Whisker Therapy

You made your way here to iHeartDogs, so odds are high you’re already a member of the Dogspotting Society Facebook group. If you’re not, I’m so honored to be the one to fill you in! Members of this group are encouraged to share any and all things dog with each other. As the group description says, there “you can make friends, talk about dogs and Dogspotting.”

Photos of adorable pups are circulated all the time. Last month Stephen Shkuratoff, a member of the group, posted a request for written descriptions of people’s dogs.

“I love being a member of this group! I am blind and was [hoping] to ask for [more] dog descriptions. Personality [traits] are more helpful than colors. Like how soft the dog is for example. [Bonus] as always for dogs full of kisses and snuggles. Thanks for making me feel included. [Hope] no one minds me asking for descriptions a lot recently.”

Absolutely no one minded. There is nothing a dog person loves more than an opportunity to go off describing their dog. Over 2,000 fellow dogspotters responded to Shkuratoff’s request with odes to their beloved furry pals.

All of the replies are touching. One commenter Jess Murszewski described her Boston Terrier’s little quirks.

“I have one dog. She is a Boston terrier named Mae West. Her fur feels prickly, wiry, and bristly. She is 9 years old and is so loving. She’s about 22 pounds which is on the bigger side of a Boston Terrier size. Ever since she was a puppy she would take a bit of blanket in her mouth and suck on it while kneading her paws till she’d fall asleep. She’s terrified of thunderstorms and will hide in the bathroom. She loves to cuddle. Every single night she will hop into bed and if you are already sleeping, she’ll gently tap your shoulder for you to lift the covers and let her under. She has never figured out how to get under the blankets on her own. She snores. She loves to climb into your lap and snooze even if she’s a little too big.”

With these stories and details, you start to feel like you know these pups even if you can’t see them. Some descriptions, like Karen Steffens-Trimblett’s, are extremely vivid.

“Duke is my first dog and was a rescue from the humane society when he was 9 months old. Now he’s 9 yr old, a pit bull-boxer mix. When I say I love you, he winks at me. His tail is long and it’s like a whip, you need to step aside or you get bruised. He has smooth short hair and floppy ears. From tip of his nose, to the end of his tail- he takes up 3 couch cushions and I’ve been sitting on a folding chair.”

It’s clear how much our dogs mean to us. We could draft pages and pages just about their petting preferences. Commenter Jen Fehr lovingly described her Rottweiller/Lab mix’s habits.

“I have a year and half old Rottweiler Labrador mix named Jax. He is really just a rotti coloured lab. His fur is soft and silky, it feels smooth and soft to pet. His fur is a little more thicker around his neck, which is where he likes to get scritchesand scratches the most. His forehead and cheeks have a bit more muscle than the rest of his face and it feels spongy which is fun to poke and kiss. I call him my meathead for this reason. When you scratch his armpit, he shakes one of his back legs. He absolutely loves cuddles and pets and shows his gratitude by hugging the arm of whoever is petting him with both front legs. Because he’s so big and strong, sometimes he pulls people’s arms down doing this.”

Overwhelmed Shkuratoff wrote that he was grateful to learn about so many good pups.

And the best part is there are thousands of stories and descriptions like these to read. I think all of these love letters should be compiled into a book!

H/T: People

Featured Image: @Stephen William Dale Shkuratoff/Facebook

The post Blind Man Asks For Descriptions Of People’s Dogs appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

Shauna Darcy and her American Staffordshire Terrier, Ruby, bonded as soon as they met. Darcy trusted Ruby very much, so she soon decided that she wanted to train Ruby to be a service dog to help with her anxiety, depression, and agoraphobia. As soon as Ruby started her training, she proved to be an incredible service dog in more ways than expected. However, little did Darcy know, Ruby would actually end up saving her life.

As soon as Ruby began to work as a service dog, she quickly picked up on changes in Darcy’s heart rate. When she noticed abnormalities, she would paw her mom, trying to get her attention. Darcy could not believe how quickly her sweet dog was able to learn these new skills. However, Ruby seemed to be noticing something beyond what she was trained to observe.

Ruby’s Role as a Service Dog

Darcy decided to visit the doctor after seeing Ruby paw at her often. At the doctor, Darcy learned that she actually had serious health issues that she didn’t even know about.

The doctor informed Darcy that she had a rare heart condition called vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Ruby had picked up on this even before Darcy suspected that anything was wrong.

