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Paws up for this week's Monday Miracle.

This week's Monday Miracle are three little Chihuahua puppies born in the chaos of the Oklahoma tornadoes. They were born in the care of a breeder (okay, we know there are some issues there, but let's focus on the fact that these pups are in the world now and need just as much love and care as any other dog), but, upset by the storms, their mother killed one of her own puppies and rejected the remaining three. The breeder would have cared for the puppies himself, but while his home was not directly hit by the tornadoes, he sustained some damage, and did not have a safe place to provide the extensive care the puppies needed.

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The puppies were so tiny that three of them fit in the palm of a hand.

That's when Elizabeth Hart -- whose name you might recognize as the woman behind Emma the Cleft Palate Chihuahua and Oakley, the dog born without an anus -- stepped in.

The puppies came to Texas from Oklahoma a mere seven hours old, which means Hart has been bottle feeding them every couple of hours, providing what their mother would have naturally. It's no easy task and requires miraculous patience. Unfortunately, despite Hart's best efforts, one of the puppies "slipped quietly over the Rainbow Bridge." However, the remaining pups are now a month old and thriving -- adorably, might we add.

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The remaining two puppies continue to put on weight.

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Hello!

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My what a big tongue you have!

Hart has a rigorous adoption process, and at the time of this posting, one of the puppies is already accounted for. We're sure the other one will find a good home as well.

These two tiny pups survived some of the most devastating storms in recent history, rejection from their mother, and their first fragile days, making them our Monday Miracle.

Follow Emma the Cleft Palate Chihuahua on Facebook to keep up to date on the puppies' progress, and check out the rest of our Monday Miracles here.

Photos via the Emma the Cleft Palate Chihuahua Facebook page 

And now, freed from her torment, DeJesus has adopted the dog. 

Castro owned three dogs in his Cleveland home, according to the Daily Mail: a five-year-old Chihuahua named Dina, a three-year-old Shih Tzu mix named Drake, and three-year-old Lola the terrier mix. Castro reportedly let his captives interact with the dogs, but he would take the dogs away as punishment. 

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"They are very nice dogs, well behaved," Cleveland Dog Warden John Baird told the Plain Dealer. "They're all healthy and easy to get along with ... they run up and are friendly to people, and they get along well with each other."

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The dogs were removed from Castro's home and were taken first to the city kennel and then to Dogs Unlimited Rescue, where they were spayed/neutered and cleaned up for adoption, with the women who were held captive by Castro getting first shot at adopting the dogs.

Baird says he made the offer in the hopes the dogs could help them acclimate to freedom.

"They may have bonded with these dogs, and we would like for them to have a shot at them if they want them, just because it was something they could attach themselves to."

The dogs are in surprisingly good health, with the only issues being matted hair. Some have speculated that the pets were used as pets for the women; others think they were "noise shields" to distract people from what was going on in the house.

"The animals aren't very shy, so that's usually a sign that they've been cared for at least in some way," Baird told local Cleveland station WOIO.

Gina DeJesus, who went missing on her way home from school in 2004, quickly took Dogs Unlimited up on the offer. Her lawyer picked up the dog earlier this month.   

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The other women, however, declined the offer, and Castro's remaining dogs are expected to be up for adoption soon at Dogs Unlimited.

Via  Daily Mail

After being rescued, her sweet nature quickly revealed itself, and over the course of the next year, she blossomed into a beautiful, kind, and loving pet. She put on weight (19 pounds to 35 pounds!), weaned her baby (who was adopted by a local missionary family), and got spayed. Soon it was time for me to leave the country for my next posting in Canada –- with her, my 11-year-old rescue dog, and my 14-year-old rescue cat in tow. 

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Labi with her puppy.

For anyone who’s ever fallen in love with a street dog while traveling or working overseas, the most daunting part of the experience is often figuring out how to get them home. The logistics of traveling with pets, particularly dogs not small enough to fit under an airline seat, require advance planning and patience. Sadly, some expats I met abroad were serial adopters for this very reason. At each post they would take in a street dog or cat, make it a part of the family for a few years, then leave it behind with whomever they could find to adopt it (if they could find someone) because it was “just too hard” to take it with them. I’m here to tell you that’s nonsense.

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Former street dog Labi with her cat, Linc.

The first thing everyone asks about Labi is how I got her into the United States. I hate to burst anyone’s bubble, but the U.S. has just about the most lax dog and cat admission policies of any country in the world. When I landed in Detroit with my three pets in tow, the inspectors had no clue that two of them were U.S.-born and one a (former) Kinshasa street dog. They took a cursory look inside their cages to see if they displayed any signs of illness, glanced at my carefully signed and photocopied rabies vaccination certificates, and waved us through. The same thing happened when I moved with the animals to Canada several months later for my next posting. When we reached the border in upstate New York, I dutifully marched into inspections with my stack of veterinary certificates. The Canadian border agent glanced out the window at my car, where the pets were waiting, and stamped my passport.

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Labi not long after we rescued her.

Why is this part so easy? Well, both the United States and Canada are not rabies-free countries. Island nations tend to have much more stringent regulations in order to prevent the disease from entering. Don’t get me wrong –- North American countries require proof of rabies vaccinations, too. But with bird flu, terrorism, and drugs to catch, someone traveling with a street dog just isn’t worth the time.

The much harder part about getting Labi to the United States was the airline industry. As an employee of the U.S. government, I’m bound by a law called the Fly America Act, which requires me to travel on U.S. carriers whenever I’m flying for business. Unfortunately, these same companies have increasingly limited their accommodation of pets. United Airlines now charges thousands of dollars for transport of pets under their new PetSafe policy (luckily diplomats and military service members on orders are usually exempted). American Airlines won’t fly pets during the summer months at all, which is the traditional moving season due to the school year. And US Air doesn’t ship pets at all to several continents, including Latin America.

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Labi gets used to her travel crate.

Paradoxically, attempts to monitor the safety of pets by requiring airlines to report deaths and injuries have produced these restrictions. Rather than take the extra steps required to ensure pet safety, U.S. carriers have chosen to make it as difficult as possible to fly with dogs and cats.

So what’s a street dog (or cat) adopter to do? I’m now on my second round of bringing street pets home from a foreign country. My husband and I have spent the last two years in Bolivia with Labi and our newly adopted Bolivian street cat Lincoln. (My rescued dog and cat from earlier travels have since passed away.) We’re headed home to the states in a few months with the pets, and we have some tips for others who find themselves with foreign-born pets in tow.

Here are four things to do when traveling internationally with pets:

1. Use non-U.S. carriers if necessary 

To get the dog and cat home, my husband and I are flying separately. One of us will transit Peru on the South American airline LAN (which allows pets only in cargo), and the other will transit Colombia on Avianca (which allows pets only in cabin). Because we’re not using U.S. carriers, we have to cover the costs of the flights ourselves, but it’s more than worth it to accommodate the pets.

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Labi on the trail in Bolivia.

