Colorado: Police rescue bear which broke into car, locked himself in, then honked horn for help

COLORADO -- Boulder County Sheriff's Office posted on Facebook April 17 at 5:56am ·

Our deputies responded to a vehicle trespass with an....usual suspect. A bear broke into a car and locked himself in.

Car 0. Bear 1.

They were able to open the car door and safely let the bear out without anyone, including the bear, being harmed.

This is a good reminder that wildlife is out and about this time of year looking for food. Here are tips for living with bears. Trust us, you don’t want to have to deal with a “hangry” bear.

1) Don’t feed birds while bears are active. Attract birds with water feeders, plantings and nest boxes instead.
2) Store garbage in bear-resistant containers, enclosures or buildings.
3) Put trash out the morning of pick up, not the night before.
4) Keep bear-accessible windows and doors closed and locked at night.
5) Keep garage doors closed. Lock the door between the house and the garage.
6) Don’t leave anything inside your vehicle that could attract a bear. That includes sun tan lotion, hand crème and air fresheners, along with empty food wrappers and packaging.
7) Don’t leave pet food or empty pet food dishes outside. Store pet food in a secure enclosure.
8)Put chickens and small livestock in a secure pen at night or electric fence their enclosure.
9) Pick fruit and produce as soon as, or just before, it ripens.
10) Unwelcome mats and electric fencing are proven ways to keep bears out.

Colorado: Chow named Butter attacked by a Pit Bull while at the dog park

COLORADO -- Susan Nyby Doyle posted on Facebook March 7, 2018 · Littleton, CO ·

Our little fur dog Butter got bit by a pit bull in the neck at the dog park today. She is at the vet being sedated so they can suture up the puncture wound.

If you take your dog to the dog park and you see a Pit Bull already inside, go back home.

Colorado: After Yellow Labrador attacked by Pit Bull, Animal Control tells Pit owner dogs "got into a scuffle"

COLORADO -- Marshal Rehders posted on Facebook March 1 at 9:00pm ·

So, last Sunday afternoon Koda (MY Labrador) was attacked by a pit bull, from behind, on the sidewalk and then again in my front yard repeatedly by this dog.

The owners live on the corner across from us in the yellow house...to many of my friends and neighbors, I want to warn you that this is a vicious dog and will not stop until it has killed your severely wound you pet!

The owners stated on the neighborhood website that the dog was lost and they posted pics of this dog with a little dog patrying that the dog is harmless...it is not! Watch you larger size dogs and kiddos!

The owners also have a large hole in the fence where this dog will escape and attack your Larger dogs. The owners stated this dog is aggressive to large animals!!! 

The owners have not been around while I'm home, so I have not had the opportunity to talk with them. I am waiting to discuss how they plan to keep this from happening again to anyone else. Be care out there walking your Larger pets in the Grey Hawk Subdivision! By the way Koda is healing from his injuries very well!

UPDATE: Thank you all! I love the support...I spoke with the owner last night and the Humane Society told them their dog was knotty and got into a scuffle without injuries. So I brought the father over to my house to see the damage to Koda's neck, ear and chest. The father was shocked, scared, and very nervous. 

Bill Jones, if I catch the dog out again, I wont be calling the Humane Society! I will be coming down for a fishing trip.

Colorado: Pit Bull attacks dog in the lobby of a doggy daycare

COLORADO -- Amber Kraft posted on Facebook February 28, 2018 ·

Curious to know how other's feel but my reaction is WTF! I took my Hazel to doggy daycare this morning and we were greeted in the lobby by an unleashed pit bull that was only just rescued Saturday!!!

The poor pit bull attacked Hazel and me, Hazel taking the brunt of it. She is getting stitched up as I type. I have some bruising but definitely lucked out!

Who takes a dog they just adopted to daycare days after they adopt the dog? The poor thing probably thought he was going back to the shelter.

It took me a year and a half to take Hazel to daycare and she still hesitates and worries, as do I, but she does well and comes home exhausted. Ugh, I worry about that poor dog, despite its instincts.

Colorado: Great Pyrenees attacked and torn apart by Pit Bulls

COLORADO -- Please help my friends in Colorado who I adopted ItsyBitsy from! There beautiful dog Thor was attacked by pit bulls and is in Critical condition and needs surgery!

They are dear to my Heart and I do appreciate if you can help. Prayers to Grace and Jolene that Thor comes Home again! Thank you, Donna and Bunny

Update 1
Thank you all for the donations and kind words! Thor is still Critical but did wag his tail! He needs surgery to close and drain all his puncture wounds! We appreciate the prayers and donations so Thor can get the Help he needs! ❤

Update 2
Thank you all for your genorous donations! You all have touched my Heart and are saving Thor! He had a surgery today to out drains in and see up Torm muscles. He is still Critical but wagged his tail!

His VET Bill is up to 5000! What we do for our Furbabys! My friends say Thank you for helping Any Amount helps!! I will keep you all posted on Thor's progress! Prayers!

