I would so much like to re-establish this blog now that I am retired. We'll see if I can figure this out. That is, I am not the tech-savvy youngster (maybe that's an exaggeration) I was when I started this blog. I'm now a 75 year old techno-phobic classic boomer. But with ChatGPT and other AI resources, maybe I can figure it all out. 

I'm Back

I truly need to begin posting once again on this blog.  Since starting this blog back in 2013, my rescue Bella has undergone not one, but two surgeries. On both hind legs. She tore her cruciate ligaments in both knees and required a Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy procedure. And, both operations set her dad back about ten grand each! But of course, you cannot put a price tag on the loyalty, devotion and unconditional love a rescue dog pours out on her adopted family.

Blind man saved by guide dog who licked him awake after he fell onto subway tracks

There was a New York Christmas miracle at 125th Street Station on Tuesday when a blind man and his guide dog survived being runover by a subway train after they both fell onto the tracks - but now the two friends face being separated because his owner can't afford to care for him.

Cecil Williams, 61, was making his way to the dentist at 9.30 am with his 10-year-old black Labrador Orlando when he suddenly felt faint and began to wobble perilously close to the edge of the platform.

His longtime buddy desperately tried to hold him back from falling by pulling at his leash.

They both tumbled onto the tracks where Orlando managed to wake Cecil by licking his face just in time for them both to duck into the middle trench between the tracks.

'The dog saved my life,' said Williams from his St. Luke’s Hospital bed, 'He tried to hold me up.'

Now he is also coming to terms with the fact that his health insurance will not cover the cost of keeping Orlando when he retires next year as a non-working dog.

But in the hours since his plight was made public, members of the public have set up a fund-raising campaign in his name giving him some hope of staying with Orlando.

Witnesses said the dog was barking frantically and tried to stop Williams from falling, but they both fell to the tracks when Williams fainted.

'The dog was trying to pull him away from the southbound edge of the platform, but his feet were on the edge, he was wobbling, and the dog was barking,' said Ana Quinones, 53, to the New York Post.

Despite Orlando's best efforts, he and his owner toppled onto the tracks - just as an uptown A train was approaching the station.

'But there was nothing he could do once he was down there. He just sat there with the man. He just licked the man’s face trying to get him to move,' said Quinones.

As horrified commuters watched an employee of the MTA shouted down to Cecil who by now was sitting upright on the tracks not to move and to lie down in the trench between the tracks.

The train, whose driver had seen the two slammed its breaks on and then rolled two carts over Orlando and Cecil.

The train's motorman slowed the subway cars while witness called for help. Cecil and Orlando were not struck by the train and only Cecil suffered a gash to his head - presumably from the fall.

Cecil said he was astonished by the help from emergency crews and bystanders on the platform.

'Everyone was screaming, everyone was shaking in horror. We heard someone on the other side scream he’s fine, he’s alive!' said student Ashley Prenza to the New York Post.

'It was a big relief for everyone.'

FDNY Capt. Danny O’Sullivan, a 17-year FDNY veteran told the New York Daily News someone must have been watching out for Williams and Orlando.

'We checked out under the train and found that he was not trapped; he was just in between the rails'

'It must have been a lucky day for him. This definitely is a miracle.'

As Williams regained consciousness, he heard someone telling him to be still. Emergency workers put him on a stretcher and pulled him from the subway, and made sure the dog was not badly injured.

'I'm feeling amazed,' Williams said. 'I feel that God, the powers that be, have something in store from me. 

They didn't take me away this time. I'm here for a reason.'

Police said both Williams and the dog were taken to a hospital where they were expected to recover. Williams says he is not sure why he lost consciousness, but he is on insulin and other medications.

Orlando, a seriously laid-back dog, was at the hospital making new friends — and he will be rewarded with some type of special treat, Williams said, and will be given plenty of affection and scratches behind the ears.

Williams, of Brooklyn, has been blind since 1995, and Orlando is his second dog. The lab will be 11 on Jan. 5, and will be retiring soon, Williams said. His health insurance will not cover the cost of a non-working dog, so he will be looking for a good home for him.

If he had the money, Williams said, 'I would definitely keep him.'

