All dog parents know that there are two important things in life: dogs and wine. Bar Dog Wine helps bring those incredible things together. When you buy some savory Bar Dog Wine, they donate money to their local Wine Country Animal Rescue. What could be better than sipping delightful wine while helping dogs in need?
Your dog deserves a moment in the spotlight, and you deserve a vacation where you can sip Bar Dog Wine as much as you’d like. So, what are you waiting for? Find the ugliest dog sweater for your chance to win big! Enter now!
The bond between a Florida man and his beloved companion was put to the ultimate test during one of their morning walks. The Cavalier puppy was trapped within the jaws of an alligator in an instant, causing the dedicated dog dad to jump into action.
Richard and Louise Wilbanks recently welcomed a tiny Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Gunner into their home. The 3-month-old Cavalier and Richard were attached at the hip from the moment they met, resulting in a friendship like no other.
The pair went on a walk each day, often by the shore of a nearby pond. While most of their morning walks were uneventful, this Sunday morning brought a terrifying warning that neither saw coming.
Waiting in the water was a 4-foot-long alligator that was stalking Gunner’s every move. In the blink of an eye the gator leapt from the water, capturing Gunner in his powerful jaws.
“We were just out walking by the pond, and it came out of the water like a missile. I never thought an alligator could be that fast. It was so quick.” – Richard Wilbanks
Without any hesitation, Richard dove into the pond before Gunner could be pulled underwater. He knew he only had a few seconds before his pup would be long gone, and he could not let this happen.
Richard jumped into the murky pond and had the alligator’s jaws between his hands within seconds. He began prying the mouth apart, creating a 30-second-long struggle that tested his strength.
“I just automatically jumped into the water.” – Richard Wilbanks
Richard’s quick action paid off, as Gunner was soon freed from the alligator’s grasp and running to safety. The quick release of Gunner’s body caused the alligator to clamp down on Richard’s hand, resulting in a struggle of his own to free his hand. Thankfully for this bonded pair, Richard was able to escape.
After narrowly escaping a terrifying fate, Gunner managed to walk away with a minor puncture wound to the abdomen. Serious hand wounds could not stop Richard from ensuring his pup’s safety, as he rushed the injured pup to the local vet to make sure he was okay.
After a few diagnostics at their local animal clinic, they confirmed that Gunner’s puncture to the abdomen was not life threatening. Though the puncture was not too serious, Gunner did manage to inhale quite a bit of water during the struggle. To make sure he would recover from this traumatizing incident, he remained in hospital for a few days.
Once Gunner and Richard healed from their wounds, they learned that the entire incident was caught on camera. This pond was being monitored by the Florida Wildlife Federation and the fstop Foundation, which was capturing live footage of the pond and the surrounding wildlife.
“While this video was shocking and I’m glad everyone was OK, I’m glad it’s a learning opportunity for the importance of respecting wildlife and taking precautions to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else.” – Meredith Budd, FWF Representative
The Wilbanks have had time to reflect on this event and walk away with a valuable lesson. Richard urges all pet parents to walk your dogs at least 10 feet away from any shoreline, and to always keep your furry friends on a leash. If you’d like to witness the event yourself, take a look at the video below.
“Our pets, they’re just like family to us.” – Richard Wilbanks
We are so glad that both Gunner and Richard are okay, and are blown away by Richard’s incredible bravery. We hope that every pet parent can learn something from this terrifying event, and that this story can help to save future pups.
Some dogs don’t get along with other unfamiliar dogs. Plenty of reasons could explain this, some inherent and some stemming from experiences in the dog’s past. Either way, that factor doesn’t make them any less worthy of loving homes with human beings.
Sadly, laws tend to work against dogs with incidents of aggression on their records. As was the case with a Staffy in Australia, these dogs often get euthanized in the name of “community safety.” This story illustrates how complicated these issues can be.
Sarge’s Three Strikes
The Sunshine Coast Council seized an American Staffordshire Terrier named Sarge in 2019 following three incidents with other animals, including one in 2016 that resulted in a small dog’s death.
In 2016, both of Kara Chaplin’s dogs escaped her house and Sarge killed the small dog walking nearby. 2 years later, he escaped on a bike ride with a former partner and fought another dog. The third incident happened last year with another large dog, just outside of Chaplin’s home.
