Dog found abandoned, tied to a fence near roadway in Manassas FOX 5 DC MANASSAS, Va. - Abandoned, tied to a fence and in poor health is how Manassas City Police found a female dog on Tuesday. Around 6:00 a.m. on July 12 officers were patrolling the area of Dean Drive in Manassas when they located a 42lb female dog ...
Manassas police investigating shots fired Inside NoVA Someone fired shots from a moving vehicle in the city's Georgetown South neighborhood on Thursday evening. It appears no one was hit, police say. Officers were called to the area of Beech Place and George Street around 8 p.m. to investigate severals ... Shots Fired in Manassas Thursday NightPatch.com
WASHINGTON — A 20-year-old who drove 70 mph over the speed limit in a River Road crash that killed three people earlier this year has agreed to plead guilty to the manslaughter.
On Feb. 27, Ogulcan Atakoglu was driving a 2016 BMW M235 when he struck a 2016 Chevy Volt in the westbound lanes of River Road in Bethesda. Michael Buarque De Macedo, 52; his wife Alessandra M. Buarqe De Macedo, 52; and their son Thomas Buarque De Macedo, 18, were killed in the crash.
The other passenger, daughter Helena, a sophomore at Walt Whitman High School, survived the crash with serious injuries. Thomas was a senior at the school.
The family of four was heading to an event at the nearby school.
Atakoglu was traveling 75 mph in a 45 mph zone at the time of the crash, said Montgomery County police. Atakoglu had been driving 115 mph on the road before the impact, police added.
Based on collision analysis, investigators said they believe Atakoglu applied the brakes but not in time to avoid the crash.
Atakoglu, a Potomac resident, agreed to plead guilty in August to three counts of manslaughter by vehicle, according to court documents released Monday.
Court documents outlining the plea deal indicate the three counts carry a maximum 30 year prison sentence, but guidelines range from three months to 12 years.
Atakoglu’s attorney, David Felsen said several factors contributed to the crash, including that the intersections of River Road and Braeburn Parkway — the location of the crash — “has been described by others as a dangerous intersection.”
“The police report, as we understand it, found that there were several causes associated with this particular accident. Mr. Atakoglu is accepting responsibility for his behavior in this,” Felsen said.
Felsen said his client is remorseful for his actions.
“He and his family have had nights sitting around the dining room table crying, expressing their condolences for those who lost their lives.”
Atakoglu had a history of speeding and reckless driving before the fatal crash. In April 2013, he pleaded guilty to speeding, unsafe lane change and reckless driving on Interstate 270. Also, he was cited for driving 85 mph in a 55-mph zone. Later that year, he was cited for violating Maryland law against spinning wheels for which he paid a $70 fine.
In 2014, he was faced negligent driving charges that were later dismissed.
Child pornography case - Manassas music volunteer gets 25 years Gainesville Times - Northern VA News David Alexander Battle II, 24, who served as a volunteer with the music program at Grace E. Metz Middle School in Manassas, was sentenced on June 10 to 300 months in prison for production of child pornography, attempted coercion and enticement of a ...
It’s still unclear how a medium-sized bear got inside a Colorado woman’s Subaru and locked the door, but it’s nice to know that said animal was rescued from his vehicular prison by helpful sheriff’s deputies who had the good sense to get the whole thing on camera.
“How’d you get in there, bear?” a deputy asks in a video posted on YouTube that shows the bear hanging out inside the Subaru Outback around 9 a.m. on Tuesday. The car belongs to a 17-year-old who bought it recently and is using it to drive to her summer job, KGW.com reports (warning: link contains video that autoplays).
“She screamed from downstairs,” she said. “She said, ‘Annie, there’s a bear in your car.’ And I thought that she meant that it broke a window, and I was like, ‘okay, that’s life.’ But, no she actually meant that it was in my car.”
Officials believe the bear got in through an unlocked door that closed after he was inside the vehicle. Though he was discovered just before 9 a.m., deputies say it seems he’d been in there for a while, based on the moisture on the windows, KGW.com reports.
He spent his time on the inside ripping apart the upholstery and the ceiling, though no windows were broken.
“He looked like a dog inside the car just jumping back and forth from front to back,” said one deputy. “He just demolished the car.”
The bear seemed pretty pumped to get back to the wild, making a run for it as soon as the back hatch was popped open.
In the meantime, deputies are warning campers at a nearby campground to be cautious after the incident.
“Bears are unpredictable,” the deputy said. “And they’re starting to realize how to do a lot of human activity.”
Back in March, Angie’s List said it would drop its long-standing membership fees and make basic rating and review offerings available for free to all site visitors at some point in 2016. That point was today.
Under the so-called “freemium” model, Angie’s List will continue to offer a pricing structure that charges users for services beyond basic browsing and review writing.
The company’s “green” tier is free, followed by the $24.99/year “silver” tier and the $99.99/year “gold” tier, each providing different features, including fair-price guarantees and complaint-resolution support.
Previously, Angie’s List’s subscription model typically started at $9.99/month.
For now, the company says that existing members will continue to receive benefits that non-paying members don’t, like a fair price guarantee, service quality guarantee, exclusive discounts, chat and email support, and a bi-monthly magazine.
Angie’s List plans to add more benefits to the paid tiers each month, including tools to estimate project pricing, scheduling, financing, and emergency services lines.
The Journal reports that Angie’s List quietly began rolling out the non-paid tier in certain markets last month.
So far, a rep for the company says customers have embraced the system, with free and paid member signups growing by about 300% from 2015.
“These are very early days and the beta is for a relatively limited period of time,” CEO Scott Durschlag said, “but these are very encouraging numbers.”
While the purpose of the paywall-free model is to increase revenue, Angie’s List said in March that it will likely take a revenue hit at first. However, the company which expects $345 million to $355 million in revenue this year, anticipates a growth in recent to $750 million by 2020 under the new model.
Pasta always makes for a great meal, but there’s more to crafting a complete dish than mixing some noodles with some sauce. This simple formula will make your pasta meals something delicious and memorable every time.
Campfires are arguably the best part of camping, and cooking over them is always fun. But it’s easy to get impatient when you’re hungry and you see flames dancing in the pit. If you want to have the best cooking experience over an open fire, patience is key.
Making your own homemade energy bars
can be as simple or complicated as you want, and this recipe is as simple as it gets. A few ingredients, your trusty food processor
, and a few minutes in the fridge to firm up, and you’ll have a snack you can enjoy at home or on the go.
