Pax the Hero

I love animals, especially dogs, and have kept dogs almost my whole live. I love reading anything that has to do with dogs, how to train them, how to keep them happy and healthy.

Here is another hero story I'd like to share with all animal lovers. It was written by Pauline of Maine, USA.

My hero is a Golden Retriever named Pax. He was born in California and now lives in the state of Maine. He was donated to be a public relations dog for the Prison Dog Project of Pathways To Hope.

His registered name is Cinnabar's Peacemaker and he has two obedience titles: CDX, which means Companion Dog Excellent, and TD, which means he is a certified Tracking Dog.

Pax goes into prisons and visits the inmates and the guards. He helps us show the inmates how they can raise and train a dog to help the disabled. He helps break down hard hearts. He makes people laugh. He delights the guards, staff and inmates by opening doors, turning on lights and doing other tasks that make a handicapped person's life more comfortable.

Pax also helps people learn how to care for dogs. Dogs love us unconditionally, so we have to remember that they depend on us to care for them properly, which means feeding them on time, keeping them groomed, and cleaning up after them when taking them for walks. It is especially important to obedience train dogs so they will be good citizens.

Pax lives in the woods of Maine where he loves to run and play, but he also travels to many places. He even travelled on a plane to Rome. He visits children in schools. He is always happy and greets everyone with great joy, not caring who they are are or what they have done in their life. He sees people as friends. Because he has not experienced abuse or neglect, he sees the world much differently than we might see it.

You can see many more pictures of Pax on my web page, Pathways To Hope. Just click on "Prison Dog Project."

Thank you for letting me share about my hero, Pax, an extraordinary dog whose mission in life is to be a peacemaker.

Source: HERE

Psychic Hero Dog Named Bear

I am always left in wonderment that an animal's sixth sense is a lot stronger than a man's. Somehow animals will know beforehand, if a tragedy is going to happen. And we wonder, "How do they know first?"

Lester Bowling of Boaz, Alabama was working on his van and had it jacked up on a regular car jack.

Normally Bear (a loving black lab) was made to stay inside the house, so where he came from or how he got out is still a mystery. But anyway, Bear came up to Lester and started jerking on his jacket and pulling him out from under the van.

Lester thought maybe he was just playing, but Bear wouldn't give up and just started pulling and jerking him harder until he got him clear of the van, that moments later came loose from the jack and fell to the ground.

Where Lester's head was positioned, under the van, it would have been crushed.

How Bear knew something was going to happen will always be a mystery, but Lester thank the heavens for having such a loving pet that saved his life.

Yes, indeed, an animal's love is all giving and forever.

This story was submitted by Michelle Cooper.

Source: HERE

The Dog Hero - A True Animal Story

Every time I read an inspiring story like this, all the more I'm convinced that animals, especially dogs (sorry, I am biased), are more intelligent than we give them credit for.

Adapted from Animal Angels, by Stephanie Laland (Conari Press, 1998).

Kathie Vaughan was driving the used truck she had purchased that morning when it suddenly began to fishtail. She finally managed to bring the vehicle to a stop with a loud screech. But her troubles had just begun.

The cabin interior was filling fast with noxious fumes and black smoke. Most people could have simply jumped out of the vehicle, but Kathie is a paraplegic--paralyzed from the waist down by multiple sclerosis. Her truck was on fire and she knew she could be blown up at any moment.

Kathie shoved her Rottweiler Eve out the door, along with her wheelchair. But due to the thick black smoke, she could not find the wheels to the chair.

A throbbing panic overwhelmed her. She had to get out immediately, before the truck exploded. That’s when Eve, her dog, proved herself to be a true hero. Read the rest of the story here:

In danger of blacking out, Kathie suddenly felt Eve, refusing to desert her, grab her leg with her jaws. Eve firmly grasped Kathie by the ankle and dragged her ten feet to relative safety. Then the truck burst into flames. Ignoring the terrifying fire, Eve dragged Kathie to a nearby ditch.

A police car arrived on the scene. “You’ve got to get further away!” the policeman shouted to Kathie. The truck was on fire, the flames were approaching the gas tank; there was danger of a terrific explosion.

Kathie struggled to pull herself away from the truck and toward the police car. Her head and body ached with pain and she found she could hardly move. Eve bent close to her human friend, offering Kathie her collar. Then Kathie held tight as the determined dog dragged her forty feet to safety.

The firemen eventually extinguished the blaze. And Eve was awarded the prestigious Stillman Award for bravery.

