Bird-Hunting Dogs Are Used to Save New Zealand's Native Bird Population - Why Did the Squirrel in the Window Make Her Call the Police?

A New Day

Mia was a hard worker. She would rarely sleep in, but when she did, she would never rush out of bed. She loved laying in bed, watching the leaves sing their song and the many different animals decorate the picture her window frame formed.

On this specific morning, Mia was all alone; her husband and son were on their annual skiing trip, and she embraced the peace and quiet for as long as it lasted. There was no one to make breakfast for, no one needed her to give them a ride, and she had the whole place to herself. Little did she know that she was not alone at all...

Suprise Suprise

Mia could easily visualize the rest of her morning. She thought of ordering some breakfast, gluing herself in front of the television, and catching up on some Netflix shows she hadn't had a chance to watch. It was only a matter of time before her free morning was about to turn into something completely different.

Mia tossed and turned, and just as she was about to nod off and continue her morning lie-in, she heard a strange noise. Something she had never heard before. At first, he thought it was the radiators that were making the weird noise, but then it went quiet. Five minutes later, Mia heard the noise again.

What Was The Noise

She tried to go back to sleep, but the noise wouldn't leave her at peace. She listened carefully and acknowledged that it was coming from the outside and not too far. She got out of bed and walked towards the window. She pulled both curtains and looked outside. She was shocked by what she saw.

There it was, a tiny little squirrel, nestled up and looking as if it was in a deep sleep. Mia hadn't realized before that there were squirrels outside her window, building a nest, planning to make Mia's outdoors their permanent home. There were two squirrels, both with warm orange coats, and it looked as if they had just been brought out of a cartoon.

She Had To Snap The Moment

Mia rushed and got her camera. This was something she had to document and share with her entire world. She took some photos of the sleeping squirrels, unaware of what was soon about to happen. Soon enough, her bedroom view was about to turn into the local headlines in all newspapers.

Her bedroom window couldn't be entirely open, so Mia couldn't reach out and touch them. She didn't want to scare them off, so she made sure she was quiet. There was no sign of the two little squirrels' mum, so Mia assumed she went to look for food for her cubs.

She Couldn't Believe Her Eyes

Mia zoomed in with her camera's lens and couldn't believe what she saw. It was much more than just two baby squirrels. She moved the camera away, hoping it was all just one big illusion. She then pointed her camera at the nest once again; however, what she saw before was still there.

Mia stared at it and couldn't move her sight. She knew she couldn't leave things as they were and had to act quickly; she had to get help, and she had to get it fast. It was her first time in this situation, and she rushed to the phone to call her husband, hoping he wasn't already having the time of his life down the ski slopes.

There Was No Help

When Mia's husband answered the phone and heard what had happened, he immediately told her to call the police and not to wait any longer. Mia begged her husband to come home sooner. However, this had to be treated now. Mia called the police station; the police officer on the other end of the line said that they were leaving the station immediately and making their way to her house.

She hoped they wouldn't take too long because it might be too late if they did. Mia found herself at home, all alone, waiting for the police to arrive, still shocked by what she had found.

The Police Were On Their Way

About ten minutes after putting the phone down, the doorbell rang. It was the police. Those ten minutes seemed like a lifetime for Mia, and when she finally opened the door, she saw two policemen, both very tall with serious looks on their faces, waiting for Mia to let them in.

One of the police officers asked Mia what seemed to be the problem as they understood it was about squirrels she had found outside of her window. She led the two officers into her bedroom and showed them what she had found. Both police officers nodded and then looked at each other without saying a word.

There Was No Time

At first, they couldn't understand what Mia was on about. It looked like just another nest with two cute squirrels sleeping inside of it. Then, they had a closer look and realized what was going on. The two police officers looked at each other before turning to Mia. One of them looked her straight in the eye and said, “We need to act fast.”

There was no time to waste. The police officers explained that they would have to call for backup as this was too dangerous for them to handle alone. All they had to do was get the squirrels out of the danger zone, and then everything would be ok.

Everything Was Under Control

The police officers left Mia's bedroom and began making phone calls. Mia wasn't feeling so well and just wanted this all to be over. She was thankful that she saw what she saw and couldn't imagine what would have happened if she hadn't opened her bedroom window that morning.

