Beloved Pharaoh. Born: June 3rd., 2003 – Died: June 19th., 2017. A very special dog that will never be forgotten.
Dogs live in the present – they just are! Dogs make the best of each moment uncluttered by the sorts of complex fears and feelings that we humans have. They don’t judge, they simply take the world around them at face value. Yet they have been part of man’s world for an unimaginable time, at least 30,000 years. That makes the domesticated dog the longest animal companion to man, by far!
As man’s companion, protector and helper, history suggests that dogs were critically important in man achieving success as a hunter-gatherer. Dogs ‘teaching’ man to be so successful a hunter enabled evolution, some 20,000 years later, to farming, thence the long journey to modern man. But in the last, say 100 years, that farming spirit has become corrupted to the point where we see the planet’s plant and mineral resources as infinite. Mankind is close to the edge of extinction, literally and spiritually.
Dogs know better, much better! Time again for man to learn from dogs!
Here in Southern Oregon I look up at the birds in the sky, some flying solo, or with a few companions, some flying in larger groups. But I never reflect on birds that migrate.
The truth, that these small animals were traveling thousands of miles across the planet, must once have seemed just as improbable.
Then, in the early 1800s, dramatic evidence emerged supporting the theory of migration. White storks began appearing in Germany with African arrows embedded in their bodies. These birds became known as pfeilstörche, or “arrow storks.” They provided compelling evidence that birds disappearing from Europe were traveling all the way to Africa and back.
Almost two centuries later, scientists are still asking the same question, but our ability to answer it has been transformed.
For most of ornithological history, scientists understood migration through brief glimpses of a bird, a specimen collected somewhere else, or the rare instance of a banded bird recovered hundreds or thousands of miles from where it had been marked. From these fragments of intelligence, scientists reconstructed journeys that took place largely beyond their view.
Today, it’s possible to see the journeys themselves, almost in real time.
A century of following birds
Bird banding was the first tool used to attempt a systematic approach to connect these fragments of information. Since the early 1900s, researchers have placed uniquely numbered metal bands on birds and hoped someone, somewhere, would encounter them again.
Over the past quarter-century or so, the tools used to determine where birds go have changed dramatically.
Tracking devices can now be carried by increasingly smaller birds, recording their movements and communicating with land-based receivers or satellites orbiting the earth. Testing stable isotopes in feathers and other tissues can reveal where a bird originated. Genetic testing can distinguish populations.
Millions of observations by bird-watchers submitted to eBird, an online database to record the birds they see, show the distribution and abundance of birds across a continent throughout the year in ways early ornithologists could scarcely have imagined.
Collectively, these methods open an extraordinary new window into migratory birds and one of nature’s most remarkable behaviors: migration.
Burrowing owls breed in the Western U.S., raising their young in burrows often taken over from ground squirrels or prairie dogs. In winter, they migrate to Southwestern states, Mexico or Central America. John Anderton/The Atlas of North America’s Migratory Birds
Discovering unknown migrations
More than 70% of North American bird species are migratory. Yet scientists have known surprisingly little about where specific populations go.
A species like the American robin may breed across thousands of miles of North America, with different breeding populations migrating to entirely different places for the winter. Birds breeding in one part of the continent may travel one route and encounter one set of environmental conditions, while members of the same species experience a completely different set of conditions along another route.
These connections between where a bird breeds and where it spends the winter is called migratory connectivity. They are critical for understanding everything from the consequences of climate change on birds to how avian pathogens and diseases spread, to a species’ basic ecology.
We are ornithologists and conservation scientists who have spent almost 15 years along with a team of contributors compiling this rapidly expanding knowledge on bird movement into The Atlas of North America’s Migratory Birds. The atlas, being published on Nov. 3, 2026, by Princeton University Press, covers the latest information on seasonal movements for nearly 600 species and combines a century of bird-banding data with eBird observations, tracking studies, stable isotope testing, genetics and other sources of information.
What emerges is a picture of migratory birds that is both more complicated and more remarkable than the simple arrows pointing between breeding and wintering ranges on a map.
