In recent times, the world of politics has become increasingly polarised. With debates getting more and more heated and politicians doing seemingly anything for re-election, it can be hard to trust in democracy at all. If you ask me, there's no such thing as a perfect political candidate, but Mayor Max II comes pretty close.
Who's a good mayor? He is, yes he is! He's ruff on crime, but his bark is a lot worse than his bite - Mayor Max II is a Golden Retriever, and he's just been elected mayor for life. The town of Idyllwild, California has never been the same since Max II took office in 2014, following on from his predecessor Max I, who was elected in 2012.
That was the first time Idyllwild moved to elect a dog mayor, with the nonprofit Idyllwild Animal Rescue Friends running a sponsored election. Any resident could nominate their pet, and had to pledge a dollar to vote, with further donations encouraged. All in all, around $31,000 was raised for the animal rescue nonprofit, and Max I was elected.
Max's owner, Phyllis Mueller, who also claims to be the mayor's chief of staff (though Mayor Max II has so far declined to comment on this), said she campaigned hard along with her husband to have her dog be the mayor, even donating as much as $20,000 to the cause.
"I thought it would be fun to have my dog be the mayor," she said to ABC News. "You were asked to pay a dollar a vote and you were encouraged to buy the election," added Mueller, fuelling rumours of alleged corruption during the political process that threatens to tarnish Max II's legacy as Idyllwild's greatest-ever mayor.
Max I passed away after two years in office, but Max II was an able successor; first taking office as an 11-week-old puppy, and in his third election, Max II was elected mayor for life. Along with his deputies (also Golden Retrievers), Max II makes public appearances at local hospitals and schools, even making vital house calls.
"When people ask what party they would belong to, I always say they would be independent," added Mueller, and I don't know about you, but if Mayor Max II wanted to run for president one day, he would definitely have my vote.
There is something to be said for having a job, and doing it well. A certain satisfaction is well earned after a hard day's slog, and knowing that you have completed a task to a high standard is in itself a reward. It is a fact, though, that people are simply better at some jobs than others. You would be foolish, for example, to ask an actor to take a look at your computer; sure it might be an entertaining few minutes, but the likelihood of your desktop being fixed would appear regrettably slim. Though environmental circumstances undoubtedly play their part, we all have our strengths and our weaknesses; our job in life is merely to put our skills to the best possible use ... even if you're a cop dog trained to sniff out drugs for example.
When you happen to be human, there are a myriad of different trades that you can ply, the possibilities are, in that sense, endless, even if the absurdly competitive and over saturated job market makes actually landing a position something akin to a nightmare. For dogs, though, the path to employment is decidedly narrower. For Gavel, possibly the most endearing police dog of all time, it was simply a case of wrong dog, wrong job.
Sadly for Gavel, though it provides him with a glowing character reference as an all round great guy, he is simply far too nice and friendly to be a member of the Queensland Police Service in Australia, and so the one-year-old pup recently lost his position there.
In fact, Gavel was such a loveable chap, that he failed to pass his police dog training programme, largely due to his incredibly sociable nature. Before you get all dewy eyed and concerned about Gavel's fate, though, you will be pleased to know that the pup has already landed himself a new gig, and it sounds like his dream job. Instead of protecting and serving as a cop dog, he'll welcoming visitors to Brisbane's Government House as Governor Paul de Jersey's official Vice-Regal Dog. Now that's an impressive job title.
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A Queensland Government House spokesman described Gavel's story thus;
"Gavel arrived at Government House in April last year as a six-week-old puppy. It was intended that he would undergo a training and socialisation programme preparing to become a Queensland Police Service Dog. But like many aspiring QPS Dogs, Gavel did not display the necessary aptitude for a life on the front line. Not all dogs display this, and Gavel proved himself to be quite sociable. He is better suited to life as a ceremonial dog and will instead now spend his working days at Fernberg, where he has become a much-loved part of Government House life."
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Though Gavel came from a family of QPS dogs, he simply didn't have the correct temperament for the job, but staff couldn't bear to lose him for good, and so created the ceremonial position to make sure he could stay. It's safe to say he has taken to the new role with typical exuberance, and looks to be a huge hit. His official duties as Vice-Regal Dog include welcoming guests to the building and attending ceremonies. I'd say he was made for it; better than being a cop dog anyway, and a hell of a lot better than being a street dog ... unless he's part of the packs of super-smart Russian dogs, who are capable of navigating Moscow's subway system.