GOFUNDME: Please help my friends in Colorado
Created February 17, 2018
Donna Armato
  Animals
  SAFETY HARBOR, FL
$725 of $3,000 goal
Raised by 22 people in 4 days

Missouri: Joseph and Lindsay Brink charged after their Boxers mauled elderly man to death in 2015

MISSOURI -- A southwest Missouri couple has been arrested after their dogs were linked to the fatal 2015 mauling of an elderly bicyclist, following an investigation during which two of the dogs were given away to unsuspecting owners, according to investigation files.

Joe Brink and Lindsay Brink were indicted in October on one count each of second-degree involuntary manslaughter in the death of 85-year-old Werner Vogt.

Both suspects were booked into jail on Thursday and released on their own recognizance.

They didn't even have to post bond???

Vogt was mauled in November 2015 while riding his bicycle in an upscale subdivision near the couple's home in rural Rogersville, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) east of Springfield.

Vogt, who also lived in the area, died three weeks after he was attacked. Investigators said DNA eventually matched one dog to saliva found on Vogt's clothing and couldn't rule out the couple's three other boxers.

The Brinks' attorney, Dee Wampler, said Thursday that his clients have cooperated with authorities and "deny any guilt or criminal negligence."

It's unclear why there was a months-long delay between the indictment and the couple being booked. The local prosecutor didn't return phone messages from The Associated Press on Friday.

My guess is that the prosecutor's office doesn't really want to prosecute.

The Brinks previously settled a wrongful death lawsuit with Vogt's son for $300,000.

The grand jury indictment alleges the Brinks were "aware of the aggressive disposition of the dogs and failed to maintain adequate control of the dogs by allowing them to run at large." No other details were provided in the document.

But files from the Christian County Sheriff's Office show that an investigator examined the Brinks' four large boxers shortly after the attack. The investigator found no blood on the animals.

 

 

In the spring, sheriff's Sgt. Michael Elliott returned to the Brinks' home to take DNA samples from their dogs, but Joseph Brink told Elliott he had gotten rid of two of his dogs — Chubbs and Otto — which were among the three dogs running lose at the time of the 2015 attack, according to the Springfield News-Leader newspaper .

"It seemed to me that Joseph believed his dogs were likely responsible, and told me he just couldn't allow himself to keep the dogs, especially since he has a little boy," Elliott wrote in the report.

Elliott took DNA swabs from the Brinks' two remaining boxers, and tracked down Chubs and Otto.

ADOPTED FROM SHELTER AND SOLD ON CRAIGSLIST

One of the dogs had been sent to an animal shelter in Bolivar, where a family adopted it.

A Springfield man acquired the other dog through a Craigslist ad.

The new owners told the News-Leader they were shocked to learn of the boxers' possible link to the fatal attack.

OWNER LIED TO THE SHELTER ABOUT THE DOG BEING INVOLVED IN THE FATAL ATTACK ON A HUMAN BEING

Jessie Shepardson, director of the Polk County Humane Society, said there were "no red flags" in the initial adoption paperwork for Otto.

The intake form indicated the dog hadn't bitten anyone within the past 10 days but noted the dog "doesn't do well with little kids."

 

 

She said there was no mention of the fatal attack in paperwork filed by the man who brought the dog in.

A forensic DNA analyst told the sheriff that DNA tests linked Otto's saliva to Vogt's clothing and couldn't rule out the other dogs.

ARREST INFORMATION: 

Full Name: Lindsay Renee Brink

Gender: Female

Race: White

Height: 5'06"

Weight: 145 lbs

Hair Color: BRO

Eye Color: BRO

Arrest Age: 34

Date: 01/18/2018

Time: 10:12 AM

Arresting Agency: CHRISTIAN COUNTY SHERIFF"S OFFICE

Location: Christian County, Missouri

Charge

#1 INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER 2ND DEGREE

STATUTE: 565.024-002Y199909

Full Name: Joseph Michael Jude Brink

Gender: Male

Race: White

Height: 5'09"

Weight: 195 lbs

Hair Color: BLO

Eye Color: BLU

Arrest Age: 37

Date: 01/18/2018

Time: 10:10 AM

Arresting Agency: CHRISTIAN COUNTY SHERIFF"S OFFICE

Location: Christian County, Missouri

Charge

#1 INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER 2ND DEGREE

STATUTE: 565.024-002Y199909

(U.S. News & World Report Jan 19, 2018)

Earlier:

• Colorado: Unsuspecting families end up with 2 dogs linked to fatal attack. Police have no plans on doing anything about it.

Colorado: "Free Pit Bull. She is the friendliest dog... except she is "very dog aggressive... started attacking our oldest Lab"

COLORADO - Free fixed female pit bull. Around two years old. Took her in when a family friend passed away.

We have three other dogs and she is very dog aggressive, she was fine with them for a little while, but had started attacking our oldest lab.

She is the friendliest dog towards people and kids and Is my daughters best friend, she lets her crawl all over her, but absolutely no other dogs in home!

Just because she is free does not mean she will go to anyone... I will be very picky and it will only be to the right home.

