The good guys thread

[kuhio98]

Rescue Runners: pairing runners with shelter dogs
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – The Jefferson SPCA just started doing something amazing! In partership with Synergistic Lifestyles, LLC, they’re connecting dogs at the shelter with runners, giving the dogs a break from being inside a kennel all day. News With a Twist reporter Deepak Saini put on his running shoes to catch up with the Rescue Runners.

Rise and shine! It’s time for doggy boot camp!

“They’re a lot less energetic during the day which is good, gets some of that energy out, and we get some of our energy out,” says Rescue Runner Josh Aranguiz

At the crack of dawn, the Rescue Runner pair up wit ha four-legged friend and hit the pavement in City Park.

“This dog is really energetic and he`s a really good runner, and I really like running with him cause he can keep pace,” says Rescue Runner Lori Andersen.

Lori Andersen is a marathon runner. She found her match in Chippy, who kept up with her for 2.5 miles.

“I had another dog the first couple laps around, and he wasn’t as good of a runner,” says Andersen.

Not all are morning dogs. Some prefer a leisurely walk. While others like Rocky need a little encouragement with a belly rub.

“You have to be patient with them. You learn a lot of patience. You learn that they’re just trying to have a good time too, and they’ve never really been out here before,” says Aranguiz.

After a couple of laps around, water is a welcome sight and heavy panting is a familiar sound.

“We do walk the dogs and we have volunteers and they run and they play but they don’t really get to take that whole extra edge off, so seeing them out here running in this beautiful New Orleans City Park is really kinda dumbfounding, cause you see them running like they’re someone’s pet, but they’re available for adoption,” says Jacob Stroman with the Jefferson SPCA.

The Jefferson SPCA takes in thousands of dogs a year, most spending their days in a confined area. A chance to stretch their legs on a beautiful morning is a luxury.

“We’re giving them a little business card for that animal and telling them to gome home and promote that pet an tell their friends and colleagues to take a look at the dog they’re running for that day,” says Stroman.

You can’t help but bond with your running buddy. You just want to take them home.

“Every single one of them. Yup, absolutely. My roommates would kill me though if I brought a ton of dogs home,” says Aranguiz.

The Rescue Runners meet every Wednesday at 6:15 a.m. at the Great Lawn in City Park. Anyone is welcome to run the dogs, and of course, they’re available for adoption.

[kuhio98]

378 People 'Pay It Forward' with Free Coffee at Florida Starbucks

A woman started an act of kindness chain that lasted for hours at a Starbucks drive-thru in Florida.

She ordered an iced coffee at about 7 a.m. Wednesday in St. Petersburg and asked to pay for the caramel macchiato for the stranger in the car behind her. He returned the favor. The chain kept going as employees began keeping count.

The Tampa Bay Times reports the chain finally ended around 6 p.m. when customer number 379 pulled up and ordered a regular coffee. Barista Vu Nguyen leaned out the window and explained the chain that started earlier in the day, asking if she'd like to participate. She declined, saying she only wanted to pay for her coffee.

Nguyen says he doesn't believe she understood the concept of paying it forward.

[cassiesmom]

Drew Carey did something good after an ice bucket challenge went terribly wrong... (source: Fox 8, Cleveland Web site, but I heard it on the news here in Chicago.)

BAY VILLAGE, Ohio — Drew Carey has weighed in on social media after a Bay Village boy with autism was bullied on video.

Carey, who was born and raised in Cleveland, also offered up $10,000 as either a reward or a donation to Autism Speaks after hearing about the prank.

Video of the bullying first aired on Fox 8 News Wednesday at the request of the 15-year-old victim’s parents. The parents wanted people to see the cruel prank they say high school students pulled on their son.

They said their son thought he was taking the ice bucket challenge to raise money for ALS research, but instead high school students dumped a bucket of human waste and cigarette butts on him.

The prank has sparked outrage in Northeast Ohio and even across the country.

