Detroit Is Going To The Dogs - Literally

As Detroit continues to circle the drain, there's yet another hazard to contend with - an estimated 50,000 stray dogs roaming the streets and vacant homes menacing residents and city workers.

To make it even more interesting, pit bulls dominate the dog packs, due to the popularity of the breed in the largely black city as watchdogs and for dog fighting.

Many of the dogs have simply been abandoned and left to fend for themselves as the owners move on, something uniquely cruel when it comes the Man's Best Friend.The dogs often roam in packs and shelter in Detroit's abandoned homes, where rats can also be hunted as a food source.

And the bankrupt city, as things stand right now, can't really do much about it.

“With these large open expanses with vacant homes, it’s as if you designed a situation that causes dog problems,” said Harry Ward, head of animal control.

Ward has four officers to cover the 139-square-mile (360-square-kilometer) city seven days a week, 11 fewer than when he first took over animal control in 2008. He has one dog-bite investigator, down from three.

Back in July, the City shelters actually had to stop picking up stray animals for a month because the city hadn’t paid a service that hauls away euthanized animals for cremation at a cost of about $20,000 a year. The freezers were packed with carcasses, and pens were full of live animals until that bill was paid.

In some particularly bad areas, the U.S. Postal Service has had to temporarily halt mail delivery in some neighborhoods because of attacks by aggressive dogs, said Ed Moore, a Detroit-area spokesman. He said there were 25 reports of mail carriers bitten by dogs in Detroit from October through July.

Another problem is that many of the residents of Detroit who still remain and own dogs aren't bothering to get them neutered, are not getting them their rabies or distemper shots and are simply letting them wander. There simply isn't any budget to enforce these measures any more.

Yes, there are a number of jokes I could make here, but to tell you the truth, I feel sorry for the dogs. They at least did nothing to create this and deserve better.

Video: A Soldier Reunites With His Dog After A Six Month Deployment

After a six month deployment, this soldier returned to his dear friend.

Who says animals have no feelings, no souls? If this doesn't move you, there's something wrong with you.

IDF Dog Finds Arms In Terrorist Hideout AFter Soldiers Fail

Now I liked this one...an IDF dog sniffed out a jihadi's arms and ammo when his fellow soldiers failed to do so and were ready to leave.

During a military operation conducted last Thursday morning, soldiers from the Givati Brigade raided Bita Al Fuka, a Palestinian village near Nablus after receiving intelligence on the whereabouts of a man suspected of terrorist activities.

They found him, searched the house and were ready to take him in for questioning and leave..but then one of the IDF's dog soldiers, accompanied by his fellow soldier from the IDF's Oketz (canine) unit refused to leave the premises, even when ordered to.

So his IDF handler gave him his head, he went right to the suspects mattress and signaled that there was something of interest within. When the soldiers cut open the mattress, they found the man's arms and ammo...which may very well link him to several attacks.

If it wasn't for one stubborn IDF dog, they wouldn't have found them.

Yasser koach, kelev tov!

The IDF's dog soldiers in the Oketz unit are a valued part of Israel's defense forces. Just like their two-legged counterparts, they have their own personal serial numbers and files. And the file includes all the details a commander or Oketz handler might need to know about the dog – where it was born, when it joined the unit, what training it had completed, what operations it has participated in, the dog's level of operational preparedness, a complete health and fitness profile, and accreditations and commendations the dog has earned.

Yes, the IDF's dogs have the opportunity to complete advanced training (the norm is six months) and are recognized officially when they perform exceptionally.



Aside from missions like the one above, some are trained to be experts at finding victims of terrorism buried under rubble, as well as in the location of explosives.