Four pet heroes inducted into Purina Animal Hall of Fame

Four four-legged heroes have been inducted into the Purina Animal Hall of Fame for their bravery, determination, selflessness and devotion.

Chance, Patty, Gepetto and Bingo have demonstrated a powerful bond with their families and have done the incredible feat of saving human lives.

Mary Siemiesz, executive director of the Purina PetCare Legacy, said in a press release that 2009 marked an important year for animal bravery:

“This year’s Inductees have shown us that a hero is a hero no matter how big or small – all that matters is the size of their hearts. They remind us why we adopt, rescue and welcome pets into our lives, and why it is so essential they are responsibly cared for and cherished.”

This year, three dogs and a cat have been inducted. Since the Hall of Fame’s creation in 1968, more than 140 animals have been inducted: 120 dogs, 25 cats and one horse.

Gepetto is a mellow cat from Wetaskiwin, Alta.; Patty is a Border Collie mix from Westlock, Alta.; Chance is a Dalmatian-Fox Terrier mix from South Bar, N.S.; and Bingo, who won the distinction of Service Dog of the Year, is a Jack Russell Terrier from Shilo, Man.

[Source: National Post]

Vote for a People's Hero Dog of Valor : The Humane Society of the United States

Check out these Ten Dogs of Valor finalists and vote for the People's Hero winner! The Third Annual Dogs of Valor Awards celebrates the human-animal bond by honoring dogs who have exhibited an extraordinary sense of courage or resolve by heroically helping a person in need. The panel of celebrity judges, including Kristen Bell, Sally Pressman, and Jay Kopelman, will choose the Valor Dog of the Year and two Runner’s Up. You will choose this year’s People’s Hero winner! Voting closes on Friday, Mar. 12, 2010 at 5 PM ET.

Check out the site to see the nominees and vote!

Rescue Dog Brings Hope, Saves Lives!

A fire and rescue service dog handler has praised the work of his partner following their mission to Haiti following the earthquake. Search dog Echo was part of the Greater Manchester team which has been helping in the country after it was devastated nearly two weeks ago.

Mick Dewer, who is based in Kearsley is back, but Echo has to stay in quarantine for six months. He said Echo gave people hope that something could be done. Provided comfort.

"It's really good to be back, but it's tinged with sadness as I've left behind my work partner and best friend," he said.

"Echo worked really hard, but his benefit wasn't just in searching, he also brought home to the families of people we were searching for, that bit of hope that something can be done."

He said the children stroked the dog which he thought would have provided some comfort to them. He added he was looking forward to some decent food and sleep, but it was "quite hard coming home knowing people in Haiti were starving and things here were back to normal".

Mr Dewar was part of a group of firefighters from Lancashire and Greater Manchester which took part in a rescue mission. They returned home on Saturday to be reunited with their families and colleagues. While in Haiti they successfully rescued a two-year-old girl from her collapsed kindergarten school.

[Source: BBC NEWS]

U.K Soldiers Rally to Get Dog Out of Afghanistan

For the past five years, Tangye, a black Labrador retriever, has been a faithful companion to the British military in Afghanistan. Patrolling with the soldiers of C Company, 3rd Battalion The Rifles (and surpassing most in tours of duty), Tangye has not only survived several gun battles but has also been a source of unfailing support for the troops. His can-do spirit — from being the first to jump into holes cleared in wall blasts to barking and wagging his tail in encouragement when soldiers are under fire — has endeared him to the troops stationed at the remote and treacherous base of Kajak.

"He was a morale boost as he was our own pet," Aaron Fell, an Ireland-based rifleman in the 2nd Battalion who once housed Tangye in his room in Afghanistan, tells PEOPLEPets.com. A small, friendly, funny canine who formed an "army of three" with two other dogs on-site, Tangye "was very brave. He would run at the front of the patrol. During one of our biggest contacts with the enemy — which went on for hours — we threw smoke grenades to cover us as we pulled out. We looked round and saw Tangye chasing the smoke grenades!"

