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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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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The Mississippi State Department of Health has created a new policy allowing pet dogs to be present at restaurants and other food facilities under specific conditions.

MSDH has examined policies in other states and believes with the proper hygienic conditions public health can be protected, and local businesses wanting to accommodate their clientele can be supported.

OWNERS: This policy takes effect Friday, November 1, 2019. Check local and county ordinances to ensure that dog-friendly restaurants are not otherwise prohibited.

Conditions to Ensure Public Health

• No pet dogs will be allowed inside a food facility (with the exceptions of service animals).
• A separate outside entrance to the designated outdoor dog-friendly area must be established.
• All tableware in the area must be disposable.
• Pet dogs will not be allowed to come in contact with serving dishes, utensils, tableware, linens or any other items involved in food service operations.
• Pet dogs must be kept on a leash at all times, and employees may not touch or handle the animal.
• Employees who do come into contact with a pet dog should immediately wash their hands.
• Any accident involving dog waste must be cleaned up immediately and the area sanitized with appropriate products provided by the restaurant.

Permits and Inspections

All restaurants that wish to establish a dining area where dogs are permitted must first submit an application to the Mississippi State Department of Health. Once MSDH receives the application and relevant fee, an inspection of the facility will take place to ensure that dog-friendly requirements are met.

Restaurants with dog-friendly dining areas will be inspected at least twice a year.

Liability

• The restaurant or food facility can deny service if the pet owner fails to exercise reasonable control over the pet dog, or if it behaves in a manner that compromises the health or safety of any person in the restaurant. Failure to comply with the policy could result in a lower inspection grade for the facility or revocation of its permit variance for dog-friendly areas.
• These restaurants must have proper signage defining areas where dogs are permitted.

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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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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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Florida lawmakers recently introduced a bill that would make animal abuse a federal offense.

It is a federal crime to record or distribute videos depicting animal abuse, according to legislation passed in 2010, but the actual act of animal cruelty isn’t punishable on a federal level.

If the bill – a bipartisan effort backed by Democratic Rep. Ted Deutch and Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan – is passed, people charged with harming animals will face fines and up to seven years in prison, according to The New York Times. 

Right now, animal cruelty cases are handled by the states, whose felony provisions have a wide range. For example, in some states, cruelty, neglect, fighting, sexual assault and abandonment of animals all result in felony charges. But in other states, felonies only result from the abuse of certain types of animals. 

Beyond felony provisions, states also differ in how they treat repeat offenders, “hot car” regulations and other laws involving the safety of animals. 

The Animal Defense Legal Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the interest of animals through the legal system, released a report in January ranking states by the strength of their animal protection laws. 

For the 11th year in a row, Illinois took the top spot in the ranking. Illinois has increased penalties for repeat animal abusers, requires counseling for certain offenders, and law enforcement officers are allowed to rescue animals trapped in hot cars, according to the report. Additionally, the state can issue protective orders for animals and courts can order people to forfeit their animal pre-conviction. 

Oregon, ranked No. 2, has increased penalties when abuse is committed in the presence of a minor and can restrict someone’s future ownership of animals upon conviction. The state also details comprehensive laws regarding the sexual assault of animals. Maine, Colorado and Massachusetts round out the five best states for animals.

One the other hand, the nonprofit ranked Kentucky last, citing how the state only has felony provisions for cruelty and fighting, both against only select types of animals. Kentucky prohibits veterinarians from reporting suspected cruelty or fighting, and the state has no laws regarding the sexual assault of animals. New Mexico, Wyoming, Iowa and Mississippi join Kentucky at the bottom of the ranking list.

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SEOUL — North Korea has launched another volley of insults at former vice president Joe Biden, calling him a “rabid dog” who is greedy for power and deserves to be beaten to death.

The attack came two weeks after Biden issued a statement attacking President Trump’s North Korea policy and referring to that country’s leader, Kim Jong Un, as a “murderous dictator.”

In response, North Korea laid on the animal metaphors thick and fast, calling Biden a crafty, rabid dog keen at getting at others’ throats, and a profiteer.

“A crow is never whiter for often washing,” the Korean Central News Agency said in a commentary.