WASHINGTON — Two Boy Scout summer camp workers who were fired for rescuing a bald eagle say the camp needs a specific policy for how to deal with injured wildlife.
“I want there to be an actual policy,” said Eliana Bookbinder.
Bookbinder, 20, and her twin brother, Jeremy Bookbinder, of Accokeek, Maryland, were fired after an incident on June 26 at Camp Marriott, on the Goshen Scout Reservation in Goshen, Virginia.
They didn’t think an injured young bald eagle found near the camp would survive the night to be collected by a game warden the next day. They were shocked, they said, when an Eagle Scout supervisor told them to leave the badly injured animal alone.
“I could not, as a Scout and ethical human being, leave this animal out overnight to be eaten by coyotes or skunks or whatever,” Eliana Bookbinder said.
The Bookbinders have experience handling raptors, they said, from volunteering at the Clearwater Nature Center in Clinton, Maryland, so they captured the bird and took it to a wildlife rehabilitator.
“They fired us for, in their opinion, breaking the law and for disobeying their orders,” Jeremy Bookbinder said.
The Bookbinders said that before being fired, camp supervisors told them inaccurately that it was unlawful for them to have contact with the eagle.
“They should have actually known what the laws were regarding eagles, especially since they’re right next to a national forest and there’s an eagle population there,” Jeremy Bookbinder said.
Eliana wants an apology and a policy change.
“The main thing I want them to do is have an actual plan and a policy about what to do if they have injured wildlife,” she said.
The camp does have a wildlife policy, according to a spokesman for the Boy Scouts of America-National Capital Area Council, which owns and runs the camp.
“That’s what our superintendent put into effect. He called the appropriate authorities and was taking the steps that he felt were best to take care of the situation,” said Chief Communications Officer Aaron Chusid.
Procedures and rules on wildlife provided to campers specifically advise them to avoid potentially dangerous contact, Chusid said.
“No wild animals are to be handled or captured (except by properly trained staff). These include mice, snakes, turtles, raccoons, and all other species,” the policy states.
As for the Bookbinders disobeying orders, Chusid said he can’t discuss personnel matters.
“I can think for myself that there’d be plenty of reasons why I would encourage someone not to handle an injured animal,” Chusid said. “Especially if you think that their mother might be in the tree above them.”
Still, Eliana Bookbinder stands by the decision she and her brother made, even though she regrets no longer working at the place she’s called home for the past seven summers.
“I want there to be an actual policy that they should take injured wildlife to a wildlife rehabilitation center as soon as possible instead of it being whatever people decide that day,” Eliana Bookbinder said.
The eagle the Bookbinders found had a wing broken in multiple places. It was too badly injured to be saved and had to be euthanized.
Woman Robbed Pumping Gas Off I-66 Near Manassas Patch.com Suspect is in custody after brief search Monday night, according to Prince William County Police. Manassas, VA. By Greg Hambrick (Patch Staff) - July 12, 2016 10:53 pm ET. Woman Robbed Pumping Gas Off I-66 Near Manassas. MANASSAS, Va.
GOSHEN, Va. (AP) — Two Boy Scout camp employees say they were fired after trying to rescue an injured bald eagle.
Jeremy and Eliana Bookbinder are quoted by The Washington Post (http://wapo.st/29EeP87) as saying they were fired last month at Camp Marriott in the Goshen Scout Reservation, about 20 miles from Lexington, Virginia.
Eliana Bookbinder says she and her brother took the injured bird to a wildlife rehabilitation center after she found it, despite being told by her boss not to.
Camp officials told them they were fired for disobeying orders, and that they had broken an unspecified federal law. It was unclear which law they were referencing. The Post notes bald eagles were removed from the state’s endangered species list in 2013.
The newspaper said reservation spokesman Aaron Chusid declined to comment.
___
Information from: The Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com
Autistic children often have difficult behaviors because they lack the ability to communicate their needs and wants in an appropriate way. To eliminate the unwanted behavior, the child needs to be helped to have their needs and wants met in a constructive way.
Target only one behavior at a time. Different negative behaviors likely have different causes, and thus different solutions, and it is too difficult to address all of these at once.
Talk with the child about the behavior, if possible. The behavior may be a solution for a given problem (e.g. humming in class to drown out unpleasant sensory input). In this case, your goal is to expand their repertoire of ways to solve the problem.[1]
Encourage self-advocacy.[2] Teach the child to speak up, using words or AAC. Reward this by paying attention and respecting what they have to say.
Explain other people's thoughts and feelings in a clear, concrete way. It may help to draw stick-figure pictures, with thought bubbles, where you and the child can write down what others are thinking.[3]
Keep a log, if you can't ask the child. To identify possible reasons for the behavior, keep a log of what happens before the behavior, the behavior itself, and what happens afterwards. It won't be as direct as asking the child, but if the child cannot speak or use AAC, it is your best bet.
Example log entry: At 4:30, Joey came into the kitchen and grabbed two cookies. When I told him he could not have them, he began to throw a tantrum. When he calmed down, I gave him a cookie.
After math class, Marcia and her peers went to the school assembly. Marcia grew increasingly agitated as we waited, and began chewing on her fingers. This escalated until she was viciously biting her own arms. An aide took her to the office so she could calm down.
After keeping this log for several days to a week, try to identify the cause of the behavior.
Joey's tantrums are the result of a desired item (cookie) being taken away after he tried to access them inappropriately. Brainstorm possible reasons: perhaps Joey is very hungry at 4:30, and wants to express that he needs something to eat.
Marcia began biting herself as she waited for the assembly. School assemblies can be quite loud, and perhaps they feel frightening or painful to her. Anxiety about a painful assembly could cause the biting.
Fix the underlying problem. Remove the stressor, and/or teach them a way to handle it when it arrives. If it is successfully addressed, the problem behavior will cease.
Joey can be taught to ask for a snack ("I want a snack, please"), or taught to show you a picture of a snack when he is hungry (Picture Exchange Communication System).
Marcia bites as a way to cope with the stress of waiting for a painful assembly. She can be given chewy jewelry for when she needs to bite, taught to say "that hurts" when she is hurting, and kept in class with a helper and a box of crayons during assemblies.
If the problem behavior does not decrease, then you have not found the right solution yet, or they are not developmentally ready. Go back to making a log, and trying to figure out what causes it.