2. Make lots of flyers

Whenever my dog has to fly cargo, I make full-color flyers in English and the language of the country I’m flying from with the following information: her name, my name, our itinerary, an emergency phone number in the United States, and an emergency phone number in the country I’m leaving. I include Labi’s picture and a message from her: “Please make sure I’m on the same flight as my human.”  

3. Be assertive but polite

From the moment I arrive at the airport, I hand out those flyers to every single airline employee I see. I ask the gate attendant to call down and check on her, and I ask the stewardesses to make sure she’s been boarded. If I have the slightest doubt she’s on the plane (as I did when leaving Kinshasa), I insist (to the point of holding up the plane’s departure) that her presence be physically verified.  

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Tracy, Eric, and Labi above 13,500 feet in Bolivia.

4. Pick up your pet at every point on your itinerary

Many of the horror stories about lost or dead pets come from missed connections and excessive wait times between flights in poorly ventilated areas. I stay with Labi until the absolute last minute the airline will let me. And the moment I get off the plane, before I find my luggage or immigration, I find her. In Paris, I walked around the airport for six hours with two giant kennels and a cat rather than let the pets remain in the cargo area for the duration. 

Also, don’t be afraid to drive. As necessary as international flights are to getting a rescued street animal home, I hate putting my pets on them. When I arrive on U.S. soil, I rent a car and drive the rest of the way to my destination. Just remember to buckle them in, too.

Eric and Tracy Whittington are U.S. diplomats currently serving in Bolivia and are the owners of a great street dog, Labi, and a great street cat, Linc. They have written a children’s book titled “A Street Dog’s Story” (available on Amazon) and are the authors of a blog, StreetDogStory, that provides information about organizations and people dedicated to helping street dogs all over the world. 

Read more on traveling internationally with your dog: 

• The Beginner's Guide to Flying Internationally with Your Dog
• Traveling with Your Dog by Airplane 
• Traveling Across International Borders with Your Dog 
• The 5 Stages of Dog Jet Lag 

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Badass Brooklyn's mission is to rescue dogs on death row from pounds where the kill rates can reach 90 percent or higher. Often, these shelters use extremely inhumane euthanasia methods like gas chambers or heartstick. The Badass Brooklyn team works with rescuers in the south to bring as many dogs up north as they can in order to foster them and facilitate adoptions.

Since founder Sara Cross started Badass Brooklyn in 2011, 800 dogs have been rescued from high-kill rural shelters in the southern States. Cross says she hopes to rescue 365 in 2013, stating that they are well on their way to this goal.

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Badass Brooklyn hosts regular adoption events in Brooklyn to find homes for their fosters. Photo by Hilary Benas via Badass Brooklyn's Facebook.

Cross, who is a filmmaker, was working on a documentary at a Navajo reservation when she became all too aware of the appalling living conditions for stray and feral dogs in the rural, poverty-stricken south. She knew she wanted to help. Cross got involved with Blackhat Humane Society, first by donating, which quickly turned into more. Blackhat started posting photos of rescue dogs on Cross' Facebook, and eventually she was fostering dogs, organizing rescues, and helping collect funds for other shelters. She got in contact with another woman named Sarah on Facebook, who, like Cross, was just an individual trying to help out dogs however she could. When Cross found herself with her first six foster dogs and only a one-bedroom apartment, Sarah stepped in to help.

"Badass probably wouldn't exist if Sarah hadn't been there for me in the beginning," Cross notes. Sarah went on to start her own rescue, Loki Grrl Rescue, which operates in much the same way as Badass Brooklyn by fostering, rehabilitating, vetting, and finding homes for adoptable dogs from high-kill shelters.

"I didn't plan to start a rescue," Cross says, "but ... every day Facebook was showing me new pictures of dogs about to die ... and basically once you see that, you can't turn away. You can't forget."

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Badass Brooklyn's mission is to get dogs on death row out of their cages and into foster families while they wait to be adopted. Photo via Badass Brooklyn's Facebook.

While Cross has been unable to find data that indicates if there are more high-kill shelters in the southern part of the U.S. than in the north, she makes the correlation between the number of "kill factories" in areas with lower populations and higher poverty rates. And because of massive overcrowding at these types of shelters, Cross states that owner surrenders can be killed immediately and strays often have as little as 72 hours to be claimed.

She says that in the areas they rescue from, there are virtually no spayed/neutered dogs or dogs with some form of identification. Dogs are allowed to run free unsupervised, and many are kept outside all the time, Cross says.

And when Badass Brooklyn saves one of these dogs, they really commit. All of their rescues are properly vetted before adoption, including spay/neuter, deworming, and flea preventative and treatment for illnesses such as heartworm and parvo. They also arrange for necessary surgical interventions when a dog has a broken bone, kidney stones, or other serious health issue -- all of this funded by donations only and possible thanks to dedicated volunteers and foster families.

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Dogs like Wilma get the chance to have a loving family thanks to the efforts of Badass Brooklyn. Photo by Cameron Blaylock via Badass Brooklyn's Facebook.

Eva Armstrong is one of those dedicated people. She's the woman in the photo with Captain Morgan -- her former foster -- and is a valued member of the Badass team. In addition to fostering dogs, Armstrong runs Eva's Play Pups, which provides dog walking, doggy daycare, and boarding in Brooklyn along with country boarding at her farm in Pennsylvania. Armstrong and her team have always offered free boarding and dog walking to help out Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue, allowing them to rescue even more dogs.

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Armstrong with Miss Bagel the beagle at one of Badass Brooklyn's recent adoption events in Brooklyn. Photo by Hilary Benas via Badass Brooklyn's Facebook.

And while Badass Brooklyn is not a breed-specific rescue, Cross admits she has a soft spot for lowriders ("mutts with some Basset or Corgi or something else short in them") and black dogs.

Unfortunately, "black dog bias" is particularly prevalent in the south, and black dogs are the most commonly killed in southern shelters. Badass Brooklyn has rescued many black dogs, and according to Cross, "while they are overlooked in shelters down south, once they come here, we have waiting lists for them! I have no idea why black dogs are overlooked in the south, but when we rescue them, they don't last long before they are adopted."

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Little black & white Beth March and tawny Martha Washington (both still available for adoption as of June 3rd, 2013) sit with Badass foster coordinator Whitney's dog, Luna. Photo by Whitney Fang for Badass Brooklyn.

Cross, who also has a soft spot for senior dogs, tells the story of Steve McQueen, a 75-pound hound in poor shape who Badass Brooklyn saved from the Rutherfordton Animal Control in North Carolina around Christmas time 2011.

Steve had been listed as being seven years old, but he was actually closer to 10 or 11. He was in such poor health that he needed to stay in boarding for treatment in NC for three months before being moved to a foster in Brooklyn. Unfortunately, walking on concrete city sidewalks proved too arduous for senior Steve, and so Armstrong decided to take him with her to her farm for the summer, where he "really blossomed."

Cross knew that Steve would need to find a home outside the city, but she also knew that senior dogs were very difficult to place. Thanks to one of Badass Brooklyn's adopters with a contact at Best Friends Animal Society in Utah, Steve's adoption listing was emailed out to its more than 15,000 subscribers in the NYC area.

