Stevie Oedipus Wonder had not died though he wound up at San Antonio Animal Care Services, but his dog tag information had not been updated so the owners could not be found. An ad was published to help find him a home, but he was also scheduled for euthanization. A school teacher saw the ad and volunteered to take him in for a short period. The teacher became curious after looking at Stevie’s dog tags and conducted a search on the Craig’s List website using the key words ‘blind dog’.

One of Stevie’s family members had placed on ad on the site describing the lost blind dog and their contact information should anyone find him. The school teacher reached out to them saying she had Stevie and he was reunited with his family.

Animal services or animal shelters are probably a good bet when one is looking for a lost animal. Also, microchipping a pet can help in these situations, because the owner information will remain with the animal and animal shelters typically know to scan them…. story taken from Care2.com… read story… http://www.care2.com/greenliving/lost-blind-dog-returned-to-home.html

Something just didn’t smell right. And thanks to an alert puppy named Ollie, a family got the message quickly enough to escape for safety.

Ollie, a young Boxer pup, sensed danger while his family was putting up holiday decorations one early December night at their home in Canton, Ga. Gas logs in the Hyde family’s fireplace were spewing odorless and highly flammable fumes into the air. The potential for a deadly accident was very real, either from asphyxiation due to the gas or from a possible explosion if somehow a spark ignited the gas that was filling the home.

“He knew something we didn’t know,” Jason Hyde told an Atlanta TV station. “He sensed something wasn’t right.”

Ollie arched his back and began nudging the Hyde’s and their daughter until they eventually got the message and followed him outside. In the process, Jason realized that gas was flowing from the gas logs and that he had forgotten to light the fire.

“He cared about us enough to get us out,” says Sheree Hyde. “He was not giving up until we all came outside. We loved him before and obviously we still do, but we thank God for such a smart dog.”

For sensing danger and bravely ushering his family to safety, Ollie is being recognized with the Scout & Zoe’s Exceptional Canine Award.

“We just love Ollie’s story, because he’s our youngest Exceptional Canine Award recipient by far,” says Cindy Dunston Quirk, owner and developer of Scout & Zoe’s Natural Antler Dog Chews. “For a young puppy to show so much love, devotion and bravery is just an amazing story. He really did save Christmas, and it’s the kind of story that reminds us just how special and strong the bond is between a dog and his family, even at such a young age.”

Ollie has become quite a celebrity in his small Georgia town. The Hyde’s have done a number of television interviews, emphasizing the uncanny ability Ollie showed to be aware of the gas and the potential for danger.

“I just think it’s cool that God has made a creature, made a dog, as smart as this dog and I am glad to have him,” says Jason.

As a Scout & Zoe’s honoree, a special card has been created featuring Ollie’s photo and his achievements. It will be included in packages of Scout & Zoe’s chews. .… story taken from… PRWeb.. read story… http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/12/prweb9057240.htm

The dog’s owner, Yumiko Shinohara, said the male cross-breed died at Sakura in the Tochigi prefecture, north of Tokyo, according to the Kyodo news agency.

Pusuke was reportedly eating well and staying active until Monday, when he lost his appetite and had difficulty breathing.  Pusuke died peacefully, minutes after his owner returned home from a walk.

“I think (Pusuke) waited for me to come home,” she said, according to Kyodo.

Born in April of 1985, Pusuke was recognized last December as the world’s oldest-living dog.

The oldest-known dog on record, according to Guinness, was an Australian cattle dog named Bluey, who lived to the ripe old age of 29 years and five months before it was put down in November 1939… story taken from… ABC News.com Blogs… read full story… http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2011/12/worlds-oldest-dog-dies-at-age-26/

I’ve had a lovely time in the holidays, enjoying meeting and greeting our guests and I’ve been out and about to visit my many fans recently. I had the pleasure of seeing Nan and Pop last week and enjoyed a sumptuous luncheon on the back patio. Of course I was privy to the most delectable tidbits that were coming my way.  I can highly recommend the chef.

I’m not really looking forward to going to the vet next month for my annual checkup and weigh-in. I suspect that I have put on a pound or two over the xmas break and I will be rationed once again in the near future.

Until next time fur-fans….

The dog disappeared on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in 2003 from a family farm in Fredricksburg, Virginia, according to Fredricksburg.com. Somehow, eight years later, the dog ended up on the opposite side of the United States at an animal shelter in California.

The shelter then used a microchip implanted in the dog to track down the dog owners, according to Fredricksburg.com.

In a Skype interview with CBS13 Sacramento, Pruitt exclaimed upon seeing the dog,”Awwwwww. Look at her.”

Debra Luis, supervisor at the Yuba County Animal Control Office in California, told the Appeal Democrat about the dog’s health. The Appeal Democrat reports Luis said “that the dog is in fine shape physically, though she also said there are signs the animal had not received enough nutrition in recent months.”

Now, according to KCRA Sacramento, “The shelter is now working with Pruitt to make sure Petunia is home for the holidays.” ….story taken from… The Huffington Post… read story, see video… http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/04/missing-dog-reunited-with_n_1128036.html

A dog was found shot on the side of the road in Allen Parish and one man saved the dog’s life by bringing her to a veterinary hospital.

This incident brings up the issue of how people abandon their dogs on the side of the road, generally in rural areas. Dogs left on the streets end up starving to death or getting run over. In this dog’s case, getting shot.

Resident of Allen Parish Jackie Parks said many people dump their dogs on the road where he lives.

