These are great stories that some pretty awesome folks have done to help animals and Animal Heroes Themselves. They are very heartwarming and inspiring.  They help show you that all things are possible and ALL rescues are pretty wonderful.

If you’ve been around FTLTD for a while, you know there’s no such thing a “just a dog.”  Even dogs that have no other “job” but to be a companion is more than “just a dog.”  They provide so much by just being a part of a person’s life; companionship, love, loyalty, support, health benefits, just for starters.

Now here’s a few stories of dogs that are special heroes for one reason or another.  I have a special place in my heart for “Service dogs” whether they be therapy dogs, working dogs, ie. search and rescue, police, military, etc., service dogs for the blind, disabled, autistic, diabetic, PTSD, etc.  They come in so many shapes and sizes and descriptions to fill such a wide variety of “jobs” and they’re all special heroes.

Alida & Mr. Gibbs

First, let’s meet sweet little Alida and her special ‘best friend”, Mr. Gibbs.  By 6-months-old little Alida was having problems breathing.  By 8-months-old she was diagnosed with  a rare lung condition called neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia of infancy which required her to be tethered to an oxygen tank at all times, a 6-lb tank.

Once Alida got old enough to start getting around on her own, that’s when some issues came up.  If her parents couldn’t come up with some way for Alida to be able to be able to use the oxygen without having to carry that heavy bottle, she was going to have a lot of problems.  That’s where Mr. Gibbs, a golden doodle, came in.

As a puppy, he trained with Alida, learned to move with her every where she went, even to playgrounds and down sliding boards, all while carrying the precious oxygen tank, which even he had to train to be able to carry as a puppy. Now at 3, you can see the incredible bond between child and dog, a lifesaving bond!

Kobe

Now, let’s meet little tiny Kobe.  Kobe, a certified therapy dog, is a 5-year-old Yorkie who is being honored for his work.  Accompanying his owner, 85-year-old Winnie Browning, to Hospice centers, assisted living facilities and even speaking engagements at churches and women’s groups, Kobe spreads joy and happiness every where he goes.

Kobe was recently awarded the  Therapy Dog International’s Gold award, which is the highest honor TDI gives to therapy dogs after completing his milestone 500th visit.  Just imagine how many people this little guy has comforted, made smile, brought joy to?  Wow!

On some visits, he ends up in a patient’s bed where he’ll remain quiet until his new friend drifts off to sleep. At other places, he joins a group in an activity room and is known to put on a show. Browning has taught him a variety of tricks. He can sit, sit up, wave, shake, give a high five, roll over and even count out his age with his paw.

But Kobe’s show stopper is when he stands in front of one of his two pianos — a small yellow, plastic keyboard or a black upright that’s just his size — and “plays” at Browning’s command. He brings his two paws up and hits the keys and will even “sing” with a bark or two for a small bite of cheese. (Times-News)

Kind of makes you smile just imagining it, doesn’t it?

Showing Off Their Stuff

As part of Disability Awareness Month, Aimes Greely College on CO is hosting a series of presentations, one of them involving Service Dogs.  Emma, a 4-year-old golden and Yolo, a black lab, got to show off their stuff starting with their incredible patience and attention while waiting for their introduction.

They got to show off how they can handle light switches, picking things up,  opening and closing doors and cabinets which are just a few of the tasks Service Dogs are called upon to do. Joyce Thiesen, Emma’s owner spoke about the training process at Canine Partners of the Rockies;

Thielen said puppies on track to be service dogs begin training at a sprightly 3 days old. Early training includes removing the puppy from the litter and changing its body orientation or surroundings, like putting a cold washcloth on its paws for a few seconds, and returning it to the litter to get it accustomed to new and sometimes stressful changes.

“Science has proven that if puppies are mildly stressed and then comforted, then as adult dogs they can recover more quickly,” Thielen said — meaning they won’t be overrun with stress when working with their disabled partner.

Trainers are also sure to expose puppies to a multitude of surfaces and scents, taking them everywhere from the bookstore to the dentist, and even aboard airplanes.

Even now, I still find it amazing what dogs can do and how much they can learn.  They are such wonderful and amazing creatures.  Truly “man’s best friend”, a moniker earned for many a reason!

Engineer Saves Hummingbird Trapped in Warehouse & Gets Surprise Visit

• by Laura Simpson January 6, 2012

 

One good turn deserves another: St. Bernard fends off intruder... hours after family rescues him from shelter

By Michael Zennie

Hercules was adopted by a couple in Hillsboro, Ohio, who saw the ailing 135-pound St. Bernard at the animal shelter and feared he would be euthanized.  Six hours later, the heroic canine repaid his new owners' kindness when a dark-clothed thug broke into the couple's house.

The man had cut the phone and cable lines running to the home of Rubert and Elizabeth Littler and had sneaked into their basement.

Good boy: Mr Littler was taking Hercules outside for a walk when he began to growl, sensing the intruder that his master did not know was there.  Suddenly, Hercules pulled away from Mr Littler and broke through the closed screen door.

'The guy must have just come up out of the basement when he heard me open the door. Hercules jumped off the back porch, over the stairwell, and I see this guy running toward the fence,' he told the Times-Gazette in Hillsboro.

Clever Neighbor Takes 3 Sad Dogs on Jogs of Joy

• by Laura Simpson
• November 8, 2011

Bali's unloved street dogs and people who care

All Smiles: An employee of the Bali Animal Welfare Assocation (BAWA) tends to two healthy dogs at a BAWA clinic in Lod Tunduh in Gianyar. The three-legged dog (left) was a street dog that was injured after being hit by a car. (JP/Hyginus Hardoyo) When the Bali administration announced its drive to cull stray dogs following the rabies outbreak late last year, only a few groups offered suggestions on how to conduct the culling humanely.

The Bali Animal Welfare Association (BAWA) was one of them. This was not the time to panic or promote the wholesale killing of innocent stray dogs, BAWA pointed out upon learning about the plan to cull all stray dogs throughout Bali.

To read more: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/02/12/bali039s-unloved-street-dogs-and-people-who-care.html

What about Daisy?

Daisy was born deaf and blind. We rescued her at only 3months old. She had gone through three foster homes before finding us. Each foster home gave her up as they did not know how to communicate with her and/or the other dogs in the home rejected her because they as well did not understand her. When we saw Daisy's picture we knew we had to rescue her. We had no idea how to raise a deaf and blind dog but we understood how stressful being passed from home to home can be for a sighted and hearing dog, we couldn't imagine the stress Daisy was under.

Daisy immediately bonded with our other rescue dog Olivia and ultimately Olivia turned into Daisy's eyes and ears. But it would be two years before Daisy would accept our love and touch. We worked hard day and night. We had to teach Daisy how to climb stairs, swim, socialize with other dogs, people and of course potty training.  We came to terms with the fact that she may never come around and that would be ok. Our job would be to supply her with a warm, safe home and continue to slowly introduce her to the world.

Now at 4years old, Daisy is just like any other dog, she wakes up every morning so excited to start her day she will spin in circles on the bed until we all get up. She truly is an inspiration.

 To see more rescues: http://animalrescuechase.com/rescue_showcase/story.php?id=334

2 elephants reunited after 20 years apart.

Jenny and Shirley were both at the same circus when Jenny was a calf and Shirley was in her twenty’s. They lived one winter together then were separated twenty-two years ago. It is very rare for elephants to display this kind of emotion in captivity, and it’s probably the first time such a thing has been documented on film.

See the video below for this heartwarming story.

The puppy born without front legs who's now using model airplane wheels to get around

By Daily Mail Reporter

This tiny puppy may have been born without front legs but there's no way that is holding her back. Hope, the appropriately named two-legged Maltese puppy gets around by using a specially-designed device which features wheels from a model airplane. The energetic pup uses her hind legs to boost her body forward onto her chest and operate the wheeled prosthetic limbs.

The beloved pooch was born with only two legs and has small wriggling nubs where her front legs should be. At first Hope moved around by hopping but experts said her her natural mode of moving eventually would damage her bones and spine. The wheeled device was created by orthotist David Turnbill free of charge with makeshift shoulder joints connected to model airplane wheels.

The wheeled contraption which allows Hope to get around. Each of the device's 'arms' can move up or down independently of the other, allowing Hope to pivot and turn. The spring-loaded prosthetic arms hook to a custom-fitted chest plate to allow Hope to lay down or sit up without removing the prosthetic. The wheels she uses as front legs took some getting used to and at first the tiny lap dog would tip over to one side.

Hope was born without front legs and instead has two nubs. However practice made perfect and now the persistent puppy has mastered the art of  wheeling herself around, there is no stopping her. In fact she can bound across a room at a surprisingly break-neck pace. 'She gets around fine,' said the puppy's rehabilitation specialist Cassy Englert.

No Child should ever have to write a note like this.....