If you're going to introduce a pet into your home, it's always best to adopt from the many shelters available to you. Dogs and cats with no behavioural problems are often given away, largely due to its owner no longer being in a position where they can care for it. Yet even those who find themselves on the city streets can find a loving home if they're lucky, like this dog did.
In 2016, a puppy was picked up on the streets of Detroit, Michigan and brought to the Detroit Dog Rescue Shelter, where he was named Sir Wiggleton. He was waiting to be adopted for around a hundred days before he met Dan Tillery and his girlfriend Megan, from Waterford Township. They took him home, renaming him Diggy, and things seem to be going well... at first.
"[My girlfriend and I] have been wanting a dog forever, but the place we were renting would not allow dogs," Dan told the Oakland Press. "We just recently purchased our first home. All ours. And dogs are allowed."
Dan posted a photo of him and his dog on the shelter's Facebook page and it quickly went viral, earning over 29,000 likes and 7,000 shares. In fact, it was popular enough that it caught the attention of the authorities.
The local police believed that Diggy was a pit bull, a breed that violates their community's 'dangerous dog' ordinance - meaning the police paid a visit to their new home. Dan explained to WWJ:
"When they went to the gate [to] actually see him, he licked their face, was very kind. They said, we’re dog lovers, that’s cool, he seems like a good boy. Took some pictures of him."
However, when he showed them the adoption papers, which stated that Diggy was an American bulldog, the officers didn't believe him. Three days later he was given an ultimatum: to either relocate his dog or pay a $500 fine and face possible jail time. Waterford Police Chief Scott Underwood said that "based on the physical characteristics of the dog, made the determination" that he was part pit bull or pit bull terrier.
“From our standpoint, it’s a pretty clear case of an ordinance that makes it clear what’s permissible and what’s not, and our job is to enforce the ordinance.”
That's when Dan, Megan, and their many supporters decided to strike back. They launched an online petition, which managed to amass over 10,000 signatures. Then, when things went to court, Tillary produced papers from the city, Detroit Dog Rescue, City of Detroit Animal Control and Welfare, as well as the dog's veterinarian - who all agreed that Diggy was an American bulldog.
Finally, in September, a local court threw the case out, allowing Diggy to stay. “Case Closed!” Tillery wrote in a celebratory Facebook post. "We get to keep our boy. He’s a good boy."
Now Diggy can rest easy in his new home, along with his loving family.
An influencer has sparked mass outrage on social media after she and her husband decided to euthanize their dog after claiming he was "too old to rehome".
Nikki Phillippi and her husband Dan triggered further hate after they filmed the whole process and uploaded it on YouTube to their 1.29 million subscribers.
Titled 'We have some really sad news,' the clip attracted mass attention online as fans hit out at the influencer for her decision to put down their dog Bowser.
The pair went on to post the news on Instagram, telling fans the pair made the decision after seeing displays of aggression from the dog.
Phillippi claimed that Bowser "had an aggressive side that reared it's ugly head a few times over the years" before claiming that the dog bit the pair's son Logan.
They captioned the post: "After a lot of counsel, we decided it was time for Bowser to pass peacefully on. We didn't want to make this decision...as I'm sure you can imagine. I'm not kidding when I say this was one of the saddest days of my life."
The pair gave a further explanation for their decision on YouTube, saying that Bowser had "seriously injured a couple of different dogs". They also mentioned that they considered putting Bowser down in the past due to a moment of "aggression" five years ago.
The announcement has caused online backlash towards the couple, with viewers and fellow influencers saying that they should have sought out every other option before resorting to euthanization.
As a result, comments on the YouTube video were switched off by the couple but that didn’t stop people slating the couple on Twitter.
YouTube celebrity Jeffree Star wrote: "They claimed the dog bite their child once so they had to put him down… Instead of rehoming him, they murdered him. And there’s also NO proof the dog was actually aggressive… This makes me f*****g sick.
"It's hard to fathom how someone could kill their own family dog and make content out of it… They need to be investigated. As a dog owner who’s animals are my LIFE, this is hard to wrap my head around. [sic]"
YouTube star Jaclyn Hill also waded in, tweeting: "I have a very temperamental dog. He bites people when he feels nervous, unsafe or if you try to touch him when he doesn’t want to be... I know these things because im his OWNER. Therefore I make sure he’s not in situations where he will react... I don’t kill him!
