Stephen Foster works as a part-time maintenance man at a gas station in Dade City, Florida. Since the recent death of his wife of 35 years, Stephen has come to rely on the love and companionship of his little dog, Ollie. The pooch even accompanies him to work, happily watching her dad from the end of a tether.

A few weeks ago, Ollie was hit by a car driving through the gas station parking lot and was left with a broken leg. The vet told Stephen euthanasia was his only option, but he and Ollie were about to meet a guardian angel. Actually, a whole bunch of them!

An animal control officer with Pasco County Animal Services urged Stephen not to give up hope. The next day, the officer returned with veterinarian Christine Glenn, who transferred Ollie to the PCAS shelter for further care.

“Ollie is a special girl. He is this gentleman’s whole world. And without her he doesn’t sleep well at night. This is his companion since his wife passed away,” Dr. Glenn told ABC Action News.

Upon examination, Dr. Glenn discovered that Ollie had internal injuries in addition to her broken leg and would need to undergo surgery. The PCAS medical team, along with volunteers from the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, went to work repairing Ollie’s ruptured diaphragm. Her prognosis was guarded, but she proved to be a fighter, heading into yet another surgery—this time for her fractured leg—just days later.

With all that under her furry belt, Ollie began the long road to recovery. Stephen visited her in the medical suite every chance he got over the next few weeks. It was clear to all who witnessed their time together that Stephen and Ollie truly love one another.

“Her eyes soften when she sees him, and her little body wags. The love between man and dog is clear, and we at PCAS want to preserve this bond,” the shelter wrote in a Facebook update.

Finally, the day the pair had been waiting for rolled around. On Thursday, July 29, Ollie was released from the clinic!

She is not fully healed yet, but she is strong enough to spend the remainder of her recovery at home with Stephen—with several follow-ups at PCAS along the way. Once she gets medical clearance, Ollie’s pals at the shelter will provide her with a crate so she can safely accompany Stephen to work once again.

“Ollie means everything to me. As I said, she’s my kid,” Stephen confided to ABC.

In addition to Dr. Glenn and the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, PCAS credits a grant from Maddie’s Fund and a partnership with Human-Animal Support Services with their ability to save Ollie’s life.

Now Stephen can sleep soundly once again with his beloved Ollie back by his side!

See their beautiful reunion in the video below.

The post Facing Euthanasia, Local Shelter Offers Dog Dad Hope For His Injured Pup appeared first on G2a-ltc.

An Arizona resident with muscular dystrophy spends a lot of time at home and depends on his dogs for company and companionship.

When his dog of nearly ten years passed away, he was left devastated and lonely.

His other older dog also grew depressed since his sister’s passing. He figured that getting a younger dog would keep both he and his dog company, and would be a great addition to the family.

That’s when he decided to adopt Peanut, a dog who had spent 12 days in a high-kill shelter, and was on the list for euthanasia.

When she first arrived at their home, she was very timid and afraid of everything. But within two weeks, Peanut was settling nicely into her new home and feeling way more comfortable.

In the video below, you can see just how much Peanut loves her dad. She is sitting on his lap, smothering him with kisses. She is beyond grateful that he rescued her from euthanasia and gave her a second chance at life!

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America was rocked by an act of terror on 9/11 that forever changed life in the U.S. 2,974 people died that day and many more continued to perish from complications over the coming years. Heroes came in all shapes and sizes that day and in the months to follow. 343 firefighters and 23 police officers lost their lives and nearly 300 dogs came from all over the country to assist in search and rescue operations.

A Four-Legged Hero

One dog was in the North Tower and lead 31 people to safety- a Yellow Lab named Roselle. She was a guide dog who diligently came to work with her dad every day. Michael Hingson, Roselle’s dad, was a sales manager for a Fortune 500 company called Quantum the day the terror attacks shook America. Hingson and Roselle first met just two years prior in 1999.

Roselle had been patiently laying under his desk when the unthinkable happened. Hingson and his colleagues didn’t know what had happened at the time, but they quickly realized the situation was dire.

“I heard a tremendous boom, and the building started to shudder violently, before slowly tipping, leaning over 20 feet… Those inside became convinced they were on the verge of death. Tearfully, colleagues said goodbye to each other. I was sure I was going to die,” Hingson told the Sunday Express.