Source: HERE

A Dragonfly Story

We all know that animals are like humans, with feelings and emotions, but bugs?

Hummingbirds occasionally need rescuing when they fly into our garage in Shingletown, California and beat against the windows, unable to find their way back outside.

One day I heard the sound again and looked for a little bird. Instead it was a huge, shiny blue dragonfly. As I tried to open the window, in his fright over my hand being near he tangled himself in a large spider's web that had formed over the winter while we were snow birding in Arizona. Being unsure about his ability to bite or sting, I wrapped part of the web around a stick, pulled it loose with the beautiful bug inside and carried it out into the backyard.

I started to gently pull the web away from the dragonfly. As my hand came near he panicked again, beating his wings and struggling until he broke free. He was up in the air in a flash as I watched.

Suddenly, about ten feet or so up, he stopped, slowly turned himself around like a tiny helicopter and looked down at me for what seemed the longest time. I said, 'Good-bye! Be careful!' and he left. I tried to follow him with my eyes but he disappeared over the top of the garage.

Never again will a bug be just a bug to me. Who would think one would have the intelligence and emotion to feel grateful and say thank you.

Story by Mary Ann Rais, California, United States of America.

Source: HERE

Buddy Clinton (1997 ~ 2002)

Does anyone remember that former US President Bill Clinton had a labrador named Buddy and a cat named Socks? I wondered what happened to them after the Prez left office.

I'm not sure if this was reported in the local papers but CCN reported that Buddy was killed by a 17-year-old driver.

It's sad isn't it, for this to happen to the "First Dog"?

You can read all about him HERE.

Samantha, the Hero Cat

Samantha and her turtle friend, Shelly

Many Chinese people do not like keeping cats because it's said that cats are not close to people, they just come around when they are hungry, and then they do their own stuff, unlike dogs who are really close to their owners.

From the following account, we can see that cats know how to come to the rescue of its owner too. They are not that bad, after all :-)

Written by Ms. Tia Jenkins

I suffer from depression and I have a medical condition that has left me with no side vision. This means I can only see the big "E" at the top of the eye chart. I also have seizures. They are complicated by the fact that if I were to hit my head, it would be fatal, because I've had four brain surgeries.

I was living in a studio apartment when one of my neighbors brought me this black cat he had, named Samantha. He told me that if I did not take her, he was going to feed her to a pit bull dog. He was angry, because Samantha had bitten him. I couldn't let him do such a cruel thing to the cat. So I agreed to take Samantha and find a new home for her. At that time I was pending Social Security insurance, so I did not have any money to take care of a cat. My boyfriend, Jason, said that he would buy anything I needed, if I wanted her. I said I would think about it.

I decided to keep Samantha for myself when I noticed that she brought me out of my depressed moods. She would make me laugh by playing fetch with me. I started to train her to bring items that I could not find due to my loss of sight and other disabilities. I trained her to alert me to people and dangers. Samantha also learned how to get help for me, if I went into a seizure.

Jason and I moved into a two-bedroom apartment. It had a faulty stove that the landlord kept putting off fixing. On January 20, 2004, I was at the computer in the living room. Jason called home from work and said he could hear a clicking sound.

I went into the kitchen and checked for the noise, but nothing was on. I went back to the kitchen about five minutes later. That's when I heard Samantha, standing at the kitchen door, making the sickest sounding meow.

With what little sight I have, I saw a reflection of flames on the kitchen wall. A fire on the stove had caused the George Forman Grill to burst into flames.

I reached down the side of the wall and hit the fire with the fire extinguisher. At that point I could not see anything. I didn't know that smoke was going up the stove hood. And now it was filling the apartment fast.

I dialed 911 and told them I had a fire. I was confused about how to get out. All I knew was that I wouldn't leave without Samantha or Shelly (my turtle, and Samantha's friend). Then I heard Samantha over against the other wall. I managed to get to the pet taxi by following the sound Samantha was making. But she was not there!!

Then I heard Samantha clawing at the aquarium's glass. This is where her friend, Shelly, lived. Again, following the sounds Samantha made, I crawled over, lifted the top off the aquarium, and put Shelly in my purse. Now that I knew about the fire, her turtle friend was safe, and I had called for help, Samantha opened the door to her pet taxi. She got inside, ready for me to rush her, Shelly, and myself out of there.

Just as the fire department arrived, I locked Samantha into the pet taxi, grabbed my purse with Shelly in it, and ran from the apartment.

Later, the firefighters told me that by the time the smoke detector sounded, the whole kitchen would have gone up in flames. If it had not been for Samantha's warning and bravery, none of us would be here today.