After this, authorities seized the dog from his family. Then the saga began.
Fighting For Sarge
Chaplin came to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal twice, seeking to prevent them from putting him down, but lost her appeal last week.
Prior to that, the distraught parent worked hard to avoid Sarge being killed. She paid over $60,000 in fines and legal fees and even built a Noosa Council approved enclosure to ensure Sarge would be safely restrained.
She also put Sarge into specialized training courses and had the council’s behavioral assessor visit him. Still, the euthanasia option lingered.
The Final Decision
The Sunshine Coast Council appears firm in its determination. They issued a statement regarding their decision to euthanize Sarge.
“On November 20, the Court of Appeal ruled that no errors of law had been made in the previous court decisions in relation to Council’s management of the euthanasia order. The Court dismissed Ms Chaplin’s application for leave to appeal …The order will be implemented, and Ms Chaplin has arranged to visit her dog prior to this occurring.”
Since many people calling on behalf of Sarge spoke with hostility towards employees, the council noted they would revoke the last visit if the employees felt unsafe. A frustrated and saddened Chaplin said:
“I just want my dog back, and to let my children say goodbye and give him a hug.”
Chaplin wishes the council wouldn’t make such a harsh decision without recognizing the issue isn’t so cut and dry. The Sarge she knows is a sweet, loving boy.
“I have photos of him sleeping on my baby bump, photos of him beside my children the day I bought them home from hospital, he lights up when those children go for those visits.”
“Some dogs become so ingrained in their behaviours that they believe aggression is the only way that it can actually stay safe, so it might be based in fear.
In other words, if trainers identified and addressed Sarge’s source of aggression early on, the later incidents could have been entirely avoided. Dominick said:
“The council’s hands are somewhat tied, but then the dog gets the wrong end of that, because they’re not fully assessed on suitability for re-training.”
Blame should not fall entirely on the dog either. Plus, no two cases of aggressive pups are the same.
“It’s a big question and I feel it should always be case by case…. It’s about people taking responsibility for their own dogs, a lot of times it’s not until these types of things are forced upon them that they actually take action that should have taken a long time ago.”
Dog parents take note: you can prevent this fate for your dog with attention, proper training and facilities, and a refusal to give up. My heart goes out to Sarge’s family during this difficult time.
On Friday November 20, the small town of Babylon, New York celebrated a joyous occasion five years in the making. Residents and local administrators gathered on the steps of town hall to officially adopt Trigger, the shelter’s longest and most beloved resident.
The brown and white Pit Bull mix wore his finest “tops and tails” and posed for photos with the only family he has known since 2015 — the staff of the Babylon Animal Shelter.
When his pals at the shelter first met Trigger he was only 3 years old, but it was clear his life had not been easy. He was emaciated and covered in wounds. A visit with the vet also uncovered several genetic health problems.
Trigger has severe food allergies and an autoimmune condition that causes the muscles in his head and face to atrophy. He also had inverted eyelids requiring surgical repair. The cumulative effect gives him a decidedly sad appearance, but looks can be deceiving because Trigger is one happy boy!
Most of the day he has free rein of the shelter, making his way between several cushy beds and favorite staff members. He has his pick of countless toys (including his favorite stuffed lamb) and when he needs fresh water, he simply picks up his bowl and shows the closest volunteer.
To a dog like Trigger, all attention is good attention so his frequent treatments are no problem. Due to his many health issues he requires a strict schedule of medications, supplements, soothing baths, and massages.
Over the years several people expressed interest in adopting Trigger despite his special needs, but the perfect fit was never found. In addition to his medical needs, Trigger also has behavior problems that make it impossible for him to live in a home with other animals. Eventually, the shelter took him off the adoption list.
“He means a lot to us and we had to make sure he went to the perfect place, and it turns out the perfect place is here with us,” Jill Sanacore, an animal control officer for the shelter, told Newsday.
Trigger is more than just another mouth to feed, he actually has a very important job at the shelter. His gentle, affectionate nature makes him the ideal emotional support pup for stressed out staff members.
