Not all dogs can survive a gun shot wound. Yesterday an unidentified off-duty police officer shot and killed a pit bull in Brooklyn after the canine allegedly attacked him, police say.
Off-Duty Cop Shoots Dog Dead In Brooklyn
Here's A Sketch Of Home Invading Jerk Who Shot Heroic Pooch
The police are asking the public for help in finding the man who they say committed a home invasion on Staten Island and shot the home owner's dog in the process. And that dog happens to be Kilo, the 12-year-old pit bull who survived his injuries!
Heroic Hound Takes Bullet In The Head Saving Owner During Robbery
Yesterday, cops were called to contain one wild and crazy cat—and today we have a story from the exact opposite end of the spectrum: a heroic pit bull took a bullet in the head for his owner during an attempted home invasion robbery. And he somehow survived! “This is like, one in a million,” Dr. Greg Panarello, whose veterinary clinic operated on Kilo, told the Post. “He’s very lucky.”
Ex-Lesbian Lovers Battle Over Beloved Bitch
Custody battles have a tendency to get out of control, whether they're over children, tiny dogs or masturbating bears. Two former lesbian lovers are engaged in one such fight over their shared Labrador-Shepherd mix named Lily: “It’s out of spite,” said Rebecca Finkel, who claims her ex Michelle Quintus gave the dog away without consulting her. “She knew that taking Lily away would devastate me and she did.”
King Of The Kennel: Yorkshire Terrier Most Popular Dog In NYC
Labrador retrievers may be the most popular dogs in the country, but here in NYC, we prefer our dogs to be tiny and bity: for another year in a row, the Yorkshire Terrier was NYC's most popular purebred dog. And what's not to like? They're spunky, hypoallergenic, good at learning new tricks, and some of them really hate toilets. They are also targets of puppy thieves!
23 Dogs Rescued From Brooklyn Home With No Running Water
Twenty-three dogs were rescued from a Sheepshead Bay home which had no running water or working heat early this morning. Agents from the ASPCA and Animal Care and Control executed a search warrant in two Sheepshead Bay homes about 8:30 a.m. after receiving reports of an elderly couple hoarding dogs in bad conditions. “It smelled like dog feces and urine,” said neighbor Stacey Krauf. “You could smell it across the street.”
Puppy Porn: Scenes From The Westminster Dog Show
As we are sure you are well aware, right now Madison Square Garden is the epicenter of cute. Thanks to the 136th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show there are adorable doggies inside and outside. And while the competition is still going on (you can follow along at home here and rest assured, we've got more coverage coming) one lucky Gothamist reader managed to snap a number of photos of the canines with their people and shared them on Flickr. Brace yourself, there will be cute.
Linsanity Paused: Puppies Take Over Madison Square For Westminster Dog Show
The 136th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show has started today, and adorable dogs have taken over Madison Square Garden. The Best in Show judging is tomorrow night, but until then, judges will be narrowing down the field.
Photos: The New Yorkie Dog Fashion Show
To cleanse our mind of the doggie bondage photos, let's visit the runway from this past Friday night's annual New Yorkie Fashion Show, which took place at the New Yorker Hotel. David Frei, the legendary Voice of Westminster, acted as emcee of the event, which benefited Angel on a Leash, a non-profit organization that creates therapy dog programs for hospitals and institutions.
Are Dogs Getting Sick From Second Ave. Subway Work?
For years, Upper East Side residents have wondered whether the ongoing Second Avenue Subway work is causing them health issues, and in particular respiratory problems. But while those concerns have mostly been brushed aside, UES residents are now truly concerned about the health of their furry best friends: "There has definitely been an increase in complaints," Veterinarian Dr. Paul Schwartz told DNAInfo.
E.B. White's Letter To The ASPCA (In Which He Calls Their Fire Hydrant Tag A "Feeble Gag")
The Letters of Note website has provided endless entertainment with a mailbag filled with nostalgia. (Marlon Brando's letter to a stewardess, Andy Warhol's warning letter from his Factory landlord, and the amazing rejection letter penned by Hunter S. Thompson while at Rolling Stone, to name a few.) Most recently they reprinted a ltter that E.B. White wrote to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on East 92nd Street. It's dated April 12th, 1951, and comes after White was accused by the ASPCA of not paying his dog tax and therefore "harboring" an unlicensed dog. Yes, to the man who penned Charlotte's Web. You can read the full thing here (and we recommend you do), but here's a excerpt:
Tattoo Artist Sues Ex For Return Of "Kidnapped" Pooch
A Manhattan tattoo artist claims that his ex-girlfriend has kidnapped his beloved dog—and now he's been forced to sue to try to get his "son" back. Craig Dershowitz says that ex-girlfriend Sarah Brega "took unilateral control" of his puggle Knuckles, whisking him away to California after their breakup. "You say it is an extraordinary step but I think most pet owners would agree with me. Knuckles is my son, my heart—you would fight just as hard to protect your own children."
