Posts tagged "chihuahua"

Hoagie was rescued from a California animal shelter by his owner William Morse, and the 5-year-old black Lab mix returned the favor on Tuesday, May 5, by saving Morse and his wife from a mountain lion attack in California's Santa Ana Mountains. The couple was hiking in the Cleveland National Forest When the 120-pound lion appeared out of nowhere. Hoagie, who threw himself in front of the couple, was badly mauled, but after undergoing four hours of surgery, is expected to survive.

CBS 2 / KCAL 9

Nathaniel Teafatiller, a two-year-old from Onalaska, WA, survived a cold April night in the woods near his home thanks to his four-month old dog. When it was discovered that the toddler had wandered out of the house, his mother feared the worst. But at 11 p.m. that evening, Nathaniel was found near a creek about a mile from his home. Dressed in only socks and a t-shirt, he was curled up next to Stanley. Rescuers believe that warmth from the dog's body helped Nathaniel battle the cold and dampness.

KIRO-TV Seattle

Back in November 2008, two-year-old Hannah began to choke on a pop tart while her babysitter Megan Howard was in the bathroom,

CBS 4 Denver

In another case of survival by puppy, two young dogs created a body heat blanket for a young boy who was lost outdoors in freezing temperatures overnight in mid-December 2008. After three-year-old Jaylynn Thorpe wandered off from his babysitter, a search team combed the area for 21 hours before finding the toddler and puppies huddled under a tree. Jaylynn told his mother, "I got cold. I slept in the woods last night. The puppies kept me warm."

WSET-TV

As if this face wasn't enough, there's another reason to love Buddy. In September, 2008, the German shepherd saved his master's life by calling 911. Buddy had been trained to assist when his owner Joe Stalnaker exhibited seizure symptoms, but 911 dispatchers were amazed when they heard barking and whimpering at the other end of the line. This was actually old hat for Buddy, who'd done it twice before!

AP

Black Lab Jake dug through the still-smoldering debris at the World Trade Center looking for victims after 9/11, becoming a national hero. He also helped search for survivors in New Orleans after Katrina, and did therapy work with children, seniors, and burn victims, before dying of cancer at age 12. Now that's one hard-working dog.

Alan Diaz, AP

Cats are heroes, too! Brooklyn stray Scarlet became famous after she rescued her five kittens from a fire in 1996, getting badly burned in the process. But this survivor made it out alive, was adopted by a loving owner and lived a long happy life until she passed away in 2008.

Chris Kasson, AP

Call her mother of the year: an Argentinean dog named La China rescued a newborn baby abandoned outdoors in August, 2008. The brave dog managed to carry the babe to her den where she laid him among her own puppies. Some time later the dog's owner, farmer Fabio Anze, found the little guy, perfectly safe and cozy (and completely free of bite marks). The 'miracle baby' was born prematurely to a 14-year-old girl in a small town outside the capital, Buenos Aires.

Corbis

Winnie, an Indiana house cat, saved her family from carbon monoxide poisoning by meowing loudly to awaken them back in April 2007. Her owner Cathy Keesling (pictured here) reported that Winnie had also warned the family of approaching tornadoes the previous summer. We hope this intuitive kitty's getting a lot of catnip these days.

AP

Elizabeth Wilkinson, photographed in March, 2009, with her two-year-old Bedlington whippet Chushla. Chusla is one of just six registered diabetic hypo-alert dogs in Britain, meaning she can smell when her owner is about to have a diabetic attack. When this amazing pup detects a change in scent when Wilkinson's blood sugar levels drops, she lightly bites on her owner's hand to alert her.

Masons News Service

After months of anticipation, the First Pup has finally arrived in the Obama White House -- and we sure hope he's getting some media training. This 6-month old Portuguese Water Dog, already named Bo by Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, is set to become the most famous dog in America. The first daughters chose the name in homage to their maternal grandfather, whose nickname was Diddley, and also for their cousin's cat, who has the same name. Bo made his way to Washington with a little help from Senator Ted Kennedy and and his wife Victoria, who own three Portuguese Water Dogs. Finding the perfect pooch took some time -- the Obamas were looking for an allergy-friendly dog for Malia. All we can say is, the White House vegetable garden better watch out.

Talk about a fat cat! "Princess Chunk," a 44-pound feline, received national attention in the summer of 2008 when he -- yes, this princess is a boy -- was found waddling through the streets of Voorhees, NJ after his owner lost her home to foreclosure. After making the talk show rounds -- including Regis and Kelly -- Chunk was adopted by a New Jersey family, one of thousands of people who inquired. Happy ending!

Disney-ABC Domestic Television, AP

She must have really liked New York. In 2006, Vivi, a whippet who had just won an award of merit at the Westminster Kennel Club show escaped from her carrier at LaGuardia airport and was never found, despite a massive search effort by her frantic owner.

Frank Franklin II, AP

The media can't get enough of "the Lion Whisperer," aka Kevin Richardson. In this amazing photograph, Richardson takes a dip with Meg the lion in the Crocodile River just south of the Magaliesburg mountains, near Johannesburg, South Africa on March 10, 2009.

BARM, Fame Pictures

Looks like Hercules didn't get the memo: when you can no longer fit through the pet door, you should probably take it easy on the cat food. But it was dog food this tubby tabby from Oregon was after when he got stuck in a neighbor's pet door in 2007. This 20-pound fatty was later reunited with his owner.

Benjamin Brink, The Oregonian / AP

A 10-year-old Sussex Spaniel named Stump surprised the world by winning Best in Show at the 2009 Westminster Kennel Club, and becoming the oldest dog ever to win the big prize. Stump had come out of retirement to compete, and according to his owner he is now officially retired (sounds like he's been hanging out with Jay Z). In human years, by the way, he's almost 70. We'd say he's earned some R&R.

Peter Kramer, AP

The circus isn't all fun and games. In 2008, the ASPCA, Animal Welfare Institute, and other activist groups took Ringling Bros. to court over its treatment of pachyderm performers. The groups allege that the elephants' work conditions -- including long hours of travel and prodding by bullhooks -- are inhumane. Ringling Bros. claims the animals are very well cared for. A ruling is expected this summer -- so far no elephants have taken the stand.

Feld Entertainment, Inc, AP

Seeing-eye dogs better mark their territory! There's a whole menagerie of amazing animals assisting people with disabilities. Mini horses help the blind, monkeys assist quadriplegics, goats help those with muscular dystrophy, to name a few. But because some Americans feels that the practice has gone too far, the U.S. government is considering a proposal to ban these service animals, a move that has many disabled Americans up in arms.

Toby Talbot, AP

Breaking pet news from Mamurras, Albania! In 2007, fate brought this cat and puppy together. The kitty, who had lost her kitten, took in a puppy whose mother was killed by a car as her own.

Gent Shkullaku, AFP /Getty Images

In May, 2008, a California-based biotech company called BioArts announced that is would clone dogs for the five highest bidders. The controversial practice costs between $130,000 and $170,000. Here, BioArts International chief executive Lou Hawthorne poses with pups he cloned from his own dog.

BioArts International, AP