  

A Shelter Dog’s Poem

This poem was sent to me by Dog Crazy Newsletter this morning and I had to post it here for all to see.
[I reprinted the entire eNewsletter that was sent to me]

Angel Wells in Martinsburg WV. Angel wrote a poem about her dog that I'd like to share with you.  Angel wrote, "All of my dogs are shelter dogs, but I wrote this poem about one of them in particular.  He is my chihuahua/papillon mix that has become my therapy dog.  He is very special to me and I couldn't live without him.  Fate brought us together, and I think if other people would take the time to look in their local shelter, they might find their soul mate as well."

All good dogs deserve a chance. Here is her poem:

Once upon a time, you see,
There was this little pup
For reasons unbeknownst to me,
His family gave him up

Maybe it was chewing
Everything that he could find
Maybe they were busy and
Just didn't have the time

They took him to the shelter
And they just left him there
Outside, alone, in the cage
Shivering and scared

Even though they knew inside
If he went through those doors
He may never have the chance
To find a home like yours

He sat there crying silently
Wondering what he did
That was so bad that they just
Had to leave him like they did

However fate was smiling
On that little pup that day
Because a lady saw him
And she whisked him right away

He got a second chance at life
That others may have not
And now he's in a loving home
With everything he wants

Every day he gets that love
That he was looking for
And silently is thankful for when
She walked through that door

Others may not have this chance
So open up your heart
And adopt a shelter dog to take
And give a brand new start.

Thanks for sharing your poem with us, Angel.  It is really beautiful.

So...do you consider adopting a shelter dog?.  In fact, if you are thinking at all of adopting, - I have the perfect article for you.

Go to: The Ultimate guide to Dog Adoption . This article talks about what you should consider before you adopt, the responsibilities of having a dog, selecting the right sized dog, getting the right breed, supplies you will need, pet proofing your home, where to look and how to find the BEST dog for you.

This is a great article. Print it for later or for anyone that might want a dog.

Until next time,

Dr. Jon

P.S. PetProductAdvisor.com has a lot of great gift items for rescue mom and dads. Many of them include free personalization with your rescue pet’s name. Check them out

P.S. We are looking for some great photos of dogs with their favorite toys? Have any? Send them to us! Submit your photos to: photos@petplace.com.

My Lord...I dare anyone to tell me that dogs are not God's work of art!

The story behind this photo will leave you speechless…

Pictures are worth a thousand words, but these might just leave you utterly speechless! (originally posted on the Chester County SPCA Facebook page:

This story will tug at your heart strings! Our friends over at Operation Ava have two very special dogs at their shelter. Meet brothers Jeffrey & Jermaine. Jeffrey is blind, so Jermaine has devoted his life to become his seeing eye dog. They are inseparable and even sleep holding on to each other! This is an absolutely incredible story! They are great with children and love other dogs.

The unconditional love and devotion these two dogs show is positively inspirational. Jeffrey and Jermaine are STILL waiting at shelter Operation Ava in Philadelphia for their hero to come rescue them! Please open your heart and home to them! For more information or adoption inquiries, please contact Operation Ava at (267) 519-0376 or visit their website www.operationava.org

My rescue Bella and her BFF Abby , the Cavashon

Bella (left) and Abby love to romp in Bella's backyard

Who among us didn't already know this to be true?

Scientist says MRI scans prove that dogs are people, too

Finally, science is proving what we here at msnNOW have been saying all along: Dogs are people, too. Gregory Berns, a neuroscientist at Emory University, writes in the New York Times that he used an MRI machine set up in his living room to monitor the brain activity of a dozen dogs, including his own black terrier Callie. Berns writes that results showed dogs' caudate nucleus, the part of the brain that registers positive anticipation, functions similarly to humans'.

"In dogs, we found that activity in the caudate increased in response to hand signals indicating food," Berns writes. "The caudate also activated to the smells of familiar humans. And in preliminary tests, it activated to the return of an owner who had momentarily stepped out of view."

Berns' conclusion: Dogs experience positive emotions, and he believes they have the same level of sentience as human children. Of course, we've been saying that for a while — but it's nice of Berns to confirm. 

