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Rescue Dog Ends up Saving the Lives of Nine Children

Angela Fullmer had her hands full. Her husband was out of town, so she had to manage their 9 children on her own. This in addition to two dogs.

So when one of the dogs started barking uncontrollably, she was annoyed.

“Capone,” she yelled, “Shut up! You’re going to wake the baby.”

Capone is a min pin/whippet/chihuahua had been rescued 18 months previous by her husband. Capone was found on the freeway.

No matter what she did, Capone would not stop barking. She called him to her, and he wouldn’t come. Very unusual behavior for this dog.

She got up to see what he was barking about, and it’s a good thing she did.

When she walked into the kitchen, the microwave was on fire. The fire was small, but being an electrical fire she couldn’t throw water on it.

She needed to evacuate her family. She started with the baby, then the 20 month old. She called out to her oldest to gather the rest of the children. While they were heading out, the flames reached the kitchen ceiling and the alarm went off. She called 911 and made sure all the kids were out.

“We always do a roll call every time we get in the van,” she said. “They’re used to it.”

Fortunately, all the kids were present.

As for Capone, he got himself out.

The house was completely destroyed. The family stayed in a hotel room until they found a new place to live. This meant that Capone had to stay with friends in the meantime. He was so upset he didn’t eat for three days. When he finally returned, he wouldn’t leave the babies side.

Check out the video below to see the whole story!

Source: Des Moines Register

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Injured Dog Saved by Cyclist

Jarrett Little carries an injured Columbo on the back of his bike.

Jared Little was cycling as part of a group near Columbus Georgia. That’s when they saw the stray dog.

“We stopped to let everyone regroup and he came out of the woods really happy to see us,” Little tells MNN. “He was thin, hadn’t eaten in a while and had obviously been hit by a car.”

The cyclists gave the dog what they had, some water and some energy chews.

“I was concerned for him as was the lady with me named Chris Dixon. We both decided there was no way we could leave him, but we were a long way from town and it was getting dark,” Little says.

They only had bikes, so they gently lifted him up and cycled away.

“I was concerned for him as was the lady with me named Chris Dixon. We both decided there was no way we could leave him, but we were a long way from town and it was getting dark,” Little says.

Andrea Shaw with Columbo

Once they were back in town, they met Andrea Shaw, who was in town for a business trip.

“He ran right to her as though he knew she was his next step,” Little says.

Andrea was just talking a walk to see Columbus, and just happened to be right in front of the bike shop when the pair arrived.

“This little dog ran up to me and jumped into my arms. I started looking around for his person and started asking about him. Chris Dixon showed me the picture on Jarrett’s back,” Shaw tells MNN. “I called him and he jumped in my arms and I haven’t let him go since.”

She ended up with the dog’s leash. She called her husband and said “I found this dog and he’s broken. I cannot leave him.” She just double checked that the hotel she was staying at was pet-friendly.

Columbo rests as he waits for his ride from Georgia to Maine.

The newly christened “Columbo” was taken to an emergency vet. He had road rash, a leg broken in several places, and a broken toe. He went to an orthopedic vet the next morning to repair the damage. Before he knew it, he was on a “Grateful Doggies” van to Maine.

All in all, he ended up with 25 staples and 4 pins, as well as a full cast to support his toe. He had to take multiple medications along the way home.

Bo soon arrived at his new home. He now lives with two black and tan coon hounds, several horses, and Andrea’s son.

Bo drinks water with horse

Everyone fell in love with the puppy, who is likely a great dane.

“He’s a pretty lucky little dude to say the least,” says Little, who stays in touch with Shaw.

Because of his long recovery time, Andrea bought him “every chew toy known to dog” to help keep him busy. She also got him a convertible crate so she can take him on errands and outside.

Columbo in his convertible playpen

The picture of Columbo being carried on the bike went viral. As a result, his owner created a Facebook page called “The Adventures of Columbo.

And as Bo posts on his Facebook page, “Mom says having a broken giant puppy isn’t all rainbows and unicorns — but she still loves me to the moon and back.”

Source: MNN

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Dog Saves Pregnant Mom’s Life

As we all know, dogs have an almost supernatural ability to detect things. This is why we train them to detect drugs, bombs, and even cancer. This means they can smell inside the human body. They will know we are sick before we do.

This story should come as no surprise then, although it is still amazing.