Note Reads..'Mom and Dad divorcing, please adopt my dog' 

KIRKLAND, Wash. – Paul Wu was pulling his car out of the driveway and saw it. “I found a dog in my driveway which is unusual.” He looked at the small dog.  “He would not go away, and I stop he comes up to me,” he said. Wu found a bag hanging around the dog’s neck, carrying money, and a note.
“Please take care of Mr. B. He is a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel. Six years old. My parents got divorced and Mr. B was supposed to go to the pound. I think he has a better chance with you.  This is my birthday money for any of his care. He is used to kids, not other dogs.  He’s a good boy.  I know God will take care of Mr. B – Everyone loves him…especially me. Thank you.”
Wu took the Cavalier into work, and his colleague immediately was compelled to help.  “I’d hate to be a kid making that choice,” said Robert Kuchcinski, who has three children of his own. “It didn’t seem right that it would go to the pound.” He took the dog home Thursday afternoon, and to a veterinarian. Mr. B had some dry skin, and plugged ears, but overall had a clean bill of health. Kuchcinski and Wu still wonder what the rest of the story may be. “All I want to do is let this person know, that we found him a good home.  That’s the whole message,” said Wu. “Hopefully they’re happy with the dog having a good home,” says Kuchcinski, “And things are find with them too.”

To read and see more: http://www.king5.com/news/local/Dog-with-note-128051293.html

Run over and abandoned to die

                              Before                                                        1 month later

It was last April, when I was driving my car and I saw a young puppy that was recently hit by a car on a road in Uruguay.  Immediately, I pulled over and run to see I if he was still alive. He didn't move, he was in the middle of the road unconscious and he was bleeding. His head was injured. I thought, poor little one, at least I' m going to move him to one side, that was the least I could do for him. But to my surprise, when I picked him up, he opened his eyes!!! He was still alive!

I rushed him to the vet's office. He was in bad shape, but the worst was his undernourishment and severe mange. After a few days when I thought he was going to make it, the vet told me that he could be developing distemper!! he was shaking his head and legs, and also had conjuntivitis.

I thought why Life didn't give him another opportunity? It wasn't fair! he survived the accident, I was in the wright place at the wright time, but now he was going to die anyway? Two days later, he was full of life and doing everything to survive. I called him Lobo (Wolf), because he is a fighter.

Now he is 4 months old, he is weighting 12 more pounds, his hair is full and shinny and he is the sweetest puppy I have ever had! Lobo has now a second chance in life to be happy.

A Picture Speaks a Thousand Words

A dying man holding his best friend.  He lived homeless in Iowa with his dog in a car.  When he became terminally ill and placed in hospice, his only request was to hold his dog one last time before passing on.  Two souls quietly saying their goodbyes.

The picture leaves me without much to say.  To read the whole story, click here.  And make sure you view the picture gallery for more shots of this precious moment. This picture shows us our mortality.  It shows you there is a better world out there.  So turn off the TV.  Get off the Facebook.  Shut down the computer. Go outside with your dog, cat, partner, children – whoever, and breathe deep the life that surrounds you. Go forward and Live and Love.  It may be your last chance before Paradise.

Jogger Saves “Throwaway” Kitten Meowing Inside Trash Bag

My name is Lesley I usually take a run 3 or 4 times a week going through our local street alleyways to get to our beach which is about a 20 minute jog from my home. On this one particular day I approached the usual alleyway as normal and could hear this faint crying of a kitten I stopped called and called but could not work out where the cries were coming from—suddenly they stopped dead silence.

That afternoon I returned home thinking of the cries from the alleyway my mind was in overdrive I couldn't wait for my husband to return from work so we could both look together. As he arrived I quickly explained what i had heard and hurried him down to the alleyway where I had heard the crying we sat there and called and called again nothing. We both jumped the fence which led us to an abandoned flat where in the yard were bags of rubbish which I had noticed when I had jumped that fence the same day as we approached the cries were from in one of the bags my heart sank and tears flowed as the kitten had managed to make a hole in the bag to breath and to cry for help its siblings weren't so lucky.

I was disgusted by whoever had the cheek to be so cruel we took all of the kittens home and buried the ones that did not make it in a nice sunny patch in our back yard and we named them Glory, Heaven and Peace which I know there little hearts will find. As for the other kitten after a vet check, vaccinations and a few days at the clinic we bought her home and named her Saviour maybe we were her saviours but to us she is ours she is now a fluffy gray ball of love and is now 3 years old she is just so beautiful and is our True love. (Saviour is a member of Paw Justice.co.nz) along with thousands of others which is a non-profit organization run in New Zealand for the abuse of animals—aws in this country are very severe for animal abuse. http://animalrescuechase.com/rescue_showcase/story.php?id=229

» Read More Rescue Stories

About a dog name NEXT....

 My dog Abby had recently passed away and my other rescued dog, Copper, was visibly as sad as I was.  He didn't want to eat or even play in the yard without his companion.  I had been taking Copper along with me to visit shelters and dog pounds for a couple of weeks.  I looked into many sad eyes, but no one had spoken to me, yet.  One Saturday morning we had only an hour or so before we had to go to a friend's wedding, but my husband and I stopped by a humane society in the next town.  As my husband looked at the dogs in the first few cages, I immediately went to the end of the row, not knowing why.  I looked into the last cage, and I got my first glance of Ben.  I couldn't really tell what kind of dog he was, but he was very big (about 90 pounds), cowering in the back corner, and shaking.  His black fur was so knotted that it formed dreadlocks all over his body.  His elbows were covered in thick, raw sores.  I looked on his name tag to see if any more information was listed, but besides his name, there was only one word: NEXT.  He would be put down that afternoon, as he certainly wasn't going to find a home no matter how long he was there.  I was told that he was surrendered by his former owner because "he was a pain" and was about one and a half years old.  I looked into his eyes and pleaded with him to give this dog a chance, and that he really needed to come home with us. There is no doubt in my mind that I did not save Ben or any of the others.  It was me who was saved.  http://animalrescuechase.com/rescue_showcase/story.php?id=238

Puppy dumped for being deaf is given a new home... and learning sign language

By Daily Mail Reporter Last updated March 2011

Abandoned by a breeder at only eight weeks old because she was deaf, Alice had a tough start in life. But less than a month after her rescue, the springer spaniel is learning to recognize sign language commands with her new family. Marie Williams, 41, and her partner Mark Morgan, 43, who are themselves both deaf, adopted the puppy from animal charity The Blue Cross.

And they call it puppy love...: Alice the springer spaniel was dumped by a breeder in Ireland at just eight-weeks-old because she was deaf. The couple and their three sons Liam, 16, Lewis, 13, and Owen, five, who have normal hearing, are teaching the affectionate spaniel sign language commands, including instructions for sit, come and roll over. Miss Williams, from West Mersea, Essex, said: 'We were thinking about getting a dog but when we saw Alice was deaf we just couldn't believe it. 'She was so beautiful and the fact that she was deaf just made us fall in love with her even more - we knew that she would fit right into our family.

The Story Of 2 Legged Lamb

          

by Ashley Owen Hill

Annie had never known happiness. She had been beaten, neglected, and starved all of her life, and then she was dumped at a shelter to die. Annie waited on death row, terrified and lonely, crying every night for someone to help her. She was very ill, and the pound asked if I was willing to take her. Yep, I’m on my way.

I was asked to share the story about what I do for special case dogs on death row in shelters. I do realize that this might not be the most popular idea with all of you, but I’m hoping that maybe it will inspire someone to do the same. If you ever have the chance to do this, it will change your life. When there are terminally ill dogs on death row, I’ve made the decision to do something very special for them. 

Because treating these dogs for their conditions would cause them immense suffering, I choose not to treat them. However, I also choose not to leave them in the shelter to be killed. In short, I bring them into my home for a few days. I adopt them into my heart. I love them with all that I have. And then I do what’s best for them... and let them go...

Before She Goes to Heaven - Annie Needs to Know Love

When I saw Annie, it was obvious that she was very sick. She was underweight, coughing, and having trouble breathing, in addition to skin and eye issues. The vet told me that Annie had advanced heartworm disease, congestive heart failure, and several other severe medical conditions. It was highly unlikely that she would pull through any of the treatments, and she would suffer tremendously throughout the process. The vet asked me if I wanted to go ahead with euthanasia. “No. I’ll bring her back next week. Before she goes to Heaven, she needs to know love.”

Annie Has the Best Week of Her Life

That day, I brought Annie home with me. I looked at her… so broken, so sickly, so unsure of whether she could trust… and I cried. I sobbed uncontrollably for Annie. Over the sad life she had led, the abuse she had endured, and now the life she would never have, thanks to the worthless people who never cared for her.  While I was bawling like a baby, Annie walked over and licked my tears, as if to say: “Don’t be sad. It’ll be okay.” This precious, wounded soul was comforting me. This girl, who had never known compassion in her life, was consoling me. And so, I got up, stopped my crying, and vowed to give her the best week of her entire life. No more crying. Not around Annie. She deserves to know only happiness now. That week, Annie slept in the bed with me. She ate the best food. She played as much as her little heart could stand. She laid next to me on the couch for belly rubs. She laughed at funny movies with me. That week, Annie was special. That week, Annie was home, for the first time in her life.

