November 2021

Lucky the Pizza Dog

Many Marvel fans are excited about the new Hawkeye show on Disney+. But the star of the show isn’t the main character. Instead, it’s his dog! Lucky, Hawkeye’s loyal companion, stole the show in the comic series, and fans are eager to see him shine in the television series too.

Anyone who loves the comics knows that Lucky is called the “Pizza Dog,” which is a name he still lives up to. His heartwarming story and the adorable canine actor are enough to warm anyone’s heart, even if you don’t watch superhero movies. So, who is Lucky the Pizza Dog, and why is he such a crucial character?

Hawkeye Show Promotional Poster
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Who is Lucky the “Pizza Dog”?

In the comic series, Lucky starts as one of Clint Barton’s (Hawkeye) enemies. He was originally named Arrow, and he was abused and mistreated by his owners in the Tracksuit Mafia. But then, Barton offered some pizza to the pup, which made Lucky realize that humans can be kind. So, Lucky later turned on the mafia by protecting Barton. Barton saved the dog’s life in return and named him Lucky.

Lucky fully recovered from his past, besides one missing eye. He quickly befriended Barton and Kate Bishop, the other main character. He soon became a beloved recurring character in the comics, so fans were excited to see him make an appearance in the new Disney+ show. Only the first two episodes are released so far, but it already seems like his role will be big.

Lucky the Pizza Dog Close-Up
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A Special Canine Comic

One of Lucky’s biggest moments in the spotlight was the Hawkeye comic’s #11 issue titled “Pizza is My Business.” The creators took a huge risk by making the entire issue from Lucky’s point of view. They saw how much readers adored Lucky, so they thought it would be a fun and unique story.

Lucky’s comic goes into extreme detail, making it seem as much like a dog’s perspective as possible. The colors are designed to mimic the colors that dogs see best, such as blue and yellow. When humans talk, the only words that are shown are the ones a dog would likely understand. This unique comic ended up being a huge success, and fans loved Lucky even more after it.

Lucky the Pizza Dog Comic
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It’s unclear if Lucky will get his own special episode in the show, but it seems he’s going to be just as popular as he was in the comics. Promotional content already showed off the beloved “Pizza Dog,” and his time on screen so far doesn’t disappoint.

Lucky’s Role in the Show

In the Disney+ adaptation, Lucky is played by a female Golden Retriever named Jolt. Before this role, Jolt also acted in some commercials, and she’s excellent at agility, dock diving, and other athletic abilities. Her optimistic attitude is perfect for playing Lucky.

Jolt Hawkeye Actress
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Jolt isn’t missing an eye, but producers use special effects to make it look like she is. According to Jolt’s Instagram page, she has even been preparing for the role. A video she posted shows her trying to steal a slice of pizza from another pup. She’s going to make the perfect “Pizza Dog.”

Marvel fans were pleased to see Lucky’s appearance so early in the show. Just like in the comics, it’s clear that this canine is going to outshine the human characters. The first two episodes of Hawkeye premiered on November 24th, 2021, and new episodes will release on Wednesdays. It’s exciting to see what Lucky the Pizza Dog will do next!

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H/T: gamesradar.com
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The post Adorable “Pizza Dog” Steals The Show During New Disney+ Series appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.




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A resilient dog named Monika has made an inspiring transformation from the desperate pup she once was. After being found in the forest with all four paws severed, her only hope was finding someone that cared enough to help her.

Two dedicated animal rescuers named Marina Gapich and Alla Leonkina have made it their mission to help the many at-risk animals of their Russian city. After receiving a call about a severely injured pup in a remote village, the team knew they had to jump into action to save her life.

monika prosthetic paws

Monica was found in the frigid forest by a woman that was working in the area. Knowing the support that Marina and Alla offered to animals in need, she immediately reached out to the team.

The two animal rescuers arranged a taxi to pick up the critical pup and bring her to the veterinary clinic in their city. Once Monika arrived, it was clear how desperate of a state she was in.

Each of Monika’s legs was severed a few inches above where her paws would have been. The terrified pup was also dangerously skinny, likely only surviving on scraps of food she found on the street.