But with the rise of improvised explosive devices, Tangye’s glorious days in battle may be numbered. Because the Taliban may target him as a "sniffer dog," his chances of getting blown up are increasingly likely. To save their beloved mascot, who was purchased from a dam worker and named for a village on the Helmand river, British soldiers began a campaign last October to bring the dog to the U.K. "He can't do what he loves doing over here anymore — it's too dangerous. It would mean an awful lot to the lads to know he was safe," Lance Cpl. Brent Meheux (shown above with Tangye) told the BBC.

Over the past few months, several organizations have responded with open arms. Nowzad, a charity that places rescued cats and dogs from Afghanistan in U.S. and U.K. homes, has reached out to the soldiers to facilitate the transfer. In addition, a group of dog lovers that includes coordinators and members of Labrador Retriever Rescue South England and North West Labrador Retriever Club have rallied on Facebook and Justgiving.org to fund-raise 5,000 (about $8,100) for Tangye’s flights and quarantine (where he’ll stay for six months upon arrival before being adopted into a loving home).

"We have been overwhelmed by the response from both people in the armed forces and the dog-loving public," Natalie Pomroy, creator of the "Save Tangye" Facebook group, tells PEOPLEPets.com. A coordinator for Lab Link Rescue from St. Osyth, Essex, she adds, "Tangye has captured people's hearts. So many have donated money to help the appeal [that] we are well on our way to the 5,000 target." So far, the site has raised about half that amount.

"At the moment it is a waiting game," says Pomroy, but hope remains high that this frontline canine will soon be showered with the same love that he has shown the troops. "He has ... brought a little humanity to a very difficult job."

[Source: TODAY MSNBC]

Jack Osbourne Picks Up The Tab For Indiana's New K-9 Cop Dog

The K-9 police dog purchased by heavy metal rocker Ozzy Osbourne and his son, Jack, made his way to Muncie, Indiana last week to spend time with his partner, Muncie Police Sgt. Jay Turner, and train on the streets of Muncie.

"Jack and Ozzy sure came through for the department," Turner said. "The Osbourne family, they donated the money for the dog without even thinking about it, they just did it, which was very nice."

Turner received two checks in the mail just a few weeks ago. Both Ozzy and Jack gave the same amount: $4,500.

Jack Osbourne became a good friend to Muncie police after he spent time in the city as a reserve officer during the filming of the CBS reality television series Armed in Famous in 2006. He's kept in touch with other officers and earlier this year convinced his father to help buy the department a police dog to replace an aging K-9 officer.

"Obviously with all the cuts in the city, (getting a new dog) is something that hasn't been on a front burner for us," Police Chief Deb Davis said. "When I found out that Ozzy and Jack had agreed to pick up the tab I was a little surprised...it's kind of neat."

Naturally, they named the dog Ozzy.

[Source: The Star Press]

Dogs Teach Kids To Read (Yup, You Read That Right)

Meet Bailey. She's a registered therapy dog, but you won't find her in hospitals or nursing homes. Instead, Bailey makes weekly visits to libraries and schools. She sits quietly or snuggles up to kids as they read her a book. And no, she's not napping, and the kids don't have treats in their pockets. She's actually helping these children learn to read.

It sounds implausible. After all, dogs can't read. How could they possibly help someone learn a skill that they themselves can't grasp? But it's a growing trend, and it seems to be working.

The philosophy is simple. Children who are just learning to read often feel judged or intimidated by classmates and adults. But reading to a dog isn't so scary. It won't judge, it won't get impatient, it won't laugh or correct if the child makes a mistake. In a nutshell, dogs are simply excellent listeners. And for shy kids or slow readers, that can make all the difference.

Kathy Klotz is executive director of Intermountain Therapy Animals, which runs a nationwide program called R.E.A.D. -- Reading Education Assistance Dogs. She says there's another benefit of reading to the dogs that she didn't anticipate: confidence.

"A factor that we never planned for, that turned out to be really important, is that the child feels like they're letting the dog understand the story," she says. "They get to be the teacher, the storyteller, the one who knows more than the dog for a change. ...They just blossom when they get to be the one who knows more than the dog."