Every day, Annie and I sat on my special bench by Rudy’s grave and talked to him. I told Rudy that he would have a new friend in Heaven soon, and asked him to take care of her. I told Rudy all about Annie, and Annie all about Rudy. Annie loved our talks with Rudy. She loved anything that involved love... she'd never had it before. When Annie got so weak that it was painful for her to live, I took her to the vet to end her suffering. I stayed with her, comforted her... and Annie wasn’t afraid. She was happy, because I was there with her. Her mom was by her side… the only family she had ever known. The only person who had ever truly loved her. She was finally safe.

Annie knew it was time… it hurt too much to go on. And I was there to hold her, to love her, to say, “It’s okay. You can go now, baby girl.” And as they stuck her with the needle, I whispered into her ear:

Know That I Love You

“Know that I loved you. Know that you mattered. Know that you finally belonged to someone—you were everything to me. You will never really be gone, because you will live forever in my heart. Thank you for sharing your last days with me. It was truly an honor to love you.” As the drugs entered Annie’s veins, she looked up at me one last time, and her eyes said, “Thank you for not letting me die there. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for showing me what life could be like... for giving me a family. I always wanted one. I love you.” And before she closed her eyes forever, I said: “When you get to Heaven, ask for Rudy. Tell him I sent you.” And then… she was gone. I buried Annie in my backyard next to Rudy. She died on September 14, 2010. But the week before her death, she finally lived. 

To read more about Ashley Owen Hill's rescue work and to support her mission, please visit  Lucky Dog Rescue Blog. (See her blog in my Animal Lovers Blog communities" )

http://www.belladogmagazine.com/humane-hearts/313--woman-squeezes-lifetime-of-love-into-one-week

Well, here is a win-win!  A Biology major with aspirations toward becoming a veterinarian has created a unique and innovative program serving the needs of homeless youth and homeless animals in Philadelphia.

Rachel Cohen has always been passionate where animals are concerned.  The University of Pennsylvania junior saw many homeless young people on her way to classes and instinctively reached out to talk with them. Many youth who age out of foster care at 18 live on the streets with pets of their own.  Because most shelters will not allow pets, these kids live under overpasses and any other potentially warm, dry spot they can find. The statistics from a recent video made about Rachel’s innovative program, Hand2Paw, states one in two foster children leave the program at age 18 without a high school diploma.  One in four leaves the system without even a place to live. The numbers for Philadelphia's homeless animals are dreadful, too.  Last year 4,360 dogs and over 12,000 cats and kittens were euthanized because they had no home. With her heart reaching out to the struggling young people living hand to mouth, Rachel decided to start a program combining the needs of homeless kids and homeless animals.  She named it Hand2Paw. Starting in early 2010, Rachel coordinated Hand2Paw with other agencies in the city.  Covenant House and Project H.O.M.E. service young homeless teens in Philadelphia, teaching them how to successfully transition between foster care and life on their own.  PAWS (Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society) is a rescue group with an outstanding record of saving the many homeless animals who also get caught in a bureaucratic system. To date, over 70 teens have participated in Hand2Paw.  They volunteer at local shelters to help socialize and train the dogs, provide socialization to the cats and kittens through gentle handling, bathe the many animals rescued from a filthy life on the streets and comfort the sick, orphaned animals. http://www.care2.com/causes/animal-welfare/blog/homeless-youth-help-homeless-animals/

To see more of Hand 2 Paw: http://www.hand2paw.org/H2P/Home.html

Kudos to you Rachel

See the video below:

I thought this was pretty amazing in how these folks jumped into action. It is a shelter that was built during the earthquake amongst chaos to help animals in need. Pretty Awesome. Kudos to you China

        

 

        

 

      

 

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/cj4Zy-pij1f/Animal+Rescue+Center+Cares+Dogs+Disabled+Earthquake/UcLByR0blIp

Cat Therapy for Autistic Children

Saturday night was a scary night that could have been much worse for an 11-year-old British Columbia, Canada boy if not for the courage of his faithful family dog, Angel.  Austin Forman was outside with Angel, an 18-month-old Golden Retriever, getting some wood when he saw something charging at him.

“I was really scared. At first, I didn’t know it was a cougar. I thought it was another dog,” Austin said. “As soon as it went underneath the light, I saw that it was a cougar. I knew at that moment, I had to go inside.” Before the cougar could reach Austin, Angel reacted and took on the cougar giving Austin a chance to get to safety. Austin ran into the house screaming, “A cougar is eating Angel!”

When his parents understood what was happening they couldn’t see anything but they could hear Angel whimpering in pain. They called 911 and within a minute RCMP Const. Chad Gravelle arrived and it didn’t take him long to take in the situation with Angel trapped under the steps with the cougar mauling her unmercifully. There was no time to waste, the dog’s head was in the cougar’s mouth, Gravelle got off two shots at the cougar’s hind quarters but that didn’t stop the attack so he closed in and shot the cougar again, killing it. Angel’s head still in the cougar’s mouth, no doubt the family feared the worst but after a few moments Angel got up and shook it off.

Thanks to Angel, Austin is fine, albeit shaken and Angel survived her encounter with the cougar with just some minor injuries and is being cared for. Thanks to RCMP Const. Chad Gravelle, the Forman family’s furry hero is safe.

To read more and see the video: http://fortheloveofthedogblog.com/news-updates/an-angel-to-the-rescue-dog-saves-boy-from-cougar-attack-video

I caught wind of this on Animal Planet and thought it was wonderful.

Couple saves local animals by transporting them to shelters up north

NEW ORLEANS – Dawn Moore and her husband Troy started the Moore Love Rescue in Greenburg, Indiana four years ago. She is a nurse, he is a cement truck driver. They have taken a week's vacation time to come to New Orleans to transport Ray and 100 other dogs and cats from six local shelters to foster homes in four states up north.

To the groomer very first thing,” Dawn said. “You’re going to look like a movie star and he'll find a home and he'll find a home fast.” The Moore’s created this mission knowing the tremendous overpopulation problem we have here in New Orleans. Dawn contacted shelters from St. John Parish to Plaquemines. She had them put photos of available adoptees on a website, and then she had rescue groups in Indiana, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Minnesota choose which dogs they could take in. “The Internet work that had to be done between the two groups to communicate, it’s just been a whole group effort,” she said. “It’s an amazing experience.

It has been a tremendous amount of work. The Moore's started with winning a $10,000 grant from a Petfinder.com foundation. With it they bought a bus from a school auction in their hometown for $2700, had it built out with cages and a bed, as Troy and a friend of his who is a professional 18-wheeler driver will take turns driving 15 straight hours back home. But this will not be a one-time trip for this bus. Dawn and her husband have big plans for its future.

Dawn said they will continue fundraising to be able to add a generator to the bus and a water tank, so it can become an emergency response vehicle. “We’re going to put in a surgical table where the next time there is a disaster happens we can actually respond and be totally self contained and not be a drain on the local resources,” she said. The Moore's say they will return to our area – they hope quarterly – to help local rescue shelters. They are very committed to this area.

If you would like more information, you can go to their website. And if you would like to follow any of the 101 animals to their new homes, you can search NOLA Oil Dogs on Faceb

Notable Dogs of 2010

Survivors

Sarge

He was shot six times at close range by his shithead owner and a friend.  Five bullets entered his head and neck and a sixth bullet struck his chest. And he almost didn’t survive his stint at the Lucas County Dog Pound in Ohio.  Displaying unpredictable aggression, Sarge nearly walked the Green Mile.   There was a huge outcry from the public when this got out.  It was no surprise Sarge was aggressive based on how he was treated by his former owner.  The public pressure pushed to have Sarge evaluated by experts to determine the degree of his aggression and whether or not he could be rehabilitated.  When he was transferred to Toledo Area Humane Society, a talented trainer was able to establish a relationship with Sarge and somewhat diminish Sarge’s fear-based aggression.  This bought Sarge some time and it was decided he would best live his life at a Sanctuary.  Fortunately, Best Friends had room.  Sarge is now living at Best Friends Sanctuary and has been renamed “Paladin”.   His caregivers at Best Friends will give him all the love and support for as long as he needs it. Paladin has already found a few things he likes. He loves his big red ball and he really enjoys food puzzles. And he is starting to enjoy human interaction.

Tyson

Tyson was taken from his home by another shithead and his girlfriend and shot.  Wounded, Tyson stumbled home and collapsed in his owner’s front yard.  The entire thing was captured on surveillance video which lead to the arrest of “dumb and dumber”. Tyson took a .45-caliber bullet to his left eye and one to his chest where it lodged in his front leg.  The bullet was removed from his leg but the bullet that damaged his eye remains in his head close to the brain.  The eye damage was too severe so the left eye was removed. He also has been suffering chronic nasal problems due to the bullet in his head which cracked his nasal.  Tyson will have permanent damage in his nasal passages and will have drainage. It hasn’t stopped this loveable dog from life.  He continues to play and love all around him.  His story will also lend support in the efforts to raise the criminal penalty for animal cruelty from a misdemeanor to a felony in Ohio.

