backing up but then they kept going and I’m like okay what are they doing? And the cops came and I’m like okay!” Anne Sabol, who lives across from the cul-de-sac, told WPBF-TV.

The black labrador retriever was reportedly left in the running car around 8:00 a.m. on Thursday morning after the owner made a wrong turn and left to check on something.

That’s when Max somehow hit the stick shift and put the 2003 silver Mercury Sable in reverse. It began looping around, with its doors locked, according to the Sun-Sentinel.

“Then I saw the dog get out of the car, a big black lab or something, and I’m like, ‘This is turning weird,'” Sabol told the outlet. “It was going on for about an hour. It was turning and turning and turning in a perfect circle.”

Sabol said the car then went backward, where it careened onto someone’s lawn — crashing into a mailbox — before the cops could intervene.

“He was doing pretty good until he hit the mailbox. He went around for about an hour without hitting anything at all,” Sabol told WPTV.

The homeowner said the driver would replace the mailbox, according to the outlet.

The car, however, was still locked and running with the canine explorer inside, so police attempted to use the spare key fob to unlock the door.

Unfortunately, the battery was dead.

The officers improvised and entered a code on the driver’s side door keypad, which finally did the trick.

“It was a pretty funny little situation,” Sabol told the outlet. “It made my day, obviously.”

Following his ruff test drive, Max was reportedly in good health, according to police.

“I saw the dog jump out of the car, wagging his tail. I was like ‘Okay, good driving!’” Sabol told WPTV.

She added that Max drove better than most other drivers in the Sunshine State.

They should give that dog a [driver’s] license,” she told the Sun-Sentinel. “He drives better than some people I’ve seen on the roads here.”

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