Man Risks His Own Life to Rescue a Dog Who Had Been Hit by a Car on the Highway.
Although there are many negative stories out there about people who abuse and neglect animals, there are also plenty of incredible stories that show just how kind and compassionate people can be. This video certainly falls under the latter.
Rodrigo González, from Ladridos Ayudando received a call about a dog who had been hit by a car on a major highway. The poor dog looked as if it was seriously injured and González was not sure that the pup would make it. However, regardless of the state of the dog or the fact that the highway was incredibly busy, he was determined to lend a hand to this canine in need.
The dog instantly recognized that González was there to help him and tried to inch its way towards the car. The cars around González continued to speed by, making the rescue extremely risky but within a few seconds the dog was safe and sound in the rescue car.
González explains that although the situation was dangerous, he stopped to raise awareness for the value of life – all life. What an amazing man!
These Rescued Piggies Are Super Excited for the Weekend
After a long week of rooting around in the mud and napping on soft straw beds, the rescued piglets at Edgar’s Mission Farm Sanctuary are super excited for the weekend.
Sadly, many pigs are never given the freedom to run and play like Penelope Sue and Ballet Bob, the piglets in this video, because they are raised in the animal agriculture industry. In this industry, pigs are viewed as “commodities” and “food,” not as individuals. Despite the fact that pigs are incredibly intelligent and dynamic creatures, most people are afraid to see them as anything other than a non-feeling entity because if they did, they’d probably have to rethink their consumption habits.
But the kind people at Edgar’s Mission ascribe to the belief that we can all live happy and healthy lives without harming other living beings, and most importantly, that every animal is an individual in their own right. So, Penelope Sue and Ballet Bob are free to live their lives on their own terms and enjoy all the little wonders of life – like celebrating the weekend!
Play on, piggies!
Rescuer Patiently Gains the Trust of a Homeless Dog Who Says Thank You in the Most Heartwarming Way
Adorable Fox Cubs Rescued From a Walmart Parking Lot
A group of abandoned fox cubs is likely the last thing you’d expect to find in the parking lot of a Walmart, but for one Pennsylvania resident, this was exactly what they found nestled next to a clothing donation box. The seven little cubs were enclosed in a cardboard box and in desperate need of help so this kind human quickly took them and rushed them to a wildlife rehabilitation center nearby.
Now these little cubs are living the cushy life at the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Educational Center in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Vets at this center determined that the fox cubs were only 10 days old and if the Good Samaritan had not brought them in for care, they probably would not have made it on their own.
The cubs are now enjoying special “fox formula” and will get to relax at the center until they are big and strong enough to be released back into the wild. Good luck, kits!
These Amazing Teenagers Saved an Abandoned, Emaciated Dog Hours Before Her Death
Not knowing how what else he could do, Mr. John locked Alicia in a small cage located in his backyard. He was sure to feed her a proper diet, but Alicia grew restless living all alone.
After six days of research, Mr. John finally found WFFT. Their rescue team immediately came to rescue poor, distraught Alicia.
Un-BEAR-Ably Ridiculous: 3 Stories of Bears Who Were Rescued From the Entertainment Industry
3. Cherry Bomb
Rescue Flying Fox Kicks Back and Enjoys Some Grapes
Amazing Man Jumps Into a Dirty Canal to Save a Dog
Most animal lovers would spring into action at the first sign of an animal in need … but it takes a special kind of person to jump straight into extremely polluted canal water to rescue an animal. The man in this video is one of those people.
While the details of how this poor pooch ended up in the Cali, Colombia canal are unknown, but it was readily apparent that this dog would need help to get out. So rather than standing idly by, this brave man strips off his work clothes, makes a quick rope harness and lowers himself into the canal. Once he reaches the pup, he carefully secures him with the rope harness and gets the people on land to hoist the scared animal onto the grass above.
In no time at all, this frightened, exhausted pup makes it to safety! We hope that the next stop for this dog is a nice bath and forever home.
A big thank you to this brave stranger!