Research how autistic people have handled situations like this. The internet is full of autistic writers. The hashtag #AskAnAutistic is an easy way to contact them.
See what happens. If you have correctly identified the cause of the problem behavior and provided a solution that works for the child, then they will begin to use the better strategy instead. This will take some time and gentle reminders, but if the child is capable of using the new strategy, it will happen.
When the child uses the bad strategy, gently remind them to use the new one: "What do you say when you want a snack?"
Never hold their needs hostage. Address a frightening or overwhelming situation right away, regardless of whether they handled it "correctly" or not. The child needs to know that you will help them if they are hurting.
Celebrate their initiative. When the child uses a good technique (e.g. speaking up or getting a stim toy), praise them for doing well.[4] Explain that you're glad that they're self-monitoring, and taking steps to get what they need.
For example, "Thank you for telling me that it hurts, Marcia! Now that I know, I'll make sure you don't have to do it again."
De-escalate if you see stress building up. If a child's "fight-flight-or-freeze" mechanism has activated, they may not be able to control themselves, even though they know that it's not good to hit people or scream in public. The best way to stop it is to prevent it from getting that far.[5]
Never get drawn into a power battle. Forcing control upon a child will make them afraid of you, and it won't make them respect you more.
Minimize talking. When stressed, a child may have trouble with auditory processing, and not be able to understand what you are saying.[6] In these circumstances, talk less, and instead focus on de-escalating.
Try to use nonverbal communication. For example, instead of asking "Do you want your bunny?", show them the bunny so they can grab it if they want. Instead of saying "Let's go outside," point to the door and have them take your hand so you can lead them out.
Give them an AAC device. When stressed, the child might lose the ability to speak, while still being able to use AAC. Handing them a device shows that you aren't going to pressure them to speak, and that you'll listen if they advocate their needs.[7]
Watch for deteriorating speech abilities. If an ordinarily articulate girl points to a peanut shell and cries "bug," then she might be having trouble processing things,[8] and may communicate better with AAC.
If they have several forms of AAC, let them choose. If they are more overwhelmed, a simpler form will do better. For example, maybe your student is too frazzled to type, but can show you the picture card for "too loud."
Have an exit strategy ready, including scheduled rewards if needed. For example, if a boy knows that when he gets into the car, he will get a tasty snack, and he can play a game at home, he might be more willing to leave the park.[9] Implement the strategy if you see stress building. (You can always come back later, once the child is calmer.)
Explain the exit strategy beforehand—don't wait until the child is mid-meltdown. Use visual supports, like a keyring with pictures, if needed.[10]
Tailor the rewards to the child's favorite things. Make sure that they are available; if you run out, the child may stop trusting the routine and stop doing what you want.
Older children might be able to self-monitor, initiate the exit strategy when needed, and do it without rewards. Younger children might need you to watch their mood, and reward them more for following through.
Autistic children may lose skills when over-stressed. Living up to a world based upon non-autistic standards can be very difficult, so they might not have much energy left for additional tasks. Here is how to reduce this.
Keep a daily routine. A predictable routine can feel safe to autistic children. It can be especially helpful to make a visual schedule, so that they can see exactly what is going to happen.[11] Try cards that can be rearranged, or a dry-erase board, to account for changes in routine.
Pictures can also help support the child's memory, because some autistic children may have difficulty remembering important things.[12][13] For example, if they have a picture of homework on days when they have homework, it can help them remember.
Encourage sensory regulation. Sensory needs can interfere with self-control and other abilities,[14] so keep them on a healthy sensory diet. Provide a calming, low-input environment for hypersensitivity, and have activities prepared for sensory seekers.
Make a calming down area that the child can use as needed. Because autistic children struggle with self-regulation, having a quiet space where they can retreat can help them balance themselves when they are overwhelmed or moody. Encourage the child to use it whenever they need to.
Place stim toys and ways to block sensory input in the corner. Divide it from the rest of the room with a curtain, shelf, or other barrier.
Leave the child alone when they are using the corner.[15]
Recognize that not all autistic "behaviors" need to be changed. Just as autistic people work hard to accommodate non-autistics, non-autistic people need to be helpful and understanding towards autistic people. If a behavior is not harming anyone, then non-autistic people need to learn to accept it.[16] Don't micromanage.
Watch for anxiety disorders. Autistic children are at risk for anxiety, and may need anxiety medication or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to keep it under control. Managing any anxiety disorders can help the child be healthier and happier.
Keep communicating and enjoying positive interaction. Maintaining a good relationship with the child is important for both people's well-being.[17] Do fun things together, talk to them, and take time to listen carefully to what they have to say (whether it's verbal or not).[18]
Presume competence. Begin with the assumption that the child is capable, they mean well, and they are trying hard already.[19][20] Help them rise to meet your expectations. Optimism can lift the child's spirits, and bring positive results.
Recognize that no behavior is meaningless. Even if it doesn't make sense to you, it is fulfilling some sort of purpose for the child, or expressing something.[21] There is a reason; you just don't know it yet.
Be cautious about assigning motives to the behavior. Each person thinks differently, and these differences can be especially profound between autistic and non-autistic people. The child's reasoning may be completely different from what you think it is.[22]
Don't confuse "they can't" with "they won't." Gaining abilities is not a linear progression,[23] and if a child is stressed or worn out, they might not be able to do things that they otherwise could.[24] If a child is resisting your attempts to make them do something, it might be that they can't do that thing at the moment,[25] or that they don't understand.[26]
For example, instead of "Jamal is angry and won't tell me why. He's so difficult!," you could think "Jamal is angry and can't tell me why. Maybe he's too upset to speak. I'll help him calm down, and then maybe I can figure out what's going on."
Sensory input, exhaustion, stress, seizures, anxiety, and more can affect ability levels. For example, perhaps your daughter can usually put her plates in the dishwasher, but after a night of bad sleep and hearing pots clanging in the kitchen, it is too overwhelming one day.
Respond with patience and compassion. This may be frustrating to you, but chances are, it is even worse for the child. Responding kindly can lessen the child's stress, making it easier for them to communicate or do a difficult thing.[27]
Focus on rewards, not punishment. Remember, positive strategies help more than negative ones. The child will see you as a friend and ally, not a punisher.
Autistic children might not be able to understand why they are being punished, making it completely ineffective.[28]
Be a team. You are not the child's opponent, nor are they the passive object of a project.[29] The child needs to feel that you care about their feelings, that you'll listen to them, and that they can come to you with problems.