Chamberlin 

Chamberlin was a dog near death.  His owners abandoned their home and left Chamberlin tied to a tree.  No one knew he was there, until someone discovered him when the overgrown lawn was being mowed.   He was nothing but skin and bones, the nails on his paws were so long that they curled and had grown back into his pads.  There was no water, no food, no shelter for two months.  But he was still alive.  Barely.  Less than barely.  In fact, the reason he survived and was discovered is probably due to Divine Intervention.  No other explanation is possible. Chamberlin is still in the care of the Guilford County Animal Shelter, Greensboro, NC.  He is gaining weight and developing muscle mass in his rear legs.  But his front legs are still weak and distorted from the months of neglect.  Chamberlin undergoes daily physical therapy, including muscle stimulation and stretching exercises. X-rays have been taken to determine what type of surgery he will need to repair his legs.  He is a charming, happy, loving dog now, and has an incredible will to survive. His owners were found, arrested and charged with 2 counts of felony animal cruelty. 

Courage

Rescued from a garage where he was locked in a crate and starved, this 3-year-old German shepherd weighed half his normal body weight, 37 pounds, and had eaten dirt and rocks to survive. He was taken to an emergency clinic in Garden Grove, CA where the attending veterinarian said his bowels were impacted with dirt, which had debilitated him to near death. Believe it or not, the owner of this dog was a veterinary assistant. He was treated with blood transfusions, IV fluids, and a high-calorie diet.  Courage is now at a healthy 85 pounds and is probably the most beautiful German Shepherd dog on the face of the earth. The German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County, who saved Courage, have put together a 2011 fundraising calendar, Courage, A Happy Ending.  He even has a Facebook. His crappy veterinary assistant former owner is soon going to trial.

Isn’t this a sweet picture?  This has been floating around Facebook and the internet.  The only story I can find is this little homeless dog was found snuggled in baby Jesus’ manger in a Nativity display in Criciuma, Santa Catarina, Brazil.   Parishioners were so touched by this scene that they didn’t have the heart to shoo the little dog away.

That’s all I could find.  Snopes doesn’t have anything on these pictures other than a short discussion where they may have been taken in December 2008.  Others swear these pictures were taken in 2009.  And no one really knows what happened after that.  There are some comments that he was adopted but that cannot be confirmed.  I guess we will never know. 

It’s a tale we wish for all shelter dogs 365 days of the year.  Not just at Christmas. 

“Did you hear that?” the old dog shouted. They all ran to the front of their kennel doors to see if someone was coming to “pick them.”  “Sorry,” he said to the other dogs as his ears fell down from their perked position. “I could have sworn I heard voices saying,  ‘Isn’t he cute?   Can’t we take him home with us?’” “You must have been dreaming again old man,” said the dog in the cage next to him.  “Anyway, what’s the big deal about getting picked ?  We’ve all been through that routine and look where it got us.” The word “home” meant little to these shelter dogs.

“Just once, I’d like to feel the warmth of a hand stroking my head,” said the old dog.  “I’d like to be the one who kisses the tears off a sad face. I’d like to curl up next to a fire instead of this cold concrete. It hurts my bones.”  He curled up and sighed as the others said, “The only place you’re going to find that is in your dreams old man.” Hank’s wife had only been gone a year but the pain was as fresh as if time had stood still.  He was an old man now, alone and longed for the comfort that he knew no other person would ever be able to give to him again.  What would his life become without her by his side? Hank’s cupboards were close to bare now and, although he didn’t want to go out, he knew he should at least pick up the basics.

He drove slowly down the side streets for freeway driving had become too challenging. Suddenly, the car started chugging and sputtering until finally the engine quit altogether.  One of the basic needs he forgot was fuel for the car!  So he coasted over next to the curb, spotting a building within walking distance. Hopefully, they’d let him use their phone. He walked into an office area and rang the bell for service but no one came.  He spotted another door going outside, failing to notice the sign posted “Employees Only”. As Hank walked out, he was overwhelmed by yaps, barks and insane jumping from dogs all sizes and shapes. He then realized he had unintentionally gone to the dog shelter.  Slowly he walked down the concrete aisle looking for an attendant. Three kennels down on the right, the old dog calmly sat there.

  Why should the old dog get excited? No one would want him.  But, he sensed a need and couldn’t resist offering a kind look and a gentle wag of the tail. As Hank neared the old dog’s cage, he laced his fingers through the chain link to steady his gait and the first feeling of comfort he’d remembered in over a year came from a wet nose and lick across his arthritic fingers. Just then a voice of authority sounded, and Hank jumped. “I’m sorry sir, you aren’t supposed to be in this area!” she said. Luckily Hank didn’t know he had walked into the “final area” where unclaimed dogs were scheduled to be put down.  There went the nudge and lick thing again.  Hank looked down to the most pleading eyes he’d ever seen. Ignoring the attendants order to leave, Hank asked if could he see the dog closer? Her demeanor changed completely and her sternness melted away.  She had  forced herself to be this way so she could do the part of her job she despised.  She brought the old dog out and instantly the two souls – once so lost – found reason to hope. Hank’s cupboards were now filled, a warm fire crackled and the old dog smiled inside as he remembered “only in your dreams.” Closing his eyes he felt Hank’s hand stroking his head whispering “sleep in heavenly peace”.

Chihuahua becomes Japan’s newest police dog

This post was written by:

Jim Hudge - who has written 53 posts on soulofadog.com.

This is the story of 7 pigeons.

It has been days since my capture and I have tasted no food or water since.  I am parched and tired.
This morning I was thrown into a filthy crate along with a number of my brothers and sisters. We huddle together for warmth, for the freezing wind blasts through our feathers as we are sped down a highway. We arrive at a field that has nine blue boxes spread across the ground. I wonder what they are for?
Suddenly, I am seized by young yet uncharitable hands and forced into one of the blue wooden boxes. It is tight and I am pressed against all sides. But I sit and am quiet, for perhaps this is the worst of it.  Without warning the wood beneath me explodes upward and I am launched into the air. I am disoriented and confused but I flap my wings desperately for I am in the air...and then there is a sickening roar. Searing metal gunshot tears through my right wing and burning pain lashes through me!  I flap my torn wing with all my strength to keep me aloft, yet I fall, a puff of feathers like white smoke trailing my descent.
I am shattered but alive. My legs can move, so I run to the brush, away from the booming death that dispatches one, two more of my kind, and cripples another who makes it no farther than a wingspan from the box he was thrown from.  They come for him because he is easy to capture. The net is cast and those same young hands that put us in the nightmare box squeeze the life from him. I watch this horror from the thorn bushes and wait for them to come for me, but they do not.  Hours pass and I watch hundreds; thousands of my kin suffer, die and be torn apart as I was. Some escape, but their wounds promise only prolonged suffering. It seems it will never end, this cataclysm of unending gunfire and blood, the laughter and congratulations for having committed such utter cruelty.  Finally, it does stop, and the killers leave.  Now all that remains are we, the dead and the dying.
As the sun, ashamed of this day's murder, hides it face and steals below the horizon, I stumble out from cover.  There is no food or water.  There is nothing but the others suffering, for I am not alone.  Dozens, perhaps hundreds more share my fate. Some struggle, flapping broken wings that will never again ride the wind.  Now those wings can only scrape across the frozen grass and brush. Those who can move huddle together. Those who can't wait alone for the end. It is freezing and we all starve through the darkness of night.
There is no escape. No hope. That we are still alive is both a miracle and a curse. Death is not quite realized, but soon. For we who survive, death will come slowly, not as relief, but as a final torment. The sun rises. Many have passed from our wounds during the night. Some, helpless, have been lost to predators, as the remains of scattered feathers and bloody wings tell. One who escaped the killing field fell upon the razor-sharp thorns, and was impaled. There is nowhere I can look and not see tragedy and horror.
My throat is dry and cracked from lack of water. My bloody wounds iced from the freezing cold. Our collective agony is unspeakable, constant and without relief. Suddenly, they are back! Some of us run, but I cannot. If this is death, let it advance and remove me from this filthy world where killing is done for profit and pleasure. My eyes already dim. I have had enough. And yet...I am not crushed, but coddled. Instead of vile laughter, gentle voices encourage me to hold on - to cling to life.  They call us beautiful and carry as many of us as they can from this blood-soaked field.  Twenty-one of us are rescued.  Though many of us did not survive over the next few days, they passed in warmth and love.  That has meaning. It matters. Today, seven of us remain.  We huddle together, and breathe and eat.  We are loved, which, considering the obscene violence done to us, is a miracle. The woman who cares for us coos and kisses us each day.

'Thrown Away' Dog Saves Little Girl's Life And Gets "Valor Dog of the Year," Award

Though he was once left to die in a garbage bin, a Terrier mix has found new purpose in caring for and protecting a little girl with a rare neurological disorder.