Consider the yellow-billed cuckoo. These birds breed over a wide range of the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. but migrate to a relatively small wintering area in the Gran Chaco region of northern Argentina, Paraguay and southern Bolivia.
In contrast, peregrine falcons that breed in Alaska migrate almost directly south, dispersing across the Americas to wintering grounds that extend as far as southern South America.
Discoveries like these are accumulating rapidly. Collectively, they amount to a renaissance in our understanding of animal movement never before imagined.
Living masterpieces
The more clearly scientists can follow individual birds and populations across the planet, the more extraordinary these species can seem.
They navigate landscapes and respond to winds, weather, food and environmental conditions across enormous geographic scales.
The Atlas of North America’s Migratory Birds’ combines illustrations and maps to show where bird populations go when they migrate. Princeton University Press
We see these species and their migrations as among evolution’s great living masterpieces. That’s why we combined science with natural history and artist John Anderton’s extraordinary illustrations of the birds themselves. The maps allow us to see where birds travel, and the art brings the species to life.
Together, they make visible something that humans could only imagine for most of our history.
A map for conservation
North America has lost about 3 billion birds during the past half-century, and many migratory species continue to decline.
To understand why a population is declining and help save it, researchers need to understand the species’ entire annual cycle: its critical stopover habitats, wintering grounds and threats along its migration routes.
For much of the history of ornithology, scientists studied birds primarily during their breeding season. That made practical sense. Birds are conspicuous then – singing, defending territories, building nests and raising young.
But a migratory bird may spend only a few months of its life in its breeding grounds. Conditions such as weather, food availability and habitat quality encountered during migration can determine whether an individual survives to breed again.
All of this knowledge has accumulated because people value birds and have devoted enormous time and effort to understanding them.
For more than a century, thousands of bird-banders have woken up before the crack of dawn to set traps, carefully place bands on birds’ legs and release them, often knowing the chances of ever learning what happened to those individuals were exceedingly small.
More recently, tracking technology has allowed researchers to follow individual birds across continents and oceans. Those tracks exist because scientists, students, technicians and others have spent countless hours attaching and recovering tags, and contributing and sharing their data. https://www.youtube.com/embed/xfiY0tTjKxA?wmode=transparent&start=0 In this animation, Cornell’s Bird Lab traced the routes of 15 species using tracking signals. From tiny sensors to networks of humans with binoculars, efforts to understand migrations are helping to show where cruicial habitat can be preserved.
Today, millions of bird-watchers contribute observations that, thanks to advances in data science, allow us to watch migration unfold across an entire continent.
Scientists today know more about where migratory birds go, how populations are connected and what they encounter along the way than at any previous point in history. That knowledge is helping to identify where conservation efforts can make a difference for the future.
How much rain can a hurricane make, and how much do big versus small hurricanes make? – Naarah, age 8, Pittsburgh
Hurricanes can produce enormous amounts of rain, adding up to trillions of gallons of water. But the big risk isn’t their total amount – it’s how much rain falls on each location.
So, what causes that much rain, and does the size of the storm matter?
I’m an atmospheric scientist who teaches college students about weather at Georgia Tech. Let’s take a look at where a hurricane’s rainfall comes from and some of the questions about hurricanes and their rainfall that scientists are still trying to answer.
Sea surface temperatures on Oct. 6, 2026, show the very warm water in the western Gulf of Mexico, where a tropical storm grew into Hurricane Isaias the following day. Water that is over 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26.5 degrees Celsius) can fuel hurricanes. NOAA
The magic number for surface water temperature to be able to fuel a hurricane is at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26.5 degrees Celsius). At that temperature and above, the warm ocean water evaporates into the air, changing from liquid to vapor. As it makes that change, it provides energy to fuel the storm and also adds moisture to the atmosphere that eventually falls as rain.
Another very interesting post from The Conversation
When a hurricane moves over warm water, especially when the warm water extends many feet below the surface, the storm pulls in even more energy and moisture.
What affects hurricane size and rainfall?