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Senior dog Steve McQueen at animal control in NC before being saved by Badass Brooklyn. Photo courtesy of Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue.

Only two people replied.

Fortunately for Steve, one of those people was a great match. And so, nearly eight months after being rescued from certain death in a kill shelter down south, Steve was on his way to a new life in the countryside with Sarah Troiano and her family.

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Steve McQueen's big smile as he meets his new mom, Sarah. Photo courtesy of Badass Brooklyn's Facebook page.

The Badass Brooklyn family likes to keep in touch with its adopters. "Every time she [Troiano] posts a picture, we tear up and she tells us how much she loves him and how much he has brought to their lives," Cross says. "It is incredible to know that this dog was so uncared for so many years, was dumped at a pound to be killed, and now he is so valued and loved." To which Troiano adds, "I could not ask for a better boy than Steve. Thank you, Sara and Eva, for making our family complete."

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A happy Steve McQueen at home with his new family. Photo courtesy of Sarah Troiano.

Certainly, dogs like Steve McQueen and Captain Morgan would have had little to no chance of survival if not for Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue and all those involved.

If you'd like to know more about how you can help, please check out Badass Brooklyn's website and Facebook page. They also regularly schedule adoption events in Brooklyn, NY, so be sure to check out the "events" page on their website for dates and locations. 

Do you know of a rescue hero — dog, human, or group — we should profile on Dogster? Write us at dogsterheroes@dogster.com. 

About Crystal Gibson: A child-sized Canadian expat in France who is fluent in French and sarcasm. Owned by a neurotic Doxie mix, a Garfield look-alike, and two needy Sphynx cats. An aspiring writer and pet photographer with a love of coffee and distaste for French administration, she can be found blogging over at Crystal Goes to Europe.

Read more related stories on Dogster:

• In New Mexico, Female Prison Inmates Help Train and Socialize Shelter Dogs
• A Heartbreaking Look Inside an Animal Shelter in Thailand
• I Fought to Shut Down a Phony Pit Bull Rescue
• Miles & Mutts Tires Shelter Dogs Out So They Don't Get Passed Over for Adoption

However, when it comes to dog adoption, as long as you're not hoarding dogs, why put people to shame who simply fell in love with the dogs who were supposed to be only temporary? Why call it a foster "fail" and not, oh, I dunno, a "covert adoption success?" How anyone actually manages to part with a foster seems bewilderingly impossible for me -- like, when you hang out with someone enough (especially a dog) you can't seem to help developing some attachment, right?

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Lori and her "foster fail" Beasley.

At Dogster, we have our very own "covert adoption success" story, and that would be our Community Manager Lori's story about the epic "foster fail" of Beasley. (Who I am dog sitting this week, might I add!) Inspired by Beasley's story, I decided to ask Annie Hart of the Bill Foundation if she had any good covert adoption success stories to share. She laughed and told me has a "plethora" of them.

Meet Cooper and Teddy, who are dog friends to Emy. Emy offered to foster for the Bill Foundation as a way to provide companionship for her (intentionally) forever dog, Teddy. Prior to meeting Cooper, Emy had fostered two other dogs, providing a loving home until they were adopted. Cooper had been picked as a stray by the Bill Foundation, and after a week of treatment, went home to Emy.

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Here's Cooper in black and white. Photo courtesy of Emu Husmoe

The senior Terripoo was not fearful of his new human friend -- he melted right into Emy's arms and helped ease some of the anxiety Teddy had been suffering from. Joking that Cooper is her Benjamin Button, Emy observed that while the dog may be aging, in her care, he acts like a younger and younger dog every day, and he is totally bonded to Teddy. They're so bonded that people often mistake them for littermates. After fostering Cooper for a month, Emy knew it was going to be forever.

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Cooper (the black dog) and Teddy hanging out. Photo courtesy of Emy Husmoe

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Happy HOWLidays! Photo courtesy of Emy Husmoe

This is Melody. Shortly after Eldad Hagar of Hope for Paws saved her, vets discovered that the abandoned dog was pregnant -- very pregnant. In fact, she was ready to give birth at any moment. That's when a vet tech named Stephanie took her in and fostered not only Melody, but her litter of six pups, yielding to their hourly feeding schedule and weening for the next three months. Not only that, but she found homes for all of them. But that's when trouble started.

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Melody and her human friend. Photo courtesy of Victoria Lamarque

After her pups went home, Melody became really insecure, so Annie enlisted the aid of a Bill Foundation village member named Victoria, who also fostered Asha Attie. Victoria worked with Melody through her insecurity, despite Melody's initial rejection of the dog and cat Victoria already called family. Despite the additional effort, when Annie got in touch with Victoria regarding an adoption for Melody, Victoria told Annie to tell the applicant that Melody already had a home -- hers. 

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Isn't this adorable? Photo courtesy of Victoria Lamarque

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Melody already knew who her forever family was … Photo courtesy of Victoria Lamarque

Annie's own covert adoption success story revolves arund a dog named Arnold. Arnold was abandoned by his original family when they moved, and for three months the dog eluded capture, faithfully awaiting the return of his family. He was taken in by the Bill Foundation village, but it was not easy caring for him -- his experience left him with severe separation anxiety. With his first foster family, Arnold bonded with a Chihuahua named Dearheart. However, Dearheart became frail with developing back conditions, and his foster family feared that Arnold, a Bulldog/Great Dane mix, would accidentally injure Dearheart. That's when Arnold went to another foster family -- and somehow managed to escape from their home.

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How cute are these? Photo courtesy of Annie Hart

After three weeks, Arnold was found, and a scan of his microchip reunited him with Annie to great relief. They began a course of intense training, and Arnold integrated seamlessly into her pack. It was actually Annie's husband, James, who mentioned that Arnold was already home, and that's when Annie became a "foster failure."

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Arnold integrated seamlessly into Annie's pack. Photo courtesy of Annie Hart

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Best friends. Photo courtesy of Annie Hart

Cooper, Melody, and Arnold ... these dogs already knew they were home even if it took their human friends a little time to figure it out. We're happy whenever any dog finds her forever family, so let's revise the foster failure narrative -- these were intentional adoptions. Intentional on the part of the dogs, that is!

What are your "covert adoption success" stories? Come on, we know you've got some! Tell us in the comments.

Check out these other awesome dog stories on Dogster:

• Would You Help a Lost Dog Running on a Busy Road?
• Misfit the Blind Doberman Is Our Monday Miracle
• A One-Eyed Dachshund Named Captain Morgan Has a Touching Reunion with His Foster Mom

Meanwhile, a college student named Rosie Ahlberg from Wheaton, Illinois, drove to Oklahoma with friends to help victims of the tornado. She picked up a stray dog and took it to a shelter. There, she saw another dog who had just had just given birth.  

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Photo via Lakeshore PAWS Facebook.

The staff members, however, were overloaded, and they planned to euthanize the mom, a Pit Bull mix, because she was aggressive. There also planned to euthanize the pups. 

Rosie wasn't going to let that happen. 

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Photo via Lakeshore PAWS Facebook.

