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.”

However, when it comes to the everyday animals, stray dogs lead a very pitiable life in India.

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Hindu god Kalabhairava has a dog as his consort. Taking care of dogs is a way for Hindus to pay tribute to him.

In April 1999, our chauffeur brought us a small stray pup. We named him Gucci and welcomed him into our lives. Having Gucci made us more aware of the stray dogs outside our door. Most of them are born strays, grow up as strays, and die as strays.

Few find loving forever homes, though some are lucky enough to have some compassionate people in the neighborhood who offer them food and sometimes shelter during the rainy season. Most apartments do not allow pets, so it's mostly homeowners who can have a dog. In every neighborhood there are young boys who love to pelt stray puppies with stones.

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Gucci with my husband and I.

But among the common people, there are a few animal lovers who look after stray dogs. My mom and sister supported a stray we called Blacky by feeding him for about nine months. When he died, his body was scooped up by the garbage truck, and we realized that there were no proper facilities for deceased pets -- their bodies must be dumped in the garbage. It was difficult not to think of what would happen to Gucci when his time on Earth was over. (When he left us on May 26, 2012, we buried him at the place allotted for pets and small children, with permission from the authorities.)

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A dog is celebrated in the Tihar festival in Nepal.

A few years after we got Gucci, we felt he wanted us to support another stray dog. We gave a girl food and some medical care for her broken leg, and she returned to such good health that she chased every car that went through our street. Two more stray dogs gave birth to 16 puppies; we found homes for most of them and got their mothers spayed.

One of two other stray dogs we support is Sir John, aka Jacky. He lives in a playground near our house, he comes home for belly rubs, and he enjoys milk, biscuits, and rice delivered three times a day to the playground. The other stray is Blacky, who lives in our yard and occasionally comes inside and sleeps on the couch.

When I worked in Bangalore for an investment bank, my landlady lived with a yellow Lab called Zorro, who got his name because he came to her house when she and her family were watching The Mask of Zorro. The family members supported three stray dogs who lived in their yard by giving them food, a jute bag to serve as their bed, and vaccinations. When one of their dogs was bitten by another stray, they rushed her to the nearest vet to get the medical care. Another day, the landlady's brother noticed eight very young pups left to fend for themselves at a cemetery close by, and they immediately called the animal shelter, which rescued all of them.

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Sir John, aka Jacky, is another stray who comes to our home for belly rubs. He lives in a nearby playground.

In 2009, I volunteered at Bangalore's Compassion Unlimited Plus Action, where I got to know the state of animal shelters and the conditions in which the poor dogs lived. The group's facility had uncovered cages out in the open, and it stank of dog pee and poop! But the shelter was doing its best with whatever funds it had.

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We found homes for all four of these stray puppies, seen drinking from a sidewalk puddle.

Troy, one of the dogs living there, was a cute little mutt with a back injury that made his hind legs useless. He had wheels to move around. The shelter head told me that Troy could could use the wheels now because he was young and had the strength to pull their weight, but God only knew what would happen to him when he grew old. When I heard that, I could not stop crying. I don't know what happened to Troy; it's been four years since I last saw him.

There were so many other dogs living at that shelter, each with its own story. One day the employees found a Saint Bernard tied to the gate. The shelter's best guess is someone did not want the dog anymore and just left it there. Some dogs had come to the shelter as strays, and others had been abandoned by their owners. Some of the residents were permanent shelter dogs -- they had been in the shelter for so long that they had been taken off the adoption list.

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Blackie is another stray who lives in our yard.

Though Compassion Unlimited Plus Action was located on the same campus as the government veterinary college, the vets who attend the dogs are not from the college; they practice elsewhere and volunteer their time to help these poor animals at the shelter. The group's website recently reported that ambulance service has been suspended because its agreement with the state university expired. Such a sad state of affairs.

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Stray dog outside Hindu temple. Radiokafka / Shutterstock.com

Blue Cross of India is one of the country's major animal welfare organizations. We take our stray dogs to Blue Cross centers to get them spayed or neutered. When my sister volunteered there recently, we learned that it takes $800 a day to take care of the center's animals, but only 5 percent of that money comes from the government. The shelter depends on donations from others (including individuals and corporations) for almost all its funding. With rising food prices and more stray animals arriving regularly, money is always a problem.