American Airlines Flight 11 had just struck the World Trade Center. Debris quickly began raining down around the office. Remarkably, both Hingson and Roselle were able to remain calm and let their training take over, according to LADBible.

“I had always paid attention to fire drills and I knew to avoid the elevators, take the stairs and not to panic. While everything was happening, the explosion, the burning debris, the people in the conference room screaming, Roselle sat next to me as calm as ever. She didn’t sense any danger in the smoke and flames, everything happening around us. If she had sensed danger, she would have acted differently, but she didn’t. Roselle and I were a team and I trusted her,” Hingson explained.

Escaping the Unimaginable

People started making their way down the stairs when they began to be overcome by fumes. Hingson had done quite a bit of traveling and quickly recognized the smell of jet fuel. He started to piece together what may have happened and suspected a plane had struck the building.

The smell, which he reported was similar to kerosene, became so strong that their eyes began to burn. The temperatures of the burning jet fuel skyrocketed to nearly 3,000 degrees on the floors just above them. Steel beams began to melt within the already compromised structure.

Hingson wondered what would happen if the lights in the stairway went out. Surely it would cause panic.

“The thought hit me that I could be a guide. So I called out to everyone not to worry, that Roselle and I would lead the way. Some people laughed, but the mood was definitely lightened.”

The Worst Wasn’t Over

They reached the lobby of the building after an hour traversing crowded stairwells, sweltering temperatures, and navigating past the gravely wounded. They were quickly met by a police officer yelling for them to evacuate because the building was collapsing. Hingson picked up his beloved Roselle and literally ran for his life.

“I heard the sound of glass breaking, of metal twisting, and terrified screams. I will never forget the sound as long as I live.”

He recalls that it took just ten seconds for the iconic skyscraper to be reduced to rubble.

“Then we were engulfed by a monstrous cloud of sand and gravel. It filled my throat and lungs and I was drowning, trying to breathe. But we kept running, and Roselle kept guiding me perfectly. She didn’t stop once. Roselle and I are a team, and I was not about to let her go.”

A Lasting Legacy

Roselle retired from guiding in 2007. She lived a long and fulfilling life before passing away from a stomach ulcer and kidney damage in 2011. Roselle’s heroism didn’t end on 9/11 or in 2011 when she crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

Thunder Dog was a book written in her honor. Roselle’s Dream Foundation was started to bring awareness about vision loss. It also provides scholarships to help blind students. Roselle was also posthumously named American Hero Dog of the Year in 2011.

Hingson left his fast-paced sales job and began working for Guide Dogs for the Blind– the organization that matched him with his lifesaver, Roselle.

It’s true- heroes really do come in all shapes and sizes.

The post Guide Dog Led Blind Dad And 30 Others Out Of World Trade Center On 9/11 appeared first on G2a-ltc.

A Toy Poodle named “Hope” was less than 2 ounces when she was born under the supervision of K911 Animal Ambulance in Quebec, Canada. Rodney Mclean, who runs this pet ambulance service, was heartbroken when the vets informed him that Hope has dwarfism and wouldn’t survive past 48 hours.

However, Hope has turned out to be one miraculous little fighter! Not only did she survive her initial unstable health, she has also started growing up. At 4 months, Hope has blossomed into a charming little puppy who weighs 11 ounces. If she is lucky, she can weigh up to 13 ounces as an adult dog!

In this video, Rodney tells us how he has been taking care of Hope with a special regime. The wee girl has no idea that she’s not a normal dog and simply wants to play and frolic around all day. For her safety, Rodney puts her in an enclosure and takes her out at timely intervals to let her play with her tinkling ball.

We can see that despite her miniscule size, Hope is high on spirit and has the biggest personality. We commend Rodney for handling this adorably sweet miracle so well. Hope is a complete stunner and has now been recognized as the smallest dog in the world! We wish her good health and a lifetime of happiness! >>… RELATED POST: Abandoned & Differently-Abled Miniature Horse Lives Indoors With 3 Dog Friends

Click the video below to watch Hope’s incredibly heart-melting personality as she plays with her dad!