This is one of the many questions about hurricanes that atmospheric scientists are working on.
The average hurricane is about 300 miles (482 kilometers) wide, but hurricanes – or typhoons, as they’re called in the western Pacific of the Northern Hemisphere – can be much bigger or smaller.
Super Typhoon Tip in 1979 grew to half the size of the lower 48 U.S. states. It had a radius of about 690 miles (1,110 kilometers), measured from the center of the storm to its outer edges, meaning it was 1,380 miles (2,222 kilometers) wide. Tropical Storm Marco’s gale-force winds in 2008, in comparison, had a radius of 11.5 miles (18.5 kilometers), meaning it was about 23 miles (37 kilometers) across – not much larger than New York City.
How the largest tropical cyclone in recorded history and the smallest compare. It’s quite a difference! NOAA
In 2025, scientists published a study showing that hurricane size appears to be influenced by how warm the ocean water is compared to its usual temperature that time of year. So, if a hurricane moves over water that is much warmer than normal, it tends to grow in size rapidly as well as growing in strength.
A recent hurricane that was very large in size was the extremely destructive Hurricane Helene in 2024. As Helene moved over water near Florida that was much warmer than normal for late September, it picked up lots of moisture that it carried all the way to the mountains of North Carolina. Several days of rain from the storm caused catastrophic flooding there.
Hurricane Andrew wasn’t very big when it made landfall on Elliott Key, Fla., near Miami, on Aug. 24, 1992, but it was powerful and extremely destructive. National Hurricane Center
A strong storm isn’t necessary for a lot of rain to fall. Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 is still one of the wettest tropical weather events in U.S. history. It caused over US$4 billion in damage in Texas alone, and it didn’t even develop into a hurricane!
So, what really leads to the highest rainfall totals?
Hurricanes that move slowly or nearly stop along their path usually cause the biggest rainfall problems because their rain keeps falling over the same location. The rain may be just as intense in a fast-moving hurricane, but it doesn’t stick around as long.
If a storm moves fast, like Hurricane Michael did in 2018 when it hit the Florida Panhandle, its winds and storm surge can make a big mess, but its rainfall totals will be lower.
Hurricane Michael passes over Mexico Beach, Fla., on Oct. 10, 2018. The storm moved quickly, so it brought less rainfall to each location compared to slow-moving Hurricane Harvey in Texas the previous year, but its wind and storm surge caused catastrophic damage. NOAA NESDIS
So, a hurricane can be large or small in size and still have a big impact, depending on how slowly it’s moving.
There is still a lot to learn about hurricanes. Some big questions involve what’s known as rapid intensification. That occurs when a tropical storm’s maximum wind speed increases quickly, by 30 knots (about 34.5 miles per hour or 55 kilometers per hour) or more within 24 hours.
When rapid intensification occurs, as happened with hurricanes Harvey, Michael and Helene before they hit land, the storm can surprise coastal residents and become catastrophic.
Hurricanes of all sizes can be dangerous, so accurate forecasting well before they reach land is crucial to help people prepare for their impacts. One very important area of research that today’s scientists – and future scientists – can work on is improving forecasting so coastal residents know what’s coming and have time to prepare.
Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question you’d like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live.
And since curiosity has no age limit – adults, let us know what you’re wondering, too. We won’t be able to answer every question, but we will do our best.
The changing weather is a frequent topic on all communication channels.
Here in Merlin, Southern Oregon, we have had weeks of drought, and what had been forecasted for early next week as rain showers has now been changed to cloudy conditions.
Have you ever taken months off training – maybe due to an injury, a new baby or crushing work deadlines – and come back convinced you were starting from zero?
Research from our team has some good news: At the cellular level, you probably weren’t.
We found that muscle and liver cells store memories fromevery training session in ways that may help improve endurance, control blood sugar levels and even slow weight regain after inactivity.
Use it or lose it? Maybe not
For most of the past century, long before fad diets and fancy workout trends took off, exercise was considered one of the most effective lifestyle changes to lower the risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, several cancers and early death for people of all ages. But people typically understood exercise as something whose beneficial effects fade away over time: You use it or lose it.