“He’s like the shelter therapist,” said Kristin Siarkowicz, another of Babylon’s animal control officers.
“He is a source of joy and comfort to us all,” added shelter director, Chris Elton. “To have somebody who we can rely on, to always be in a good mood, to always be receptive to our love and love us all back is something that brings us great peace.”
Bear was kept chained in the yard with a young family that could not keep him. Now in a better home, Bear is thriving. He’s always smiling, happy and just wants to be loved.
The holiday season is a magical time. Even when things are at their worst, people find it within themselves to display incredible warmth, generosity, and compassion for others. This year we’ve all endured events that have torn us apart and isolated us from our friends and family, but yesterday, humans reached out to make the Thanksgiving holiday special for their friends, family, and neighbors.
Two special humans extended good tidings to nearly 80 shelter pets in Utica, New York. Rob and Hillary Dunn, long-time volunteers with the Stevens Swan Humane Society, have begun a special tradition celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday with the ones who need love most. For the second year in a row, the Dunns prepared a Thanksgiving meal for every dog at SSHS – something they’ll hopefully be eating in a home of their own next year.
Each and every shelter dog got a plate of their own, filled with white-meat turkey, green beans, and sweet potatoes – all safe, healthy, and delicious choices that dogs love! A few cats were treated to bowls of their own, and if this cat’s face is any indication – the treat passed the taste test!
The days leading up to a holiday are usually pretty hectic and spendy already, but the Dunns took their time and money from their own pockets to prep, cook, and serve multiple turkeys, potatoes, and green beans. Thanks to their hard work, the shelter dogs were able to enjoy a 100% safe meal and there was enough to go around!
It only makes sense to include our pets in our Thanksgiving plans. It’s a celebration with everything dogs love most – good food, lots of fun, and being together with the people they love most. These shelter dogs may not yet have family of their own, but this act of generosity lets them know that they’re not forgotten, and that someone loves them, even if they can’t take them all home.
These sweet photos posted to Facebook have been shared over 43 THOUSAND times, and the Dunns made sure to let everyone know that if you fall in love with a face in any of the photos, all of these pets are adoptable! And if you would like to thank the Dunns, you can support their favorite shelter via their Facebook fundraiser! The funds will go directly to the shelter (not the Dunns,) and they have a modest goal of only $500 each. Click either fundraiser below to show your gratitude, honor a dearly departed pet, or just participate in the giving holiday – there’s no bad reason to give!
Follow the Stevens Swan Humane Society on Facebook to see more of their adoptable pets, and be ready to have photos like this wiggle butt here appear in your feed next year!
Taffy and Hadley have a beautiful friendship that is heartwarming to everyone who knows them. I rescued Taffy, a 12 lb. Chihuahua Terrier mix about 14 years ago. She will be 16 this December. She has one eye and is mostly blind as well as mostly deaf. About a year ago she started having a mild cough that quickly became chronic and serious. We were at our vet every 2-4 weeks for the first several months, for bloodwork, x-rays, ultrasound, etc. She’s now being treated for chronic bronchitis and will be on steroids for the rest of her life. She also has canine dementia which is heartbreaking to watch. She’s a very different little girl than she used to be. But aren’t we all as we get older.
This curated selection of great gifts for dogs and their people will help take the frazzle out of your holiday shopping and bring comfort and joy to the lucky recipients. We’ve assembled a line-up of practical and interesting options, from stocking stuffers to delight every dog to something for those who have everything.
Not all heroes wear capes. Some are covered in fur with wagging tails. Military K9 Kuno went above and beyond during his duties, risking his own life to save the lives of soliders. The 4-year-old Belgian Malinois is now retired with a brace and prosthetic limb, but he has never felt more alive.
Kuno truly went above and beyond, and his efforts didn’t go unnoticed. After making it through lengthy medical procedures, Kuno is now being awarded the highest honor in the British military: the Dickin Medal. He deserves it more than anyone for his hard work and dedication.
Kuno had several successful missions, but his last was the one that will never be forgotten. He supported British troops during a raid against an al-Qaeda compound. But the troops soon became surrounded by heavily armed forces with grenades and machine guns. Kuno saw that his humans were cornered, so he did the only thing he could.