Meet Uno Solo, the Miracle Dog Found in a Van 2 Days After a Deadly Crash
On a recent Friday afternoon, a concerned citizen called IDA’s Hope Animal Sanctuary (HAS) to report an abandoned or lost Great Dane at the entrance ramp to Interstate 55 at Vaiden, Mississippi, not far from the sanctuary. Late that Friday, HAS Operations Director Sharon Stone and volunteer Charles Joseph went to check, and sure enough, there he was- right where the caller had said. Charles opened a can of food, and that great dog inhaled it, so they opened another, which he also ate very quickly. After he was finished with the food, unfortunately he was also finished with them and moved off into some nearby trees.
Saturday morning, they returned, but this time the dog was not in the same location, but after a few minutes he appeared. They again offered food, but he was not interested and instead turned and headed to a nearby convenience store, the Triple Stop. They followed closely, but after about 45 minutes realized that chasing him would only get him hurt.
North Mississippi Great Dane Rescue sent two representatives later that Saturday night to try their luck. They brought their female Dane with them and this boy really liked her, but not enough to get close enough to be caught. As of that Sunday afternoon, Charles and Sharon had returned with the two people from North Mississippi Great Dane Rescue along with their female Dane, but still had no luck. He was just too afraid to come that close to people.
It was decided that the only safe way to catch him was to give him some food with a tranquilizer from a veterinarian, and then when he was drowsy, a lead would be slipped on him. With an army of volunteers and HAS staff, they set out to put their plan into action. What they did not know was that everyone at the Triple Stop was feeding him! He was so full that he would not even look at anything anyone had to offer and therefore there was no way to tranquilize him. So another plan was created to try to lure him with a female dog in heat. A quick post on Facebook seeking an in-heat female dog and voila!
A local woman, Karen, answered the call and brought her dog, Lucy. Karen took Lucy out of the car and led her over to our Dane and it was love at first sight! Karen led them to a grassy area and when the Dane was comfortable, Karen wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a sweet bear hug, which gave them enough time to get a lead on him.
Everyone was elated (and frankly a little bit stunned.) Lucy was such a trooper and seemed to understand that she was helping. She led him to the HAS van and stood there with him, keeping him calm, until staff could load him. From start to finish once Lucy got there, it was all over in about 15 minutes!
Sometimes, it takes a village, and certainly was it true in this case. Many thanks to everyone who advocated for this wonderful boy and all those who shared HAS’s posts about him. Thanks also go to the owners of the Triple Stop and their employees for watching over him, and of course thanks to all the HAS staff and volunteers Charles Joseph, Mike and Rebecca Touchstone and Laura Gregg. Most of all, thanks to Lucy and her entire family for being willing to take time out of their day to be sure this boy was safe.
Kayla the Rescued Sun Bear Goes Wild in Her New Sanctuary Home
Rodrigo González, from Ladridos Ayudando received a call about a dog who had been hit by a car on a major highway. The poor dog looked as if it was seriously injured and González was not sure that the pup would make it. However, regardless of the state of the dog or the fact that the highway was incredibly busy, he was determined to lend a hand to this canine in need.
The dog instantly recognized that González was there to help him and tried to inch its way towards the car. The cars around González continued to speed by, making the rescue extremely risky but within a few seconds the dog was safe and sound in the rescue car.
González explains that although the situation was dangerous, he stopped to raise awareness for the value of life – all life. What an amazing man!
These Rescued Piggies Are Super Excited for the Weekend
Sadly, many pigs are never given the freedom to run and play like Penelope Sue and Ballet Bob, the piglets in this video, because they are raised in the animal agriculture industry. In this industry, pigs are viewed as “commodities” and “food,” not as individuals. Despite the fact that pigs are incredibly intelligent and dynamic creatures, most people are afraid to see them as anything other than a non-feeling entity because if they did, they’d probably have to rethink their consumption habits.
But the kind people at Edgar’s Mission ascribe to the belief that we can all live happy and healthy lives without harming other living beings, and most importantly, that every animal is an individual in their own right. So, Penelope Sue and Ballet Bob are free to live their lives on their own terms and enjoy all the little wonders of life – like celebrating the weekend!