There is no way to know exactly what happened to Monika’s paws, but there are suspicions of this being an act of cruelty. Not only did she have to endure such a traumatizing injury, but she was fending for herself for over a week before she was rescued.

monika prosthetic paws
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Before Monika’s paw injuries could be addressed, she had to undergo ten days of stabilization in the hospital. After everything she had been through, Monika was in a critical state, so she needed a veterinary team dedicated to saving her life. Thankfully, Monika was in the right place.

Marina states that while many articles have said that her veterinary team suggested euthanasia, this could not be further from the truth. Everyone involved in Monika’s care gave it all they had, and they never doubted for a moment that they could get her through.

Once Monika survived that first touch-and-go week, Marina and Alla began to explore options for paw prosthetics. They knew of a world-renowned orthopedic vet who happened to be right there in Russia. They decided to reach out to him in hopes of a solution for Monika’s legs, and before they knew it, Dr. Sergey Gorshkov was asking for more information about the special pup.

monika prosthetic paws
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After reviewing x-rays and special films of each of Monika’s legs, Dr. Sergey Gorshkov thought she was a great candidate for implanted titanium prosthetics. Removable prosthetics would only irritate the poor pup’s limbs over time, so implanted limbs would offer her a more normal life in the long run. If her rescuers could raise the funds for this procedure, Monika would be the first dog to ever receive four implanted prosthetic limbs.

Once Marina and Alla knew the surgery was a possibility, they began the mission of raising the funds to offer Monika the brightest future possible. After nine months and donations from animal lovers around the world, Monika was headed to the specialty clinic in Novosibirsk, Russia for her new paws!

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There were a few unexpected complications along the way, but Dr. Gorshkov and his team refused to give up. Monika now has four prosthetic limbs that help her move with ease, offering her the freedom that was ripped away from her a year prior.

“Mon, you know, you amaze us with your Strength and at the same time with Tenderness, Perseverance and Compliance, you are SUCH an example of RESISTANCE for us people.” – Marina

Monika is healing up well from her procedure and will soon be heading to London in search of a forever family. Her rescuers believe that she has a wonderful shot at finding a beautiful future in London, and she will be in the care of a dedicated caregiver that can meet her ongoing needs.

We send our thanks to everyone involved in offering Monika a new chance at life!

H/T: Instagram, kuban24-tv.turbopages.org
Featured Images: Instagram

The post Stray Dog Found With All 4 Legs Severed Receives Prosthetic Titanium Paws appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.




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When Tom Cummins and his dog Banjo, residents of Nightcliff, Australia, took their usual stroll around Casuarina Beach on a Monday morning, their routine was disrupted in a big way. As the Staffordshire Bull Terrier dipped into the water, he very nearly turned into prey.

Before there was even time to react, a crocodile caught Banjo in its jaws. The strong Staffy is lucky to be alive, but he certainly demonstrated his bravery in this alarming tussle.

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The Wrong Dog To Mess With

As the tide just started to move inwards, neither Cummins nor Banjo saw the large reptile prior to it lashing out. Cummins described the attack to ABC:

“The water was knee-deep. He just ran into the water to cool off. I heard a bit of a growl and looked around and a crocodile had him in its mouth.”

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Ever brave in the face of danger, Banjo didn’t sit back and take it from the croc. He fought back and eventually escaped.

“Banjo must have thought it was another dog, so he bit him back. He’s a very, very strong dog.”

Cummins took Banjo right to the vet, where his wounds were determined “purely cosmetic” and didn’t need stitches. Still, the crocodile, estimated to be a little over 2 meters (6.5 feet) long, could have done some real damage to a smaller dog.

“If he had been a poodle or the water was deeper that would have ended differently.”

(CW: The following image may be upsetting to sensitive readers.)

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Though he’s sore now, Banjo will be just fine. He’ll always have scars from his harrowing encounter with the croc, but Cummins notes:

“He’ll pick up a few girls with those scars.”

‘Tis The Season… For Crocodile Attacks

Banjo has visited this beach tons of times without ever encountering a dangerous animal. NT Wildlife ranger Ian Hunt told ABC Radio that crocodiles move around a lot more when the temperatures increase and rainfall is heavy.

