Sierra Blogging Post Archives

Our pets serve us in many ways. They are at once best friends, loyal companions, sporting partners, guardians, aides, and entertainment.

Dogs have been known to alert families of a house fire, alert authorities when their master has fallen, and protect their owners from wild animals or bad people. And then there are the really extraordinary stories. Like the golden retriever who performed his own version of the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge a piece of apple his owner was choking on. He's being honored by the SPCA as Dog of the Year. (Cat of the year is a tabby who saved her family from carbon monoxide poisoning by clawing at her owner's head until she woke up. According to officials, the family was minutes from death.)

There are also bittersweet stories. Late this September, a man with Alzheimer's left home on his ATV with his two golden retrievers. Sadly, he became disoriented and passed away four days later due to exposure. But his dogs remained at his side for 22 days, until searchers finally found his body -- he was flanked on each side by a hungry, but fiercely loyal, golden retriever. Even at his funeral, the dogs (dressed in black scarves) stood by his side and had to be coaxed away when the ceremony was over.

Our society is pet crazy, and with good reason. Animals are known to lower stress levels and uplift spirits everywhere they go. If you've never had a pet, I highly recommend it. Check with local shelters and rescue groups if you'd like to adopt. If you already own one, why not treat them to something special? They deserve it.
Except, maybe, this one...

And this one...

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