From service dog to SURFice dog - Inspirational video

Be sure to have tissues handy when you watch this totally joyous video.  So many valuable lessons, so many happy moments. 

Ricochet - the SURFice dog

Thanks to Lynda for sharing this with me so I can share it with you.

Lady

Through the last six years of his life, Parley Nichols, 81, never left his Hartville, Ohio, home without his dog Lady. The two were best friends, soul mates and constant companions who took care of each other.  So when Parley, who had developed dementia, went missing on April 8, it was no surprise that Lady, his 6-year-old golden retriever that he bought as a puppy, was also gone.  "Dad had been wandering around, and we kept looking for him for a solid week, sending out flyers, doing whatever we could," Terry Nichols, one of Parley's two sons, tells PEOPLEPets.com. "With his dementia, he would struggle to hear you talk to him, then four hours later he seemed okay. We were very worried."

Finally, a neighbor called saying someone had driven by a field outside of town and heard a dog barking, trying to attract attention. But when Nichols and other family members drove to the area, they found nothing.

"When we went a second time to a different place by a creek, we found Lady and my dad, who was already dead," Nichols tells PEOPLEPets.com. "Lady was standing by his side protecting him. We are sure that she never left my dad for seven days, staying alive by drinking water from the creek."

Lady didn't know what to do when she saw other members of the Nichols family arrive at the scene on April 14. They had to pull her away from her master and place her in the back of their pickup truck.  "I don't know how dogs perceive things but she knew she had to stay with dad no matter what," says Nichols. "And she did."

Lady may not have eaten for a week, but the sturdy dog (who weighed 75 pounds before the incident) was in great condition. The preliminary autopsy conducted by the Stark County coroner found that Parley Nichols, whose story was first reported by WKYC-TV, passed away from heart failure. He could have been dead for the full week.

With the sad loss of her owner now behind her, Lady has been able to move on. She is living with other Nichols family members in the immediate area, enjoying a similar lifestyle that she had with Parley.

"Lady seems fine now ... she is a friendly, happy dog," Nichols tells PEOPLEPets.com. "I don't know if she misses my dad, but she is responding well to the rest of us. She did the right thing for dad, and we will always be comforted by that."


Updated 4:30 p.m. ET, Wed., April 21, 2010

Read more: Today's Pets and Animals

Our Rescue Family

All three of our furry friends came to us through rescue. Lily, our Siamese mix, was found in my cousin's garage after being dumped in the Malibu Canyons. This smart kitty knew where to find a loving home. Our dogs, Bella and Cookie, are both from the local animal shelter. Bella is a Chihuahua mix and was taken to the pound as a puppy because she had mange. Poor thing was far from beautiful when we got her, but she's grown into a hilarious little girl who makes us laugh every day! Cookie is our Puggle that we found at the pound after deciding that Bella needed a playmate. She was about 4 years old and it seemed she had never played a day in her life. Once we got her into our large backyard, all she wanted to do was run and roll around- just as if she knew she had been given a second chance. Now Cookie and Bella play all day long! Except when they are snuggling with Lily for a nap. It's pretty funny to see a cat sleeping between two dogs! There are so many wonderful pets out there waiting for to be rescued. I know I could not have been luckier in finding our pets- they truly are the best!

Cynthia
Sherman Oaks, CA

Packard

My wife rescued Packard, an Australian cattle dog, from the Denver Dumb Friends League shortly before we met. Over the next 8 years, the three of us have been inseperable. Packard goes everywhere with us. We even plan our vacations so they are dog friendly. Packard loves to kayak, hike, camp and chase squirrels. He is a source of never ending happiness and unconditional love. He is 9 years old and still has the energy of a puppy. Everybody loves his big blue eyes and his love of people. There has never been a better co-pilot in our lives! I wish more people turned to shelters for their companions. I know we will always rescue our future companions. We currently live in the burbs will soon be moving to the mtns of New york where he can live out his retirement years in style and truly be the nature loving dog that he is!


