Today I am happy to have this wonderful guest post by Paul Glovers about special canines saving the lives of their guardians. Enjoy. And thank you, Paul.
Paul lives with his wife and Standard Schnauzer in Washington state and is a freelance writer for Veterinary Assistant Schools, a guide to Vet Assistant careers and education.
Stories of dogs saving the lives of their owners are always touching and very inspiring. They are indeed a man's best friend because of their unconditional love and loyalty to their masters and even to complete strangers. Here are 5 stories based on true accounts of dogs saving their owners from dangerous situations:
1. Hero Dog Shot after Defending Home from Intruders
Rumble, an American Straffordshire terrier is expected to survive and be on the road to full recovery after being beaten and shot by intruders while trying to defend the owner's home. This dog, now considered as a hometown hero chased the burglars that are trying to break into the family's home. He suffered from gunshot wound and severely broken leg that needed intensive operation. Dr. Michael King from the Canada West Veterinary Specialists offered to perform the surgery for free.
Full story here: http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article/337393--hero-dog-shot-while-trying-to-defend-home-expected-to-live
2. Rescue Dog Saves Family from House Fire
Timothy Argento was at work when his home in Levittown went on fire with his wife, daughters and their friend sleeping inside. Good thing Lily, their recently adopted dog woke up everyone inside the house even before the smoke detectors went off. Everyone made it out safe and suffered no injuries and Lily made sure that everyone was out of the burning home before she got out. Lily was adopted from the North Shore Animal League. Argento states that all the material things that were burned down by the fire can be replaced but what is important is that everyone is alive and well, all thanks to Lily.
Full story here: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/02/24/dog-saves-family-from-house-fire-in-levittown/
3. Adopted Dog Returns the Favor and Saves His Owner's Life
Gerald Gray suffers from diabetes and a lung disease. Had it not been for Parker, a dog the couple adopted, Gerald would have been in a different situation right now. On one morning at around 3 o'clock in the morning, Parker a Jack Russell Terrier was trying to get the attention of Cynthia Parker by constantly barking and digging. She went ahead and looked around and found out that her husband's oxygen level was low. They never put much thought on Parker's act until it happened again, this time at the hospital where Parker won't leave his owner's side. It turns out that Gerald's oxygen went down to a dangerous level. The couple considers Parker as a life saver.
Full story here: http://www.wbtv.com/story/17116241/rescued-dog-is-saving-lives
4. Perth Dog Saves Owner's Home from Fire
When fire broke out in the kitchen area of his owner's home, this Perth dog immediately went to a heroic mode. Dyson, an eight month old Labrador barked continuously in order to get the attention of the neighbors until someone noticed the fire and called the firefighters. The damage was estimated to be around $50,000 and the kitchen area was completely burned. The damage could have been worse if Dyson was not quick to seek help.
Full story here: http://www.skynews.com.au/offbeat/article.aspx?id=722234&vId=
5. Trixie the Dog Nominated for the 5th Annual Dogs of Valor Awards
One evening of October last year, 78 year-old Ida Moose was at her backyard when she unknowingly suffered from stroke and heart attack. She woke up lying in the mud and found her terrier dog Trixie standing right beside her. Trixie started to bark in an attempt to get help and attention but was unsuccessful at first. This faithful pet stayed beside Ida for twenty hours and never left throughout the ordeal. Trixie provided warmth to her owner during the long rainy night until help finally arrives. It would have been impossible for Ida to survive had it not been for Trixie. Her life saving efforts was recognized and Trixie is nominated for the 5th Annual Dogs of Valor Awards given by the Humane Society of the United States.
Full story here: http://www.todaysthv.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=200054
MAGGIE: the dog who changed my life
Click photo to visit dawnkairns.com
Showing posts with label Humane Society of the United States. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Humane Society of the United States. Show all posts
Monday, March 19, 2012
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Shocking Animal Cruelty in Other Countries - Can We Change It?
