The DogChannel Newswire (12-21-07)

Dog Saves Minnesota Homeowner From Fire
Cathy Minnig was home alone, exercising on a treadmill and listening to her iPod when her dog began jumping on and off the couch and "acting very strange and peculiar." She removed her headphones to hear fire alarms going off. By the time she ran upstairs, she saw her living room engulfed in flames, the Star Tribune (Minnesota) reports.
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A Police Dog’s Stirring Goodbye
Before the long line of visitors started through the door to the tiny white chapel, Police Officer Gregg Myers said goodbye to his partner. He lifted the lid to the dark-stained rectangular pine box and petted the 80-pound black German Shepherd Dog. He told Alec he would miss him, and slipped the police badge inside, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
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Missing Dog, Hospitalized Boy Both Back Home
Jean Jecobus' one Christmas wish came early this year when a good Samaritan returned her grandson's lost Poodle who went missing after the boy was hospitalized due to an accident. The man who returned the dog refused to take the family's $500 reward, the Long Beach (Calif.) Press-Telegram reports.
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Papelbon’s Dog Reportedly Ate World Series Ball
The confusion over the fate of the baseball from the final out of the 2007 World Series is apparently over, courtesy of one of the oldest excuses in the book. Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon said his dog ate the ball, MSNBC reports.
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Dog Breeder Found Guilty of Animal Cruelty
Former Pennsylvania kennel owner Ervin Zimmerman was found guilty Wednesday of 11 counts of animal cruelty and five counts of violating state dog law regulations. Each count carries a maximum fine of $300, Lancaster Newspapers (Pennsylvania) reports.
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