When you stop training, your maximum oxygen uptake, muscle gains and insulin sensitivity drift back to where they started, often within weeks. Physical activity guidelines are built on this fact, which is why they emphasize consistency above all else.
Consistency, however, is a luxury that roughly 3 in 4 American adults aren’t able to enjoy. People can experience injuries, illness, pregnancy or jobs that limit their time for or ability to exercise. If adaptation really resets, every time you step into the gym would be as if you’ve never been there before. But that scenario doesn’t match what coaches and returning athletes typically describe: In practice, people who have trained before can get fit again faster than those who haven’t undergone similar training.
In recent years, however, scientists have started challenging the concept of “use it or lose it.” New research hints that your cells might keep a record of your training history so all of your gains are not completely lost.
More than muscle
We areexercise physiologists who study how cells remember exercise. Our lab and others have shown that the body is able to store a form of exercise memory across different organs.
To study how this exercise memory works, our team of researchers use an ON-OFF-ON exercise training protocol in mice, which involves an initial four- to eight-week training period, followed by detraining – a period of no exercise – and a second training bout. This method allows us to examine how cells form a memory of exercise, maintain a record of exercise through detraining, and recall memories of prior training when exposed again to exercise.
Using this strategy, our team found that skeletal muscle memory accelerates muscle growth. Compared to mice with no training history, mice who retrained grew bigger muscles, and the individual muscle fibers inside those muscles grew too. Larger muscle fibers meant that the working cells were themselves getting bigger, rather than the surrounding tissue.
Looking more closely at these muscle cells, we found that retrained muscle is better at matching energy production to demand – meaning, the muscles were better at drawing from energy stores when it’s needed most – and this ability persists without further exercise. This memory held even when the mice ate a high-fat diet, suggesting that prior training can still offer benefits even when diet is working against those gains.
Muscle isn’t the only body part that learns from exercise. Working muscle needs fuel, and the liver supplies it during and after training sessions.
My colleagues and I found that liver cells also store exercise memory and uses it to feed muscle more efficiently. In both mice and people who trained, stopped, then trained again, their livers released higher levels of a family of enzymes called carboxylesterases. These enzymes chop up lipids circulating in the blood, delivering fat in a form that muscle can take up and burn as it grows.
A record that outlives you
Recorded cellular memories of exercise may even be passed down to future generations.
In mice, we found that three to four weeks of maternal and paternal endurance exercise can have a lasting effect on their offspring. Compared to offspring born to sedentary parents, parental exercise granted protection against poor blood sugar levels and excess weight gain for an entire year after birth.
But there remains much to be discovered on how parents influence the health of their children and whether their lifestyle could provide a fitness advantage across generations.
Every cell remembers
Biology has traditionally granted memory to a short list of cells. Neurons store memory in the connections between them. Immune cells store memory so they can recognize pathogens faster and more strongly the next time they encounter them.
Researchers previously considered all other cells to be memoryless; a cell responds to a signal, then returns to baseline without keeping a record of that interaction. But that assumption is now coming apart.
Skin stem cells can keep a record of inflammation, allowing them to heal a new wound faster months later. Human fat cells keep a record of obesity that persists even after substantial weight loss, which may account for why you gain weight faster when switching back to a high-calorie diet – the so-called yo-yo effect.
We propose that every cell in the body remembers exercise, regardless of how little or how much someone trains. The question is how long these records are stored and whether researchers could prolong or expand each cell’s storage capacity. Better understanding of how cells learn and remember exercise, where they store memories and how those memories are preserved could help improve exercise guidelines for those who cannot exercise for prolonged or consistent periods of time.
To be clear, none of these findings are evidence for skipping the gym; nothing in our data suggests the effects of past training can substitute for present training. But there is hope that the work you put into getting in shape isn’t completely lost over time.
Somewhere, deep in your cells, there is a record waiting to be replayed the next time you lace up your running shoes, pick up a pair of dumbbells or want to fulfill a New Year’s resolution.
