Valkyre

Another Hero Dog

Almost 20 years ago we rescued a 10 month old dog from the pound. I didn't get his license right away. One of our kind and generous neighbors ratted us out. Animal Control came knocking. The kind gentleman was telling me about the license fees and the penalties I would pay due to the license application being sent in late. Somehow or another, I let slip that we had got the dog from the pound. "You got him from the pound?" He asked. "Oh! Since you did that, I will only charge you for the license. I won't charge you any late fees!" He had tears in his eyes. He was so happy that we had got our dog from the pound. "Your dog will remember what you did for the rest of his life." The reason I bring this up? The following story. I think this dog remember what his people did for him and repaid them for their kindness (scroll down through the pictures for the story that goes with them:

Once-Abused Dog Saves Couple Who Adopted Her

POSTED: 7:14 am PST December 5, 2006
UPDATED: 10:00 am PST December 5, 2006

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- An elderly couple's dog helped save them from freezing to death during a surprise storm by digging a 20-foot tunnel through the snow.

The snowstorm fell in the Buffalo, N.Y., area in October. Eve Fertig, 81, and her husband, Norman, were taking care of injured birds in a wildlife sanctuary on their Alden property when it hit.

The storm intensified and the couple became trapped by falling trees and heavy snow.

"It just started piling up," Eve Fertig said. "I said, 'Norman, we can't stay here, we'll die.'"

The couple's 160-pound German shepherd-timberwolf mix, Shana, started digging under the trees and through the snow. She dug a 1-foot-wide tunnel 20 feet back to their home.

Shana then came back to Eve and Norman and barked. When the couple hesitated, Shana wouldn't give up. She grabbed Eve Fertig's jacket with her mouth. They all went through the tunnel.

"It was quite a distance," Eve Fertig said. "We get out and she pulls us out. We got on the back deck, got the back door open and we fell inside. And we laid there all night."

Shana, rescued as a neglected puppy at two weeks of age from an apparent puppy mill operation, now has a hero's plaque and an honorary fire helmet from firefighters who later checked on the Fertigs.

Shana's hero award for bravery came from the group Citizens for Humane Animal Treatment.

Posted by Valkyre at December 5, 2006 11:05 PM