Hunter The Service Dog: Lost & Found

hunterservicedog-copy.jpgHunter is a Belgian Tervuren, but more importantly he is a service dog. He alerts his person, Shirley Chong, when her blood sugar is dangerously low. Last week in Iowa City, Hunter ran off while Shirley was in the hospital having surgery.

After days with no sign of Hunter, he was found by pet detective, Cathy Orde, and her dog, Zoe, who were brought in from Wyoming by concerned people around the world. Hunter had been frightened by people, but he liked Zoe the dog and he was finally captured and reunited with Shirley. Don’t miss the video.

Cathy Orde, and her dog, Zoe, are members of Pet Hunters International. The organization’s mission is to develop professional Missing Animal Response Services. We will achieve our mission by training and empowering professional pet detectives (Missing Animal Response Technicians) with certified search dogs who will conduct CSI-like investigative searches that bring lost dogs, cats, and other companion animals back home.

Sleeping Man With Dog

homeless_sleeping_dog1.jpga homeless man on queen street west, downtown toronto.
(photo courtesy of Sam Javanrouh, you can see more of his work at his photoblog, Daily Dose of Imagery)

I’ve come back to this remarkable photo repeatedly for months now. I don’t want to analyze it to death, but I do find the image moving. Trust, comfort, love, compassion, solace. What do you see?

We Like: IKEA Kid’s Tent

ikeadogtent.jpg I love being able to repurpose something and save money. And the IKEA kid’s tent, Korall Anemon makes a great collapsible dog tent. We took Saffron camping for the first time this year. She loves it, but does show some stress about how we’re living outside. For instance, we really have to work to get her to go potty, I think because she’s not as clear about where it’s okay to do that if we’re living outside. She is also alert and on watch most of the time when we’re hanging around the campsite and has a hard time relaxing.

ikeadogtentcollapsed.jpgSo, I wanted to try a collapsible crate or tent to see if having a sheltered space to lounge would help Saffron chill out, but they aren’t cheap. And who knows if it will work. Then I see this dog tent disguised as a kid’s tent at IKEA. Problem solved for $14.99.

By the way, this isn’t for Saffron to spend the night in. She sleeps with us in our tent where we can make sure she’s safe & sound and where she can keep us warm.