Monday, October 20, 2008

Spencer the dog is the companion of a man afflicted with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Chronic Musco / Skeletal Arthralgia. The man, Cheta, was frying sausages for lunch when the sudden, irresistable urge to sleep overcame him. Because of his diseases, Cheta was helpless to fight the overwhelming fatigue but managed to make his way to his bed. He was awakened by Spencer's insistent and non-stop 'alert' barking. Spencer would not be ignored and finally Cheta got up to see what all the fuss was about. The forgotten sausages had started burning up the man's kitchen and filling his small apartment with thick, black smoke. Luckily Spencer's actions had alerted his owner in time, saving his life.

"Whether you can call an animal a hero I don't know but they certainly did extraordinary work for their masters."
Mr.Backhouse.
"While I am no believer in angels, if there are angels at all they are bound to be amoung our animal companions."
Jeffrey Masson.


Binti Jua , a gorilla in the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, put her maternal feelings of protection into action when a three year old boy fell into the gorilla exhibit. Binti rushed over to the child and cradled and comforted him, keeping him safe from less-friendly gorillas. The boy spent a few days in hospital and then was released.





Animals are very extraordinary creatures. Some people are scared of animals like gorillas or dogs because of there size or the history of other animals there type. I personally love animals, like my dog for example, whenever I am sad she is always there to cheer me up, and i know shell protect me. Animals have this sense where they can feel if a human is sad or scared, they are very intelligent and if you love an animal they'll love you back, creating a special bond where the animal would do anything to protect you. I chose to research animal heroes because i thinks its really weird how they can know that people need help, or that they need to be protected.
The two different groups of animal heroes i thought there were was wild animal herons and pet heroes. Binta Jua would be an example of a wild animal hero. Although he was in a zoo he was still not trained and knew no commands. I think its really amazing how he knew the little boy that fell into the exhibit needed help. Unlike Binta Jua, Spencer the dog was a trained animal, he was a pet. He was trained but not to save peoples life's like police dogs. This also amazes me how just an ordinary dog could save a persons life, because of the connection between an owner and a pet.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Baghdad puppies

The article i most recently read was on the star tribune website. It was about a young puppy that was found in Iraq by a solider. An unfortunate imformation was spread to this solider when someone told her that she could not adotp the puppy and take him home. It was against the law for soldiers in the U.S. Central command, which would include Iraq. Many people are signing a petition to get this changed and many are hopeful that it will change. So far this year Baghdad Pups has taken more than 50 dogs and cats home for their warrior owners. Baghdad pups is an organization taking animals from Iraq back to the U.S. I personally thing the should change this law. I think its really stupid how they wont allow a solider risking her life to fight for there country not take a homeless dog home. I think everyone should sign the petition and get this law changed.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/clemency-for-ratchet
this is also the website for Baghdad pups: http://www.baghdadpups.com/

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Marley & Me

This week i finished the book i have been reading, it is called Marley & Me. In the ending of the book the Grogan's have gone through many hard times with there little puppy Marley, and he has always been there for them, like when after months of trying for a baby and getting pregnant then having to find out there baby was a still born was very devastating for the family. But when they got home Marley was waiting to cheer them up. Marley was also very protective. The Grogan's didn't live in a very safe neighborhood but there personal alarm dog Marley was always there to keep strangers away. I can relate to how they feel having a loud dog around because when ever someone so much as walk down the street pass my house my dog parks and parks until they've diapered. most of my neighbors have gotten used to this and when they pass they think ohh its just molly. but if your not expecting it, her barking can be very scary.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

weekly reading

The book I am reading right now is called Marley & Me. So far it is about a young couple that that is recently married. They have just moved into a small house and are trying to start a family, but they don't know if they are ready yet. they don't think they are going to be good parents. So to test out there parenting skills they decide to get a young puppy! They end up with a happy, wild, obnoxious little yellow lab name Marley. Marley got his name after a lot of thought, the couple decided on this name after bob Marley. Both of there favorite singers. I personally think that my family is like the new family in Marley and Me. After begging my parents for a puppy, my sister and I finally got a little yellow lab named molly. Molly and Marley are very similar. not just because of there breed, but also because they have very similar personalities. Both dogs are very hyper and wild. they are both also very, very playful.