Never make basic needs contingent on a certain level of behavior. An autistic person may resort to "behaviors" when under extreme duress, and they may not be capable of producing the desired solution at the time.
Provide love and acceptance.[30] Show the child that you care about them, autism and all, and that they are not a burden to those around them. Make it clear that you don't need them to pretend to be "normal."[31] Encourage their strengths, embrace their uniqueness, and make it clear that you love them just the way they are.
Choose one very specific behavior that you want to change, e.g. throwing food at meals.
Determine what happens before the behavior that might be causing it, for instance, does the autistic child finish eating more quickly that everyone else? Is there some way you can eliminate or change that, or provide an alternative (e.g. something else to do at the table) to address the reason behind the action?
Remember that behavior communicates something—"I'm upset", "I'm scared", "I need your attention", "I'm bored" , etc. What the child is communicating may or may not be appropriate to the situation, but figuring out what the message could be can help you find possible solutions.
Be aware that autistic children can be affected by things you might not even notice, for instance you always eat off of certain plates and you changed them, someone is sitting in a different place, you ate before bath time rather than after, etc.
Be warned that some professionals may recommend damaging practices). Never do something to the child that makes them scream, cry, or panic (even if their therapist recommends it).
WASHINGTON — A new Maryland fishing record was set last month by an unlikely master angler: a 9-year-old girl.
The cobia measured 66.5 inches long. The fish dwarfed its captor — 52-inch-tall Emma. (Courtesy Maryland Department of Natural Resources)
Emma Zajdel, a 9-year-old from Ocean City, caught a 94.6-pound cobia near Little Gull Shoals about a mile and a half east of Assateague Island on June 30, Maryland Department of Natural Resources confirmed Monday. The record shattered the 79-pound state record set in 2014.
Emma and her father, Ed, were fishing with friends hoping to catch some bluefish in the area that day when a line went tight. Emma set the rod in place and braced for the catch, said Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service spokesman Joe Evans.
“At first, we thought it was a shark, and the line was going out,” she said, according to a Department of Natural Resources news release. “I could hear the reel and the drag and I thought I could go over the side.”
After a 20-minute battle, the 9-year-old got the fish on the boat where it went “ballistic,” Ed told the Department of Natural Resources. He said he and a friend “wrestled the fish into the fish box.”
They kept the fish iced overnight and took it to the certified scale at Sunset Marina, where the cobia measured 66.5 inches long. The fish dwarfed its captor — 52-inch-tall Emma.
The average weight of a cobia is around 25 pounds, Evans said.
Emma’s catch could become a new world record for a fish caught by an angler under the age of 10. The current record for the age group is 48 pounds. The International Game Fish Association could take up to a year to certify Emma’s catch and determine if it is a world record.
Emma could still have a way to go to take down the cobia records in Virginia and worldwide. Virginia’s record is a 109-pound fish caught in 2006 and the world record is a 135.9-pound cobia caught in 1985.
There are no restrictions on catching and keeping cobia in Maryland, however, there are restrictions in federal waters.
WASHINGTON — While it may seem harmless to take a stroll through the park and feed the geese, Fairfax County police are warning residents against it.
Feeding the local Canada geese population food such as bread, corn, popcorn or pastries can actually harm the birds’ health, the Fairfax County Police Department said.
“Geese that become dependent on human-provided foods can suffer from malnourishment (and starvation in severe cases) as they fill up on empty calories instead of receiving proper nutrients provided by the environment,” police said in a blog post. “Geese also tend to lose their natural fear of humans and can become aggressive as a consequence of being fed.”
Feeding the geese and other waterfowl in the area also can cause problems for the environment, police said. Because feeding geese draws more of them to the area than the habitat normally would support, it can degrade water quality, erode soils, spread diseases among the geese and lead to overgrazing.
Police said it is a common misconception that local wildlife need human intervention to get enough to eat.
It is unlawful to place, distribute or allow the placement of food when it attracts wildlife to the point where it causes property damage, creates a public health concern or endangers any person or wildlife, police said.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington’s fire chief says the department is considering ways to use taxicabs or Uber to transport people who need to go to a doctor’s office, not a hospital.
Chief Gregory Dean told WTOP’s television news partner NBC Washington on Monday that he’s looking at “creative ways to try to reduce the strain on the system,” including using Uber or taxicabs.
The District of Columbia’s fire and EMS department is one of the nation’s busiest. Firefighters and paramedics can be burdened by non-emergency calls from residents who just need to see a doctor but can’t get to one. This year, the city started using private ambulances to handle some calls.
Dean says he’s also considering adding nurses to the 911 call center to evaluate patients’ medical needs. A task force will make recommendations by October.
EDEN, Md. (AP) — Authorities in Maryland say they’ve arrested the owners of 310 dogs in an alleged puppy mill, many of the animals with matted fur and covered in feces.
Local media outlets report that 60-year-old Robert Murphy and 67-year-old Susan Murphy were arrested Monday on 84 counts of animal cruelty.
Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis says the dogs — mostly Pomeranians — were seized after a kennel check April 6. Authorities found 166 dogs in a house, and 144 more in three other buildings on the property.
Lewis says the scene was “disturbing.”
Of the 310 dogs, Lewis says only one had to be euthanized, and 27 are receiving veterinary care at the Humane Society. The rest have been adopted.
If you've noticed your dog packing on the pounds, don't be surprised. Many pet dogs slowly gain weight over a long period of time. While this might seem like a simple cosmetic problem, obesity, or carrying extra weight, can mean health problems for your pet including strain on the joints, heart, lungs, and shorter life expectancy.[1] To help your dog lose weight, reduce his caloric intake and increase his exercise level.
Consult with a veterinarian. Before you start your dog on a diet, check with the vet. Many clinics run a dog weight loss program where your pet is weighed and you can get specific instructions about how much to feed your dog. These regular weigh-ins, firm target, and moral support can make you more likely to succeed in putting your dog on an effective diet. Your vet may recommend one of the following diets:
High Fiber/Low-Fat Diet: These contain fiber which expand in your dog's stomach, making him feel full. The package instructions should clearly state how much to feed your dog based on a target (goal) weight.
Metabolic diets: These are more high tech and feed the genes that improve your dog's metabolism. Increasing metabolism can make your dog burn more calories, causing him to lose weight.