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A woman sits on the banks of the Ganges. Wout Kok / Shutterstock.com

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Some of the puppies at the Blue Cross shelter.

Even though the government does not do much in terms of animal welfare, The Hindu, a national English-language daily paper, carries "Pet Pals," a weekly supplement promoting animal welfare and adoption. It also features stories of ordinary people who have helped animals -- for example, someone taking an injured bird to the vet and caring for it till it is able to fly -- which helps younger readers understand the idea of being kind to animals.

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The shelter depends on donations for most of its funding -- and new dogs arrive every day.

Of late, the shelters have been holding adoption drives, which are supported by media, corporate leaders, and some celebrities. Two such famous advocates are former minster Maneka Gandhi and actress Amala. Thanks in part to their efforts, local governments have stopped killing stray dogs to control the population and have started spaying and neutering them instead. Many corporations are including animal welfare in their social responsibility activities. It seems like more of the younger generations see the importance of being kind to the animals, too. 

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Indian street bazaar. Jan S. / Shutterstock.com

It would take an extremely long time to solve the problem of stray animals, but there is definitely some progress in that direction.

Viji is a stay-at-home mom who lives in Chennai, India, with her husband and daughter.

Read more about overseas dogs:

• An Extreme Mutt Makeover by CARA Welfare Philippines 
• Kabang, the Hero Dog Without a Snout, Arrives at UC Davis
• 1,200 Dogs Rescued from Thailand's Dog-Meat Smugglers
• I Rescue Greyhounds (Galgos) Used by Hunters in Spain
• Special Dogster Report: The Dogs of Greece, Suffering Even More

Got a Doghouse Confessional to share?

We're looking for intensely personal stories from our readers about life with their dogs. E-mail confess@dogster.com, and you might become a published Dogster Magazine author!

I’d always wanted a dog just like Lassie. As a new volunteer for Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue, I had never fostered a dog seeking adoption before, and was eager to save my first one for the group. Maybe I'd just go down to the shelter, look at the Collie, and confirm that she was too old and ill to rescue.

The next day I went to see her, and she looked pretty awful. Baseball-sized hunks of matted hair hung off of her. Her third eyelid was covering most of each eye, and both eyes were oozing green pus. She barked endlessly, along with all the other dogs in the kennels. But when I took her out, she was quiet and friendly, wagging her tail. If her owners didn't come to claim her, I told the shelter officer, I would foster her until we could find her a home.

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Colley Girl in the driveway.

The following Tuesday I picked her up from the shelter, and found out she had been a stray right near my home. What was her story? Had someone been hiking and lost track of her? Had she been dumped? Did she just wander away from home? Was her family still looking? How could anyone not be looking for her?

Obviously I was new at this, and very naïve. The shelters are full of dogs that no one comes looking for. Just because she was a collie didn’t mean she was more special than any other dog.

I took her to the vet, who pronounced her spayed and only about five years old. She had trouble climbing into the car; it appeared she had some arthritis. He gave me medicine for her eyes, and we went home to start her recovery.

Since I wasn't going to keep her, I didn't name her. I just called her Collie, and pretty soon that became Colley Girl. In the meantime, the rescue got a new breed rep for collies, Sharon, who started telling people about her. While Sharon worked on finding homes, I worked on brushing out all those awful mats. I ended up cutting them out, leaving a few bare patches. I couldn't bear to shave her, so I just brushed a few minutes at a time, until she'd get fed up with all the tugging, lumber to her feet, and walk away. As the excess fur came out, I discovered the end of her tail had been blackened by frostbite.

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Colley Girl's eyes kept a number of people from adopting her -- lucky for me!

Once her eye infection cleared up, her inner eyelid was still showing, so I took her back to the vet. He said that her eyes were too small to push the eyelid back into the proper place in her eye socket, and that she was probably born that way. He sent me to a specialist, who said she wasn't in any pain, and agreed with my vet that the problem was congenital and there wasn't much to be done about it. Her field of vision was limited, but she seemed to see well enough to get around.

Colley Girl adjusted beautifully to our home, ignoring our four cats and getting along famously with my two dogs, Sherman and Tank. Within two days she was following my husband everywhere off-leash, and never wandered away. I never forgot that she had been a stray, though, so I kept a pretty close eye on her.