Play on, piggies!
Rescuer Patiently Gains the Trust of a Homeless Dog Who Says Thank You in the Most Heartwarming Way
Janine Guido, the founder of Speranza Animal Rescue, in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, got a call about a stray dog who was seen sleeping on a woman’s porch and immediately set out to lend a hand. When Janine arrived at the scene, the poor pup was eating a pile of trash. The dog, who was later named Dolly, was clearly very frightened of people and started to growl at first.
But Janine was extremely patient and started to follow Dolly in the hopes of gaining her trust. After about 10 minutes the pup finally stopped running.
“I sat down in the alleyway about 10 feet from her. She continued to bark at me. I turned my back to her and just began talking… I assured her it was ok now,” said Janine, “I told her I was not here to hurt her. I just wanted to help.”
Finally, Dolly came over to Janine and her demeanor changed entirely.
“What she did next absolutely made my heart sink – she lifted her left paw up at my face and then so gently curled up into a ball in my lap. She looked up at me with those eyes and gave me a quick kiss on the forehead. A kiss that was her way of saying thank you,” said Janine.
Dolly is now part of the Sperenza Animal Rescue family and will soon be on her way to aproper forever home. A big thank you to Janine Guido for her patience and unrelenting determination to save Dolly!
All image source: Sperenza Animal Rescue/Facebook
From Chained to Cherished: Neglected Dog’s Journey to a Loving Home
Cora had spent her entire life chained outside. Day and night, she could only watch from her cold, wet patch of dirt as her owners came and went and enjoyed the warmth of their house.
PETA’s fieldworkers started visiting the friendly black-and-white dog at her rural North Carolina home in 2012, first to give her a custom-built doghouse, along with straw for bedding, and to arrange to get her transported to a free spay appointment at one of our mobile clinics. They returned many times to clean her always dirty food and water bowls and to give her toys, treats, and ear scratches to help ease her loneliness.
Cora was so excited whenever our fieldworkers came to visit her that she pranced around in delight, relishing the attention they gave her. PETA fieldworkers repeatedly asked the dog’s owner if they could find her an indoor home, but her owner always refused. With no laws against chaining in that area, there was little we could do except keep visiting Cora and trying to make her life a little less miserable.
At some point, Cora was given to another family, and PETA lost track of her—that is, until the week of Christmas. Just by chance, fieldworkers happened upon her at a new address but in the same dismal situation—chained amid mud and filth, with barely a drop of water for her to drink. Only this time, it was actually worse: Cora’s chain was now wrapped around her neck instead of attached to her collar, and the chain was so tight that it had become embedded in her skin, causing an oozing, bloody wound.
Cora’s new owner agreed that she needed more care than he could provide and surrendered her to us. Sweet Cora let us remove the heavy chain from around her neck, treat her wound, and give her a much-needed bath. Despite years of neglect, she soaked up the attention—which was likely the most she had ever received in her entire life.
PETA fieldworker Heather Johnson took in Cora on Christmas Eve, and the playful pup spent her first Christmas as part of a family indoors, even tearing open presents from her foster “mom.”
Once her neck had healed, Cora was ready to go to her forever home. Heather recently drove her to Bethesda, Maryland, where she met her new guardian, Teresa Manns, for the first time.
Now that she’s found her forever home, Cora’s days are filled with comfy beds, playful romps, and daily doses of affection and attention. Her story is one of the many reasons why PETA works so hard to help “backyard dogs.”
Adorable Fox Cubs Rescued From a Walmart Parking Lot
A group of abandoned fox cubs is likely the last thing you’d expect to find in the parking lot of a Walmart, but for one Pennsylvania resident, this was exactly what they found nestled next to a clothing donation box. The seven little cubs were enclosed in a cardboard box and in desperate need of help so this kind human quickly took them and rushed them to a wildlife rehabilitation center nearby.