"You guys know I pretty much never insert myself in 'drama' especially on a special day like today! (launch day) But I’m just too disgusted. Especially by the 'goodbye photo shoot' like WHAT!?"
Jeffree Star then responded: "Exactly. I’m so disappointed that they even chose to share this information with everyone, but they are a master manipulator so not surprised. Our dogs are our FAMILY and I can't believe they chose this."
One social media user wrote: "The whole Nikki Phillippi situation is...what in the actual f***? Poor lil pup did not deserve to die, but only after having a photo shoot first?? Why did they think any of that was ok? So sad. Who does that? I’m baffled."
Another tweeted: "It takes a certain kind of s****y to put down your dog after it bit your baby (who was grabbing the dog's food), but it's another level of stupid to think uploading an 'emotional' video talking about how tragic it was is a good idea. Nikki and Dan Phillippi should be ashamed."
While another added: "What you have done to your dog is disturbing. I understand that a dog biting your child is an extremely stressful and difficult situation - but you took the easy way out. You made a commitment to your dog and you gave that up and took the EASY WAY OUT. I'm furious. [sic]"
A fourth wrote: "If you treat your animals like s*** I’m going to question your parenting too," before another added: "How was killing your dog instead of rehoming him the best option. They took family photos before they sent him to The slaughterhouse. #nikkiphillippi."
Featured image credit: Arterra Picture Library / Alamy
A family has been left heartbroken after their golden retriever was fatally shot by a police officer in Ohio.
Bodycam footage from July 2 revealed Elliott Palmer, of the Lorain Police Department, shooting three-and-a-half-year-old golden retriever Dixie and then leaving the dog dying on the sidewalk, as reported by The New York Post.
Palmer had been patrolling the area when he noticed several dogs off-leash and asked the owner, Tammie Kern, to get them under control according to reports from WKYC. Shortly after, the golden retriever ran up to the officer - and while it did not seem aggressive - it was coming towards the cop when he opened fire.
The incident has sparked outrage from bystanders and on social media, and as a result, Palmer has since been placed on leave while the incident is "under investigation," according to WKYC.
In the horrifying video, the dog tried to get away before her front legs gave out, so she fell in the middle of the street. Dixie then attempted to get herself to safety by dragging her back legs across the ground until she reached the curb, where she helplessly lay on the sidewalk.
"You stupid, f***, you killed my dog," Dixie's owner, Tammie Kern, could be heard telling the officer. "Why did you do it?"
"Get back, OK. Your dog charged me, get back," Palmer responded while Kern screamed: "That dog was harmless!", as she stood next to her dying pet.
The officer then called for backup as more neighbors came out of their homes, demanding to know what happened to the dog.
At one point, Kern can be heard screaming in grief on the ground while another person tries to console her as Dixie lay a few feet away. "She wasn’t even going at you, she was going across the street," she exclaimed."I hope you lose your f***ing job."
Dixie's owner spoke to 3News about her tragic loss and emotionally said: "After she was shot one time in the street, he should have just let it go and let us get the dog and take her where she needed to be treated.
"But he didn't do that. She was crawling - useless, helpless - in the street. He continued shooting her. She was trying to come to safety, and he just kept shooting her three more times after the first time," she added.
Kern reiterated that she wants Palmer terminated from his profession, adding: "He should go to jail. He should rot. I don’t want him to shoot somebody else. He needs to be off the streets. There were innocent bystanders nearby."
Since the tragic shooting, the local community has come forward to demand the officer be fired from the police department.
A MoveOn.org petition and the hashtag #JusticeforDixie have gone viral on social media, with the petition saying: "The dog was not aggressive nor was she doing anything to warrant such a horrendous act of violence. This is not the type of policing our city needs nor wants. We demand answers and resolution and justice for Dixie and her family."
In addition to this, the Lorain Police Department released a statement, confirming that Palmer had "used force" on the dog and said the incident was under investigation.
"While all the facts are not yet known, the investigation has been assigned to the Lorain Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the use of force," the statement read, per The New York Post.
Furthermore, Kern and her family plan on filing a lawsuit against the police department.
Adoption, it saves lives. That is what we are always being told by shelters and rescues. And there is a good reason, it really does save lives. More than that, it gives the animals being adopted a whole new lease of life and a reason to look forward to the future. Below is a heartwarming list of the incredible before and after pictures of adopted dogs!