Sharon called several times, and came to take Colley Girl to meet potential new owners, but they always turned her down when they saw those funny-looking eyes. I didn't even notice her eyes anymore. What I saw was the sweetest, gentlest, most loving dog I'd ever known, who slept by my bed each night and moaned with happiness whenever I rubbed her tummy. She had been loved at one time. I wondered if her family missed her.

Each time Colley Girl went out to see new potential families, it got harder and harder to let her go. After about a month of this, I told Sharon to come get her for a meet-and-greet while I wasn't at home, so I wouldn’t have to say good-bye.

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Colley Girl with Tank

Sharon called me at work. Colley Girl had come out of the yard easily enough, but when she saw Sharon was going to take her away again, she took off and wouldn't let Sharon catch her. After about a half-hour of keep-away, Sharon gave up and called for help. I drove 25 miles home, frantic that Colley would disappear.

Silly me. When I pulled into the driveway, there was Sharon, arms folded, glaring at Colley Girl. Colley was standing by the dog run, barking defiantly, daring Sharon to come after her. Of course Colley came straight to me. As I knelt down, she hid her head under my armpit and wagged her tail slowly, as if to say, “Please don't make me go.”

Tears in my eyes, I loaded her into Sharon's car, and away they went. Sharon called later to say Colley Girl had a new home. I cried myself to sleep that night. My husband tactfully ignored me. He's no fool; he knew what the problem was. I was realizing I was too soft for rescue work.

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Colley Girl with Sherman

The next day, Sharon called. The family wasn’t keeping Colley Girl. “They didn't like her funny eyes,” she reported, “Everyone wants Lassie.” Sharon offered to keep her at her place so we wouldn't have to transfer her around so much. “Fat chance,” I replied.

That night my husband came home from work and raised his eyebrows in surprise as he recognized Colley Girl coming to greet him. Then he saw two giant cardboard ‘dog tags’ hanging from her neck. One said “I love you,” and the other, “Please keep me.”

He smiled. “I think it's already been decided.”

Colley Girl was a beloved member of our family for almost 5 years. Her arthritis kept her from jumping on people or running away faster than I could chase her, and her eyes always looked strange. But in her I saw the perfect pet and companion. She loved children and senior citizens, cats and horses. I found my Lassie. Those other people didn't know what they were missing.

Got a Doghouse Confessional to share?

We're looking for intensely personal stories from our readers about life with their dogs. E-mail confess@dogster.com, and you might become a published Dogster Magazine author!

Such is the life of many shelter dogs, and the reason high-energy breeds often get passed over for adoption.

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Enter Miles & Mutts. This group of dedicated volunteers runs dogs from the Better Days Animal League in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, every Sunday whenever weather allows. The rescues return tired and better ready to face the week ahead.

"The difference we see in the dogs is remarkable," says Abbi Crowe, founder of Miles & Mutts. "They're whining and carrying on during the ride to the trail and totally calm on the way back. Even though we only do it once a week, getting out of the shelter environment helps with their mental well-being and socialization. Being out and around people, getting real-life experiences they don't get in their kennel, it definitely makes them calmer when meeting potential adopters."

Pack leader

Crowe has volunteered at animal shelters since childhood and has three rescue dogs -- black Lab-mix Jackson, Beagle Kasey, and chocolate-Lab-mix Hannah -- with her husband, Kevin. When she took up running a few years back, she began thinking about how to combine the two passions. It was during the Better Days Animal League Peace 4 Paws benefit run in fall of 2011 that Crowe learned the organization had actual physical shelters, as opposed to using foster homes and boarding facilities. She successfully pitched to Better Days the idea of a running group for its dogs.

The first run happened on April 14, 2012, with just Crowe and a young Treeing Walker Coonhound named Xena. The pair covered five miles of the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail that day.

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Abbi and Xena get ready to take their first run together. Since that day, Xena has logged 245 miles with the group. She remains available for a high-energy family that can give her the exercise her breed needs.

"Xena and I headed over to the trail for a run this morning," Crowe wrote on the Miles & Mutts website later. "The first mile was a little clumsy, but she got the hang of what we were there for very quickly. I’m pretty sure there was a huge smile on my face the entire time as well."