Video: Cute Dog + Star Wars=Volkswagen Super Bowl Commercial Gold?
Last year, the Volkswagen Vader ad was declared the most entertaining non-football part of the Super Bowl, and it was well deserved: a Star Wars-obsessed kid is gonna be more entertaining than a Black Eyed Peas halftime show 11 out of 10 times. But how can they follow up such a masterpiece? We already knew from their teaser that the scientists at Volkswagon were up to something involving Star Wars and dogs. But have they taken things too far to achieve the ultimate level of synergetic viral cuteness? Watch below and decide.
Friend On Actor's Suicide: "The Dog Thing Was The Last Straw"
The funeral for the Upper West Side soap opera actor who committed suicide after euthanizing his beloved pet dog took place on Monday. Nick Santino committed suicide last week the day after his 47th birthday, and the NY Post alleged that in his suicide note he said it was because he was wracked with guilt and grief over euthanizing his pit bull Rocco, following harassment and pressure from his condo board. Outside his funeral at St. Athanasius Church in Brooklyn, Santino's friend Sara Schwartz told the Post that she believes the death of Rocco was the tipping point for Santino: “It’s more than the dog. I definitely think the dog thing was the last straw. It gave him a reason to do it. If that didn’t happen, he may have lived a long life...He wanted to be in heaven with the dog.”
"Where Do You Pet A Dog In NYC?" Asks Animal Lover (Or Dog Napper)
A Reddit NYC poster asked today, "Where can I go to pet dogs in NYC?" Let's assume this person is not a dog napper, and let's assume that for whatever reason they don't want to just walk up to people walking their dogs on the sidewalk. A lot of people in New York want dogs, but as we were reminded in the Sh*t New Yorkers Say video, it just wouldn't be fair. So where do you go to hang out with some other man's best friend? Some suggestions:
Condo Member Doesn't Want To Be Blamed For Actor's Suicide (Or His Dog's Euthanasia)
This week, an Upper West Side soap opera actor committed suicide, and the NY Post alleged that in his suicide note he said it was because he was wracked with guilt and grief over euthanizing his beloved pet dog Rocco. Nick Santino euthanized Rocco this past Tuesday—on Santino’s 47th birthday—after being under pressure from his apartment condo to get rid of the dog. Marilyn Fireman, a board member at his building at 1 Lincoln Plaza, responded to the allegations: “I’m sorry the man is dead, but it has nothing to do with the pet policy. You just assumed that [his suicide] was a result of a board’s decision.”
Video: Staten Island Lady Pays $50,000 To Clone Dog
We don't even know where to start with this one: a crazily-eyebrowed Staten Island woman who treated her dog "better than most people treat their children" just paid $50,000 to have South Korean scientists clone him three years after his death. Oh, and she filmed it for a reality show, too.
Video: Adorable Dog Stuck In Icy Pond SAVED By New Jersey Firefighters
And now, some heartwarming animal news before your weekend kicks off: this is Saber, a 10-year-old husky who lives with his human family in Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey. Saber, who suffers from arthritis, bolted out of his house today for reasons unknown and ran onto the ice in the pond behind his house, where he slipped and fell through the ice. But he's okay!
NYPD Officer Docked 10 Vacation Days For Fatally Shooting Pit Bull
A Brooklyn officer who fatally shot a pit bull who attacked him and his partner has been docked 10 vacation days after a two-and-a-half year investigation. Officer Andre Jeter pleaded guilty to departmental charges in the 2009 shooting of the pit bull, to avoid an NYPD trial. Jeter was accused of shooting the dog an excessive number of times during the altercation. “It is an unusually heavy penalty for a dog shooting. But it shows how they go over every shooting with a fine-tooth comb,” a police source told the News.
Muzzle Tov: The "Bark Mitzvah" Dog Trend Rears Its Head Again
Getting Bar/Bat Mitzvah'd occurs when a young Jewish person turns 13—but thankfully for us, trend pieces about Bark Mitzvahs happen every six years or less! A Bark Mitzvah, of course, is the "pseudo-traditional observance and celebration of a dog's coming of age." The NY Times drank from the Manischewitz bowl for a feature piece in 2004, Dr. Ruth helped Elvis Best have his, and now the AP has video of one NJ family embracing it. So below, enjoy dogs in yarmulkes, and just imagine what Party Down could have done if they had been given a third season.
