This morning I woke to a wonderful, life renewing news story. Since that sort of story seems to be happening less frequently, I thought I’d share.
When I am at my lowest points in life, one of the things that has always gotten me through has been my dog. From the time I was a kid and I brought my problems to Okie, to when I was so sick in the 80s and Goliath kept my mind off of me and on whatever crazy thing he was doing. Or the time he literally saved my life. Charlie, Cooper and now Duncan have all played a big part in helping me through rough times.
In turn, my dogs have always had great care and lots of love. That’s my part of the bargain. Most people with pets feel more or less the same way.
So every time I read about a natural disaster, I worry about the pets. They can’t be replaced. And imagine if you lose a beloved pet because rescuers won’t let you bring him.
The story I read warmed my heart.
You’ve heard about the devastating fires in Canada. Well two Canadian airlines West Jet and Canadian North have allowed folks to bring their pets along when they’re evacuated.
Two airlines with hearts — WestJet and Canadian North. Image from Huffington Post
For more heartwarming pictures and ways to help the folks who have lost so much, here’s the link to the Huffington Post article.
Happy Monday.
FiftyFourandAHalf 
I love not being the only person who’s nuts about dogs. I think about not just the pets but the wildlife, even the insects. The whole circle of life interruption thing. In floods I always wonder about taking the dog to potty. Mine don’t want to go out in a little rain with damp grass. Thanks for sharing this.
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Hi Lisa. Welcome!
I worry too — I can’t imagine a worse situation than being forced to abandon your pet!
Ned I’m with you on the wildlife, too. I’ve never recovered from seeing Bambi!
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Just when I thought I couldn’t like Canadians more – this! 🙂
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What a wonderful story. We are big pet people at our house — my wife owns a pet sitting business, and our pets have always been a big part of our lives. This story is truly heartwarming.
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Glad you liked it. There’s so much unhappy news these days!
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Smiles and wags from this end of the country! Thanks for lifting me up and not provoking my potty mouth! ❤️🐾
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Phew. If you’d sworn again, I’m not sure I’d recognize you!
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I’m not sure I’d recognize me either! 😉
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This is the perfect time for me to drop in on your blog. I’m about to adopt a rescue dog for my kid. I love all things dog.
It’s so nice to read something uplifting and happy online 🙂
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How wonderful, Samara! I hope he/she brings you and your family as much fun as my dogs have over the years!
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Happy endings, silver linings, hope and animals all in one post just made my day!
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Isn’t it a great story. Except for the part that we ‘Mericans all know it would never happen here.
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Thanks for a wonderful post. It’s nice to know that people don’t let “rules” cripple them from doing what’s right. Animals deserve to be rescued, treated with respect.
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❤
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Hearts to the airlines!
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That is so awesome. I remember hearing an NPR story after the Katrina disaster where a dog left behind was rescued and reunited (like a year later?) with his family, who had moved from temp shelter to temp shelter and by then resided in a different state. It sent shivers down my spine; I literally just pulled over to the side of the road and bawled my eyes out.
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There were so many horrible Katrina pet stories (and human stories, too, of course). I think I remember that one, too. But my heart goes out to folks who have to leave their pets behind. It’s too awful to think about…
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That’s awesome. We so seldom get good news these days.
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That’s exactly what I thought, Scott. It just felt so good reading this story, and seeing the happy faces in the midst of that awful fire!
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Thanks for passing on this bright spot in the general suckiness of the news.
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Sure thing Peg. “All the news you need” — and sometimes, we ALL need something like this!
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That’s wonderful – thanks for sharing that Elyse. Such an awful tragedy.
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Yes it really is. Fire somehow scares me a lot, and there seem to be more and more of these enormous, devastating ones. (But there is no such thing as climate change so I must be mistaken.)
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I heard about it on the radio in my car, but don’t know many details. Does seem odd that it is so big. Going to look into it tonight. It is scary, I agree.
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Yay for good news. So refreshing.
