HAVE A ZIGGY KIND OF DAY!!!

HAVE A ZIGGY KIND OF DAY!!!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Sasha's Dog Hero of the Week

Hello my friends, I am going to do a weekly post on a pet hero. There are many pets that go above and beyond the call of duty every day to help the humans. Paws up to all the heroes out there.

Do you believe in canine guardian angels and the kindness of strangers? You just might after reading this story. Early one morning, Yolanda Segovia's neighbor, Stacey Savige, knocked on her door and asked her to temporarily take in a stray dog she had found. The scruffy terrier mix had no collar or microchip. Segovia eyed the pooch -- burrs sticking to his belly and mud caking his fur -- and reluctantly agreed to foster him for the day. An erstwhile hairdresser, Segovia hasn't worked since 2006. At 47, she is a survivor of breast cancer and cervical cancer. A divorced single mother of two, Segovia shares her Port Tampa, Florida home with her 10 year-old son Azaiah and 21 year-old son Christian. Her elder son has Down Syndrome; he cannot speak or bathe himself, and he has had heart surgery and a kidney transplant,
reports the St. Petersburg Times. Azaiah immediately took to the dog, whom he named RaeLee (pronounced "Riley"). Segovia and her sons bought the dog a collar, leash, ball and brown bed from the dollar store, and all that day, Azaiah played with the dog, laughing gleefully whenever RaeLee licked his face. "Don't fall in love with him," Segovia warned.Segovia and Savige made 4,000 FOUND flyers with the dog's picture, stuffed mailboxes and put an ad on Craigslist. When no one called, RaeLee stayed the night at the Segovias' house. His dog bed was placed in the living room, but when the boys climbed into their twin beds, RaeLee dragged his bed down the long hallway and bunked with the boys in their room.By Saturday -- four days later -- no one had called to claim RaeLee, and he was still living with the Segovias. The honey-colored terrier had started responding to his new name. He almost never barked, loved playing rambunctiously with Azaiah, and was tender with Christian.
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One afternoon, the dog settled himself on the floor near Christian as he watched a "Barney" video in his room. Segovia was outside watering the plants when the placid moment was shattered by the sound of RaeLee crashing into the screen door and barking crazily. Alarmed, Segovia opened the door, only to have the dog race back through the house towards the boys' room. Segovia followed, screaming when she caught sight of her son. Christian was "slumped over, his body writhing in a seizure, blood streaming from his nose and mouth." RaeLee stood next to him yelping, but suddenly went quiet when Yolanda reached down to hold her son. "If he hadn't come to get me," Segovia said, "the neurologist said Christian would have choked on his own blood and died." The dog, she decided, was a keeper.
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But the next day, Segovia and her sons were heartbroken when someone called to claim the dog they had come to love. Randy Cliff, 34, who lived six blocks away said he had been searching for his dog -- real name Odie -- for over a week. Odie had lived with Cliff, his wife, their four children and infant granddaughter. Savige cried, telling Cliff, "That dog saved my friend's son."When Cliff came to collect his dog, RaeLee a.k.a. Odie, leapt off the Segovias' porch and into his arms. Christian watched from a window. Azaiah stood on the porch watching the man hug the dog he knew as RaeLee. "We're going to miss you," he said, tearfully. Looking up, Cliff took in the scene -- Christian looking scared, Azaiah looking downtrodden -- and asked, "Is that your brother?" Azaiah nodded yes.With a sudden change of heart, Cliff put the dog back down. "Maybe Odie was supposed to find you," Cliff told a stunned and delighted Azaiah. "Maybe you should keep him."And that is how the kindness of strangers -- Savige for rescuing a lost dog, Segovia for taking him in, and Cliff for giving up his pet to a pair of brothers who needed the dog more -- brought RaeLee to live with Azaiah, Christian and their mother.
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THE P O W E R of the P A W!!!!
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licks and sniffs, Sasha

33 comments:

The Adventures of the LLB Gang said...

Sasha...

Thank you so much for sharing that story, it made me realize just how much a special dog can change a life!!

Kind of like you and Bilbo have touched your Mama and me!!

Smileys!
Dory's Mom Beth

the magic sleigh said...

Wooos and Awwww. what a beawootiful story, sniff, sniff... I loved it.
-Kira The BeaWootiful

Emily and Ike said...

What a pawesome story!
Ike

Sarah Anne said...

Cool story. Dogs are just pretty much the awesomest ever. So are some people.

Gus, Louie and Callie said...

Oh what a sweet story. Mom is leaking now.. she is so happy for those boys...