Ever since Samantha saved my life, I have tried to get my state to recognize her as a service animal. On August 4, 2004, The Epilepsy Foundation of Kentucky paid and sent for Service Animal Registry of America (SARA) and Therapeutic Animal certification for Samantha. This means no one can ever take my angel kitty from me. Samantha will have the protection under the law that she deserves.

There is not a day that goes by that Samantha is not helping me with my disabilities. Shelly and I both love and are ever grateful to this little angel kitty.

Bio: Tia Jenkins is a disabled twenty-seven-year old woman who lives in Louisville, Kentucky.

Source: HERE

Pets Save More Relationships Than Dr. Phil

Do you think the following article is true?

I've seen many couples argue over their pets, especially on who takes responsibility of its daily needs like feeding, or weekly ones like bathing, or medical bills and other expenses.

Most pet owners just want a pet to play with, without the excess baggage.

MISSOULA, Montana (Wireless Flash) -- Forget Dr. Phil -- pets are the best medicine when it comes to maintaining a relationship.

Rachel Toor, author of the book, "The Pig and I: Why It's So Easy to Love an Animal, and So Hard to Live with a Man" (Penguin), says when couples share a pet, they become closer and see their own faults in their animals.

For instance, Toor says she once shared her pet pig with an ex-boyfriend and began to see her own personality traits reflected in the pig, such as selfishness, lack of tolerance and bullheadedness.

Although she didn't recognize her own pitfalls in time to save the relationship, Toor says she plans on using what she now knows about herself for future relationships.

In addition, Toor says pets help us accept our partners for who they are because, as she puts it, "With pets, we have to accept them because we can't change them. It should work the same way with humans."

Source: HERE

True Animal Love

A picture speaks a thousand words

Dog Saves Disabled Owner From Fire

The true story of a selfless dog....

Dog saves disabled owner from fire
Washington
October 18, 2006

A dog rescued a disabled woman from her burning home in the US state of Wisconsin, but its devotion cost it its life when it returned to save the family cat.

Jesse, a Labrador retriever and German shepherd mix, dragged its owner Jamie Hanson, 49, to safety after a fire broke out in her home yesterday in the town of Rhine.

Before pulling Hanson to safety, Jesse brought her the prosthetic leg she has worn since an automobile accident three years ago and a telephone to call the fire department, the Sheboygan Press reported.

When the dog pulled its owner to the doorway, Hanson said she heard the cat cry and the dog ran upstairs to get the cat.

"I screamed and I screamed for her, but then I just heard her whine and then I didn't hear anything more," Hanson said at a press conference.

Hanson had trained Jesse to assist her after she lost her leg in an accident. Both Jesse and the cat it tried to save died in the blaze.

"I never treated her like a dog," Hanson said.

"She was always like a child to me. She understood every word I ever said to her."

Another cat started the fire when it knocked over a candle, fire authorities said.

Hanson received moderate burns in the fire, which destroyed her 100-year-old home.

DPA

Source: HERE

My Own Hero

It's not often we hear of a horse who could come to people's rescue.

It was about 3 weeks ago one early morning. I headed out to the stallion barn, it was still dark out and a little chilly breeze. I heard the nickers and neighs as I walked past my dad's race horse barn. I watched the mares and their new foals gallop around the field. Slowly I slid the barn door open and walked down the aisle.

I heard the echo of my footsteps in the quiet barn, and as I slowly made my way down the aisle the stallions poked their heads out. I reached the 8th stall from the end, the stall plate read, "Natosha's Sweet Pride." I slid the gate open and stood waiting for the tall, dark figure in the corner to move. "Morning boy, ready for a ride?" I asked and my horse Pride walked across the stall to the gate where I stood. Pride is my stallion, out of all the horses I have ever had in my life, and out of the 18 that are mine now, Pride is my favorite. He is my favorite out of all 200 head of horses my dad has on the ranch. I got Pride when I was 5, he is out of my dad's champion racing stallion and a quater horse mare. He is appendix bred.

I am now 15 and he is 10. I patted his head and walked out of the stall, he followed me without a lead rope. Anyone can tell we have done this many times before. I brushed him down till his golden coat shined, saddled him up, and got on headed towards the indoor arena in the back. I planned on loping circles and warming him up before Ii started running him on barrels. He is in tuning right now because finals are soon. He is barel trained, me and Pride are 2nd in state barrels, 3rd in state poles, 1st in state break away, and we are in the top 3 for best all around rodeo team. So everynow and then I just need to freshen him up.

