Category: People and their pets

For the love of a dog

An astounding account of saving a dog’s life.

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.

Here’s an account from KSDK dated July 2nd, 2010

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.

‘Honey, just taking the dogs for a walk!’

Prepare to be amazed!

Big thanks to Ginger from our local Humane Centre, the Humane Society of Central Arizona, who sent me this YouTube link.

You all have a restful week-end, whatever you are doing!

The fabulous, loyal ‘seeing-eye’ dog

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)

By NADIA GILANI

Last updated at 1:01 PM on 22nd October 2011

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 Maddison
Forever 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.

Beauty of flight

Big thank you to Dennis L. for forwarding this video

Will say no more – just watch

And if that gives you a buzz, then you might want to read a Post that I published on the 30th July Free as a Bird reproduced in full below,

The wonderful combination of paragliding and flying with hawks.

Thanks to Dan Gomez for passing me a short video about this amazing activity.  It was a matter of moments to find out the background.  But first a picture.

Copyright Scott Mason

There’s a full description of the history of parahawking, as it is called, on WikiPedia.

Parahawking is a unique activity combining paragliding with elements of falconry. Birds of prey are trained to fly with paragliders, guiding them to thermals for in-flight rewards and performing aerobatic maneouvres.

Parahawking was developed by British falconer Scott Mason in 2001. Mason began a round-the-world trip in Pokhara, Nepal, where many birds of prey – such as the griffon vulture, steppe eagle andblack kite – can be found. While taking a tandem paragliding flight with British paraglider Adam Hill, he had the opportunity to see raptors in flight, and realized that combining the sport of paragliding with his skills as a falconer could offer others the same experience. He has been based in Pokhara ever since, training and flying birds during the dry season between September and March.

The team started by training two black kites, but have since added an Egyptian vulture and a Mountain hawk-eagle to the team. Only rescued birds are used – none of the birds has been taken from the wild.

There’s an interesting website for those that want to take a closer including more details about Scott Mason and his team here.

Now watch this!

Deborah Stone

Final contribution to the Dog Pound Ball!

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.

Her name is Deborah Stone.  Her website is here.

Deborah Stone

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.

Thank you!

Surfin’ USA, bulldog style

Have a great week-end, wherever you are!

Surf Dog Tillman sets an example!

(Ron Davis is the owner of this 6 year old English Bulldog Tillman living in Oxnard California.)

A dog called Loopy

A powerful lesson in patience and trust.

The brown dog with her head nestled against my chest is Loopy.  Like Phoebe, the black dog looking at the camera, they are dogs that Jean originally had rescued in Mexico.

Here’s Loopy’s story.

Loopy and Phoebe

When I first met Jean in December 2007 in San Carlos, Mexico, it was immediately clear that she was an animal lover extraordinaire! There were 13 dogs and 6 cats in her home and many other dogs in a fenced off compound not so far away from the house.

Abandoned and stray dogs in that part of Mexico were numerous, there was no humane society and no real care or interest from the Mexicans for these dogs.  So many years ago, Jean decided to run her own unofficial dog rescue society, supported by more than a few Americans who had winter homes in San Carlos.  Over the years, Jeannie and her team must have rescued and found homes for well over 50 dogs.

In my introduction to the post last Tuesday, Please Help a George, I wrote about how long it had taken for Loopy to bond with me, but Jean’s experience of Loopy goes way back before I entered their lives.

I mentioned above that Jean had a piece of land in San Carlos that she used as a rescue compound for her dogs.  One morning, back in 2003, as usual she had gone to the compound to attend to her dogs.  Jeannie noticed immediately, cowering in one corner, this young female, brown-haired dog, the dog had been tossed over the fence of the compound.  Jean estimated that she was about a year old, hadn’t yet had any pups.  The dog had very cold eyes, growled aggressively as soon as Jean approached her; clearly deeply traumatised.

Jean set out food and water before the dog, hoping that whatever had traumatised the dog would soon abate.  The dog was named: Loopy!