Big Sloppy Kisses
Gus, Louie and Callie

Mimi said...

My fuzzy heart is warmed!

Oskar said...

Oops, my mom person was signed in under the wrong blogger identity, so It was me who really left the fuzzy heart comment, not her!

Mango the Maltese kiddo said...

I loved the story, thanks for sharing Sasha!
Please keep it posting, maybe someday I'll be in your weekly hero post, hehe, dream, dream, dream!
Love ya.

TC said...

The fountain is going again. That was truly a beautiful story. I hope Cliffs family found another dog too!

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

We pups are special!

We just need to find the right people sometimes!

Tank woo fur sharing!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Lorenza said...

Thanks for sharing it! Pawesome story!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

Lucy-Fur, as typed by Dr. Liz said...

That is a great story - thanks for sharing it!

*kissey face*
-Fiona

koko said...

Hi Sasha,

Thanks for sharing the story. It is very inspiring and shows the magical connection between humans and dogs.

Licks, hero

Al said...

Im so touched, I don't even know what to say...that's one fine story of how dogs touched somebody else life, regardless of the time had the dog stayed with somebody.

AL

Jan Mader said...

What a lovely story. Dogs can change lives, there's no doubt about it.

Unknown said...

Great story! Thank you!

Lillian Robinson said...

I hope Mom doesn't hear me sniffling and stick a thermometer up my butt! That was a sweet story.

Sadie

Tweedles -- that's me said...

Sasha
That was such a beautiful story that you have sharred with us.
Thank you for taking the time to tell us!
love
tweedles

Tweedles -- that's me said...

Sasha
That was such a beautiful story that you have sharred with us.
Thank you for taking the time to tell us!
love
tweedles

myra said...

Hi Sasha I think this is a great idea there are a lot of animals out there that go above and beyond for people and other animals not just pets. cheers to you and your mom for thinking about it.Love and kisses to you both. mrya

Sally said...

Dear Sasha, Thank you for sharing such a lovely story. You are a dog hero to us! We want to thank you for all your pawsitive vibes and for putting Paddy on your Blog. May your life be filled with joy, love and toys always! Bless your little paws. Dogs are wonderful beings - and D says she is always thankful for her little angels. We are thrilled to have Paddy back and we will post soon

Thank you so much, big hugs and lots of licks
Sally

Joei said...

Hi Shasy,
You have an award and you can get it from here http://my-days-and-night.blogspot.com/2009/08/award-time.html

I hope you like it

-alvond

Martha said...

What a great story Dory, thank you for sharing it - we are feeling all inspired now.
love and kisses
Martha & Bailey xxx

Cezar and Léia said...

Paws up for her!Adorable story!Thanks for sharing!
purrs and love
mommy Léia and Luna

SquirrelQueen said...

That is such a moving story, thank you for sharing that with us. RaeLee is indeed a hero and a very sweet dog.

Purrs for the Power of the Paw,
judy and Miss Cindi Lou

Woodrow, Luna, MJ Campanella said...

What a great story - it is truly incredible how dogs can save us - emotionally and physically. I gave up my Basco to my Mom for that reason too - he sensed her idabetic seizures in time for my mom to almost prevent them!!

Woodrow - Sweetie - MJ

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

We heard that story the other day but it was awesome to read it again - great sharing, Sasha, and what a wonderful idea to do this kind of post regularly.

Woos, the OP Pack

Paco,Milo, Maya and mommy Simona said...

Awwwwwwwwww....
Sweet Sasha....
we're crying like a baby!!!
Thank you so much for sharing that story!!!!!!!
it made us realize how much a dog can change a life of anybody of us!!!!!
And for me (Mommy) my furry babies are the best thing that had happened in my life!!!!
They are my best friends!!!
Sasha...we love youuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!
HAve a great thursday!!!

Tiffany and the Munchkins said...

What a great story Sasha! Thank you so very much for sharing it.

Chihuahua kisses,
Bentley & Lexus

Sierra Rose said...

Hi Sasha!
Thank you for visiting my site! My! What a following you have!!
Mom and I will come back soon to browse your site more....lots to see and read.

Hugs and snaggle-tooth kisses,
Sierra Rose

Life With Dogs said...

Brilliant story - the first I have heard of it. Great post!

Clive said...

We especially loved that story, as you might imagine!

Take care and thanks for sharing ...
Clive and family

ocmist said...

Thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful story with us! God moves in mysterious ways, Mom says, and some angels have paws! We think you are one of them, too, the way you care so much about others like Paddy. We are proud to know you Sassy Sasha... and your Mom too! The Corgi Country Crew