Ruff justice: St. Clair dog wins release from death row

A photo of Jeb taken from a GoFundMe page made for the owner.

PORT HURON, Mich. (AP) - A Michigan dog who spent weeks on death row has returned home after DNA tests cleared him in the death of Vlad, a dog next door.

Jeb, a Belgian Malinois, was released to his owner Wednesday. Kenneth Job was emotional, saying his dog looks "awful skinny but he's alive."

Jeb was seen standing over neighbor's dog Vlad's body on Aug. 24 in St. Clair Township, 50 miles northeast of Detroit. Authorities said the Pomeranian's injuries suggest he was picked up and shaken by a larger animal.

A judge ordered that Jeb be euthanized. But he also agreed to DNA tests on Vlad's body. The result: No DNA from Jeb.

A Change.Org petition to save Jeb garnered 98,542 supporters.

The Port Huron Times Herald says Jeb's owner has agreed to install an adequate fence.