There were many aspects of this applied health science that surprised me, and I suspect will surprise others. It is another supporting reason why I go cycling three or four times a week.
In past years I have run my own business. But it was a long way from running a pet business. If anyone hankers after running their own pet business, the following should be read.
Note:
Penny sent me the following details:
I was wondering if it would be feasible to incorporate the links that I have inserted throughout the article. As a practice, I make sure to include links to properly attribute my sources. Additionally, I have noticed that readers find it valuable to have access to supplementary information.
I have provided the list of links here for your convenience:
Start Your Eco-Friendly Pet Care Business with Practical, Green Steps
For aspiring local pet care founders and side-hustle builders who already serve pets in their community, starting an eco-friendly pet care business can feel both meaningful and overwhelming. The core tension is simple: the environmental impact of the pet industry is hard to ignore, yet many new pet care entrepreneurs worry that sustainable choices will be too expensive, too confusing, or too niche to sell. The opportunity is real because pet parents want healthier routines for their animals and less waste in their homes, and sustainable pet products meet both needs. With the right focus, today’s green business opportunities can grow from values into steady revenue.
Plan a Low-Waste Dog Grooming Salon From Scratch
If the “why” behind eco-friendly pet care resonates with you, an eco-conscious grooming salon is a tangible way to put those values into daily practice.
Start by building your salon around sustainable grooming products and routines that cut resource use: choose natural pet shampoos and cleaners, set up grooming practices that reduce water consumption, and look for energy-efficient ways to run your day-to-day operations, while keeping waste to a minimum through careful supply choices and less disposable “single- use” clutter. When you’re mapping out your concept, a detailed dog grooming salon roadmap can help you connect the eco-friendly vision to real-world planning around costs, equipment, and legal setup.
Just as important, invest in professional training and certification to build trust with clients and to give yourself the hands-on skills to work safely with dogs across breeds, coat types, and temperaments. Aspiring groomers often build those skills by attending a grooming school, apprenticing with an experienced professional, or taking workshops and pursuing certification through industry organizations. That training doesn’t just improve service quality; it also reduces the chances of handling mistakes that can lead to injury-related liability.
Next, we’ll turn this kind of concept into action with seven practical steps you can follow to launch your green pet service.
Build Your Eco-Friendly Pet Care Setup Step by Step
This seven-step checklist turns your eco-friendly idea into a real, day-to-day operating plan, from what you stock to how you move pets and run your space. It matters because small, practical choices are what customers notice, and what your budget feels every month.
Step 1: List your “must-be-green” supplies first Start with a simple inventory of what you will use every week: shampoos, wipes, towels, brushes, treats, waste bags, and cleaning products. Mark which items must be biodegradable, refillable, or low-waste so you do not get distracted by cute add-ons. This becomes your buying guide and keeps your sustainability promises consistent.
Step 2: Source biodegradable supplies and compostable packaging Choose a small set of core items that are easy to reorder, then ask suppliers about materials, certifications, and how they ship to you. If you sell retail items or send pets home with products, switch to compostable mailers, paper tape, and minimal packing so every order produces less trash. Keep one backup option for each item to avoid last-minute non-eco substitutions.
Step 3: Pick non-toxic shampoos and cleaners you can explain Choose gentle, non-toxic pet shampoos and surface cleaners, then write a one-sentence “why we use this” note for each product so your staff can answer questions confidently. Test products on a small group of clients first so you can spot sensitivities and coat-type differences early. Consistency here builds trust and reduces the chance of irritated skin or strong chemical odors.
Step 4: Vet ethical brands like you are hiring a partner Review each brand’s ingredients, sourcing, animal welfare stance, and whether they offer refills or concentrated formats to cut packaging. A helpful gut-check is that many shoppers actively look for this type of value match, and 80% of luxury pet accessory buyers prioritize sustainability and ethical production. If a brand cannot answer basic questions, move on.
Step 5: Set sustainable pet transportation habits Plan routes to reduce drive time, group nearby appointments when possible, and encourage clients to choose off-peak drop-offs that prevent extra trips. Keep reusable seat covers, washable leashes, and a small “spill kit” so you avoid single-use wipes and liners. If you offer pickup, write clear policies that protect pets while also protecting fuel use.
