Stray dogs become marine mascots

The dogs have been trained to spot and bark at approaching Taliban
British troops serving in Afghanistan have adopted two stray dogs as unofficial mascots.
Labradors Charlie and Tangey were taken in by Taunton-based 40 Commando Royal Marines after being found searching for food near their base at Kajaki.

The dogs are now said to be part of the unit, having been trained to spot and bark at approaching Taliban.

Earlier this year, Tangey was captured by the Taliban and tortured with a knife before he managed to escape.

The dogs are now a permanent fixture at Camp Bastian in n Southern Afghanistan where they are used for surveillance on the top of a nearby mountain.

Sgt Major Dave Layton said: "They have become the honorary mascots of the company.

"I don't understand how anyone could do what the Taliban did to Tangey.

"Everyone gets welfare packs from back home and that includes the dogs. They are the celebrities of the base." K9 News

Bloodhounds lead to anthrax suspect

Sniffer dogs on anthrax case CA 'A three-member team of bloodhounds from California -- considered by the FBI to be the best in the country at what they do -- were each given the scent extracted from anthrax letters posted last year and each, independently, then led handlers to the Maryland apartment of the same man -- Steven Hatfill...' Hatfill denies any involvement in the anthrax murders and even says he has never worked with anthrax. [ABC News]

Dog Basket, Cruelty man Jailed

A psychiatric report showed Paul Lidford had a personality disorder
A 31-year-old man who subjected his girlfriend to abuse, including forcing her to lie in the dog basket, has been jailed for two years and five months.
Paul Lidford, from Denbigh, was convicted of four specimen assault charges at a trial in February.

Sentencing him at Mold Crown Court, the judge said he had sought to control with violence and verbal abuse.

Lidford was handed an indefinite anti- social behaviour order (Asbo), stopping him from approaching the 27-year-old.

Recorder Philip Marshall said the victim was still suffering from the treatment she had received at Lidford's hands.

You sought to control her, to dominate her, through violence and verbal abuse

Recorder Philip Marshall

During the trial, it emerged that over the course of their five-year relationship he had subjected her to abuse.

The jury heard that on about five occasions Lidford, a heating engineer, had forced her to lie in a dog's bed, and threatened that if she looked from under the blanket she would be assaulted.

Once, Lidford had kicked her repeatedly after she looked out from under the blanket, the court was told.

Swelling and bruising

The victim suffered swelling and bruising across her back and could not move, but Lidford had refused to call an ambulance.

The victim wept as she told the jury that she had reported matters to the police in the past, including an incident when Lidford whipped her with a dog lead.

But she had always withdrawn the allegations, believing that he loved her and would change.

Delivering his sentence, the judge said Lidford's former partner still suffered flashbacks and nightmares.

A psychiatric report showed Lidford had a personality disorder going back years.

He said: "During that relationship, I am satisfied, you sought to control her, to dominate her, through violence and verbal abuse.

"She felt worthless and despite everything said she had feelings towards you. She said on numerous occasions that she loved you."