There was not a lot for her to do at this moment, or at least that was what she thought, and she had to let the professionals do their work. Then, one of the police officers approached her. He explained that he had just been on the phone with the local animal rescue and that they were on their way.

The Garden Was The Next Spot

Mia looked at the policeman with worried eyes. He then asked her to help them and guide them through everything that had been happening and everything that was about to take place. "You will probably know the best way to approach this. So, will you help us?” Mia looked at the police officer and immediately told them all about the layout of the house and the structure of the garden.

The area of Mia's house was big, and they didn't want to make things even more difficult than they already were. By being familiar with the area, they could sneak up on the little squirrels without them even noticing.

They Caught it Just In Time

One police officer suggested they use the back entrance of the house. They could all split up, and others could use the barn and approach for the other side. Then, the animal rescue team arrived. They were carrying cages and nests and started to place them around the house.

They had to plan what was the best way to confront what was happening, and there was no room for mistakes. They had to think of the most efficient way to attack this and had to make sure that when they rescued the squirrels, no harm was done to any one of them.

No Worries in The World

The two little cute squirrels were still sound asleep and unaware of what was going on. The police officers were doing their part of the job, which was getting the squirrels down using a long ladder, and Mia was responsible for the other animal that was in her big garden.

Within seconds, the officers had both squirrels in their hands and out of the nest. They placed the two little creatures in a cage and threw a blanket on it to keep them warm. Now it was time to catch the other animal that was free and ensure no one got hurt.

There Was More To Come

The police officers knew that taking the squirrels down from the tree and placing them in a cage was not going to be the big challenge of the day. They were more concerned about the other animals that were running wild. If this second animal happened to run off and escape, they would all be in a serious problem.

When Mia opened her bedroom window, she saw what she thought was a giant eagle resting on one of the tree branches, waiting to attack its prey. The eagle was staring at the squirrels, waiting patiently and calmly for the right moment.

Leave Nature Alone

Now, Mia didn't want to interfere with nature, and she completely understood that this is the way life goes sometimes; however, his was, without a doubt, a different story. The police officer explained that they were familiar with the bald eagle; however, this was the first time other animals were in danger.

Apparently, the eagle had been hovering around the area for quite a while. It had escaped from the local zoo and had been a threat to many animals. When Mia called them and explained what was waiting outside her bedroom window, they were thrilled that the opportunity to catch it finally arrived.

Flying Danger

By keeping the squirrels in a cage, still in Mia's garden, they knew the eagle would be distracted by them. The police officers, together with the animal rescue team, could surprise it from behind. Mia was uneasy. She couldn't believe how a day that was supposed to be all to herself turned into an animal chase with police officers, squirrels, an escape team, and one threatening eagle.

Her garden was packed with officers and security, and all she wanted was for this episode to be over and done with. They all had to hurry up and act fast before the eagle decided to spread its wings and fly.

Mission Not Impossible

Everyone involved was in the back garden. They split up into two groups and carefully planned their next step. Mia looked at the eagle from a distance. Despite its fierce beak, sharp talons, and intimidating gaze, there was something captivating about this creature. She almost felt sorry for it.

This was no time for sympathy; the eagle had to be returned to where it belonged, and the squirrel had to feel safe in their natural habitat. The animal rescue team slowly approached the eagle from behind, unaware of what was about to happen next. The eagle turned around and looked them straight in the eye.

Mia Froze

The eagle cried out, which echoed for miles. Mia couldn't move, and she was terrified. Suddenly, out of nowhere, an officer threw a net over the eagle's head, and for a moment, Mia was sure it was going to escape. One of the officers jumped on the eagle to make sure it stayed put.

They lifted the eagle, which was now unable to see what was going on, and placed it gently in the patrol car that was nearby. Mia's heart broke at the sight that was in front of her; however, she knew deep inside this was the thing to be done.

How Lucky She Was

As the car disappeared into the distance, Mia walked back into her house. She thought to herself that the poor eagle must be starving. Zoo animals are not professionals when it comes to finding their own food, as they are regularly fed. She kept wondering what the bird of prey must have been through, all this time, away from the only place it knew.