She called the rescue group Lakeshore PAWS in Valparaiso, Indiana, which agreed to take the pups. People there told Rosie & Co. how to bottle feed, and they put out a call for people to help for when the pups made it back to Indiana. 

Then someone had an idea: What about Bertha? The pregnant Rottweiler who lost her pups? Lightbulbs went off, calls were made, and soon the little pups were on their way to Second Chance 4 Pets Network -- and to Bertha. 

Bertha, after having lost her pups days before, was not producing milk. Would she take to the new pups? Would she mother them? Both rescue staffs -- and Rosie -- crossed their fingers. 

Bertha came through. And so it happened that a mother dog who lost her puppies in Indiana ended up adopting a litter of puppies orphaned by the tornado.  

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Photo via Second Chance 4 Pets Facebook page.

"She was unsure at first, but the foster [who was housing Bertha] got into the pool with her, and she started cleaning them right away," JoAnn Palko, president and founder of Second Chance 4 Pets Network, told nwitimes.com. 

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Photo via Second Chance 4 Pets Facebook page.

Jeanne Sommer, director of Lakeshore PAWS, said the partnership with Second Chance was "just awesome."

She said in a statement to WSBT, "It is just heartwarming that one individual, Rosie Ahlberg, would step up and offer to save these guys, and that three rescues in Northwest Indiana can all join together as well to save their lives."

Second Chance is considering training Bertha to be a therapy dog. 

"She's a fantastic mom," Palko told WSBT. "My foster says she doesn't even want to go outside to go to the bathroom and leave her puppies."

Via WSBT and nwitimes.com

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"Love is blind."

Many times this refers to the way we see our objects of affection as perfect, despite the flaws others may notice. For Misfit, however, this happens in a very literal sense. The nine-month-old Doberman was born blind -- and he wasn't the only one in his litter born without sight. However, Misfit was the only one to survive.

This is where things might have ended tragically for Misfit, who not only has special needs but an often-misunderstood (and feared) breed as well. Fortunately, Misfit was adopted by two human moms, and he lives happily in Maryland with his family, which also includes a cat named Willis (whom Misfit loves to chase).

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Okay, this is adorable.

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What a face!

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Willis is the most patient cat ever -- not only does he not mind being bothered by Misfit, he seems to be okay with wearing a leash as well.

It took some special care and attention to help Misfit learn the layout of his new home, but with perseverance, Misfit now navigates the place like a champ. According to his Facebook page, Misfit visits the dog park, plays with his toys, eats poop out of the litter box, and loves his human friends ... just like any other canine. Unlike other canines, however, Misfit has a fondness for hopping around the backyard "like a bunny." (Um, how cute is that?)

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Very handsome!

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Misfit can play like the rest of them.

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No sight? No problem.

While some might view Misfit's blindness as a handicap, the young Doberman does not -- as his impairment allows him to "see with his heart." It's that sort of kindness in the face of adversity that makes Misfit a Monday Miracle.

Photos via Misfit's Facebook page, where you can join in on the Dobie cuteness.

Check out more Monday Miracle dogs on Dogster.

Later, his wife and kids got a better look what was occupying the island, and they could tell the dog must be in trouble. Castellanos called the authorities, and Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter's field service manager Todd Stosuy showed up. He quickly realized he needed a boat. He called the Watsonville Fire Department for backup, and a few firefighters showed up -- without a boat. 

Castellanos got out his inflatable boat. 

Firefighter John Stone paddled and Stosuy navigated. They made their way to the island but couldn't find the dog. They searched for 30 minutes and then went home. A short time later, Castellanos saw the dog lying on the shore in the duckweed. 

And not a moment too soon. The dog was very confused and lethargic, and very, very skinny. Stosuy and Stone returned, then paddled to the island and quickly located and scooped up the dog. He was in bad shape -- "severely emaciated," according to the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter's Facebook page. 

"It looked like it had been there forever," said Fire Capt. Corey Schaefer. "It looked pathetic and skinny. It was withering away."

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Stosuy estimates the dog had been surviving on the island for a full month. He said the dog is an Australian Shepherd mix, 12 or 13 years old -- and was down to just 30 pounds. A healthy Shepherd at that age might weigh twice as much. 

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How does a dog survive a month on an unpopulated island? Stosuy found his source of food: bird eggs. Lots of them. He found the remains of more than 100. 

The dog isn't out of danger yet

"He's not a full spry guy at this point, but he's walking on his own," said Stosuy.

He predicts the dog will have ongoing health problems, but he should be able to have a fine life with the right person or family. 

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"This dog was literally starving to death on the island, and now he has a second chance at life," he said.

Via Santa Cruz Sentinel; photos via Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter's Facebook page

Remember how a train was coming and the conductor slammed on the brakes, stopping just yards before the dog? Well, this story has finally come to an end -- and it's a good one.

Banjo -- so named by the train depot employees who saved him -- has finally found his forever home. 

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Meet Jeff and Louisa Moore and their Tibetan Terrier, Lali. Their plea to adopt Banjo was among the more than 1,300 emails from potential adopters that flooded Riverside County's Department of Animal Services after the story of Banjo went viral. People wrote from around the world, crashing the department's site at one point for 24 hours. 

"We saw his picture and we both fell in love with him, the most beautiful dog we've ever seen," Louisa told KABC.

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Jo Marie Upegui, Banjo's temporary caretaker -- and the one with final say on who would take Banjo home -- was thrilled with the decision.

"I'm just so happy with the choice we all made," she told USA Today. "It's just such a loving family."

How did the Moores pull it off? By caring. They "constantly" checked in on Banjo via email. And they also live near the beach (Huntington Beach in Southern California, no less) as well as a dog park.

Still, they were shocked when they got the call.

"We had no clue that we were actually the ones who would be picked, so we feel pretty special," said Jeff.

"This family is so dedicated to their animals," Upegui told KABC. "They never leave the dog alone, and I thought that was really important to Banjo because Banjo's had such a ... it's been a scary trip for him." 

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Banjo shortly after being rescued from the tracks.

"Tonight we're just going to go home and hang out," Jeff said. "We have a big field that's right next to our place that about a dozen of us all go out with our dogs, and they all get along really well, so it'll be fun introducing him to all the dogs. I'm sure they'll love him."

The Moores plan to keep the public updated on Banjo's life though new Instagram and Facebook pages; we'll update this post when those go live. 

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LOOK AT THAT FACE!

Via KABCUSA Today; photos via Riverside County's Department of Animal Services' Facebook

But Sara Cross, founder of Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue, and Eva Armstrong, one of the group's rescuers, didn't want to see that happen. The rescue works with Alabama's Wannabe Rescued to help bail dogs out of the Selma pound. The two groups do so because dogs don't stand a chance at that place. Once local foster parents in Alabama are fully tapped, Badass Brooklyn steps in to bring the dogs up north to place them in foster homes.

Badass has saved more than 800 dogs from high-kill pounds in the South. 

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At one of Badass Brooklyn's apoption events. Photo by Hilary Benas via Badass Brooklyn's Facebook.

"We really want people to understand the urgency here," Cross told the New York Daily News. "You either take the dog or the dog gets killed the next day. There's no other option."