OK so "no other dogs in home"... but what happens when this dog gets loose? When she digs under the fence, pulls the leash out of your hands, jumps over a six-foot fence and begins attacking your neighbor's Yorkie? What will you do when it kills your elderly neighbor's beloved dog and then attacks her because she tried to stop it?

(Craigslist Denver - January 20, 2018)

Colorado: Couple's beloved dog mauled to death at dog park; Pit Bull owner fled with her dog and hasn't been seen since

COLORADO -- A Westminster couple is pleading for information after they say a pit bull attacked and killed their dog.

It happened on Dec. 29 at the Westminster Hills Off-Leash Dog Park, located along Simms Street near 108th Avenue.

John Flannagan and his wife Barbie Stephens say a pit bull described as a brindle mix and weighing about 90 pounds attacked his 9-year-old Yorkie named Biki.

“I had to watch it. I had to watch transpire in front of my eyes and I can’t get rid of it. I can’t get rid of that memory,” Flannagan cried.

Flannagan says it happened in a split second when he went to grab a waste bag.

“The next thing I know, people are shouting — they are shouting and screaming ‘Let him go, let him go,'” Flannagan said.

 

 

Biki was the target.

“I didn’t even know what it was at first because it was so so violent,” he said.

Flannagan says his first thought was to go after the other dog, but a woman with the dog’s owner kept him from doing that.

“She goes ‘Look, he’s still moving. You can save him,’” he said.

With hope in his mind, he rushed out of the park but Biki was dead before making it to the animal hospital.

"PIT AND RUN" - OWNER FLED WITH VICIOUS DOG

When Flannagan returned to the park, that suspected pit bull, its owners and every witness was gone.

A report was filed with Westminster police, but so far there are no leads.

Despite the lack of information, the couple has made it their mission to inform others and, above all, get justice for Biki.

“What I’m afraid of is that dog will kill again. And what I’m afraid of is it’s going to be a child instead of a dog,” Stephens said.

 

 

As part of their “justice for Biki” campaign, the couple plans to hang flyers around the park that include the horrifying photos of Biki after the attack as well as more specific information about what they remember from that day.

If you can help with this case, you are asked to call Westminster police.

Rest in peace little Biki

VIDEO NEWS CLIP:

(denver.cbslocal - January 10, 2018)

(November 2017) Colorado: Three curious Bull Mastiffs rescued by firefighters after getting stuck in storm drain

COLORADO -- Three very large dogs who went exploring and got stuck in a storm drain were rescued without injury thanks to careful work by firefighters and animal control.

On Monday, animal control got a call about three mastiffs who had escaped from their yard and ran into a nearby culvert near Arlington Place and Zinnia Court.

West Metro Fire Rescue and Jefferson County Animal Control Officer C. Hubrecht arrived at the scene and worked to rescue Oso, Max and Daisy.

“There were people looking down at the storm drain and I said that doesn't happen to be a dog down there does it? And sure enough all three mastiffs were down there," said Lynn Drum, who looked in her backyard and realized her dogs were gone.

She says this isn't the first time this has happened. Daisy went in the culvert before, and her husband rescued her.

Maybe this time, she just wanted a few friends to join.

"They were adorable," said one of the kids, Meadow Wilson. "But at the same time, it's a little scary because they could have gotten lost in there, and who knows what could have happened to them."

Officer Hubrecht talked with Drum about the value of licensing pets, and the owner agreed to do so on the spot, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.

“We’re happy this story had a happy ending for everyone. And whether you have four legs or two, we’ll be here if you need us," the post continued.

Great work, everyone!

*  *  *  *  *  *

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office added 8 new photos.
November 30 at 12:15pm ·

How in the World?

Even if you don’t have a dog or are even a dog person, most of you are probably aware that a mastiff is a pretty big pup. That’s why this story is so incredible.

JCSO Animal Control Officer C. Hubrecht received a call Monday about not one, not two, but THREE mastiffs stuck in a storm drain at W. Arlington Place and S. Zinnia Court.

Sure enough, there they were. But how? Well, dogs are funny and curious creatures who love exploring, especially when they’ve escaped their yard. At least this furry group brought their friends along when they ran into a culvert nearby.

Thankfully our friends at West Metro Fire Rescue were able to rescue them safely.

 

  

 

Animal Control Officer Hubrecht spoke with the owner about the dangers of dogs running at large and the owner purchased dog licenses on the spot.

We’re happy this story had a happy ending for everyone. And whether you have four legs or two, we’ll be here if you need us, JeffCo.

West Metro Fire Rescue added 6 new photos.
November 30 at 1:52pm ·

How do you get three bull mastiffs out of a storm drain? Carefully. Our Engine 11 crew this week, working with an animal control officer with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.

The dogs escaped their yard and curiosity led them into the drain to explore near W. Arlington Place and S. Zinnia Court.

Thankfully, the story had a happy ending.

9NEWS VIDEO NEWS CLIP:

(9News - Nov 30, 2017)