Hot dog! Dogs have long been called man’s best friend; however, for many people these heroic hounds have also been their saviors during harrowing times. There are far too many stories to tell about these magnificent creatures, so here is a list to honor and remember the highlights of these amazing pooches.

Kelsey:

New Year’s Eve, a usually joyous night of celebration, was turned into a nightmare when a Michigan man fell during a stroll in the frigid moonlight. His slip up caused him to break his neck and paralyze himself. Being unable to move, Bob could not get back into the welcoming warmth of his house. Bob’s loyal golden retriever quickly rose to the occasion and lept into action. Kelsey laid over her master keeping Bob warm while she licked his face and hands to keep him alert, during this time both Bob and Kelsey were yelling and barking for help; eventually, Bob lost consciousness. Even though Bob had passed out, his dog refused to leave him and continued to bark long after Bob had stopped yelling. Finally, at 6:30 pm the courageous pup caught the attention of one of Bob’s neighbors, saving the life of her owner.

Blue:

Most souls wouldn’t dare to go one-on-one with an alligator, but that’s exactly what Blue did to protect his aging companion. The Australian Blue Heeler saved Ruth Gay, his 85-year-old owner, from an alligator behind her home. It was reported that Ms. Gay had fallen while walking Blue. When a nearby alligator took notice of the woman’s predicament, it threatened to attack. However, it was not this gators lucky day. Blue charged into action and sparred with the gator long enough to scare it away. Thankfully, this story ends with a happily ever after. Both Gay and Blue made full recoveries, and blue was awarded doggie treats, cash, and a specially engraved Dog Hero food bowl for winning the (“2001 national hero dog award”).

Trakr:

Trakr owns arguably one of the most prestigious pooch rescues to date. During the aftermath of the horrible attack on the World Trade Center in 2001, Trakr helped find and unearth those within the debris who had been working before the towers fell.  Together with police officer James Symington, Trakr helped dig through about 30 feet of unstable debris at the World Trade Center “ground zero” site, and located the last trapped survivor hidden within the fallen pieces of the building. The dog’s bravery was an amazing story of how our police force can use these animals to our advantage in finding criminals and retracing the steps of a disaster.

Shana:

In October 1999, the Fertigs family were feeding injured rescue animals living in one of the buildings on their land. One night, a violent snowstorm blew in. When the couple went outside to check the weather, several trees fell, trapping them in a narrow alley between two buildings. Eve and Norman weren’t wearing coats or gloves and couldn’t climb over or duck below the tree trunks. For the next two and a half hours, they huddled together for warmth as the snow piled higher.

Around 9:30 p.m., Shana, who was outside, began burrowing toward Eve and Norman in the deep snow. It took the dog nearly two hours, but eventually, she cleared a narrow 20 foot long tunnel stretching from the front porch of the main house to the Fertigs’ location.

When Shana finally broke through the snow and reached the curled-up couple, she gave one short bark. Her message was clear: Follow me. Shana grabbed Eve’s jacket and guided the 86-pound woman onto her back. Norman clutched Eve’s ankles, and for the next two hours, Shana pulled the couple through the tunnel. Shana finally reached the house around 2 a.m., and the Fertigs managed to get just inside the front door. They collapsed with fatigue. The storm had knocked out the electricity and heat, but Shana lay next to them all night. “She kept us alive,” Eve said. After the ordeal, it took five months for Shana’s feet to heal from the injuries she received while digging.

These animals ask nothing of us in return for all they are will to do for us without a second thought or hesitation, dogs truly are Man’s best friend. While many of these pups have amazing, loving and caring homes, there are also those who are being abused every day or have been left behind and forgotten. You may be asking, “How can I help?” Well, the ASPCA and humane societies are always accepting donations and community service.

https://www.aspca.org

http://www.humanesociety.org