The children know they're not actually teaching the dog, of course, but the for the kids, the idea that they know more than the dog and can share their knowledge is a powerful one. And now that volunteers are aware of that aspect, Klotz says they actively foster the idea of the child as the teacher.

"One of the things you do in the program is you always speak for the dog," says Klotz. "Like if [the child] doesn't know a word, the dog doesn't know the word either. And then they're not alone, and they can look it up in the dictionary together."

To read the full story, head on over to CNN.com

Remembering Ted Kennedy

Politics aside, U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy will be remembered by many for his contributions to the nation and also for his love for his dogs Sunny and Splash, Portuguese Water Dogs.

He told Harry Smith of CBS in a 2006 interview:" Splash is a part of our family, but he's part of the senate family as well. He comes to work with me every day with his little niece Sunny and members of the senate dome. He's not allowed to go on the senate floor. He's troubled by that... because he thinks, he says that they won't let him on because people will say that they don't think he knows how to behave. But actually, he says that he behaves a lot better than most senators."

He gave President Obama his puppy, a Portuguese Water Dog, named Bo.

Kennedy wrote a children's book My Senator and Me in Sunny's voice. One of his greatest joys was sailing with his wife Vicki and the dogs on his sloop Mya.

[Source: USAToday.com]

Woman Saves Dog With CPR

 

5-Legged Pup Saved From Freakshow

New Yorkers opened their hearts and wallets on Sunday for the North Carolina woman who saved a five-legged puppy from a Coney Island freak show as they hailed the big-hearted animal lover as a hero.

A Manhattan vet was so touched by the actions of Allyson Siegel, the Charlotte woman who bought Lilly for $4,000 to spare her from a life as a Surf Ave. freak puppy, that he offered to remove the dog's extra leg for free.

Dr. Neil Shaw, co-owner of NYC Veterinary Specialists on W. 55th St., said his hospital would evaluate the 6-week-old Chihuahua-terrier mix and then plan the surgery.

"We would be more than happy to help out," he said.

Siegel was thrilled by the generosity.

"That is so nice. I'm so happy!" she said on Sunday.

Siegel, 45, said her local vet told her it would charge $2,000 for the operation. NYC Veterinary Specialists runs a foundation it can tap to help pay for the care of needy animals.

Daily News reader Tony Raimi, 27, called to find out Siegel's address so she could send her and Lilly a care package.

"When I read about her, it made me think, 'There are still good people out there,'" the Staten Island native said Sunday.

"I was at work when I read the story and had to walk away from the counter because I started to cry."

Raimi and readers who posted comments on the News' Web site cheered Siegel's decision to spend $4,000 to save Lilly.

"Allyson Siegel, you are my hero!" wrote Paula DeMarta Mastroianni. "Big big hugs to beautiful Lilly, and thank you for doing this!"

"Lucky Little Lilly," wrote Rose Young-Stewart. "The other animals on display at the Coney Island freak show need to be given good homes. Who wants to spend their life being stared at, ridiculed, laughed at, so the owner can make a living off them?"

Another reader called Siegel an "angel."

"She is showing that there are guardian angels even for animals," wrote reader Jeppydog. "What a truly wonderful person. God bless you, Allyson!"

[Source: NYDailyNews.com]

Washington Community Rallies To Save Police Dog's Job

A police dog that was laid off due to budge cuts now has this coastal town rallying behind him in the hopes he could be brought back out of retirement.

"Nitro" can fight crime, but he can't fight the ailing economy. His job was eliminated earlier this month when the Aberdeen Police Department needed to cut its budget.

"(He was) definitely part of the family," said Aberdeen K9 officer Steve Timmons, pictured above with Nitro. "It's tough seeing him not a work."

Six-year-old Nitro has helped nab between 35 and 40 suspects since he joined the force in 2005.

But unemployment is at 14 percent in Grays Harbor County. The Weyerhaeuser plant closing means fewer tax dollars for the city to operate the police department.