Imagine you are out walking your dog, and an official grabs your dog's leash and beats him to death as you watch, horrified and helpless. According to the Shanghai Daily Newspaper, it happened in Mouding county in Yunnan province in southwestern China in 2006. 50,000 dogs were slaughtered over five days in a government-ordered crackdown! Their reason for the bludgeoning deaths? Three people died of rabies. Only 3 percent of dogs are vaccinated against rabies and each year more than 2,000 people die from rabies. How about vaccinating dogs rather than clubbing them to death? Where are your hearts, China? Your compassion?
China is a country where dog meat is eaten; dogs have never had an easy time there. The county police chief led killing teams that entered villages at night in this massacre. They made noise to get dogs barking, then beat them to death. Owners were offered 63 cents per animal to kill their own dogs before the teams were sent in. Can you even imagine?
Ironically, Mouding is famed for its Buddhist shrines -- what's wrong with this picture? Not my take on Buddhism by any stretch. Couldn't the government have prevented this cold-blooded, violent, brutality by creating a program to vaccinate dogs against rabies? Read full story at MSNBC.msn.com. My understanding is the slaughter of innocent dogs has not stopped with this one city. PETA recommended a boycott of Chinese products. I'd say that's the least we can do.
Similarly, imagine living in a public housing complex and having animal control workers show up at your door, seize your dog or cat, drive away with her and throw her off a 50-ft. bridge to her death. In a brutal incident last October, 2007 in Barceloneta, Puerto Rico, this is exactly what happened to dozens of dogs and cats. This incident in Puerto Rico received a lot of international attention and outrage, but perhaps not enough. Keep in mind that Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States. So they ARE under our animal cruelty laws. But obviously they are not enforced by anyone, including our government. This outrageous incident prompted a visit to Puerto Rico from Kim Intino of the Humane Society of the United States in December, 2007 to meet with tourism officials to determine how to address the island’s abundance of unwanted animals. My understanding is that the HSUS is supporting several spay/neuter initiatives on the island. This is where it starts -- to prevent overpopulation, but the existing animals need more! Children are raised thinking this heinous treatment of animals is fine. We have to change that! People in Puerto Rico need to be re-educated regarding humane treatment of animals since abuse is so common. Read more about this incident in USA Today here.
Clearly, many cultures do not respect animals or share our love for pets. Most countries in the Third World don't have laws against animal cruelty. Mexico is one of them. Muslims regard dogs as unclean and owners may have their pets confiscated while on a walk. In parts of Asia, cats and dogs are skinned alive and boiled. Sadly because children are indoctrinated in these forms of violence to animals in many countries like Puerto Rico, they find animal cruelty to be a 'normal' aspect of life. It is so important to teach them, through humane education, that there is NOTHING normal about animal cruelty -- to teach them to love and respect precious animals instead!
Canadian born Steve McGarva has first-hand experience with animal cruelty in Puerto Rico while living there for two years. Stay tuned for my next blog post that tells his story, including video footage, of his shocking discoveries about animal cruelty while living on the "Island of Enchantment," and what he did and continues to do about it.
What can you do? Pressure the tourism industry and government to continue developing humane programs. For example, if you visit Puerto Rico (or any other tourist destination) and are disturbed by the sight of homeless dogs, it can be effective to let the tourism agencies know that. Suggest the solutions of spay/neuter, legislation, and humane education, NOT eradication. Support local groups that are focusing on spay/neuter, such as PAWS in Isabela, Puerto Rico. Find groups that are offering spay/neuter and humane education trips to these countries such as the group McGarva started, the Achates Legacy Rescue Foundation, and join them.
Animal cruelty in our own country with puppy mills, dog fighting, and so much more is bad enough. What do you think? Can we change animal cruelty in other countries?
Posted By:
Dawn Kairns
Author of MAGGIE the dog who changed my life A Story of Love
Website: www.dawnkairns.com
China is a country where dog meat is eaten; dogs have never had an easy time there. The county police chief led killing teams that entered villages at night in this massacre. They made noise to get dogs barking, then beat them to death. Owners were offered 63 cents per animal to kill their own dogs before the teams were sent in. Can you even imagine?
