LazyPaw Animal Hospitals had a fantastic Fourth of July with local veterans at the third annual North Texas Military Association (NTXMA) “10-Mile Hump”. As we look back on a wonderful weekend of patriotism and celebrating our freedom, we thought it would be appropriate to spend some time thinking about what makes a hero special.
To us, love that inspires ordinary creatures to become heroes isn’t unique to humans. That’s why today we wanted to share some stories of our favorite animal heroes.
Thor: God of Thunder, and rescue pup turned rescuer.
When a North Carolina rescue dog found a neighbor who had fallen, he wouldn’t give up until he knew she would be okay. Barbara Simmons, age 78, fell on the side of the road on a hot day in Southport, North Carolina while checking her mail. She called for help for half an hour, but no one could hear her—except her neighbor’s dog, Thor. The dog ran back to his owners and wouldn’t stop running in Simmons’s direction and looking back as if to ask for help. When the neighbors finally followed and found Simmons nearly a block away, the EMT who answered their call said Thor likely saved Simmons’s life.
A horse is a hero—of course, of course.
Sunny Boy was a rescued palomino quarterhorse adopted by 16-year old Chloe-Jean Wendell in Vivian, Louisiana. When the two were marching in the Louisiana Rosebud Festival Parade, a 75-pound pit bull ran out of the crowd and attacked Wendell’s sister’s horse. Wendell dismounted to help, but then the pit bull made her its target. Skittish Sunny Boy, who the family believes had been abused as a colt, astonished everyone when it kicked the pit bull in the face to protect Wendell. Sunny Boy’s family planned to make him a bigger hero by enrolling him in an equine-assisted therapy program for troubled youths.
The talking bird who saved a baby…
Willie the Quaker parrot was honored with the Red Cross’s Animal Lifesaver Award after he saved a child’s life. Babysitter Megan Howard of Denver brought Willie over when she was babysitting for a toddler, Hannah. When Howard stepped out of the room for a moment as Hannah was eating breakfast, she couldn’t have imagined the talking bird would save a life. She heard the parrot screeching in obvious alarm, “Mama, baby! Mama, baby!” and ran back to check on Hannah. The child was choking on her breakfast and turning blue. Howard did the Heimlich maneuver, and Hannah was just fine.
Feline saves family from poisonous gas.
Eric and Cathy Keesling of New Castle, Indiana went to bed one spring night without noticing anything out of place. Cathy woke to her cat, 14-year old Winnie, meowing as if “she was screaming” and jumping around on the bed. Cathy eventually got up to see what was the matter and realized she was dizzy and nauseous. She couldn’t wake her husband and managed to call 911 despite growing disorientation. Responding paramedics found the couple’s teenage son unconscious on the floor near his bedroom. The family was treated for carbon monoxide poisoning, which was caused by a gas-powered water pump in the basement. Winnie, always the family favorite, proved she was a true lifesaver!