And, then God made Dog

Do yourself a big favor and take a few moments to view the video at the link below. Then go give your pup a big hug.  If you don't have a dog, go adopt one at your local rescue.  Or two even.

And then God made Dog!

Jack the Rescuer

16 years ago a woman I was dating begged me to take a young puppy from the shelter where she worked. She told the story of how he was to be euthanized because no one would take him.

They couldn't find a home for him because he ran from everyone, would not let anyone close, he was terrified of people.

The rest of story was that someone had hurt him badly.

Who could ever abuse such a beautiful, loyal, devoted friend like Jack?

I thought I was doing him favor, I believed I was being of service. I bestowed the honor of naming him Jack, after a great man in my life who had passed on a few years earlier.

Jack was allowed to be who he was, desperately wanting love and attention, crippled by fear. It took 2 solid years before he trusted me enough to allow his belly to be rubbed.

Through out his life he never lost his fear, he did grow to trust that he was safe with me, that i was not going to hurt him.

Every single interaction we had through his life, I would patiently let him go through his ritual of shaking with fear, and barking until he felt comfortable enough for me to touch him.

I thought it was I who was being of service to him

Today I am 10 years sober.

The math points out Jack was with me 6 years before my current sobriety date. The darkest period of my life. Jack loved me unconditionally when I wasn't very lovable.

My faithful companion through out.

I now have a better idea of who was being of service to whom.

Today perhaps I was of service.

Jack was tired, life had become hard, and painful for the old man.

When the vet administered the sedative, Jack relaxed. Maybe truly relaxed, without fear for the only time in his long life.

Rest in Peace my sweet companion.

There is a very special place waiting for you

Colin James

Plano, TX

Please share this with anyone who is looking for an adorable, deserving addition to their family

For complete contact information to adopt Mommy, visit the "My Kids Have Fur" website...click here!

MOMMY

A15504277

PSPCA

350 East Erie Avenue

Philadelphia, PA

Adorable, loving puppy looking for a forever home

This is POPPY, found wandering the streets of NYC. Although she is micro-chipped the scan was empty. She is smart, loving, playful and very very ENERGETIC. she needs someone who will commit to training her and help her disperse her energy. She responds to consistent discipline and positive reinforcement.

She has been with her rescue family about 3 months but needs more attention and activity than they can provide. She is good with their other rescued pit bull, cats and 3 yr old.
She is current on vaccines and is spayed.

She loves to snuggle and lay in your lap, despite her size!

Please contact me if you want to meet her.
Francene 610-613-6195
Woochamagoodle @aol.com

Bosco

When I was a little girl we took in a Boxer who was being mistreated by his previous owners and we named him Kojak. Now, twenty eight years later and all I can ask for is a Boxer of my own. Granted, we already had two dogs and three cats (all rescues). We discovered a lady from my boyfriend's work getting ready to take an eight week old Boxer to the shelter. Of course, I could not let this happen. So, the night he came home we sat down and thought about a name, but boyfriend insisted on calling his Boss, but I was determined to name him after Kojak. So, we settled on Bossko. No matter what his name would have been I knew that he would always be a part of our family.

Anonymous
Ashland, KY

Dawkins needs, and deserves, a loving home

Can you help find a home for this beautiful dog?  If so, please leave a comment here or call Chrissie O'Connell at 610-342-6823. 

Dawkins is a Border Collie, Australian Shepard and Australian Cattle dog mix. His birthdate is 6/20/2010.  He needs a new home because his owner has cancer and is moving out of state. He was rescued from a kill animal shelter and history indicates abuse so he has a few quirks and can be skittish at times.

He is a very loyal dog but tends to be attached and very protective of just one person; however he does not like children or cats.  He does well with other dogs and is very submissive to them.  He seems to show a natural ability to herd and would probably really thrive in an environment in which he can run.  For more information call Chrissie O'Connell at 610-342-6823.

Dying Vietnam veteran reunited with lost dog

Published June 08, 2013
FoxNews.com

A dying Vietnam veteran who doctors say has only days to live was granted his last wish by a stranger who was able to reunite him with his beloved lost dog, Mr. Cutie.