After that moment, Darcy began training Ruby to mainly focus on cardiac issues. So, Ruby is able to help her mom monitor her heart rate and blood pressure. If Darcy passes out, Ruby will apply all her pressure on her and lick her until she wakes back up.

During panic attacks, she is able to help her by bringing Darcy some emergency medications. She even helps her with daily things such as carrying groceries. Ruby loves her mom and she will do anything to make her life as great as possible.

Every single day, Ruby helps Darcy as much as she can. In fact, she often knows how to help before her mom even knows there’s an issue.

Saving Her Mom’s Life

One day, Ruby alerted Darcy that something was wrong, but Darcy felt completely fine. However, she trusted Ruby very much, so she called an ambulance just to be safe. 

As it turned out, Ruby was right to be concerned. The doctors later found out that Darcy’s heart was going into atrial fibrillation. She ended up feeling immense pain, and by the time the paramedics came, she was barely conscious. If Ruby hadn’t warned her, she wouldn’t have known there was an issue until it was too late.

While Darcy was at the hospital, Ruby refused to leave her side. Even when Darcy was unconscious, her loyal friend still rested right beside her. Ruby wanted to make sure that her mom felt as safe as possible. 

“I wouldn’t be alive without her,” Darcy said. 

Thanks to Ruby, Darcy’s life was saved that day. Her smart service dog always knows best, so as long as Darcy trusts Ruby, she knows that everything will be okay.

H/T: thedodo.com
Featured Image: @incredibullruby/Instagram

The post Service Dog Refuses to Leave Her Mom’s Side After Saving Her Life appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

Police in Sarasota, Florida recently cracked a case with a rather unique plot twist. Tracie Eileen Defee and Michael Paine were apprehended in Sarasota, just south of Tampa. The duo had been breaking into homes in the area but they weren’t alone. Another unwilling accomplice was spotted with them on surveillance footage.

A Pawsitively Adorable Accomplice

An adorable white Bulldog was seen tagging along with the couple on their string of burglaries. Maggie was her name and she has quite a story to tell if only she could talk. Little Maggie was stolen from the other side of the country over three years ago! She was taken from her family’s home in California and was nowhere to be found. That was until the Sarasota Police Department and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Animal Services put two and two together. They found Maggie’s microchip which showed that she belonged to a man in California.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to catch a few burglars and burglaries in action but this is by far the most unique one,” Sgt. Eric Safford told Bay News 9.

The pair was responsible for at least eight burglaries over the course of three days in October. A resident had been paying attention to the news and noticed a person walking a bulldog who matched the description of the suspects. Police responded and found Defee and Paine hiding in a bathroom inside a home.

Maggie’s Sentence

Defee and Paine were arrested and taken to the Sarasota County Jail. Then it was Maggie’s turn. Luckily she was given a much better sentence! The police department was able to raise $800 in just two days to pay for Maggie’s transportation home. Yet again, Maggie set out on another adventure, this time to be reunited with her family.

Haulin’ Paws is a dog transportation service that is based out of Texas. The organization was kind enough to provide transportation for Maggie from Sarasota to California, which consisted of five days of travel for little Maggie! It gave Maggie plenty of time to catch up on her beauty rest. 

Maggie’s family has asked to remain anonymous but rest assured, Maggie is safe and happy to be home!

“Unfortunately the owner has asked we not share any videos or photos of them reunited but we can promise you that they are back together,” the Sarasota Police Department said in a Facebook post

Defee and Paine have been charged with a plethora of crimes. Defee faces 12 counts total and Paine has just two. They’ve since bonded out of the Sarasota County Jail but the investigation remains open.

h/t: baynews9.com
Featured Photo: Sarasota Police Department

The post Bulldog Missing For Three Years From California Caught By Police After Being Involved In Florida Burglaries appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

Zachary Smith, a student at Kentucky Christian University, flew to Arizona on a Delta Airlines flight over the holidays with his comfort dog Kaimani. Kaimani is a Staffordshire/Pit mix who has helped him through his panic attacks for years. He wouldn’t think to fly without her.

The airline warned Smith that due to her breed, Kaimani might not be allowed to fly. Still, she was coming with him no matter what, so he gave it a shot. He provided his documentation proving Kaimani as a comfort animal. The two successfully boarded their Delta flight to Phoenix. Kaimani was a good girl, staying under the seat as required.