That forced Aberdeen's only police dog into early retirement.

"It's still rough for him, he still misses it," Timmons said. "When I go to work, he runs to the door like we're leaving and I have to leave him there. So it's tough."

After people saw the story on Seattle PI last week, there was an outpouring of support. We received an e-mail from one viewer saying: "I'm a member of the Peninsula Dog Fanciers Club of Bremerton. I saw the story about Nitro the other day and was deeply moved. My club would like to donate $500."

Money has been coming in from all over the Northwest. But the department needs around $6,000 to get Nitro his job back.

The police chief says the outpouring of public support may just do it.

"We're getting such a positive outcry that I think we're going to reach our goal to sustain Nitro from just the people that are wanting to support us," said police chief Bob Torgerson.

But it's not a done deal. The chief wants to make sure there's enough money to keep Nitro on the job through next year as well.

He doesn't want to have to go through the heartache of laying off this dog twice.

Donations to Nitro's fund can be made to the Aberdeen Police Department.. The chief hopes to make a decision next week.


[Source: SeattlePI.com]

Paula Abdul Celebrates National Guide Dog Month

American Idol singer Scott MacIntyre received an incredible gift from Paula Abdul, as she presented him with a guide dog in honor of May being National Guide Dog Month. Paula, Natural Balance Pet Foods, Petco and independent pet stores nationwide are teaming to raise funds and awareness for guide dogs, with over 2 million dollars to be raised during May.

An emotional MacIntyre was both thrilled and surprised to learn he would receive a guide dog. He had been told he was at the ceremony to perform, but instead, Paula informed him that he would be receiving a dog after his upcoming tour. Many people openly wept during the ceremony.

"Being part of this important cause is truly special and very close to my heart,” said Paula Abdul. “Most people have no idea how much time and money it takes to train these beautiful animals to give such a precious gift to those who need it most. It can take more than two years and $40,000 to properly train a guide dog. Together, we can help guide dog schools provide more of these life-changing partners to people who are blind.”

[Source: PR.com]

2 Dogs, 2000 Miles

Luke Robinson set out on a walk with his dogs in March of last year — a 2,000-plus-mile walk, from Austin to Boston.

He’s still going.

Robinson and his two Great Pyrenees dogs — who have made it as far as Ohio — are trekking across the country to to call attention to, and raise funds to combat, canine cancer, which claimed one of his dogs in 2006.

After that, Robinson, who was working a 90-hour week at his high tech and life science business firm, did some re-evaluating, during which he came upon the idea of the walk.

Accompanying him are Murphy, who is about 7 years old, and Hudson, who’s 2. They set out Austin in March, headed for Boston, which is Robinson’s home. In July, the passed through Arkansas; in August they made it through Memphis. They’re stopping to volunteer at shelters and humane societies along the way, which Robinson says gives him a chance to interact with animal lovers, experts, caregivers and those doing research into canine cancer.

To learn more about Luke and Co., check out his very cool blog at 2dogs2000miles.

[Source: ohmidog.com]

Pennsylvania Boy Offers Puppy to Obama Family

During their trip to witness the historic inauguration of Barack Obama, two Fayette County, Pennsylvania commissioners will deliver a letter that could potentially change the life of the new president and the first family.

The inauguration of Obama as the 44th president will take place today, and commissioners Vincent A. Vicites and Vincent Zapotosky left Monday to head to Washington, D.C.

In their possession will be a letter from Zachary William Shiley to Malia Obama, the oldest daughter of Barack and Michelle Obama. Shiley, a fourth-grade student at Wharton Elementary School in Farmington, is offering a 6-week-old female labradoodle puppy to the first family.

The puppy, born Nov. 26, was the only offspring that survived the litter of 11-year-old Hillary, a chocolate Labrador and 1-year-old Bullet, a black labradoodle.

Zachary Shiley said the family has been calling the dog Vegas because his mother was in Las Vegas, Nev., when Hillary became pregnant. It also was her idea to offer it to the Obamas, he said. Shiley describes the puppy as a little shy but "very smart and friendly." Shiley added that Vegas is full of energy as well as a blessing.

