THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DELAND, Fla. — A Virginia couple has been reunited with their German shepherd, which was found hundreds of miles from home in Florida.

Pamela Holt, of Stuart, Va., says she thought DeLand Animal Control Officer Gary Thomas was playing a “mean trick” when he called to say he found 18-month old Deacon. The dog had been missing since December. The Holts thought their dog had died.

According to police reports, a convenience store clerk saw Deacon and another dog running in traffic on Feb. 18. The clerk called authorities and the dogs were taken to a kennel. (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES — Saving a German shepherd stuck in the rising Los Angeles River was the right thing to do, the risks were slight, rescue crews were on standby, extra taxpayer money wasn’t used and the alternatives were unacceptable, authorities said Monday.

The helicopter and swift water rescue crew members that saved the dog on Friday have been hailed as heroes, feted on television and radio and congratulated on the Web and in print. But they have also been vilified by a few in blogs, on social networks and story comment sections.

“You’re not going to please everybody. There’s always 10 percent, they either don’t like animals or think we are wasting taxpayer money,” Capt. Steve Ruda said. (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES — A dog rescued from a rain-swollen river by a Los Angeles firefighter dangling from a helicopter is doing fine and waiting for his owner to come claim him.

Diana Guzman of the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority says the three-year-old male German shepherd mix is healthy and relaxing Saturday, one day after the dramatic rescue caught by television cameras.

Guzman says the male dog, nicknamed Vernon after the town where he was found, will be held for five days, after which he will be put up for adoption. The dog did not have a name tag or identifying computer chip. (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BISMARCK, N.D. — A Bismarck family has been reunited with their dog, who was lost for more than a week before being found 100 miles away in Jamestown.

The Brownings’ shiba mix named Honey went missing in mid-November after being left outside for a few minutes. (more…)

KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE
RESCUE IN THE ROCK

Most shelters in central Arkansas do not offer black cats for adoption during October, fearing the animals will be used as Halloween props or injured in pranks or rituals.

“There are bad people out there,” said Jacksonville Animal Shelter Kennel Manager Kerrie Henderson. The shelter doesn’t allow adoptions of black cats in October. (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WAHOO, Neb. — You might say that Debora Wilcox is really going to be in the doghouse.

Not that she’s in trouble.

Quite the contrary. For some time now, the Wahoo resident has been rescuing lost dogs in Saunders County and helping to find them homes. (more…)