A Great Rescue Story.

I heard the greatest rescue story at my father's induction ceremony for the Wall of Fame. The lady that did the research to get my father voted into the wall told me the story. When she and her husband were on their way to Columbus, OH, they stopped into a National Forest just to see what it was like.

As they drove in, they passed a group of picnic tables, as they just about got passed it, a small head popped up from behind the table. The woman saw the puppy and told her husband. Well, they went on and drove around and on the way back out, they saw the pup again. She asked her husband if they could get the puppy. He told her that if the pup was still there when they came back through from Columbus, she could get the puppy.

She told me she worried and worried the entire time they were at their relatives house. When they came back to the National Forest, they didn't see the puppy. She was so disappointed, she said. As they drove around and came back out, they saw the pup. Her husband stopped the car and she got out. She said she talked and talked and talked until the puppy finally licked her hand. She got the puppy, and now it is a member of their family.

Isn't that a wonderful, heart-warming story? I think so. Hope you enjoyed it.

Kindness From A Total Stranger.

Chance says, "Thanks for helping!"

The other day, while at work, I had a customer come in that comes in frequently. She has 5 dogs and loves them all. As I got her treats, we began talking, as we always do. She was telling me about a dog she saw running toward Rt. 60 from Roby Road. She also saw that it has a tag on its collar.

She stopped the car and got out and called to the dog, a chocolate lab. Fortunately, the dog came to her. She got ahold of the dog's collar, a female, and when the dog settled down, from wiggling all over, she said, she read the tag. She got her cell out and called the number. The man that answered was so relieved. He said his wife had been frantically looking for her all morning.

This kind lady asked the man if the dog would get in the car with her. He told her probably, as she was a big baby. Well, she did, thank heavens. My customer said that the dog was a little nervous, as she didn't know her, or the car. She, (the customer), told her, "it's ok baby girl, mom will be here soon." It took the lady about 10 min. to get to her.

My customer said the lady almost cried as she thanked her over and over. The reason I am writing this is because it touched my heart so much that there are still people out there that will go out of their way to help an animal. Thank you, Candice. Your kindness will not go unnoticed.

A Devotion and Loyalty That Is Unparalleled.

source: CNN website

The loyalty of a dog to his/her owner is unparalleled. I was reading a story on the CNN website today that really hit home with me. In an area about 75 mi. NE of Denver, a rancher found the body of a young man, 25 yrs. old, that had apparently committed suicide. Beside him, was his dog, Cash, a German Shepherd. She was thin and dehydrated, but alive.

The man, Jake Baysinger, went missing on June 28Th. This dog had been guarding his body for over 7 wks. She apparently survived by eating mice and rabbits. She also would have had to defend his body against predators, such as coyotes, and possibly wolves. This is just incredible to me. The love and loyalty this dog felt for her human pack member is, as I said in the beginning, unparalleled. Isn't it a shame that man can't have the same loyalty and love for each other?

Yesterday, Monday the 11Th of Aug., Cash was reunited with Mrs. Baysinger and their 2 yr. old son, Lane. The article said that the little boy loved the dog a lot and was happy to see her again. Of course at 2 yrs. old, he can't understand what has happened. But, when he is older, he will be able to understand and grasp the meaning of what Cash did. She put her life on the line to stay with his dad and protect his body. What devotion!

Breeding For The Love Of The Breed.

In my new job, I talk with many, many dog people. I have only met 2 people, in the 3 weeks that Just Dogs! Gourmet has been open, that were not true dog people. Today, I got to talking to a family that raises rough coated Collies. I was skeptical at first, since that is my nature. I figured they were just backyard breeders that did it for the money.

As we talked more, I found out I was wrong in my assumption. The lady truly loved her dogs. She has 5 Collies that she is totally devoted to. They have been breeding for 2 yrs. and have only had 2 litters with one of their females, whom is now 8. They are getting her spayed soon. The husband began talking with me and said that they don't need the money, they just love the breed. They don't sell to pet stores or on the Internet or through the paper. They do word of mouth.

I thought that was fabulous. I told them how I felt about people that just breed to make money and don't care about the dogs or where the puppies went. They agreed whole-heartily. It was really refreshing to talk with people that breed for the love of the breed. They live in Hurricane, WV.

This Is Just A Story About A Boy And His Dog.

Chance and Mr. Lizard love a good story.

Today, while at work at Just Dog's Gourmet in the Huntington Mall, I met a young man, probably in middle school, or a freshman in H.S., shopping with his mom. As we got to talking, which is something I love to do, his mom told me a great story.

Their dog, of 16 yrs., a rescue, had passed away, and then a month later, her dad, his granddad, passed away. This young man was very close to both, she (the mom) said. The mom wanted to wait to get another dog, while she got things settled, I imagine with her father's estate, as she did not elaborate on this, and I didn't ask. But, her husband said that the boy needed a dog.

So, she began to research and decided to buy a West Highland Terrier (Westie). So, the night before they were to leave for Columbus, I believe, she told him what she was going to do. He said to her, "mom, if you want to get that dog, that is O.K., but there is a dog here that needs me." Her husband had heard what he said, and called Sue Brown, of Little Victories. When Sue heard the story, she exclaimed that she had a dog for his son.

They went to one of the vet clinics where this little dog was being fostered, a Jack Russell, Chihuahua mix, and the bond was made. His name was Tag, but the young man named him "Jack." Jack was about 4 lbs. He is now a vibrant, playful companion for this boy. When I watched this boy talk about his dog, I got tears in my eyes. When his mom told me the story, I got chill bumps all over.

He carefully picked out some of our treats for Jack, and would ask his mom if it was O.K. if he got this one or that one. She told him to get as much as he wanted, which I thought was so cool. It is so great to hear stories like this one, it does my heart good.

One Loyal Little Dog.

Today, May 20th, I took Chance for a ride around 10am because I had a funeral to go to, and I wanted him to get a little "car" time before I went. As we crossed the tracks to cross over to Old Rt. 2, I noticed this little bedraggled white dog. He looked to be about 10 lbs. with Maltese type hair and a terrier head and body. He was sitting on the other side of the road, off to the side of the intersection.

When I came back toward home, he was still sitting there. So, I took Chance back, put him in the yard and went back to try to get this little guy. When I got up to the road, I almost had a heart attack....he was standing in the middle of Rt. 2. One car had stopped, and two more were coming up the road from Huntington. I got him over to the other side of the road, but he wouldn't come to me. He was scared. Well, when I went to the funeral, he was still sitting in the same spot.

When I got back, I didn't see him. So, I came home and changed and went back, treats in hand, to do my rescue. Well, I didn't see him, so I looked down this long driveway, and there he was. I pulled up to the house and asked the man there if he was the owner. He wasn't, but his brother was. Seems his brother, who lives out in the country, broke his arm a couple of days ago, but wouldn't go to the hospital. The little dog, the man said, kept licking his arm. He (dog) knew he was hurt., but his master wouldn't go to the hospital.

The reason he was sitting at the road is, he was waiting for him (owner) to come back from the hospital, because family talked him into going, finally. Evidently, the two are inseparable. That just shows how loyal a dog can be.