Latest news with #GermanShepherd
Boston Globe
17 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Judge impounds list of jurors in Karen Read trial indefinitely
Citing the 'divisive' interest the high-profile case has received, Cannone said she believes 'there is a risk of immediate and irreparable injury should the list be made available to the public at this time.' In light of that, the list will remain sealed 'until and unless otherwise ordered by the Court.' Advertisement Read, 45, was acquitted June 18 in Norfolk Superior Court of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death. She was convicted only of a misdemeanor OUI offense and sentenced to a year's probation. Prosecutors said she backed her Lexus SUV in a drunken rage into Boston police officer John O'Keefe early on Jan. 29, 2022, after dropping him off outside a Canton home following a night of bar-hopping. Her lawyers said she was framed and that O'Keefe entered the property, owned at the time by a fellow Boston police officer, where he was fatally beaten and possibly mauled by a German Shepherd before his body was planted on the front lawn. Advertisement Read's first trial had ended with a hung jury last year, and she still faces a wrongful death lawsuit brought by O'Keefe's family in Plymouth Superior Court. Travis Andersen can be reached at
Daily Record
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Record
Dog dumped in cage outside Dumbarton animal rescue centre as SSPCA launch appeal
Staff at the SSPCA centre in Dumbarton are seeking the owner of a German Shepherd which was dumped outside the premises in a cage this week. Staff at an animal rescue centre showed up to work to discover a dog left abandoned in a cage outside the facility. The dog was dumped outside the Scottish SPCA'S Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Dumbarton. The male German Shepherd was heartbreakingly left in his dog crate, with a blanket draped over the top of it at the facility in the Milton area of the town. Staff discovered him on Sunday, June 22 He was microchipped but the number was invalid, meaning that SSPCA officers have so far been unable to track down his owner. The SSPCA is now urging anyone who recognises the dog to contact them in confidence by calling 03000 999 999. The animal welfare charity's Milton base includes four dog kennels with exercise runs, a 28 unit cattery, space for seven rabbits, 10 units for small animals, four units for ferrets and eight vivariums of varying sizes for snakes and reptiles. The centre always welcomes donations of food, treats, or other items for the animals in its care. You can view what the team at Dunbartonshire and West of Scotland Centre urgently needs on the centre's Amazon Wishlist by clicking here.
The Star
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Protection dogs trained to handle burglars as sports stars boost home security
Scream all you want, but Lobo isn't letting go. The young German Shepherd has chomped into the arm of a would-be attacker wearing a padded suit at K9 Protector in southwest England. A command later, Lobo is back at the feet of Alaster Bly and awaiting his next instruction. 'I describe them as pets with a toolkit built into them. A toolkit that you hope you're never going to use,' said Alaster, the K9 Protector co-owner. Expensive protection dogs like Lobo have been in demand among professional athletes to guard against burglars who target wealthy homes, often as part of sophisticated crime rings. Athletes are particularly vulnerable while they're away at games. 'He will end up in somebody's home with high net worth that is potentially at risk from more than your opportunist burglar,' Alaster said of Lobo, who costs £45,000 (RM257,000) and boasts a Bava-rian bloodline that is 'second to none.' Lobo attacks a pretend criminal during a training session. The lengthy list of athletes whose residences have been hit includes Premier League stars Jack Grealish and Alexander Isak. England cricket captain Ben Stokes' home was burglarised while he was playing in Pakistan. It's becoming a major problem in the United States too, with former L cornerback Richard Sherman a recent example. The homes of Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were burglarised in October as part of a wave of break-ins that also targeted Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. Seven Chilean men were charged in connection with those burglaries, as well as the break-in at Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis' home, where nearly US$1.5mil (RM6.39mil) in cash and valuables were stolen. After consulting the FBI, the NBA drew up guidance for players. One of the recommendations: 'Utilise dogs for home protection.' Specific breeds While almost any dog can provide some deterrence, protection-dog providers offer breeds like German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Rottweiler, Doberman and Cane Corso. Alaster and his wife, K9 Protector co-owner Sian Bly, work predominantly with German Shepherds. 'They are the most proven dogs at being family dogs,' Alaster said. They begin to differentiate early on which pups show potential. 