Keep That 2012 Diet Resolution... For Your Overweight Pets
While keeping resolutions may be a losing battle for us weak humans, it may be easier for you to keep them when they relate to your pet's health. Studies say that about half of dogs and cats are overweight or obese, which can result diabetes, respiratory disease, kidney disease, and other ailments including hip dysplasia.
Law & Order Actress Reunited With Stolen Dog
We love us some adorable animal stories—so what better way to bid farewell to 2011 than with one such happy story! Recurring Law & Order actress Lenore Harris was reunited with her 17-year-old Pomeranian yesterday, a few days after the dog was stolen from her in a CVS on the Upper West Side. “It’s a great holiday New York story,” said Lenore’s sister, Rosalind Harris, an actress who played Tzeitel in the movie Fiddler on the Roof.
Ex-Lovers Go To Court Over Custody Of Tiny Dog
A couple whose romance went sour took to the court for a custody battle of miniature proportions, arguing over who owns their two-year-old Maltese, named Bubkas.
NJ Town Wants To Limit Number Of Dogs You're Allowed To Have
Mendham Township, New Jersey, is up in arms over the possibility of a new rule limiting the number of dogs that one person can own, a measure that's aimed squarely at one of the town's Rottweiler owners.
Dog Vs. Hawk On The Streets Of Downtown Brooklyn
This hawk was spotted hanging out near the Fulton Mall in Brooklyn over the weekend, and an eyewitness to the scene told Animal that it stayed there calmly for about ten minutes until a curious dog got too close for comfort. We contacted our hawk expert to find out if hawks chilling on city sidewalks like this is normal (usually they're just swooping down to steal our chicken), and will update when we hear back. Until then, read an entertaining story about why Animal got the photos, and not the NY Post, who was gunning for them (hint: it pays to support the 99%).
It's Totally Cool For Your Dog And Cat To Smoke Pot, Brah (Says Vet, PETA)
You know how that d-bag you briefly dated while under the influence of Natural Light and JELL-O shots would totally get his dog high by exhaling his schwag weed into its face? That guy was such a jerk, why did you ever even date him? Anyway, today we came across this article that he probably wrote, saying it's totally chill for dogs to get high. According to one local vet sourced in the piece, "it’s perfectly ok for your dog to smoke marijuana. He can even take bong hits. He just can’t eat it.”
Video: It's Sunday, Is Your Dog In A Baby Bjorn?
With tens of thousands of people competing in the 42nd NYC Marathon, and tens of thousands of other people cheering them along and/or having fancy brunch parties in its honor, NYC feels kind of dead right now. Even the Post is having a hard time finding new ways to express their anti-OWS rage. So yes, people carrying their dogs in Baby Bjorns isn't exactly Woodward and Berstein material—these "pug pugjorns" have been making strange appearances around the web for awhile now. But perhaps Baby Bjorns are the perfect solution to avoid any more people assaulting bus drivers for not letting their Chihuahua's onboard.
Cops Threw Adorable Dog Out The Window During Botched Drug Raid
Sad story: The Post reports that the NYPD heartlessly chucked a seven-pound miniature Doberman-Pomeranian mix named Chuwie out the third-floor window of a Bronx family apartment that was the scene of a botched drug raid. As if the NYPD's reputation needed more bruising!
Photos: Adorable Costumes At Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade
It's the return of our favorite holiday-related animal costume parade of the year: yesterday was the 21st annual Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade, where dogs and humans alike dressed up as everyone from Lady Gaga (with meat dress!) to Donald Draper to Yoda. There were also plenty of topical costumes, including many Occupy Wall Street protesters and one dog who represented Hurricane Irene. And there's always room in our hearts for dogs dressed as Dave Mustane of Megadeth, and literal "poop" factories. Click through to see some highlights, and we'll have more pictures tomorrow taken by the one-and-only Katie Sokoler.
Won't You Please Help Raise These Adorable Guide Puppies?
Today, the Daily News runs a super-heartstring-tugging story about the troubles facing Canine Companions for Independence, a Long Island-based organization that trains dogs to help disabled people. In a nutshell, Companions can't find any volunteers to help raise the dogs while they're still puppies. Heartstrings!

