Nov 272014
Why Dogs Live Less Than Humans
Amusing, Inspiration, Short Story
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Nov 262014
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Baskerville. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Baskerville, and they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Baskerville and found he was dying. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Baskerville and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Baskerville’s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Baskerville slipped peacefully away.
The little boy seemed to accept Baskerville’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Baskerville’s death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, “I know why.”
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation.
He said, “People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?”
The six-year-old continued, “Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”
If a dog was your teacher, these are some lessons you might learn:
- When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
- Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
- Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
- When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
- Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
- Never pretend to be something you’re not.
- If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
- When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
Nov 222014
We’ve all seen those heartwarming videos of dogs welcoming home soldiers. For some reason, we do not often see these same videos with cats. Well, here’s a funny compilation, created by Kate Sidley , of cats doing it.
One more reason to be a dog person!
Parody of “Dogs Welcoming Home Soldiers”
HUMAN CAST:
Sarah Bartley
Kelsey Bailey
Rachel Chapman
Julien Darmoni
Brian Hines
Kevin Hines
Jocelyne Jo Roueiheb
Kate VatterFELINE CAST:
Gus
Lovey
Dobby
Penny
Lucy
Parker
Mindy Tailing
Lady Tom Hanks
Billie JeanSPECIAL THANKS:
Lauren Santiago
Karen Iorio
Jill Grant
Jeffrey William Schaefer
Gavin the dogEDITED BY:
Kate Sidley and Joe LeonardoDIRECTED BY:
Kate SidleyMUSIC:
“The Creek” by Topher Mohr and Alex Elena via YouTube Audio Library
Nov 212014
A clip from “Jailed Polar Bear”, on First Science TV, discusses the unique bond between Brian Ladoon’s dogs and a group of bears. Brian breeds sled dogs and discovered the polar bears were more interested in playing than displaying aggression.
Enjoy!
In 1992 a wildlife photographer Norbert Rosing, who did work for National Geographic and other magazines, was visiting Churchill, Manitoba in Canada and went to see a sled dog kennel owned by breeder Brian Ladoon.
While visiting, a large male polar bear appeared out of nowhere and approached one of the dogs. The dog stayed put and wagged its tail, and the bear and dog began gently touching each others noses and began to play. The two men were shocked. Rosing took out his camera and captured the encounter.
A second polar bear then also appeared and also joined in the play with the dog. For the next week the bears came back and played with the dogs. Then they vanished. Rosing thought that the encounter demonstrated very unusual behavior, given that dogs and bears are natural enemies. It was a one in a million encounter to witness.
Dog Tucks In Sleepy Baby
Amusing
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Nov 102014
Ashlie the dog tucks in 3-week-old Summer by gently nudging the baby’s blanket with her nose.
Man’s best friend!
Three-week-old newborn Summer was resting comfortably under the watch of family dog Ashlie a few months ago. The observant dog, however, seemed to soon feel that Summer needed some added security. Ashlie started nudging her nose along the edge of Summer’s blanket, tucking the little baby in as she went.
Owner and father Dale Whelan told The Dodo, “The video was shot in August, when our daughter Summer was almost three weeks old. I was ready to shoot the video having seen our dog, Ashlie, do this several times before and was always amazed…”
Whelan says that the behavior was especially unusual as Ashlie typically doesn’t pay too much attention to Summer. However, says Whelan, “every now and again, when she thinks no one is looking and my wife is out the room, she acts strangely motherly to (Summer).”
Ashlie was adopted by the Whelans when the family was visiting in-laws in Tennessee. Ashlie supposedly had owners, but they were negligent and were rarely seen with her.
“Ashlie spent all day and all night outside roaming the street,” says Whelan. “She was unkept and always annoying the neighbors. She would often visit my sister-in-law’s home to seek food and company. My wife knocked on the so-called owner’s door and asked if she could take Ashlie (then named ‘Trashlie’) back with her to North West Indiana. The owner said ‘take her.'”
Fortunately Ashlie has a real caring family now, and it looks like she’s warming up to the newest addition to the family just fine.