The time was flying by, and pretty soon we’d already run two and a half miles," she continued. "I wanted to take it easy with her since it was her first run, so we turned around at this point. Not bad for a sweet dog who has spent most of her life in a kennel. Of course, a temporary home at Better Days Animal League is certainly better than her original fate from the breeder/owner who was going to drown her and her sister when he could not get rid of them as puppies. Five miles complete."

Crowe regularly documents the Miles & Mutts runs, showing off the many adoptable dogs in the running pack and recommending them as the best of running partners because they never stand you up and are always eager to see what's beyond the bend. Just try to keep a dry eye while watching the group's moving year-end video.

Since that first outing with Xena, the group has grown to 32 volunteers, who have run 36 dogs from the shelter a total of 1,096 miles. Thirteen of those dogs have found forever homes, thanks in part to the exercise and interaction the regular outings provide.

The running pack

Crowe coordinates which dogs get to run each week, and she and her husband transport them from the shelter to the trail in the van they bought and outfitted for the task. Volunteers meet at the trail, a crushed limestone path that travels through woods and farmland.

When deciding which dogs to include, she considers several factors. "We mostly take the ones with high energy, the ones who are going a little kennel crazy," she explains. "But we also have to consider how they are with people and other dogs. There are some we would love to take but can't because they are too dog-aggressive." Hound and Pit Bull mixes make up most of the running pack.

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Xena's sister, Athena, gets a little love from her running partner, Tim O'Dowd. She has logged 203 miles to date and also remains available for adoption.

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Mystic, still available for adoption, cools down after a run. She has put in 53 miles so far with the group.

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Crowe says Zeus, still available for adoption, has become a running pro with excellent behavior on leash and around both people and dogs. He has logged 85 miles so far.

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Trinket ran 46 miles with the group before going to her forever home.

Crowe matches runners according to ability and never allows the dogs to get pushed passed their limit. The dogs have been known to push the humans, though.

"In some cases, the dog keeps the person wanting to go father than in the past," Crowe says, pointing to Xena and Athena as two such dogs. "Several people came in running a little bit -- three miles a couple times a week -- but now they want to run with the hounds and go 10 miles."

Bonds also develop between the humans and dogs, with volunteers requesting certain running partners. One such attachment actually turned into an adoption, when Ian and Willow Weir made Allie a permanent part of their running group and family.

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Allie put in just 17 miles before finding her forever home through Miles & Mutts.

The future of Miles & Mutts

Crowe hopes to double the number of volunteers, dogs, and miles this year. She also wants to start pulling dogs from the second Better Days shelter and add a weeknight run for those who have other obligations on Sundays. All of this will help with the ultimate goal of the group: finding forever homes for these awesome but often overlooked animals.

If you live in the Shippensburg area and want to join Miles & Mutts, visit the group's website. You'll also find a list Crowe compiled of other running groups for shelter dogs throughout the country. To get more information on the many adoptable pets available through Better Days, visit the shelter's Petfinder page.

Meet more Dogster Heroes:

• "Stray Grows Up to Be a Support Dog for Victims and Witnesses"
• "Sixth-Grader Raises Money to Get Shelter Dogs Exercise"
• "Arizona Cactus Corgi Rescue: The Go-To Spot for Homeless Welsh Corgis"

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

The dog moved, making the bag move. And Victoria Roman, a trash collector, saw that bag move.

"I reached for the bag and something moved," Roman told a reporter for WABC, "and I found her inside the bag. If she had not moved, she would have been in the back of that truck, most definitely." 

Roman opened the bag. What she saw greatly affected her.

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"She was in horrible, terrible condition," she said. "It breaks my heart and I don't want to start crying, but she was in really, really bad shape." 

According to WABC, the dog was caked in her own filth, her eyes were matted-shut, and her fur was so tangled-up in her overgrown nails that she could barely stand.

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The dog was taken to the Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition, or BARC, an animal shelter in the Williamsburg district where vets and staff treated the dog. They're amazed by her recovery. 

"She's doing great, you know, considering what she's been through," said Vinnie Spinola of BARC. "She's a tiny little thing, has a lot of life in her, and not affected by what's happened to her, not emotionally affected by what happened to her." 

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"She still loves people in spite of what's happened," he said. 

The people at BARC also named the dog: Victoria, after the woman who saved her life.