Determine how much food your dog eats a day. Pay attention to how much you're currently feeding your dog. If your dog is fed twice a day, weigh out the total amount so you know how much he's eating. However, if your dog has food constantly available, it's harder to determine how much he's eating. This makes it more difficult to know how much to cut down. If this is the case, look at the food package and see how much it advises feeding a dog at your dog's target rate.
For most dogs, the package will advise a weight range. For example, 300 to 350 grams of food a day. You'd want to choose the lower amount of 300 grams.[2]
Reduce the amount of food you feed. Once you've determined how much your dog needs to eat a day, reduce the amount by 5 to 10%. For example, if you are feeding 300g of kibble a day, 10% of this is 30g, so the new amount is 270g. Feed this reduced amount for one or two weeks and weigh your dog. Hopefully, he loses weight, but if he hasn't, deduct another 5 to 10% from his daily food amount. Weigh your dog again after feeding the reduced amount for another week or two.[3]
Don't be upset or worried if the portion size looks small or your dog pesters you for food. This is a normal concern when putting a dog on a diet. If you're really unsettled, you may want to feed a prescription weight loss diet instead.
Offer healthy treats occasionally. Since you'll be cutting back on your dog's food and increasing exercise, you'll need to offer positive encourage every so often. While you can praise your dog, you can also give him the rare treat. Just be sure to offer something healthy that will also make him feel full and satisfied. Some good options include:
Bran or grated vegetable mixed with his food
French or runner beans, raw
Apples (in moderation)
Bananas (in moderation)
Make your dog work for food. Get your dog involved in earning his food, rather than just set it out in front of him. Buy a puzzle or activity feeder that you can fill with food. Your dog then moves shapes around or rolls balls around to get the food inside to fall out. This can make your dog more active and mentally engaged. Try to prevent boredom while your dog's on a diet. Keeping his mind occupied will prevent him from thinking about food.[4]
Training is also a great way to keep a dog active and prevent boredom. Of course training depends heavily on rewards, so take some of his dinner kibble and set it aside for rewards or give him lots of praising.
Monitor your dog's weight loss. Weigh your dog once every week or two so you can track any weight loss. This will also indicate whether your diet and routine are working. If he isn't losing, then you can reevaluate what you're doing. Make sure your goals are reasonable and that you're consistent with the regimen. Don't expect sudden drops in weight. Instead, look for slow and steady weight loss which is more sustainable. Smaller dogs should aim to lose no more than four ounces a week while larger dogs can aim for one pound per week.[5]
If you have a large dog or do not have access to scales, use a tape measure. Chose a point on the dog such as his girth or his waist and measure around it. Make a note of any landmarks the tape passes over, such as a particular pattern or spot, so you place the tape in the same place each time.
Create an exercise routine. While it may seem like you can simply start exercising your dog, you should make personalized exercise routine. Overweight dogs need to be gradually introduced to exercise if they were previously inactive. Jumping straight into a daily walking regimen can cause joint pain or injury instead of weight loss. Talk with your vet about what level of activity you should start your dog on.[6]
If your dog is inactive, start by putting small amounts of his food at opposite ends of the room and make him walk back and forth to eat it. You can also play simple games like rolling a ball across the floor and asking him to fetch it. When he drops the ball, reward him with some of the kibble taken from his dinner allowance.[7]
Introduce moderate walking. Gentle lead walks are a great way to begin exercising any unfit dog. Take your dog for a walk on his leash as far as he can comfortably walk. Make a note of how long it took him to get that far. Then, you can gradually increase the distance by adding 5 minutes to each walk once a week.[8]
For example, if your dog can only walk for 5 minutes in the first week, increase his walk to 10 minutes in the second week, 15 minutes in the third week, and so forth. If the walks are very short, take him out two or three times a day in order to build up stamina and fitness.
Make sure your dog is actually walking during your outings, not just spending most of his time sniffing.
Increase the dog's exercise level. Increasing the duration, frequency, and intensity of your dog’s walking regimen will maximize weight loss and overall health. However, you probably want to add other activities to keep your dog interested in exercising. Once your dog is walking more comfortably, introduce one of the following exercises:
Cycling: Once your dog has a good level of fitness, train your dog to run alongside your bicycle. This can be a fun way for both of you to get exercise, but ensure that your dog doesn't become a danger on the road or to you.[9]
Swimming: Let your dog swim for short periods and gradually increase swim time. Swimming is excellent exercise for an overweight dog since it is non-weight bearing and won't strain the joints. However, make sure he wears a life vest because he may tire suddenly and there is a risk of drowning.[10]
Playing with toys: Pick up several active dog toys. Any kind of fetch toys are great for your dog like balls, flying discs, or plush toys. Pick your favorite and throw repeatedly until your dog is worn out. If you have back problems, buy a toy retrieval product to make picking up toys easier.
Use positive reinforcement. Be sure to praise your dog verbally and physically before, during, and after exercise. For example, you can pet your dog or rub his ears or say, "Good boy!" Being positive will make exercise more enjoyable for your dog. You want him to associate exercise with reward. Your dog will be motivated, making exercise easier.[11]
Be patient with any exercise program. It may take a few months for your dog to meet the weight loss goals you've set for him, but it is possible if it's been organized and well thought out.
The massive flour recall due to E. coli contamination at a General Mills flour plant has expanded, and has now reached the shelves of cake and pancake mixes. Potentially contaminated products include Krusteaz pancake mix, and Betty Crocker rainbow chip and carrot cake mixes. Yes, those Betty Crocker rainbow chips.
Both the rainbow chip and carrot cake mixes contain “flavor chips,” which is a rather unappetizing but accurate way to describe the blobs that simulate fresh shredded carrot or form the pretty rainbow-colored chips in the cake mix.
The company explains that “a General Mills supplier used Wondra flour implicated in the July 1, 2016 recall to manufacture the flavor chips used in this recalled cake mix flavor.” Wondra is a flour meant to blend more smoothly than standard flour, for making things like gravies and, apparently, flavor chips.
General Mills originally recalled the flour at the end of May, even before definitively linking it to the cases of E. coli illness across the country. but followed the product down the food supply chain to the company’s own cake mixes.
A separate company, Continental Mills, has recalledd its blueberry pancake mix because it may have some of the contaminated General Mills flour. The items to look for are Krusteaz Blueberry Pancake Mix in a 28-ounce box, and in a 3.5-pound bag. The box will have a “best by” date between 3/30/2018 and 6/16/2018, and the “family size” bag will have a date between 4/27/2018 and 4/28/2018.