Captain Morgan got his ticket out in March alongside 30 other dogs that day. In New York, the group typically fosters out the dogs, but Captain Morgan was a special case -- he had heartworm. He needed treatment. Armstrong let the one-eyed dog stay with her while he got healthy, and Cappy (short for Captain Morgan) jumped right in. Bonding, as they say, took place. 

Cappy slept in Armstrong's bed. They watched TV. They took walks. The dog learned how to be a happy puppy to a loving caretaker, and Armstrong's kindness made a big impression on the little dog. After he was adopted to a couple in Park Slope, Brooklyn, Cappy didn't forget his rescuer. When the two were reunited earlier this month at one of Badass Brooklyn's block parties, Cappy spotted Armstrong from a distance, ran over, and leapt into her arms. 

Photographer Hilary Benas caught the embrace at the perfect time. The photo went viral. You can see why: 

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Photo by Hilary Benas via Badass Brooklyn's Facebook.

"It's great that he found a home right here in Park Slope," Armstrong said. "When he sees me, he goes nuts."

Cross told the told the Huffington Post that she see this a lot: "Whenever any of us run into dogs that we have fostered or rescued, they always recognize us and are so excited to see us. Dogs remember the person who saved their life and helped them on their way to a forever home."

If you would like to help facilitate more happy reunions like this one, you can donate to Badass Brooklyn via its Facebook page and website.

"Cappy would not be alive were it not for a small group of dedicated volunteers in Selma, Alabama," Cross told the Daily Mail. "We would not even know these dogs exist, let alone be able to rescue them, if it were not for amazing volunteers."

It made me wonder, what do you do when you see a dog running on a busy road?

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Stray dog by Shutterstock.

I have my share of dog rescue stories. Once I was driving on a side street near my home when I looked up and saw a three-legged Boxer zigzagging across the road, which was busy enough that the dog was in danger of being hit by a driver not paying close attention. In this case, I pulled over, turned on my emergency flashers, and coaxed the dog to me. Fortunately, he was more interested in playing than running, and I corralled him quickly. I took him home, provided food and water, and contacted the nearby veterinarian offices.

I found a vet's office that reported having a three-legged Boxer as a patient. The person I spoke to remembered surgery on a Boxer who had been hit by a car. The vet had to amputate one of the dog’s legs in order to save her. 

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Here's Roxie.

The description of the dog matched the dog I found. The office contacted the owner, who confirmed that his dog was missing. He hadn’t started looking for her, figuring she would return. I took the dog back to his owner, who seemed indifferent to the dog. I politely suggested that, if he wanted, I could find the dog a good home with a fenced backyard. He seemed mildly interested in my offer, but he had purchased the dog for his kids and wasn’t willing to give her up.

The next day, I received a call from a family who was referred to me, saying that a three-legged Boxer had showed up in their front yard. I was certain it was the same Boxer and provided them with the owner’s contact information. I later found out that the Boxer’s owner told them to just keep or get rid of the dog, as she was too much of a hassle. The family kept her and provided her with a good home; she was considered part of the family and well loved.

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Woman with a stray dog by Shutterstock.

Another time, I was leaving a grocery store on a very busy road. I looked up, and lying outside the entrance was a sweet little mixed-breed hound. He looked to be a year or so old and was extremely friendly. He didn’t have a collar or any indication that he belonged to anyone. So, I picked him up and took him to my car. I always keep emergency dog and cat supplies in my car. I offered him some food and water and then placed a leash on him so I could keep him secure. I visited each of the stores in the area to see whether he belonged to anyone. Most of the stores made a loudspeaker announcement to staff and customers to see whether they were missing a dog, but no one responded. So I took him to a local vet to scan him for a microchip, to no avail.

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This is Scooter.

Next, I took him home and contacted nearby veterinarian offices, county animal shelters, and animal rescue organizations. I followed all of the steps that I suggest to my lost-animal clients. After an extensive search, I determined that the dog was either a stray, or he left a home where no one really cared much about him. I contacted a friend who ran one of the local animal rescue organizations, and she placed him in a foster home until he could be adopted to a loving family. It only took a few days. This time, he was outfitted with a microchip, collar, and tags before going to his new home.

I could share many other stories like this -- and, unfortunately, I'm sure I'll collect more in the years ahead. I know it’s not safe for anyone to stop on a busy interstate to assist a stray dog, but I would be hard-pressed not to lend a hand.

Have you helped a stray dog running near a busy road or otherwise dangerous situation? How did you handle the situation? What would you expect others to do if it were your dog who'd gotten out? Let us know in the comments!

More stories by Tim Link:

• I Helped Find a Lost Beagle via Telepathic Communication -- No, Really!
• Would You Tether Your Dog in Front of a Store Unsupervised?
• Do You Crate Your Dogs When You Leave The House? Discuss!

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Here at Dogster we realized something profound -- dogs can overcome almost any obstacle. You can leave them to die in the streets, you can run them over with a car, you can even let their skin rot and fall off, and they will miraculously survive. So we've decided to feature one of these amazing dogs once a week, and we're calling it Miracle Monday.

This week's miracle is Batman. Batman's story is particularly harrowing.

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Batman while he was still in Taiwan.

He was hit by a car and left to languish and die in the streets of Taiwan. Despite the mangled condition of his hind legs, he managed to drag himself across multiple lanes of traffic to hide in an alley. He was rescued and then dumped by a shady shelter. That's when his second rescuer, Yenchi, encountered the dog, and she was horrified by what she found. Batman's terrible injuries had yet to be seen to: He was bleeding from his mouth from a split tongue, and his entire rear half was bursting with infection.

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Batman with his cart.

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Looking good, Batman.

Yenchi raised money for Batman's medical treatments and cared for the dog in Taiwan for eight months before getting in touch with Love & Second Chances, a rescue organization that specializes in death row and special needs dogs. Love & Second Chances looked after Batman until he was adopted by a loving family in February of this year.

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Batman doesn't let his disabilities get him down.

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Doesn't Batman look so good now?

Much like his namesake, Batman doesn't possess any real super powers -- it's purely the size of his heart and spirit that make him amazing. He gets around with the help of a cart, but other than that, Batman is an energetic, well-adjusted dog. He's so cheerful, in fact, he was named "America's Happiest Dog" in the Hub TV Network's 2012 "Pup-ularity Contest." 

And that's why he's our Monday Miracle.

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Batman with his new family.

Join Batman's Facebook page for updates on this amazing dog.

Photos via Batman's Facebook page and Love & Second Chances

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Every Monday, Albuquerque art therapist, silk textile weaver, and dog-lover Susan Neal drives 68 miles west to Grants, a small city that’s home to the New Mexico Women's Correctional Facility. It’s a trek she’s been making since 2007, when she helped launch an innovative program called Heeling Hearts. 

While the number of dogs in U.S. shelters is hard to pin down -- the ASPCA lumps dogs and cats together in estimating 5 million to 7 million animals land in shelters each year -- another stat is easier to pinpoint: the number of people in U.S. prisons. It’s about 2 million -- the largest prison population of any country in the world. And increasingly, prisons and shelters have found a way to work together through programs that benefit residents at both: turning stray and often neglected pups at risk for euthanization into well-trained pets ready to be adopted into new homes.

