Firefighters in Syracuse, New York, recently risked their lives to save a feline that was trapped in a burning building.
A two-family, two-story apartment building was filled with smoke when firefighters arrived on the scene, according to Syracuse.com. The firefighters were quickly able to assess the problem and get the fire under control.
"They forced their way in, quickly located the fire and kept it from spreading," Syracuse deputy fire chief, Stephen Cavuto, told the news provider.
No humans were present when the fire began. After the flames were put out, rescuers found two unconscious house cats that were affected by the smoke. After bringing the two cats out into fresh air, firefighters quickly tried to revive them.
Unfortunately, the large black cat was unresponsive and pronounced dead. The rescuers quickly got to work on the small gray and black cat named Tigger.
Firefighters placed an oxygen mask on the feline’s face and caressed the small cat. Luckily, Tigger came around and has returned to normal cat health since.
According to the Daily Times, some fire departments have special oxygen masks designed to help pets exposed to smoke.
Looking to stow away your furry friend when you leave for vacation? Why not put them up in a luxurious suite!
A plan to create a fancy dog hotel in South Boston, Massachusetts, has angered residents, city officials and lawmakers, but will continue to move forward as the Board of Zoning Appeals recently gave the plan the go ahead, according to the Boston Globe.
Residents of the area complained that the kennel would create excess noise, odor and traffic in their neighborhood. While the board listened to these arguments, they thought that the proposed idea would offer more benefits than problems.
"The applicant addressed concerns about noise, waste, traffic, pick-up and drop-off," board chairman, Robert Shortsleeve, told the Boston Herald. "And it sounds like there’s a public need for the service with 1,100 dog owners in South Boston and only 20 spaces to kennel them."
The facility will be called Fenway Bark, and will offer amenities such as massages, acupuncture and hydrotherapy, in addition to shopping for pet care items, grooming facilities and training.
What many people may not realize is while the nation’s soldiers risk their lives for defending freedom overseas, animals are utilized in the battle as well.
Military canines are utilized to sniff out bombs and other traps, which can sometimes put them in harm’s way. While they have handlers to administer pet care and ensure the dogs are as safe as possible, sometimes things still go wrong.
Larry Chilcoat, who served in the Vietnam War with his dog, Geisha, is looking to honor all of the fallen military canines with a national monument, according to Caller.com. The news reporter reveals that 4,000 canines were used during the Vietnam War alone, and that more than 200 perished.
John Burnam is another Vietnam dog handler who is pushing to create the monument, saying that military canines saved his life on multiple occasions.
"If the dog’s body goes rigid, they cock their head, perk ears, fix their eyes, you know it’s dangerous," Burnam told the news provider. "You certainly don’t want to go where the dog doesn’t want to go. They saved my butt from enemy fire several times."
An animal rescue group in Franklin County, Virginia, is doing everything in its power to find a permanent home for a mutt named Herbie.
After his owners abandoned him in the wild three months ago, Herbie was able to last the cold wintery months and snow, in addition to being attacked by another pack of dogs, according to NBC Washington.
After the canine was picked up, veterinarians noticed that despite these injuries and harsh conditions, Herbie is gradually making a recovery back to good dog health.
Herbie has been staying with volunteer foster families until he can be permanently placed. He has won a special place in many people’s hearts, who are joining in the search for finding the pup a permanent residence.
"He actually is very resilient," Herbie’s foster parent, Rick Walsh, told the news provider. "He likes to keep you happy. He is a very happy dog. His tail is always wagging. … Whoever is lucky enough to adopt Herbie will be very fortunate."
Sometimes, giving up an animal can be the hardest thing for a family to do. However, it could be in the pet’s best interest.
One family from Washington state surrendered their German Shepherd, Haley, to the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County three years ago as a result of an undisclosed family crisis that prevented them from providing proper pet care, according to OhMiDog.com.
The dog was never far from the unidentified family’s thoughts, as they kept pictures and mementos of their beloved canine. Assuming that too much time had passed, the family decided to get a new dog once they were freed of their problematic predicament.
As luck would have it, a family had adopted Haley in 2007 but had returned her a few days ago because they were having problems with her running away. When her original family came to the shelter looking for a new pup, they were reunited with their old friend.
The family quickly adopted Haley and they now have regained the family member that they had lost years ago.