Mia understood how fragile nature can be sometimes and how unfair it can be to some. Something as cute and pure as two little squirrels was not such a big deal for us humans. However, they meant existence to the eagle.

A Local Hero

Mia was eased that she did whatever she could to save the squirrel's life. The animal rescue team would release them somewhere in the woods so they could continue to live their stress-free existence. Mia was comforted to know that she had saved someone's life.

She looked outside of the window and prayed that one day, the little creatures would return to her tree and give her a window view of that little touch of nature she loved so much. Just when she thought this episode was over and she could get back to her normal life, Mia received a reminder that things were not over yet.

Going Public

Just like any other morning, Mia was waiting for the newspaper to slip through her mailbox. As it turned out, the local newspaper reporter heard about Mia's adventures and decided to write a piece about it. Mia opened the paper and anxiously looked for the article.

She sat at the kitchen table, surrounded by her family, and pleasantly read the long words. They all had great big smiles all over their faces and couldn't wipe it off, especially after reading "A Heroin in Our Community." The journalist wrote all about Mia's discovery, her sharp intuition, and how brave she was not hesitating to call the police and animal rescue.

The Zoo Was Grateful

It went on and on about how Mia saved the community and how, thanks to her, the eagle was back where it belonged, and the squirrels were safe and sound. As it turned out, the zoo's management offered to pay Mia for helping; however, she refused and explained that it was her duty as a citizen and that she was happy to help.

Mia put down the newspaper, looked at her husband and son, and thanked the lord for how fortunate she was. She didn't have to worry about bigger creatures threatening her, she didn't have to worry about finding food for the next day, and she had her warm and comforting home that no one would ever take away.

It turns out that Mia's discovery tied up some loose ends in a case that she previously had nothing to do with. Let's dive into another story in which an unlikely pairing of animals reopened and eventually solved a long-running mystery.

In the animal kingdom, maternal instincts can be found everywhere. It doesn't matter if you're a human, a monkey, a wolf, a lion, or an elephant. A mom is a mom, and she's going to do everything in her power to take care of her babies.

But every once in a while, even an animal will look beyond differences in species. All they'll see is a litter of babies that need to be taken care of. That's exactly what happened in this remarkable story. A group of hikers traveling up a bunch of mountains in Central America couldn't believe what they saw.

So Many Questions

Naturally, the hikers had plenty of questions when they saw a Golden Retriever nursing three tiny tiger cubs so high up the mountain. Amazingly though, they would only find the answers to those questions years later. This would happen when they visited the tigers, who were now fully grown, at a local zoo.

And surely enough, that very same dog was there too. But those who were working at the zoo were shocked by the secrets revealed about this mysterious group of tigers. Let's go back to the very beginning and shed light on how this unique story came to be in the first place...

The Owner Knew Something

When the hikers returned to the zoo to search for answers, they set up a meeting with the owner. They were sure that if anyone was going to know how this strange encounter came to be, then it would be the owner.

Surely enough, it seemed like he knew a lot more than previously anticipated. He was pretty coy and didn't want to give too much away to the hikers. They didn't understand. What could he be hiding that was so important? In order to get to this moment in the story, we need to take a few steps back and start at the very beginning. Three years before, to be precise.

A Typical Hike

Our story begins on a mountain range somewhere in Central America. I bunch of friends who regularly hiked together were excited to ascend up one of the region's biggest peaks. They had been planning the expedition for a while now, but couldn't find a weekend where all individuals were free. Eventually, though, the perfect weekend finally arrived.

And so they embarked on their journey. They had been on many hikes together already, so there was nothing too challenging for them. But as they reached about two-thirds up the mountain, they discovered something that would turn the hike completely on its head...

They Found a Golden Retriever

During their hike, while they were high up the mountain, the hikers discovered a beautiful Golden Retriever sitting on the ground. Within seconds, it was clear to them that the stray dog was nursing a litter. They asked themselves, how could a dog of this breed be stranded so high up a mountain?

It made no sense to them. And how was she able to deliver these babies and still manage to keep them alive? In the next few seconds though, the hikers began to realize that something wasn't quite right. First of all, they could sense that maybe those babies didn't even belong to the dog...

