MASH runs a program that allows inmates at a prison to care for dogs rescued from abuse, providing them with the comfort they need to learn to trust people again. It’s a great program for the dogs, obviously, who’ve been moved from awful conditions to the shelter, but for the inmates, too, who get the joy of time spent with a bunch of pups. Six days a week women at the prison are moved to the shelter as part of the 30 day program. 

Since 2000, the shelter’s provided a place where dogs, cats, and horses can be cared for until they’re ready to move to a permanent home, and where inmates can get some much needed interaction with animals. 

Volunteers investigate complaints of animal cruelty, go in and rescue the animals, and then bring them back to the shelter where they can recover. 

The cells have been converted into mini rooms for the dogs, and have been renamed Bow Wow Way, Purr Lane, 2nd Chance, and Ruff Road. Lovely. ‘I get so much out of it, probably more than the dogs do,’ Kristina Hazelett, one of the women in the program, told REUTERS. ‘It’s very therapeutic for me as well, not just them, which was an unexpected, pleasant surprise.’ Kristina, along with the other women in the program, had to go through rigorous interviews and screenings before they were allowed to start looking after the dogs.
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We’ve been moved and inspired by stories of resilience by the Ukrainian people. Many of these stories involve animals: people risking their lives to protect local pets and animals, and animals returning the favor by helping Ukrainian forces. 

Like one heroic little dog, who has been hard at work helping to clear explosives.

  A viral video shared by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine shows the dog named Patron who is the “mascot” of explosions experts in Chernihiv, who is specially trained to sniff out Russian explosive devices. 

The video shows Patron hard at work, wearing his own protective vest, using his sense of smell to track the location of explosive weapons. According to the Facebook post, the dog has helped the SES team clear 90 explosives since the start of the war last month. 

Dogs are known for their incredible sense of smell, and they can be specially trained to detect explosives. Humans can then deactivate and disarm them, helping to save countless lives. It’s safe to say this dog is making a big difference: according to NPR, over 900 civilians have been killed in Ukraine since the start of the war, and officials say most of the deaths have been caused by “explosive weapons with a wide impact area.” 

Officials in Ukraine are grateful for the dog’s important work: “Thank you, friend, for your tireless work!” the SES post reads. The video has been viewed over 175,000 times on Facebook in just two days, and many local Ukrainians have praised the dog, wishing him continued safety as the war wages on.

  “Please keep him safe! Glory to Ukraine!” one comment reads. 

  “God bless our boys and little four-legged helpers!” another wrote.
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When they are struggling for their survival, their heroes come and bring them a second opportunity permanently. Exists anything more priceless? Not just do these pets need rescue, however lots of wild animals and also marine animals additionally await human concern as well as help. They may wind up in underground markets for hair or neighborhood markets for food. 

We can’t transform the globe however we can manage kindness in our area. Tiny acts of generosity work tremendously when many individuals take hands with each other. This is the case of Arron Culling, a kind-hearted guy from Greymouth, New Zealand. He and his colleague altered the destiny of 2 sea turtles in Papua New Guinea. 

These animals would certainly serve as a great meal unless 2 guys concern help them. As you might know, aquatic turtle fishing is still lawful in much of the globe. In Papua New Guinea, coastal neighborhoods collect turtles for their meat and also coverings. What did Arron and his pal do?

They got the freedom of those 2 beautiful turtles for fewer than 40 UNITED STATE bucks. They after that established them totally free. 

Two males drove 5km up the road as well as launched the turtles back to where they belong– the sea. These two turtles aren’t the initial turtles that the men have actually saved. They have actually acquired as well as launched concerning 10. 

Arron later on shared images of his rescue operation on social media sites. It acquired numerous sort and also shares worldwide. He hopes that these can enhance the recognition of people regarding the extreme circumstances of sea turtles. 

Six of the globe’s seven sea turtle varieties are classified as endangered or susceptible.

The ingenious kid used LEGO pieces to build a wheelchair for the hopeless dog, so she can run, and restored our faith in humanity with their inspiring story! Life was very unfair with Gracie, a one-year-old adorable puppy. Born without her front legs due a birth defect, Gracie’s journey into this world seemed already impossible, but things got even worse. 

Unfortunately, when she was just a few-weeks old, her human parents gave up on her, and the helpless puppy ended up into a shelter. Despite everything, little Gracie overcame all the obstacles. Always friendly and sweet, the adorable puppy went straight to the shelter owners’ heart. 

The Turley family Kennesaw, Georgia, fell in love with Gracie the moment they have met her and decided to adopt her. These kind people were already knowing how to deal with a special needs puppy as they also adopted a three-legged and a paralyzed dogs. 

Nonetheless, they were a bit concerned of how Gracie would walk without hurting herself. The help came from a boy who volunteered at the shelter. Since Grace was still growing, she needed a wheelchair able to adapt. So the 12-year-old Dylan came up with a brilliant solution. 

