THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A boxer witnesses said was thrown out of a car onto a five-lane highway in Greenbrier on Saturday and struck by two cars is now able to walk, veterinarian Melissa Lombardi said.

Faulkner County deputies arrested Doyle Scroggin 5 miles south in Conway after receiving a 911 call from witnesses who said Scroggin dumped the dog, now named Peyton, on U.S. 65.

He faces charges of felony cruelty to animals, driving while intoxicated and littering. (more…)

THE LOG CABIN DEMOCRAT

A Little Rock man was arrested by Conway police Friday after he allegedly threw a dog into traffic on Highway 65.

Doyle Scroggin, 37, was arrested for felony animal cruelty and suspicion of DUI after witnesses say he threw the animal onto the highway.

According to Major Andy Shock with the Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office, citizens alerted officers after Scroggin allegedly stopped his vehicle in the middle lane of Highway 65 just north of the Greenbrier Animal Clinic. Witnesses said he got out of his car and removed the dog from the back seat. According to statements, he then threw the dog into the highway and kicked it before driving away. (more…)

KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE

A group of volunteers were scheduled to be at the Little Rock Animal Village as early as 5 a.m. today to get 12 dogs onto the PetSmart Rescue Waggin’, bound for Northern states where there are more homes available to pets in need.

The Rescue Waggin transports adoptable dogs and puppies from overrun shelters to shelters where they are in demand, the city of Little Rock said in a news release Monday.

The Rescue Waggin Program has helped more than 37,000 dogs find new homes since it began operations in 2004, the release said.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis City Council committee is recommending mandatory spaying and neutering of dogs and cats.

The Commercial Appeal reported the proposal by Councilman Shea Flynn comes after dogs running loose attacked 71-year-old William Parker on July 20. Parker had a heart attack during the incident and died. A woman who let the dogs out of an apartment has been charged with negligent homicide.

Flynn’s proposal could require all cats over six months and any dogs over 30 pounds be spayed or neutered. There are exceptions for service animals and police dogs. (more…)

Photo courtesy of Little Rock Animal Village

KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE

Turbo, a gray-and-white great dane, often complains about wanting outside to find his new family, staff at Little Rock Animal Village say. After months of recovery from starvation and abuse, Turbo won’t have to wait much longer.

The shelter is sponsoring an essay contest to choose the perfect home for the dog whose owner was the first person in Pulaski County to be charged with felony animal abuse, says Tracy Roark, manager of Little Rock Animal Services.

“This is an amazing dog,” Roark says. “It is what animal welfare is all about, a dog that has had a bad bad life now with a chance to live out the rest of his life in a loving home. Makes me proud of what we can do.” (more…)

KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE

A Mountain Home woman faces 23 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty after 14 starving dogs were seized from her property, said Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery.

Jeannie Marie Matticks, 47, was released from custody after posting $4,500 bail and will appear in Baxter County District Court on Aug. 19.

The dogs are receiving veterinary care at Baxter County Animal Control.

KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE

RESCUE IN THE ROCK

The national spotlight has again found Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog with an article in this month’s issue of Parents Magazine.

The magazine, with a circulation of more than 2 million, features the story of then 5-year-old Angelica Riggins, who was able to save herself and her dad, Kenneth, from their burning home.

The Tulsa elementary school student learned how to survive the fire and save her dad after watching a presentation by Sparkles and her owner, firefighter Dayna Hilton. (more…)

THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

A Pulaski County woman was arrested Friday morning after sheriff’s deputies found at least 30 malnourished animals at her home, including horses, dogs and cats, according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies arrested Shelia Ford, 43, on four felony counts and 30 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty after deputies found two of her horses loose and “in poor physical condition,” sheriff’s office spokesman Lt. Carl Minden said in a news release.

Ford was being held Friday evening at the Pulaski County jail in lieu of $20,676.58 bond, jail records show. (more…)

Photo courtesy of Out of the Woods Rescue — River and his new owner play.

KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE

RESCUE IN THE ROCK

No party is planned for the third anniversary of Out of the Woods Animal Rescue of Arkansas.

“We have too much to do!” said president Kathy Woods, who founded the nonprofit in 2007 to help animals other shelters in the area could not.

“We don’t turn people down. That’s what sets us apart,” Woods said. “We’ll help anybody who’s willing to take on the responsibility for the animals they’ve taken in.” (more…)

KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE
RESCUE IN THE ROCK

Kiwi, store parrot for Little Rock’s Premium Pet Products, liked to help customers shop, perching himself on a shoulder and chattering away.

But Kiwi’s social behavior may have contributed to his demise July 13 when a patron’s Irish setter attacked and killed the lilac-crowned Amazon parrot who had called the store home nine and a half of his 10 years.

“It’s really quiet in here now,” said Premium Pets Assistant Manager Lauren Ratley. (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CROSBY, Texas — A tip led animal rescue personnel to about 1,000 dogs, rabbits, hamsters and birds in dirty, cramped conditions in northeast Harris County.

Meera Nandlal, with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said the home in the Crosby area was raided Thursday night.

Nandlal says the animals, allegedly for sale to pet stores, were found in cages and left in storage sheds. She says many did not have adequate food and water. (more…)

KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE
RESCUE IN THE ROCK

Officer Christopher Galluppo lost his partner July 1 when a snake bite killed one of Jacksonville’s four K9s.

