- Sally saves Punsey
“My daughter’s fiancé, Jeremy, took breakfast out of the freezer one morning. Our dog, Sally, soon joined him, pacing and crying until he followed her into the kitchen. She yelled and pawed at the freezer door, but she wasn’t asking for food. Punsey, our cat, was found cold and lifeless on the low metal shelf when Jeremy opened the freezer door. Punsey must have grown curious and crept in when Jeremy wasn’t looking. Punsey warmed up and started moving, so Jeremy kept him against his chest while covering him in a thick towel. Thank goodness Sally was protecting her tiny friend.” — Kathleen Wanamaker, North Carolina
- Lulu the diva cow
“Lulu, our much-loved cow, was a real diva. She was a food hoarder and a troublemaker, but she was also a big help because she was the lead cow when the herd changed pastures. Cows prefer to follow a leader, and Lulu enjoyed leading!
A wildfire started burning one summer. We could hardly hear over the roar of the flames or see through the smoke as we evacuated, but we were confident that Lulu would arrive if she heard us. My husband saw Lulu looking around confused while trying to prevent a stampede. In an effort to get her attention, my husband entered into the smoke. Lulu and my husband appeared a couple of minutes later, leading our bull and 25 female cows to a secure pasture. If shehadn’t been there to calm and lead the others, they would have panicked and scattered. The herd was held together by our spunky little cow, who probably saved many lives.” — Jeanine Connelly, Nebraska
- Hobbit the hotel cat
“When I used to work the graveyard shift at a hotel, a stray cat would stroll into the lobby, watch TV, and spend the night with me. I eventually took her home and gave her the name Hobbit. After a night shift, while I was sleeping, Hobbit yowled and bit at me until I woke up. Smoke was wafting through the air. Firefighters who were removing smoking furniture from a downstairs flat told me that I didn’t have to evacuate and the fire was under control. However, Hobbit would not calm down until the smoke had cleared. I slept soundly after that since I knew a friend was watching out for me all the time.” — Jean Brown, North Carolina
- Candy and Curly: A Dynamic Duo
“Both of our Bichon Frise dogs, Candy and Curly, were rescued. We had Curly first, who taught Candy everything: how to use the dog door, walk on grass, and interact with humans. I put Curly in his ThunderShirt one stormy morning and left for work. Candy bothered my husband until he came to the next room. Curly was stuck to the floor—the Velcro from his ThunderShirt was stuck to the carpet! We still find it funny to imagine what Curly must have thought as his mother stepped over him as she left for work. Additionally, Candy, a little hero girl, was excited to finally help Curly.” — Vicki Ivester, Illinois
- Oscar and the scorpion
“The rescuers told us that Oscar was a survivor from his mother’s litter of kittens, which had been attacked by coyotes. Years later, I was sitting in my recliner when Oscar, who is usually lazy, dashed toward my feet. He was swatting with a speed and ferocity I had never seen from him before. Then I noticed a scorpion creeping around my feet. I suppose those instincts for survival are still in him.” — Maria Whitsett, Texas
- Mandy the lifeguard
“I have a medical condition called multiple sclerosis, in which something goes wrong with the body’s immune system and it attacks a healthy part of the body. Due to this, I have to use a wheelchair. One day, I fell into our pool while still in my wheelchair. Mandy, our dog, went crazy, barking and running around the edge of the pool. My husband and a neighbor both heard her and hurried outside. Mandy had already jumped into the water by then to try to save me on her own.” — Eileen Halczyn, Florida