John Simpson, the veteran, was moved to hospice and could not bring Mr. Cutie. Last Sunday, Mr. Cutie escaped his new owner's home by digging a hole under a backyard fence. It was one day after he visited Simpson in the hospice.

"Saturday was the first time I took the dog here to hospice. The next day, he got out," Ann Marie Gemmel, the neighbor who has been checking on the dog, told MyFoxTampaBay.com. "I really think he was looking for John," she said.

Simpson was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2012. He described Mr. Cutie as his "spark of life," and said the dog is what he was living for.

"When you’re growing up you're asked, 'If you could have one wish, what would you wish for?' Back in those days, I used to say, 'As many wishes as I could wish for.' Now my only wish would be for my dog to come home,'" he told MyFoxTampaBay.com.

His wish was granted Friday when Missy Figueroa connected Mr. Cutie with Simpson by posting pictures of the dog she had found on FidoFinder. The dog had been found running around the area near where he escaped with a red collar but had no identification tags.

It wasn't confirmed that the dog found was Mr. Cutie until the moment of the reunion.

"Seeing this person that I don't even know, you know, so excited to see his dog, it just makes me happy that I actually got to be here for that and just make him happy," Figueroa told MyFoxTampaBay.com.

Simpson said that he had been praying to St. Jude everyday for the return of his dog.

"I'm about to cry," he said during the reunion.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/06/08/dying-vietnam-veteran-reunited-with-lost-dog/print#ixzz2ViHWwigg

Dogs are truly man's best, most loyal friend

Police dog bids farewell to slain cop

By Dylan Stableford, Yahoo! News - The Lookout

More than 1,000 people—including hundreds of fellow police officers from surrounding states—turned out at a funeral in rural Kentucky late last week to pay their respects to Jason Ellis, a 33-year-old K-9 officer gunned down last month in what authorities believe was an ambush. Fido, Ellis' police dog, was there, too, placing his paw on the closed casket—a moment captured in a heartbreaking image by photographer Jonathan Palmer.  

Fido was not with Ellis on May 25 when he was shot multiple times while collecting debris on a highway off-ramp in Bardstown, Ky., a close-knit community of about 12,000 located 40 miles southeast of Louisville. Ellis' slaying remains unsolved.

Dozens of fellow K-9 officers attended the funeral and, according to the Herald Leader, their dogs could be heard barking from their cruisers:

Hundreds of officers snapped to attention when the honor guard was called; the 60 or so police dogs at the ceremony barked with the sound of the guards' 21-gun salute.

Ellis, a six-year veteran of the police force, was remembered by Bardstown Police Chief Rick McCubbin, who pledged to hunt down the killer.

"I am your chief, Jason, but you're our hero and you need to know this chief will not stand down," McCubbin said. "Jason, my friend, rest easy. We've got it from here."

Ellis is survived by his wife, Amy, and two sons: Hunter, 7, and Parker, 6.

"He paid the ultimate sacrifice doing what he loved, being a police officer," McCubbin added.

Aroma of Bacon Cooking on the Outside Grill Brings Misty Home

BY: Washington Free Beacon Staff
May 23, 2013 10:58 am

Misty, a rescued pit bull, vanished from her New Jersey foster home last Friday. After search attempts in the nearby woods and a $2,000 reward failed to bring the dog home, one volunteer suggested cooking bacon to attract the 9-month-old puppy.

The scent of bacon cooking in the backyard lured Misty back home on Monday afternoon according to the Star-Ledger.

This is the second happy ending for Misty in a matter of months. According to the New York Daily News, she was first discovered on the streets of Brooklyn several weeks ago with multiple injuries, possibly used as bait to train other dogs in a fighting ring.

Miss Dakota

It had been a few months since my sheltie passed away and I was hoping that a new friend would help ease my pain. The timing was right when I went to the local animal shelter and came across an emaciated, beautiful, friendly girl. She was middle-aged and had been in the hospital for quite some time before I met her. She stole my heart when she gave me kisses as soon as she came out to meet me.

I was hooked! I fattened her up and we walked everywhere - she loved to walk and we went all over town. She came with me wherever she could and loved to go for rides, just to be with me. She continued to have her medical issues, but she was the sweetest, friendliest dog and I enjoyed the next seven years with her.