Those Aren't Puppies

Despite feeling like they were hallucinating, the hikers soon realized that what they thought they were looking at was in fact real. It was a Golden Retriever nursing three animals. But they most certainly weren't golden retriever puppies, not by a long shot.

All the hikers could do was scratch their heads and marvel at what they were seeing. They tip-toed closer so as to not disturb this unique family. The closer they got, the clearer the picture was for them. They started to connect the dots and just like that, the revelation hit them like a ton of bricks...

Mysterious Stripes

As they stared closer at the furry babies, they were starting to pick up on their patterns. They were unmistakable. These "pups" had fur that was fiery orange, with black stripes all around them. There was only one possibility. There is no denying that these were tiger cubs.

But how could this kind of litter be in Central America? Anyone who has a basic knowledge of the animal kingdom knows that tigers are native to Asia. Naturally, the hikers were scared, because they suspected that maybe the cubs' real mother, a fully-grown tiger, might be in the vicinity. They were on their guard.

They Had Theories

As far as they could sense, there was no tiger mom to worry about. It seemed like the Golden Retriever was the only mother that these poor cubs had. She was feeding them and giving them the love and attention they needed.

They suspected that maybe the mother tiger had died while she was on the mountain and that maybe the dog came along shortly after to save the cubs. They also suspected that maybe the cubs had been stolen from the local zoo, and had been abandoned when the robbers got too stressed out by the crime they committed. But they didn't know for sure...

Poor Doggy

While they had plenty of theories and even more unanswered questions, there was one thing that the hikers definitely knew was true — the dog didn't look in the best of shape. It was clear that she was seriously malnourished and may have been stranded up the mountain for a long time.

And now that the tiger cubs needed to be fed, this was putting even more of a strain on the poor dog. We imagine that the Golden was extremely relieved when the hikers arrived. But she had zero energy to display her relief. They knew they needed to do something.

A Challenging Task

The hikers unanimously agreed that they needed to help out the dog and these tiny cubs. But they knew that it wasn't going to be easy. They certainly didn't have the resources to carry them all down the mountain.

Not to mention the fact that they were hours away from the nearest town and that it would be near on impossible for a car to reach them. One thing was for sure — they didn't want to put the Golden Retriever or the cubs' lives at risk. So they continued to wait and brainstorm ideas. But time was definitely running out...

They Looked for Help

With a little bit of cellphone reception at their disposal, the hikers tried calling the nearest animal rescue center to see if they could come and help. When the organization finally answered, they explained the situation they had found themselves in and asked if they could dispatch a rescue team.

Unfortunately, though, the person who answered accused them of prank-calling her. She couldn't believe what they were telling her and decided to hang up immediately. While it sounded farfetched, the hikers were very angry at the person's reckless decision. But they didn't give up and came up with an idea...

Prove It

The hikers knew that what they had explained to the person sounded like a fantasy. But they didn't give up and knew that if they could prove what they were saying was true, then maybe she would have a change of heart. So they took some photos of the dog and the cubs and sent them to the number.

When she received the images, she was in complete shock and called the hikers back immediately. Without saying anything, she handed the phone over to the person in charge of the rescue center. He understood the gravity of the situation and reassured the hikers that they'd be there as soon as possible.

To the Rescue

Without hesitation, the rescue center sent a helicopter to the scene. They had considered sending a car up the mountain but ultimately deemed it too dangerous. The center did admit, however, that it would take half an hour for the chopper to arrive. This threw a spanner in the works for the hikers.

They were now tasked with keeping the dog in one place. Although she was low on energy, she was clearly stressed out and could run away given the opportunity. Not to mention how defensive the dog seemed to be over the cubs. She was quite aggressive. What could they do?

They Devised a Plan

The hikers came to the conclusion that they'd need to surround the golden, but keep their distance while doing so. If she showed any signs of starting to run away, then they would catch her and suffer the consequences.

The rescue center also said that they'd try to make sure that the helicopter didn't land too close to the dog in order not to stress her out. For the next half hour, things were very tense. All the hikers could say to each other was to ask what they had gotten themselves into. Deep down though, they knew they were doing the right thing.