“Pinned down by grenade and machine-gun fire from an insurgent, the assault force was unable to move without taking casualties. Without hesitation, Kuno charged through a hail of gunfire to tackle the gunman, breaking the deadlock and changing the course of the attack, allowing the mission to be completed successfully,” wrote Maj. Sherrain Reber.
Kuno ended up saving the soldiers on his side, but he was badly wounded in the process. He had many gunshot wounds on his hind legs. So, he was rushed to the U.S. Army Veterinary Treatment Facility for instant medical care. They saved his life, but they had to amputate one of his rear paws in the process.
The Dickin Medal
Today, Kuno has a prosthetic limb on one of his hind legs and a brace on the other. He became the first U.K. Military Working Dog to receive a custom-fitted prosthetic limb. He also retired after his injuries, but he has since been adopted by a loving family. Now he gets to live the normal life of a dog, where his days are filled with endless love and playtime.
Kuno’s bravery also earned him the Dickin Medal, which was awarded by the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA). He is the 72nd animal to win the award since it was first created in 1943. Other recipients include 35 dogs, 32 WW2 messenger pigeons, four horses, and one cat.
“I’m delighted that Kuno will receive the PDSA Dickin Medal. It is a testament to his training, tireless bravery, and devotion to duty which undoubtedly saved lives that day,” British defense secretary Ben Wallace said. “I am very proud of the role our military working dogs play on operations at home and abroad. Kuno’s story reminds us of the lengths these animals go to keep us all safe.”
Congratulations to Kuno! His hard work, sacrifice, and bravery will never be forgotten. Hopefully, he’s thoroughly enjoying his retirement with a family who loves him. After all, he has earned it.
Actress and animal welfare advocate Carla Abellana has dedicated her life to helping animals in need. Whenever she can save a dog’s life, she doesn’t hesitate. But the most difficult part of her efforts is when she can’t save a dog. There will always be some scenarios where she can’t make a difference, and those are the hardest on her.
Recently, Abellana faced the most heartbreaking news of her life. While she was out saving other dogs, her own furry friend grew ill. Unlike the many lives she changed that day, there was no way for her to save her own dog. Wing the rescue pup was gone too soon.
Earlier in the year, Abellana adopted Wing and Fly, a bonded pair at the Philippine Animal Welfare Society. The two small dogs were timid and scared in their new home, but Abellana was patient and watched them grow each and every day. She rescued them together because she knew they found comfort in each other.
“Now they have become more clingy, playful, and relaxed. They are absolute sweethearts which is what I love the most about them! They really have a way of expressing how much they love you and how grateful they are for all that you do,” Abellana said.
But the time Abellana got with the pups was not enough. They seemed perfectly healthy, but Wing unexpectedly became sick. The morning before he passed away, Abellana paid for a Chihuahua mix’s surgery and medication. His humans couldn’t afford his medical care, so the actress helped them out and possibly saved the dog’s life. But when she got home after that rewarding experience, things took a turn for the worse.
Rest in Peace, Wing
When Abellana returned home hours after saving the Chihuahua mix, she had to rush Wing to the vet. She didn’t specify the exact reasoning, but it was something that couldn’t be cured like with the other dog. Suddenly, Wing was gone too soon and without warning. Now, Abellana’s heart is broken, and she’s even more worried about how Fly is handling it.
“I’m trying to find comfort in his sister, Fly, making sure she doesn’t get confused or too lonely without her brother. They were inseparable, you see. That’s why I adopted them together,” Abellana wrote on Instagram. “While I try to apologize to and comfort Fly, who keeps hiding in the corner of the living room or under our bedroom sofa, I fall asleep while crying on Wing’s bed, with his favorite pillow.”
Wing always greeted Abellana first thing in the morning and gave her lots of ‘good morning’ kisses. Things just won’t feel the same without a lovable furrball like him around. The hardest goodbyes are always the ones you least expect, so Abellana and Fly deserve plenty of love during these difficult times.
Greece is taking strides towards protecting the rights of dogs and other animals throughout their nation. How? The Greek parliament recently passed a law that punishes animal abuse with up to 10 years in prison! They unanimously voted to require a minimum of one year and fines between 5,000 to 15,000 euros. However, the worst offenders of “serious animal abuse” will face up to a decade behind bars.