Pamela Lunny

Stamford, CT

A picture that will simply melt your heart

Photo of Dog in Warm Embrace with Woman Who Saved Him Goes Viral

By Melissa Knowles
Trending Now

Almost weekly we talk about animals being able to experience and express humanlike emotions. Today's story falls under that category.

Eva Armstrong is one of the directors of Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue. It is a completely volunteer-run rescue group that has saved more than 800 dogs from the kill list of high-volume pounds in the rural South.

During the group's last trip to Alabama, volunteers rescued a dachshund they named Captain Morgan because he had only one eye -- like a pirate. The night he was rescued, Captain Morgan slept at the foot of Armstrong's hotel bed. She took care of him until he was adopted by a family several months ago.

Well on May 5, Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue had a block party reunion where Captain Morgan and Armstrong were reunited.

The picture of the two of them in a warm embrace, taken by photographer Hilary Benas, went viral after it was displayed on Buzzfeed. It shows Captain Morgan, who is now called Cappy by his adopted family, resting his head on Armstrong's shoulder. He has clearly not forgotten the woman who helped save him.

Sarah Cross, who founded Brooklyn Badass, told HuffPost, "Whenever any of us run into dogs that we have fostered or rescued, they always recognize us and are so excited to see us. Dogs remember the person who saved their life and helped them on their way to a forever home."

So far, the photograph has received more than 160,000 views, and one commenter wrote, "the look on his face says it all." Judging by the photo, Cappy is one happy pup

Love is just a sniff away

I was looking for a dog for my 2 year old lab/mix Tigger who was friendly with any dog, so I thought this would be easy. I set up meet and greets for several dogs which I thought would be a good match. After many attempts to find him a friend he snubbed his nose at all of them and ran away from them.

I was beginning to give up hope when we went to yet another shelter. I walked through to pick out a few dogs which I thought he might like. As I walked through I saw this skinny, funny looking dog that was barking at everyone who walked by. I remember thinking nobody is going to want her and I sure don't. We were getting ready to leave after another failed attempt when the skinny barking dog was playing with another dog in the play area. Tigger couldn't take his attention from them.

The girl at the shelter said why don't you let him play with her. I thought it couldn't hurt. It seemed like a match made in heaven from the minute they sniffed each other. They played for almost an hour. I realized this goofy barking dog was going to come home with me very soon. I quickly learned she had been at the shelter longer than any other dog. She was a one year old Doberman, Dalmatian, Shetland, Sheepdog mix. I now know this because I had her DNA tested but didn't know I would have such a neurotic dog at the time.

As neurotic as she is I love her immensely. She is my best running partner running up to 16 miles with me. She loves Tigger and follows him around like she is his shadow. I would have never picked her so I am so thankful Tigger has better judgment than I do.


Cyndee Platko

Las Vegas, NV

I think this is a COOL dog!

So at the time when I got Shasta I had just given up my other dog.(A pit cross) So there was some sadness there but it was good too. It was a day at the street fair in a little town we lived in and there was puppies there. I asked for one being only 14 at the time. (Now about to turn 18)

I couldn't get one. But my mom did say that we could go ask a friend about going with us later that week to amusement park. I couldn't wait for that and it sounded fun since we had met them there anyways. So as we pulled into there drive way there was a dog changed onto a dog house.

She barked at us but all I could say was "That dog is cool" My mom thought I had lost it. As we went in and talked the lady of the house said that the dog was born right there but couldn't come in because it would poop in the house.

So it lived there on the side of there house. After some more talking and a little begging my mom said yes that we could take Shasta home and try her out for a week. Once there I groomed her all up (Mostly just shaved her down) so she could come into our house.

For the next 4 hours I was in my room with her just working on getting her to come over to me. After that and having me leave for work with my mom and so forth I found out she would poop in the house if not locked in a crate. So we worked on that and just getting her used to people.

It took close to 3 years before she wouldn't run from my mom and we could pass her food without her having to hide to eat it. Now she thinks she's a small dog and happy as ever. She's also really good with kids and everything. So good that she didn't even mind my mom's crazy old dog.


Serena Cheney
Salem, OR