Ironically, Mouding is famed for its Buddhist shrines -- what's wrong with this picture? Not my take on Buddhism by any stretch. Couldn't the government have prevented this cold-blooded, violent, brutality by creating a program to vaccinate dogs against rabies? Read full story at MSNBC.msn.com. My understanding is the slaughter of innocent dogs has not stopped with this one city. PETA recommended a boycott of Chinese products. I'd say that's the least we can do.
 |
| Rescued from Puerto Rico and adopted |
Clearly, many cultures do not respect animals or share our love for pets. Most countries in the Third World don't have laws against animal cruelty. Mexico is one of them. Muslims regard dogs as unclean and owners may have their pets confiscated while on a walk. In parts of Asia, cats and dogs are skinned alive and boiled. Sadly because children are indoctrinated in these forms of violence to animals in many countries like Puerto Rico, they find animal cruelty to be a 'normal' aspect of life. It is so important to teach them, through humane education, that there is NOTHING normal about animal cruelty -- to teach them to love and respect precious animals instead!
What can you do? Pressure the tourism industry and government to continue developing humane programs. For example, if you visit Puerto Rico (or any other tourist destination) and are disturbed by the sight of homeless dogs, it can be effective to let the tourism agencies know that. Suggest the solutions of spay/neuter, legislation, and humane education, NOT eradication. Support local groups that are focusing on spay/neuter, such as PAWS in Isabela, Puerto Rico. Find groups that are offering spay/neuter and humane education trips to these countries such as the group McGarva started, the Achates Legacy Rescue Foundation, and join them.
Animal cruelty in our own country with puppy mills, dog fighting, and so much more is bad enough. What do you think? Can we change animal cruelty in other countries?
Posted By:
Dawn Kairns
Author of MAGGIE the dog who changed my life A Story of Love
"They stay in our lives for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same." -- Author Unknown
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Seat Belts for Dogs Can Save Their Lives, Too
Dogs like car rides, but take care that Fido doesn’t go flying
By John Davidson
From DenverPost.com Blog Fetch
My family was riding down a familiar street one day years ago and our dog, Rex, was hanging his head out an open window like Casey Jones at the throttle of a railroad engine.
Then in a flash, it happened. Rex spotted another dog across the street and leaped from the window – into the side of an oncoming car. In a horrible instant, he fell beneath the wheels and rolled several times before the other car could stop.
He lay there on the street, not moving. We were sure he was dead.
Then, to our amazement. he stood up and shook himself off, wagging his tail. We took him to a veterinarian, who could find nothing seriously wrong. But Rex was never quite right in the head after that. He’d stand on the front porch, barking at the wind for hours.
I was reminded of Rex the other day when when I saw a driver travelling down a busy Denver street with his dog in his lap. The hound was hanging its head out an open window and, I swear, grinning for all he was worth. If the driver only knew the dangers that lurked, I thought.
A recent New York Times blog by by Tara Parker-Pope spelled out just how dangerous it can be having pets in the car.
Although driving while text messaging or talking on the phone is getting a lot of attention, Parker-Pope wrote, pets can also be a common source of driver distraction.
Exact statistics on pet distraction are difficult to come by, she noted — most surveys list unrestrained cats and dogs inside the car as one of many “internal distractions” along with grabbing loose items on the seat or swatting an insect.
But nearly 90 percent of pet owners say they travel with their pets. And one survey from Nationwide Mutual Insurance found that 8 percent of drivers admit to driving with a pet on their lap.
A flying dog or cat represents a serious hazard to everyone in the car, Parker-Pope said. The pet advocacy group Bark Buckle UP notes that in a 35-mile-per-hour accident, an unrestrained 60-pound dog would carry the force of a 2,700-pound projectile. Unrestrained dogs and cats can impede rescue workers in more serious accidents, and they also are more likely to be harmed or even thrown from a vehicle in minor fender benders.