🐕 We are a small group of dog-loving people who decided to undertake this small project to help dogs that are abandoned in the streets. Using a % of the money raised from sales, we take care of feeding them and grant them a home to live in.
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The post Dad Of The “Smallest Dog In The World” Is Willing To Do Anything To Protect Her appeared first on G2a-ltc.

Soldier Gabriel Carlos’ first assignment was a deployment far-off in South Korea. He was particularly sad to leave his wife Charrette Padilla and his beloved dog named Benny, whom he called the “dog version” of himself.

In this video, we see Gabriel returning home after 9 months of service. After reuniting with Charrette at the airport, Gabriel is excited to see Benny at home. The past few months had been extra-hard for Benny, as the poor dog had no idea where Gabriel went. Gabriel knows this and wants to give his Benny boy a nice surprise!

When Gabriel finally arrives at home, he hides from Benny in a different room. However, his scent is enough to alert Benny of his presence! The sweet pooch just knows that his dad is home and starts running through different rooms until he finds him!

Benny is bursting with joy when he finally sees Gabriel! He runs to Dad with tail-wags and throws himself at him with all his love. Gabriel and Benny smother each other in hugs and kisses and it makes for one of the most heartwarming reunions ever. Looks like they missed each other way too much!

Click the video below to watch Gabriel receive the warmest welcome from his furry best friend!

🐕 We are a small group of dog-loving people who decided to undertake this small project to help dogs that are abandoned in the streets. Using a % of the money raised from sales, we take care of feeding them and grant them a home to live in.
Get Yours Here👇

https://bit.ly/3zzOSRw

The post Dog Senses Soldier Dad’s Return Without Seeing Him, Goes Berserk & Smothers Him appeared first on G2a-ltc.

When animal control officers picked up a sad-looking “abandoned” Pit Bull, they knew there wasn’t much hope for this senior baby. The Pit Bull was named Hank and put up for adoption. But even after behavior and socialization training, Hank didn’t “act” the way the adopters wanted. The poor dog was deemed a “failure” and put on the kill list.

However, a miracle happened when one of the shelter workers found a “missing dog” photo that looked quite similar to Hank. The missing dog, Titan, was stolen about a year ago and his heartbroken owner, Barry Gearhart, had been hunting through various avenues looking for his beloved dog ever since.

Just 2 days before Hank’s scheduled euthanization, the workers informed Barry about Hank. The desperate man came running to the shelter and anxiously raced to the kennel. It barely took a second for Barry to recognize his dog, and the man broke down in tears as he reached out to his forlorn dog. Seeing the Pit Bull’s emotional reaction for the first time, the workers had no doubt that he was indeed Titan!

Thanks to this lucky turn of events, Titan is back home in the safe arms of his dad. Titan has been with Barry ever since he was a puppy, which explains why he was reluctant to warm up to any other person. What a rare and beautiful happy ending!

Click the video below to watch Titan and Barry’s tearful reunion at the shelter after one year of separation!

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🐕 We are a small group of dog-loving people who decided to undertake this small project to help dogs that are abandoned in the streets. Using a % of the money raised from sales, we take care of feeding them and grant them a home to live in.
Get Yours Here👇

https://bit.ly/3zzOSRw

The post Lost Dog Was 2 Days From Being Put Down, But He Still Hoped Dad Would Save Him appeared first on G2a-ltc.

Everyone, meet Mel–a dog in a wheelchair who travels across the country together with his photographer dad.

Now who would’ve thought that a dog who could barely walk would end up traveling all over the country?

Mel, an 8-year-old Pit Bull, was adopted from the Yonkers Animal Shelter by his dad, Tom Dilworth.

Tom told The Dodo, “We went to the Yonkers Animal Shelter to see another dog when we noticed Mel. I had stopped for a moment when he then placed his head on my leg. Well, that was it!”

Mel wasn’t in the wheelchair that time. It was only after Tom adopted Mel that he noticed that there was something wrong with his balance, and it was getting worse.

It turns out that Mel has a neurological disease that affects his balance. The disease is not painful for Mel, but it does make it a little difficult to get around.

So to make moving around easier for Mel, his humans gave him a wheelchair. Thanks to Eddie’s Wheels for Pets!

With Mel’s wheelchair, he can walk and run around with his parents.

Here’s a video of Mel walking in his wheelchair for the very first time!