"We want her to have a good home, and what could be better than the White House... A dream come true," Shiley wrote in his letter to Malia Obama. "I almost forgot, the puppy is free," Shiley wrote. Included with the letter are two photographs of the puppy with an American flag and Shiley with the puppy. Vicites said while he knows it is a long shot that the Obamas would end up with the Fayette County puppy, the puppy has to come from somewhere.

[Source: HeraldStandard.com]

Bikers Form Animal Rescue Crew

They met on the local hot rod scene. They looked like heavies, a band of Hells Angels, with nicknames equally tough: Mike Tattoo, Big Ant, Johnny O, Batso, Sal, Angel, Des. They meant no harm. Clad in leather, inked to the hilt in skulls and dragons, with images of bloodied barbed wire looped about their necks, they shared something else — a peculiar tenderness for animals, and the intensity needed to act on the animals’ behalf when people abuse them.

“I’m a vegetarian,” said Mike Tattoo (real name Mike Ostrosky), a former bodybuilding champion with a shaved head, great arms covered in art and a probing clarity in his blue eyes. “And Big Ant has in his backyard three guinea pigs, a couple of rabbits, birds, cats — and fish everywhere. But just because a person has tattoos, they wouldn’t come running with us.”

The group became a little larger over the course of about 15 years, with various animal-loving, tattooed bikers in the New York area joining the conversation. One member, Angel Nieves, a 47-year-old retired city police detective, grew up in the projects on West 125th Street and remembered taking in strays from the streets as a boy, as did many of his cohorts. He owns a tiny, white bichon frisé named Cris.

Having run in crowds where animal abuse was rampant, often involving pit bull fights, the men volunteered at shelters and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and they tried to solve cases of missing or abused animals that other organizations had neither the time nor the resources to address.

A man named Robert Missari pulled everything together. Mike Tattoo met Mr. Missari about 18 months ago at a hot rod convention called the Rumbler. Though Mr. Missari is not inked — he works in catering — he loves animals and broached the idea that the bikers should become more than just friends bound by a commitment to a common cause; he wanted them to become an organization. About a year ago, they took up the name Rescue Ink, and now work full time investigating cases of animal abuse.

Mr. Missari is the executive director and the dispatcher for this biker brotherhood, working from his office in Manhattan, where he spends some of his time phoning in leads to the men on the road (“Yo, we got a report of five pit bulls living in 55-gallon drums”). He gets up to 250 calls a day.

The men rescue pedigreed animals sold for a pittance to buy drugs, animals used for fighting and bait, and colonies of feral cats that angry neighbors have tried to shoot or poison. They have received calls from Australia (“Dingoes, I guess,” Angel said) and reports of a serial cat killer in Pennsylvania.

They hand cases of criminal activities to the police. “That’s not our specialty,” Mr. Missari said. “We specialize in getting the abuser away from the dog. We truly work with the abuser. We go to a house; if it’s really cold out, we see two dogs in the back, we build them a doghouse.”

[Source: The New York Times]

Update on Golden Retriever and Tiger Cubs

Back in July, we were smitten with this story about a Golden Retriever who adopted 3 tiger cubs that were abandoned by their mother. The cubs have just finished weening and are absolutely adorable. Check 'em out on The Today Show!



[Source: msnbc.com]

Gabe the Bulldog Fetches Top Dog Honors in Nick at Nite's Worldwide Fido Awards

A toilet-flushing, skateboarding bulldog named Gabe from Bellingham, Washington wowed the celebrity judges of last night's Nick at Nite First Annual Worldwide Fido Awards to fetch top dog honors. The champ triumphed over five other talented finalists, including a deep diving Labrador Retriever and a Schubert-humming Golden Retriever. All were revealed, showcased and saluted in the one-hour canine competition honoring the family dog, hosted by actor/comedian Fred Willard (Best in Show) and judged by Kevin Nealon, Vivica Fox and dog trainer to the stars Tamar Geller.