“It is the breeding season for the saltwater crocodiles and sometimes they can be a lot more aggressive and a bit more bold or brave, which might explain why this attack has happened on the beach this morning.”

The beach where Banjo was attacked is a heavily trafficked location. Locals are advised to exercise caution around Darwin harbor.

“Crocs are very stealthy. They can lunge out of the water at very quick speeds,” Hunt added.

So far, the croc that bit Banjo has not been seen since.

H/T: ABC
Featured Image: Facebook

The post Courageous Staffy Battles Crocodile During Morning Beach Stroll appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.




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16-year-old Annie suffers from cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, and anxiety, but her trained service dog George makes her conditions more manageable. Saucon Valley High School, however, wouldn’t allow her to bring George to school, where she spends most of her days.

The Pennsylvania school district didn’t see George as a service dog and therefore claimed Annie didn’t need him during classes. This represents a fundamental misunderstanding of the differences between service dogs and emotional support animals.

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George’s Assistance Is Essential

George’s training enables him to detect rising cortisol levels on Annie’s breath, so he can calm her anxiety and alert others to a potential panic attack or seizure. If she does have a seizure, George senses it coming on and presses himself against her to stop her from falling or hurting herself.

This “deep pressure therapy” is a potentially life-saving technique. Emails between the school district’s attorney and Annie’s family indicated that George qualified as an emotional support animal but not a service dog.

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Part of the reasoning behind the school’s decision was that Annie had attended school for years without a service dog. But that doesn’t factor in that it took Annie’s family years to save up the $17,000 it cost to get George. The dog also trained for 1,500 hours over the course of 2 years.

Merlin’s Kids, a non-profit that trains and pairs service dogs with children with special needs, worked to fight the school’s decision. In a Facebook post, Merlin’s Kids shared:

Merlin’s Kids is fighting hard to prevent this amazing 16 year old girl from having her civil rights violated by a school district that claims she doesn’t need the dog. A child with disabilities should not have to fight and undergo ridicule from an administration and attorney (neither are physicians nor psychologists!) in order to bring her highly trained Merlin’s Kids service dog into school.”

A Legal Victory

Though classes resumed in person on August 23, 2021, Annie and her family decided to keep her at home rather than at school without George. On the family’s behalf, Disability Rights Pennsylvania filed a lawsuit against the school district in September.

Janice Wolfe, executive director of Merlin’s Kids, has been on Annie and George’s side as they dealt with this obstacle. Wolfe testified before a federal judge when the case went to court:

“It’s unbelievable the damage that was done by this young lady not having been able to attend school with her friends in August, September, October and now November.”

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On November 19th, 2021, 3 months after the fight began, the judge granted Annie permission to bring George to school. In a text message to Wolfe, Annie wrote:

“Today marks the beginning of giving those with invisible and visible disabilities a voice.”

Regardless of this positive outcome, Wolfe emphasized that the determination of whether a dog is actually a service animal should not be up to school officials without expertise.

H/T: Lehigh Valley Live
Featured Image: Facebook

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Senior Dog Cottages

Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary is an oasis where elderly dogs can live out the rest of their lives. It recently gained popularity after releasing an adorable mobile game featuring some of its memorable dogs. Now, the organization has even bigger plans!

The staff at the sanctuary are planning to create a neighborhood of nine to 11 cottages where senior dogs can live full-time. The cottages will have all the features of a real home, giving old dogs a sense of familiarity in their final days. These homes will be perfect for pets whose owners have passed away or gone to a nursing home.

Group of senior dogs
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Plans for the Perfect Cottages

“Happy Even After” is the dog cottage program that will take up 3.78 acres in Tennessee. It will be near Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary’s 18,700-foot structure, but it will operate separately. The sanctuary currently has about 75 employees and many volunteers, and they plan to add 15 employees for the neighborhood.

However, these plans still need to be approved by the city commission before construction can begin. The city’s planning commission seemed optimistic about the project, but it needs to pass two readings by the city to be official. Zina Goodin, the founder of the sanctuary, hopes it works out. She believes that this is exactly what rescue dogs need.