Now these little cubs are living the cushy life at the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Educational Center in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Vets at this center determined that the fox cubs were only 10 days old and if the Good Samaritan had not brought them in for care, they probably would not have made it on their own.
The cubs are now enjoying special “fox formula” and will get to relax at the center until they are big and strong enough to be released back into the wild. Good luck, kits!
These Amazing Teenagers Saved an Abandoned, Emaciated Dog Hours Before Her Death
When a group of students found a stray dog wandering around the track at Harlandale High School, they immediately set into action to help this needy pup. The poor dog, who the students named Londyn, was severely dehydrated and malnourished. They did what they could to help the dog by bringing her water, but it was clear that Londyn would need professional help so they contacted Protecting Animals Within San Antonio (PAWS).
Luckily, Harlandale has a PAWS club right on campus and Londyn was able to get attention right away. It was found that poor Londyn was suffering from heartworm, tick-born Ehrlichiosis, and a had a tumor that will need to be treated with chemotherapy. Despite this rather dismal diagnosis, Londyn’s vets believe that she will make a full recovery with proper care.
PAWS has set up a GoFundMe campaign to help cover Londyn’s medical costs; you can make a donation here. They hope that once she is stable, Londyn will be able to start her search for a forever home.
Luckily, Harlandale has a PAWS club right on campus and Londyn was able to get attention right away. It was found that poor Londyn was suffering from heartworm, tick-born Ehrlichiosis, and a had a tumor that will need to be treated with chemotherapy. Despite this rather dismal diagnosis, Londyn’s vets believe that she will make a full recovery with proper care.PAWS has set up a GoFundMe campaign to help cover Londyn’s medical costs; you can make a donation here. They hope that once she is stable, Londyn will be able to start her search for a forever home.
While Londyn still has a far way to go with her recovery, she is well on her way thanks to the kind students who rescued her. Good luck, Londyn!
All image source: Kens5
A Frightened Stray Dog Named Mr. Cookie Gets Rescued From Houston’s Fifth Ward
There is an enormous population of homeless dogs in the United States. While some of these pups were born as strays, others end up on the street after their guardians abandoned them, but they all share the need for a living home and proper care.
To help the stray dog population in the fifth ward of Houston, Texas World Animal Awareness Society has teamed up with 600MillionsDogs.org for Operation Houston #StrayDogCity. 600MillionDogs is an organization that was started by PETA’s co-founder, Alex Pacheco, that is working to develop a birth control cookie to help control stray dog populations. Working in tandem with the World Animal Awareness Society stray dog rescue team, Pacheco took to the streets of Houston, Texas, to raise awareness for the influx of homeless animals in the area and lend a hand in the rescue process.
Along their scheduled feeding route, the World Animal Awareness Society team came across a group of stray dogs that included one especially small and scared pup. When Pacheco met this particular dog, he knew that he had to rescue him. Naming the dog, “Mr. Cookie,” in honor of 600MillionDogs’ birth control cookie, Pacheco decided to take him in and help to find him a forever home.
Mr. Cookie is now well on his way to a better life and will never have to struggle on the streets again. Hopefully, with the help of 600MillionDogs’ birth control cookie, countless other dogs will also be saved from life on the streets in the near future!
To learn more about Alex Pacheco and 600MillionDogs, click here.
Alicia the Gibbon Who Lived All Alone as a Pet for 6 Years Finally Gets Rescued!
Having pets can be a wonderful experience for a family. While most opt to adopt cats or dogs as their new furry family member, sadly, some people believe that an exotic animal is more suited to their tastes. Despite the evident danger involved with owning and housing an animal like a tiger, lion or primate in a suburban backyard, the exotic pet trade runs rampant across the world.
Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) is an organization that is all too familiar with the ill-effects of the exotic pet trade. As a rescue organization, WFFT is often called in to remove exotic pets from homes where they have become too aggressive to handle or suffer from abuse and malnutrition. No matter how good the owner’s intentions may be, most are completely unprepared to care for wild animals and can never come close to replicating their proper environment.
The story of Alicia the gibbon is the perfect example of this.