To see a video of the happy family:

Abandoned Dog Saves Girl (VIDEO) From Care2 causes website:

Back in June, a gentle dog down on his luck wandered into the Kinloch Learning Center during summer camp hours.  The staff and children were wary at first, but they didn’t shoo him away.  They didn’t chase him away with harsh words throwing sticks and stones.  They didn’t call Animal Control or the Police.  He wasn’t dumped at a shelter where his future could only have been just a few days before being put to sleep. They fell in love, took him in, and made him their mascot. 

Kinloch, Missouri is an economically distressed and underserved community. The Kinloch Learning Center (KLC) provides academic, recreational and enrichment programs for area youth.  It is staffed by volunteers and funding is always needed to sustain the center’s operation.  Hard in these economic tough times when operating grants have been cut and donations have dropped. KLC Director Loretta Lipsey took Fred to a veterinarian for shots and a checkup, and found out Fred is sick.  He is heartworm positive and needs treatment that will likely cost $1,000 or more.  The Center cannot afford this expensive treatment for their new mascot.  So they designed a special fundraiser to help pay for Fred’s medical bills. 

Camp counselors Bryce Robinson and Darrick Byers, both in the Master of Fine Arts program at Washington University came up with the idea to build and auction doghouses.  They enlisted the help of students in the three-dimensional design class where Robinson is a teaching assistant. With their designs and donated and salvaged materials in hand, student teams got together with saws and drills and started building. Another team of community volunteers built four other houses, some out of kits donated by Nestlé Purina.

Should you feel like giving the Center a “boost” with Fred’s medical bills, you can donate directly to the Center. Kinloch Learning Center, 5650 Jones Street, Kinloch, MO, (63140) Checks should be made out to Kinloch Community Development Association. Please put “Kinloch Learning Center – Fred” in the memo of the check. 

In this world of cruelty and abuse towards animals, these children are learning the value of life and working hard to maintain it. They deserve our support.

http://fortheloveofthedogblog.com/news-updates/love-and-care-blossoms-in-kinloch-missouri/comment-page-1#comment-82008

Man Built a Sanctuary for Homeless Cats

Craig Grant bought a tree farm far away from the city and turned it into a sanctuary for all the cats he has rescued.
He lives there with the cats and provides lots of love, care and companionship. It’s hard to imagine that once he was not a cat lover and did not want cats until he met his son’s cat Pepper. He also got to experience what it is like raising a litter of kittens. “Over that time I learned that every cat had its own unique personality and it wasn’t long before the kittens were swinging from my curtains. I didn’t care. Something had changed… I didn’t want to give them up.” The condo life was not easy for the kitties, so Craig found a tree farm and settled down there for his fur babies. Over the next several months, he rescued more and more homeless and abandoned cats. The number of new residents kept going up, so Craig expanded the sanctuary to make more room for the animals.

The farm was named Caboodle Ranch and is now a permanent home for all the homeless, rescued cats. Each of them has a sad story of their past, but now they are living in heaven. “Cats should be able to roam free, and at Caboodle Ranch, that’s what they do.” Craig has built many beautiful cat houses and decorated the place with vibrant colors and tons of liveliness. All the cats are spayed and neutered. Don’t forget to visit Caboodle Ranch (non profit rescue center) at their website and check them out on Facebook.

To see more of the Cat Ranch: http://www.caboodleranch.com/Index.html

Random Acts of Kindness.. Kudos to you Jana Kohl

Jana Kohl and her dog Baby are on a mission. A mission to stop puppy mills...and sell some books along the way to help the cause. Jana rescued Babay, a roughly nine-year-old poodle who had been locked in a cage. Jana and Baby (whose sweet face and three-legged hobble attract attention wherever she goes) found themselves speaking to groups about the terrible conditions at many breeders' farms and urging politicians to change the lax laws that regulate this industry. Today, Baby is the unofficial spokesdog for the Humane Society of the United States on the topic of puppy mills, and she and Jana travel around the country lobbying for reform on this important issue. Go Jana. Go Baby. And go WGN-TV for spotlighting this important issue. If you'd like to read more:  http://www.ararebreedoflove.com/

See the video below.

This Is A Story Of One Person's Random Act Of Kindness To Help Save One Dog. It's called "Just One".

Former Michael Vick Dog Receives Community Service Award

  Three-Legged Pooch Wins Top Honors at the ASPCA Talent Show

On February 12, a three-legged Pit Bull named Prince was crowned top dog at the ASPCA’s 5th Annual Talent Competition for shelter pups in New York City. The talented two year old wowed the crowd as a major league “catcher,” expertly retrieving three strikes from his equally skilled handler/pitcher.

This is Daisy Mae, she is paralyzed due to a back injury and drags herself around. Because of that, she was just left in a crate to rot before we rescued her. We are working to collect money for a wheelchair for Daisy. She is a good little girl who likes to play with toys and really enjoys her treats. She loves snuggling and she is progressing everyday. She also enjoys being outdoors with the other dogs. Daisy will need some extra small sweaters for playing outdoors this winter and a collar with a bell so she can be heard coming and don't step on her.

I donated to this wonderful little dog for a wheelchair. I'm sure she would like to go out side to play and with a little luck and some big hearts we can make that possible. I am in no position to adopt her but I can help her. Her and many more like her need help, won't you take a look and open your heart to help some of these dogs that deserve so much better.  Too many cats and dogs are victims of cruelty and neglect.  Only you can help and be the hope to a animal in need.

Wonderful Story...

Unconditionally your friend, your child, your comforter, your defender, always your puppy...you are their life, their love, their safe haven, their leader. They will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of their heart. You owe it to them to be worthy of such devotion.

The Story Of Oogy...

When Oogy was four months old and weighed thirty five pounds he was tied to a stake and used as bait for a Pit Bull. The left side of his face from just behind his eye was torn off, including his ear. He was bitten so hard a piece of his jaw bone was crushed. Afterward, he was thrown into a cage and left to bleed to death. 'This is one of the happiest dogs I've ever met' Dr. Bianco said. 'I can't imagine what he'd be like if half his face hadn't been ripped off. When Oogy was about eight months old, we hired a trainer who also happened to be an animal 'whisperer.' We introduced her to Oogy and she sat on the floor for a full five minutes talking to him. We could not hear a word she said. When the trainer lifted her head her eyes were brimming with tears. 'Oogy wants you to know' she said 'how much he appreciates the love and respect you have shown him.' Then she asked about his routine. I started by showing her where he slept in the crate. She said immediately, 'You have to get him out of that box'. 'Why?' 'Because he associates being in a box with having his ear ripped off.' It was a smack-myself- in-the-forehead moment. Oogy never went back in.  This incredible dog now lives on the Main Line with his adoptive family, Larry and Jennifer and their twin sons, Noah and Dan.  Noah and Dan are pictured here in the above photograph with Oogy. Main Line Animal Rescue would like to thank Larry, Oogy's proud father, for sharing his story and helping us educate people to the horrors of dog fighting. 

My personal Kudos to you guys..............Kudos, Kudos, Kudos......

Read more about this heart warming story:

Many people are down on their luck for one reason or another, sometimes through no fault of their own, sometimes because they screw up.  In the case of 58-year-old Auther McDonald of Hesperia, CA, he screwed up; drugs, lost his company, lost his home, his truck broke down and then he found himself living in a tent in a dirt field in Hesperia.  But McDonald has been working on pulling himself together and he has a real reason to too, that’s Big Boy, his beloved constant canine companion.

McDonald would spend his days walking up and down Main Street, sometimes 8-10 miles a day, Big Boy by his side,  collecting cans for recycling, taking on small jobs, doing whatever he could to pick himself up and keep going. One day, Big Boy a break and rest, he tied him in a shady spot near Sparky’s Self Storage and Carwash where McDonald was a familiar face. Problem was, when he came back, Big Boy was no where to be found. McDonald search high and low for Big Boy for two and a half days until he ran into Don Willis, maintenance worker for Sparky’s. The workers at Sparky’s describe McDonald a friendly and positive despite his situation, a situation that he works daily to improve. “It’s not like he’s just sitting on the street corner begging for money,” said Sparky’s sales associate Pat Willis. “He does try to help himself.” Willis headed straight for the Hesperia Animal Shelter to see if Big Boy was there. “I put myself in his position and I would hope someone would help me,” Don Willis said. “That’s his companion, and it was something good to do.”

Willis found the 8-year-old shepherd-mix at the shelter but also found out that Big Boy was scheduled for die on Friday if someone didn’t claim him, get him up to date on his shots and have him neutered, at a cost of $145. Knowing that there was no way McDonald would have the money, Willis immediately took up a collection from his co-workers who quickly covered the cost and instead of Friday being a day of doom for Big Boy, it was a day of reunion and celebration for him and McDonald! “He lives in a tent and we felt so bad for him because it was like his kid,” said Charlayne Vest, a Sparky’s sales associate. “And the dog just loves him, just follows him everywhere.” Sure, McDonald could have wallowed in self-pity after he lost everything, blamed anyone and everyone for his problems but he didn’t.  He picked himself up and works everyday to overcome unlike so many people out there who are down on their luck.  And sure, the workers at Sparky’s could have ignored McDonald, after all, he was just another homeless man, but they didn’t.