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Once Victoria has made a full recovery, she'll be adopted. She won't have to wait long. According to the BARC's Facebook page, "We have been getting many calls about her. We are overwhelmed with applications to adopt Victoria, and we are not taking any more."

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BARC has scheduled a meet-and-greet with both Victorias at its Brooklyn location on April 18 at 6 p.m. 

Via WABC; photos via BARC Animal Shelter's Facebook 

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Bethany wanted to be close to her human rescuers throughout the car ride. Photo by Annie Hart

This is Bethany.

She was rescued by Eldad Hagar of Hope For Paws and Annie Hart of the Bill Foundation. Despite her horrific condition, she was easily coaxed into the care of Hagar and Hart with the help of a couple of yummy cheeseburgers and chicken. (We wouldn't normally recommend feeding your dog fast food, but if it's all that works to get a stray into the car, then we'll go with it.) And despite being betrayed by the humans who forced her into this world and then abandoned her, Bethany wanted only to be close to her human rescuers as they rushed her to the vet, resulting in the above photo.

The organizations give no details about whether they know who or what subjected her to conditions that led to her current state. Regardless, can you imagine what a capacity for love Bethany must possess? To be forced to fend for herself and still long for the human touch that failed her?

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Bethany when she was first rescued. Photo by Annie Hart

The vets found that not only was Bethany infected with a severe case of mange, she was thoroughly dehydrated, and her body bore evidence of a failed pregnancy -- probably because she was too weak to support puppies. 

While she's off her IV antibiotics, she's still taking oral medication to treat her mange, as well as four types of bacterial infection. But that won't keep Bethany down -- she's getting stronger every day thanks to the loving support of Hagar and Hart, who visit her frequently As she regains her health and her fur, there's growing speculation around which breed Bethany might be. The people who rescued her believe she might be some kind of shepherd mix and only a year or two old.

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Bethany a week into recovery. She already looks so much better. It's amazing what a big difference a little love can make. Photo by Eldad Hagar

You can donate to the Bill Foundation and Hope for Paws here and here. You can also visit the Bill Foundation on Facebook for updates on Bethany and its other rescued dogs. 

Check out other stories of the Bill Foundation:

• Yay! Zooey Deschanel Adopts Two Ridiculously Adorable Dogs
• One Tough Pup: Micah the Dog Beats Severe Pneumonia
• Bill Foundation's Annie Hart: "Rescuing Dogs Rescued Me"

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The shelter indeed closed, and Bruno made it out okay. Sadly, however, his owner had to relinquish him, because he was still having trouble getting back on his feet after Sandy destroyed his home. Bruno was taken in by Northwind Kennels, which were fielding "hundreds" of adoption requests brought on by the intense media coverage. 

Finally, Bruno has his forever-home happy ending. He was adopted Thursday by Melville couple Marc and Karen Siegel, according to CBSNewYork.com.

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The Siegels said they visited Bruno four or five times, and that he seemed "like a perfect fit" for their family. 

Northwind owner Penny Smith-Berk agreed.

“Bruno is a very special dog and he will now be going to a very special home,” she said. “Marc and Karen are the perfect family for Bruno."

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Bruno gets a giant fenced yard to play in, which is quite a change from being caged up in the storm shelter for so long. Marc Siegel and his family are thrilled with how everything turned out.  

“I can’t thank everybody enough at the Nassau County SPCA and again the kennel in Bedford for all the wonderful things they’ve done working with Bruno and finding him a good home,” he said. “People like this who do charitable work, they are not in it to make money, they’re in it just for the love of the animals.”

Via CBSNewYork.com; photos via Northwind Kennels' Facebook 

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Fans of adopted shelter dogs like to let folks know where their beloved best friends came from. Of course, four-footed fashion statements also proclaim pound-pup pride, as Project Blue Collar proves. Marketing bright blue dog collars to promote dog rescue –- what an idea!

It's the brainchild of two dedicated dog rescuers, Carole Feeny and Kristin Waters of Cincinnati, who teamed up after crossing paths at their CrossFit gym.

Early in 2012, Carole realized that the public’s perception of rescue dogs has been largely influenced by, she says, “the marketing strategies of well-funded national animal welfare groups. They engender our pity with tragic images of animals in need, and leave us thinking of them as damaged goods.” Instead, Carole wanted to show that dog adoption isn’t just the right, noble thing to do –- it’s cool, chic, and fun, too.