'If we've got a puppy that's really confident, is chasing a rag, biting hold of the rag, and their food drive is high, that's a good starting point,' Sian said. 'We look at how competitive they are with their siblings as well. You're looking for quite a strong dog.' The family protection dog awaits commands. Dogs that don't make the cut might get routed to prison service or police duty. 'You can't place a dog with young kids that's nervous or that the temperament isn't 100%,' she said. The handful of K9 Protector dogs that reach 'high-threat environment' status cost up to £75,000 (RM325,880). It can take a couple of years to train for all sorts of scenarios. 'It's vast – the ability to deal with four intruders at once, vehicle carjacking tactics, being acceptant of multi-handlers,' Alaster said. 'Husband, wife, nanny, housekeeper, estate manager all being able to handle that dog in an equal way in a threat scenario – and the dog still responding in the same way – is very different to a pet-level-trained dog with protection training.' Clients must be a good match, though. Sian said if they think a buyer 'might use the dog in the wrong way, then we don't sell them the dog. It doesn't matter about the finances'. Between 10%-15% of their clients are professional athletes and they typically require nondisclosure agreements, as do the actors and singers who come calling. They sell about two or three dogs per month. When the economy is bad and crime increases, demand is higher. Winter months see more sales and the pandemic period of 2020-21 was 'the busiest we've ever been', Sian said. Dogs for protection UFC heavyweight Tom Aspinall added a protection dog to his family after moving to a new house. The Manchester native posted a video about it. 'I'm not here all the time. I just wanted someone else kind of looking after the family, as well as me, even when I'm here,' Aspinall said of his German Shepherd. US soccer midfielder Tyler Adams opted for a Rottweiler from Total K9, the North Yorkshire company that provided Aspinall's dog. Tottenham midfielder James Maddison got a 145-pound (65.7kg) Cane Corso from Leicestershire-based Chaperone K9, which also counts Grealish as a client. Grealish's mansion was burglarised just after Christmas in 2023 while the Manchester City midfielder was playing a game at Everton. Family members called police when they heard noises and after Grealish's Belgian Malinois and Cockapoo reportedly started barking. Grealish later called it 'a traumatic experience for all of us, I am just so grateful that nobody was hurt'. The NBA memo urged removing online real estate listings that show interiors. Some stars have posted their protection dogs on social media along with the pets' names – but they probably shouldn't. 'There is nothing more off-putting to a dog than being called by its own name when you're breaking into the home,' Bly said. Lobo attacks a pretend criminal during a training session. The Blys use German commands, which buyers must learn. On K9 Protector's website, former long-distance runner Mo Farah, a four-time Olympic champion, described turning to a protection dog after his home was burglarised despite an alarm system, video coverage and 24-hour security patrols. Intruders at Burrow's house eluded manned security at his property while he was playing a Monday Night Football game at Dallas in December. The criminal complaint on the Chilean crew said they liked to approach from 'a wooded or dark area'. Under Britain's Guard Dogs Act, someone capable of controlling a guard dog must be at the premises, and a notice must be posted at the entrance about the dog. Legal issues Technically, there are scenarios that could result in criminal prosecution of dog owners in Britain – even in burglaries. The National Association of Security Dog Users (Nasdu) 'does not promote the use of dogs as personal/family protection dogs and issues no certification or training courses in relation to this type of dog', said Roger Flett, a Nasdu director. Samantha Gaines of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals warned against the 'glamourisation' of painful ear-cropping on breeds like Doberman and Cane Corso. The procedure is prohibited in England and Wales, but it's legal to import them that way. It's unknown if break-ins at wealthy homes are increasing, but statistics for England and Wales show residential burglaries overall are decreasing. Lobo listens to Alaster at Strapestone Kennels. — Photos: FRANK AUGSTEIN/AP From the year ending March 2018 to the year ending September 2024, there was a 42% drop, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. Just a small percentage of burglaries get solved, however. Only in late 2022 did police chiefs commit to responding to all break-ins. Alaster, a former police officer, said it's not just about burglaries. A CEO of a company might be facing a threat, or a person might be dealing with a stalker. 'There are life-changing incidents that take place regularly,' he said. 'The array of problems and crime that's going on in Britain at the moment keeps us busy.' – AP
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Still no sign of Celeste or Shadow as search enters fifth day