“Allen Parish doesn’t have an animal shelter, so people in this area don’t have options,” he said. “For me, there’s never an option to abandon a dog on the side of the road.”

Parks found the dog a few days earlier along with a male dog and a puppy. He would bring food to the dogs and eventually when they warmed up to him, he would take them to a shelter.

“On the last night I checked on them as I went to work, I found the male dog had been shot,” Parks said.

With the male dog dead, he went searching for the female dog and her puppy. He discovered the female dog had been shot as well, but was still alive. The puppy ran off as he got closer to the dog.

“I made kind of a decision to take the female dog to the vet and I would come back for the puppy and try to catch it, but I came back and the puppy was gone,” Parks said.

The female dog he brought to the vet, he named Hope. Parks described her as friendly and calm, but after being shot in the abdomen, she was unable to stand.

“I didn’t know what kind of damage she had. I was really afraid for her,” Parks said.

Veterinarian at the Lake Area Animal Hospital Dr. Sally Kate Scroggs said Hope had a 50-percent chance of survival.

“We took X-rays and she had a broken hip and she also had a ruptured bladder,” Scroggs said. “The first surgery, her bladder was still leaking, so I had to take her back into surgery the next night.”

Two surgeries later, Hope’s tail is now wagging and she’s running around on all four legs. She’s a happy healthy dog.

“People really need to think about what they’re doing before they just dump dogs off. Because I’m sure the people who dropped her off didn’t expect someone was going to shoot her,” Scroggs said.

And Parks is happy to see that Hope has a second chance.

“My hope is that someday she finds a good home and that someone will find a spot in their heart for her,” he said. “It’s kind of a bitter sweet thing. I’m really glad that she has a second chance and I’m thankful for that.”…story taken from … KPLC TV.com… read full story… http://www.kplctv.com/story/16178366/abandoned-dog-is-shot-and-gets-a-second-chance-at-life

The dog was in the back seat of the white 2009 Ford Escape stolen from Anyway’s Restaurant parking lot, according to WGN News.

A 25-year-old man, Bradley L. Haggard, of Lombard, was later arrested in connection with the carjacking. Villa Park and Addison police said the SUV was taken to a Wal-Mart and used as a getaway car after Haggard shoplifted items from the store.

Villa Park police chased Haggard east on North Avenue. The chase caused Haggard to crash into a tree at St. Charles Road and Craig Street. Haggard was caught and arrested after trying to flee on foot. Police report Haggard was under the influence and driving with a suspended license.

He is charged with felony charges of aggravated failure to obey an order to stop, possession of a stolen vehicle, resisting an officer and possession of cannabis. He is held on a $150,000 bail at DuPage County Jail.

Cody, the dog, was not hurt during the accident and was returned to his owner… story taken from NBC Chicago News… read story…. http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Villa-Park-Dog–134360373.html

The service dog of a local military veteran disappeared two weeks ago, but now, he’s now back home.
KSAT did the initial report about the missing dog last week and after a viewer, who had picked up the dog, saw the story, he contacted the owner.
“He’s a wonderful dog,” said Brent Von Aschen, the military veteran who had lost his dog. “And, I’m really happy to have him home.”
Von Aschen said his black Labrador, Tyson, had wandered away from him home about two weeks ago and that he had been desperately searching for him ever since.
“It brought tears to my eyes that he’s back,” said Von Aschen. “Because, I was concerned so much for him and to have him back, is just wonderful.”
However, Von Aschen, who suffered a serious head injury while serving in Iraq, not only has his companion back, but Tyson is also a service dog.
Von Aschen now suffers frequent seizures, but he told KSAT that he and his dog, Tyson, have a connection, where Tyson not only watches out for him, but he also alerts him when a seizure is about to strike.
“He is able to sense trouble in advance,” said Von Aschen. “He has just been extremely valuable for that purpose, but as a pet, he couldn’t be a better pet.”
Von Aschen said he never lost hope that he would find his special companion.
In fact, Tyson had been found just three miles away.
“They knew he belonged to somebody, but they didn’t know who until they saw the news report,” he said. “Which was wonderful because he had been gone from us two weeks.”
Von Aschen said that the people who found Tyson and contacted him after watching the report on KSAT, actually turned down a reward for returning the dog.
Instead, they asked that the $1,000 go toward a noble animal cause.
He also told KSAT that he’s getting Tyson chipped and neutered to prevent this from happening again… story taken from KSAT.com News… read story… http://www.ksat.com/news/Missing-dog-returned-to-retired-vet/-/478452/4796794/-/r45atq/-/

We do alright together, the two of us. We forget a lot, can’t see properly and the hearing is going, but we managed to wolf down our dinners and enjoy our days together still.

My only angst is the presence of that interloping snapper, Angus, in the holiday periods and occasional weekend visitations. I can’t seem to get rid of him anymore. My teeth aren’t what they used to be unfortunately, or I’d be given him a couple of shots of dutch courage that he would remember for the rest of his life.

Until next time…

My sister Ruby seems to enjoy all the primping and pampering, but I’m not one for the excesses of it all, so hide I must, lest I be cornered and dragged into the laundry.

I’m pretty sure I’ve found myself a good spot. I’m right up in the corner, in a nice dark place. Now if only I could get rid of Ruby, who is out of the bath and trying to get under here with me. She’s a dead giveaway, because she’s leaving a trail of water right to my secret location.

Until next time… if there is a next time…