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My preferred breed seems to be getting a bad rap lately. So - here is a thread for the other side of the breed!

Dog recovering after owner attacks it with axe



Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008 - 06:05 AM

By Media General News Service

MARIANNA, Fla. — When Kim Mercer arrived to the scene, she saw him scared and hurt.

“I said to him ‘Come here boy, it’s all over with now.’ And he just came right to me,” Mercer said.

The Rottweiler she had rescued, Cujo, was suffering from a serious wound after his owner attacked him with an axe.

“The dog wasn’t attacking him or anything, it wasn’t like that,” she said. “The owner had problems and for whatever reason decided to take a hack at his dog.”

Earlier this month, neighbors witnessed the owner chasing the 2-or-3 -year-old canine with the axe and called the police. The police called Mercer, who serves as one of Jackson County’s animal control officers.

When Mercer told the injured dog that his tragedy was over, she was right.

Saturday, Cujo was picked up from the animal shelter by Adopt-A-Rott, a nonprofit Rottweiler adoption agency out of Dothan.

A foster family is lined up to give him a home and take him to obedience school, not that Cujo is in desperate need of better behavior.

“He’s such a good-natured dog,” said Velva Vaughn, manager of Animal Control of West Florida. “He’s been a pleasure here at the shelter. Yes, it’s unusual to see a dog go through such abuse and come out of it with such a good disposition. Abused animals are usually skittish - and rightfully so - but Cujo is surprisingly very easygoing and just plain sweet.”

The well-adjusted dog, said Vaughn, won the hearts of most of the people who work at the shelter as they nursed the wounded animal back to health.

“We made a point to have a man clean his cage and care for him since it was a man that hurt him,” Vaughn said. “We didn’t have any trouble.”

Vaughn treated him to his last snack at the shelter, some dog treats and peanut butter. The pooch also prefers sausage McGriddles, which they used to disguise his medicine in.

“We’re really going to miss you, buddy,” Mercer said to Cujo, leaning over to rub his ears.

Mercer said she thought she’d gotten cold-hearted — used to her line of work — but then Cujo came along.

“Cruelty to animals will not be tolerated,” Mercer said. “Anyone who sees it happening shouldn’t hesitate to call the police.”

And anyone who finds a Rottweiler in need of a home can check out Adopt-A-Rott at adoptarott.net.

“We’re just a very small non-profit that tries to find homes for Rottweilers,” Ellen McChesney said. “We usually try to help dogs in our area, but sometimes we’ll help move them all over the U.S. People who find a Rott and can’t handle caring for it can just bring it to a local shelter first. But anyone who feels like they can watch over the dog until we can come help can contact us.”

Kate McCardell is a reporter for the Jackson County Floridan.

http://www.dothaneagle.com/gulfcoasteas ... -0012.html

K-9 battling cancer tracks suspect

Amelia A. Pridemore

Register-Herald Reporter

Advanced cancer has not stopped a Beckley Police K-9, police say, and the strong-willed Rottweiler stopped a fleeing theft and battery suspect in his tracks.

Duane Hammock, 50, of Mount Hope, is charged with first-offense shoplifting, battery, obstructing a police officer and public intoxication by the Beckley Police Department, said Sgt. Frankie Shelton.

Raleigh County Magistrate Rick Jones said Hammock was too intoxicated to be arraigned Wednesday night, but Jones did set bond at $1,000. Hammock posted it, and he will be arraigned Thursday morning.

A condition of Hammock’s bond is staying out of all Wal-Mart stores, Jones said.

Around 4 p.m., city officers were dispatched to the Beckley Wal-Mart because an accused shoplifter was reportedly drunk and combative, Shelton said. They were told Hammock placed a kerosene heater and kerosene gas can into a shopping cart, pushed the cart past registers and asked customer service employees to refund the items.

After Hammock was given a refund, he was approached by Wal-Mart loss prevention officers, Shelton said. The loss prevention officers tried to prevent Hammock from leaving, but he shoved one officer and threatened to shoot her. Hammock fled on foot toward Sam’s Club.

Cpl. Will Reynolds, a K-9 officer, and his dog Merlin responded to the scene to track Hammock, Shelton said. The pair found Hammock at the Heartland Nursing Home off Stanaford Road, and Shelton and Patrolman C.D. McCormick took Hammock into custody.

Hammock was not armed when taken into custody, Shelton said.

Shelton said Hammock was uncooperative, belligerent and “obviously intoxicated when he was arrested. Hammock gave police a false name, date of birth and Social Security number, but officers determined his true identity after further investigation.

Merlin, Shelton noted, was largely responsible for police finding Hammock — even though Merlin is battling advanced cancer. Merlin has been diagnosed with Stage 5 lymphosarcoma, a form of cancer affecting his lymph nodes. Statistically, a dog with this type of cancer only has 1-3 months to live. Despite his diagnosis, Merlin remains on-duty with the police department — because officers say he is active and eager to work.

“He’s the one who flushed this suspect out, Shelton said of Merlin. “If it weren’t for Merlin, we would not have found the suspect.



http://www.register-herald.com/archives ... 22629.html

what great pics

why i choose a rottweiler and why they mean so much to me,

jj is my boy i love them both but jj is so in tune with me,he loves me for what i am,he knows when i feel sad .lonely and even happy.

JJ was bought for by my hubby 2 years after loosing my best friend my dad,it was like a breath of fresh air when jj choose me,but sadly my brother died very sudden after only having jj for a week.I felt he helped me but 5 mths after that my mum died the same way as my brother i was gutted but hubbybought me indy which is jjs half brother.I owe them both so much and i will always stand by the breed

This is a 5 star picture.