Dave
Croydon, PA

Maximillion

I had been looking for a Mastiff and was talking to two rescue organizations. I received an email with a desparate cry for help to save this dog. Even though he isn't a purebred Mastiff, I drove the 2 hours to the animal shelter and picked him up - less than 12 hours before he was supposed to be put down. I had to pick him up to get him in my SUV. I brought him home and he was so scared, but curious. I took him to the vet the next morning. He was 66 pounds and I could almost count all of his bones. He was also heartworm positive and had other worms.

He was depressed and very, very scared. Now, 2 weeks later, he has gained weight and is very well integrated into my pack - a female Australian Shepherd and a male Lab/Border Collie. Max is a very, very sweet dog. He craves attention. If there is a thunderstorm, he gets so scared that he wants to get into my lap. He will sit and shake until it's over. I honestly feel like he loves it here. He has doggy friends to play with, a roof over his head, 2 meals a day and all the love I can give him. I'm so happy that I rescued Max - you can tell that he appreciates being alive.

Patricia Hawkins
Mooresville, NC

The Fab Four-"The Gang"

I lost three dogs within 9 months (one every 3 months). They were all 15 years old. I wasn't ready for another pet. A patient's daughter brought me Zoey(red Chiweenie) and she opened my heart again. She is now a therapy dog. Then we found Maddie (white one with brown spot on her forehead) at the Humane Society adoption drive. She was the only dog left and they were packing up to leave. She had been HORRIBLY abused (shot, teeth knocked out, ear mites, severe respiratory infection) and was about 18 months old...she only weighed 3 1/2 pounds...it took me 18 months to potty train her. She didn't even learn to run or play with a toy until she was 2.

After going to the kill shelter again to adopt a rabbit, we found Raider (black Dachshund-full blood). He had tapeworms and had never been held. He is my "little man" and is such a gentleman. Lastly we were blessed with Peanut (white one with a crooked ear)...he was 4 months old when he came to us and we were the third family for him. He is still a work in progress, but he's such a lover. To those that threw these babies away, I thank God everyday. They are my "children" and truely a blessing. For those that abused them...there is only TODAY and THE DAY. I know where we all will be, I pray for you. Our home is filled with love including 4 small dogs, 1 large dog (Roo-18 year old "throw away"), 1 cockatiel (Elvis), 1 rabbit (SweetPea), a momma (Candy), a daddy(Jason) and a wonderful Nana (Diane). God Bless. Candy and The Gang!!!
Candy
Amarillo, TX

ASPCA Happy Tails: Broken Embraces

If ever there was a dog on a mission to disprove the old myth that shelter dogs are “damaged goods,” Spike is that dog. This energetic black-and-white Poodle mix arrived at the ASPCA in May 2006 with a broken hind leg that required extensive surgery. Yet his physical trials did little to diminish his sunny mood or his adopter’s unconditional affection.

Michael Alber of Manhattan met Spike two months after his arrival at the Adoption Center. “I discovered Spike online on a Saturday night, fell in love and rushed to the ASPCA to see him in person the following morning,” he says. “After an interview with his doctor, I took the two-year-old home with instructions to bring him back for a vet check two weeks later.”

During his follow-up visit, ASPCA veterinarians determined that Spike’s leg wasn’t healing properly. The little trooper required another operation to install a steel plate in his leg. It was no matter to Spike, who continued to stay positive and was thrilled when he finally went home with his new pet parent. Says Michael: “Two days after the surgery, I took him home with 17 stitches in his leg, a cone around his neck and a smile on his face.”

Spike’s challenges weren’t completely over—he and his pet parent endured physical therapy sessions four times a day—but the pup grew happier and happier with each passing week. “Throughout the healing process, the smile never left his face,” explains Michael. “Within six weeks, his limp was completely gone and he could run faster than anyone in the neighborhood, including me, a marathon runner!”

Nearly four years later, Spike is thriving. “He makes new friends—both human and canine—almost every time we step outside,” Michael says. “Spike continues to be the happiest, friendliest animal I have ever known.”