Courage – Loyalty – Dedication: Are these the characteristics of a dog hero? Not really. Dog heroes come in all shapes, sizes, temperaments and personalitities. A Chihauhau has been witnessed barking feverishly at a women being pulled out to sea; a Labrador pounced on his owner dislodging a piece of food in her throat; a mutt threw himself against his owner’s chest, later detecting cancer and saving her life. Dogs are naturally courageous, loyal and dedicated. You hear story after story of the “average” dog rescuing a family member almost every week. And just think of the rescues that don’t make the news!
So why are millions of dogs (and cats) put to sleep every year when so many of us “humans” realize their potential. We know that dogs are heroes in so many ways. Besides doing something unbelievable like saving us from a house burning down, dogs are daily heroes for most of us. They are always happy to see us, love us unconditionally, take good care of our children; the list goes on and on.
Will there ever be an answer to this tragedy? Will the people who perpetuate this horrific cycle ever stop? Have we done enough? There are so many individuals, organizations, societies, clubs, foundations and groups that have been formed throughout the years to try to resolve the overpopulation problem. Is it just the world we live in and will us “dog-lovers” always have a sad heart when thinking about this… forever?
I just wonder if there is a way for all of us to come together to finally put an end to this problem. Why can’t more laws be passed, puppy mills be shut-down permanently and dog owners be forced to be responsible? There must be a solution! In the meantime, we keep on helping, supporting, praying and trying our best to save a life – one dog hero at a time.