Having received the most online votes at worldwidefido.com, where viewers chose their favorites from user-generated videos, the Fido finalists who took home a bone in his or her "dog-egory" are as follows:

* Cutest: French bulldog Samson from San Francisco
* Best Trick: Gabe, a toilet-flushing, skateboarding bulldog from Bellingham, WA
* Best Dressed: Phoebe Buffay, a poolside boxer in a bikini from Pasadena, Texas
* Owner Lookalike: German Shepherd Kaine Vom Feuerspiel (owner Ashley Brook) from Avondale, Arizona
* Best Voice: Sunny, a Schubert-humming Golden Retriever from Ocean Beach, California
* Most Outrageous: Tommy, a deep diving Labrador Retriever from Sewell, New Jersey.

In a show highlight, Buddy, a German Shepherd from Arizona was awarded the Hero Award, to honor invaluable services provided to humans. Buddy made news last summer after saving his human's life by calling 911 after he had suffered a seizure.

In addition, the evening's sole human award winner, Kristin Davis, garnered the Dog's Best Friend Award for her commitment to fostering abandoned dogs. Pooch performances, including dog tricks and relays, entertained the audience throughout the evening.

[Source: Nick At Night]

Man Punches Shark to Save Dog

A man has saved his pet dog from a shark attack by jumping into the water and punching the fish in the neck. Greg LeNoir and his rat terrier, Jake, were swimming at a Florida Keys marina when the attack happened.

The 53-year-old carpenter said: "I saw a big, dark green shape, which I realised was a big shark's head. It zoomed up from under Jake. Jake screamed - a death scream - and it sucked him under. I dove straight down like a battering ram, and I drove my fist under the water into the shark. And it pushed him down - it felt like concrete on my hand."

The shark's teeth punctured Jake's skin and some muscle on the dog's abdomen, chest and back. Jake also suffered lacerations on his right side and front left leg. The incident happened on Friday afternoon when Mr LeNoir took Jake to the Worldwide Sportsman's Bayside Marina pier in Islamorada, Florida for the dog's daily swim.

Mr LeNoir said he was terrified when he saw the shark, but his only thought was saving Jake, who he described as a fast and fearless swimmer, often retrieving jellyfish and coconuts.

"Jake is such a big part of mine and my wife's life - we don't have children," he said. "This is what she considers the closest thing to a child. And I couldn't abandon him."

Mr LeNoir's brother, Phillip, told the Miami Herald: "Jake's doing great. And I still can't believe my brother jumped in the water and punched a shark."

[Source: Belfast Telegraph]

Sports Your Dog Will Love

You can't teach a dog new tricks - or can you? You can certainly teach dogs to play any number of new and exciting sports that are great fun for you as well as your dog. In some cases you may need special accessories or a particular venue. But if you are handy and creative, you can train at home too. It's not all about competition, some keen sports stars never take part in organized events, but many dogs recognize that they are competing and really enjoy it - especially when they win! Here are some of the most popular canine sports.

Agility: Agility is the most popular of the modern sports for dogs. The discipline first appeared at Cruft's in 1977, with a small hurdle race for dogs. The dogs seemed to like it and the sport became (literally) a runaway success. Dog agility is a sport in which a dog moves through an obstacle course with the guidance of his handler. Dogs run off leash, so the handler's only controls are voice and body language, requiring exceptional obedience training of the animal. In competition, both accuracy and speed are important.

Flyball: Dogs just love flyball - and it's a great sport to watch as well as play! Flyball is a race involving two teams of four dogs. The dogs spring over a series of jumps (usually four), run to a box, activate a catapult machine with their forepaws, catch the ball that flies out and race back to the start. To do its best the dog has to not just clear the hurdles, but keep a smooth approach and landing to clear the maximum distance in a minimum of time. The turn at the box can mean the difference between winning and losing, so a lot of effort goes into teaching the dog to do it well.