What Is Considered Serious Animal Abuse?
Determining the definition of serious animal abuse can be filled with gray areas. While you or I may think that anything short of a life of luxury can be argued as abuse, the eye of the law obviously must think otherwise. The parliament defines “serious animal abuse” as poisoning, burning, mutilation, and hanging. These words may make you cringe as you read them however, they come at a very important time for animal rights in Greece.
Makis Voridis is Greece’s agriculture minister. He told local news sources that the law sends a “strong message” which was needed after recent incidents of abuse that had the country in an uproar. While the abuse of animals unfortunately isn’t anything new, there were a couple of events in October of this year that catapulted the need for strict laws into the limelight.
Horrific Abuse Of Two Dogs Sparked Public Outrage, Highlighted The Need For Change
The following information may be hard to read so proceed with caution.
In early October, a dog was allegedly hanged and castrated with a pair of pliers by his owner in Crete. Luckily, the dog was rescued by passing tourists and taken to a local animal charity. He was then miraculously rehabilitated by a vet. Sadly, the vet said he had never seen an animal of any species survive after suffering such catastrophic injuries.
A school teacher was arrested later in October near Athens after the first horrific event. He had stabbed a dog in the chest and stomach multiple times. This caused a pierced lung in addition to deep lacerations. A neighbor also beat the dog with a metal rod while others videotaped the abuse.
The later incident sparked such intense outrage that crowds gathered outside of the teacher’s house and demanded justice for the helpless dog. Thanks to the new laws, their voices and the cries of the abused dogs were finally heard.
The new law not only calls for stricter penalties, but it also makes prosecution of animal abusers easier.
There is one more bit of good news: Both dogs who suffered the unimaginable abuse mentioned above had surgery and are recovering from their attacks. We hope they get to experience true love once and for all!
It could happen to any dog parent. A broken leash, a startling sound, an open door, a distracting scent… no matter how it happens, millions of dogs go missing every single year. While there isn’t yet a way to communicate to our dogs not to run and hide, there’s a way to help them get back to you when they do: microchips.
A story of a rescued stray dog from Texas illustrates this possibility. Honey arrived at the City of Antonio Animal Care Services as a stray, but a scan of his microchip suggested otherwise. The shelter wrote in a Facebook post:
“When he was picked up, we found a microchip which was registered to someone who had adopted Honey many years ago. We called the owner and let them know Honey would be at the shelter. While he was getting his initial shots upon entering our shelter, our staff got a call that his owner had already made it to ACS to reclaim in our front office.”
A Long-Awaited Reunion
Given how quickly the woman showed up after they called, employees were intrigued. Could there really be someone out there waiting for Honey, a dog believed to be a stray?
“One of our Intake Coordinators walked Honey up to the front to see if the pup would recognize the person reclaiming. The woman burst into tears as soon as she saw him, fell to her knees, and held him in her arms. She began to ask him if he remembered who she was.”
“He did and she started hugging and kissing her dog who returned her affection with a wildly wagging tail. An ACS staffer asked her long has Honey been missing – she said 7 years!”
After all this time, Honey recognized his mama, and his happy tail said how much he missed her too.
A Microchip Ultimately Brought Honey Back To His Family
For the better part of a decade Honey was separated from his mom. Now, she has him in her arms again, hopefully for good this time! Though no one can say for sure where Honey was all this time, the bottom line is that Honey has his family back now.
“It’s hard to know what the pets we intake went through and where they are coming from. We are just grateful he made it to our shelter and had a chance to be reunited with his original adopter.”
Microchipping your dog and registering their chip can mean the difference between hope, joy, and heartbreak. Honey may have been lost for a while, but eventually he found his way back to his mom. The microchip made that possible. The City of Antonio Animal Care Services writes:
“Each pet leaves with a lifetime, registered microchip upon adoption. Because of this, Honey and his mom are now finally able to live their happily ever after!”
Registering your dog’s microchip takes just a few minutes and can obviously help tremendously in emergency situations. So if you haven’t done that yet, now’s a great time to do so!