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Choosing suitable canine candidates for the program at the local shelter.

Heeling Hearts is one of hundreds of similar programs nationwide designed to help incarcerated people learn new life skills while saving the lives of thousands of dogs. More than 300 dogs have been adopted through Heeling Hearts alone. (And yes, each and every one of them is as immediately lovable as the little beasties below.) 

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Chico the Chihuahua is a Heeling Hearts pup.

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Talulah and her puppy, Tango.

Until recently, Neal was paid to work with Heeling Hearts through a family services nonprofit in Albuquerque and spent hours counseling program participants each week. Budget cuts and a lack of incoming grant money means she is now limited to volunteering one day a week to provide group support to the 20 participants currently enrolled. Two other weekly volunteers, including a professional dog trainer who has been on board from the very start, round out the lean but passionate team. The Corrections Corporation of America gives $300 a month for dog food, and Heeling Hearts relies on cash and in-kind donations like generous vet care including spaying, neutering, and vaccinating so it can continue to operate. It’s tough going at the moment, says Neal, but she’s committed to seeing the program endures. 

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The first group of Heeling Hearts graduates. (Inmates' faces are obscured for privacy reasons.)

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Puppies in prison -- in prison!

Women at the Correctional Facility who wish to be dog handlers need to have a record of clean conduct for six months, and once in the program they must adhere to all prison regulations during the duration of their participation. The dogs live with them until they’re fully trained and adopted –- sometimes this happens within six weeks, while other dogs have called the prison home for as long as a year. Half the dogs in Heeling Hearts live in dormitory style rooms while the other half live with their trainers in individual cells.

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Some of the dogs live in dorm-style rooms.

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The dog training program helps lift the women's self-esteem -- and provides love to the shelter dogs.

“The program just works so well,” says Neal. “It helps women raise their self-esteem, and offers them an opportunity to give back. All of the dog handlers work as a group. They learn to manage conflict and to nurture and care for a life, and they’re on duty 24-7 so they gain a real sense of accountability and responsibility. And they know they can’t break any rules if they want to stay in the program.” 

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Otis and his handler enjoy the sunshine.

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Kudos also left Heeling Hearts for a happy forever home.

And, of course, the dogs provide the same kind of companionship to their handlers that dogs everywhere provide to millions of people -– a sense of unconditional love and acceptance. It’s one that isn’t often found behind the locked doors of the prison system. The dogs’ presence impacts not just Heeling Hearts’ participants, says Neal, but all of the prison's 550 or so residents. This video shows some of the women training the dogs:

“When we brought the dogs into the prison the very first time six years ago, the whole environment changed -- it immediately became warmer. The inmates who aren’t training the dogs are very interested in them, very fond of them,” she recalls. “The women aren’t allowed to have physical contact with one another, but they can hug a dog!”

Neal says she’s aware that some participants have leveraged the skills they’ve learned in Heeling Hearts into the working world following their release –- one became a dog groomer while another took a job at PetSmart. She points out that the recidivism rate is lower for women who have been involved in dog training programs than for the general population. 

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Bath time for the dogs can get a little boisterous.

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One of the inmates gives two motherless puppies some TLC.

As for the canines, programs like Heeling Hearts give them another chance -– perhaps their only one. “All of the dogs come from a local animal shelter in Grants, whch tries hard not to euthanize any animals,” says Neal. “A lot of them were living on reservations. With the economy being bad, a lot of families just can’t afford to keep their dogs.”

It’s a problem pet owners nationwide continue to face, and finding homes for dogs completing prison-training programs isn’t always easy. In the case of Heeling Hearts, prospective owners –- most of whom live a good hour or two away from the prison -– must come to Grants to meet the dogs. They learn about the program through the volunteers’ outreach efforts; Heeling Hearts’ website, where available dogs are featured; and Petfinder, where a local SPCA assists by posting profiles. While the inmates aren’t permitted to take part in these visits, each dog shows up with a heartfelt letter from his or her handler detailing various aspects of training and personality. And most of the people who adopt do so because they believe in the program’s dual mission of dogs and incarcerated women helping one another.

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Heeling Hearts graduate dogs leave the prison, bound for their new forever homes.

“I just got a sweet, sweet video from a family who adopted a dog three weeks ago,” says Neal. “The two little kids are saying, in unison, 'thank you, Heeling Hearts, for little Misty!' I played it several times -- it’s just the nicest thing.” 

To learn more about prison dog-training programs across North America, check out Prison Dogs, the blog of Sister Pauline Quinn, who started the first prison dog program at the Washington State Correctional Center for Women in 1981. 

Want to help Heeling Hearts thrive? You can make a donation here. You can browse the adorable dogs awaiting new families here.

Read more about dogs in prison:

• Dogster Heads Behind Bars to Watch Prison Dogs at Work

Do you know of a rescue hero — dog, human, or group — we should profile on Dogster? Write us at dogsterheroes@dogster.com.

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Daisy with her namesake.

When the little Pekingese arrived at the shelter, she was in so much pain she was unresponsive, so workers thought she might be deaf as well. Papaya arrived with both eyes severely damaged, and she had obviously endured abuse and neglect. She was initially rescued by Angels Among Us Pet Rescue, who arranged for her immediate medical attention. Despite the organization's swift work, Daisy's eyes could not be saved. Her jaw was also broken, and infection had seized her body. Some might have said that the lap dog was better off gently laid to rest, but the Pekingese demonstrated enough pluck and will to survive to inspire the Angels Among Us vets. So she underwent surgery.

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Daisy looking like a sad pile of fur in the shelter.

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Daisy in the process of receiving care.

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Daisy after some grooming -- what a difference a little love makes!

Shortly after her rescue, Daisy was adopted by a woman named Sally. Daisy will share her home with another Pekingese who is partially blind.

Even though Daisy is going to a great forever home, she still needs help paying for her vet bills. If you'd like to make a donation, check out the Angels Among Us website, and if you'd like to keep up to date on Daisy's progress, make sure to follow her Facebook page.

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Daisy with her new human friend.

Daisy takes her struggles in stride. I know I've gotten melodramatic over a broken nail, so to see this little lady overcome not only losing her eyes, but learning to trust and love again is an inspiration to me. It's a reminder to look up because kindness is all around us, ready to receive us even when things look their most grim.

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Daisy enjoys the great outdoors.

All photos via the Papapaya the Tiny Survivor Facebook page 

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"You have to ensure you have a plan. You are responsible, and you must do right by your animals," says Marine Corps 1st Lt. Alisa Sieber-Johnson, who founded Dogs on Deployment with her husband, Navy Lt. Shawn Johnson. The nonprofit organization helps connect service members in need with volunteers willing to provide a temporary home for military pets.

The idea for the organization came to the Johnsons in 2011, when neither could care for their Miniature Australian Shepherd because of overlapping training and deployment orders. Thankfully, family ultimately agreed to look after JD, but the couple began thinking about the many members of the military without such support. Their animals often end up in shelters.

