I can’t recall how I came across this story but I’m so glad I did. Just watch this video and be very moved.
September 2010 Ellen welcomed Zak & Michelle Anderegg to the show to talk about Zak’s amazing rescue of an abandoned puppy. He saved the young pup, Riley, from 350 feet down a canyon — and then brought him here to meet Ellen!
The event being over a year ago doesn’t change anything – it was, is, and forever will be a wonderful example of what dogs bring out in us.
NBC — A puppy rescued from the bowels of a deep Utah canyon is now recovering in Salt Lake City.
The man who rescued him documented much of the incredible story with his own video camera. They don’t know his real name, so they just call him Puppy.
He’s now a temporary shop-dog at The Wrench-It Center, owned by Zak & Michelle Anderegg.
“He was completely starved,” Zak Anderegg said. “He was, my best guess, 24 to 48 hours from being dead.
“That was last week in a slot canyon near the Utah-Arizona border.It’s so deep and narrow and twisted, some sections are dark in the middle of the day.
Zak was rappelling when he suddenly saw a dog, starving and dehydrated. “I cannot believe I found this guy down in this frickin’ pothole in this canyon,” he said.
He climbed out to get water. On the way back down he wondered how the puppy got there. “The rim of the canyon is 350 feet above us, so falling from the rim would have killed him,” Zak said. “Every single time I work it through my head, I come up with the same answer: someone put him there — left, abandoned“.
He climbed out again and drove to Page, Arizona to recruit a rescue team. “They told me flat-out, ‘We’re certainly not going to send out the fire department or the sheriff’s department to help you.‘ So I said, ‘All right, I’ll manage on my own.'”
The next morning he was back with a cat carrier and a plan, using ropes in a one-man rescue operation.
“I took risks,” Zak said, “but none above what I do anyway.”
He rigged up a system to attach the cat carrier to his ropes and stabilize it. Then he climbed back out.
The Page Animal Hospital saved Puppy’s life. Most of the costs were covered by the hospital’s Angel Fund. “The rate of improvement is just incredible,” Zak said. “I’d say within two weeks he’ll be at his weight.”
Michelle and Zak still haven’t decided whether to keep him, since they’re already a pet-heavy family. They’re welcoming inquiries from qualified people who can give him a good home, and they’re encouraging contributions to the Angel Fund for future emergencies. (Website is here.)
Well, Michelle and Zak did decide to keep Puppy, indeed Puppy has his own Facebook page here – http://www.facebook.com/canyonpuppy from which this photograph was taken.
A very happy and lucky Puppy!
Finally, I took the liberty of calling the Wrench-It Center and to my great pleasure the call was answered by Michelle. So if you are ever within reach of the Wrench-It Center 1245 South 700 West, Salt Lake City, Utah 84104, Tel : 801-977-7500, give them your business.
A beautiful story of dog loyalty – to another dog, to another blind dog.
I first received this lovely story last Sunday from Dan G., dear friend of over 30 years. As is my want, did some research to discover the source of the story. It appeared on the website of Ross Parry Agency on the 22nd October, 2011 (note the pics are copyright rossparry.co.uk) But I have taken the liberty of reproducing the story as it appeared in the UK Daily Mail online site, on the same date. Enjoy.
Meet the blind Great Dane in need of a home (but you’ll need to make space for HER huge guide dog)
When illness forced vets to remove Great Dane Lily’s eyes, the prospects of a fulfilling life didn’t look good.
But then no one had reckoned on her pal Maddison stepping in to turn guide dog.
The pair have been inseparable for years but now find themselves looking for a new home because their owner could no longer cope.
The catch for anyone interested is that the Great Danes come as a package. They have been waiting at the Dogs Trust re-homing centre in Shrewsbury since July.
Homeless: Blind Great Dane Lily and her kind-hearted canine carer MaddisonForever friends: Lily, left, being guided while walking with Maddison right. The pair have been inseparable since Lily lost her sight
Manager Louise Campbell said: ‘Maddison is Lily’s guide dog. If they are out and about, for the majority of the time Maddison will lead and Lily will walk nearly touching her so she knows where to go. It’s lovely to watch. Maddison is always looking out for her.’
Lily, six, was barely a puppy when she was struck down by a condition that caused her eyelashes to grown into her eyeballs, damaging them beyond repair.
It was after this traumatic event that her relationship with seven-year-old Maddison developed as she took her under her wing.