Senior dogs in comfortable beds
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“Our goal is for the cottages to be as much like a home environment as possible,” Zina said. “Many of the dogs in our program are here because their owners have either passed away or gone into assisted living or a nursing home with no one designated to take care of their dogs.”

The organization focuses on dogs that are ten or older. They currently have about 100 dogs in their care, along with over 500 more dogs in foster care. They rescue senior dogs from shelters to free up space for more dogs to be saved. While the sanctuary is a beautiful place for canines to live out their days, they hope the cottages will add to that comfort.

Senior dog sanctuary
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Stepping Up for Senior Dogs

If the plans are approved, every dog cottage will be about 950 square feet. The structures will have all the rooms of a normal house, along with comfortable furniture for the dogs. Each cottage will house three to five dogs, and the pups will be paired together depending on their personalities. There will be a caretaker assigned to each home, along with volunteers helping out.

Each cottage will have a fenced-in yard area, and the entire neighborhood will be fenced-in too. The staff hasn’t said how families in need can apply to get their dogs in the sanctuary because they’re focusing on getting it approved first. If the cottages fill up quickly, dogs can still enter the sanctuary and foster care as needed.

Large senior dogs relaxing outside
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“This is fantastic … this is very unique obviously,” City Commissioner and planning commission member Scott Hefner said. “And this would be a welcome addition to our community.”

Zina hopes that construction will begin within six months. After approval, she plans for the cottage to open within 12 to 18 months. Setting up a senior dog neighborhood is no easy task, but there are many old dogs out there that deserve a comfortable home for the rest of their lives.

Happy senior dogs
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H/T: tennessean.com
Featured Image: Facebook

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Bernese Mountain Dog Collects Golf Balls

When Al Cooper brought home a Bernese Mountain Dog named Davos, his life changed in many wonderful ways. Al had been battling cancer, so the pup was there to comfort him during some of his darkest days. Davos always keeps his family members smiling, and he loves going on adventures with them.

It didn’t take long for Al to find out that Davos loves golfing. Well, he loves watching his dad play golf and fetching lost golf balls. Davos has found over 4,000 golf balls during his time with Al, and the family found the most heartwarming way to use them!

Dog donates money
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Davos’ Unique Passion

Davos loves joining Al on golf trips. The pup rides on a golf cart with his dad around a nearby course. While his dad plays, Davos sniffs around, looking for golf balls that other visitors lost. Sometimes he finds dozens of them at a time. Al and his wife, Dusty Barrett-Cooper, clean off the golf balls and store them in the freezer.

“They are just a cute pair. Yes they are,” said Dusty. “It’s just turned us into a family. We’ve had great times with it.”

Dog in golf cart
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Eventually, Davos gathered thousands of golf balls, so his family had to figure out what to do with them all. They had a brilliant idea after seeing Davos get emotional during a commercial about neglected animals.

“He started crying at all those destitute dogs in those cages and stuff. Dusty came up with the idea of selling the balls and donating the money to the Humane Society,” Al said.

Bernese Mountain Dog Donation
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Golf Balls Save Shelter Dogs

So, the family sold the golf balls to golfers for $0.25 per ball. They ended up earning $1,000, which they donated to Animal Humane Society. They donated during National Animal Shelter week, so the amount will be tripled by anonymous donors. The shelter will use the money for day-to-day animal care and medical bills.

Dog raises money
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“We get the pleasure of starting the day with a big check from a big dog with a big heart,” said Deanna Kramer of the Animal Humane Society.

Al said 11-year-old Davos is starting to slow down, but that doesn’t stop him from making the most of life. Al and Davos will continue to collect golf balls and make donations while they still can, but they don’t know how much longer that’ll be. No matter what the future holds, Davos will always be remembered as the golf-loving dog who used his passion to make a difference in the world!

H/T: minnesota.cbslocal.com
Featured Image: Twitter

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Best in Show 2021

While many families like to tune their TVs to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade or the football game, the National Dog Show is another popular Turkey Day event. The 2020 competition didn’t have a live audience, but the 2021 show returned with plenty of new surprises. The Biewer Terrier was the newest breed to be added. And for the first time, the event included a National Dog Show Junior for young dog handlers.

