Ask any pet owner about the impact their furry friends have on the holiday season, and you will definitely hear some stories of love, kindness, and laughter. The team at Union Lake Pet Services has collected some of our favorite heartwarming dog stories and Christmas tales of how dogs enhance the holiday spirit for everyone:
Befriending Those in Need
Dogs have an innate ability to know when someone needs a little extra love, be it human or animal. Some of our favorite heartwarming stories are about dogs befriending unlikely pals who need the kind of love only a canine can give. That’s what happened when Gus the bulldog met his new sister Lucky, a chicken with special needs. Although Lucky was a little hesitant at first, she couldn’t resist Gus’ friendly demeanor, and now the two are best friends.
Cherishing the Little Things
There is no bond quite like that of a loyal dog and his owner. That bond was more evident than ever in the story of Lulu, a blind golden retriever who spent three weeks alone in the Alaskan wilderness. Lulu’s family was devastated when their senior pup went missing. Luckily, Lulu’s determination to reunite with her family kept her safe for almost a month until a construction crew spotted her and helped her find her way back to her family.
Forgetting the Hardships
As humans, we tend to dwell on bad situations and experiences and let them affect us in other moments. Dogs are able to get past the less-than-positive parts of their lives and still serve to help others. There’s no better example of that than Ruby, an Australian shepherd and border collie mix who started out with a rough life and turned into a hero. Labeled as “unmanageable” as a puppy, she was shuttled around from home to home without really experiencing love. That is until she met her handler Corporal Daniel O’Neil of the Rhode Island State Police. Together, Ruby and Corporal O’Neil forged a true bond and saved three lives, found many missing persons, and even solved criminal and murder cases. Once given a chance (and some love), Ruby didn’t let her rough beginnings deter her from being a wonderful partner and a true hero.
Doing the Hard Work
Dogs do the unthinkable to help their humans, and they ask for nothing in return (except maybe a few extra head scratches). Pups like Tick, a German shepherd who lives in Indiana, show this every day. Tick was a stray dog eating from literal garbage on the street when police officer Jason Fuhrman found him. After some training, Tick began working as a Search and Rescue dog who is personally responsible for helping many people. One of his most impressive saves was finding an 81-year-old man with Alzheimer’s who wandered away from his home in the winter and fell down a ravine.
At Union Lake Pet Services, we know just how much the dogs in our lives can enhance any day—especially during the holidays. We hope you enjoyed these heartwarming dog stories. We love helping local pets live their best lives, and we are always happy to hear how they make yours even better. To learn more about our services, please call (248) 363-6262.