What Dog Stories Is All About

Dogs are incredible creatures.  When they adopt us humans, they jump into with all of their heart.  It is truly amazing what they will do for their masters/mistresses.

I plan to just keep finding and posting stories about how our canine friends make our lives more interesting and happy.  Sometimes even sad.   And so this posting, and future postings begin

Charley saves a life

Charley is a West Highland white terrier, living in Atlanta.  Just a common pet, no special training or inclination to save people.

One day Charley began barking and urgently running back and forth to get his owner, Frances Gippert’s attention.  It wasn’t Charley’s normal time for a walk, but he was so agitated that Frances decided to take him out anyway.

Once she had the leash on him he started pulling her away from their normal walking route.  He led her to a neighbor three doors away.  Roy Monie was laying on the ground, almost unconscious.  He had fallen off a ladder and lay there helpless.  Frances ran home and called 911.  When they came they said that if they had not gotten there when they did, Roy would not have made it.

Roy and his family became friends with Frances, who had lost both parents and her sister to cancer.   They celebrated Christmas together.  Charley and Roy have helped Frances to face the world again.

Weela – A Pitbull Hero to be proud of

Weela almost never got to be a hero.  She, and nine other pitbull puppies were left to die in a lonely alley in Imperial Beach California.  But she was lucky.  Lori Watkins, a dog lover passed by and heard the puppies whimpering.  She took the 10 of them to her ranch and got them healthy.  She found homes for nine, and kept Weela, who followed her son wherever he went.

One day Lori’s son Gary was chasing lizards when suddenly Weela took off and ran into Gary, knocking him out of the way of a rattlesnake.  The snake bit Weela in the face, but once again Weela survived a potential disaster, as if someone was looking after her.

A few years later in 1993 heavy rains caused a dam to break in the Tijuana river.  The raging waters caused many people and animals to be isolated and stranded in small sections of the area.   Lori had some friends who had left 12 dogs at their ranch.  Weela led Lori and Dan Watkins through heavy rains, strong currents and floating debris to get to the dogs.  Lori was amazed at how Weela recognized quick sand, mud bogs and dangerous drop-offs.  He worked tirelessly to help Lori and Dan rescue the stranded dogs.

When 17 dogs and 1 cat were found stranded on an island, Weela would swim to them with 30 to 50 pound bags of dog food strapped to his back.

13 horses were discovered trapped in a manure patch.  Weela led the rescue team to the horses, repeating the act until all of the horses were safe.

One day when Weela was returning from one of her trips to the stranded dogs and cat, she came across 30 people attempting to cross the river.  Weela kept barking at them until they followed her lead to a safe part of the river to cross.  They had been trying to cross at a point where the river was strongest and the water was deepest.  Weela led them to a shallower and safer part of the river.

In total, Weela helped save 30 people,  13 horses, 17 dogs and 1 cat.  For this she was the 40th  Ken-L-Ration dog of the year.  Well deserved.

A pitbull to be admired.  A sign that pitbulls can be kind and gentle when raised to be.

The bond between a soldier and his dog

Lex was a soldier, albeit a German Shepherd.  He was trained to sniff out hidden explosives.  He was working in Iraq with his partner corporal Dustin Jerome Lee when  a 73-millimeter rocket exploded inside their base  in the Al Anbar province.  Corporal Lee was badly wounded by the blast.  Lex was also injured, getting shrapnel lodged into his back.

As Lee’s marine buddies watched, the bleeding Lex climbed on top of Corporal Lee and tried to protect him from further harm.  The medics had a difficult time getting him off to try to save his partner.  They were unable to save Dustin, but Lex survived.

Lee’s parents heard about the bond between their son and Lex, and asked to allow Lex to be at their son’s funeral.  They later fought a long but successful battle with the Marine Corp to get to adopt Lex.

Lex received a purple heart and retirement from the Marine Corp.  He continues to help by visiting VA hospitals and retirement homes to bring solace to veterans.

Lex received the AKC award for excellence in 2008.

Jarod braves the bear

Jarod is a lovable, cuddly Chow, not the unlikely hero you would expect.

Her owner, Donna Perreault and her other Chow Meesha were being attacked by a bear near her home in Genelle, British Columbia, Canada.  Jarod came to the rescue, lunging at the bear and allowing Donna and Meesha to escape.  For his efforts, Jarod received an award at a Purina Animal Hall of Fame ceremony in Toronto.  Donna initially saved Jarod from a shelter.  Jarod returned the favor.