Keola is an Akita who lives in South Yorkshire. Her owners, Ricky and Alhanna Butler treat her has part of the family. But their family was growing. Alhanna was pregnant.

The pregnancy progressed, and with it came back pain. Her doctor reassured her that lower back pain is normal in pregnancy and not to worry.

Alhanna was reassured, but Keola was not. Her incredible sense of smell told her something was wrong, it wasn’t just back pain. Keola was acting weird, but her owners could not identify why.

“When the doctors sent me home and said there was nothing seriously wrong, she just sat staring at me so intently that it really scared me,” Alhanna explained to Mercury Press. “I posted a picture of her doing this on Facebook and make the joke about the film Hatchi where the dog also does this and suddenly my friends all started saying I should take it seriously.”

The dog became more nosey. There was no doubt she was trying to say something. “No one really understood how ill I was – but Keola did. She would nudge me and cry and I could never figure out why she had suddenly started doing this. Ricky said she was distraught whenever I went to work, when she had never minded before.”

“Because it was untreated for so long, it was one of the worst cases they had ever seen,” Alhanna described her horrific experience on Facebook. “On top of that I had an antibiotic resistant bug that had only ever affected one other person in the U.K. It was killing me and the doctors told me that if I had left it any longer I would have died and more than likely my son also.”

Her dog’s reaction was so intense she returned to the doctor. After being checked again, she was brought into intensive care. She had been just hours away from death.

Alhanna had a double kidney infection that was causing the back pain. On top of that, she had a rare antibiotic resistant infection. If she had waited any longer, she would have died.

“Because it was untreated for so long, it was one of the worst cases they had ever seen,” Alhanna described her horrific experience on Facebook. “On top of that I had an antibiotic resistant bug that had only ever affected one other person in the U.K. It was killing me and the doctors told me that if I had left it any longer I would have died and more than likely my son also.”

Keola and her nose had saved the day. Alhanna carried her pregnancy to term. She gave birth to a boy named Lincoln, and he and Keola are best friends.

Source: Shareably

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Do Therapy Dogs Like Their Jobs?

If you love dogs, just hanging out with a dog will make you feel good.

This is the basic idea behind therapy dogs. They work as healing companions for people with cancer, PTSD, and dementia.

There more than 50,000 therapy dogs in the U.S., and they are becoming increasingly popular in other countries, such as Norway and Brazil. Trained and certified by a variety of organizations, their primary responsibility is to go into hospitals to interact with patients.

The benefits of therapy animals are real, as confirmed by research. But what do the therapy dogs think of their jobs? Science considered this question and the results are comforting.

A recent study published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science reports that the therapy dogs they studied were not stressed out by their work, but in fact enjoy them. They studied therapy dogs specifically in pediatric cancer wards.

“What made this study unique was that it was multisite—it took place in five different hospitals across the country—and the fact that we visited over a hundred patients and 26 dogs participated, making it the largest of its kind in this field,” says study leader Amy McCullough, national director of research and therapy at American Humane, a Washington, D.C.-based animal welfare organization.

To see if the dogs were stressed, the scientists tested for cortisol levels in their saliva. The swabs were taken while the dogs were working and at home.

The problem is that cortisol can be used to measure both positive and negative stress. “Let’s say we have a dog that loves to play ball—when the ball comes out and the dog starts chasing the ball, that would elevate the dog’s cortisol levels as well,” McCullough says.

To overcome this difficulty, the team also videotaped the dogs and analyzed 26 behaviors they split into three categories: friendly, moderate stress, and high-stress.

There was no difference in cortisol whether the dogs were at home or at work. This means therapy dogs aren’t particularly stressed at work.

The next question is whether the dogs actually enjoy their work. This new study provides a new hint.

Certain dogs seemed happier during some activities. For instance, a child talking to them or playing with them made them happier than brushing or drawing.

“…it’s fair to say that some activities are more fun for the dog,” McCullough notes.

“This is good information for handlers—they can lean toward the activities that they think their dog would enjoy.”

This requires watching the dog for what they like. This will help people choose the best therapy dogs.

“Does the dog solicit attention, or does the dog need to be bribed with treats to interact?” she says.

“It needs to be a mutually beneficial interaction when they are visiting with the client, so it’s important that the dog really loves their job.”

Source: National Geographic

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A Man Was Forced to Abandon His Dog, Watch Their Reunion

Life doesn’t always go the way we want it to. For one man in Independence MO, the loss of his job meant he had to give his dog to a local shelter.