“Anyone who dare slanders the dignity of the supreme leadership of the DPRK, can never spare the DPRK’s merciless punishment whoever and wherever,” it said, referring to the country’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. “And he will be made to see even in a grave what horrible consequences will be brought about by his thoughtless utterances.”

It then returned to the animal theme.

“Rabid dogs like Baiden [sic] can hurt lots of people if they are allowed to run about. They must be beaten to death with a stick, before it is too late,” it wrote. “Doing so will be beneficial for the U.S. also.”

This is not the first time Biden has invited the scorn of North Korea. In May, it called him a “fool of low I.Q.” for referring to Kim as a dictator and a tyrant.

In his presidential campaign, Biden has been sharply critical of Trump’s policy on North Korea, calling it a diplomatic failure that has made the American people less safe and arguing that Trump has been making excuses for a dictator and a brutal regime.

“It’s becoming more and more obvious that repugnant dictators, as well as those who admire and ‘love’ them, find Joe Biden threatening,” said Biden’s campaign spokesman Andrew Bates. “That’s because he’d restore American leadership in the world on day one by putting our security, interests, and values at the heart of our foreign policy.”

The criticism of Biden came a day after North Korea issued a rare criticism of Trump, and it could be seen as an attempt to leave a small window open for dialogue with the current administration.

On Thursday, North Korea said Trump had reneged on a promise to end joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises, arguing that it had given concessions, in the form of ceasing nuclear and long-range missile tests, that the U.S. president could “brag about” but had received nothing in return.

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At first glance, Lily Reilly looks like just another cute girl. But don’t be mistaken: She’s a working woman with a rough job.

Lily, a 5-year-old labradoodle, was the first of her Caring Canines colleagues to take the witness stand in a Maryland court Nov. 7, comforting a child while she testified as a rape survivor in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court.

Lily can’t take people’s trauma away, but she can put her head in their lap as they recount the worst moment of their lives. And that sweet, calming presence can make a world of a difference for victims, said her handler Barb Reilly, who stood next to the witness stand holding Lily’s leash and escorted her through the court.

“In other cases, she sits in the courtroom… But this was different. This was a much bigger case,” Reilly said. “I think the child really, really appreciated having the dog there. It gave her a chance to decompress.”

Lily’s presence doesn’t just help victims, it also can make for a clearer case. The more comfortable young victims are, the more confident they become, which means they can open up and share more of their story, Reilly said.

“The dogs are really able to bring down anxiety a little bit. Sometimes kids can open up a little bit better,” Reilly said. “It’s amazing what the dogs can do.”

Erin Bogan said she’s also seen the difference dogs like Lily can make. Bogan is the marketing coordinator for Dogwood Acres Pet Retreat in Davidsonville, which certifies volunteer therapy dogs through its Caring Canines program.

“The comforting presence they have helps the child get out of their head and feel more confident and comforted and safe,” Bogan said. “It gives them a little bit of solace through whatever they’re going through.”

The Courthouse Dog and Child Witness Pilot Program has been part of Anne Arundel and Harford county courts since February 2018. Child witnesses eligible for the program are identified by the state’s attorney’s office, a best interest attorney or a Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteer who sends a request to the court’s administrative judge for approval.

Sen. Bryan Simonaire, a Pasadena Republican, is preparing to bring a statewide version of the program to the General Assembly in next year’s session for the second time since 2016. The program would be voluntary and set up protocols for any county that wants to use it, Simonaire said.

“I’m thrilled to see a vision actually become reality,” Simonaire said. “We’re hopeful it goes statewide this year so we can help more children. That’s the real goal of this legislation.”

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OKEECHOBEE, Fla. (AP) — Authorities say a Florida police officer fatally shot a service dog while responding to a man suffering from a seizure.

An Okeechobee police statement says the shooting happened Monday night.

Police say two officers approached a man suffering from medical issues on the side of a road. They recognized the man and were familiar with his medical history.

While one officer helped the man, his service dog began to lunge and bite at the other officer. Police say the officer pushed the dog away several times before it went for his face, prompting the officer to shoot the dog once. The animal died while being taken to a veterinarian.

Authorities say the 60-pound (27-kilogram), mixed-breed dog wasn’t wearing a service vest.

Investigators say independent eyewitness supported the officer’s account.

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