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I am sure I’ll find another good news story by this time next year!
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WestJet is an amazing company. They create beautiful opportunities and outcomes regularly. And I hear your re: the value of our canine companions. Beyond valuable!! Thanks for this heartwarming share.
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that’s nice to hear, Eric — I’d never heard of them until I read this story. And somehow I can’t imagine one of the still standing US airlines doing this sort of thing.
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They do something along these lines every year. And you’re right, what American based carrier would ever…
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That’s amazing! Why haven’t I heard of this before. Thanks so much, Eric!
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That’s wonderful to hear. Pets are a part of the family. Leaving them behind is unthinkable. Glad the airlines get that.
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It would be unthinkable. I actually know someone whose house burned down and she lost her dog. It was an isolated thing, but the dog was inside. I’m not sure I’d recover from that.
I don’t know if US airlines will, based on recent experience. They don’t care about the humans very much.
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No, they don’t.
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Nice story to help me feel good today. Thanks Elyse. 🙂
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Sure thing.
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Two of my nephews were working up in Ft. Mac. They got out safely, thank God, and this happened in the middle of the night. Many people left but are now stranded, but kind-hearted “normal” folks aren’t waiting for the government to intervene, they’re opening their homes to total strangers and giving money for gas, diapers, all kinds of help. The fire is not yet out and many more are burning in northern B.C. Terrible!
MJ
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Terrible is right. Glad your nephews are safe, and that folks are doing the right thing and helping others.
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Thank you, so tragic on so many levels, but I love the welcome for the dogs 🙂
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Wonderful. We lived through a disaster of our a few years ago (tornado) and fortunately all of us, including our pets, lived to tell the tale.
Thanks,
Tim
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Oh dear. Glad you were all safe Life gets pretty damn scary sometimes.
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I heard about that Elyse – thanks for the post and links so i could learn more. The biggest problem is that so many people were cut off from their homes when the fire swallowed the main highway and were stranded on the opposite side from their pets. The southern areas are being evacuated by road but the areas north of the fire are being airlifted out – no alternate roads. The big oil camps north have their own runways and commercial flights are landing there for evacuation. Volunteers are rescuing the pets and when they find the owners, returning them. The cops are entering every house as the evacuation is mandatory and they don’t want to miss anyone who is bed ridden or sick or unable to respond. The pet rescue volunteer are with the cops and are removing pets and leaving a notice in case the owner returns, Even the little guys like turtles and pet mice are being taken care of. Love the picture of the two girl and their turtle on the plane. i wonder if the turtle had to chew gum to keep his ears from popping? ha!
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Thanks for all that info, Paul. You are a amazing resource!
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As an aside Elyse, I did a guest post over at Cordelia’s Mom https://cordeliasmomstill.com/2016/05/09/good-chemistry-guest-post-by-paul-curran/#comment-17107 I’d be honored if you had the time to drop by.
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Actually, it’s next in my inbox!
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That is wonderful! Such a devastating situation.
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It is great! US airlines don’t treat human passengers this well!
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I loved this story, Elyse. Thanks for sharing. I, too, wonder about the pets. When we had the wildfires here in Northern Colorado in 2012, the community mobilized and most were saved including livestock. They used the local fairgrounds to house the big animals, and the animal shelters took the companion animals until they could be reunited with their families. But allowing the pets on flights – fantastic!
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Glad you liked it, Cathy. And thanks for the info about the Colorado wildfire rescues as well. I love hearing that the animals are helped too.
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Kudos to Westjet and Canadian North.And to everyone else who’s giving the caring sort of care.
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Yes!!! 👼🏻😇😇😇😇😇
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That made my eyes drippy. Whenever I see such disasters my first thought is what about the animals. Hundreds of wildlife must have been lost. The pictures of people fleeing for their life were tragic and I didn’t see any running with a dog or cat. This renews my hope that some survived.
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You should check out Paul’s answer. Our resident Canadian had a lot of info, too.
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