Carey tweeted after seeing the story Friday. He called it “horrendous” and said “These kids should be arrested and expelled.”

He also tweeted that he would donate $10,000 to start a reward fund or give the money to the Autism Speaks organization.

[phesina]

Oh my God... I just can't believe there are "people" that would do something like that "prank" ... and that is no prank, that is an act of unspeakable cruelty. Those dirtbags should indeed be arrested and expelled.

Good one, Drew Carey.

[kuhio98]

Meet the Hero Dog Who Helped His Owner Fight Off a Black Bear

Man's best friend, indeed.

On Thursday, Steven Krichbaum, 59, was walking with his yellow Lab mix Henry in West Virginia's George Washington National Forest when they were confronted with something bear-y scary: two cubs and a larger black bear, who wasn't happy to see them. The animal proceeded to attack, and the guys leaped into action.

"Krichbaum and his dog attempted to fend off the attack and were subsequently injured," reads a press release given to NVDaily.com. According to the report, Krichbaum said the dog saved his life by attacking the bear while he kept striking it with a rock.

Their efforts worked: They managed to escape and were able to drive to a fruit market in Middletown, Virginia, where both of them, quite bloodied, received help from bystanders.

"He was really bleeding out," Eddie Richard, the store's owner, told NVDaily.com of Krichbaum's injuries. "He had a huge open gash on his forearm."

Witnesses told NVDaily.com that Krichbaum, who is reportedly in stable condition at Winchester Medical Center, suffered serious scratches and wounds, including a hole about the size of a 50-cent coin in his upper thigh. He is expected to recover.

His furry hero, who was taken to a local animal hospital, suffered wounds also, mostly to one of his hind legs, but should also be okay. Here's hoping he gets lots of treats upon his release!

[kuhio98]

Awww, pupper with 2 broken legs perseveres with style. Made me smile today.


When this pup got hurt, she got creative.

In a video Jason Sanders posted on YouTube, an adorable pup who broke her two front legs after jumping off a 6-ft.-tall deck figures out the easiest way to get around with two casts and an Elizabethan collar.

With just a hop and a tail wag she takes on this doorway (twice!) like it's no big deal. We think even her shadow is impressed!

[kuhio98]

Happy Ending For Taunton Boy Whose Wagon Was Stolen

TAUNTON (Mass) (CBS) – A Taunton woman received plenty of help from police and social media users after a wagon was stolen from her son with special needs.

Taunton police posted to the department’s Facebook page on Monday that they are looking for a wagon stolen from the back yard of a Vernon Street home.

Marjorie Dutra, the mother of the 10-year-old boy, told police she confronted the man who allegedly took the wagon. Dutra said she was nearly hit by the man’s older model black pick up truck as he drove away from the area where the wagon was stolen.

Dutra provided a possible license plate number to officers, but they were unable to track down the vehicle when they ran the plate.

The photo of the wagon posted by Taunton police has been shared nearly 1,600 times and generated about 150 comments.

The boy’s mother said “it’s not just a wagon,” adding that she bought it as a gift for her son on his first birthday. “It’s the first thing he ever wanted, it’s very important.

While Dutra said her son feels violated that someone stole from him, she added that the outpouring of support in the aftermath has helped boost her family’s spirits.

“All I can say is Faith in humanity is restored,” Dutra commented on the Facebook photo on Monday night.

“From the actions of one rotten soul, hundreds of people are reaching out to help. All in all we are overwhelmed with the response from so many amazing people willing to help. All he honestly really wants is to find his wagon in our yard again tomorrow morning.”

An outpouring of support included the donation of a nearly identical wagon, along with monetary donations that will go to the family as well.

The donated wagon came from a 10-year-old in Bridgewater. “It was because I was just feeling good and I didn’t really use it that much anymore so I just wanted to donate it,” Nick Rae said.
http://boston.cbslocal.com/video?aut...lipId=10540836