But it turns out, that’s not far off from reality: we’ve seen many stories of pet dogs stepping up to become every day heroes, helping neighbors in need. That was the case recently, when one former shelter dog became a true “rescue dog” after saving an elderly woman after a fall — and now he’s received an honor for his heroism. Milo is a beagle who was adopted by his new owner Makayla Swift last year. 

He’s since settled into his new home in Silver Spring, Maryland and proven to be a loving, happy dog. “He’s really, really full of energy,” Lavelette White, Makayla’s grandmother, told Washington Post. 

“He loves people. Everybody that knows him loves him. He’s just so cute and sweet.”

A VERY GOOD BOY 👏🐕👏

Milo, an adopted Silver Spring dog, is being credited with saving the life of an 85-year-old woman who had fallen, hit her head and become trapped. https://t.co/n3uQQmderJ

— 7News DC (@7NewsDC) November 30, 2021

But Milo really proved to be an exceptionally good dog recently, after he unexpectedly came to the rescue of an elderly neighbor. Makayla says she was taking Milo out for a walk when the beagle unexpectedly darted across the street. 

“I couldn’t catch him… He started scratching on the front door,” Makayla said. “I’m thinking, ‘Why is he literally trying to break into her house?’” The home belonged to an 85-year-old woman named Sherry Starr. Makayla soon realized why her dog was so eager to get into the senior woman’s home: she could hear the neighbor yelling for “help.” 

 Sherry did need help: earlier that morning, after hearing the door bell ring, Sherry fell in her bathroom and became stuck, drapped on the floor between her toilet and bathtub. 

  “All of a sudden, standing there between the toilet and the tub, I slipped,” Sherry told the Washington Post. “I went down — hard — on the tile floor. “I could not move at all,” she recalls. “I’m thinking: I’m just going to die here.” 

 Thankfully, smart dog Milo heard her cries, and helped alert to Makayla to their neighbor’s crisis. Makayla called 911, and paramedics arrived to help dislodge the senior woman from the floor. 

 Her life was saved, all thanks to this smart beagle. His owner called him a “blessing.”

  And animal rights organization PETA honored Milo with their “Heroic Dog Award” yesterday, praising his life-saving quick-thinking. 

  “When this dog sensed that his vulnerable neighbor needed urgent help, he led his guardian straight to her doorstep,” said PETA Vice President Colleen O’Brien in a press release. 

“PETA hopes this story inspires people to consider adopting an animal from their local shelter, where so many clever, loving, and tenacious dogs like Milo are waiting for a family to join.” 

 What a hero! Thank you, Milo, for jumping into action and saving your neighbor!
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 The government estimates there are about 15,000 grizzlies in the province. The province's environment and forests ministers announced the ban on Monday, saying they were acting on the basis of a program of consultation with stakeholder groups, the public and First Nations, most of whom recommended a ban to protect the bears. 

 The move follows, and effectively expands, an August commitment to end the trophy hunting of grizzly bears and stop all hunting of grizzly bears in the Great Bear Rainforest. Mr. Donaldson told a news conference he did not expect that the continuing First Nations hunt would kill many bears, suggesting there are less than 100 hunters who use bears for food. 

He said about 250 bears were killed a year by resident and non-resident hunters. Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs said he welcomed the ban because he supported an end to the "barbaric practice" of hunting the animals. He said few members of the First Nations community are involved in hunting the bears. Photo credit: Defenders of Wildlife
In response to a question from The Globe and Mail, the forests ministry said First Nations guides would not be able to facilitate access to grizzly bears for non-native hunters. 

 Mr. Donaldson said the government would look at transition measures for businesses affected by the ban, including easing businesses into the effort to observe grizzlies as opposed to hunting them, but provided no further details. Joe Foy of the Wilderness Committee environmental group called the measure "tremendous news" that sets a global example. 

"This is worldwide news," Mr. Foy told reporters after the government announcement, declaring British Columbia one of the world's great hopes to hold onto the species. "Some nations still allow trophy hunting for big beautiful creatures. This is a word out to the world that says times are changing and changing because so many creatures are on the decline. We've got to start to look out for them, not kill them for fun." 

 In remarks addressed to hunters, Mr. Donaldson said the NDP knows hunting is important to many British Columbians. "This is not the thin edge of the wedge," he said. "This is a specific species, an iconic species." Existing penalties for illegally killing grizzly bears will be applied under the new status quo. Under the Wildlife Act, tickets are $345. 

In what the ministry described in a statement as more extreme cases, a first conviction in court can lead to a fine of up to $100,000 or a one-year jail sentence.
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One of the most common symbols of the holidays is the reindeer, who of course lead Santa’s flying sleigh on Christmas Eve. But reindeer are also real animals, and while most can’t fly, they can still pull off some miracles worthy of Rudolph. 

Like one pair of newborn reindeer, who are warming hearts this Christmas season by defying all the odds. Williams Reindeer Farm, near Anchorage, Alaska, has been raising reindeer for over 30 years, but they’ve never had reindeer quite like Spicy and Spike. 

When mother reindeer Sugar Mama gave birth to the twin calves earlier this year, it was a moment of concern for the owners. For reindeer, twins are rare — and it’s highly unlikely that both newborns will survive.

“Usually, one of the twins won’t survive or the mom doesn’t survive — just the way that twins are,” farm owner Lauren Waite told KTUU. 

“The reindeer are not built for twins.” But Spicy and Spike defied all the odds: they both survived, a first for the farm. 

“We have had twins and not one of them has survived, you know, beyond on 24 hours,” Lauren said. “The twins are super special.”

However, the twins had to split up after their birth. Since surviving twins is so unusual, new mom Sugar Mama “had her hands full” raising two kids. 

The farm decided to raise them separately, letting mom take care of Spicy on her own while bottle-feeding Spike inside the house. 

“Sugar Mama is doing a great job raising her female calf,” the farm wrote on Facebook, saying both twins were “healthy and thriving.”

The twins are now a few months old, and after weaning the twins were finally reunited. Even after months being raised apart, they still have a special “twin connection.” 

“They’re in the same pen now, and they find each other often,” Lauren told KTUU. “I think it’s that twin telepathy.”

We’re so happy that Spicy and Spike both survived and are doing so well. They’re reunited and best friends — a heartwarming miracle just in time for the holidays!
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 But sometimes animals have a sweet way of saying “thanks” to their rescuers, like one kangaroo who offered a hand shake to the men who saved him. 

 According to Daily Mail Australia, a man named David Boyd saw a kangaroo in Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra. 

The water was reportedly freezing, and the animal was unable to get out. But then, two brave bystanders braved the icy waters to help the kangaroo to safety. The men approach carefully to not startle the kangaroo. Once they get close and try to grab its arms to lead it to safety, the kangaroo starts to flail its arms. 

 But undeterred, the men get hold of the animal and lead it out of the water. A third man helps lift the kangaroo onto dry land, and helps keep the scared and shivering animal calm. While they seem gentle, kangaroos can be dangerous if they feel threatened. 

Their defenses include a strong punch akin to a boxer’s, sharp claws and a kick that experts say can disembowel a man. 

 Luckily, this kangaroo seemed to understand that these men were there to help — and in a heartwarming moment, even held out his paw as if to offer a handshake. “Aw, he’s thanking you,” the man filming the rescue is heard saying. 

 According to Daily Mail Australia, the kangaroo was in “shock,” and needed a half hour to calm down. 

 But according to Courier Mail, onlookers said the kangaroo eventually hopped along on its way, seemingly unharmed by the ordeal. 

 Watch the heartwarming video below:

 
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