Here's a truly beautiful story that captures the intensity of the dog-human bond, and the reality of what some dogs do for 'work', not "play". It tells the tale of a working dog named Cassius (once an abandoned shelter puppy), whose specialty is finding humans in wreckage-he's worked in Haiti after the January earthquake, Sri Lanka following the 2004 tsunami, and New Orleans following Hurircane Katrina, among other disaster zones. And, he's just received the American Kennel Club's Humane Fund Award for Canine Excellence, along with four other search and rescue dog heroes.
Read all about Cassius and his human companion, Peter Taft, right here in yesterday's
New York Times:
www.nytimes.com/2010/10/07/fashion/07Gimlet.html?_r=1&ref=fashion
P.S. I'm starting to feel a little guilty just playing in my man cave with my toys (and stolen washcloths and socks), and Parental Unit thinks I need a job...Hey, does squirrel chasing count as work? Just askin'.
10 comments:
Them search and rescue dogs always just tug at da heart strings...or any service dog really. They always da unsung heroes.
You would do well as a working dog...me, not so much (mum dreams though)
Puddles
Of course squirrel chasing counts as a job! They're rodents, aren't they? They could bring the Black Plague back for all anyone knows. You're doing humanity and your Parental Unit a huge favor by protecting your yard from them.
Yes Bocci, squirrels count dude! So do rabbits and stray cats. It's a hard job but it's a job only a dog can do! We terrier mutts were bred for this kind of work!
Woof!
Kirby
Hey, thanks for the squirrel support-I knew I shouldn't be feeling too guilty! I've really alsways thought of it as a job, just not sure Parental Unit does:-)
We think that squirrel chasing is one of the toughest jobs out there!
~Milly and Shelby
ps- we also love stolen socks... especially dirty ones!
He is definitely a true hero - and a shelter dog, too!! Was this in today's paper? I didn't see a date on the link.
Your pal, Pip
Hi Pip,
That story was in Thursday's NY Times Style Section.
Thanks for commenting, and I hope you enjoyed!
I am beside myself! I know I am following your blog but I am not following in a way where I can get updates sent to me so that I remember to read your blog!
Do you have anything other than an RSS feed?
Squirrel hunt is really only a part time job thou...I thinks you better start looking around fur sometin better!
Hi there, Just stopped by because you look just like a dog I had in high school-he was a terrier(supposed to have been Cairn but wasn't)and he looked like you and Benji. Wondered if you are purebred or a bit of several. I'll be back to visit.
Noreen
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