Alicia came to live with Mr. John, an expat living in Thailand, at the age of six weeks old. The small gibbon’s mother had been killed in the wild a few days before and the person who rescued her believed that Mr. John would be able to care for her. Mr. John intended to bring Alicia to a wildlife rehabilitation center but Thai wildlife authorities told him that their center was too filled with monkeys and he would have to keep her.
Years went by and Alicia grew larger and more aggressive.
Not knowing how what else he could do, Mr. John locked Alicia in a small cage located in his backyard. He was sure to feed her a proper diet, but Alicia grew restless living all alone.
About a week ago, Alicia managed to escape from this cage. According to WFFT, she threatened nearby children and attacked one of Mr. John’s neighbors. Mr. John was able to capture Alicia and quarantined her in his guest bathroom. However, in the process he sustained some serious bite injuries.
After six days of research, Mr. John finally found WFFT. Their rescue team immediately came to rescue poor, distraught Alicia. 
Thanks to the WFFT rescue team, Alicia is finally being given a chance at a happy life. She has beenintroduced to another gibbon who lives at the WFFT center and her days of loneliness have come to an end!
While it took six years and a number of very unfortunate events for Alicia to make her way to a sanctuary, we are so pleased that she is finally where she belongs.
Watch a Snowmobile Lead Stampeding Bison to Freedom
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Wood bison are released into the wilds of Alaska, returning to the region for the first time in a century.
ils of bison stampedes are requisite when it comes to America’s historical texts.
From Lewis and Clark’s hyperbolic journal entries, (“The moving multitude...darkened the whole plains.”) to author John Filson’s 1784 writings on how the massive herds “fill the traveler with amazement and terror,” the sight of rumbling bison sounds like something to behold.
Now, more than a century after the last wood bison disappeared from American soil, 100 have been returned to parts of their historic range. The 20-year effort led by Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game is aimed at restoring the key grazers to their natural environment.
The herd followed a snowmobile from temporary holding pens across the Innoko River on April 3 and finally to freedom in snow-covered grass meadows that conservationists hope will become their new home.
The bison, which weigh anywhere from 200 to 1,300 pounds each, are fitted with radio collars so they can be tracked and monitored in their new habitat.
They may not be as well-known as their plains bison brethren, but wood bison flourished in Alaska and Canada for thousands of years before hunting efforts nearly eradicated the subspecies completely.
Thought extinct, one small herd was discovered in Canada in 1957. From those survivors, conservation efforts have increased the wood bison population in Canada to 5,000, spread out among seven wild herds.
The small herd that moved to Alaska was raised at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in Portage before being transported by cargo planes to the release site.
“The animals acclimated to Southwest Alaska very quickly and calmed down from the stress of travel within a week,” wildlife conservation supervisor David James said in a statement. “The dream of wild wood bison that has been growing for the last two decades is now a reality.”
Un-BEAR-Ably Ridiculous: 3 Stories of Bears Who Were Rescued From the Entertainment Industry
When you think about animals who are used and abused in the entertainment industry, monkeys, elephants, and tigers often come to mind. Unfortunately, these are not the only animals who are torn from the wild and put on display in zoos, circuses, and other venues for the purpose of profit, bears also commonly fall prey to this sort of life.
Across the world, bears are kept in roadside zoos and used as photo props for paying visitors. These bears are rarely given the proper care or diet that they need. For example, in 2013, eleven bears were rescued from the Chief Saunooke Bear Park in North Carolina where they were found starving and living in concrete pits. And this is the hardly the only way bears are abused. Bears are often used for other purposes, as well, including in shopping malls and fairs, magic acts, photo shoots and even as entertainment in taxidermist shops. All of which are incredibly inappropriate and quite frankly, ridiculous.
Luckily, some bears do get rescued from these sort of abusive environments thanks to kind individuals and organizations. These three bears are a few of the fortunate former-entertainment animals who have been saved from this deplorable life. No animal should have to suffer for the sake of our amusement, so if you ever come across an attraction featuring a captive bear – or any other wild animal – be a Green Monster and don’t attend. It is up to us to keep wild animals in the wild where they belong.
