The Best of Us - My Current View

They are the best of us. What we should aspire to be. They love without condition or judgement. They are loyal to the bitter end, staying when all others fail you. They give us their all, but never demand the same from us. They aren't moody or emotional. They start each day with wagging tails. They end each day with wagging tails. They will protect you, love you, comfort you, play with you, cuddle with you, rescue you, and alert you to danger. They are Canis lupus familiaris. They are dogs. Furbabies.

Leala, a black lab, saved her human baby from drowning after he fell into a pond near his home. She attempted to pull him from the water and when she was unsuccessful, she ran swiftly and immediately back to the house and began barking like mad woman. When the toddler's parents saw the soaking wet and frantic dog, they followed her. After a hospital stay, the child made a complete recovery, with no lasting medical conditions. He is alive today because he was loved by a dog.

On a steamy, Saturday evening on Stanton Island, a man was attacked in his home by a burglar dressed as a FedEx delivery man. The young man, we'll call Jason, wrestled the fake delivery driver to the ground in the doorway of his apartment. When the burglar pulled out a gun, 12 year old pit bull Kilo sprang into action and took a bullet to the head to protect his human. The burglar escaped. Jason rushed Kilo to the emergency vet, where, miraculously, it was found that the bullet didn't penetrate his skull. The vet took an x-ray and said that there was a one in a million chance of the bullet lodging where it would do no damage. Kilo was that one in a million. The vet said he was a lucky dog. Jason is alive today because he was loved by a dog.

Gracie, Bear, Chica, Butter and Zippy all saved their human families from burning houses. Zippy, the little Jack Russell, living up to his name, ran through the inferno barking as loudly as his tiny, smoke filled lungs could bark. By the time he woke everyone up, the house was engulfed in flames. He was unable to escape the fire. Zippy paid the ultimate price. He saved his family at the expense of his own life. The house is a total loss but Zippy's family.....they’re safe. Every single one of them. They are alive today because they were loved by a dog.

There are millions of these stories. And not just dogs, but all sorts of animals. ~Whale protects scientist from shark. ~Gorilla saves toddler from attack. ~Beluga whale rescues drowning diver. ~Lions foil kidnapping plot. ~Sea Lion helps man who jumped of Golden Gate Bridge. ~Beavers comfort and save a freezing child. ~Elephant saves girl from Tsunami.

These stories and many more like them are reminders that we are not alone on the planet. We are being watched over and protected, even when we are unaware. There are angels among us. Some are spotted. Some are striped. Some are furry. Some are rubbery. Some live on land. Some live in water. They come in every color. Every shape. On every continent. And what do they ask in return for their life-long, unspoken promise to protect us. Nothing. They want simply to be loved. If you have a fur baby, lay down your phone and go give them a belly rub.

#dogs #pets #heroes #bestfriends #pooch