Ants can be a real problem when it comes to feeding your cat. They will steal her food and often prevent her from eating. After all, would you eat your food if there were a bunch of ants crawling around on it? Here is how you can get ants to stay out of your cat's food.
Keep food in an airtight plastic container. Instead of keeping cat food in the bag, move the food from the bag to the plastic container after opening the bag. There are many of these available that are designed for pet food.[1]
Wash the food bowls. Ants are attracted to crumbs and any food left behind. Wash the bowls at least once every two days, or more if possible. This is extremely important if you have an ant problem.[2]
Use a cat safe detergent and rinse thoroughly with fresh, clean water.
Keep the feeding area clean. Deter ants from getting interested in the food area in the first place by keeping it clean. Sweep up any crumbs or left over food after your cat has finished eating. Mop the floor with vinegar or lemon mixtures to help dissuade ants from approaching.[3]
You may consider moving the bowl off the floor when your cat is not eating, or leaving it out during certain hours, but picking it up at night.
Shift the feeding area. You can also try to move the bowl to another place. This way the ants may not be able to find it. If you have ants coming into the room, move the bowl away from the ant colony.
Make a boundary around the food. Try making a boundary around your cat's food bowl that ants can't cross. There are certain substances that will help repel ants.
Draw a line around the bowl with chalk.
Place a newspaper under the bowl and surround the bowl with a line of ground cinnamon, coffee grounds, chili powder, or ash.[4]
Surround the edge of the food container with petroleum jelly.
Spray vinegar or lemon on the floor around your pet's bowl. Mix 1 part vinegar or lemon juice to 1 part water. Place in a spray bottle and spray around the bowl, creating a boundary.[5]
Cover the outside of the bowl with petroleum jelly. A messy method to prevent ants from reaching the food is to smear the outside of the food bowl with petroleum jelly. The ants have trouble walking up the slippery surface.[6]
You can also place this on the outside of the moat container as an extra line of defense.
Use essential oils. Many essential oils can help repel ants. Try wiping down the floor around your cat's bowl with a damp cloth that contains a few drops of peppermint oil. Ants are repelled by the strong smell.[7]
You can also use lemon, orange, or grapefruit oil to repel ants. Try wiping the floor around the bowl with a cotton ball covered in the oil.[8]
Essential oils are safe and don't contain chemicals.
Use a lure to attract the ants. A good way to keep the ants far from the bowl is to place commercial ant bait (under a cat-safe box) in the general area. Make sure that there is just a small hole for the ants to get in and eat the poison. At the same time, make sure your pet cannot access the bait.
One way might be to screw a box directly into the floor or deck. It might be possible to jamb the cover box behind a stove or refrigerator, but only if the space is excessively narrow for your cat to access it. Just remember that cats are curious and can get into unimaginable places.
Remove any ants already in your cat's food bowl. Dump out the ants and remaining contaminated food. Immediately close the bag and take outside. This helps keep the ants from crawling back out and getting back into the food.[9]
Wash the bowl. Ants leave pheromones behind that attract more ants, so make sure to thoroughly wash out the bowl with hot water and detergent. If the bowl is dishwasher friendly, you can put it through your dishwasher.[10]
Clean the food area. After removing the ants, clean the area around the food. You have to remove the pheromone trail so ants from the colony won't return. Try using vinegar or lemon juice to erase the scent and deter future ants from approaching.[11]
You can also mop the area around the food container, or the entire kitchen floor. You can use what you normally use to mop, or use dish soap.[12]
Find a moat container. Look for a shallow container that is wider than the cat food bowl. You can use a silver tray, a cake pan, a pie pan, a roasting tray, or anything else that will fit the cat bowl in.[13]
Make sure the container you put the cat bowl in isn't too big. However, there should be about an inch between the edge of the moat and the food bowl. This distance helps keep ants away.[14]
Some companies manufacture bowls that already incorporate the moat around the bowl's edge. These are great and easy to use and the entire bowl can be picked up and cleaned in one go. However, if you don't want to spend the money on that before seeing if it works, you can try this DIY method.
Fill the container with water. Place a small amount of water in the moat container. You don't want to fill it too high so it spills into the food, but want enough water to provide a barrier for the ants. Ants aren't good swimmers, so it should drown or deter the ants from crossing.[15]
To help keep ants from crossing the water, try placing some vegetable oil, lemon essential oil, or dishwashing soap into the moat water. But only add dishwashing liquid if the space between the moat and food bowl is too small for the cat to drink from.[16]
Place the food bowl in the moat container. Put the food bowl in the water. Make sure there is at least a 1-inch space between the edge of the moat and the food bowl. Fill the food bowl with fresh food.
If the container is extra large, put the food bowl close enough to its edge so your cat will be able to reach the food without difficulty, but far enough from the edge the ants won't be able to hop across.
If the food bowl is too short, use a block or other item to raise the food bowl above the edge of the moat container.[17]
Empty the moat container as needed. The water may contain some drowned ants or spilled food. It will need refreshing as it begins to evaporate.
Keep up this process. Eventually, the ants will stop coming. In some places, like in warmer climates, you may have to feed your cat in this manner persistently as the ants never go away.
Like most mammals, kittens begin life by consuming their mother's milk. The transition from their mother’s milk to eating independently is called weaning. If your cat has had kittens or you are responsible for an orphan kitten, you need to know what to provide and what to do so that the kitten can make this vital step.
Determine when to wean your kitten. The weaning process begins when kittens are around four weeks old. For most kittens, this process is usually completed when they reach eight to ten weeks old. Once a kitten has opened its eyes, is able to focus, and can walk steadily, you can begin the process.[1]
At around 10 - 14 days, a kitten's eyes and ears start to open. Between 2 -3 weeks they start to stand and take wobbly steps, building up their muscles, and learning to walk. During this time, they still get all their nutrition from mother's milk. Once a mother sees that their kitten is mobile, they'll begin the weaning process themselves in the wild.