Despite the fact that Loopy wouldn’t mix with the other dogs in the compound, she was not mean.  But the days turned into weeks, the weeks into months, and still Loopy would not allow Jean to get close to her.  One could only imagine the degree of cruelty that must have been metered out to Loopy – or, rather, one couldn’t imagine it!

Then, one day, when Jean went to the compound, Loopy was amongst the other dogs.  Loopy cautiously came up to Jean, sniffed her feet and legs and then, miraculously, allowed Jean to gently stroke her head and back.  Loopy’s cold, angry eyes were now soft and brown; Loopy had melted.  For obvious reasons, Loopy would never be available for adoption and soon moved into the main house.

When I became a permanent part of the Mexican household in 2008, Loopy was deeply suspicious of me.  I was given the cold, hard-eyed stare from Loopy and any attempt by me to touch her was returned with growling, fanged teeth.  There were a number of instances where I collected teeth rips across my hands from Loopy.

The aggression towards me lasted a long time, about a year.  But then one day, quite unexpectedly, Loopy decided that I was friend, not some reminder of a demon foe from her past.  She trusted me, first with strokes and cuddles and then with the most passionate and trusting embraces.  I love her so much.

One could wax lyrical about love, patience and trust, but I won’t.  The photograph below says it all.  We really do have so much to learn from dogs!

Loopy and Paul

Please help Milly

This is such a beautiful dog, and so many ways to help her.
Milly

On the 11th October, I published a story, a story with a very happy ending, about George, a lovely dog who was rescued from the Dog Pound the day before he was due to be killed.  The underlying request was to help, in any way that you could, raise funds in conjunction with the Dog Pound Ball being held in Yorkshire.

As I wrote, and as we all know full too well, there are many other dogs that require our help.  This is the story of Milly, 9 years old and sadly has spent almost 3 years in rescue.
Little Milly

Milly was handed in from a local home when her owners felt they could no longer keep her.  She is an affectionate dog once she learns to trusts, but does growl at strangers and doesn’t present well in kennels.  As a result of these issues Milly has been at the rescue kennels for almost three years now, which is a long time for any dog to have to tolerate.

As time goes on it becomes increasingly unlikely that we will succeed in finding her a home.  Barnsley Animal Rescue Centre (BARC) does not give up on its rescue animals and has been working with this lovely dog to overcome her problems.  Sadly we feel we have done all we can here.

It would be heartbreaking to think she would live out the rest of her life here with us instead of being loved and surrounded by her own family.  So we have decided on a way of helping Milly, but it comes at a cost.

Specialist rehabilitation has been arranged but it is going to cost BARC about £50 per week.  It’s unclear how long the treatment will take and how effective it will be, but we feel Milly deserves this chance, and know that you will agree with us.

So let’s all do something to help these special creatures, the Georges and the Millys of this world, who offer us humans such unconditionally love and loyalty.

Friday 4th November, 7.30pm – Come to the Hellaby Hall Hotel, Old Hellaby, Maltby, Yorkshire, S66 8SN

Call for tickets now to the Pound Dog Ball telephone number (UK) 07772 538513 or email pogpublications@yahoo.com  Full details here.

Please help by supporting this Charity Fundraising Event: Black Tie, Dinner/Dance at Hellaby Hall, Rotherham, 7.30pm, on Friday 4th November. It’s a don’t miss night…..3 course meal, live entertainment all night and dancing ’til late!!!! It’s going to be a great night.

If you can’t make the Ball but 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.

All monies raised will be shared between http://www.dogsos.co.uk/ (Doris Banham) and http://www.barnsleyanimalrescue.org.uk/  (Barnsley Animal Rescue Charity)

Everyone involved in helping these precious animals sends you their heartfelt thanks.

 

Yet another Saturday smile

When I was living back in South-West England, in the Totnes area, I had plenty of time to get to know Neil K.  Neil has the most wonderful sense of humour and an ability to look at the world rather differently than the rest of us.  I offer this tribute in acknowledgement of the great items that Neil passes to me for inclusion in Learning from Dogs.  This one is no exception.