Now that that Mel has a wheelchair, he can travel across the country with his dad.

And he’s definitely loving it. Mel enjoys tagging along with his dad wherever he goes.

And since his dad is a professional photographer, he gets to go to beautiful, scenic places!

Even though Mel loves walking in his wheelchair, he also enjoys getting a free ride!

And one thing is for sure, Mel is loving his life.

So you see, shelter dogs are not broken. And they all need a chance at having a loving family and a happy life.

For more beautiful photos of Mel and his dad, follow them on Instagram.

You can also read more about Mel’s story at The Dodo.

The post Dog In A Wheelchair Travels All Over The Country With His Photographer Dad appeared first on G2a-ltc.

When soldier Phil Kriens returned from his deployment in Afghanistan in 2009, his wife, Shanti, surprised him with a beautiful rescue Pit Bull puppy named Cotton. The puppy was rescued by the Oregon Humane Society who found him starving in a locked shed with open wounds. Later, Cotton was also found to be deaf, and had several nagging heath issues.

Despite Cotton’s fragile health, the couple decided to do their best to help him live a happy life. Over the years, Cotton became a crucial part of Phil’s battle with his service-induced PTSD. He even got Cotton registered as an emotional-support service dog.

This video was taken when Cotton was eagerly waiting for Phil’s return after drill weekend. Phil used to go to Oregon National Guard for a weekend-long training every other month, but the 2 days always seemed like an eternity for Cotton!

As we see in this video, Cotton refuses to budge from the door because he fears that he will miss Phil’s homecoming. After hours of anticipation, the deaf dog finally sees his dad walking home, and he goes “crazy” in excitement! Cotton’s joyful jumps, tail-wags and cuddles make this video extra-precious!

In a sad announcement, the Kriens have updated that they had to put Cotton down after his inherent health troubles worsened. This video will always remind us of this sweet boy’s devotion and love toward his humans! Rest in peace, Cotton!

Click the video below to watch Cotton patiently waiting, and his over-excited, adorable reunion with Phil!

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🐕 We are a small group of dog-loving people who decided to undertake this small project to help dogs that are abandoned in the streets. Using a % of the money raised from sales, we take care of feeding them and grant them a home to live in.
Get Yours Here👇

https://bit.ly/3zzOSRw

The post Deaf Dog Fears He’ll Miss Soldier Dad’s Homecoming If He Moves Away From Door appeared first on G2a-ltc.

We love all dogs, of all breed, and all sizes. We find their varying personalities amusing too. There are small dogs who have the heart and the courage of a big dog, and there are big dogs who are clingy, scaredy cats.

And talking about clingy big dogs, here’s a video of a huge Great Dane who’s so determined to fit himself into a tiny kayak just so he could be with his dad! Check it out!

He’s so clingy that even if the water scares him, he’ll do his best just so he could be with his dad!

Have you ever had a huge clingy dog like this one? Share your stories in the comments section below!

The post Giant Dog Is Determined To Squeeze Into The Little Kayak With His Dog Dad appeared first on G2a-ltc.

Giorgi Bereziani, a 62-year-old man from Tbilisi, Georgia, was in shock when he lost his beloved dog named Jorge. The heartbroken Giorgi spent many days putting up missing posters on the streets, but Jorge remained untraceable.

After about 3 years of missing his dog, Giorgi got a call from the workers of an opera house, who claimed that they had spotted a dog resembling Jorge around the opera’s building. Holding on to the newfound spark of hope, Giorgi immediately drove to the building.

In this video, we see Giorgi noticing a black and white dog sitting beside a tree. The dog had a yellow tag, which indicated that he was vaccinated and released by animal control workers of the area.

With bated breaths, Giorgi calls out, “Jorge, is that you?”, and the dog turns to him in disbelief. It is Jorge, after all! Jorge’s pure joy and surprise is not something that can be expressed in words. You will be in happy tears, as you see Jorge run to Giorgi and hug him and yelp uncontrollably, knowing that his nightmare is finally over. What a touching reunion!

Click the video below to watch this priceless reunion between Giorgi and Jorge!

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The post Dad Finds Missing Dog On The Streets After 3-Years And Had The Sweetest Reunion appeared first on G2a-ltc.