Second arrest made in dog cruelty case

A second Buffalo resident was arrested Friday after an investigation of animal cruelty prompted when three dogs … one of which had died … were discovered Thursday tied up and in grave condition from the summer heat, SPCA officials said.

Thadeus Garner called authorities Thursday to his home at 135 Walden Ave. to put his animals up for adoption. He was arrested the same day and has been arraigned on charges of animal cruelty.

Officers returned Friday for two puppies spotted at the residence Thursday.

Melissa Smith, who also has ownership of the animals and resides at 135 Walden, was arrested Friday and faces the same charges.

"When we arrived, those two puppies were there," said Beth Shapiro, deputy director of the SPCA serving Erie County. "So, we took them into protective custody based on what happened yesterday. Grooming wise, they smelled of urine and feces, and they were very warm."

The puppies, believed to be three to four months old, are being evaluated by veterinarians, along with two of the adult dogs retrieved Thursday.

Authorities received Garner's call at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday and three officers were on the scene an hour later.

"When we arrived, the third dog was still alive and in tremendous distress," said Barbara Carr, SPCA executive director. "My staff tried to help this dog and it died in their arms."

The temperature of the third dog exceeded 110 degrees, which is the highest possible reading on a veterinarian's thermometer, after it had been in an air-conditioned van for 30 minutes. The other two dogs' temperatures were 103.5 and 103.3 degrees; one was extremely emaciated and both were dehydrated.

All of the adult dogs were between two and three years old.

A Tonawanda last week was charged with two counts of animal cruelty after her dogs were found dead in her backyard because of the heat.

Carr said harm to animals frequently occurs when dogs are left unattended and without shelter, often tied up, in the extreme heat or cold. Mostly, she said it is because of carelessness.

"People don't understand that dogs can't sweat," she said.

Smith is to be arraigned at 9 a.m. Wednesday July 21 in Buffalo City Court.

By Jackie Smith

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Dog Trapped in Hot Car Honks Horn for Help

Stories about dogs trapped in hot cars don't typically end well. Happily, this one's different.

It was 90 degrees in Pennsylvania on the day that Max the chocolate Lab was accidentally locked in his owner's car, the AP reports. 

Donna Gardner of Allentown was running errands and forgot that 11-year-old Max was with her. After she got home and unloaded her packages, she accidentally left Max closed up in the car, USA Today's Paw Print Post reports. 

An hour later, Gardner heard a horn honk. She looked outside but didn't see anything, and went back to what she was doing. Then the horn honked a second time. She peered outside again, and saw Max sitting in the driver's seat. We don't know what the dog was thinking or how he happened to sound the alarm, but we like to imagine Max laying on the horn to say "get me out of here!" 

Gardner rescued Max and immediately cooled him down with wet rags, gave him cold water, and rushed him to the vet, the AP reports. Fortunately, Max is doing fine.

This Lab is an incredibly lucky dog. Heat stroke can occur quickly on a hot summer day, and dogs can suffer problems after just a few minutes in an overheated car. Let this accident serve as a reminder to be aware of where your pets are and to never leave your dog in a car, even if it's parked in the shade. 

We're just glad this hot-dog story has a happy ending.

By Kirsten Taylor

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Dog's death on patrol a shock

Retired police dog Vice got a few extra pats from owner Feilding Sergeant Phil Gillbanks after the shooting of police dog Gage in Christchurch.

Gage was shot dead and his handler, Senior Constable Bruce Lamb, 51, was shot in the jaw in the Christchurch suburb of Phillipstown on Tuesday.

Mr Gillbanks, who was a dog handler for 10 years, said he knew Mr Lamb well as they had both attended dog-handling courses.

"He is an elder statesman of the dog-handling business and was very helpful to the younger handlers, and he's also a really nice guy."

News of Gage's death was a shock to all police, but dog handlers would take it especially hard, Mr Gillbanks said.

"[Dog handlers] are often at the sharp end of the stick. It makes you realise how fragile life is and how close to that line you are in the environment we work in."

Gage was shot while trying to protect his handler, which all police dogs are trained to do, Mr Gillbanks said.

Sergeant Lance Kennedy, who heads the Manawatu and Whanganui dog units, said his heart dropped when he heard about Gage's death.

Dog handlers throughout the country, including Manawatu and Whanganui, had sent messages of support to both officers, their families and the Christchurch dog section, he said.

"It's always a horrible feeling when any police officer gets injured or shot. And we've had a few in my 18 years.

"It's a reality check of the dangers of the job."

Mr Kennedy said police dogs began training when they were about eight months old and could work until they were eight. The dogs became part of the family.

Police Commissioner Howard Broad called for a new police firearms policy to be implemented by the year's end after the shootings.

Palmerston North area commander Inspector Pat Handcock would not comment on the proposed policy changes, but said he would be interested to see the outcome of the shooting investigation.

Six-year-old Gage was the 23rd police dog to die in the line of duty and the seventh to be shot dead.

By JONATHON HOWE

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