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Left in cold, impounded College Park dog waits for owners

By WTOP Staff

Thomas Warren, wtop.com

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Prince George’s County Animal Management was forced to remove a Rottweiler from its home Sunday afternoon after complaints that the owner left the dog exposed to the bitter cold weather much of the past week without proper shelter.

“Per my officer getting to the scene, he saw the same situation that the College Park (officials) saw on Thursday, which was the dog was outside without proper shelter in the cold temperatures. So, the dog was impounded,” says Chief Rodney Taylor with Prince George’s County Animal Management Division.

An official from the City of College Park Animal Control (CCPAC) went to the property on Friday, and issued the dog’s owner a warning, according to sources. Temperatures that day fell to a low of 19 degrees in the Washington, D.C. area, according to the National Weather Service.

The CCPAC refused to comment to WTOP on the handling of the case.

“As the temperature dipped I got really concerned, and that’s when I contacted animal control in College Park,” says a citizen who first notified authorities of the situation Thursday. The dog was seen tethered to a deck in the backyard past midnight some days, according to the citizen, who lives in the neighborhood, and spoke to WTOP on the condition of anonymity over concern for her safety.

Prince George’s County requires dogs kept outside for extended periods of time to be provided with proper shelter.

Click here for the county rules regulations and recommendations for sheltering dogs.

The Rotweiller is currently being held in the Prince George’s County Animal Services Facility in Upper Marlboro. In order to get the dog back, the owner must pass a home inspection by the county’s animal management.

“If he meets everything he needs to meet, he can redeem his dog and take it home,” says Taylor.

WTOP went to the home of the dog owner Sunday night for comment, but knocks on the door went unanswered.

The wooden deck in the back of the home where the dog was said to be tethered is attached to the back door. Two lawn chairs adorn a corner, and a “Beware of Dog” sign is stamped on the outside of the staircase leading to the yard.

There is no fencing on the property.

Edward Schwartz lives across the street. He says the dog was aggressive and barked a lot, and although he never had any specific issues, he won’t be heartbroken if the dog doesn’t return.

“He’s a nice guy who lives there, but I hate his dog,” Schwartz says.

Another neighbor says she’s never had an issue with the dog or the owner.

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(Copyright 2013 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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