But of course, the most anticipated part of the show is finding out which dog got Best in Show. This year’s winner made history for the first time in 20 years, and she’s certainly deserving of her unique achievement.

Scottish Deerhound 2020 Dog Show
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Scottish Deerhound Steals the Show

Claire, the Scottish Deerhound, won the 2020 National Dog Show. Now, after competing against over 1,500 dogs in the 2021 show, Claire has reclaimed her Best in Show title. Claire is the first dog to have two consecutive wins in the past 20 years.

Even though the Scottish Deerhound isn’t a common breed for most dog lovers, Claire is highly regarded compared to other dogs of her breed. She’s known as the number one Scottish Deerhound in America, and she has had more victories than any other Scottish Deerhound in history. Her grandmother is also well-known for winning Best in Show during the 2011 Westminster Dog Show.

Scottish Deerhound Best in Show
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“Claire, in her mind, really believes in herself and has a lot of confidence in who she is. And if you looked like her, wouldn’t you?” said Angela Lloyd, Claire’s handler. “She is just truly at the top of her game.”

During the competition, Claire first had to win against other dogs of her breed. Then, she won during the Hound Group competition, leading her to win the Best in Show. She was up against many other beautiful dogs, including Chester the Affenpinscher,  Mo’Ne the Kuvasz, Sasha the Pyrenean Shepherd, MM the Lakeland Terrier, Jade the German Shorthaired Pointer, and Winter the Bulldog.

Claire Scottish Deerhound wins
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Claire Enjoys the Experience

Lloyd said that when she entered Claire again this year, she didn’t expect to win, but of course, she’s happy she did. More importantly, she thought it would be another fun experience for her furry friend.

“I was thinking more about keeping her happy, getting a really good performance out of her, and just having a good time,” Lloyd said.

Scottish Deerhound close-up
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Back in her Virginia home, Claire gets to resume her normal, laidback life. The pup loves going for morning runs and then taking a nap after eating breakfast. Lloyd says Claire often watches TV with her too.

All the dogs at this show deserve to win. They’re all adorable canines that deserve so much love. So, hopefully, they all got plenty of pets and cuddles following their hard work and dedication during the event.

Watch the Best in Show Competition Here:

H/T: people.com
Featured Image: Facebook

The post Rare Dog Breed Wins National Dog Show For Second Year In A Row appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.




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Girl with epilepsy needs service dog

Service dogs are crucial to many people’s lives, but sadly, not all families can afford them. A family from Southgate, Michigan is facing this problem after their daughter was born with a rare form of epilepsy.

19-month-old Emery Nisbett has the genetic mutation EEF1A2, which makes her have regular epileptic seizures. She also has learning disabilities and developmental delays because of it. Her seizures began when she was only six months old, and she would often have them 100 times a day. Her parents believe a service dog could change her life, but they need all the help they can get to afford one.

Family raises money for service dog
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A Rare Form of Epilepsy

When Emery first started having seizures, her parents we terrified. Her mom, Alana Nisbett, explained that the girl would fall on the floor or hit her head on the table every time it occurred. She experienced between 60 and 100 seizures a day that lasted for a few seconds each.

“In the very beginning, she would lose all control of muscles, and drop,” said Alana. “So, if she was standing on you, or holding onto something, she would just completely drop to the ground for a couple of seconds.”

Young girl with rare epilepsy
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Once Emery was hospitalized and diagnosed, she started a medical low-carb diet, which decreased the severity of the seizures. During a seizure, she would bring her hand to her mouth instead of dropping to the floor. Then, when she started taking seizure medication, the number of daily seizures appeared to decrease too.

However, even though Emery’s parents can’t see as many spasms, the seizures could still mutate, making them look different than before. The couple ordered an EEG monitor to help them track Emery’s seizures and see what types she’s having. Yet, they believe a service dog would be even more beneficial for the little girl.

Service puppy in training
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Help Emery’s Dreams Come True!

