May 9, 2016 · 0:00
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When your life is going to the dogs

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.

Canadian North

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.

52 Comments

Filed under Humor

52 responses to “When your life is going to the dogs”

  1. lisakunk
    June 2, 2016 at 0:00

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Elyse
      June 2, 2016 at 0:00

      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!

      Like

      Reply
  2. Cortney
    May 18, 2016 at 0:00

    Just when I thought I couldn’t like Canadians more – this! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. W E Patterson
    May 15, 2016 at 0:00

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. Lorna's Voice
    May 13, 2016 at 0:00

    Smiles and wags from this end of the country! Thanks for lifting me up and not provoking my potty mouth! ❤️🐾

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. Samara
    May 10, 2016 at 0:00

    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 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. Life With The Top Down
    May 10, 2016 at 0:00

    Happy endings, silver linings, hope and animals all in one post just made my day!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. drugopinions
    May 10, 2016 at 0:00

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. Just Joan
    May 9, 2016 at 0:00

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Elyse
      May 9, 2016 at 0:00

      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…

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  10. Scott
    May 9, 2016 at 0:00

    That’s awesome. We so seldom get good news these days.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  11. pegoleg
    May 9, 2016 at 0:00

    Thanks for passing on this bright spot in the general suckiness of the news.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  12. Nurse Kelly
    May 9, 2016 at 0:00

    That’s wonderful – thanks for sharing that Elyse. Such an awful tragedy.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Elyse
      May 9, 2016 at 0:00

      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.)

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  13. 1jaded1
    May 9, 2016 at 0:00

    Yay for good news. So refreshing.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  14. Eric Tonningsen
    May 9, 2016 at 0:00

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  15. Carrie Rubin
    May 9, 2016 at 0:00

    That’s wonderful to hear. Pets are a part of the family. Leaving them behind is unthinkable. Glad the airlines get that.

    Like

    Reply
    • Elyse
      May 9, 2016 at 0:00

      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.

      Like

      Reply
  16. Tippy Gnu
    May 9, 2016 at 0:00

    Nice story to help me feel good today. Thanks Elyse. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  17. emjayandthem
    May 9, 2016 at 0:00

    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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  18. timkeen40
    May 9, 2016 at 0:00

    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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  19. Paul
    May 9, 2016 at 0:00

    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!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  20. She's a Maineiac
    May 9, 2016 at 0:00

    That is wonderful! Such a devastating situation.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  21. Cathy Ulrich
    May 9, 2016 at 0:00

    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!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Elyse
      May 9, 2016 at 0:00

      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.

      Like

      Reply
  22. dinahmow
    May 9, 2016 at 0:00

    Kudos to Westjet and Canadian North.And to everyone else who’s giving the caring sort of care.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  23. Kate Crimmins
    May 9, 2016 at 0:00

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Play nice, please.