Doggie DNA: The reveal party and the info your veterinarian needs
More and more people are testing their dog's DNA to see what kind of breed they really have. In many cases there is an accompanying party, not unlike a gender reveal party for an unborn child. But beyond the fun and the curiosity, veterinarians say there is valuable knowledge in the test.
Lynchburg Humane Society searching to rehome 4,000 rescued beagles
Four thousands BeagleThe beagles are being removed from Envigo, a research facility in Cumberland, where they were deprived of care and food and used for experimentation. The company is now shutting down after dozens of animal welfare violations.s bred for scientific experiments need a home and one local animal shelter wants to help.
When our pets die, why do we say they โcross the rainbow bridge?โ
Itโs natural to want to post about the passing of your sweet pet to your family and friends on Facebook or Instagram, but have you ever noticed that lately, we all say some form of, โtheyโve crossed (or gone over) the rainbow bridge?โ
![Angels of Assisi looks ahead to new year, new facility](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/jWStSDE7jOS9zlSoXsm9rYYd9_8=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/01-02-2021/t_0cca630364374b51b4a9ff1d91bad9ca_name_image.jpg)
Angels of Assisi looks ahead to new year, new facility
ROANOKE, Va. โ 2021 is shaping up to be a momentous year for Angels of Assisi. The animal shelter and clinic estimate their new facility on Elm Avenue and Franklin Road SW will be done by the start of 2022. Additionally, executive director Lisa OโNeill said 2020 was the shelterโs busiest year on record. OโNeill said the pandemic likely caused customers to spend more time on their pets. โThe power of pets is probably greater than we thought it was,โ OโNeill said โWe had people who, when they got their $600 check from the government, they spent it on their animals so they could get well.โAngels of Assisi is still doing curbside-only service due to the pandemic.
![Angels of Assisi sheltering 13 dogs rescued from South Korean meat farm](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/hC-JvhaupMMgM32_h4rlMZ2kjlk=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/11-16-2020/t_2391b05513b54821b40a504731ee5413_name_image.jpg)
Angels of Assisi sheltering 13 dogs rescued from South Korean meat farm
ROANOKE, Va. โ A bakerโs dozen of dogs rescued from a South Korean meat farm is now safe and sound in Roanoke. Angels of Assisi is sheltering 13 dogs from the international rescue. In total, 170 dogs were saved from the meat farm. Executive director Lisa OโNeill said volunteers will spend time helping the dogs get used to human interaction. โNow, some of the real work begins," OโNeill said.
![Campaign pups throughout the years: These 11 photos will make you crack a smile](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/aUZMLi8TZ5Ggora7ZY70URnMrTI=/1531x860/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/TULGF4KGGRGTVPL22UK2RQT4YQ.jpg)
Campaign pups throughout the years: These 11 photos will make you crack a smile
We found the following 11 photos from Getty Images, and we thought they were worth a share. (Getty Images)Pierre, a 5-year-old basset hound, apparently is a loyal fan of then-President Johnson -- and was happy to pose with a campaign button. (Getty Images)A dog wears a campaign sticker for Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden during a campaign stop at the Buttercup diner on March 3, 2020 in Oakland, California. This photo was taken in front of the White House as the pups wore campaign buttons for Lyndon B. Johnson for President. (Getty Images)In Honolulu, Hawaiian women are seen casting their votes during a presidential election -- and even a dog doesn't dare peek.
![Missing dog found in Danville reunited with owner from New Jersey](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/ZxzIhWRLXJivJcdzPCmjMKAPq3I=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/09-16-2020/t_df68697d19e34ece873bf0ecbe231318_name_image.jpg)
Missing dog found in Danville reunited with owner from New Jersey
DANVILLE, Va. โ A missing dog is reunited with her owner after wandering hundreds of miles away from home. Cookie the shih tzu made her way from New Jersey to the Danville Area Humane Society. Volunteers discovered Cookieโs identity thanks to her microchip and soon reunited the dog with her owner. Humane Society Executive Director Paulette Dean said the dog had been missing for over a year, according to her owner. "My final words to the dog were, โI wish you could talk to us to tell us where youโve been.โโ
![Roanoke County K9 course complete after day of construction](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/0wVR_dcKr7bqmQxylWliTVrnSO4=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/08-01-2020/t_249a83260a42450cb567a7693a465921_name_image.jpg)
Roanoke County K9 course complete after day of construction
ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. โ A brand new police obstacle course is ready for Roanoke Countyโs K9 officers. Spikeโs K9 Fund finished building the course behind Roanoke County Police headquarters on Saturday. Roanoke County Sgt. Tony Ayers, who handles a K9, says the course will immensely help K9 officers prepare for situations in the line of duty. Itโs a beautiful thing.โAyers said Roanoke County will open up the course to other K9 officers and first responder dogs in the region.
![Room to run: Roanoke County K9 officers receive their own obstacle course](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/0wVR_dcKr7bqmQxylWliTVrnSO4=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/08-01-2020/t_249a83260a42450cb567a7693a465921_name_image.jpg)
Room to run: Roanoke County K9 officers receive their own obstacle course
ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. โ The Roanoke County Police Department now has a dedicated place to teach its dogs new tricks. An obstacle course for the departmentโs K9 officers started taking shape behind its headquarters Friday. The course came from Spikeโs K9 Fund, a Virginia Beach-based organization which provides for K9 officers across the country. Founder James Hatch donated the course to Roanoke County at no cost to taxpayers. โThatโs whether itโs an agility course like this, bulletproof vests -- weโve provided bulletproof vests for all of the dogs here in Roanoke County -- or medical attention if they need it.โHatch and other volunteers will complete construction of the course on Saturday.
![New Virginia law makes it illegal to tether dogs in extreme heat](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Eot5gQsVZeEinkZUEp4_G-DE0U0=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/07-27-2020/t_d7df7ebad7254b44a6442f9c2e53598d_name_image.jpg)
New Virginia law makes it illegal to tether dogs in extreme heat
ROANOKE, Va โ A new Virginia law requires all dogs must be given adequate shelter during extremely hot weather. The Roanoke Valley SPCA said with temperatures nearing 100 degrees almost daily, pet owners need to be more vigilant than ever. โIf you are walking an animal outside, there are some things to look out for, like excessive panting or drooling, those are all signs that maybe the animal is starting to get overheated. In addition, especially walking dogs, you have to watch about walking them on paved surfaces,โ explained Roanoke Valley SPCA Communications Manager Julie Rickmond. The RVSPCA encourages anyone who may see an animal outside in extreme heat to call their local animal control office.
![Alleghany Humane Society needs help after taking in nearly 20 โextremely underweightโ dogs](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/tjtmnJ70NIL7CCZ1IfLRiNJqLaw=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-gmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/HSFMOP7KGFA45HUIGZ6KWKTWYI.jpg)
Alleghany Humane Society needs help after taking in nearly 20 โextremely underweightโ dogs
ALLEGHANY COUNTY, Va. โ A local animal shelter is at capacity and in need of donations after taking in 18 malnourished dogs. Hall said some were taken to a veterinarian before arriving at the Alleghany Humane Society. The Humane Society stopped all dog intake temporarily as they search for homes for the 20 dogs they currently have available. The Humane Societyโs operations manager, Missy Lawrence, said theyโve never had this many dogs and are at 95% capacity for dogs. She described the dogs as โextremely underweight.โYou can help the dogs by adopting or donating money or dog food, specifically Purine Puppy Chow Tender and Crunchy and Purina Puppy Chow Complete.