Step 6: Create an energy-efficient workspace you can maintain Start with the basics you can control daily: LED lighting, smart power strips, and a thermostat schedule that matches your hours. Choose efficient dryers and washers when you replace equipment, and post quick reminders for staff to shut off water and power between services. These changes lower costs over time and make your sustainability message real, not just marketing.
Step 7: Track one month of waste and adjust your defaults For four weeks, log what you throw away most, what you reorder too often, and what clients request repeatedly. Then adjust your “default” choices, such as switching to concentrates, moving to refill stations, or replacing disposables with washable tools. Demand for eco-friendly products keeps rising, so tightening your systems now helps you scale without losing your mission.
Small upgrades add up fast, and soon your whole service feels cleaner, kinder, and easier to run.
Borrow Dog-Training Lessons to Build Trust and Loyalty
Once your sustainable products and workspace are in place, your day-to-day work with pets becomes the part that most shapes your reputation.
Running a pet care business is a two-way learning experience, especially with dogs. Spending time with different breeds, ages, temperaments, and routines teaches you how communication really works beyond commands, what a dog is comfortable with, what they’re asking for, and when they need space. You start noticing stress signals sooner, picking up on subtle changes in body language and energy that tell you when something isn’t right. You also learn what kinds of enrichment each dog prefers, how much (and what type of) exercise they truly need, and which predictable routines help them feel secure.
That growing awareness makes you more observant, adaptable, and thoughtful, qualities clients feel immediately and remember when deciding who to trust with their pets. Next, we’ll tackle the practical questions that often come up around costs, laws, and building credibility.
Eco-Friendly Pet Business Questions, Answered
Q: How do I budget for sustainable supplies without pricing myself out? A: Start with the “must-haves” that touch pets directly, like non-toxic cleaners, compostable waste bags, and durable leashes. Buy fewer, better items, then track cost-per-use to spot what actually saves money over time. Keep a small swap list so you can offer a lower-cost option if a client requests it.
Q: What legal basics should I handle before taking my first client? A: Register your business, use a clear service agreement, and get pet care liability insurance before you begin. Ask a local attorney to review your contract language around cancellations, injuries, keys, and emergency vet authorization. Keep client info secure, especially vet records and home access details.
Q: How can I educate customers on green practices without sounding preachy? A: Lead with benefits they feel, like fewer harsh scents, less skin irritation, and tidier waste routines. Offer simple “why we use this” explanations in your welcome packet and let clients opt into upgrades. It also helps to note that 62% bought an environmentally friendly product recently, so you’re meeting an existing preference.
Q: Which certifications are actually worth pursuing for eco pet products? A: Prioritize certifications that match the item type, like third-party compostability for bags and verified recycled content for packaging. Ask brands for documentation and avoid vague “eco” claims without proof. If you sell products, start with a few certified bestsellers rather than trying to certify everything at once.
Q: Can an eco-friendly pet care business really compete with bigger brands? A: Yes, because trust and consistency win locally, especially when your service quality is excellent. The market demand is growing, and the $13.2 billion in 2024 signal suggests customers are actively spending in this space. Focus on a tight niche, memorable customer experience, and transparent product choices.
Small steps, done consistently, add up to a business people love to recommend.
Launch Your Eco-Friendly Pet Care Offer With Confidence
Wanting to help pets while running a business can feel tricky when sustainability, costs, and customer expectations all pull in different directions. The steady path is a values-first approach: choose materials and practices you can stand behind, communicate clearly, and build trust one decision at a time. Done well, the benefits of sustainable pet care show up in healthier routines, less waste, and a brand people feel good supporting, fueling entrepreneur motivation and long-term green business growth. Start small, stay consistent, and let your values lead. Choose your first simple offer today and write a short promise for how it helps pets and the planet. That’s how the impact of eco-friendly businesses grows into real stability for animals, customers, and your future.
ooOOoo
I am slowly getting used to this Mac, and the new wireless trackball, so readers have to be patient with me.
