The good guys thread

[kuhio98]

Cape Coral firefighters rescue trapped ducklings

family of ducks fell into a storm drain in Mid cape on Monday.

Shortly before 10 a.m., resident Sandy Pizarro saw a mother duck and about 10 ducklings along NE 15 Place west of Del Prado.

“When I first saw them there was about 6-8 or so, but when I looked again when taking my daughter to the school bus I only saw four.”

When leaving again a short time later there was only one duckling and soon that one disappeared. Pizarro approached a dental office for help who in turn called the fire department.

Firefighters responded and discovered the ducklings had fallen through a very narrow grate at the entrance to Capri Commons. There was no way to open up the area and get down to the ducklings, which were approximately 2-3 feet below ground.

It didn’t take long for the crews to come up with a safe way to get to the ducks.

“Since there was no way to get down to the ducks, and since ducks love water, it made sense to float the ducks up to within reach,” said Michael Heeder, Public Information Officer for the Cape Coral Fire Department.

Firefighters used tank water to fill the drain. As the water rose inside the catch basin, the ducks floated toward the grate.

Engineer Todd Clark, using a pair of tongs, was able to reach in and pull the ducklings to safety all while the mother duck kept a watchful eye from a distance.

What was thought to be 8-10 ducks ended up being 20 ducklings, and all were saved by the firefighters. It took nearly an hour to catch all of the ducklings.

None of them were injured in the rescue effort and once all ducklings were removed, mother duck and children found shelter in a culvert nearby.

“While we do handle animal rescues including ducks on a fairly regular basis, each rescue itself is unique,” said Heeder. “We have to balance the need for helping with the need to have our units immediately available for fires and rescue calls in our community. That being said, we will always respond and assist when someone calls for help.”

[kuhio98]

Entire Town Secretly Learns Sign Language to Give a Deaf Man Best Day of His Life

This was no ordinary day for a man who is hearing impaired.

On Dec. 24, 2014, Muharrem and his sister, Ozlem, took a walk around their town in Instanbul only to find that everyone they encountered greeted them in sign language.

In this Samsung commercial to promote the company's new video call center for the hearing impaired, the town is shown learning to sign in anticipation of the big day. Video cameras were also placed around the city and to capture those moments when Muharrem was greeted at a bagel shop, or offered an apple, or being apologized to when a woman bumps into him – all delivered in sign language.

As the events unfolded, Muharrem grew increasingly confused along the way, until he came to a Samsung representative and a sign that explained what was going on. The rep also signed to him, "A world without barriers is our dream as well."

What follows is a greeting by neighbors as Muharrem tears up and hugs them all.

[kuhio98]

Shawn and Alisa Johnson Find Homes for Dogs While Their Owners are Deployed

Instead of being forced to relinquish their pets, active members of the military now have a place to house their pets during deployment: Dogs on Deployment.

DoD connects members of the military with able-bodied individuals willing to take in their pets while they serve their country.

The organization came to fruition in June of 2011 when San Diego natives Alisa Sieber-Johnson (now a first lieutenant of the U.S. Marine Corps) and her husband, Shawn Johnson (a lieutenant of the U.S. Navy) struggled to find someone to watch their two Australian shepherds when they were being stationed on opposite coasts.

"We didn't have immediate family who could keep our dogs," Sieber-Johnson, 27, tells PEOPLE. "Our organization exists to ensure that your pets can stay a part of your family no matter what."

So far, DoD has provided over 650 members of the military with boarding placement and financial support across the United States and abroad.

"It's important to know that your dogs are in a safe and comfortable environment while you're away – whether it's for a weekend or several years," says Sieber-Johnson.

When U.S Army 1st Lt. Gretchen Zilka, 25, and her husband, Lt. Benedict Zilka, 25, prepared to deploy from Fort Bliss, Texas to Afghanistan in April 2013, her husband was also deploying, though a few months later, in November.

They had no idea what to do with Tango, their five-year-old terrier mix.

DoD found Amanda Lopez-Askin – an animal rights advocate from Las Cruces, New Mexico – and the couple knew they were in good hands. Lopez-Askin, 40, cared for Tango for nine months.

"Dogs on Deployment laid out everything for us – from contracts to veterinary care," Lopez-Askin tells PEOPLE. "It's a one-stop shop; and they made it easy."

Lopez-Askin assured the Zilkas that she and her family would be equipped to do right by them and their dog because no person serving his or her country should have to stress over finding a secure home for his or her pet upon being deployed.