4 Paws for Ability trains service dogs to detect a person’s seizures before they occur. They can sense the chemical changes in their handler’s body, and then comfort them and alert others. A service dog might be able to help Emery in other ways since the seizures have slowed her development. Emery is non-verbal and hasn’t learned to crawl or walk.

“They can learn beforehand, and comfort during, which is huge,” Alana said. “The dog would be able to provide mobility, and as she grows, the dog would be able to help stabilize her with walking, and also support her in her therapy.”

Epileptic girl reaching fundraising goal
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However, service dogs can cost between $40,000 and $60,000. Families need to have at least $17,000 just to be placed on the waitlist, which is currently two and a half years long. So, Alana and her husband Jason have created a Facebook fundraiser to help get a service dog for Emery.

As of November 24th, the family has raised $11,500 toward a service dog. If you want to help give Emery a better life, consider donating to their fundraiser. Not only will the dog help detect her seizures, but it will also help her get around and be able to comfort her as needed. A service dog will change this young girl’s life in so many beautiful ways!

H/T: thenewsherald.com
Featured Image: Facebook and Facebook

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Entitled Parent Grabs Guide Dog

It’s hard to resist petting cute dogs, but of course, you should always ask permission before touching a stranger’s dog. And if that dog is a service dog, you will not be able to pet them even if you ask. For most dog lovers, this makes perfect sense. Service dogs are working and need to focus on their humans’ safety. However, there are always people who will make things harder for those who need service dogs.

One woman shared her horrific experience on Reddit. She went to the mall with her guide dog but was quickly accused of faking being blind. The situation only got worse from there.

Guide dog walking
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A Regular Trip to the Mall

A young woman known as Len on Reddit, who goes by the user name u/Leckzsluthor, posted a story to spread awareness about guide dogs. Len is blind, so she always brings her guide dog named Gumbo with her. Gumbo is a Bernese Mountain Dog, so of course, many people want to pet his fluffy coat.

Since Len’s parents are more at risk of catching COVID-19, she has had to shop by herself a lot lately. So, the other day, she went to the mall with Gumbo. She has to ask for help a lot while shopping, but having her guide dog makes everything easier. As she was shopping, a young girl approached her and asked to pet Gumbo. She politely told the child no and was prepared to defend herself.

“Surprisingly, the child didn’t act entitled. But seemed surprised and excited about a dog having a job. She (I believe it was a she) asked me a few questions, and then left. I thought nothing of it and continued with my shopping,” Len wrote.

Len was pleasantly surprised by the child’s respectful response. But later, while she was sitting in the food court, she heard the girl again. This time, the girl was with her mom, and the mom didn’t sound pleased.

Bernese Mountain Dog helping human

Entitled Parent Refuses to Give Up

The girl told her mom what Len taught her about service dogs, and not long after, the mom marched over to Len and Gumbo. Right away, she questioned why Len told the girl that she’s blind. Len politely replied that she is blind, but the woman insisted that she isn’t.

“You’re not blind. My cousin is blind, so I know what a blind person is like. You shouldn’t lie about that. I think you should let my daughter pet the dog, she likes dogs. It’s pretty [horrible] to refuse a child something like that,” Len recalled the mom saying.

Of course, Len was offended, but she tried to stay calm. She explained that not all blind people are the same. When the woman questioned why her eyes looked fine, Len said she doesn’t have a condition that causes cloudy eyes. When the woman questioned why she was looking at her phone, she explained that the phone is accessible to blind people and that she has basic light perception.

Yet, the mom refused to believe any of it. She said she would get security, and then she stormed off. Len wasn’t scared because she knew she hadn’t done anything wrong. She didn’t even think the mom would go through with it, but a few minutes later, she returned with a security guard.

Bernese Mountain Dog close-up

Security Guard Makes it Worse

Instead of helping, the security guard only made Len more uncomfortable. After Len informed him that she is blind, he asked her to prove it. Len was shocked but told him that she didn’t know how to prove it. When the mom questioned her again, she explained to both of them why she doesn’t “look blind.”