And my comment to Penny: “Thank you, Penny, for another valuable article.
One of the benefits of taking our two dogs outside, while it was still dark, was seeing this sight. As soon as the dogs were inside I took my camera, a Nikon, outside and photographed the moon.
The photograph also shows Jupiter.
The date is Tuesday, October 6th, 2026.
Taken from the website: The Sky Today.
The Oct. 6 lunar occultation of Jupiter will be visible in darkness across most of the eastern and central U.S. and parts of southern Canada. For parts of the American West and eastern Mexico, the Moon and Jupiter will not yet have risen when the occultation begins; they will see only the reemergence of Jupiter from behind the Moon’s dark limb. Strips across northern Montana and southern Canada, and across southern Mexico, southern Cuba, and the Greater Antilles, will see a partial occultation of Jupiter, with the Moon grazing the planet’s disk. Credit: Astronomy: Roen Kelly, after David Dunham/International Occultation Timing Association
Part of the process of switching to my new Mac was going through the hundreds of photographs stored and sorting out the good from the rubbish. What follows are a few of the ones I kept.
This is such a beautiful account of a young boy rescuing a dog.
I said this many times before. That is when I first met my wife, Jean, she was living in Mexico with twenty-three ex-rescue dogs (and quite a few cats).
So this tale from The Dodo is a must to republish,
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Little Boy Can’t Stop Crying When He Meets An Abandoned Dog At A Gas Station
“He was like, ‘We can’t just leave this animal here.’”
This past Labor Day weekend, Alexandra and Rollins Luckey went on a road trip from Florida back home to Atlanta. Along the way, they made a stop at a gas station in Columbus, Georgia, and were immediately greeted by a pit bull.
“There was just this dog chilling in front, and the people inside were like, ‘Yeah, he’s been here for forever. We don’t know who owns him,’” Alexandra told The Dodo.
ALEXANDRA LUCKEY
The Luckeys were shocked by how affectionate the big dog was. He had the demeanor of someone’s beloved pet but was clearly all by himself.
“He came right up to us and was so friendly,” Alexandra said.
The couple’s 6-year-old son, Reese, became very attached to the dog right away. Reese fell in love with the pup’s sweet personality and didn’t understand how anyone could abandon him outside a gas station. He was so heartbroken by the dog’s situation that he was even moved to tears.
“Our son’s a really good kid. He knows right from wrong, and not just that, he knows what’s good and bad,” Rollins told The Dodo. “He was like, ‘We can’t just leave this animal here.'”
Between Reese’s tears and the pup’s sweet face, Alexandra and Rollins started to wonder: What if they actually didn’t leave the dog? On paper, taking a dog from a random Georgia gas station home with them seemed crazy. But as they thought about it more, they realized nothing was stopping them.
“I’m a dog lover, so I was like, ‘Let’s just take him,’” Alexandra said.
Reese couldn’t believe it. As his parents brought the dog into the car, he couldn’t stop smiling.
“He was so excited,” Alexandra said.
ALEXANDRA LUCKEY
The couple posted a photo of the dog to a local lost pets Facebook page, where they learned from a community member that the dog’s owner had been neglecting him for quite some time and didn’t want him anymore. That settled it — Reese named the dog Clark, and the Luckeys officially welcomed him into their home.
“Pit bulls have such a bad rap, but they’re truly the sweetest dogs,” Alexandra said. “If you treat them well, they’ll love you back.”
ALEXANDRA LUCKEY
Over the past week and a half, Clark has quickly settled into his new home. He’s obsessed with sitting in Rollins’ lap and covering him with licks, and he’s already enjoying running around with the family’s other dog, Bunny. Reese, of course, has been thrilled to cuddle up with his new best friend.
“I feel like our family’s complete with him,” Alexandra said.
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Fabulous!
The story brings to mind the last dog that we took from the local dog rescue centre. Namely, Cloudy. He is a part Chihuahua and very intelligent. He adores Jeannie.