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Shawn and Alisa Johnson with their two dogs, Jersey and JD, and their parrot, Kiki.

With just an HTML for Dummies book and a desire to help pet owners in all branches of the military, Alisa and Shawn built the Dogs on Deployment website. Service members can create an account for their animal, complete with information about the pet, location, and length of boarding needed. Volunteers can also create an account, which includes their name, location, acceptable type and size of animal, and the length of boarding they can provide.

Dogs on Deployment relies on pet owners and volunteers to reach out to each other and come to an arrangement; pet owners remain financially responsible for all care costs. The website offers advice on how to bring about the best possible match, which Alisa stresses should happen far in advance of a deployment, move, training period, or other military obligation.

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Mason, a young Catahoula Leopard Dog in Morgantown, West Virginia, needs a temporary home from May 29, 2013, through Dec. 9, 2013. See his profile on DogsOnDeployment.com.

"Pet owners need to start looking months before they are supposed to leave. They need time to do interviews and find the right fit, and then build a relationship with those who will take care of their pets," she says.

Not all matches get made with plenty of time to spare, though. Emergencies come up, and the Johnsons help whenever possible. In March, Army Staff Sgt. Bethany Morgan-Taylor got word while overseas that animal control had taken her dogs, Snickers and Sandi, from the home of a family member because of nuisance barking. With no one to pick up the dogs and put them into a better situation, they got a euthanasia date.

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Abby, a senior pug in Westminster, Maryland, needs a temporary home through Oct. 31, 2013. See her profile on DogsOnDeployment.com.

Alisa put out a "call to pet arms," and a volunteer stepped up to provide care for the remaining two months of Bethany's deployment.

"This organization puts me into contact with so many amazing service members who want to do the right thing, but who are having a hard time finding people to help them," Alisa says.

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Shilo, an adolescent German Shepherd at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, needs a temporary home through May 11, 2013. See her profile on DogsOnDeployment.com.

Since June of 2011, Dogs on Deployment has helped nearly 200 pets find temporary homes. It uses Facebook to spread the word about animals in need, which helps introduce the organization to the public and within the military, which offers its members no official support or education for pet ownership.

"At least once a day, I get a call about a service member who turned in their dog to a shelter. Not everyone has the education we have as pet owners," Alisa explains. She says that just as the military provides information about financial planning, it should teach service members what it means to be a responsible pet owner. She hopes to one day get such information dispensed through official channels and for the organization to become officially recommended by military assistance organizations and base family-support centers. Until then, the Dogs on Deployment team, which also includes Navy Lt. Theresa Donnelly, uses networking and word of mouth to reach pet owners in need.

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Oscar and Odin in Dothan, Alabama, need a longer-than-usual temporary home because their family must be in a country that does not allow Pit Bull Terriers from May 20, 2013, through June 1, 2016. The pet parents want to keep the bonded pair together. See their profile on DogsOnDeployment.com.

Dogs on Deployment currently has active accounts for 120 dogs, seven cats, three ferrets, and one chinchilla. The website allows volunteers to search by type of pet, with birds as one option. The Johnsons have two parrots, Kiki and ZoZo, who currently live at the couple's home in the San Diego area with Shawn, JD, and their other Miniature Australian Shepherd, Jersey. Alisa is currently stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas, undergoing aviator training.

The Dogs on Deployment team aims to one day have volunteers near all major military bases in the country and to provide additional financial assistance to pet owners on active duty. Its Pet Chit Financial Assistance program, which helps with health-care expenses prior to a deployment and in emergency situations, can only help a limited number of pets and their owners. The organization also has a goal to increase the rights of pet owners in the military, so that regulations consider pets part of the family, not disposable objects.

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Fox, an adolescent Pappillon in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, needs a temporary home from May 1, 2013, through Sept. 1, 2013. See his profile on DogsOnDeployment.com.

If you would like to provide a temporary home for the pet of a service member, visit Dogs on Deployment and create an account. You must have an account to view their full profiles. You can also see that latest animals in need on the organization's Facebook page.

Meet more Dogster Heroes:

• Miles & Mutts Tires Shelter Dogs Out So They Don't Get Passed Over for Adoption
• Stray Grows Up to Be a Support Dog for Victims and Witnesses
• Sixth-Grader Raises Money to Get Shelter Dogs Exercise

Do you know of a rescue hero — dog, human, or group — we should profile on Dogster? Write us at dogsterheroes@dogster.com. 

Inge had to pee. Jim let her out. He doesn't leash his dog when she's in the car, and he figured it would be okay. Inge is blind, by the way.

"I stepped out to give her a chance to go pee," he told TheWhig.com. "She went behind the fence, and she had finished her pee, and then all of a sudden she just took a step forward and she was in the water.”

In the water? Yes, Inge -- blind Inge -- fell headlong off the dock and right into the frigid Lake Ontario. 

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Jim rushed to the edge of the dock and saw Inge paddling around. He called to her, but she wouldn't come his his voice. Instead, confused, she started swimming away. 

“I was ready to go in the water after her,” Jim said. “She was obviously panicked.”

Bystanders found a rescue pole, but they were unable to hook the dog, as Jim scrambled around the dock trying to rescue Inge. 

Fortunately, Kingston Fire & Rescue quickly arrived, having receiving a false report that a human had fallen into the lake. The crew's first job was physically restraining Jim from jumping in the lake -- he was ready to go, so concerned he was for his blind dog. 

Then firefighter Claude Duval, wearing a specialized ice water rescue suit, jumped in, swam to Inge, and held her while his team developed a plan for getting the dog out of the water.

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After trying and failing with a ladder, they lowered a stretcher by a rope. During the first attempt, Inge fell out, back into the chilly water. But the crew succeeded on the second attempt.

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Jim rubbed down his beloved dog with a blanket and said he was headed to the vet. It was a “very scary morning,” he said. “I don't need scary mornings like that.”

Via TheWhig.com

More doggie drama:

• A Soldier's Know-How Pays Off: Man Leads Rescue of a Dog Trapped on a Hillside in Hawaii
• Shhh! Don't Tell Lamo the Sheep He's Not a Dog
• Sesame the Shar-Pei Gets a Facelift, and Sees for the First Time

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"Hey! It's me -- Wonka!"

Wonka was hit by a car in a remote community in Canada with no access to veterinary care. Unable to care for Wonka, her human family surrendered her to Norway House Animal Rescue Network. Look, we're not going to judge them for it -- what would you do if you found yourself miles away from veterinary care and unable to afford treatment for such a severe injury?

Meanwhile, Wonka suffered through five days of agony with a shattered pelvis and severely broken leg before Earthdog Terrier Rescue stumbled across her story on Facebook. You're all like, "Earthdog Terrier Rescue? But she's a Beagle mix!" And you would be correct! But the organization made Wonka an honorary terrier -- because, well, why not? The rescue network flew Wonka down to Winnipeg, where she was seen by Earthdog's vet, Best Friends Animal Hospital. 

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Wonka's X-rays.

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Would Wonka end up a three-legged dog?