[post_page_title]This Before and After[/post_page_title]
The before picture is completely heart-wrenching. Any animal lover would definitely cry seeing this. It definitely shows that animals can feel the same sadness as us humans. But the second picture shows an incredibly drastic change. Here we see a very happy and well-cared for dog. It's definitely a happy ending for this good boy. Just look at how majestic he is!
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[[pagebreak]][post_page_title]Saved from Euthanization[/post_page_title]
Not going to lie, this picture really guts me to look at. This poor dog is so skinny and neglected, how can people do that?! It's hard to believe the poor thing was able to survive the ordeal. But thanks to some kindness from the shelter worker who refused to give up on this dog, the next picture just gives you all the feels. Amazing job.
Here is another image that will make you question people and why they could ever let their pets get so neglected. This poor little thing was all skin and bones. Thanks to pure love and affection, she was brought back to life.
One Reddit user uploaded this before and after of her dog Wynter. She explains that before she being adopted, the poor thing was living on the streets. Thanks to plenty of TLC, it looks like Winter is living her best life. She definitely had a stroke of luck getting adopted. Who'd have thought she'd the potential to grow such a luscious looking fur coat?!
This one is so cute. These two dogs were surrendered to an animal shelter together. And while the odds of two dogs getting adopted together are slim, this is a pair who got lucky. Very, very lucky! Things weren't looking great for the pair, and you can see it in their eyes. They look so sad. When they did get adopted, they got a second chance at life. And they look so happy for it.
This is Ripley. Ripley had quite the journey. The first picture is from Ripley at 6 months old in Iran. Clearly scared and lonely, all this pooch wanted was for someone to love her... Next picture is a very happy Ripley who looks like she's living the life of Riley. She is so happy. It's so cute.
Nothing is sadder than the face on little Hank on the left. You can just see the pain and sadness in those big brown eyes. If ever there was a picture of a dog on the verge of tears, the image on the left would be it. Unfortunately, this little guy had a rough start to life as an abused and timid puppy. But now look at him! He's got a smile going from ear to ear.
[post_page_title]To Hell and Back[/post_page_title]
This poor little guy had a sad start. He looks like he went through hell and back. That first picture is one of a completely hopeless-looking doggy who was so sad. Now he's a well-groomed and happy-looking little guy. He looks like a proper dog now. Isn't it amazing to think that a TLC was able to turn him from looking scary and sick to adorable and healthy?!
This poor little guy looks adorable even in his sad state. However, his little sad face is still so cute. It's no wonder someone saw him at the shelter and fell for those big, black eyes. Thankfully though, he got adopted. And look at that face, just look at it. He looks so happy. And he's still so freakin' cute! That's a doggo smile that could melt even the coldest of hearts.
[post_page_title]This Will Make You Feel All the Feels[/post_page_title]
The person who posted this before and after was actually posting on behalf of her sister's dog. Here on the left, you can see him depressed in his kennel at the shelter. Now here he is on the right, post-adoption. The difference is huge. And it looks like his new owner is absolutely in love with him. I mean, just look at that cute little flower crown he's rocking.
[post_page_title]Puppy Gets New Life[/post_page_title]
This little puppy had his rough start in the jungles of Mexico, where he was abandoned with his litter. Thankfully, they were nursed back to health by the local animal rescue foundation. This little guy got his brand new shot at life after someone adopted him while on vacation down in Mexico. Today he's a happy, healthy little pup living his best life in Canada.
I can't get past some people and their absolute disregard for animal life. It's actually scary to think that there are actual psychopaths out there who would happily leave a neglected puppy to die in a park. That is how this little girl was found on the left. With lots of love and care, she was brought back to life. And now, two years later, she is a happy healthy little pooch.
[post_page_title]Pablo's Before and After[/post_page_title]
Meet this little guy Pablo. His owners found him on the street and took him in. The first picture is from the night he was rescued. You can clearly see the sadness all over his face. The second picture shows an incredible change in him after only one week! It is so clear that he knows his life has changed for the better and he's so happy and grateful for it.
Talk about a complete Cinderella change. You can't even see this dog's face from all the matted hair in the way. It is clear that he suffered plenty of neglect before being rescued. The second picture shows that there is indeed a happy little dog underneath the whole mess that was his unkempt coat. And we're so happy he has a new forever home!