Yes, times are tough for so many of us right now but one thing that keeps up human is our love and compassion for those around us, whether they be two- or four-legged. McDonald and Big Boy were lucky to find that love and compassion and the workers at Sparky’s are richer for their kindness. Kudoes to you all and a big thank you!

Sparky's self storage: http://www.webselfstorage.com/en/self_storage/HESPERIA_CA/zip_92345/SPARKYS_SELF_STORAGE_AND_CARWASH/056468

To read more:  http://fortheloveofthedogblog.com/article/just-a-dog-story/good-samaritans-save-homeless-mans-dog-from-death-row

Boaters Save Lost Deer Swimming In The Middle Of Nowhere...

The Tale of Owen and Mzee

These photographs tell the story of the baby hippo (Owen), who was saved from the 2004 tsunami.  In order to survive, he was adopted by a giant tortoise (Mzee).  These pictures were taken at an animal facility in the port city of Mombasa , Kenya, East Africa. This is a true story that shows that our differences don't matter much when we need the comfort of another. Share Owen and Mzee's story with a friend.  A-less-than-a-year-old hippo has adopted a male tortoise.  After it was swept away and lost its mother, the hippo was traumatized.  Mzee seems to be very happy being a 'mother'.  The hippo is a young baby, he was left at a very tender age.  'Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away'

It is incredible, a less-than-a-year-old hippo has adopted a male tortoise.  (In Swahili, Mzee means old man)

 Mzee seems to be very happy being a 'mother'

Hippos are social animals that like to stay with their mother for as long as four years

http://www.guy-sports.com/humor/videos/hippo_tortoise.htm

The Dachshund and Pink the Pig

Here is another inspirational story about animals.  The situation is a a Dachshund is fostering this pig for another mother who has just died. Originally his eyes were closed, but now they are open. He is just a little bigger than her other puppies. Mum appears to love him as much as the other puppies and she is nursing him back to health. He is also the cleanest pig-puppy ever because she licks him all the time. Unsurprisingly he is named, Pink.

Iraqi Dog Finds Marine And A New Home...

Dog Tries To Save Dog Friend On The Freeway. I Wish People Were As Compassionate.

Here are a few stories along those lines.

Chilean officials say they have lost hope of finding a dog whose attempted rescue of an injured animal inspired worldwide admiration. Jorge Rivas, operations manager for Vespucio Norte Highway in Santiago, said police and highway workers had searched for the dog several times, "but not any more." He said too much time has passed since March 23, when a surveillance camera captured images of the apparently homeless dog pulling the body of another, injured dog through busy traffic to the relative safety of a freeway median strip. The other dog, which had been hit by vehicles, died. Rivas said earlier reports that the incident happened on December 4 were based on confusion with the date the image was first shown on local television. Hundreds of thousands of people viewed the surveillance images on Web sites and television shows and Rivas said his agency received 15 calls over the weekend from people offering to adopt the dog. Luis Serey, 59-years-old, a taxi driver who often uses the freeway, often says the video "was impressive. This dog is a hero. I hope he gets a new life, a home. He totally deserves it." Broadcast of the images came on the heels of an animal welfare scandal in the Chilean capital, where officials raided an Animal Protection Society accused of mistreating and killing dogs and cats in its care. Four employees of the society face charges of animal abuse.

Update: Dog Saves Dog On Freeway

Sadly, there is no real chance of finding the amazing dog that risked its own life to haul an badly injured dog to safety. The event actually happened in March.  And unfortunately the injured dog died. Like many/most countries, Chile isn’t an easy place to be a dog.   It’s estimated there are 220,000 stray dogs in the Santingo area alone.  Earlier this month, Chilean authorities raided the Benjamin Vinuña Mackenna Animal Protection Society where disease is rampant and animals are being killed in huge numbers instead of sheltered and adopted out.  This organization was established in 1915 and reportedly is representative of the conditions in most shelters in Chile.

Here are some other stories about animals saving others:
http://petprojectblog.com/archives/tag/freeway/

Chinese woman leaves career to care for stray dogs — some left homeless in earthquake...

Woman creates private animal shelter in China

In the wake of the devastating earthquake in China, the Associated Press has a report on something very unusual in that country: A former businesswoman has created a private animal shelter. The white short-haired mutt was found dragging his crushed hind legs through rubble-clogged streets after the massive earthquake devastated China's Sichuan province. The shy terrier mix was lucky to live through the May 12 quake that killed nearly 70,000 people. He was even more fortunate to survive the squads of police and soldiers who were gunning down homeless canines for fear they would spread disease in the disaster's aftermath. But his luckiest day was when he was picked up by Chen Yunlian. Now he's among some 100 "quake dogs" rescued by the former businesswoman, who has created something extremely rare in China: a private animal shelter. Chen is also on the vanguard of a new movement in China of citizens who start their own groups to deal with social problems that were once mostly handled — or ignored — by the Communist Party-led state. Click here for more photos of injured animals who have been helped by Chen.

Blewett The Black Lab.

Blewett the black lab needed rescuing from snowy Blewett Pass in Washington just 2 months  ago, but he did the rescuing this month when he found another black lab by a river that needed rescuing.

WENATCHEE, Wash. – Blewett the black Labrador retriever knows what it's like to need a little help. For nearly a week last March, the lost dog barked for attention on Washington's Blewett Pass, capturing the hearts of dozens of travelers who fed him and tried unsuccessfully to catch him. After he was finally captured, Jay and Janie Smith of Plain, Wash., gave him a home.Jay Smith said his wife were walking Blewett on a trail above the Wenatchee River on Monday when the dog started barking and raced down the steep bank to sniff an animal near the river's edge. Janie Smith thought it was a dead bear, but it was an old, arthritic black dog — and it was alive. The dog's tags showed it to be Pepper, an 11-year-old dog lost since Saturday. Carol Hurt, who lives nearby, had been baby-sitting Pepper for the weekend. She thinks the old dog was swept away by the river while taking a drink. She calls the rescue "pretty heartwarming." Blewett even stayed with the other dog while rescuers repelled down a steep bank to the river.  What a sweet dog!

http://petprojectblog.com/archives/cats/news-bites-rescued-dog-rescues-dog-little-dogs-big-cat-sw-allows-pets/comment-page-1/#comment-16871

This more about the owners:

http://blog.luciolepress.com/2009/05/29/rescued-black-labrador-retriever-goes-on-to-save-another-older-and-arthritic-dog.aspx

Wonderful Story...

This is right up the street from me: From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing....Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him.

This alone is amazing. If you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to the horse's halter is a small bell. It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow. As you stand and watch these two friends, you'll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse and that the blind horse will listen for the bell and then slowly walk to where the other horse is, trusting that he will not be led astray. When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, it stops occasionally and looks back, making sure that the blind friend isn't too far behind to hear the bell.

Story About Faith... Hot diggity dog!

Everybody loves a good dog story. But this dog story is really special. Meet Faith, the bi-ped dog. Faith was born with two deformed front legs, left to die and rescued by a little boy whose heart was full of love for her at first sight. He took her home and he and his family taught the pup to survive and thrive. She walks on her hind legs, human-style, and her story now inspires people around the globe. I recently talked with Faith’s owner,  Faith was born just before Christmas in 2002 and was found as well as rescued by my son Reuben. Faith’s mother dog was putting her down naturally because she couldn’t suckle and she was being abused by her siblings for milk.
 
Reuben didn’t like what he was seeing and brought her home to me. We began immediately to teach and train Faith to walk upright when the vet asked us to get her off of her chest. She has become an international success and celebrity, not only for walking upright, but for her work with the military. She is an ambassador, really — and is an honorary E5 Sgt. in the U.S. Army now. She will star in her first film this year. It is a feature about her life.Our family used so many things to try and entice Faith to walk. She wanted to scoot, and she wanted to stay down on the ground and roll around. We put her on a skateboard and showed her what it was like to move. She didn’t like it. We put her on roller skates, too. She didn’t like that much, either. We found that food (very basic to anyone and dogs too) is a great motivator. She did want to sit up for peanut butter. She would come to us if we held it out to her, and we held it just above her nose so she would have to try hard to get it. It wasn’t easy, but she did learn to put one foot in front of the other, and she balanced by bending over and adjusting and she swings her tail from side to side to balance as well. People with anything bad going on in their lives can look at Faith and see that she’s a dog, a normal dog, and that she was put at a natural disadvantage.

If you'd like to see a Video too:

http://boisegoodnews.wordpress.com/2009/03/20/hot-diggity-dog/

Partnered in the struggle for a place to call home.

This was simply just too beautiful not to share...

Here's Another Freeway Rescue In NY By A Dog Named Chile. 