When they arrived at the airport to return to Kentucky again, they were told the dog couldn’t fly, even though she already flew on one Delta flight days before. A Delta agent simply informed Smith that policy forbids her particular breed.

Delta Airlines spokesman Drake Castaneda doubled down in a statement to 12 News that the dog technically should not have been allowed to fly Delta in the first place.

“In 2018, Delta tightened its policies on service and emotional support animals, which included a ban on Pit Bull type dogs as service or support animals. These policy updates reinforce Delta’s core value of putting safety first, always.”

Obviously, banning Kaimani from her return flight points to inconsistent enforcement of Delta’s policies. On a larger scale, one must wonder why Pit Bulls are discriminated against in this methodical way.

The airlines actions both contradict and confirm laws about support animal travel. A statement from The Department Of Transportation clearly indicates that denial based exclusively on a dog’s breed is forbidden under its service animal regulation. However, the airline is allowed to deny specific dogs who pose a safety risk on a case-by-case basis, but that doesn’t seem to be the situation with Smith and Kaimani.

Smith insists that Kaimaini is sweet, obedient, and loyal. She has been trained to behave in public, and general breed discrimination seems unjust.

“My message to Delta Airlines is not to consider the breed, but to consider the demeanor of the animal while in the airport.”

Pit Bulls suffer the most from breed discrimination and individual sweeties have no chance to disprove the stereotype. For now, Delta refuses to adapt their policy. It might just take some activism from Pit Bull lovers to fight against these unfair rules. Let’s continue to fight this for our wonderful  misjudged pups!

H/T: 11Alive
Featured Image: Rokland2000 via Pixabay

The post Delta Airlines Strands Man And His Support Pit Bull In Phoenix appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

The winter months are always extremely busy times for animal rescues and shelters everywhere. Tragically, there are often more pups left out in the cold than there are places for them in the shelters. The kind hearts of generous foster families are what give starving and cold strays the second chances they desperately need.

That’s how one poor malnourished stray pup, now named Joseph, got off the streets in time for the holidays. Noah’s Ark Rescue Project And Shelter (NARPS) in Philadelphia was already inundated with animals in need, but the giving nature of the season had more in store for little Joseph.

One night in late December, Joseph wandered out of the woods at a local park. He was bone-thin, starving, dehydrated, and carrying parasites when rescuers got their hands on him. NARPS shared a heart-wrenching photo of the pup the day he was found on Facebook.

“We shall call this handsome boy… Joseph, which means ‘God will add another.’ We weren’t expecting to take on anymore pups smack dab in the middle of the holiday hustle and bustle, but here is our Christmas miracle of 2019!”

Noah’s Ark Rescue Project and Sanctuary operates mainly as a foster-based program for now, without a facility. A generous foster with NARPS stepped up to take in Joseph and the rescue issued a plea for donations for his care. They noted how badly this dog wanted to get better.

“Joseph mustered up strength and tenacity with his ferocious desire to survive, and muscled his way out of those woods to find help. He fought this hard for himself just to live, now it’s our turn to fight for him!”

The Christmas spirit really ramped up in the community. More than enough donations to cover Joseph’s care came in, so those extra funds will instead go to help other pups in need. For example, a 15-year-old dog named Diamond surrendered on Christmas Eve will benefit.

Joseph’s foster parent set him up with his very own Instagram account. Now we can all keep track of his progress!

He’s still very skinny, but he’s looking happy and well cared for. When they refer to Christmas miracles, this is the kind of thing they’re talking about.

Anyone interested in adopting Joseph should reach out to the rescue for more information on his availability. And if you aren’t ready to adopt, consider becoming a foster parent to make the season of giving last all year long for another dog in need!

H/T: 6ABC.com
Featured Image: @NoahsArkRescueProjectAndSanctuary/Facebook

The post Malnourished “Christmas Miracle” Dog Given Foster Home For The Holidays appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

Even though it’s supposed to be the happiest time of the year, the Christmas season can be a real downer for some dogs. Living in a shelter over Christmas is no fun, but what’s worse is dogs finally getting adopted as Christmas gifts and returned shortly afterwards. This happens a lot unfortunately.

Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, takes tons of calls from people surrendering their no longer wanted pups after the holidays. The organization maintains a network of 20 Rehoming Centres across the UK and Ireland, caring for over 16,000 stray, unwanted, and abandoned dogs annually. 