Without a job, he lost his house and any ability to care for his dog Reese. The 3 year old Boxer/Greyhound mix stayed at the shelter a year, with 2 failed attempts at adoption.

But for Reese, this was a blessing. During that time Reese’s owner was able to get his life back together. Hoping beyond hope, he contacted the shelter, to find that Reese was still there.

When he entered the shelter, he was hoping Reese would remember him. Watch the video below to see how it turned out.

https://youtu.be/DiSu7nvQ5Rs

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9 Year Old Sells Skateboard to Save Dog

The sheer amount of stray and homeless dogs is staggering. In an ideal world, every dog would have a home. Sadly, this is not so. Fortunately, there are good people doing what they can to help these dogs.

There are animal activists, rescue groups, and volunteers. Every day they are helping to get dogs off the street and into homes.

A 9 year old boy from Argentina found a stray dog in the street and noticed it was injured. This boy is compassionate, and wanted to do what he could to help the dog.

Mauco Abeiro took the dog in and named him Rocko. The homeless pup had an injury to his leg.

9-year-old

After a bath and meal, Mauco gave Rocko lots of love. But Rocko still needed medical care.

At first, Mauco asked his mom for help. They didn’t have the money to help the dog. “Being a single mom, my economic situation is not the same as before,” she said. “When I told him I had no money to pay a vet he got [upset].”

9-year-old

That’s when he decided to sell his skateboard to help.

Mauco used his mom’s Facebook to post an ad for his skateboard, explaining it was for his dog.

“Look at this dog I found on the street, [he’s] sick and has a hurt leg,” the message read. “If you are interested in skateboarding please leave your number here and my mom will call you.”

Even though no one wanted to buy the skateboard, it garnered a lot of attention. One woman offered to pay for all the vet bills for the dog.

Please share this story on Facebook to show that there is still kindness in the world.

9-year-old

Source: The Holidog Times

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Picking the Best Name for Your Dog

After adopting a dog or puppy, picking the perfect name isn’t an easy task. You want to ensure you are choosing a name that suits them and is easy to say.

Many people will give their dogs a title, like Mr., Mrs., or Dr. It’s endearing and  humorous. Others choose names that are more human, like Sam, Bruce, Lily, etc.

It turns out there is a kind of logic in the the funny names we choose for dogs.

Many dogs have hard consonants in their names like ‘K,’ ‘D,’ ‘B,’ or ‘T.’ This is why you see a lot of dogs named Buddy and Teddy. These sounds are easier for dogs to recognize than vowels, animal behaviorists say.

Puppy, Golden Retriever, Dog, In The Free, Young, Pet

Of course, there are no “rules” when naming your dog, but there are some tips you should follow.

Shelby Semel is the owner and senior trainer of Shelby Semel Dog Training.

“You should consider avoiding names that sound like commonly used words,” Shelby Semel told the Dodo.  “For example, a name like Noah would be confusing for the dog as it sounds too similar to the word ‘No.’” That goes for names that frequently make the “most popular” lists, such as Bo or Beau; Kit, which sounds like the command “sit” or Kay, which sounds like “stay.”

Names are obviously important when training your dog. It’s important you aren’t spitting out a long and complicated name when training.

“Ideally, one or two syllables are best,” Semel notes. “I prefer two because most cues are a single syllable. I would avoid a three-syllable name as the dog won’t respond or you begin to call them by their shorter nickname, which can get confusing for them.”

What about renaming a dog?

If you like your adopted dog’s name, then keep it. If you want to give them a new name, it will take some patience because you will need to introduce it gradually.

“Add a new middle name along with their existing name for a short duration, while you phase out the old name,” Semel advises. “If your dog’s name is Maggie when adopted, and you would like to change the name to Rose, begin calling her Maggie Rose for a few weeks, then slowly phase out the name Maggie to eventually just calling her Rose.”

Of course, have fun with naming your dog. Pick something that you like and that fits their personality.

name

Please share this on Facebook and tell us your dog’s name!

Source: Rover.com

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There is a Spike in Dog Flu – Here is What You Need to Know

Dogs can get the flu just like humans, and it can be dangerous. As dog lovers and owners, it is our responsibility to keep them healthy. What follows is everything you need to know to keep your dog safe.

There is a new dog flu vaccine and veterinarians are encouraging pet owners to get it for their pups. A new strain of canine influenza has spread across the country.

