Dogs, We Don't Deserve Them

[SubGod22]

Dog That Won't Stop Digging Saves Entire Neighborhood After They Find Dangerous Gas Leak Underground

It would have made front-page news around the country: a quiet Philadelphia neighborhood exploding suddenly into flames days before Christmas; but because of a clever dog with a heck of a nose, it’s only making news here on GNN.

A disastrous gas leak was detected underground by Kobe, a 4-year-old husky owned by Chanell Bell, who trusted her intuition and listened to Kobe’s warnings.

Having moved into the home rather recently, Bell noticed Kobe was digging in the same spot in the yard hour after hour. She didn’t think much of it as he is an avid digger when the need arises, but as it got larger and larger, she took notice.

“I trust his judgment because that isn’t his typical behavior,” she said. “He has great senses and he never digs holes unless he is helping me dig; I knew something was up.”

Chanell had had a gas leak in the house earlier in December, and seeing that the hole went under the sidewalk, she “trusted her intuition” to take out her gas detection device.

Immediately, the reading detected gas.

Not just gas, but a potentially cataclysmic amount of gas.

Chanell alerted authorities who informed her that if Kobe hadn’t detected the leak when he did on December 21, the consequences could have been fatal.

“We were told it could’ve caused serious health effects like respiratory issues, brain damage, and even death. They told me that something as simple as a light switch turning on could’ve caused an explosion too!” she said.

Video at the bottom.

[SubGod22]

This guy might deserve his dog after this.

Man Wrestles Coyote To Save His Dog, Carries It By The Tail And Drops It In A Dumpster

Today's good news story comes from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

In a heartwarming display of courage and love for his furry companion, Timothy Snipe rescued his small Chihuahua, Roxie, from the clutches of a coyote in his backyard.

The incident unfolded as Snipe and Roxie were enjoying some outdoor time in their fenced-in backyard. Suddenly, Roxie's barks alerted Snipe to a potential danger lurking near the woods. Without hesitation, Snipe rushed to investigate and discovered a coyote threatening his beloved pet.

Snipe sprang into action and bravely wrestled with the coyote, managing to gain control over the wild animal. He seized the coyote by its tail and promptly deposited it into a large garbage bin.

"He was trying to get out for a while, then he realized there was garbage in there, so he settled down." Snipe told the local news station.

However, Snipe's act of bravery came at a cost – he was bitten during the struggle and subsequently had to undergo nine rabies shots. Despite the physical toll, Snipe remains unwavering in his commitment to Roxie's safety. "Even if I got bit and got rabies, it's something I know I can get treated for. But if she had got bit, it was over," he explained.

When questioned about whether the risks were worth it, Snipe's response was immediate: "Absolutely. Roxie is a part of my family. I'd do anything to protect her."

First, what kind of idiot actually asks if it was worth it? If you're not willing to protect your family, you don't deserve it.

Second, there's a one minute news clip with video of the save at the bottom of the article.

Third, Chihuahua's are barely dogs.

Fourth, I can't tell you how many times I've played through scenarios like this in my own mind.

[SubGod22]

Video of Dog Rescuing a Drowning Fawn Goes Viral via Surprising Twitter Account (WATCH)

When followers of an X (Twitter) account called “Animals Dying” saw a video of a dark shape swimming through muddy water with a deer fawn in its jaws, most probably weren’t tuning in for a happy ending.

But they were in for a heartwarming surprise, because even though at stages the beast in the grainy video appears like an alligator, it soon shows itself to be a floppy-go-lucky labrador retriever.

As for the little fawn stuck between its jaws, it was drowning, and the retriever saved its life.

The owner of the dog can be heard behind the camera praising it for the heroic save.

Surprisingly, the video was shared by the owner of the account with the caption, “Made My Day.”

One commenter wrote, “Who thought it was a crocodile?” after the video made it to social media.

Video in link.

[SubGod22]

3-Legged Dog Cured of Cancer by Breakthrough FDA-Approved Treatment With 87% Success Rate

A 3-legged American pit bull with a heart of gold and sweet disposition captured the hearts of Alicia and Andrew Alderson when they adopted her in 2017.

“It was absolutely love at first sight—she ran into our arms.”

But their journey took an unexpected turn when last year they discovered a 3-centimeter growth on Annabel Lee’s rear left leg—a mast cell tumor.

