Old Dogs, New Tricks

RALF

Every Monday, Ralf the 8-year-old Giant Schnauzer can be found doing his hospital rounds at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. Ralf is a favorite among patients, bringing smiles to children's faces with his soft coat and floppy tongue while they sit through chemotherapy sessions or recover after surgery. Ralf never lets his little friends down, and he never misses a shift at the hospital.

KILO

Kilo, a 12-year-old Pit Bull, is one of the most heroic dogs of 2012. Recently, Kilo took a bullet for his owner, Justin Becker, when an armed burglar invaded their Staten Island home. Kilo rushed towards the gunman, who fired three shots, one of which ricocheted off of Kilo's skull and into his neck. Kilo is recovering and being taken care of by his grateful owner.

MARUKO

When the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami pummeled Japan, Maruko, a 14-year-old Wire Fox Terrier mix, was left buried under the rubble of her house. Maruko had no food or water for 11 days until she was found and rescued from the ruins. The traumatized dog was deemed "aggressive" by the pound, and her fate was uncertain, even though Maruko's owners had asked the pound to hold their beloved pet until they could obtain proper housing. The pound was hours away from sending Maruko to the gas chamber when JEARS--a collaboration of no-kill animal-rescue non-profits in Japan--intervened and rescued Maruko. After being housed in several foster homes over a period of six months, Maruko was finally reunited with her family.

BABY

If you ever need a babysitter, perhaps you could call upon Baby, the 8-year-old French Bulldog, for some motherly assistance. When six wild boar piglets showed up outside the Lehnitz Animal Sanctuary in Berlin, Baby attended to them right away, as though they were her very own. And this isn't Baby's first stint as a foster mom. She's also taken care of raccoons, cats and many other animals that have stopped by the facility. 

COYOTE

Coyote has earned more badges in his service as a Dog Scout than some boys do as Boy Scouts. The 12-year-old Cattle Dog recently retired after collecting 48 badges in his lifetime. Many Cattle Dogs go deaf in their later years, so Coyote worked hard to learn and earn the sign-language badge. Although Coyote went blind instead of deaf, he still remained a hardworking Dog Scout.

CLANCY

Clancy, a 15-year-old Pit Bull, is the unofficial mascot for Downtown Dog Rescue in Los Angeles, Calif. His owner, Lori Weise, created the organization almost two decades ago to assist homeless people with their dogs and rescue strays. Since the birth of Downtown Dog Rescue, thousands of dogs have been fostered and placed. The organization also helps offset the cost of expensive surgeries, as well as teaching obedience classes to needy owners. And Clancy never leaves Weise's side, working just as hard as she does.

SCOTTS

Scotts the Greyhound was the first Reading Education Assistance Dog in the U.K. His job was to let children read stories to him. According to both his young students and head teacher, Scotts helped increase interest in a reading club and improved reading skills. Scotts was a former racer, but like many retired greyhounds, sought a new career afterwards. Because greyhounds are such docile pets, they are perfect reading-assistance dogs. 

CRASH

Crash, a 12-year-old English Shepherd, loved to work. Crash was trained to work cattle, track narcotics, and to search and rescue. He was also able to understand commands in English, Dutch, German and Portuguese. He was a member of the Oklahoma Animal Hall of Fame, and is nominated for a Hero Award from the American Humane Association. Although he died recently, Crash's memory lives on through his recognition.

GOMO

Gomo, a 12-year-old Czechoslovakian Shepherd, dedicated his entire life to the Brockton Police Force in Massachusetts. The devoted police dog worked for more than a decade, specializing in finding firearms and people. In his lifetime, Gomo scoured rubble at the World Trade Center for survivors and helped find a kidnapping suspect deep in a thicket. Sadly, Gomo recently died, but this month, the Humane Society nominated him for a Hero Dog Award. 

KARMA 

Late last month, a brave 10-year-old dog named Karma survived a terrible incident in which her owner sawed off her leg. Fortunately, animal control officers were able to rescue Karma, and veterinarians are confident they can save the remainder of her leg. According to Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control officials, Karma's story has garnered an overwhelming response from people across the country and the shelter has received many donations to help with her vet bills.