Purchase the necessary nourishment. When you first start weaning your kitten off of its mother’s milk, you’ll want to buy milk replacer. It is designed to replicate the nutritional value and to a degree the taste of its mother’s milk. You'll also want to be sure to purchase high-quality cat food, which will be introduced to the kitten gradually. A good rule of thumb is to see if a meat is listed first on its ingredients. This will mean that the food has a higher percentage of protein, which growing cats need to be healthy.[2]
Do not give your kitten cow’s milk. This is not a suitable replacement because your kitten’s stomach cannot process it. The kitten will end up with diarrhea.[3]
Buy a shallow food and water dish. Ceramic or plastic bowls work equally well. Make sure that your kitten can easily reach the bottom of the bowl. Your kitten will take to its milk replacer and other foods much easier if it can lap its food up easily.[4]
Do not abruptly remove your kitten from its mother if you can. Kittens, like children, learn through observation. Your kitten will observe its mother eating, using the litter box, and playing. It will then replicate much of this behavior. If you have both the mother and her kitten, try to keep them together as long as possible - or at least until the 10 weeks mark. They will naturally separate over time.
It is ok to separate them for a few hours a day at around four weeks. Make sure that they have their own litter box and food/water bowls. Eventually, your kitten will become more independent and will willingly chose to be away from its mother.[5]
Do not worry if your kitten has been orphaned. Your kitten has strong instincts when it comes to self-preservation. It will figure out a way to feed itself, even if its mother is not present. Most people that raise orphaned kittens choose to wean them onto solid food early, at around four weeks or so. At this point the kitten’s stomach has developed to the point that it can process solid food. It just needs to be taught to eat solid food.[6]
Present your kitten with replacement milk. At first, your kitten will need about four to five meals a day. Give them around 1/3 cup of replacement milk and kitten chow for each meal.[7] They'll be fine to go through the night without a meal, but if you hear them making noise, it is ok to leave them some extra food before you go to bed.[8]
If you have a newborn that's been removed from its mother, you'll need to replicate the suckling nature of its normal feeding time with an eye dropper. Fill the eye dropper with the replacement milk you’ve purchased. Hold the kitten securely and then slowly add a few drops of milk into the kitten's mouth at a time. Alternatively, some people dip their finger in the milk and let the kitten lick it off this way.[9]
Acclimate the kitten to bowl feeding. This may be a difficult process for your kitten. If it is used to suckling milk from its mother, it will find the bowl a strange substitute. Simply show the kitten where the milk is. Dip your finger in the bowl and present it to the kitten. It will eventually recognize the scent and will explore it further.
Refrain from pushing the head of the kitten into the bowl. Doing so could cause him to inhale the milk, which could lead to lung issues.[10] If the kitten is initially reluctant, return to dropper feeding or to his mother. However, begin every feeding by offering the bowl first to encourage the kitten to drink from the bowl.
Introduce solid food. Once the kitten is accustomed to lapping from the bowl, offer a gruel mixture. To make a gruel, mix a ground high quality kitten food with the milk replacer. The initial consistency should be similar to oatmeal. Many people use a blender to mix their cat food with the milk replacer.[11]
You can introduce your kitten to this gruel and other moist foods around five to six weeks.[12]
Transition to solid food around eight to 10 weeks. Eventually stop providing gruel and, instead, offer well moistened kitten food. When you switch to the kitten food, make sure you provide a separate bowl of water for the animal.
To complete the transition, moisten the kitten food less and less until it is accepted by the kitten in its original consistency. A bowl of water should always be available next to the food dish.[13]
Make sure that your kitten has the opportunity to eat around four times a day until it is six months old. At this point, it is ok to transition them down to two meals a day.[14]
Talk to your vet about feeding methods. Some vets promote the "ad lib" or "free feeding method" over the scheduled feeding routine. Proponents of ad lib feeding argue that it accommodates persnickety eaters - or those cats who won't eat at scheduled times. In general, if this seems to make your kitten/cat happier, it is ok. If your kitten turns into an overweight cat, you might consider going to a scheduled feeding schedule to limit the amount of food they consume a day.[15]
When first introduced to bowl feeding, the kitten may try to step into the bowl and play with the food. Be patient and dry the kitten off with a soft towel. The kitten will eventually figure out the purpose of the food bowl.
WASHINGTON — A Montgomery County woman was sentenced Friday after earlier this year, officials found 66 dogs in her house living in filthy conditions.
Montgomery County District Court Judge William Simmons sentenced Katherine Ting Tiong, a 47-year-old of Rockville, Maryland, to 16.5 years in jail with all but 180 days suspended. Tiong also was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, undergo three years of supervised probation with mental health services and is not allowed to have pets during that time.
“Ms. Ting Tiong will have 180 days behind bars to think about what she has done. Cruelty to animals will not stand in our county. Pets have no one to stand up for them, today justice was served, because Animal Control stepped up on behalf of these poor creatures,” Ramon Korionoff, public affairs director for the State’s Attorney’s Office, said in a news release.
On Jan. 1, Montgomery County Animal Services officers found dozens of animals living in unhealthy conditions in her home in the 13000 block of Glen Mill Road in Rockville. Many of the animals were standing on top of one another in dirty, cramped conditions, according to Jack Breckenridge, investigator for Montgomery County Police’s Animal Services Division.
Many of the dogs were found with matted coats and left in urine-soaked crates.
The conditions left many of the animal services staffers gagging as they removed animals from the home.
Tiong told investigators that she was running a dog rescue called Forever Homes Animal Shelter, Inc. and she claimed the dogs were picked up from various kill shelters.
Tiong was charged and convicted on 66 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.
The good news is that many of the dogs from the “Rockville 66” group have found loving homes.
The family of one of the dogs, Mikayla, told the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center that “from the beginning, it was instant love. She has these incredible soulful eyes that are irresistible. She has yet to meet anyone that doesn’t instantly fall in love with her.”
Some of the dogs’ new families are working to overcome some of the harsh conditions that affected the pets.
Coal, formerly Gunther, told that MCASAC that he “still startles at sudden movements and unexpected noises.”
Three of the “Rockville 66” dogs are still looking for homes. For more information on how to adopt one of the final dogs, or any other adoptable pet, call 240-773-5900.
Knowing the risks, signs, and symptoms of a stroke means that you can provide your dog with proper care and make it comfortable if you suspect a stroke. Although all dogs can potentially suffer from a stroke, older dogs, dogs that are overweight, or dogs that have certain health problems are more likely to experience a stroke. If you know what to look for and what to do, it can help you to keep calm and it allows you to seek veterinary advice more quickly. While it is important to comfort a dog during what is probably an extremely frightening experience, knowing how to identify and treat a stroke can potentially even save your dog's life.
Identify the common symptoms of a stroke. The symptoms of a stroke are varied, from sudden loss of balance to altered consciousness. Review the signs of a stroke and keep an eye on a dog you suspect is having a stroke. You want to be able to identity any of the key symptoms.