Traditional surgical options were ruled out due to the eight-year-old’s unique circumstance of already having only three legs. Luckily, a drug approved by the FDA three years ago has been transforming mast cell tumor treatment, and was a perfect fit for the Virginia family.

Dr. Emily Moser, at Town and Country Veterinarians and Pet Resort in Gainesville, said Annabel Lee was an ideal candidate for Stelfonta.

“It’s really cool for cases like hers when surgery is not an option,” Moser explains.

Stelfonta was specifically designed to target mast cell tumors in dogs. It induces necrosis within the tumor while promoting rapid healing of the affected site—all with minimal scarring and a response from 87 percent of pups having complete tumor resolution.

I wish we had more FDA approved options for a variety of issues relating to our dogs. I know I had to say goodbye to one of mine a few years ago because something that would be insanely simple and common to help a human isn't approved for use on dogs. That simple solution could have given me a few more years with my best friend, but the vet didn't have the option and we only had the hail mary route which did not work.

The vet felt bad as she believed it would be a rather simple procedure with animals, but the government simply will not approve it for some reason. Hopefully that changes in the future and we continue to see breakthroughs in other avenues of pet health.

[SubGod22]

Then here we have a story of resilience.

Missing Dog Spotted On Trail Cam Nearly 1 Year After Avalanche Separated Him From Owner

Today's good news story comes from Marble, Colorado.

In a heartwarming turn of events, a trail camera in Colorado has captured the incredible journey of a missing dog named Ullr, who managed to survive 11 months alone in the wilderness following a tragic avalanche that separated him from his owner.

Jacob Dalbey, Ullr's owner, received the long-awaited confirmation of his beloved Border Collie Rottweiler mix's survival through photos captured on Saturday and Sunday by a trail camera set up by a team of canine tracking experts he had employed. Dalbey expressed his overwhelming joy and gratitude on a GoFundMe page where he shared the remarkable news.

"After 341 days, 11 months to the day of setting up trail cameras/food and moving them around in hopes of luring Ullr into one to finally get confirmation of what I have known all along, it has happened," Dalbey shared with the online community.

"To all of you, friends and supporters of Ullr (and me), I want to thank you so much. Knowing you believe in us really means a lot, even when I don't say it. It has been extremely difficult to say the least. Your support has made it possible to keep searching for Ullr over the last 11+ months," he added.

The GoFundMe page, launched by a friend, Deborah Wieker, explained that Dalbey, currently unable to work due to injuries sustained during the avalanche, faces a significant financial burden with unplanned medical bills. The funds raised will help cover the expenses of the tracker that played a crucial role in Ullr's discovery.

[SubGod22]

Dog Named Hero Saves Owner's Life for Days, Fighting Off Cold and Coyotes and Getting Help

An Akita named ‘Hero’ saved his owner’s life last week in an incredible tale of loyalty and resilience that saw him remain by his side through two frigid Alberta nights, fend off coyotes, and eventually alert rescuers.

Winning plaudits for his name and deed the world over, a GoFundMe raised $3,000 to cover the veterinary bills of Hero by the shelter that is keeping him safe and warm while his owner recovers.

The story began with an attack: when a passerby named Curtis Dahl was walking in a field of mud and grass near the sugar factory in the town of Taber, and Hero came running up and bit his dog around the neck.

Dahl claims he tussled with Hero for ten minutes trying to get him off his dog, and needed stitches on his finger by the end of it.

Calling police and animal services with a complaint, he alerted them to Hero’s presence, but when the officers arrived and saw Hero lying down exhausted near a terraced plot of grass and weeds near the road, they suddenly heard a cry for help.

Arriving, they found a 61-year-old man on his back in a ditch, shivering and unable to move. He told police he’d been stuck there for two days while Hero protected him.

While the man was taken to a hospital, Hero was taken to Taber Lost Paws Society, an animal shelter that has a special program to look after dogs during periods of crisis or injury. As it happened, the society’s acting president Alana McPhee said they had an employee who was the injured man’s neighbor and knew that he had another Akita dog named Tora.

There's a two minute video at the bottom of the article if interested.

[SubGod22]

I ****ing love dogs.

Newfoundland Hero: Dog Saves Drowning Golden Retriever

Today's good news story comes from the the Isle of Man.

A Newfoundland dog has emerged as a hero after playing a crucial role in the rescue of a struggling Golden Retriever from the waters of Douglas inner Harbor.

