Pet's Sixth Sense Saves Infant's Life

The Goose would like to bring you a special story today, provided to us by author Jean Barto. The following is an excerpt from her latest book, (POD) PET WONDERS:

"With joy and anxiety, we brought Alicia, our preemie, home from the hospital. We were happy to have our baby home, but anxious because her physical condition necessitated a heart monitor.

Now another baby, Mandy, an 80 pound Old English Sheepdog, who had had attention plus until Alicia arrived, was a little put out that she was not allowed near the baby. She was a bright, silly, sometimes stubborn dog, but lovable. She had always been fastidious before, but now she started pooping and peeing all over the house. I guess negative attention was better than no attention at all. After a few days, we allowed Mandy to come close to the baby and even lick her face. That changed everything. Using the rug as outside grass and a chair leg as a private fire hydrant stopped. She must have felt that, finally, she had a place back in the family inner circle.

The baby's room was next to ours, and we kept the doors open in case the heart monitor sounded an alarm. Days went by, and all went well. One night, Chuck felt Mandy scratching and pulling his arm. She was barking and whining to awaken us. Chuck jumped up. Mandy ran into the baby's room, Chuck close behind. The monitor had malfunctioned. The alarm had not sounded. Alicia had gone into cardiac arrest. We grabbed her and immediately started CPR. We brought her back. Thank God and Mandy.

Alicia is now a healthy college student. We will always wonder how Mandy knew something was wrong. Had Alicia made a sound or was Mandy so tuned into her labored breathing that she sensed a change? We'll never know, but will always be extremely grateful to our shaggy friend."

Told by Valerie Rayca
Written by JSB

A special thanks to Ms. Barto for contributing and spreading the good news!

Dog Owner Opens Can of Whupass on Shark

Dogs may be mans' best friend, but 53 year-old Greg LeNoir has proven that a man can be a dog's best friend, too. A carpenter from Florida, Mr. LeNoir may not have had an especially loyal relationship with his dog Jake. At least, not until Friday evening. That's when man and dog went for a swim together off New Smyrna Beach, and became easy pray for a hungry shark. LeNoir barely registered the open-mouthed predator before it snatched Jake, pulling the 28 pound pooch under the surface. After a crazed moment of screaming, LeNoir dove after the shark, furious fists a-flying! ''I clenched my fists and dove straight in with all my strength, like a battering ram,'' LeNoir, told the Miami Herald. "I hit the back of the shark's neck. It was like hitting concrete.'' No doubt stunned by the assault, the shark released Jake, who quickly swam to safety. Amazingly, neither he nor Greg LeNoir were seriously injured during the ordeal.

Read more at http://www.miamiherald.com/news/5min/story/707023.html

Assistance Dog Calls 911, Saves Man's Life

Phoenix, AZ, USA

The frantic sound of a dog whining and barking may not be what Chriss Trott is accustomed to hearing when he answers 911 calls, but it was enough to save the life of Joe Stalnaker on Wednesday when he suffered a seizure.

Stalnaker's home is flagged in the 911 database as having a trained assistance dog who may call for help in an emergency. Buddy, Stalnaker's faithful German shepherd, has been trained since puppyhood to recognize the symptoms of a seizure, get the telephone, and press specially programmed numbers that contact the 911 emergency hotline.

"It's pretty incredible," says Scottsdale police Sgt. Mark Clark "Even the veteran dispatchers — they haven't heard of anything like this."Clark further reports that Mr. Stalnaker spent a couple of days in the hospital, making a full recovery from his seizure thanks to Buddy. Man's best friend, indeed.

To read more, visit http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jeDqeOQlgzwM4VjSCR1TETh6rM4AD936NST82

Thanks going out to Papa Goose for this story!

Kansas Humane Society Celebrates Special Independence Day

KS, US

The Kansas Humane Society is celebrating July 4th a little late this year, declaring the weekends of the 7th and the 14th to be "Animal Independence Days" and hosting huge adoption events. Being "kitten season," summertime is a traditionally overcrowded time in animal shelters while new pets arrive by the dozens every day, and only a few are adopted.

In an effort to tempt potential pet owners, the Kansas Humane Society has reduced the adoption fees (generally between 45$ and 130$, depending on the pet) to a mere 17.76$. Get it, Independence Day?

The GNG was far from immune to the effects of the event, and this reporter spend a solid 3 hours last Saturday in pursuit of a new furry friend. The good news? Over 40 pets were adopted JUST WHILE I WAS THERE! The cages were emptying out fast as employees and volunteers struggled to meet the demands of hundreds of pet owner hopefuls. It was a great day for the animals, the Humane Society Staff, and the pet owners alike.

Don't tell anyone, but I got the best cat in the joint. Meet Mort, the newest member of the Goose family:

Angel at the Post Office

Tuscon, AZ, US

If you're a big fan of the "Best of Craigslist," you may already know this story. It's not a brand new bit of news. In fact, I read it months before the GNG was created. However, I remembered this story this morning and felt compelled to pass it along. From the Best of Craigslist, by an anonymous poster in Tuscon, AZ:

"This is one of the kindest things I've ever experienced. I have no way to know who sent it, but there is a kind soul working in the dead letter office of the US postal service. Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

Dear God, Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith.

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away. Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by. Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I am wherever there is love.

Love, God"

For a picture of Meredith and Abbey, visit the original post at http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/tus/487665904.html