Inspired by the wristband cause-marketing craze, she had an aha! moment. Why not let rescue dogs market their own cause by wearing a bright-blue collar that proudly reads “Support the Underdog”? That’s how Project Blue Collar was born, with Carole the founder and president and Kristin the co-founder and chief relationship officer.

“Our movement is in its infancy and already we’ve ‘Blue Collared’ about 1,600 dogs from Hawaii to Alaska to Maine,” Kristin says.

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Project Blue Collar lets dogs spread the "Support the Underdog" message

For dogged rescuers, saving canine lives is personal, often motivated by one dog who touched us profoundly. Carole and Kristin are no exception: “I was going through a pretty tough breakup,” Carole recalls. “Not only did I need something to divert my attention, but my old gal, Roxie, a Boxer mix, rather missed having doggy friends around. I thought it’d be a good time to foster.

So she contacted the Stray Animal Adoption Program.

"They said they had a puppy with a broken jaw and he needed somewhere quiet to heal for a few weeks before becoming available for adoption," Carole says. "They brought over the cutest 10-week-old chocolate Lab mix I’d ever seen. Well, Buster turned into a foster failure who taught me just how wonderful and rewarding fostering is.”

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This brindle beauty is just a wee pup -- but already he's a cause marketing pro!

Since then, Buster has helped Carole successfully foster hundreds of dogs (Roxie passed away in December at age 14).

“Buster knows just how to care for fosters and teach them basic rules,” Carole says. “He’s never jealous, and really seems to understand his role as a foster brother. He’s been a true blessing.”

For Kristin, who moved to Cincinnati from California in 2006, volunteering at the local no-kill shelter Save the Animals Foundation was, she recalls, a way “to make new friends and plug into the community.” But there was a downside: “I was saddened to see that while some dogs got adopted quickly, others were passed over and heading for a life sentence at STAF."

One in particular, Memphis, got little interest from adopters and became increasingly difficult for volunteers to handle. Volunteers began to lose hope for this tennis-ball-obsessed black Lab, considered the No. 1 biter at the shelter. But Kristin refused to give up on Memphis.

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Carole with Buster, the "foster failure" who inspired her to create Project Blue Collar

“I signed on to be his mentor. We spent the next 18 months -- bite-free -- as running/walking partners, spectators at my stepson’s soccer games, and snuggling buddies. I saw a completely different dog outside of the shelter, and wanted others to see his true colors.”

After Kristin shot catchy videos of Memphis, the dog went from invisible to in-demand -– and found his forever home nearly three years to the date after his arrival at the shelter. Good work! However, Kristin reminds us, “There are so many more Memphises waiting for their chance.”

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Kristin and her contented canine crew hang out at home

Kristin, who admits to being “a repeated foster failure,” now has five dogs: Lucy, a 10-year-old Beagle mix; Maggie, a 7-year-old Lab mix; Noelle, a 4-year-old Shepherd/Lab mix; and 2-year-old Shih Tzu/Poodle mix siblings, Weechee and Fletcher.

“We also have two cats who are convinced they are dogs -- can you blame them?” she asks.

Why is the M.O. of Project Blue Collar so timely right now?

“Dogs are out in public more now than they ever have been, and dog parks are now a large part of a dog owner’s social calendar,” Carole says. “Project Blue Collar gives rescue dog owners a chance to show their pride and share their stories, in person and on Facebook. It’s a way to connect and start a conversation. It’s a chance to educate and inspire others to make adoption their first option.”

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Blue Collared! Tom with T.C., the rescue pup who stole his heart.

Carole and Kristin proudly tell the tale of Ozzy, one of Carole’s former fosters. Accompanying Carole to CrossFit, the Golden Retriever-Cattle Dog mix locked eyes with a man named Tom, who requested that Carole bring the pup back the following week to meet his partner Megan.

“They’d been searching for a puppy and visiting breeders of Wheaten Terriers and Bernese Mountain Dogs, but didn’t seem to click with any of the pups," she says. "But from the moment they met Ozzy, it was love at first sight.”

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A little dog with a big message: Sherman wants YOU to Blue Collar your best friend and Support the Underdog!

Carole chalks it up to that rescue-dog charisma.