1. Cholita
Cholita was recently rescued from Peru thanks to the help of Animal Defenders International. Although you can barely tell based off of her current hairless appearance, she is an endangered Andean Spectacled Bear. This particular bear is actually the same spaces as “Paddington,” the lovable children’s book character. Unfortunately, Cholita’s life bears little resemblance to this fabled character.
Originally used as a circus bear, Cholita’s owners removed her claws, and smashed in all of her teeth so that she couldn’t attack her handlers. After years of stress and neglect, she has also lost most of her hair. This poor little bear has been kept in a small zoo in a remote part of Peru for the past decade while her caretakers attempted to make arrangements to have her transferred to a rehabilitation center. Luckily, Animal Defenders International was able to intervene and expedite the process to have Cholita sent to the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado. This sanctuary is the well equipped to care for large carnivores and will be able to rehabilitate Cholita and hopefully introduced to other bears so that she can live out the rest of her life in the peace she deserves.2. King Arthur
King Arthur is an American Black Bear who was rescued by Noah’s Ark in 2014. Despite his kingly title, Arthur spent three decades in a cage, living at a small zoo without proper veterinary care or attention. After living in a hard concrete enclosure, he developed painful arthritis. Poor King Arthur also destroyed his teeth by pulling on the bars in his cage.
Luckily, King Arthur has done a complete 180 since arriving at the sanctuary. He gained 100 pounds and found some new pastimes, including digging in the dirt as well as gathering branches and straw to arrange in his dens. He loves to socialize with his keepers but doesn’t play well with other bears and is kept on his own. Not to worry though, male black bears are also loners in the wild, so this attitude isn’t unusual. Good thing King Arthur has some kind human subject to wait on his every need, so he is all set to lead a happy, regal life from now on.
Cherry Bomb is an Alaskan Silvertip Grizzly Bear who was born at Cherokee Bear Park Zoo in North Carolina in January of 2006. While her name sounds fun, her life was anything but until she was rescued by Lions, Tigers and Bears Sanctuary. At Cherokee Bear Park Zoo, Cherry Bomb was used as a cub ”petting prop” along with her brother Albert. Once she grew too big to be handled by visitors, she and Albert were sent to auction in Ohio and ending up being purchased by a man from North Carolina.
Their homecoming was less than welcoming, however, because it meant that they would be yet again sent to live in a zoo and be displayed for profit. At this zoo, Cherry Bomb was declawed and then sold a short four weeks later to private owners. From there, she then went to Alligator Adventure in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. After five months there, she was passed around some more before ending up with private owners once again in North Carolina – sounds like the worst backpacking trip ever, doesn’t it? Eventually, this couple could no longer care for Cherry Bomb or the four bears they owned and decided to surrender them all to Lions, Tigers and Bears in May of 2014. It took Cherry Bomb eight years end up in a proper, caring home, but all that matters is that her life of being bought and sold for entertainment is finally over!
Lead image source: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Northeast Region/Flickr
You know you have made it into the lap of luxury when you can enjoy being hand-fed grapes. Unfortunately for this little flying fox bat, she had to be rescued after being injured in the wild to get to enjoy this treat — we are glad to see that she is now safe and sound!
From the looks of it, the new focus for this small bat is just getting some much needed rest and regaining her strength with the help of some red grapes, green grapes, and purple grapes too – really any variety of grape that happens to cross her path!
Bats play a critical role in our ecosystem as pollinators, but sadly, many bat species are endangered by habitat loss and disease. Luckily, kind people like Megabattie, the trained bat rescuer who uploaded this video, the bat population is being given a fighting chance at recovery – and a rather cushy one at that!
Injured Pit Bull Rescued From Busy Freeway Just in Time!
A busy freeway is no place for a dog, but sadly that is where Tyrion the Pit Bull ended up. This poor, stray pup had been attacked by another dog and was wandering around in shock when he inadvertently ran right onto the ramp leading to one of L.A.’s busiest roadways. Thankfully for this pup, the Hope for Paws team was already on their way to help rescue him from near tragedy.