Speaking of smiles, this before and after set is definitely one for the books. The person who posted was the owner of Koda Bear. The OP revealed that the picture on the left is from the day before Koda Bear was adopted. Now, look at Koda Bear on the right. That is him after only a few months. Clearly, he is happy as he's got a silly little grin on his face!
This poor little girl was found living rough on the streets for 4 years! Imagine being homeless for that long. She was scared, and you can see it in her face in the first picture. The person posting the pictures of Annie revealed that they actually found her a home with their parents. And after only a week, the changes are real. Annie looks so comfy and happy!
Scarlett was in a shelter and was ready to be put down because of a minor skin condition. The person who posted her story on Reddit actually wasn't her owner but revealed that her friend was the one who adopted Scarlett. And it was a good thing that they rescued her, I mean just look. This sweet girl is so happy and got such a lucky break in life.
It is always amazing to see the changes in dogs. This little guy was clearly so scared and timid after his struggles prior to adoption. And the changes are incredible. It's like seeing a whole new dog. Amazing what a little love can do for pets.
A person on Reddit shared this before and after of their pup that they adopted. The picture on the left shows such a sad and scared little dog. Cut to the second picture and it's a whole happy little dog. You wouldn't even know to look at them that they were once the dog on the left. Total change.
While all the pictures in this post are heartbreaking to see the befores, this before picture tugs on my heartstrings the most. This little dog looks so sad and so desperate to get out of the shelter. And who could blame them? Now on the right, is a beautifully happy dog that shows exactly what adoption can do for an animal. This is great.
[post_page_title]Heartbreaking Before and After[/post_page_title]
Nothing is sadder than a dog that is starving in the streets. This before picture is everything that is wrong with the world. How can anyone just let a dog, or any animal for that matter, get to this state? And thankfully, this little pupper got their happily ever after that they deserve. I am glad that they got adopted.
This is Rey. The picture on the left is when Rey was on death row. From the picture, it is clear that Rey knew her time was up, that she wasn't going to be leaving the shelter alive. But thanks to the wonderful person that adopted Rey, she got to walk out of the shelter a free woman. The difference is astonishing.
This is Waldo's transformation. As you can see from the first picture, he started off as crusty and underweight stray. And all it took was a little bit of love. That was all it took to help Waldo become the happy, fluffy boy that you see in the next picture. He is so lucky and it shows.
[post_page_title]This Before and After Adoption[/post_page_title]
This poor doggie is all skin and bones before being adopted. It is so sad to see this dog looking so skinny and so depressed. But the change is amazing in the next picture. This dog looks like a whole new dog. It fills out my heart with all the feels!
Jasper is a little pup that started off his life in Romania. He looks so sad and depressed. Thankfully, little Jasper had a change of fortune. Jasper had an incredible adoption story which involved him traveling all the way to the UK to his new home. And it is clearly all over his face how happy he is in his new life.
[post_page_title]Nacho the One-Eyed Dog[/post_page_title]
I would totally have adopted this little fellow had I come across him in a shelter myself. Thankfully, someone did manage to adopt little Nacho and give him the home he deserves. He looks so happy in his new life. And that pirate eye of his seems to not bother him one bit. He is a happy little guy and it gives us all the feels.
[post_page_title]Toby's New Life[/post_page_title]
Toby spent two years in a county shelter. Can you imagine sleeping on the cold, hair floor with an uncomfortable crate for a pillow? It's just so sad to think about. Things have certainly taken a turn for the better for Toby. This little dog certainly moved up in the world post-adoption and is now enjoying sleeping in the king-sized bed he deserves.
This set of before and after pictures were uploaded by Teddy's owners who wrote: "We found Teddy’s shelter picture and it’s heartbreaking. We’re so glad he came into our lives and is letting his sweet, goofy personality shine! Hopefully, he knows that he’ll be safe, clean, fed, and loved for the rest of his life." We can't agree more. Well done guys.
Meet Harper who was adopted by her family from the Fairfax Animal Shelter. Prior to her adoption by her forever home, the poor girl had been adopted and returned three times. No wonder the poor girl looked so alone, confused, and scared.We are so delighted to see the difference in Harper. There is no doubt that constant love is what helped to make her the happy little girl you see on the right.
It is hard to imagine that this little girl on the left is the same dog that is on the right. She was a found as a stray in Houston. It was a rough start. But look at her now. She has moved up in the world, and through adoption, she has become a princess in her new Midwestern home. Isn't it wonderful when things change for the better?!
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