Amputation would have been the quickest -- although the most traumatic -- treatment for Wonka, but according to Tracy McWhirter of Earthdog, Wonka is a "dignified lady" deserving of all four legs. We love it!

After being seen by Dr. Trevor Bebchuck, Wonka was outfitted with a device to help keep her leg stationary while it heals, and she will probably make a full recovery. In the meantime, Wonka gets to ride in a chariot -- just like the princess she is.

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Wonka will have to wear this for at least 8 weeks. Fortunately, it's in a fashionable color.

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Wonka taking a princess nap in her stately chariot.

Once she's all healed up, Wonka will be up for adoption -- and whoever gets her is going to be one lucky human.

Check out the Earthdog Terrier Rescue Facebook page for updates on Wonka's progress, and if you're feeling particularly generous, make a donation to the organization here.

Check out these related articles on Dogster:

• Witness Violet the Pomeranian's Jaw-Dropping Transformation
• Rescue Dogs Can Make Great Therapy Dogs. Might Yours?
• 5 Things I Demand from Any Vet's Office

Divina Rocco and her family couldn't take it anymore.

"The dog sounded like it was in distress," she told WCVB.com, "and it was distressing us." 

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Her husband, Roy, and a bunch of neighborhood boys headed up the hill to look for the dog. They found nothing other than a lot of wet, dense, dangerous Hawaii hillside. They came back down. Roy couldn't let it go. He hiked up two more times alone, but again couldn't find the dog -- just more of that sad, lonely barking.  

"He kept trying to think of different ways and he couldn't sleep because it felt like he really needed to rescue that dog," Divina said.

The next day, Roy and Divina hiked up the other side of the mountain and got lucky -- they spotted the dog. He was stuck on a ledge, on the side of a hill on the military base.  

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They dutifully called the military police, who called animal control. That set off a chain of events that went ... nowhere. Apparently, no one had the proper equipment to do the rescue.

"They pretty much gave up on it," Divina said.

Roy didn't. He was a solider himself. He got some some fellow soldiers from Schofield's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, got some rappelling gear, and hiked up the hill. They saved the dog themselves.

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Soon they were all safe on the ground. The dog -- a girl -- was fine, just a little shaken and hungry. 

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"She's in good condition, thank goodness," said Divina. "I was really extra worried about her because last night it was raining cats and dogs all night long." 

The dog was transferred to the Hawaiian Humane Society, and unless an owner comes forward, she'll be available for adoption. Thanks to her news exposure, she probably won't have much trouble.

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"I think the dog was probably really scared and would have just stayed there and probably starved to death," Divina said. "It breaks my heart to even imagine an animal or any creature to go through that."

Via WCVB.com

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A dog named Crash.

In the case of my client, she’d gone to the county shelter hoping to find the perfect furry companion for her and her family. She didn’t have any particular breed in mind and hoped to feel a connection with one of the dogs. When she arrived at the shelter she noticed a fun and scruffy terrier mix who quickly warmed up to her. The dog hadn’t come from any pedigree that anyone knew about. He was potty trained and seemed to be friendly. As in most cases with dogs that are adopted from an animal shelter, very little was known about his history. So, based on the connection she felt with the dog, she decided this would be a great dog to bring home.

After having the dog for about five days, she scheduled a brief appointment with me during one of the rescue fairs that I donate my time to as a guest speaker and consultant. As we sat down and I spent time with her and her new furry companion -- who she named Crash -- I could tell they were hitting it off well. It was evident to me that the dog was gentle and warm, and that he loved people. He would listen to her every word and stayed close by her side. I could feel that this dog had a really calming presence about him, and it made me feel good just to be around him. I mentioned to my client that her new furry friend possessed a really calming and healing nature.

I suggested that he would be a good therapy dog for the elderly and also for children. She was delighted but shocked to hear this. She thought she had found a sweet dog who seemed to like her. She had no indication that he was meant for a higher purpose of helping others. After the consultation, she pondered my comments a little further. She thought that it would be interesting to see what gifts her new shelter dog possessed. Could he have a special gift of healing? Could he be meant for more than just being her family dog? Could he have a special gift that she should nurture? "What the heck," she figured. "Let’s give it a go." She enrolled him in some classes and certification programs.

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Crash and myself attend an animal-rescue event.

It didn’t take long for her to see that what I said was true. He excelled in every class and passed every test easily. He really seemed to enjoy the tasks that he learned, and everybody quickly took notice of him. He showed everyone that he did have a higher purpose, and his human companion was thrilled.

Now, both of them visit nursing homes several times a week. Crash loves to cuddle, give hugs, and show off for the residents at the facilities at which he visits. The residents look forward to his regular visits and line up to spend time with him. A little scruffy shelter dog bringing so much joy and love to so many. Who would have known?

Do you know of a shelter dog who has become a great therapy dog? Or, does your rescue dog exhibit behavior that makes you believe he or she would do well as a therapy dog? Let us know in the comments.

Other stories by Tim Link:

• Does Your Dog’s Personality Match Yours?
• Did You Choose Your Dog? Or Did Your Dog Choose You?
• I Wish My Puppy Had Come With an Instruction Manual

Staff soon found out those skin folds were so luxurious, he couldn't see. 

“It’s not uncommon for Shar-Peis to have vision problems related to their wrinkles covering their eyes, but this was an extreme case,” Seamus Nelson, the director of communications for the Humane Society, told ABC News. “It took a little bit of assessment to realize that he cannot see and he smelled horrible.”

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Teresa, who adopted Sesame.

The dog was transferred to the San Antonio Humane Society, which has a rescue fund to help special-needs animals. Sesame certainly fit the bill. He needed a face-lift, which is quite common for Shar-Peis. 

Sesame, however, was an extreme case -- he had "inches" of rolls that needed to be removed rather than one inch or less, which is more typical. But after surgeries in February and March, Sesame can finally see. He also had his ears pinned back to allow more ventilation. 

In this case, blame bad breeding. 

“Some breeder got a little wrinkle happy and bred wrinkles upon wrinkles upon wrinkles,” Nelson said. “[The facial surgery for Shar-Peis] is very rarely done to this extreme.”

Overbreeding for wrinkles is also dangerous to the dog's eyes.

“The rolls will cause the eyelids to grow into the sockets rather than over the eyes, and that is what causes damage to the eyeballs,” Nelson said. 

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Before and after photos, via the San Antonio Humane Society.

Sesame, however, is not 20/20 yet. Since his eyes were damaged and underdeveloped, it will take some time. But the dog is responding well. 

“He can basically see what we are assuming is shadows, but he can definitely see now,” he said. “He’s just so happy to be outside. Imagine not being able to see for your whole life and then suddenly being able to. I’m sure it was initially overwhelming.”

Another good thing about this story? Sesame was just adopted by a San Antonio woman named Teresa who saw his plight on the news. She seemed like the right person, having owned several Shar-Peis in the past.

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Sesame, via the San Antonio Humane Society Facebook page.

“We live for days like this,” said Nelson, via a Facebook post, “to connect friends for life, especially with pets like Sesame who we have had the pleasure of spending time with and getting to know while we helped him heal.”