The Douglas Coastguard Rescue Team shared the remarkable story, detailing how a member of the public stumbled upon a distressed Newfoundland dog at the Tongue in Douglas inner Harbor. Sensing urgency in the Newfoundland's behavior, the individual soon realized the cause of the dog's distress—a white Retriever struggling in the water.

The quick-thinking bystander immediately alerted the Coastguard and sprang into action.

"The member of the public quickly raised the alarm for the Coastguard to be called, he then went down onto a boat in the Harbour and was able to grab hold of the dog as he was going down the Harbour in the flow of the river, at this point the dog was starting to go under so was lucky to be saved," Douglas Coastguard shared.

The Coastguard, upon arrival, seamlessly continued the rescue operation, ensuring the safety of both the rescued dog and the courageous bystander.

Following the successful rescue, both dogs were reunited at the Coastguard station while awaiting the arrival of the authorities to locate their owner.

[SubGod22]

Dogs Placed in Elementary Schools Making a Big Difference in Academics and Mental Health for Michigan Students

To help reduce anxiety—and open the way for learning—several elementary schools in Michigan have enrolled service dogs as full-time happiness ambassadors—and it is paw-sitively working.

Students are “already seeing a big difference in their academics,” according to a news report from WXMI-TV 17.

Priority Health, a Michigan health insurance provider, launched Priority Pups in September when goldendoodles were placed in two of the state’s school districts, “with more to come”.

“I love you, Meeka,” said Shelby, a student at North Godwin Elementary School who was snuggled up with the pup, which serves in a different classroom every day.

Research shows the presence of a trained dog lowers children’s stress, fosters a positive attitude toward learning, and smooths interactions between classmates.

A 2023 report from Mental Health America found that many youth in Michigan with clinical depression did not receive any mental health treatment.

Shelby’s mom, Laurie Uhl, described the difference Meeka is making in her daughter’s life.

“Shelby was diagnosed with a genetic disorder called Fragile X Syndrome, along with autism and ADHD. Here at school, she really struggles with a range of emotions.

“She gets angry and will cry or scream uncontrollably.”

But since Meeka the goldendoodle arrived at school, there is a guaranteed way to bring calm to the situation.

Short 60 second video at the bottom of the article.

I'm not surprised that the presence of dogs has a positive impact on anyone.

[SubGod22]

A Rescued German Shepherd Saves Owner's Life Just Months After Adoption

Today's good news story comes from Oakland, New Jersey.

In a heartwarming tale of loyalty and bravery, Sadie, a 6-year-old German Shepherd and alumna of Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge (RBARI) in New Jersey, has emerged as a true hero.

Sadie's journey began when she was surrendered to RBARI by her previous owner due to a move. Confused and lost, Sadie found herself in the shelter, yearning for the family she had lost. With her nervous disposition, particularly around men, Sadie faced challenges in finding a new home. However, fate had a special plan in store for her.

A few months ago, Brian entered Sadie's life and instantly formed a connection with her. Despite her hesitancy to trust, Brian recognized Sadie's intelligence and unwavering loyalty. He decided to give her a second chance at life by adopting her and welcoming her into his home.

Last week, tragedy struck when Brian suffered a stroke while alone with Sadie. In a remarkable display of devotion, Sadie never left his side. With quick thinking and unwavering determination, Sadie licked Brian's face to keep him awake and then helped drag him across the room to his cell phone. It was Sadie's actions that enabled Brian to call for help, ultimately saving his life.

Currently, Sadie is staying with family while Brian undergoes recovery in a rehabilitation center. Despite being apart, they make sure to FaceTime every night, eagerly awaiting the day they can be reunited.

Who's a good girl? Sadie's a good girl.

[SubGod22]

Could have put this in a couple of threads, but....dogs.

'She Just Jumped Into My Arms': Firefighter Adopts Dog Found Beside Deceased Owner

Today's good news story comes from Cornwall, England.

In a heartwarming twist to a tragic story, firefighter James Trounson found an unexpected new friend while responding to an emergency call on April 24, 2024.

When Trounson arrived at the home, he discovered the resident had passed away, leaving behind a devoted little terrier named Martha. The loyal dog had stayed by her owner's side, reluctant to leave even after help arrived.