When the Hope for Paws rescue van arrived on the site, they found a car pulled over on the side of the freeway and two kind people were trying to get Tyrion to come out of harms way and onto the road’s shoulder. Incidentally, these people were both off-duty animal control officers who were more than prepared to help get this pup to safety. With the help of Elidad from Hope for Paws, this amazing team was able to get Tyrion safely into the rescue van and on his way to a better life.
At the vet clinic, the Hope for Paws team learned Tyrion was suffering from an infection due to the wound he sustained and they quickly started him on antibiotics. The first two days were a little rough for Tyrion, but by day three he was up and wagging his tail – clearly happy to be in the care of these kind humans.
Tyrion is now up for adoption at Hope Ranch Animal Sanctuary. To learn more about how to adopt this one-year-old Pittie, click here.
Amazing Man Jumps Into a Dirty Canal to Save a Dog
Most animal lovers would spring into action at the first sign of an animal in need … but it takes a special kind of person to jump straight into extremely polluted canal water to rescue an animal. The man in this video is one of those people.
While the details of how this poor pooch ended up in the Cali, Colombia canal are unknown, but it was readily apparent that this dog would need help to get out. So rather than standing idly by, this brave man strips off his work clothes, makes a quick rope harness and lowers himself into the canal. Once he reaches the pup, he carefully secures him with the rope harness and gets the people on land to hoist the scared animal onto the grass above.
In no time at all, this frightened, exhausted pup makes it to safety! We hope that the next stop for this dog is a nice bath and forever home.
A big thank you to this brave stranger!
Meet Uno Solo, the Miracle Dog Found in a Van 2 Days After a Deadly Crash
Tragedy struck last weekend in Hauser, Idaho when 85-year-old Marie-Claire Steinkamp was killed in a car crash. The woman was travelling with her little dog, a white Chihuahua, at thetime of the accident, however, when authorities reported to the scene, they did not notice the dog.
The car was towed and brought the a junkyard with the little dog still trapped inside. It was only two days later during an investigation that the frightened Chihuahua was discovered by workers. Miraculously, the dog hadn’t sustained any injuries but was in desperate need of some TLC.
Unfortunately, the police were unable to identify any next of kin or friends of the driver, so the little dog had nowhere to go. Thankfully, Power of the Paw dog rescue stepped in and took in the lost pup.
Naming him “Uno Solo,” in honor of the fact that he was Steinkamp’s “one and only,” Power of the Paw is now being fostered by Autumn Jolley, a Power of the Paw volunteer.
According to the Kootenai County, Idaho Deputy, Steinkamp appeared to have been living out of her van and had a significant amount of stuff in the back which is likely what helped to shield Uno Solo from harm. Most dogs would have attempted to escape from the van, but this loyal pup just stayed, waiting for his guardian.
Power of the Paw will have to wait to see if Steinkamper had any instructions in her will about what would happen to Uno Solo before then can put him up for adoption. One thing is for sure, however, this little dog is in good hands and will remain so for the rest of his life.
All image source: Power of the Paw/Facebook
RESCUING AN ABANDONED GREAT DANE
On a recent Friday afternoon, a concerned citizen called IDA’s Hope Animal Sanctuary (HAS) to report an abandoned or lost Great Dane at the entrance ramp to Interstate 55 at Vaiden, Mississippi, not far from the sanctuary. Late that Friday, HAS Operations Director Sharon Stone and volunteer Charles Joseph went to check, and sure enough, there he was- right where the caller had said. Charles opened a can of food, and that great dog inhaled it, so they opened another, which he also ate very quickly. After he was finished with the food, unfortunately he was also finished with them and moved off into some nearby trees.
Saturday morning, they returned, but this time the dog was not in the same location, but after a few minutes he appeared. They again offered food, but he was not interested and instead turned and headed to a nearby convenience store, the Triple Stop. They followed closely, but after about 45 minutes realized that chasing him would only get him hurt.