We could learn something from them.....

Sadly, there is no real chance of finding the amazing dog that risked its own life to haul an badly injured dog to safety. The event actually happened in March.  And unfortunately the injured dog died. Like many/most countries, Chile isn’t an easy place to be a dog.   It’s estimated there are 220,000 stray dogs in the Santingo area alone.  Earlier this month, Chilean authorities raided the Benjamin Vinuña Mackenna Animal Protection Society where disease is rampant and animals are being killed in huge numbers instead of sheltered and adopted out.  This organization was established in 1915 and reportedly is representative of the conditions in most shelters in Chile.

If you'd like to see more:

For more than a week a stray female mix dog, heavily pregnant, had been trapped on the second floor of an abandoned building in St. Louis, MO.  Stray Rescue of St. Louis was trying to rescue the scared little girl but she perched herself on the sill of a second story window.  Worried that she was going to jump, a certain death sentence, director Randy Grim looked for help. Spotting a fire engine, he flagged it down.

Fire Engine Company #9 offered their able bodied assistance in rescuing the scared dog and delivered her to Stray Rescue where she is now safe and sound and has been named E9 in honor of her valiant rescuers! You can watch the amazing rescue below. It was definitely touch and go at times but our heroes prevailed! Now E9 will be able to have her babies in a safe place, warm and sheltered and the staff at Stray Rescue will make sure they are cared for and adopted into wonderful loving homes as I am sure E9 will be as well when she’s ready to become a part of a family. Living on the streets is a tough life for anyone but for a pregnant dog, trapped and abandoned, it must have been hell. Now she’s going to find out what life can and should be!

To read more or see the video of the rescue: http://fortheloveofthedogblog.com/animal-advocacy/pregnant-stray-dog-rescued-on-the-brink-of-jumping-to-her-death-video

This pretty boy may look like he just lounging around like any other dog but this is Pantera, the newest addition to Chicago Police Department’s Organized Crime Division although it wasn’t all that long ago this 16-month-old Black Lab’s future didn’t look so bright.  He was a shelter dog, spending his time at the Chicago Ridge Animal Welfare League. That was until the shelter called the department to ask if they might have some interest in Pantera and when Canine police officer Steve Martinez checked the pooch out, he found him a wonderful candidate. Starting in May, Pantera underwent “a rigorous curriculum of narcotics detection techniques,” an eight week narcotics training course and is now the youngest canine on the force.

“As staunch supporters of canines, we view this as a win-win situation–the department gets and excellent canine partner, and Chicago Ridge finds a good home for Pantera,” said Deputy Superintendent Steve Peterson. After taking to the streets last month Pantera has proved himself quite adept for his job recovering evidence and helping to execute warrants. The Chicago PD has said that now they plan to continue to seek their canine recruit from shelters. “It just goes to show that shelter dogs have so much potential,” said Terri Sparks, marketing and public relations director for the Animal Welfare League. “We hope to work on future endeavors like this very soon and hope that other law enforcement agencies catch on.” Now wouldn’t if just be wonderful if more police departments did follow suit here?  Too many people look at shelter animals as “damaged” in some way but usually the damaged one was the person who surrendered them to the shelter for one reason or another.  Shelters are full of wonderful animals, from puppies to senior, from the loveable mutt to purebred, there’s something for everyone.  Spending alot of money on a dog doesn’t mean you’re getting a better dog than you could find in a shelter. Pantera has a wonderful chance to be not only a hero but a symbol as well, a symbol of just what a shelter dog can be, given the chance!

Kudos to the Chicago Police department and good luck to Pantera and his partner!!

To read more: http://fortheloveofthedogblog.com/news-updates/from-shelter-dog-to-certified-hero-police-narcotics-dog

A Home for Lucky

Here is a story of a dog that tragically lost her owner, this time to a hit-and-run accident.  She too could have easily been shuttled off to a shelter to await her fate but a fire company and a hospital have other plans.

Joe was a 53-year-old homeless man with a history of medical problems.  He was also was an amputee in a wheelchair.   By his side for the last 8 to 10 years was Lucky – a black Labrador mix.  Joe and Lucky were well known in the Long Beach, California area and very well liked.  He made friends at Fire Station 2, St. Mary’s Medical Center, and made his home at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church helping out with chores. “He kind of adopted us,” Pastor James Proper said. “He started attending services, Bible study and fellowship meals. He kind of became part of the family. We learned a lot from Joe about what it means to be homeless and to seek community. Lucky was always by his side. Even when he was admitted to St. Mary’s Medical Center for seizures, Lucky accompanied him – and the hospital welcomed him.

“They were very much regulars,” said Courtney Rowin, the emergency room charge nurse. “Lucky went everywhere with him. Even when he was admitted or taken in for a CT scan, Lucky went along. You could not get that dog to leave his side.” One night Lucky appeared at St. Mary’s Emergency Room without Joe and the staff immediately knew something was wrong.  Shortly after that, Joe was rushed into their ER after being rescued from the road where he was hit. Joe didn’t make it. 

The nursing staff knew that left Lucky… homeless. Each one of them agreed that NO WAY were they going to send Lucky to a shelter.  Fire Station 2 and Katie Magee, an ER nurse at St. Mary’s, are currently reviewing applications for Lucky’s new home.  They got so many they had to stop accepting them.  In the meantime, Lucky lives between the firehouse and Katie’s home until they find him a good home.  No lonely animal shelter for her. “We’re going to try to find the best family situation for her so she has a human being with her as much as possible, because that’s what she knows,” says Magee. “She not going to anyone who doesn’t realize it’s all about Lucky,” Magee adds with a laugh. Here’s a group of people, not even blood relatives, that could see the strong bond there was between Lucky and Joe.  Their only thought now is to make sure Lucky lives out the rest of her life with another loving owner.

To read more: http://fortheloveofthedogblog.com/news-updates/a-home-for-lucky

Helping An Endangered Species...Falcons

A family friend of mine just sent me these pictures of his baby Peregrines that just hatched. He has been a falconer for over 5o years and still going strong. Trying to help bring their population back up...Aren't they cute.. He writes: Just had some peregrine eggs hatch and waiting for my gos eggs - due to hatch next Tuesday or so. More peregrine eggs under both my pairs and a few in the incubator with 2 gos eggs, too. Had a bad incubator year 2 for 9! And 3 infertile...

Some of his other birds.

Here's his website if you would like to know more and see some wonderful pictures of Falcons.

http://www.kanarraraptors.com/

Brutus the Grizzly Bear.

Imagine if your best friend weighed nearly 1,000 pounds, stood 6 inches taller than basketball star Shaquille O'Neal and wolfed down his own turkey at Thanksgiving. For Casey Anderson, it's a normal part of life with his best bud—Brutus the Grizzly Bear.  Get to know Brutus and Casey.  

Casey rescued the 5-month-old cub, who was born into captivity. From that day, an unbreakable bond was formed. "When he was a little baby, I was bottle feeding him, and I looked down in his eyes and he had a little tear in his eye. I just kind of chalked it up for he was straining from sucking on the bottle," Casey says. "Then, several years later, Brutus got a bit of a bellyache, and I was rubbing his belly. And in his eye, he had the same tears. And at that moment I realized that grizzly bears can feel the same emotions we do." 

Now, a groundbreaking program called Puppies Behind Bars is transforming these offenders.

At the Fishkill Correctional Facility in upstate New York, more than 1,600 men convicted of abuse, robbery and murder are serving their time. "I've been incarcerated for robbery in the first degree," an inmate named Michael says. "I really had no regards for other people. It was always me, me, me, me."

Now, a groundbreaking program called Puppies Behind Bars is transforming these offenders. Inmates are given 8-week-old puppies and taught to train them to become service dogs for the disabled, including wounded soldiers. The puppies and prisoners are together 24 hours a day. The puppies sleep in crates in the inmates' cells.

Go inside a training session.   http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Prisoners-Train-Puppies-to-Aid-Wounded-Soldiers-Video

In return, the puppies give the prisoners something many of them have never experienced before—unconditional love. "I'm going to make my family and those around me proud of me again. Joining this program, it helped me to give myself a sense of pride again. To know that by nurturing and raising these dogs to their fullest potential, that I could give back."

The Video below are rare White Deer called "Ghosts of the Forest." Wonderful Pictures. 

So pigs CAN fly! (Or at least jump on a trampoline)

This little piggy is more than happy to show the world two clean pairs of heels. At six weeks old, Scarlett the rare-breed porker has already mastered the art of trampolining. Owners Gwen and Steve Howell say the woolly Hungarian mangalitza enjoys the experience so much that their daughters Tara, 14, and Alex, eight, now have to wait their turn to play. Mr and Mrs Howell, both estate agents, have seven pet pigs on their farm in Shrewsbury. Mrs Howell, 46, explained how they came across their pets' unlikely skill by chance.

'He is very tame and quite trainable. He was on there and just went for it and started jumping up and down, we couldn't believe it. It was hard to get him off. 'The only problem is Percy has piled on the pounds and is way to porky to put on the trampoline nowadays, so we tried to put Scarlet on there.

