The Dog House

If you expect an apology, you are out of luck.

Trust me, you ain't gonna get one neither.

Why does the picture bother you? I'm sure edgar meant no offense.

Peace.

Alabama hound dog disappears from home to join in town half-marathon… and comes in SEVENTH

On Saturday morning an Alabama hound dog snuck out of her backyard after her owner let her out to 'do her business'.
Ludivine, a two-and-a-half-year-old dog, who is prone to roaming around town at will, made her way unnoticed to the starting area of the Trackless Train Trek Half Marathon in Elkmont, Alabama, about a quarter mile away from her home.
Once she arrived, she mingled with the runners and ended up running the entire 13.1-miles.








She crossed the finish line after an hour and a half, placing seventh in the marathon and winning a medal — all without her owner, April Hamlin.
Hamlin, 43, told Runner's World that all she did was open the door and Ludivine ended up running the race 'on her own accord'.
She said she received texts with photos of Ludivine from friends who were volunteering at the finish. Hamlin said: 'My first reaction was that I was embarrassed and worried that she had possibly gotten in the way of the other runners.'





The fact that Ludivine ran the entire 13.1 miles was surprising to her owner who said 'she’s actually really lazy'.
Tim Horvath, 49, said he ran most of the race with Ludivine, who kept up with him despite her several stops along the way to sniff out a dead rabbit, mingle with some mules and cows and meet with another dog near the course.
Another runner, Jim Clemens, who finished the race in fourth place, said: ‘She would run off to romp through streams and into yards to sniff around for a while.’


More:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3416309/Alabama-hound-dog-disappears-home-join-town-half-marathon-comes-SEVENTH.html

That's wonderful . . . she probably thought those folks were great fun.

I know he didn't. I guess I have too much experience with dead dogs and my sense of humor didn't show up.

I'm sorry to hear that. I should have known better.

I was quite reactive and see it was out of order for me to shout at edgarb.
Oddly, I think I've seen the same 'cartoon' before and had the same strong reaction.

It's been slightly breezy here in the UK, to say the least.

Dogs on an online dating site.

Oh, my, I hope this works out -

http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/2016/01/31/marietta-ohio-k9-partner-hopeful-to-keep-dog-donations-pour-in.html

K9 Partner Hopeful to Keep Dog, Donations Pour In
By Bryant Somerville
Sunday January 31, 2016 5:48 PM

MARIETTA, Ohio - Time has a wonderful way of showing us what really matters.

And in three days’ time Matt Hickey knows exactly what that saying means.

“I really do appreciate it and I don’t know how I can ever repay the people,” he said. “I’m very touched by their enthusiasm.”

One week ago Hickey retired from the Marietta Police Department after 34 years. The last four years have been spent with a now almost six-year-old German Shepherd named Ajax.

At the end of his service Hickey had the understanding that he could purchase Ajax for $3,500. But, the day he retired, he was told he couldn’t have him.

Because Ajax is considered city property and is valued at more than $1,000 Hickey was told his partner would be sold to the highest bidder at a city auction. Hickey says the department will no longer have an officer qualified to handle Ajax, who is believed to have about six more years of service in him.

According to Hickey, the Marietta City Council voted to allow him to keep Ajax and care for him while an auction date is determined. Only someone qualified to handle the specially trained K9 will be allowed to bid on the animal.

But then, Corey Orr decided to step in.

He created a GoFundMe page that would help Hickey buy the dog at auction. It’s an idea that in three days has raised more than $45,000.

“It just goes to show how much a community can be brought together and how much they actually enjoy our law enforcement,” Orr said.

34 years on the force has weighed heavy on Hickey. He says he’s seen his fair share of anger and hatred. But now, after the events of the last few days, he says he knows there is still good in the world.

“Seeing this, it’s like, my goodness – I am so wrong,” Hickey said. “There is so much good out there and so many kind people and so many people who want to see a wrong righted.”

Hickey says he’s hopeful that when it comes time for Ajax to be auctioned, with the community’s support, he will continue to be the dog’s owner.

“It makes me really think that it will work out,” he said. “One way or another something will work out.”

If Hickey does purchase Ajax, he says the rest of the GoFundMe money will go to other K9 units to purchase bullet-proof vests for dogs.

©2016 by 10TV.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

There is a photo along with the article.

The plot thickens.. aarrrf, aarrrf!

http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/2016/01/30/youngstown-officer-relates-to-marietta-officer--his-k9.html


By Evan Anderson
Saturday January 30, 2016 10:36 PM
UPDATED: Sunday January 31, 2016 12:10 PM

New details on the controversy between a retired Marietta police officer and his K9.

It's a story that's getting attention from people across the country.

A northern Ohio K9 officer says this is exactly what happened to him in the late 90's and it actually led to a change in Ohio law that Marietta could be breaking.

“The bondage is so incredibly strong,” said K9 Officer, Jim Smith.

It's a bond officers say is unbreakable.

Youngstown area police officer Jim Smith and his K9 partner Valor were put in a tough situation back in 1998.



“It was my worst nightmare to have something like that happen,” said Smith. “Tears at the heart strings. You could not imagine.”

His story almost identical to now retired K9 officer Matt Hickey. Hickey hoped to retire with his K9 partner Ajax, but the city of Marietta won't let him. They say Ajax has at least 6 years of service left in him.

Retired Marietta Officer's K9 Set To Be Auctioned Despite Offering To Pay City

And now only a police officer, either active or trained, or someone who trains K9 officers will be allowed to bid on him in an auction.

Hickey will be allowed to be a part of that auction but he's afraid someone will now try and take the dog and auction way over his head.

“It's tearing my wife and I up tremendously,” said Hickey.

The retired officer offered to pay the city $3,500, which is what the city says Ajax was worth. But it wasn't that easy.

“That's exactly what happened to Valor,” said Smith.

Jim was about to lose not just his partner, but a member of his family.

A lawmaker stepped in and in 1998, Smith says a law was passed named after Valor allowing Jim to buy him during an auction for $1.

“These dogs are not just dogs and they're not property. They are officers, and you can't sell an officer,” said Smith.

“He's a family member, I mean what can I say about my children. I love him to death,” said Hickey.

Ohio law provides that officers can buy their dogs if the dog is older, or injured in the line of duty.

We checked a couple of fundraising pages, and some have already raised as much as $20,000 for Officer Hickey and his K9 Ajax.

Wegman

Wegman, of course!! I love seeing his photos now.

Heinz’s Super Bowl Ketchup Ad Is the Best Kind of Pandering

Very true!

It's so funny how a dog kvetching in the real world can easily break into ones dreams.

I have one of these!

(Greyhound, not Cheetah)

If my one didn't look up at the sky whilst running, and wasn't so lazy and too interested in any female dog that might be within 100 yards, I reckon he could have made a good racer.

He is almost like this when we let him loose with his mates up on the golf course though. Runs rings round the labradors, which definitely impresses the female pointer who he has his eye on at the moment.


The dog in this film is the spitting image of mine. Handsome boy.