——————–

The Story of Adam & Eve’s Pets 

Adam and Eve said, ‘Lord, when we were in the garden, you walked with us every day. Now we do not see you any more. We are lonesome here, and it is difficult for us to remember how much you love us.’

And God said, I will create a companion for you that will be with you and who will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will love me even when you cannot see me.

Regardless of how selfish or childish or unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourselves.’ 

And God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam and Eve.

And it was a good animal and God was pleased.

And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and Eve and he wagged his tail.

And Adam said, ‘Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdom and I cannot think of a name for this new animal.’

And God said, ‘I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call him DOG.’

And Dog lived with Adam and Eve and was a companion to them and loved them.

And they were comforted.

And God was pleased.

And Dog was content and wagged his tail.

After a while, it came to pass that an angel came to the Lord and said, ‘Lord, Adam and Eve have become filled with pride. They strut and preen like peacocks and they believe they are worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught them that they are loved, but perhaps too well.’ 

And God said, I will create for them a companion who will be with them and who will see them as they are. The companion will remind them of their limitations, so they will know that they are not always worthy of adoration.’ 

And God created CAT to be a companion to Adam and Eve.

And Cat would not obey them. And when Adam and Eve gazed into Cat’s eyes, they were reminded that they were not the supreme beings.

And Adam and Eve learned humility. 

And they were greatly improved. 

And God was pleased.

And Dog was happy.

And Cat . . . 

didn’t give a shit one way or the other.

After George comes Brutus

Big thanks to Cynthia S. for forwarding this to me.

Before writing about Brutus, did you read yesterday’s item about George, the rescue dog, and the wonderful effort to raise funds for more life-saving efforts?  If not, read it here. Whatever you can spare, please donate to this super cause.

Now to Cynthia’s item, that has been fairly widely spread across the internet.

How to hug a baby

Brutus

Thought you might like to know about this dog and his history, I especially like the ending, Cynthia.

The dog above is Brutus, a military dog at McChord.. . He’s huge, part Boxer and part British Bull Mastiff, and tops the scales at 200 lbs. His handler took the picture and explains, “Brutus is running toward me because he knows I have some Milk Bone treats, so he’s slobbering away! I had to duck around a tree just before he got to me in case he couldn’t stop, but he did.”

Brutus was the recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor last year from his tour in Iraq.  His handler and four other soldiers were taken hostage by insurgents.  Brutus and his handler communicate by sign language and he gave Brutus the signal that meant ‘go away but come back and find me’.  The Iraqis paid no attention to Brutus.  He came back later and quietly tore the throat out of one guard at one door and another guard at another door.  He then jumped against one of the doors repeatedly (the guys were being held in an
old warehouse) until it opened.  He went in and untied his handler and they all escaped.  Brutus is the first dog to receive this honor, the Congressional Medal of Honor.  If he knows you’re ok, he’s a big old lug and wants to sit in your lap.  Enjoys the company of cats..

Instructions for properly hugging a baby with Brutus

(A quick Google search found that the words accompanying the same pictures on Daniela’s website, The Daily Tail, were perfect, thus they have been used.)

Step One – Place the baby on a flat, uncluttered surface. Important: Do not attempt this without the assistance of a qualified parent.

Step One

Step Two –  Conduct a sniff test to verify the specimen is actually a baby. The scent of baby powder is usually sufficient evidence.

Step Two

Step Three – Carefully adjust the baby’s position until its head faces the mother’s camera. Note: Babies have two ends. The end covered with a hat or hair is the head. The end covered with a diaper is the butt. Babies do not have tails.

Step Three

Step Four – Lay your body down over baby. Do not apply pressure. While gently placing your paws around the baby’s body, lick your lips to condition them for the kiss (essential part of the hug).

Step Four

Step Five – Lean in toward the baby and let your heart melt. Repeat as necessary until the parent finds the camera and takes a perfect picture.

Step Five

Thanks Cynthia for this lovely story.