Extreme weakness: There may be a neurological weakness of the limbs. This means that the nerves are not working and therefore do not give the legs the right information about how to stand up and support the dog. Although the muscles are strong enough to support the body, they do not receive the right nerve messages and so the animal is extremely weak and unable to stand.
Nystagmus: Nystagmus is the technical term for when the eyes flick rapidly from side to side, as if watching a tennis match on fast forward. This is a common indicator of stroke, although it can also happen for other reasons, such as meningitis. Again, once nystagmus starts it can last for days. It also makes the pet feel nauseous, because it invokes a form of motion sickness. Because of this, the dog may vomit and lose interest in food.
Sudden loss of balance. Be on the look out for a dog that cannot coordinate its limbs.
Altered consciousness: In severe strokes some dogs may seizure or fit, whilst others may lose consciousness. This means they are unaware of what is going on around them and do not respond to their name or other stimuli.
Differentiate between the symptoms of a stroke and the symptoms of other conditions. A stroke is a sudden event. You should suspect a stroke if a pet that was fine and normal 5 minutes ago, is now struggling to get up. If the dog is struggling because its dizzy, such as if they have heart disease, this episode may pass within a few minutes, once the dog has caught its breath be able to rise and walk around. A dog that has had a stroke, however, will remain disorientated for hours or even days.
Please note, this symptom also overlaps with inflammation in the balance mechanism in the inner ear.
In addition, there is a sliding scale of weakness, depending on the severity of the stroke. Sometimes if it is only mild the dog can stand and walk around slowly as if drunk, other times the dog is incapacitated, lies on their side and is barely conscious.
Understand how the length of stroke symptoms is central to a diagnosis of a stroke. To be classified as a stroke, technically the symptoms must persist for longer than 24 hours. If the symptoms resolve before this, and yet there is a strong suspicions of a blockage in the brain, it is instead known as a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) . TIAs are a strong warning sign that a full blown stroke is on the way, and so always seek veterinary attention so any underlying causes can be corrected to reduce this risk.
Be aware that conditions other than a stroke can cause similar symptoms to those of a stroke. Because these conditions are vastly different, the treatment will differ. However, do not worry too much about labelling your dog's condition but instead seek urgent help.
Contact your veterinarian if you suspect a stroke. There are several symptoms that can point towards your pet having had a stroke. However, do not be too concerned about reaching a specific diagnosis at home, because calling the symptoms a stroke is just a label. What is important is that if you see one or some of these signs you should get urgent veterinary attention for your pet.[1]
Keep calm. If you believe your dog has had a stroke, the first thing to do is keep calm. Your dog will need your help in order to survive, so keep your wits about you and focus on helping your pup.
Make sure your dog is comfortable. Put the dog in a quiet, warm environment. Make him or her as comfortable as possible by placing it on a padded bed and removing nearby furniture it could hurt itself on.
If your dog is unable to stand, turn it to lie on the opposite side of its body every half an hour to reduce the risk of pneumonia because of blood pooling in one side of his lungs.
Put water near your dog so it can drink without getting up. If it doesn't want to drink for a long time, wipe its gums with a wet cloth to give it some moisture.
Phone the veterinarian and seek an urgent care appointment. If this emergency happens on a weekend or late at night, call your vets emergency line. If you get not response, you may need to find an emergency veterinary clinic to take your dog to.
Make note of your dog's symptoms so you can relay them to the veterinarian over the phone. It's important to know the strength and length of symptoms, so that you can properly communicate the severity of your dog's condition to the vet.
Understand what your veterinarian will do for your dog. The priorities for treatment of a dog that has had a stroke include minimizing swelling to the brain and maximizing oxygen to the brain.[2] This will be done with medication and medical care. In addition, your veterinary office will be able to take care of secondary concerns, such as keeping your dog hydrated and comfortable.
EditAssessing Whether Your Dog is at Risk of Stroke
Understand the basics aspects of a stroke. A stroke is caused by an interruption to the blood flow to part of the brain. It is a hallmark of strokes that they have a sudden onset, because of the sudden nature of a blood clot switching off the blood supply to part of the brain. The exact symptoms depend on which precise area of the brain is affected, but there are several symptoms held in common, no matter where the blood clot lodges.[3]
A stroke is almost always caused by a blood clot which lodges and causes obstruction in the blood vessel, but it is also possible that it's caused by a plug of fat that has dislodged and circulated to the brain. A stroke can even be caused by a plug of bacteria in the brain.
For many years there was dispute amongst veterinarians about whether animals had strokes or not. But this argument has now been largely won by the "yes they do happen" camp, because sophisticated imaging techniques, such as MRI scans, have produced pictures of the blockages in the brain.[4]
Figure out if your dog is in an "at risk" category for stroke. Those dogs most at risk are often older, and have pre-existing health condition such as heart disease, high blood pressure, or Cushing's disease. Some veterinarians anecdotally report that dogs with underactive thyroid glands are at increased risk of stroke, but the data to prove this is lacking.
Think about other risk factors. Other problems that can predispose a dog to a stroke include heartworm, where larvae can break off and circulate to the brain to cause a blockage. Also at risks are dogs with a history of clotting problems, with kidney disease, a high fever, or cancer.[5]
The lowest risk group for stroke are young, fit dogs with no health problems that are regularly treated against heartworm.
Know that dogs differ from people. Be aware that a stroke in a dog has a different presentation to in people. Whereas a person may be affected down one side of their body and their speech may be affected, this is not the case with dogs. They present in the ways described above.[6]
POWHATAN, Va. (AP) — A Henrico County teenager who prosecutors say taunted police with tweets after skipping out on his sentencing hearing is headed to prison.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports (http://bit.ly/29oJqsh) a judge Wednesday sentenced the 18-year-old Hassan C. Atkins to five years behind bars for breaking into three Powhatan businesses last summer and stealing cash, laptops and other items.
Atkins, who was convicted on seven charges, failed to attend the May 4 hearing after learning that he’d likely receive jail time.
Days later, the teenager sent out a tweet saying “You can keep on lookin for me Imma keep on running.”
Powhatan Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Robert Cerullo says Atkins also tweeted that he was in Atlanta and on the run.
Atkins was eventually apprehended in Highland Springs after eluding authorities for three weeks.
___
Information from: Richmond Times-Dispatch, http://www.timesdispatch.com