The best buddies lived together until their owners decided they couldn’t look after them any more.
Miss Campbell said: ‘With her lack of sight, Lily’s other senses have heightened so although we don’t split them up often she can tell if Maddison is nearby.
‘They curl up together to go to sleep and they are very vocal with each other.
‘We haven’t analysed their different barks but if Lily wants to go forward and Maddison is in her way, the bark will have a different pitch.
‘They are very close to one another and enjoy each other’s company‘.
Playful: Lily's lack of sight has heightened her other senses so she can often tell if Maddison is nearby without the pair touching
Miss Campbell said that Lily does all the things normal dogs do and if you saw her from a distance you wouldn’t realise she had anything wrong with her eyes.
She added: ‘They are really happy with life, the glass is always half full with these two.
‘They have been with us for a considerable amount of time but they are quite happy and go about their daily routine – they are very affectionate.’
She believes the dogs’ size and advancing years, as well as the fact they have to come in a pair, may have put off potential owners and she warned that anyone contemplating taking the dogs in should look at their lifestyle and think of the responsibility involved.
‘They are not gigantic when you see them outside. These are two lovely big girls who deserve to live out the rest of their lives together in comfort‘, she said.
Dogs Trust cares for around 16,000 stray and abandoned dogs every year through a network of 17 re-homing centres.
The Great Dane is seeking an owner who would be willing to give both her and best friend Maddison a new home
Back to me. Must say that it was just fortuitous that Dan’s email came in to me a little while after I posted yesterday’s article by Robert Holden, The Gift of Happiness. Indeed, shortly after I had written, “Perhaps the art of happiness is yet another thing we can learn from dogs!”
Anyone in the UK who wants to contact the Dogs Trust click here.
In response to Denver Mayor Michael Hancock’s insistence that Occupy Denver choose leadership to deal with City and State officials, and drawing inspiration from the notion that corporations are people, Occupy Denver’s General Assembly has elected a leader: Shelby, a three year old Border Collie. “Shelby is closer to a person than any corporation: She can bleed, she can breed, and she can show emotion. Either Shelby is a person, or corporations aren’t people,” said a Shelby supporter at the time of her election.
Occupy Denver reserves the right to alter leadership status, but for now, Shelby exhibits heart, warmth, and an appreciation for the group over personal ambition that Occupy Denver members feel are sorely lacking in the leaders some of them have voted for on national, state, and local levels. Accordingly, Occupy Denver looks forward to communication with Mayor Hancock and Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper sometime this week to introduce their leadership.
Newly-elected leader Shelby will be leading this Saturday’s Occupy Denver march against Corporate Personhood, and invites all other civic minded dogs (and their leash-holders) to join.
To be honest, I’m aware that the above sub-heading may be less than clear – a deliberate ploy to grab your attention!
On the 17th October, Learning from Dogs published a piece about Milly, a lovely dog who had been at the rescue centre for some three years – breaks your heart just to think about her.
Such a beautiful dog, and so many ways to help her.
There is a charity Ball for the benefit of the pound dogs, being held this coming Friday, the 4th, at Hellaby Hall, Rotherham, England. Luckily now fully subscribed and, clearly, heading for a successful evening for all concerned, including the dogs!
One of the supporters of the event is a professional photographer who has worked with many notable businesses, such as Ford, Vidal Sassoon, Revlon, Marks & Spencer, Wilkinson Sword.
Deborah is offering a prize for the evening, consisting of a two hour studio session covering any particular category, (family, products, makeover, model shoot, publicity, dogs- whatever!) with the final images supplied on a DVD.
So loud applause from Payson, Arizona, for such a generous gift, and in their own way, from all the dogs that will be helped who will be saying ‘thank you, as well.
Deborah’s website is here. If you need a professional photographer, why not give Deborah a call on +44 (0) 114 2348551 or email her at deb@deborahstone.co.uk
Finally, if you would like to send in a donation then please post a cheque, made out to Pound Dog Ball, to the following address:
c/o Jennifer Smith
Clumber Lodge,
50 Hemingfield Road
Wombwell, S73 0LY.
Or if you prefer an electronic donation, further details are:
Pound Dog Ball
A/C 31542265
Sort 40-45-29 (HSBC)
The account is a charity account, set up only for this event. Once the money has been paid to the charities the account will be closed.
Learning from Dogs 