Instead of telling the mom to leave Len alone, the security guard said that the mom probably knew what she was talking about since she has a blind cousin. At that point, Len felt unsafe, so she got up to leave. As she did, she felt someone grab onto Gumbo’s harness. It was the mom demanding she let her daughter pet the dog first.

“Now understand, grabbing my harness is akin to someone taking away your eyes. She was impeding my means of navigating. So I panicked. This has only happened to me once before and I panicked then too,” Len wrote. “I attempted to pull my harness handle back, all the while screaming. “GET OFF! LET GO! HELP!” The security guard was fumbling around fairly uselessly.”

Finally, a second security guard came to the scene and pulled the mom away from Len. The woman continued to scream that Len was a liar as Len instructed Gumbo to lead her out of the mall. She admitted that she should’ve called the police on the mom, but in the moment, she had been too panicked to think about that.

Bernese Mountain Dog Outside

An Important Message For Everyone

Luckily, Len’s Reddit post got lots of support. Many commenters mentioned that she should’ve contacted the mall’s management because the first security guard didn’t do his job properly. Others said she should still try to press charges on the mom. Len replied, saying that she’s considering it.

Another commenter made a good point by mentioning that even if Gumbo wasn’t a service dog, the woman should’ve accepted no for an answer. Someone shouldn’t need a reason to deny people from petting their dog. The fact that Gumbo is a service dog makes the situation even more serious.

“I hate the type of people who “have a relative” with the exact same condition and so that means that they know everything about it. I also think that in general, even if you weren’t blind, when someone says no to someone else about petting a dog, they should respect that,” one user wrote.

Len posted the story to remind everyone that service dogs should not be touched, spoken to, or otherwise distracted from their work. Also, those who need service dogs should be respected, not harassed. Hopefully, stories like this will help more people understand the laws protecting service dogs and their handlers.

Guide Dog resting outside
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H/T: reddit.com
Featured Image: Flickr

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It’s easy to say you’re not really alone when you do have a dog. One woman took that sentiment a huge step further when she decided to propose marriage to her dog, Sheba.

Amanda Rodgers literally got down on one knee to propose to her dog and “could tell by her tail wagging that she said ‘yes.'” The London resident appeared on ITV’s This Morning with her Jack Russell Terrier spouse in 2014 to explain the decision.

ITV

And yes, there was an actual wedding ceremony. More than just that, 200 people attended the event in Croatia.

“I gave her a kiss to seal the deal and then everyone threw confetti. It was a wonderful moment,” Rodgers explained.

ITV

An Emotional/Metaphorical Marriage

There’s no evidence from the interview to indicate this dog/person relationship is anything more than emotional. It certainly isn’t a legal marriage by any definition. Rodgers said:

“I know the wedding to Sheba wasn’t real in the legal sense. But it was a nice way to mark what Sheba means to me.”

This Morning host Phillip Schofield called going from loving your dog to marrying them “a big step,” asking Rodgers how she made that jump. To her, it seemed like a natural expression of love between a woman and her dog.

“Yeah, I suppose you’re right… there are different kinds of love – my love for Sheba is very deep. We have a deep connection.”

ITV

Rodgers also added that she had “dreamed of a perfect wedding dress since [she] was small,” and she made the one she wore for the ceremony herself. The designer of Sheba’s dress was not mentioned.

Some Viewers Get The Sentiment, But Not The Act

Amid a pile of comments calling Rodgers crazy (in so many words), there were a few in defense of loving your dog more than other people. Still, dog lovers have to admit holding a 200 person symbolic wedding between you and your pup is a little over the top.

“I wouldn’t marry my dogs. But I love them more than most people.” – Sam Stuart via Facebook

“You know, I can actually relate to this post and understand it, if it’s a marriage of [convenience] and just companionship. The perfect spouse situation. I say to her be happy and content (but come on, look at the poor pooch’s face wearing the dress….”Not impressed one bit.”)” – Michael S Tait via Facebook

Personally, I plan to marry a human being, but if invited, I would totally attend a dog/person wedding… As long as it’s not a destination wedding.

What do you think?

H/T: The Sun
Featured Image: ITV

The post Woman Who ‘Married’ Her Dog Says “We Were Meant To Be” appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.




via Whisker Therapy

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