'Whenever you pick a pig up they squeal really loudly. We picked her up and of course she screamed, but as soon as she was placed on the trampoline she stopped. 'She started sniffing around and started to walk on it then we put some food on there and she started feeling her feet. She has only been doing it for three days, for 45 minutes a time, but she loves it. The pigs seem to love the trampoline even more than our two daughters. 'All our friends want to see Scarlet in action as soon as they get here. She's become the star attraction.

Meet the wiliest of all coyotes: Hit by a car at 75mph, embedded in the fender, and dragged for 600 miles - but Tricky SURVIVED

By Mail Foreign Service

When a brother and sister struck a coyote at 75mph they assumed they had killed the animal and drove on. They didn't realise this was the toughest creature ever to survive a hit-and-run. Eight hours, two fuel stops, and 600 miles later they found the wild animal embedded in their front fender - and very much alive.

Wily coyote: The animal's head can be seen as rescuers took apart the front fender to save it after it was struck by the car at 75mph

'We knew it was bad': Tevyn East, who was in the car when it hit the coyote, bends down to take a look at the fur poking through the fender

When one of the animals ran in front of the car, the impact sounded fatal so the siblings thought there no point in stopping. 'Right off the bat, we knew it was bad,' Daniel explained. 'We thought the story was over.' After the incident around 1am, they continued their 600 mile drive to North San Juan - even stopping for fuel at least twice.

Fur Pete's sake: What Mr East spotted as he bent down to inspect the damage to his car - the body of the coyote poking out through the radiator

Miracle escape: As the animal struggled, wildlife protection officials put a loop around its neck to prevent it from further injuring itself

But it was only when they finally reached their destination at 9am did they take time to examine what damage they may have sustained. At first it looked as though it was going to be quite gruesome. '[Daniel] saw fur and the body inside the grill,' Tevyn East said. 'I was trying to keep some distance. Our assumption was it was part of the coyote - it didn't register it was the whole animal.' Daniel East got a broom to try and pry the remains out of the bumper and got the shock of his life. 'It flinched,' Tevyn East said. 'It was a huge surprise - he got a little freaked out.'

The front of the car is completely taken apart as the coyote begins to wriggle free

And voila! Tricky the toughest coyote ever rests in a cage after its ordeal - which it survived with just some scrapes to its paw

The pair immediately phone Wildlife Rehabilitation and Release. 'We could see a little bit of blood, not a lot, and we couldn't see any wounds,' Tevyn East said. 'We didn't know if it was suffering and we should put it out of its misery, or if we could rescue it. But we realized we were going to have to take the front end of the car off to get to it.' The coyote had been thoroughly embedded between the front fender and radiator of their Honda Fit car - and had amazingly survived the journey without any broken bones or internal injuries. 'It just had some scrapes on its paw,' Daniel East said. The coyote - which was nicknamed Tricky - became active while trying to escape the car space so, fearing severe internal injuries, wildlife rescue worker Jan Crowell managed to snare a loop around its neck. Jan took the coyote to a kennel in her yard while figuring out where to release it. But three days later the coyote saw its chance - and escaped by wriggling beneath the bottom bar of the cage.  'Now it's a local coyote,' Tevyn East said.  'We named it Tricky for a reason,' Daniel East said.

Out in Tucson, Arizona, along the Rillito River lives a vagabond dog appropriately named “River”.   River has been a big concern with animal lovers and advocates for awhile.  She is somewhat shy – very wary of people.  She wears a collar so she must have once had a home.  No one knows if she was abandoned or ran away from her home.  And she’s not telling.

People in the area have posted signs asking to immediately report sightings of the dog. They have also been in and around the riverbed, constructing a little dog shelter and leaving water and food for River.  Volunteers are seen daily trying to spot River and leave her food.  Traps have been set to catch her in an effort to get her into a cozy home. Regular “River sightings” are posted on Craigslist.  Anyone who wants to help with the quest for River can search “River” in the Tucson pet section of Craigslist for information on how to volunteer. Not sure if River will ever be captured, but there is a chance that River may never want to be captured.  She may just want to stay free. There are many stories of vagabond dogs like River that have been taken care of by town residents and company employees. 

Owney the Post Office Dog

Owney, was a stray dog that wandered into the Albany, New York, post office in 1888.  He hungry and lonely but the post office clerks let him stay and sleep among the mailbags.  He apparently either loved the scent of the mailbags or appreciated the kindest of the postal workers for he always followed them to the Railway Mail Service train every day to help load the mailbags.  Pretty soon Owney began to ride with the bags on trains across the state, and then the country. In 1895 Owney made an around-the-world trip, traveling with mailbags on trains and steamships to Asia and across Europe, before returning to Albany.

He was loved by all the workers and considered a good luck charm.   Metal tags were fashioned by workers at each railway stop and given to Owney to document his travels.  Owney died in Toledo of a bullet wound on June 11, 1897. Mail clerks raised funds to have Owney preserved, and he was given to the Post Office Department’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. In 1911, the department transferred Owney to the Smithsonian Institution, where he has remained ever since.

Patsy Ann, the Official Greeter of Juneau, Alaska

Patsy Ann, a Bull Terrier, was born in Portland, Oregon on October 12, 1929 and came to Juneau as a pup. She was stone deaf, but she somehow always sensed approaching ships long before they came into sight.  She always headed quickly down to the wharf to greet the incoming ships.  She could always pick which dock the ship was headed to.  And she was never wrong. On one memorable occasion, a crowd was given erroneous information and gathered at the wrong dock. Patsy Ann walked by the crowd, regarded them for a few moments, and then made her way to the correct dock. Patsy Ann was not owned by anyone and made everyone her “home”.  She frequented business for food and was welcomed at each restaurant, bar, and hotel lobby for a meal and a bed.

Patsy Ann spent most of her nights down at the docks with the longshoremen running and playing in the alleyways.  This is where she died on March 30, 1942.  The next day, she was given a burial in into Gastineau channel witnessed by a crown of people.  Fifty years after her death, her statue was commissioned by the “Friends of Patsy Ann” and installed on the wharf where she continues to welcome ships, as they would have been when she was alive.  Touch her statute and you are blessed with friendship throughout your life’s journey.

Richmond’s Legendary Black Dog

Here is a more contemporary legendary dog.  He was a big black shaggy dog with dreadlocks,  probably a Chow mix that lived in Richmond, Virginia.  He roamed the streets for nearly two decades in Richmond’s West End neighborhood. Like all the others, Black Dog had no owner and preferred life on the streets.  Once he was determined to be friendly and not aggressive, the residents of Richmond’s West End began to leave him food or leave their garage doors open so he had shelter from the night or bad weather.  Animal Control tried to contain him, but he was so clever and elusive, all he did was drive them batty.  They eventually gave up. He met children off the school bus and walked them home.  He would sometimes play with other neighborhood dogs, AND escort joggers and bikers for a mile or two.  He would appear suddenly at your side, hang out for awhile, and disappear again.  Just like that.  He was a polite dog and never got too close to anyone. He even had his own bank account started by The Friends of Black Dog.   He was found dead on July 2, 2009, apparently fatally struck by a car.  No longer a phantom.

A collection of Black Dog articles can be found at the Richmond Times-Dispatch.  It chronicles his life and adventures.  You can also purchase the book Black Dog Remembered. Like Black Dog, Patsy Ann, and Owney, River might be destined to be a vagabond.  We don’t know that.  But these drifters don’t seem lonely or consider themselves homeless.  They are spirits of eternal freedom.

http://fortheloveofthedogblog.com/news-updates/river-a-vagabond-dog-and-some-stories-of-others

The Lion Whisperer...

Kevin Richardson was a former student of human physiology, working with pre and post-operative human patients. Some people have the ability to connect with beasts and animals better than they do with humans. Kevin turned to animals ten years ago when he decided that he could trust a lion over human beings. After a close encounter with an aggressive 4-year-old male in his early days, he learned a lesson he would never forget. The animal pinned him to the ground and started biting him until Kevin’s instinct to display passive behavior stopped the lion in its tracks.

Kevin plays with Tau and Napoleon, 2 adult brother lions.

Cooperative behavior in wild animals is often limited to kin and reciprocating partners, and is rarely extended to unfamiliar individuals. Kevin says he is most confident with animals he has known since birth, but claims he can become close friends with any lion less than a year old, when it’s still flexible enough to accept him as part of its own pride. “I have to rely on my own instincts to gauge an animal or a situation, and I will not approach a creature if something doesn’t feel right.” he says.

Cuddles and love bites are all part of ‘play’ fighting.

Many modern animal trainers use positive reinforcement — following a desired behavior with something worthwhile to the animal and the behavior will increase — and negative punishment — withdrawing something the animal wants when he performs undesirable behaviors. Kevin states, “I don’t use sticks, whips or chains, just patience. It may be dangerous, but this is a passion for me, not a job.”

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