Obedience: A more relaxed sport, Obedience nevertheless requires extremely high levels of concentration and motivation from both dogs and their owners. The sport involves elementary disciplines such as 'Sit', 'Down', or 'Heel' and retrieving. But it progresses to cover tests of character, like controlling dogs at a distance.

Flying Disc: Flying Disc is another of the dog sports that catches the eye, although you'll probably know it better as playing Frisbee in the park! Competitively the catch and retrieve event is the backbone of the sport. It consists of a timed round where teams of one dog and one thrower, attempt to make as many successful throws/catches as possible before time runs out - rounds usually last one minute. Teams score more points for longer throw/catch combinations, so watch out for some serious party tricks!

Heelwork to Music: Popularly known as 'Dog Dancing', this fascinating activity has recently developed and expanded very rapidly. Speed and punctuality aren´t important, but cooperation and co-ordination between dog and owner are vital to success. The dog and his owner make one team and dance according to the music.

[Source: PURINA]

Hero Dog's Canine Choir Tribute

A canine choir is being formed for a musical tribute to a 1930's hero dog. Swansea Jack was a black retriever who became renowned for rescuing drowning swimmers in the city's docks and river.

Cardiff-based artist Richard Higlett has been commissioned to create a piece of music to be performed by dogs to celebrate Jack's life. With the working title of 'A song for Jack' he intends auditioning dogs for the public performance at the National Waterfront Museum in October.

The project has been commissioned by Locws International, an arts charity based in Swansea, as part of the 60th Swansea Festival of Music and Arts. The performance will tie in with a special exhibition at the museum. Mr Higlett intends running a blog about the project on his website.

On his website he says: "The proposal is to audition a selection of local dogs to form a dogs' choir. This concert will be filmed and recorded and observed by musicians who will translate this spontaneous concert to form a piece of sheet music, dedicated to Swansea Jack." He adds: "A song for Jack comes from my interest [in] things we interpret, as incidental can also be viewed as creative and profound. When dogs sing they are returning instinctively to their lives as part of a pack."

Born in 1930 Swansea Jack hit the headlines the following year when he rescued a swimmer from the docks. Legend has it that during the seven years he lived he went on to save 27 people from drowning. In 1936 he was named the 'Bravest Dog of the Year' by the London Star newspaper and was awarded two bronze medals by the National Canine Defence League. Some people believe the nickname Jacks, given to natives of the city, derives from the dog.

[Source: BBC News]

Hero Dog Honored

The story of a Norwegian sea dog who became an unlikely war hero has been put into print. It is claimed that Bamse - a 14 stone St Bernard - saved the lives of two sailors during World War II. He also performed many other good deeds while the mascot on the Norwegian Navy minesweeper the Thorrod, which was stationed in Montrose and Dundee.

A book has now been written, aiming to separate the fact from the fiction surrounding the canine hero. Among his exploits included going into the water to rescue a sailor who had fallen overboard and knocking over a knifeman who was trying to attack a young lieutenant. Bamse died in 1944 and is buried in Montrose with his head facing towards Norway.

Since then, a statue has been erected in the Angus town in honour of the dog and he was awarded the gold medal for gallantry and devotion from the PDSA charity. Angus Whitson, co-author of Sea Dog Bamse, said: "My favourite story is him taking the sailors out of the pub and making sure they got back to their ship on time. From what I have read he physically pushed the sailors out of the pubs, there are stories of him nudging them along the road and anyone who tried to escape was herded into the crew again until they got back to the Thorrod.

"It's better than a Lassie film. In many ways it's an extraordinary story - the average dog in my experience has a loyalty for his master and the family he lives with, but Bamse was a dog that appeared to have a loyalty for a wider family.

"He had a sphere of concern for those people that he loved and he looked after them very well."

Fellow author, Andrew Orr, said: "I was in a fortunate position, being a GP in this town, that many of my patients remembered the dog and were very keen to talk to me about it. I started scribbling their stories furiously, but then research took me to Norway, to Canada, South Africa, and other people who had something to say and I was compelled to write this down and it became apparent that there was a story just bursting to be told and a book had to be written."

[Source: BBCnews]