“It was unreal. It was the worst nightmare that could ever happen,” dog show hobbyist Jodie Strait said. “I went to a dog show to show my dogs and I almost killed them.”

The dog flu is a very contagious illness that can cause infection and sometimes death. This season’s flu has been found in 46 states.

Strait was returning from the Australian Shepherd National Specialty in St. Louis, MO when she noticed her Australian Shepherds were very sick.

“At the time we thought it was a simple case of canine kennel cough,” Strait said, “but within a few days all of my dogs were fighting for their lives.”

All of her dogs were showing symptoms of influenza: coughing, sneezing, lethargy, decreased appetite, and breathing difficulties. It had spread from one dog to the others.

flu

“Sitting alone with a dog gasping for breath in the middle of the night was horrific and something I would not wish on anyone,” Strait said.  “I told (the dogs) they owe me nothing. Just please, please keep breathing…Just breathe… I was one of the lucky ones – mine survived.”

It took weeks of treatment, but fortunately all of her dogs survived. However, six of the seven can no longer compete. One has permanent throat issues and another has lung disease.

flu

“I carry tremendous guilt that my healthy and happy dogs got sick,” Strait said. “I do everything possible for my dogs and only by the grace of God are they with me.”

Unlike human flu, canine influenza spreads all year in most climates. Your dog can get it at any time.

“If you notice the signs, get in touch with your veterinarian, knowing that this can be a very serious disease and it can cause severe illness,” said Dr. Jennifer Bonovich, a veterinarian in South Carolina. “Some cases do require hospitalization and it can cost several thousand dollars.”

Strait wants owners to get their dog’s blood tested immediately if they notice their dog is acted strangely. She wishes that she hadn’t assumed it was kennel cough.

“Don’t just keep saying it can’t happen to you because it can. It can happen to anybody,” Strait said. “It’s really scary and, honestly, the shot is way cheaper than the pet bill.”

Please share this story on Facebook to spread the news.

Source: Our Passion for Dogs

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Dog Survives Euthanasia and is Up for Adoption

Valor was found wandering on a road in Texas last month. He is partially blind.

Lorrie Anding, who works for Cuz i Matter Animal Rescue says she believes Valor was given the wrong dose of the lethal drug used for euthanasia.

“I’ve never heard of that before. It’s unbelievable,” Anding said.

They would have discarded Valor, thinking he was dead. But he was still alive.

“When he woke up he started running. It took a local shelter four days to finally get their hands on him,” Anding said. “He was petrified of leashes and people.”

There was still a possibility Valor would be sent to a shelter where he would be euthanized again so a local shelter reached out.

Thankfully, Anding was able to find a foster mom, Kathryn Lippert. Lippert has been helping Valor socialize again.

Although blind and infected with heartworms, Valor has come a long way.

“He is doing great,” Anding said. “He is with a really good foster family. He has a very good personality but he is still warming up to humans.”

Valor is 2 0r 3, and a blue heeler mix. He loves to be around other dogs. Now that he is available to adopt, they want to place him with someone who has other animals.

Source: People.com

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The Story Behind the New Royal Dog

As I’m sure you are all aware, recently Meghan Markle married Prince Harry. As a result, her dog, Guy, is the newest royal dog.

Guy the beagle has had a very interesting life.

“It’s a total fairytale,” said Alison Preiss of Pet Valu, where Guy was originally adopted in 2015. “Here is this dog that was in a shelter, nobody wanted him, and through this wonderful adoption he’s now living in a palace, running around with the royal family.”

Guy’s remarkable journey started when he was transferred to “A Dog’s Dream Rescue,” which saves beagles slated to be put down in the U.S. They bring them to Canada for a second chance.

Guy was at a shelter in Kentucky and was on the euthanasia list. Several volunteers worked together to transport Guy the 500 miles to Canada.

He hadn’t been in Canada a full day before he was at an adoption fair in Toronto.  “He was just sitting there with those big beagle sad eyes, looking so depressed. He was irresistible,” said Doherty, who runs the rescue.

Dozens of people came to the fair including Meghan Markle, who was filming “Suits” at the time.

Doherty followed Guy’s new life on Instagram. When she found out Markle was engaged to Prince Harry, she was in awe. “It’s just beyond my wildest imagination,” she said. “How is that for a rags to riches story from a good old Kentucky beagle?”

Source: The Guardian