Well this was the morning I picked-- bad idea! We crossed over the race track to get to the back of the property line where the indoor arena is. Behind us is about 400 acres of woods. As we stepped onto the track I saw cyotes on the track. I paid them no mind, they are there every morning. Once horses start coming and running up here they leave and don't bother us much. I noticed this one that kept walking the fence line about 10 feet behind us and about 20 feet away. That's pretty close for coyotes to get. I didn't think anything of it, I just kicked Pride to a jog and blew the coyote off.

I turned about 30 seconds later to look and just double check the animal. At the same moment the coyote ran behind Pride and nipped at his heel. Pride, stunned by the incident, lounged and kicked up, throwing me off balance. I gripped Pride's neck and held on, not wanting to fall with the coyote there. He nipped at Pride again, who lounged to a lope and kept kicking at the following animal. Then it happend, my hand slipped and I fell. Pride stopped in his tracks and just stood there. He always stands when I fall, but most horses would run in a moment like this.

I sat on the ground and looked at the coyote that stood about 6 foot from me. I saw then that this animal had rabies! He foamed at the mouth and was snapping uncontrolably. I hollard and threw my arms up, as soon as I did it jumped at me and Pride kicked it. Then the remarkable happend, Pride lowerd his head and bit at the c0yote. He slashed his front hooves up in the air at the coyote's back and ran after it making it run and growl. Soon as Pride got 10-15 foot from me he'd turn and run back standing beside me. He did this 4 times before the coyote just didnt come back. I was crying because I was scared and Iwas so greatful to my horse. Pride was protecting me! I was told fictional stories about that but never real stories-- especaily happening to me. After about 2 minutes I got on Pride and headed to the barn. I told my dad who went out and they killed the coyote, it had rabies. I am so proud to have a great horse, a best friend and better yet my own hero.

This was written by Natosha Anderson

Source: HERE

Super HERO Dog

Aiyo such a sad story. A real Hero doggie.

We had a beautiful buff Cocker Spaniel named Muffy when my daughter was 2 years old. They were both playing in our fenced back yard.

I was weeding the garden a little way from them. Muffy starting barking & it got more & more intense! I looked over to see her standing in front of my daughter obviously barking down at something!

I ran over to see what was going on. As I got close enough I saw a snake striking Muffy over & over on the face & chest. I grabbed my daughter & ran for the house calling Muffy.

I went back & killed the snake with a shovel & then checked on Muffy. She was laying down & breathing very hard.

I scooped her up & we took her to the vet. The vet tried to save her, but she had taken in too much poison.

We had her put to sleep to stop the pain. It was very painful & sad to lose such a brave protector.

I fully believe she was guarding my daughter from what she knew was dangerous & gave her little life in the process! I know there in a brave little golden Cocker angel in heaven waiting to wag her little nub tail at us!/span>

By Jeana D. Atlanta, GA

Source: HERE

Saved by the Lab

While walking Boomer, my five-year-old Lab, on a street near my home, I stumbled into a pothole and broke both my legs. Though I screamed for help, no one was around. Boomer lay right down on the road and stayed there. I knew I needed medical help, so I wrapped my arms around his neck and said, "Home."

My 160-pound Lab dragged me, stopping now and then. Finally we made it to the house. My husband found me and called 911. I had rescued Boomer from a shelter. I never dreamed he would end up rescuing me.

-- Submitted by Bobbie Glover, Auburn, California

Source: HERE

Ben the Super Sheepdog

Robert Sinclair has asthma. After a very bad attack he collapsed in his room and couldn't even move. He couldn't go and get help, eat or drink. He lay there for a whole week and felt very poorly. He decided he had to get help and so he wrote a note, put it in a bottle and dropped it out of his window. He hoped that someone would find it and help him. He waited.

And someone did find it: Ben! Ben isn't a person, but a very intelligent border collie dog. Ben picked up the bottle in his mouth and took it home to his human friend, Brian. Brian read the note and rushed to find Robert. He also called an ambulance, which came and took Robert to hospital. Robert got better, thanks to Ben. He will never forget the amazing dog who saved his life.

Source: HERE

Why Dogs Chase Cats

This is only one of the many versions of why dogs always chase cats.

Once long ago, Dog was married to Cat. They were happy together, but every night when Dog came home from work, Cat said she was too sick to make him dinner. Dog was patient with this talk for a while, but he soon got mighty tired of fixing dinner for them both after a hard day's work. After all, Cat just stayed home all day long.

