May 25, 2011

White Dog and The White Dog Army Wonderful World Wednesday.

White Dog and the rest of our household had a difficult time thinking of the world as being wonderful today. Butchy's loss of his fierce battle with cancer and the grief of his family who acted with the ultimate gift of love, granting him dignity and release, left us somber and angry at the sometimes seeming unfairness of the Universe. White Dog pondered our post.

"The cycle of life, even with its sadnesses, is part of this wonderful world," she concluded. "Would you give up the joy of seeing a new pup somersault in its excitement to walk? the hope at seeing Michael graduate? the delight at a grandchild's first drawing? the warmth of a lifetime of shared memories with your godmother?" Quinn quietly moved next to WD. "When a loved one passes, he does not cease to exist. To the contrary, he is constantly with you alive in your heart. everyday things become reminders of your special connection. It changes, but love is forever. Just because YoYo can't see you and Nuka cannot hear you, it doesn't mean you are lost to them. Nor are those who cross the Bridge," he said.

"Let's feature a four-legged hero, today. A dog that has done something special to make the world a wonderful place," Puff suggested. "In Butchy's honor."

From the Statesman.com, we share the story of Yogi, an extraordinary pup:

Lassie has nothing on Yogi, a golden retriever credited with saving his owner's life after a serious cycling accident near Lake Travis. Tuesday, the Humane Society of the United States will recognize Yogi as the 2011 Valor Dog of the Year for leading neighbors to where Paul Horton lay paralyzed after flipping off his mountain bike.

Horton had taken Yogi along last October as he rode trails near his home on a hill not far from Windy Point. As Horton jumped a curb on his bike, disaster struck. "I'm sure I've done it 100 times, but this time my front wheel stopped, and I went over the handlebars and landed on my head," Horton said. He wasn't wearing a helmet, but doctors told him that probably wouldn't have prevented his spinal injuries. Horton was knocked unconscious. When he woke up, he couldn't move and was bleeding from the nose and mouth. Yogi was at his side.

For the next 45 minutes, Horton pleaded with the 85-pound dog to go home and get help. Yogi didn't want to leave. Horton couldn't yell, and he was out of sight of passers-by. Finally, Yogi headed back to the main road, where Horton's neighbors were walking. The normally mellow dog barked frantically. The Tates knew something was wrong and followed Yogi to Horton. There, Yogi stood protectively by his friend.

Horton was transported to the Medical Center, where doctors determined that his vertebrae had shifted, pinching his spinal cord and paralyzing him from the chest down. They operated to relieve pressure and stabilize his spine. "The dog alerting his neighbor was instrumental in getting him to a hospital and preventing his choking to death or going into shock," said Dr. Juan LaTorre. "He might not have survived if he hadn't been found until the next day."

Judges chose Yogi from 10 finalists in the national contest. He also won the People's Hero award, chosen by the public through online voting. "It takes a very unique and special dog to do what Yogi did," said Nicole Paquette, Texas senior state director of the Humane Society. "He obviously has a true bond with Paul, and it just demonstrates how close we are to our companion animals and how much we need them." pleblanc@statesman.com; 445-3994