"We were going to make sure that [Tango] was very well taken care of," Askin tells PEOPLE.

"I think that anybody who really appreciates the sacrifice that soldiers make in their personal lives can get on board with [DoD]," she says, "And if they love animals, it's the perfect marriage between the two things."

Sieber-Johnson says the group gives soldiers something priceless: peace of mind.

"To take on a mission, your mind needs to be in a healthy place in order to have a successful deployment," she says, "and you need to be mentally, physically and emotionally set to deploy."

[cassiesmom]

Sunday started out as a normal day waiting tables for Claire Hudson.

The 25-year-old was working a double shift for her job at local burger joint, Mac's Grub Shak, when something amazing happened.

"It was actually a really slow day and then this couple came in," said Hudson of Spring Hill, Tennessee. "I didn’t even realize the tip until after they were gone."

The unidentified diners had left a $36 tip on a bill that couldn't have been more than $30, Hudson told ABC News.

"I would’ve liked to have caught them and said 'hey this is awesome!,' she said. "They did it anonymously and it was really sweet."

In addition to the $36, the couple also left Hudson with a note explaining the heartfelt meaning behind the digits.

"Today is my brother's b-day," it said, written behind the credit card receipt. "He would have been 36 today. Every year I go eat his favorite meal (hot dogs) and tip the waitress his age. Happy B-day Wes."

"I was in tears when I read it," Hudson said. "I had to go in the back of the restaurant and compose myself before I went out to my other tables."

About three hours after the experience, Hudson posted an image of her customer's note on Reddit.

"When I woke up I was on the front page," she said. "It had over 1.5 million views on Imgur and 350K upvotes on Reddit."

In light of her story going viral, Hudson and the restaurant owner hope to track down the kind patron that left the tip.

"We want to see what his brother Wes liked on his hot dogs because we'd like to name a hot dog after him," she said.

"I have a friend, he was my best friend, he died about three years ago. This experience has definitely given me the idea to do the same thing on his birthday every year. It was deeply moving and just the coolest thing that’s ever happened."

[Catty1]

http://www.viralnova.com/tips-do-mat...n%202015-03-15

Instead Of A Tip, This Polite Server Was Given The Chance To Change His Life

MARCH 14, 2015

Brian Maixner recently served attorney Fred Boettcher a meal at Doo-Dah Diner in Wichita, KS. Boettcher was struck by the cheerful demeanor of Maixner, but also by Maixner's dental problems. Maixner's smile was genuine, but Boettcher recognized the signs of a painful infection, as he'd suffered from a similar condition as a child.
"He carried himself with such kindness and confidence with a mouth that looked painful. I was struck by that," Boettcher said. Maixner's predicament struck him so much that he decided to personally do something about it.


Elite Daily


Brian Maixner (seated) behind the scenes at the Doo-Dah Diner in Wichita.


Elite Daily



Instead of leaving a conventional tip, Boettcher instead asked the owner of the diner if it would be acceptable for him to fund Maixner's dental work. When Maixner heard the news, he shed tears of joy.
"This man doesn't know me and this is something I could never afford to do for myself. It touched me so much that he cared," Maixner said.
Boettcher referred Maixner to his own dentist in Ponca City, OK, who has, to date, performed thousands of dollars worth of work on Maixner's teeth.

Elite Daily


The before and after pictures of Maixner, showing what difference a smile can make.


Elite Daily


Fred Boettcher, on the left.

Boettcher is one of the first people to make lawyer jokes, but he lives by a principle of kindness and generosity. "No matter what religion you might be or whether you even believe in an afterlife, the way to be satisfied in your life is to be kind to everybody and be as generous as you possibly can be," he maintains. His daughter, Meredith Boettcher Young, was there at the diner the day he decided to help Maixner. According to her, acts of kindness like this are not out of character for her dad.
"I remember him buying groceries for people in need when we were growing up," she recalls.

Elite Daily


Maixner has made several trips to Boettcher's dentist in Ponca City so far, but he still has a number of procedures to go.

Today, Maixner's smile has been repaired. He's undergone several procedures that replaced his damaged teeth with temporary dentures. After a six- to eight-month healing period, those dentures will be replaced with permanent ones. And Maixner, who was cheerful even before, continues to smile brightly.

Elite Daily


Maixner's repaired teeth make a huge difference in his comfort, and also make him appear much younger.

(via Elite Daily, KWCH)
As for Boettcher, he maintains that he's also gained happiness by giving this gift to Maixner, who calls it a "life changer." For him, helping other people is true happiness, and he encourages all people to help others to the best of their ability.