One day, Dog told Cat he was going to work, but instead he hid in the cupboard and watched Cat to see if she really was sick. As soon as Cat thought Dog had left, she started playing games with Kitten. They laughed and ran about. Cat wasn't the least bit sick.

Dog jumped out of the cupboard. When Cat saw him, she stuck a marble in her cheek and told Dog she had a toothache. Dog got so mad at her he started chasing her around and around the house.

Dogs have been chasing Cats ever since.

This story was retold by S. E. Schlosser. You can read more of such folktales at Spooky South.

Tuscie Warns Owner of Hidden Fire

Leigh with Tuscie

Leigh, like most of us pet owners, sometimes feel irritated with the persistent whining of our pets. If only we know what our pets are telling us!

In a true account as told by Leigh of her doggie, Tuscie, Tuscie managed to bring to Leigh's attention, a hidden fire that was from a lit candle, one that was lit by her flighty roommate, who have no memory of lighting it, and so it kept burning and almost burnt through the dresser where the candle was placed on.

And of course, if the candle burned through it, a fire would have started.

Luckily, it did not happen, all thanks to Tuscie.

Source: HERE

Teddy Bear - The Dog Who Could Sniff Out Cancer

Georgina with her doggie, Teddy Bear

Being an animal lover, I have read many accounts of animals who saved people from fire or flood or robbery or any other form of danger.

Teddy Bear, on the other hand, could easily be the Hero of heroes, when he managed to sniff out Georgina's tumour in her right breast, which turned out to be malignant.

For a month, Teddy Bear acted strangely and kept nudging Georgina's right side each time they cuddled, and it took that long for Georgina and her husband to finally figure out that, no, Teddy Bear wasn't just being playful. He was telling them something!

After Georgina successfully treated her breast cancer, Teddy Bear did not act strangely anymore. Doesn't that speak volumes of Teddy Bear's ability?

Georgina and her husband are convinced that Teddy Bear is the major player in saving Georgina's life.

Teddy Bear has recently been inducted into 2006 Purina's Animal Hall of Fame.

Source: HERE

Thongdaeng, the Luckiest Stray Dog

Thongdaeng must be the luckiest stray dog in the whole world. Stray dogs near my house come and go. They get reported to the authorities and get shot down for nothing.

But for Thongdaeng, who was rescued by a Palace doctor, has been adopted by His Majesty, the King of Thailand. Can any stray top that?

Thongdaeng, an indigenous Thai dog who can pick and peel coconuts to drink the juice, has been described by the King as intelligent, loyal and always polite.

And, the King has also written a book about her, and the first print of 100,000 sold out within hours, making it a bestseller.

If that's not enough, the King has t-shirts printed with the image of Thongdaeng and her nine puppies, and the t-shirts, at 300 Baht each, are sell like hot cakes too. Proceeds go to charity though.

It's really wonderful for Thongdaeng to have such an affinity with His Majesty.

Dolphins Save Men From Shark

The following is a true story published in the Australian Herald Sun

From correspondents in Whangarei, New Zealand
23rd November, 2004

SWIMMERS have told how a pod of dolphins protected them from a great white shark off the northeastern coast of New Zealand.

Rob Howes and three other lifeguards were on a training swim about 100 metres offshore at Ocean Beach, near Whangarei, when the dolphins raced in and herded the group together.

"They started to herd us up, they pushed all four of us together by doing tight circles around us," Mr Howe said.

When he tried to drift away from the group, two of the bigger dolphins herded him back.

He then saw why. A three metre great white shark was cruising toward the group about two metres below the surface.

"I just recoiled. It was only about two metres away from me, the water was crystal clear and it was as clear as the nose on my face," he said, adding he then realised the dolphins had moved in to protect the swimmers.

The group were surrounded by the dolphins for 40 minutes before they were able to reach the shore.

Another lifeguard, Matt Fleet, was patrolling nearby in a rescue boat when he saw the dolphins' unusual behaviour.

When he dived out of the boat to join the group he also saw the great white.

Mr Fleet said he was keen to get out of the water after the sighting, but didn't panic.

"I just kept looking around to see where it was."

The incident happened about three weeks ago, but Mr Howes and Mr Fleet said they had kept the story to themselves until they had a chance to catch up and confirm what they had seen.

Auckland University marine mammal research scientist Doctor Rochelle Constantine said dolphins were normally vigilant in the presence of sharks.

The altruistic response of the dolphins was normal, she said.

"They like to help the helpless."

Secondary source: HERE