Dogs Trust wants to remind everyone what they firmly believe, which is that “a dog is for life, not just for Christmas.”

“Unfortunately, dogs are often abandoned at this busy and expensive time of year, as many people underestimate just how much time, love and care a dog really needs.”

So many shelter dogs looking for homes could use some help from the best gift giver there is: Santa Paws! Since the dogs themselves can’t really write their own letters to Santa, their volunteers and caretakers with Dogs Trust did that for them. Then they posed for a picture, showing off their adoptable good looks.

The letters express the individual dog’s desires, but they all have a common link. Each dog is hoping for a home not just for the holidays, but forever. Charlie in Canterbury “wrote” about his progress.

“I have been a good boy this year, making new human and doggie friends. I love cheese and chicken but what I really want is to find a forever home!”

The volunteers giving a voice to the voiceless this holiday season are hoping it will lead to many permanent adoptions. The letters to Santa campaign spanned all locations of Dogs Trust. Many letters decorate shelter hallways.

These good boys and girls far and wide just want rewards for making the nice list this year!

“Dear Santa, I am Otto. The Doberman! I have been a good boy this year. I enjoy playing ball, I like my soft toys, and I love to go on long walks. What I really want is some humans of my own to share my adventures with please.”

Just in case Santa Paws can’t get the job done, you can follow the hashtag #ADogIsForLifeNotJustForChristmas and read some of the letters. Maybe you can make one of these pups’ wishes come true!

If you can’t adopt, consider donating to help over 1500 dogs in Dogs Trust’s care this holiday season. Remember, dogs aren’t just gifts. They’re family members for years and years.

H/T: Daily Mail
Featured Image: @DT_Ilfracombe/Twitter

The post Unwanted Dogs “Write” Letters To Santa Paws appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.

Like most kids, 9-year-old Hunter loves Christmas. He loves the holiday season almost as much as he loves his loyal service dog, Angel. So, Hunter and Angel were ecstatic at the idea of taking pictures with Santa at a Massachusetts mall. However, one exciting photo turned into a nightmare when the staff would not allow him and Angel to take a picture with Santa. Hunter was left heartbroken during the happiest season of the year.

Angel is a sweet and adorable dog, but she is so much more than just a cute companion. Hunter has epilepsy, and Angel is specially trained to help him. She is always by his side to protect him. She can warn people of his seizures and even quickly bring Hunter to a comfortable spot if he’s about to fall.

Hunter needs Angel on a daily basis. So, when his family was informed that Angel was not allowed at the photos with Santa, they were furious. They had waited nearly two hours only to have their happy moment ruined.

Hunter’s Christmas

Christmas is one of Hunter’s favorite things. His mom, Sarah Specht, explained that he even tries to wear his Santa hat year round. Meeting Santa is one of the highlights of the year for him. But this year, he was left wondering why Santa didn’t welcome his beloved service dog.

When the family got in the car after this heartbreaking event, Hunter was devastated. Specht was worried that he would begin to doubt Santa after this experience. 

“Christmas is supposed to be a magical time and for that to happen last night and see my son crushed,” said Specht. “I hope that no parent ever has to face that.”

They reached out to the company in charge of the photos to inform them of this issue. The company explained that they do allow service dogs at their events. They agreed that this situation was not acceptable by any means.

“The employee involved in this incident did not follow our Cherry Hill Programs protocol,” the company officials explained. “The individual has been suspended and we are investigating the matter. We have reached out to the family with an apology and invitation to return for a private visit with Santa at their earliest convenience.”

A Happy Ending for Hunter

While this offer for a private visit with Santa was a heartwarming response alone, Hunter ended up experiencing something even better. News about Hunter’s situation quickly spread around the community. Police officers and firefighters decided to escort Santa to Hunter’s house to get a photo with both Hunter and Angel.

“The fact that they heard the story and they want to fix this for Hunter, it means so much to me,” said Specht. “He’s at that age when he may start questioning Santa and I don’t want to see him lose that belief out of a bad experience.”

The kind actions of the community made Hunter, Specht, and of course, Angel feel very grateful. Christmas is such a magical time of year, so no child or dog should be forgotten. Angel is a huge part of Hunter’s life, so kids like him can’t live without their loyal dogs by their side.

H/T: wpxi.com
Featured Image: Screenshot, wpxi.com

The post Boy With Service Dog Is Denied Photos With Santa appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.