[kuhio98]

Here Comes the Sunflower
She had no coins for the woman, but her Pomeranian's gift was of more value.
by Kirsten Anderson

“Come on, Sunflower,” I pleaded. “It’s cold!” My orange Pomeranian had sniffed every inch of sidewalk outside the door of my New York City apartment all the way around the block. This was my little angel’s idea of fun, but it was a dark January night and I wanted to get back inside.

Sunflower had other ideas. She headed to the subway entrance and pushed a candy wrapper with her nose. “Any change?” a woman at the top of the steps asked. She held a cup that jingled when she shook it.

I hadn’t brought my purse. Sunflower trotted over to the woman, wagging her tail as if to apologize.

“I love animals!” the woman said, bending down to admire Sunflower. “Animals don’t lie or tell stories or do bad things to you.”

Sunflower popped her paws up on the woman’s knees and gave her a big kiss. “I’m sorry I don’t have any money on me,” I said.

The woman looked up with teary eyes. “That’s okay. This is better than a million dollars,” she said. “Good night, Miss.”

“Good night,” I said, tearing up myself. Sunflower just wagged her tail. She had given what she could–love. The best gift of all.

[lizbud]

Awww, I love that story.

[Karen]

Love the "Dogs on Deployment" one - LH often remarked, when he was stationed at Fort Drum, how sad it was to visit the local shelter and see the dogs of folks he knew had just been deployed overseas, to places like Afghanistan or others where taking a dog was not an option.

It did cause me a bit of pause, though, the reporter used "Dod" as an acronym fr it, and anyone who has family in- or concerns about- the military knows that's the Department of Defense! And I was curious how they got a government agency involved before I realized it was not!

[Taz_Zoee]

Here Comes the Sunflower
She had no coins for the woman, but her Pomeranian's gift was of more value.
by Kirsten Anderson

“Come on, Sunflower,” I pleaded. “It’s cold!” My orange Pomeranian had sniffed every inch of sidewalk outside the door of my New York City apartment all the way around the block. This was my little angel’s idea of fun, but it was a dark January night and I wanted to get back inside.

Sunflower had other ideas. She headed to the subway entrance and pushed a candy wrapper with her nose. “Any change?” a woman at the top of the steps asked. She held a cup that jingled when she shook it.

I hadn’t brought my purse. Sunflower trotted over to the woman, wagging her tail as if to apologize.

“I love animals!” the woman said, bending down to admire Sunflower. “Animals don’t lie or tell stories or do bad things to you.”

Sunflower popped her paws up on the woman’s knees and gave her a big kiss. “I’m sorry I don’t have any money on me,” I said.

The woman looked up with teary eyes. “That’s okay. This is better than a million dollars,” she said. “Good night, Miss.”

“Good night,” I said, tearing up myself. Sunflower just wagged her tail. She had given what she could–love. The best gift of all.

This is great!! It actually reminds me of something that happened to me back in January. I was about to go on vacation and lifted a weight wrong at the gym the day before we were to leave. Luckily, I already had a chiropractor appointment set for lunchtime the day we left. When I walked into the chiropractors office a little Pom (funny, same breed) was in the waiting area. I completely forgot about my pain and knelt down to pet the puppy. It made me so happy!

[kuhio98]

Rescuers Trying to Save One Dog Accidentally Save 12, Thanks to Selfless Stray

In Dallas, Texas, a group of dedicated animal rescuers had pursued an elusive pup who was determined to live in a patch of woods in a city park.

Recently, one of the equally determined rescuers was approached by the very dog she was looking for, who proceeded to bark at her and move deeper into the woods.

The rescuer, Marina, found herself surprised by the dog's behavior. "He's never acted like that before," she said. "I was worried that maybe he was sick or something happened to him."

When Marina followed the pup into the woods, she began to hear yapping, and realized that the stray dog she had intended to rescue knew of a group of pups who needed Marina's help even more than he did.

Beneath a burned tree near a muddy creek bed, Marina found a litter of cold, hungry puppies. The ten puppies were accompanied by their exhausted mother, all of whom clearly needed shelter and medical attention.

Global News reports that "the puppies and their mom, plus the abandoned dog, now aptly named Hero, are all safe and sound in a foster home." Link to video: http://dfw.cbslocal.com/video?autoSt...lipId=11231024


Another thread on this story with great photos: http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthre...-Huge-Surprise