California veterans won’t have to pay adoption fees when they take a “furever” friend home from an animal shelter next year.

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed Senate Bill 245, which calls on animal shelters throughout the state to waive pet adoption fees for military veterans.

“This is a big win for veterans and shelter animals,” said State Sen. Liang Liang Chang, who authored the legislation.

According to Chang’s office, California is home to 2 million military veterans, including many who cope with PTS. She said a companion animal could help with their recovery efforts.

“As the saying goes, a dog is a ‘man’s best friend.’ When I’m home my four-legged companions are a part of my family,” she said. “Buster and Pepper bring me joy and laughter and I benefit from the positive effects of their companionship. Our brave heroes deserve the same happiness, and I’m glad we can reduce the barriers for bringing together veterans seeking companion animals and pets in need of a home.”

Shelters will confirm veteran status by using the state’s existing veteran’s driver’s license designation. The law goes into effect Jan. 1, 2020.

Waterbury Police are investigating after a woman had to confront a naked man at gunpoint while he allegedly performed sexual acts on her pit bull Tuesday morning.

Jesus Ramon Sanchez, from the Little Havana neighborhood in Miami, was allegedly attempting to engage in sexual intercourse with a 4-year old male pit bull, when the dog defended itself by tearing off the man’s genitals with its teeth.

The incident took place around 8:30 this morning, in the Allen Morris Dog Park in Miami.

According to witnesses, 4-year old Spanky, was playing with his owner in the park when Mister Sanchez grabbed him and attempted to rape him.

The male pit bull violently resisted and severely injured its attacker’s legs, arms and groin.

According to its owner, this is the first time that Spanky has ever bitten anyone, and he acted strictly out of self-defense.

“The dog was just running around, playing with a ball, when the man came out of nowhere and tried to grab it,” says Dorothy Steinberg, a witness of the events.

“The man had his pants down and was struggling with the dog.

Everyone in the park was just stunned and nobody did anything, but the dog defended itself and bit back. In a matter of seconds, he grabbed the man’s genitals with its teeth and literally tore them apart.”

We would like to be able to save every dog but realistically, it just isn’t possible. Janine Guido had to deal with this issue when she met a dog named Watson. You see, she is the founder of Speranza Animal Rescue so she takes care of many animals.

Watson was a homeless pit bull who was found in a park all alone in Philadelphia by a college student. After finding the dog, the student took him to an emergency vet because the pup had sores all over his body, a tumor on his back leg and he was starving. The vet informed the student that Watson was beyond hope. He had cancer that was spreading and his time was limited.

Watson went from the veterinarian’s office to a shelter in the area. The staff at the shelter agreed that Watson could stay there to be as comfortable as he could.

“I had a gut feeling that things weren’t going to be good the next day,” Guido told the Dodo. “I didn’t want to leave him alone. Not when he needed me the most.” She did what she could to comfort him, gathering blankets and dog beds and keeping him close. She spent the night with Watson holding him as he slept.

“He slept like a rock all night, cuddled up to me so tight,” Guido said. “I cried myself to sleep, and woke up in tears as well.”

Watson began pacing circles the following morning and he stopped eating and drinking. Guido knew that he was close to dying. She continued to support him in that difficult time.

Before long, Watson passed away but he was loved, perhaps the first time in his life.

“I’m just so thankful I was able to hold him tight for his last night,” Guido said. “I was telling him how much he was loved — and that his life mattered. My heart is breaking, but I would not change a thing.”