For dogs, The Humane Society of the United States suggests a restraining harness that can be purchased from a pet store. The Society also advises keeping a dog in the back seat because front-seat air bags pose a hazard to even large canines.
Because cats are typically uncomfortable riding in a car or being restrained, it’s best to keep them in a pet carrier that is also strapped in with a seat belt, Parker-Pope said.
Mg dogs are pretty typical when it comes to going for a ride. They love it, especially my black Labrador, Heemeyer. He sits in the front passenger seat – obviously not a good idea, since a sudden stop could send him flying into the front windshield.
When I get out of the car he moves to the driver’s seat, behind the steering wheel. He once managed to honk at me when I took too long in a dry cleaning shop. The owner thought it was hilarious.
So what is it about dogs and car rides, anyway?. Another spin through cyberspace came up with this from Vetinfo.com:
+ The car presents familiar smells and sounds. Usually there’s a spot in the car that the dog has made his or her “own place”.
+ It’s a mobile “den”; the enclosed shape provides a sense of security.
+ He can be “on-watch” for his “Master”. Dogs like to have a duty to perform, something to protect.
+ Changing scenery always gives him something new to look at.
+ The dog knows that you (the head of the pack) will come back, as he remembers you always return to the car.
+ The dog knows and feels like he is, physically, part of that pack when contained in the car. Dogs are pack-oriented and you, as the master, are the dog’s focus..
Maybe so, but I’m still not letting Heemeyer drive.
Posted By:
Dawn Kairns
Author of MAGGIE the dog who changed my life
Website: www.dawnkairns.com
By John Davidson
From DenverPost.com Blog Fetch
My family was riding down a familiar street one day years ago and our dog, Rex, was hanging his head out an open window like Casey Jones at the throttle of a railroad engine.
Then in a flash, it happened. Rex spotted another dog across the street and leaped from the window – into the side of an oncoming car. In a horrible instant, he fell beneath the wheels and rolled several times before the other car could stop.
He lay there on the street, not moving. We were sure he was dead.
Then, to our amazement. he stood up and shook himself off, wagging his tail. We took him to a veterinarian, who could find nothing seriously wrong. But Rex was never quite right in the head after that. He’d stand on the front porch, barking at the wind for hours.
I was reminded of Rex the other day when when I saw a driver travelling down a busy Denver street with his dog in his lap. The hound was hanging its head out an open window and, I swear, grinning for all he was worth. If the driver only knew the dangers that lurked, I thought.
A recent New York Times blog by by Tara Parker-Pope spelled out just how dangerous it can be having pets in the car.
Although driving while text messaging or talking on the phone is getting a lot of attention, Parker-Pope wrote, pets can also be a common source of driver distraction.
Exact statistics on pet distraction are difficult to come by, she noted — most surveys list unrestrained cats and dogs inside the car as one of many “internal distractions” along with grabbing loose items on the seat or swatting an insect.
But nearly 90 percent of pet owners say they travel with their pets. And one survey from Nationwide Mutual Insurance found that 8 percent of drivers admit to driving with a pet on their lap.
A flying dog or cat represents a serious hazard to everyone in the car, Parker-Pope said. The pet advocacy group Bark Buckle UP notes that in a 35-mile-per-hour accident, an unrestrained 60-pound dog would carry the force of a 2,700-pound projectile. Unrestrained dogs and cats can impede rescue workers in more serious accidents, and they also are more likely to be harmed or even thrown from a vehicle in minor fender benders.
For dogs, The Humane Society of the United States suggests a restraining harness that can be purchased from a pet store. The Society also advises keeping a dog in the back seat because front-seat air bags pose a hazard to even large canines.
Because cats are typically uncomfortable riding in a car or being restrained, it’s best to keep them in a pet carrier that is also strapped in with a seat belt, Parker-Pope said.
Mg dogs are pretty typical when it comes to going for a ride. They love it, especially my black Labrador, Heemeyer. He sits in the front passenger seat – obviously not a good idea, since a sudden stop could send him flying into the front windshield.