Jeff, a 3-year-old German shepherd, was at the home he shared with Galluppo and his family when he was bitten. Later, Jeff had a fatal allergic reaction to the venom, said April Kiser, public information officer for the department.

“He will be greatly missed by the entire department as Jeff was a hard worker but extremely social to his law enforcement family,” the department said in a news release Monday. (more…)

THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

A woman who served a year in the Baxter County jail after her conviction in one of the largest animal cruelty cases in the nation was transferred to a Missouri jail Friday to face additional charges.

Tammy Christine Hanson, 43, is charged with three felony counts of theft of an animal and a misdemeanor charge of failure to appear in court in Mount Vernon, Mo. She was taken to the Lawrence County jail in the southwestern Missouri town Friday afternoon and held in lieu of $25,000 bond, a jailer there said.

Lawrence County Sheriff Ed Weisacosky was unavailable for comment Friday, his office said. (more…)

THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Down miles of gravel roads in the rolling hills of Fulton County sits Ken-Mar Farms, just outside of Salem.

When guests walk through the front door of the Lewis home, they’ll be greeted with a wide variety of dogs. All but Lulu, the Chihuahua, were rescued by Martha Lewis. The occasional horse may stroll into the home as well.

“It’s an absolute zoo,” Lewis said as she rounded up several dogs of various breeds. Lewis’ caring nature shone as she told the story of how she obtained each dog. (more…)

THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Charlene Day loves her dogs – all 65 of them.

Gotti, Alex, Lady, Bob, Carol, Ted and Alice. The list is long.

Day and her husband, Tom Day, keep the canines on their property in the Wharton Creek community southeast of Huntsville. Some dogs roam free and lounge about the yard, but most are tethered to trees. (more…)

KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE
RESCUE IN THE ROCK

About 50 people gathered Monday evening for a sold-out wine tasting and silent auction benefiting Central Arkansas Rescue Effort for Animals, Inc.

“We were very pleased with the turnout” at the first Paws in the Vineyard at Metropolitan National Bank, said CARE President Harry Light.

Light, also the Cammack Village mayor, said the group expects to raise $2,000 from a silent auction for two works by Little Rock artist Jim Johnson and an original, framed print by Amy Reges, a New York artist. (more…)

PHOTOS BY SUSAN LOESCH

KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE

RESCUE IN THE ROCK

What began with a phone call to Animal Planet ended in the rescue of 25 dogs, a raccoon, four cats and a horse when four central Arkansas rescue groups helped an overwhelmed El Paso woman.

Animal Planet Executive Producer Dan Jackson said the footage would premiere sometime in July on a new, as yet unnamed show.

“It will be about helping people who have too many animals,” Jackson said. (more…)

THE NEW YORK TIMES

ST. LOUIS — Scientists and animal rights advocates have enlisted DNA evidence to do for man’s best friend what the judicial system has long done for human crime victims. They have created the country’s first dog-fighting DNA database, which they say will help criminal investigators piece together an abused animal’s history by establishing ties among breeders, owners, pit operators and the animals themselves.

Called the Canine Codis, or Combined DNA Index System, the database is similar to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s digital archive containing the DNA profiles of criminal offenders. Scientists say that by swabbing the inner cheek of a dog, they will be able to determine whether the animal comes from one of several known dog-fighting bloodlines.

“People are not generally going to the pound and buying pit bulls to fight — these dogs are from established bloodlines,” said Tim Rickey, senior director of field investigations and response for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. “And if a suspected dog fighter’s animal matches one of those bloodlines that would be a key piece of evidence.” (more…)

PHOTO COURTESY OF UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

RESCUE IN THE ROCK

The United States Postal Service has teamed up with comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres to promote the Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet commemorative postage stamps.

The 44-cent stamps, which were introduced to the public last month on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, feature photographs of five cats and five dogs taken by veteran stamp photographer Sally Andersen-Bruce.

All 10 animals were adopted from a shelter in New Milford, Conn., according to a U.S. Postal Service news release. (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

EL DORADO, Ark. — Authorities in El Dorado say a teenager was arrested after he allegedly pulled a gun on a city worker and stole a black pitbull from the city’s animal shelter.

Courtney L. Easter faces charges of aggravated robbery and possession of a firearm after the incident Tuesday. A city worker told police that the 19-year-old came into the shelter at about 7:30 a.m. Tuesday and asked to see the dogs.

According to police, Easter then pulled out a gun and said, “Let me get that dog.” He then left with the pitbull. (more…)

KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE
RESCUE IN THE ROCK

Natural Balance Pet Foods is recalling Natural Balance Sweet Potato and Chicken Dry Dog Food with the “Best By” date of June 17, 2011, in 5-pound and 28-pound bags because it could contain salmonella.

The company said in a release that recalled products were distributed in pet specialty stores in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

No illnesses have been reported, the company said, but a product sample with a “Best By” date of June 17, 2011, had a positive result for salmonella in a random sample test conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Witnesses say a reptile wrangler used his bare hands to capture a 4-foot alligator that an alert dog noticed outside an Ohio business.

Employee Jeff Colucy was with his Weimaraner in the parking lot of a Columbus company that makes office fixtures when the dog went on alert Wednesday morning, focused on the alligator hunkered down in a puddle.

Police brought in reptile wrangler Chris Law, who captured the gator by grabbing it at the tail with his bare hands. He says he didn’t have his usual reptile rescue gear because he was about to leave on vacation. (more…)