"The little terrier took quite a bit of persuading to come to me," Trounson told Fox News. "But eventually, she just jumped into my arms."

With no next of kin to care for Martha, Trounson initially planned to take her to a local shelter. However, the terrier's loyalty and charm quickly won him over. Instead of the shelter, Martha found a new home on Trounson's family farm, where she seamlessly integrated into the family and their other animals.

"She rides around in the tractor as if it was second nature and loves it," Trounson shared, describing how Martha has adapted to her new life.

The Helston Community Fire Station shared a photo of Trounson with Martha on social media, capturing the touching moment and adding, "Out of tragedy, sometimes there is happiness."

First, I'm not surprised that the puppers didn't want to leave the side of her owner, even in death.

Second, I'm happy that she wasn't sent to a shelter. The poor dog just lost the one human that mattered to her and I'm sure she was well taken care of. The shock of being put in a shelter could be devastating to the poor soul. It's also encouraging that Martha was able to adapt to her new life and family so quickly. She has such a sweet and gentle face that I'm not sure how anyone couldn't take her in.

[SubGod22]

Watch a Dog Mimic a Weightlifter By Doing Squats and Lifting Invisible Barbells (Sunday Funnies)

It’s not AI…

Apparently, this Seattle dog is simply athletic and into sports. (Maybe owns a Subaru?)

This amusing video captures three-year-old Dooma copying her owner, Dr. Evan Strahl, working out at an LA Fitness gym in Seattle, Washington.

During Evan’s exercise session, the pup begins performing a set of squats.

“Dooma is a highly-trained service dog,” explained the physician.

“She competes in many dog sports, and also loves swimming and hiking.”

(Dooma belongs on a dating app for dogs.)

Watch the super cute scene below. You might want to mute the music, though…

30 second clip of the squatting dog in the link.

[SubGod22]

Loyal Dog Saves Owner's Life By Running Miles For Help After Accident

Today's good news story comes from Baker County, Oregon.

In a remarkable display of loyalty and bravery, a dog saved his owner's life by running nearly four miles to seek help after a serious car accident. The Baker County Sheriff's Office shared this heroic tale on social media, providing details of the incredible rescue that took place on June 3, 2024.

At approximately 9:28 a.m., the Baker County Sheriff's Office received a report of a vehicle that had gone over an embankment on U.S. Forest Service Road 39. The call came from a man who was worried about his brother, Brandon Garrett, who had failed to arrive at their camp the previous afternoon. Family members had discovered his vehicle in the morning but were unable to reach it due to the difficult terrain.

Responding to the emergency, the Baker County Sheriff's Office, Baker County Search and Rescue, Pine Valley Rural Fire District, and Halfway Ambulance rushed to the scene. Sheriff Ash was among the first to arrive and found the vehicle, along with one of Garrett's dogs, in a steep, brushy ravine. As he searched for a way to access the creek, Sheriff Ash heard a call for help. Garrett was located alive approximately one hundred yards from the vehicle, above the creek. Sheriff Ash provided first aid on the spot.

With the assistance of Pine Valley Rural Fire volunteers and U.S. Forest Service employees, who used chainsaws to clear a path, the Baker County Search and Rescue Ropes Team began the challenging task of reaching Garrett. After setting up their rescue equipment, the team secured Garrett in a rescue basket and used a highline rope system to pull him across the ravine to safety. From there, he was transferred to medical personnel and transported by Halfway Ambulance to a Life Flight helicopter, which airlifted him to a regional hospital for further treatment.

The investigation revealed that Garrett had been traveling north on U.S. Forest Service Road 39 on June 2nd with his four dogs when he failed to negotiate a curve, causing the vehicle to plunge off the embankment.

Remarkably, one of his dogs managed to travel nearly four miles back to their camp, alerting the rest of the party that something was wrong.

Garrett, despite being injured, had crawled approximately one hundred yards from the vehicle and spent the night in the ravine. The rest of his family continued their search and eventually located his vehicle the next morning. The three remaining dogs were found alive at the crash scene.

It's pretty amazing that Garrett and all four dogs made it out safely in the end.

[SubGod22]

Apparently much more accurate than most drug dogs, though I believe a lot of drug dogs are 'made' to hit on cars by certain indicators from their handlers which negatively impact their numbers.