North Mississippi Great Dane Rescue sent two representatives later that Saturday night to try their luck. They brought their female Dane with them and this boy really liked her, but not enough to get close enough to be caught. As of that Sunday afternoon, Charles and Sharon had returned with the two people from North Mississippi Great Dane Rescue along with their female Dane, but still had no luck. He was just too afraid to come that close to people.
It was decided that the only safe way to catch him was to give him some food with a tranquilizer from a veterinarian, and then when he was drowsy, a lead would be slipped on him. With an army of volunteers and HAS staff, they set out to put their plan into action. What they did not know was that everyone at the Triple Stop was feeding him! He was so full that he would not even look at anything anyone had to offer and therefore there was no way to tranquilize him. So another plan was created to try to lure him with a female dog in heat. A quick post on Facebook seeking an in-heat female dog and voila!
A local woman, Karen, answered the call and brought her dog, Lucy. Karen took Lucy out of the car and led her over to our Dane and it was love at first sight! Karen led them to a grassy area and when the Dane was comfortable, Karen wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a sweet bear hug, which gave them enough time to get a lead on him.
Everyone was elated (and frankly a little bit stunned.) Lucy was such a trooper and seemed to understand that she was helping. She led him to the HAS van and stood there with him, keeping him calm, until staff could load him. From start to finish once Lucy got there, it was all over in about 15 minutes!
Sometimes, it takes a village, and certainly was it true in this case. Many thanks to everyone who advocated for this wonderful boy and all those who shared HAS’s posts about him. Thanks also go to the owners of the Triple Stop and their employees for watching over him, and of course thanks to all the HAS staff and volunteers Charles Joseph, Mike and Rebecca Touchstone and Laura Gregg. Most of all, thanks to Lucy and her entire family for being willing to take time out of their day to be sure this boy was safe.
Kayla the Rescued Sun Bear Goes Wild in Her New Sanctuary Home
When you’re a sun bear cub named Kayla living in a sanctuary, sometimes things can get a little cray-cray. There are leaves to explore, dirt clods to capture, and tree bark to gnaw on. Oh, and don’t forget the napping on the forest floor. Seriously, a bear’s gotta have someplaceto chill after a full day of hijinks.
Kayla was brought to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) after being mysteriously separated from her mother. While it isn’t known exactly what happened, poachers often kill mother sun bears in the wild in order to separate them from their cubs so the little ones can be sold as pets or to dealers in South East Asia where they’d likely be used in a bile farm.
Fortunately for Kayla, the youngest bear in residence at the BSBCC, she’s being rehabilitated at the sanctuary in the hopes that she will someday return to the wild.
How’s she faring? Just take a look at her pictures! She’s taking to the forest like a duck takes to water. Thanks to organizations like BSBCC, sun bears don’t have to face a painful future in a cage. They can live and thrive just the way a bear should and, in Kayla’s case, do it while being impossibly cute.
Don’t even act like you can see me, I’m the best hider ever.
Sometimes, when I’m alone on the forest floor like this, I can’t help but wonder what the heck the C.K. stands for in Louis C.K.’s name. I like to think it’s Comedy King…that seems right.
Duuuude, look at the size of that leaf cluster.
So, you’re telling me that you see a blue and black dress, but I’m seeing a white and gold one? Whaaaat?
Mmm, you guys, <nom nom nom> you gotta try this tree, it’s got a pretty spectacular finish. Lots of oaky notes, but not too peppery.
I’m so sorry I bit you Mr. Branch, let’s hug it out.
That awkward moment when you’re trying to gnaw on a log and all of your extra baby skin scrunches up in front of your eyes.
Okay, I’ve captured this dirt clod…not sure why I did it or what I should do with it from here, but I have it.
Talk to the paw cuz the face is nibbling leaves.
People just don’t know how exhausting it can be to hunt leaves and logs and dirt all day while maintaining this level of cute. Honestly, it takes effort to be this incredible.
Zzzzzz…..
All image source: Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