He builded a very special wheelchair out of LEGO, and it exceeded all the expectations. Gracie has now the chance to enjoy her life, just like a normal puppy! “The first couple of times, it took her a minutes to figure it out,” Tammy Turley told THE DODO.

“However, we ended up getting little pieces of hot dog and when she smelled those, she took off.” 

 More about this story in the video below!

  For more, you can fallow Gracie on Facebook!

Zira’s charming smile has gone viral, and it’s tearing Twitter down! Jesse, the dog owner, has this to say: “This was her second trip, although her first one she just slept the entire time. She reminded us so much of Rose from Titanic, the way she leaned against the front of the cart, looking out into the world of Target for the first time! We could tell she loved it so much.” 

The cute Corgi and Mini Aussie mix Zira has the habit of chewing anything she gets hold of, and she’s only four months old. “She loves getting new toys, ones that squeak, crinkle, or bounce. And since she’s our first dog, she gets spoiled as much as possible!” 

The viral photos of the Monterey, CA-based puppy, Zira on Twitter have amassed a whopping 487k and 127k retweets. Not only that, the shopping trip also got her some real love. 

“While we were turning a corner, this woman shopping saw her and freaked out,” shared Jesse. “She couldn’t stop going on and on about how cute Zira was. Zira just started licking her, and the woman loved it. She even picked Zira up and let her kiss her face!” 

 More info: Facebook | Instagram Turns out, Zira wasn’t the only cutie to enjoy a trip to Target:
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Chains that are too tight can become embedded in the dog’s skin, and tied-up dogs can be exposed to hazardous weather conditions. 

It’s a form of animal neglect that should be a crime — and as of today, it is finally against the law in Texas, who has officially enacted a new law banning leaving dogs chained up outside.

Tougher law for tethering outdoor dogs in Texas took effect today
https://t.co/ZODQ78mG7h @HoustonSPCA @HoustonHumane @bestfriends pic.twitter.com/x0xXByqmAG

— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) January 18, 2022

The new animal cruelty bill — Senate Bill 5, aka the Safe Outdoor Dogs Act — was announced in October. 

The bill bans chain tethers and improperly fitted collars and requires dogs to have adequate shelter from inclement weather. 

According to the San Antonio Express-News, that weather includes rain, hail, snow, and extreme high and low temperatures. The shelter is also required to allow dogs to move around comfortably. The new law also bans the use of heavy, painful chains, which are often used by dog fighting operations. 

“What has been used historically, and tragically, for dog fighting is tow chains and logging chains,” Deborah Dobbs, president and founder of the SPCA of East Texas, told KHOU. 

“Chains that I can’t even pick up. Chains that one dog would have to wear around its neck for its entire life to reach its food, its water and its shelter.” By offering more specific guidelines for what is considered animal cruelty, the new law makes it easier for law enforcement to protect animals and bring criminal charges against perpetrators. 

“One of the biggest hurdles has been the confusion and the vagueness about what’s considered appropriate confinement, appropriate shelter, appropriate care for the animals,” Dobbs explained. 

The new law has been hailed by animal activists as necessary and overdue. It’s especially important in a state like Texas, which sees its fair share of extreme weather conditions that could be a major hazard for dogs left outside. 

The state often experiences dangerous extreme heat, with a reported average of 60 dangerous heat days per year. But they’re also no stranger to the cold: the state was hit by an Arctic blast last February, causing blackouts and leaving some dogs left out in the cold. “This will effectuate change for thousands and thousands of dogs across the state,” Stacy Sutton Kerby, director of government relations for the Texas Humane Legislative Network, told the Houston Chronicle. 

“Every season, whether it’s super-hot Texas summers or whether it’s hurricane season or in the northern part of the state where it can regularly get to freezing temperatures, we get reports of dogs that have died outside at the ends of their chains. So we know that this is going to affect animals in a positive way going forward.” 

Despite being hailed as overdue and receiving widespread support, the new bill took an unusual and controversial path towards passing. A nearly-identical bill passed the state’s house and senate with widespread bipartisan support last year. 

However, supporters of the bill were left surprised when Governor Greg Abbott unexpectedly vetoed it, accusing it of “micromanaging and over-criminalization.”

You can still chain up dogs with no water or shade in Texas after @GovAbbott vetoes bill to ban it, the @TexasTribune reports
https://t.co/lPCNNTZ24m pic.twitter.com/X3OYfiXujg

— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) June 22, 2021

Gov. Abbott’s veto received widespread backlash — a hashtag claiming #AbbottHatesDogs started trending on Twitter — and eventually the bill got a second chance after the governor put it back on the agenda, eventually signing a bill with only minor alterations to the language, according to the Chronicle. 

The law officially went into effect on January 18. We hope this law will help protect Texas’ dogs from cruelty and mistreatment. No dog should be left out in the extreme heat or cold, or have to wear a heavy chain their whole life. 

We’re so glad this law has finally gone into effect!
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