Tag: los angeles county

Loyal LA dog to be reclaimed by her family

Grace is now Maggie again.

The loyal black Lab, who was videotaped as she guarded  the body of a yellow Lab killed by a car in Southern California, will be reunited with her family.

Maggie’s family stepped forward Monday, according to CBS in Los Angeles.

Dubbed Grace by Los Angeles County animal control, the dog had been in a  Baldwin Park shelter since last week when she was spotted on Hacienda Boulevard in La Puenta standing guard over a dog killed by a hit and run driver.

Animal Care and Control Capt. Aaron Reyes says Maggie’s family was at the shelter looking for her at the same time animal control officers were getting the dogs out of the street.

Reyes said Maggie has since been spayed and microchipped, and that dozens have offered to adopt her. Instead, she’ll be going home today after shelter workers inspect her home.

A good Samaritan saw the incident in La Puente last Wednesday, put traffic cones around the dog so she wouldn’t be struck and called animal control. He also took the photos and video of Maggie keeping vigil by the deceased dog’s side.

Up until the family came forward, it appeared he was going to adopt the dog, which had no identification tag and no microchip.

On Monday, though, the original family came forward. Now that they have, they’ll get their dog back, but will also be issued citations for having an unregistered dog, and for allowing the animal to run loose, animal control officials said.

No new information has surfaced on the dog who died.

Chihuahua versus robbers (Chihuahua wins)

This July 7 surveillance video just released by L.A. County sheriff shows a 10-pound Chihuahua named Paco chasing off a pair of robbers at Ace Smoke Shop in Altadena, Calif.

Two masked men entered the store with an empty backpack and demanded money, pointing the gun at the cashier.

From out of nowhere comes Paco, barking furiously and biting at their legs. For a second, it appears the two robbers were so frightened they were going to leave without the money. But one, after initially retreating, grabs it before they flee, Paco chasing at their heels.

No one was injured — not even Paco — during the incident.

Paco, according to Time.com, was a rescue dog and has been with shop owner Eric Knight for five years.

Knight wasn’t at the shop during the robbery, but was proud of how bravely his dog behaved.

“I’m going to put a cape on him, I think,” he said.

Former fire chief convicted in killing of Karley

karleyGlynn Johnson, a retired Los Angeles County assistant fire chief, was found guilty of animal cruelty Tuesday in connection with the death of Karley, a neighbor’s puppy that he punched and beat with a rock.

“Karley, this one’s for you!” a tearful Shelley Toole shouted outside Riverside County Superior Court after the verdict was read. “This is for you, girl!”

Johnson, 55, faces up to four years in prison for killing the 6-month-old, 42-pound German shepherd mix.

Johnson told investigators that the dog attacked first and he was defending himself. The former firefighter said the dog grabbed him and nearly ripped off the top of his thumb, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Prosecutors, while noting there was a long-running feud between Johnson and the Tooles, said they didn’t believe Johnson acted in self defense.

“I don’t think this was a self-defense case at all,” Riverside County Deputy Dist. Atty. William Robinson said. “It was done out of rage and anger at the Toole family and his actions were wildly inappropriate.”

Johnson remains free on bail. He is scheduled to be sentenced March 8.