Dogs Trained to Sniff Out Post-Traumatic Stress - by Smelling Patients' Breath - With 90% Accuracy

Two dogs have been trained to sniff out post-traumatic stress by smelling survivors’ breath—with an accuracy success rate following initial training of 90 percent.

Scientists say the breakthrough will make post-traumatic stress disorder support dogs more effective.

PTSD is a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event such as a car crash or terror attack, with symptoms that include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.

Dogs’ sensitive noses already can detect the early warning signs of medical situations, such as an impending seizure. Now, researchers have evidence that assistance dogs might be able to sniff out an oncoming PTSD flashback, before it happens.

In the pilot study, the team taught two dogs to decipher the breath of people who have been reminded of traumas, by recognizing the scent of trauma reactions on human breath.

A Golden Retriever named Ivy and a German Shepherd-Belgian Malinois mix named Callie, were the only two of 25 dogs “skilled and motivated enough” to complete the rigorous training process.

Study first author Laura Kiiroja, of Dalhousie University, Canada, said: “Dogs are currently trained to respond to behavioral and physical cues. Our study showed that some dogs can also detect these episodes via breath.”

She said assistance dogs currently help patients by alerting to and interrupting episodes when their companions are struggling with their symptoms. Responding to stress markers on their breath, these four-legged medics can potentially interrupt episodes at an earlier stage, making their interventions more effective.

All humans have a ‘scent profile’ of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—molecules emitted by the body in secretions such as sweat—influenced by our genetics, age, activities, and other variables.

There was some evidence that dogs may be capable of detecting VOCs linked to human stress, but until now, no studies have investigated whether dogs could learn to detect VOCs associated with PTSD symptoms.

This is an interesting concept

[WuDrWu]

Apparently much more accurate than most drug dogs, though I believe a lot of drug dogs are 'made' to hit on cars by certain indicators from their handlers which negatively impact their numbers.

This is an interesting concept

I'm not quite sure I understand what you're saying here.

Are you saying left to their own instincts, dogs are better without human interference that dogs with it? Like a trained dog will be right 80% of the time, but because the handler wants to look when the dog says no that the number goes down to say 70%?

Also, I don't think the 2 compare well. Either the suspect/thing has drugs or they don't. Period. Only 2 very provable options.

PTSD is completely open to interpretation and therefore, manipulation.

[SubGod22]

I'm not quite sure I understand what you're saying here.

Are you saying left to their own instincts, dogs are better without human interference that dogs with it? Like a trained dog will be right 80% of the time, but because the handler wants to look when the dog says no that the number goes down to say 70%?

Also, I don't think the 2 compare well. Either the suspect/thing has drugs or they don't. Period. Only 2 very provable options.

PTSD is completely open to interpretation and therefore, manipulation.

There have been a number of studies done that show drug dogs having success rates below 50% when they 'hit' on say a vehicle. There have also been indicators that some of these drug dogs will react similarly to a true 'hit' when their handler makes some sort of motion or command which gives the handler 'cause' to do a more invasive search.

I'm sure the drug dog numbers would be much better without the human influence of certain handlers who are a little more dishonest than one would hope from certain professions.

So yes, the drug dog would have higher success rates if it weren't for handlers that want to violate a persons rights to unreasonable searches making them 'hit' with a command or action rather than just trusting the dogs and letting people be on their way.

This isn't all handlers, but there have been numerous cases where it has happened and there are drug dogs that have less than 50% accuracy because of it. If a dog is getting it right at that low of a rate, either the dog needs to be retired or the handler does. Maybe both.

If we simply trusted those dogs trained to search for such things, it would be much better. Nobody expects 100%, but even 50/50 is pretty suspect.

With all of that said, dogs are amazing and the things they can be trained to detect are endless. I have a friend who has a son that has a latex allergy and he has a dog that helps prevent any accidental contact. They can't go to certain restaurants because the cooks may wear latex gloves and such. It's pretty remarkable. There have been dogs that have essentially diagnosed cancer. One found a lady that had a kidney I think that matched its owner who was waiting for one on a transplant list while they were at the beach or something. Pretty sure that story is in this thread somewhere. They can track people down, find the deceased, sense changes in bodily chemicals that may lead to some sort of episode or health problem as well as picking up on minor visual cues of the same.

To sum up, dogs are fantastic and bad/corrupt cops ruin their success rates as drug dogs while the good ones allow their dogs to stand on their own four feet and be successful.