Still no sign of Celeste or Shadow as search enters fifth day The search for Celeste van Aswegen and her dog Shadow has now entered its fifth day, with no confirmed sightings or leads since the Pretoria woman disappeared on Saturday, June 21, 2025. Celeste was last seen around 5pm near Menlyn Shopping Centre on Atterbury Road, driving a 2014 sea grey Volkswagen Amarok double-cab bakkie with registration number DD86HXGP. She was believed to be heading to Lanseria after visiting her ex-husband, who remains the last known person to see her. Concern continues to grow among family and friends, who say Celeste may have been in a fragile mental state at the time of her disappearance. Loved ones and community members have been conducting searches and sharing her information widely online in hopes of generating new leads. By Wednesday, the family had brought in well-known private investigator Mike Bolhuis and his team to assist in the case. Despite these efforts, there has been no trace of Celeste, Shadow, or the vehicle she was driving. At the time she went missing, Celeste was wearing light-coloured casual pants and a short-sleeved shirt. Her dog, a black German Shepherd mix, was reportedly with her in the vehicle. A missing person case remains open with Garsfontein SAPS, and police continue to urge anyone with information to come forward. If you have seen Celeste, her vehicle, or her dog, please get in touch with Garsfontein SAPS on 012 472 0144 or reach out via the numbers below: Werner: 082 852 4036 Wim: 083 212 0973 Please share this information to help widen the search. Every sighting or tip could make a difference. Also read: Beloved young Pretoria man dies in gruesome motorcycle accident When reporting a loved one missing, it's crucial to provide clear and detailed information to assist search teams and authorities. Paul Visser from the Pretoria ICE Community Network shared the following checklist of essential details that should be included in a missing person's report: Start by stating the location where the person was last seen and their full name and age. Include a physical description such as height, weight, hair colour, and eye colour. Describe the clothing they were last seen wearing as accurately as possible. It's also important to note the exact time and place they were last seen, as well as whether a missing person case number has been opened. Indicate if their cellphone is on or off, and whether there is any tracking device in their vehicle. If the missing person has a known medical condition, this must be clearly stated. Finally, provide a short summary of the circumstances surrounding their disappearance—for example, their destination, who they were with, or any unusual behaviour prior to going missing. Sharing complete and accurate information from the start can make a vital difference in locating a missing person quickly and safely. Also read: Pretoria woman and her dog still missing Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Dog beaten, forced off 17th floor in Mumbai. Disturbing video sparks outrage
A heart wrenching video of a dog's death has shocked social media users. In the video shared on Instagram, a man is seen beating a dog and ultimately making it jump from a balcony. According to the post, the incident occurred at a Mumbai residential building. A security guard in a Mumbai building beating a dog. (Screengrab (Instagram)) 'An elderly community dog was brutally tortured and forced to jump from the 17th floor by a watchman. The poor soul died on the spot,' animal activist Vijay Rangare claimed on Instagram while posting the video. 'An FIR has been registered, and some action has been initiated — but this is not enough. We demand strict punishment for the accused and justice for the voiceless,' he added. What does the video show? The video shows a part of a CCTV footage in which a man with a stick beats the dog. The dog, in a desperate attempt to escape, jumps from the balcony where it was being beaten. The footage then shows the dead dog. As the video continues, the few men are seen confronting the security guard and thrashing him. What did social media say? An individual wrote, 'That soul didn't deserve to die like this.' Another posted, 'I'm sitting in my office cafeteria and crying. Dear Lord! What has happened to mankind.' A third remarked, 'Please take strict action related to society members as well.' A few others echoed the same sentiment. Just like this individual who commented, 'Day by day, the atrocities against animals are rising! Why can't something be done about this? The society is equally responsible for this! Please hold the secretary responsible too!' Also Read: Shocking video: Animal activist slaps Mumbai dog sitter for 'mercilessly' beating German Shepherd while drunk Responding to such comments the activist wrote, 'The society was cooperative—they didn't tell the watchman to harm the dog, only asked him to take the dog down. However, instead of handling it humanely, the watchman harassed the dog for nearly an hour and eventually forced him to jump from the 17th floor.' A few appreciated the activist for raising his voice, but they also criticised the men in the video for slapping and hitting the security guard.