When I get out of the car he moves to the driver’s seat, behind the steering wheel. He once managed to honk at me when I took too long in a dry cleaning shop. The owner thought it was hilarious.
So what is it about dogs and car rides, anyway?. Another spin through cyberspace came up with this from Vetinfo.com:
+ The car presents familiar smells and sounds. Usually there’s a spot in the car that the dog has made his or her “own place”.
+ It’s a mobile “den”; the enclosed shape provides a sense of security.
+ He can be “on-watch” for his “Master”. Dogs like to have a duty to perform, something to protect.
+ Changing scenery always gives him something new to look at.
+ The dog knows that you (the head of the pack) will come back, as he remembers you always return to the car.
+ The dog knows and feels like he is, physically, part of that pack when contained in the car. Dogs are pack-oriented and you, as the master, are the dog’s focus..
Maybe so, but I’m still not letting Heemeyer drive.
Posted By:
Dawn Kairns
Author of MAGGIE the dog who changed my life
Monday, September 14, 2009
L.A. Pet Store Agrees to Hold Adoptions and End Sale of Puppy Mill Dogs
I'm pretty excited about an article regarding puppy mills that I read in the summer issue of The American Dog Magazine. According to Carole Raphaelle Davis in her article titled, Inside The 'Rescue Revolution' "the owner of Elaine's Pet Depot signed an agreement to hand over all of her puppy mill dogs to Good Dog Animal Rescue for adoption. The agreement with the lynchpin store of a national chain of pet stores included a statement that reflected the store's commitment to working with rescue organizations. The store agreed to hold adoptions and end its sale of puppy mill dogs."
This victory occurred after five weeks of protests by activists. So the activism works. 70% of week end business was deterred at pet stores twhere protesters waved graphic signs of dogs suffering in the mills. Over twelve stores in the heart of Los Angeles have closed or converted to rescue in just over a year says Raphaelle Davis.
Some stores are converting from selling puppy mill dogs to holding adoptions for shelter dogs prior to being picketed in order to avoid bad publicity. Or they simply close.
Even though New York is the largest market for puppy mill dogs, the national welfare organizations are watching Los Angeles because they believe L.A. is the most important with a celebrity culture that dictates trends. Will the nation will follow Los Angeles? That is the hope.
There is a national effort from rescue organizations to eliminate puppy mills, and Jennifer Fearing of the Humane Society of the United States believes that both the supply and demand end of the "business" must be addressed. This includes passing legislation to improve standards of care in existing mills , and closing or converting the retail outlets that sell the pups. Petsmart and PETCO are good examples that this model of adopting shelter animals works.
To read the full article, grab a summer issue of The American Dog Magazine or go to The American Dog Magazine online.
Maddie and Cinnamon in the picture above are both shelter rescues. Maggie, my dog who motivated me to write my book, MAGGIE: the dog who changed my life, came from a good breeder. Please, when you decide you want a pet, choose adoption first. There are so many dogs and cats in shelters who will be euthanized simply because there are not enough people to adopt them. If you want a purebred dog, remember you can get one of just about any breed from a breed rescue group. If you do decide you want to buy a purebred puppy and don't want a rescued dog, please be sure to get your pup from one of the many responsible breeders out there -- not from a retail pet store as their supply of puppies most often come from puppy mills.
Posted By:
Dawn Kairns
Author of MAGGIE: the dog who changed my life
www.dawnkairns.com
www.maggiethedogwhochangedmylife.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/themaggiebook
Friday, August 28, 2009
The Link Between Animal and Human Abuse: Michael Vick Should Not Be in a Role Model Position
Although I believe everyone deserves the opportunity to a job after release from prison, I don't believe Michael Vick should be back in the NFL, where sports figures are modeled and revered by children and teens as well as adults. Even though he may eventually help the cause of animals, I don't feel we really know that yet, and placing him in such a high profile, public eye "job" seems inappropriate to me.
