Animal Rights Rally Planned Prior to Dog Shooter Trial Monday

The man accused of shooting a bull mastiff faces up to 24 years in prison if convicted. Prior to the start of Raymone Clements trial, a rally for animal rights is planned in downtown Cleveland.

The trial for the man accused of shooting Forrest the dog and leaving him for dead in Cleveland Heights — will begin April 1 in U.S. District Court and a animal rights rally is planned for the same day.  Solon resident Robin Stone, Forrest's new caregiver, planned a rally in Public Square in downtown Cleveland at 7:30 a.m.  The bull mastiff was found in November in Forest Hill Park by a professional dog walker and rescued by PAWS. Later, he was adopted into a Solon home by Robin Stone. Raymone “Ramone” Clements pleaded not guilty to charges of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, according to The Plain Dealer. The ammunition charge carries a greater sentence if Clements is convicted than his original animal cruelty …

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PAWS Accepting Donations for Shot Dog Found in Forest Hill Park

Pet adoption agency working to raise funds to treat a dog that was left with bullet wounds in Forest Hill Park last week.

PAWS has taken in the bull mastiff that someone chained to a tree and shot at Forest Hill Park last week. Cleveland Heights Mayor Ed Kelley reported on the city's website that the dog needs medical care and that PAWS is accepting donations for his treatment. To donate, visit the PAWS website here and click "Donate" at the bottom of the homepage. When prompted, type "Forest" for the "Purpose" blank. The dog was discovered by a professional dog walker Monday, Nov. 26. She called police and took the animal to a clinic, the Plain Dealer reported. Cleveland Heights Police are investigating the incident.

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Christine Johnson

3:13 pm on Saturday, January 5, 2013

Cleveland Heights ordinance (found on clevelandheights.com) states that residents may only have two pets total. Are you hoarding animals?   more ›

Plain Dealer: Dog Found With Bullet Wounds, Chained to Tree in Forest Hill Park

A professional dog walker found the injured dog and called for help.

A professional dog walker found a Mastiff dog with bullet wounds chained to a tree in Forest Hill Park Monday afternoon, according to an article in The Plain Dealer. Luckily Dee Shedlow was there, carrying a cell phone. She couldn't examine the dog — she was trying to manage five herself. She called a friend and police, who helped transport the dog to a clinic. Read what happened to the Mastiff in the full article on The Plain Dealer.  

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Heights Bicycle Coalition Starts Group Rides

FreeWheelin' Wednesdays begins Aug. 1, and the first ride will take cyclists through paths around the Shaker Lakes.

The Heights Bicycle Coalition is organizing group bike rides on Wednesdays Aug. 1 through Sept. 26. Cyclists will ride together for about 10 to 15 miles starting at 6:30 p.m. Many routes are still to be determined, but this Wednesday, riders will take paths through Shaker Lakes and the Shaker Lakes Nature Center. Other rides include routes in Forest Hill Park and University Circle. The group will meet at the Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Park each Wednesday, and helmets are required. The park is located near the former Coventry School at the intersection of Euclid Heights, Washington and Coventry. For more information and to volunteer to plan and lead a ride, visit the Heights Bicycle Coalition website. Here is the schedule as of July 31, according …

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Poll: Should Cleveland Heights Allow Dogs in Parks?

Tell us what you think.

Some residents have a bone to pick with the City of Cleveland Heights — they want the dog ban lifted from city parks. Cleveland Heights resident Fran Mentch encouraged citizens to attend the June 18 City Council meeting to support the idea of allowing leashed, furry friends in parks. And resident Kerri Whitehouse had a suggestion — remove the ban for six months to a year in Cain Park as a trial period, with the ultimate goal of allowing dogs in all Cleveland Heights parks. Whitehouse, who is a member of the Cain Park Neighborhood Association and chair of the Dog Project Committee, said permitting dogs would promote safety in parks and reduce crime, two of the primary goals of the Cain Park group. And she mentioned other benefits. Dogs …

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Mike

12:43 pm on Sunday, July 8, 2012

Agree with your remarks. Also, while the poop-scooped issue may not apply to all animal owners, how do you address the animal urine issue? Don't these pets urine on trees, grass, and other places people may stand, sit, play and socialize? All animals mark areas with urine, and tend to go back to these same areas to 'urine'. You can't pick up urine? And what do parents with younger children do …   more ›

Readers' Choice Winner: Best Place To Host a Kid's Birthday Party

Readers picked the best place to host a kid's birthday party in Cleveland Heights, and here are the results.

The results are in, and the award for best place to host a kid's party in Cleveland Heights goes to ... Cleveland Heights parks! Readers said their favorite destinations to celebrate youngsters' birthdays were Cain, Cumberland, Denison and Forest Hill parks.

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Poll: Where Do You Host Your Kid's Birthday Party in Cleveland Heights?

Tell us where you take the kids to celebrate.

This week's Readers' Choice wants to know: Where's your favorite place to host a kid's birthday party? A local pizza joint? A kid-friendly gym? What about a tour of the local candy factory or ice cream parlor? We didn't get any suggestions this week, so we picked out a few Cleveland Heights favorites: We'll select a winner at 5 p.m. Friday, June 1 and announce it in a story on Saturday, June 2. In judging, we'll consider comments, poll votes and reviews in our complete directory of local businesses. Be sure to check out our contest rules in the PDF at right.

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Bike Police Officers Reflect On A Year Of Patrolling On 2 Wheels

Cleveland Heights Police officers say families have told them they feel safer in parks.

Police Officer Larry Rieck said Cleveland Heights residents have told him they feel safer in Cain Park now that he and three other officers are patrolling the area on bikes. “Families who said they haven’t come to the park in years are back … families feel safe here because the bike patrol unit has been formed,” said Rieck. “That credit goes toward (Chief Jeffrey Robertson,) who created this very valuable asset.” Robertson implemented the bike patrol program a year ago to help make Cain, Cumberland, and Forest Hill parks safer, but there were other reasons, too. “Our guys are out there meeting the public one on one, talking to the kids. It’s a lot easier, as I’ve said, for a resident to approach a bicycle officer than a policeman in a car…

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PHOTOS: Beekeeper Novices Add Bees To Hive At The McGregor Home

Cleveland Heights resident Stan Hockey, who is teaching a class on beekeeping, shares his photos of a package of honeybees being installed into a hive.

A Duck Family at Forest Hill Park

I took some photos at Forest Hill Park recently — I found a duck family, and it inspired me to snap a few pictures. I'll continue sharing photos here — please share your photos of the neighborhood, too!