“It’s as if these dogs carry on the legacy of kindness they’ve received on their journey to a forever home,” she concludes. “There’s something unique about rescue dogs that pulls us in, that elicits emotions hidden deep inside and makes us vulnerable to a whole new type of love.”

Ozzy, renamed T.C. (Thunder Chief), now walks around encouraging all who meet him to adopt -- he simply “Blue Collars” them with that snazzy cause-marketing accessory he wears around his neck!

Check out Project Blue Collar.

Read about these other inspirational Dogster Heroes:

• Nowzad Dogs Saves the Strays of War-Torn Afghanistan 
• Lorenzo Borghese is Prince Charming to Rescued Dogs
• An Extreme Mutt Makeover by CARA Welfare Philippines
• Meet Vivian, a Pit Bull Therapy Dog and Grief Counselor

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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Editor's note: Marie is the director of marketing, design, and social media for Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco.

The amazing story of a dog named Shadi started three years ago in Iran, in a town called Kordaan, in the cold winter. Volunteers from animal rescue group Vafa Animal Shelter found a dog living outside. She had one short, malformed back leg, and another that was little more than a bone. She had a litter of puppies that she was nursing in the snow.

The volunteers brought her to the shelter, where the puppies were weaned and soon found adopters. But the mom, named Shadi, wasn’t so lucky. One kind woman was eager to adopt Shadi, but unfortunately, she took ill. There was no one else.

But Shadi was full of joy. She showered people with kisses, wiggling with joy when they showed her affection. The Vafa team knew she was too good to let languish and die.

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Photo courtesy of Muttville.

San Jose resident and Vafa supporter Farah Ravon started an incredible chain of events, activating a worldwide network of people to help. Farah knew Shadi would have better luck in the United States. She found sponsors who paid for travel expenses, and Shadi went to a rescue group in Maryland. 

Shadi arrived in California, and Sherri enlisted the help of Shelah Barr of Happy Hounds Massage, who assessed Shadi’s situation and decided that what she needed was wheels.

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Photo courtesy of Vafa Animal Shelter's Facebook page.

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Photo courtesy of Vafa Animal Shelter's Facebook page.

Shelah contacted the staff members at Eddie’s Wheels, who have made mobility carts for some other of her clients.

“They worked very closely with us in getting the proper measurements,” says Shelah, “and have even reworked the cart to make it even more comfortable for her to use.”

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Shadi with her new cart from Eddie's Wheels.

Shelah also told Jaye Shissel about Shadi, and Jaye donated the funds for Shadi’s wheels.

“Shadi means ‘happy,’ I’m told,” says Jaye, “and that is our girl: a lovely, brave lady, come halfway across the world to teach us two-leggeds how it’s done.”

Shadi then got some Muttville foster parents, Charlotte and George, who cared for Shadi for two months.

“My husband and I had been thinking of fostering for Muttville after one of our dogs died,” says Charlotte. “As luck would have it, Shadi arrived at Muttville the very day we were ready. She needed a foster home pronto that had easy access to a yard, a patch of grass, and not many stairs. We had all that and more.”

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Photo courtesy of Vafa Animal Shelter's Facebook page.

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Shadi makes friends at a Muttville adoption event.

“Shadi was easygoing and a joy to have around. She had a real appreciation of every little thing that we did for her and thanked us profusely with her frequent tail wags. Shadi had a big impact on us. We feel that she gave us a lot more than we gave her.”

And then along came Liz.

“When I saw Shadi’s face I fell in love,” she says. And so Liz became Shadi’s forever mom.

“Shadi is well behaved, mellowed out, beautiful, and capable,” says Liz. “The more I get to know her, the more her world-class personality comes out. I see that there is something special about her that made an international team of caring individuals fly her halfway around the world. I feel so lucky to get this special dog.”

Read more about Muttville and dogs on wheels:

• How Oprah Showered My Senior Dog Rescue, Muttville, with Her Favorite Things
• Dogster HQ Celebrates National Mutt Day with a Visit to Muttville
• I Fostered a One-Eyed Pekingese -- and Couldn't Give Her Up!
• Born Without Shoulder Blades, BeeBee the Chihuahua Wheels Like a Pro
• Two-Legged Border Collie on Wheels Shows Us We All Have the Power to Overcome

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