It's been shown that there is a link between those who abuse animals and their eventual, if not concurrent, abuse of people in their lives. Wives. Girlfriends. Children. Abusing animals is horrible in and of itself, and it's also a red flag of what's most likely to come next. This is the even more cruel truth about animal cruelty. According to American Humane, "a crime against an animal should never be taken lightly ... cruel in its own right ... a sign that the perpetrator could be capable of hurting people, too."
I agree, and this is one of my concerns about Michael Vick given the heinous crimes he committed against helpless dogs. Yes, he deserves a job, but to be placed where he, as a sports figure, is revered, cheered, and paid millions of dollars? Shouldn't the NFL hold their players to a higher standard and be empowered to say "No" to Vick for life?
You can learn more about The Link between animal and human abuse at http://www.americanhumane.org/human-animal-bond/programs/the-link-of-violence/
Some states allow pets to be included in domestic-violence protective orders. Find out about your state at The Link and advocate for legislation that protects animal victims of abuse in your state.
Very sadly, some animal abuse perpetrators begin in childhood. Teachers and parents need to educate themselves on the signs a troubled child displays who may be abusing animals or who have this penchant for violence. According to American Humane, "statewide coalitions in Maine, Rhode Island, Delaware and New Mexico, as well as groups in cities such as Boston, Phoenix, Colorado Springs and San Antonio, have formed to spread awareness of The Link and increase the likelihood of identifying where and when violence may be occurring. More communities need to take action ... It’s important that judges and juries understand The Link when evaluating abusers’ behavior."
I hope that future abuse will not be the case for Michael Vick and the people in his life. I hope he truly is remorseful, can be successfully rehabilitated, and become a true champion for animals. But that remains to be seen. Somehow I'd believe in Vick's intentions with the Humane Society of the United State more if he made stopping dog fighting and animal cruelty his cause without the motive of returning to the NFL. Time will tell.
Posted By:
Dawn Kairns
Author of MAGGIE the dog who changed my life: A Story of Love
www.dawnkairns.com
www.maggiethedogwhochangedmylife.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/themaggiebook
It's been shown that there is a link between those who abuse animals and their eventual, if not concurrent, abuse of people in their lives. Wives. Girlfriends. Children. Abusing animals is horrible in and of itself, and it's also a red flag of what's most likely to come next. This is the even more cruel truth about animal cruelty. According to American Humane, "a crime against an animal should never be taken lightly ... cruel in its own right ... a sign that the perpetrator could be capable of hurting people, too."
I agree, and this is one of my concerns about Michael Vick given the heinous crimes he committed against helpless dogs. Yes, he deserves a job, but to be placed where he, as a sports figure, is revered, cheered, and paid millions of dollars? Shouldn't the NFL hold their players to a higher standard and be empowered to say "No" to Vick for life?
You can learn more about The Link between animal and human abuse at http://www.americanhumane.org/human-animal-bond/programs/the-link-of-violence/
Some states allow pets to be included in domestic-violence protective orders. Find out about your state at The Link and advocate for legislation that protects animal victims of abuse in your state.
Very sadly, some animal abuse perpetrators begin in childhood. Teachers and parents need to educate themselves on the signs a troubled child displays who may be abusing animals or who have this penchant for violence. According to American Humane, "statewide coalitions in Maine, Rhode Island, Delaware and New Mexico, as well as groups in cities such as Boston, Phoenix, Colorado Springs and San Antonio, have formed to spread awareness of The Link and increase the likelihood of identifying where and when violence may be occurring. More communities need to take action ... It’s important that judges and juries understand The Link when evaluating abusers’ behavior."
I hope that future abuse will not be the case for Michael Vick and the people in his life. I hope he truly is remorseful, can be successfully rehabilitated, and become a true champion for animals. But that remains to be seen. Somehow I'd believe in Vick's intentions with the Humane Society of the United State more if he made stopping dog fighting and animal cruelty his cause without the motive of returning to the NFL. Time will tell.
Posted By:
Dawn Kairns
Author of MAGGIE the dog who changed my life: A Story of Love
www.dawnkairns.com
www.maggiethedogwhochangedmylife.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/themaggiebook
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