So Tense

The helicopter had reached its destination and was gradually landing. It was clear to the hikers that the dog was stressed by the noise it was making. Thankfully though, she stayed put, along with the cubs. She wasn't going to abandon them now. So three rescuers descended from the helicopter. As they greeted the hikers and approached the dog, she showed her teeth and barked viciously at them.

She didn't want them to take the cubs away from her. But the rescuers stayed calm and peacefully carried all four animals to the chopper. While they didn't have any more room for the hikers, this didn't stop them from descending the mountain and coming to the rescue center that same day.

At the Rescue Center

So down the mountain, the hikers went. Once they reached the bottom, they hopped into a taxi and went straight to the rescue center. Upon their arrival, they saw that the dog and the cubs were already there. Although it was closed to visitors, they let the hikers enter.

And somebody was there to greet them. It was the owner of a local zoo. Apparently, he had been informed about the rescue and was determined to see the strange match for himself. In fact, he had already jumped at the opportunity to do something big, which he would go on to inform the hikers about...

He Bought the Cubs

While the rescue center wanted to hold onto the cubs and the dog to check that they were healthy, the owner put a lot of money on the table to bring the former to his zoo. Usually, the rescue center wouldn't take such offers, but it was just too much to turn down.

But that's not all. He also offered the hikers a fair share of money to stay quiet about their crazy discovery. Any word of this getting out to the public and the tigers would surely be taken back to wherever they came from. Clearly, the hikers were stuck in a bit of a moral quandary.

A Tough Choice

Although the hikers didn't like the idea of getting bribed, they knew that the rescue center could probably benefit a lot from the money. And if they didn't stay quiet, then the rescue center wouldn't get paid either. So they looked away while shaking the owner's hand.

What made the decision easier for them was that the zoo in question was more like a sanctuary where animals could roam freely, as opposed to a place where animals are simply put in cages. They knew the animals would be taken care of well. But one question remained — what would happen to the dog?

What About the Dog?

It should come as no surprise that the zoo owner had zero interest in taking the Golden Retriever with him. As far as he was concerned, a zoo was no place for a dog and so she could stay at the rescue center. But by now, the hikers were well aware that the dog had struck an unbreakable bond with the tiger cubs.

They depended on her. To separate them now would be incredibly cruel. The hikers had so much respect for the Golden for putting everything on the line and becoming the cubs' mother. At the very least, they couldn't see her stay alone in the shelter, so one of the hikers decided to adopt her...

Easy Decision

The hiker in question, Martin, was determined to take the Golden home with him and the process was pretty straightforward. The rescue center checked if she was chipped, to see if she had a previous owner. But she didn't have one, which meant that the hiker could just take her home.

No problem. But what made the transaction difficult was separating the Golden from her cubs. As the zoo owner had them loaded onto his truck, it was clear that the dog was distressed and didn't want to say goodbye. And the hikers were also very emotional about the scenes that were playing out.

A Tough Ride Home

So Martin named the dog Maggy. But as he drove her to her new home, he could see that she was already depressed. She was howling and crying. It was hard enough trying to get her into the car. Martin's wife had picked him up and was completely shocked that they now had a dog.

The ride home was very awkward, as she wanted to know exactly what went down. Although Martin gave his account of the events that unfolded, she simply wasn't buying it. She assumed that he just adopted the dog and used the crazy story as an excuse.

I Have Proof

Knowing that his wife was going to be skeptical about his story, Martin pulled out his phone and showed her many photos of Maggie nursing the three tiger cubs. As soon as she laid eyes on the images, her jaw dropped and she quickly stopped the car out of shock.

After a few moments of silence, tears started running down her face. She turned around and looked at poor Maggie. She started to stroke her head and reassured her that everything was going to be OK. And just like that, she restarted the car and carried on driving home. But Martin wasn't done.

Wait, There's More

Now that she believed Martin, she asked him to fill in the gaps and share every single detail about the story. Although Maggie continued to howl and cry, they managed to continue their conversation. So Martin carried on telling his story, eventually getting to the part about the zoo owner.

Naturally, his wife was very upset and had mixed emotions about Martin's involvement in taking a bribe. She still couldn't believe that three tiger cubs could be out in the wild like that. But her anger toward the zoo owner could not be ignored and she knew that something needed to be done.

Where's the Mother?

Another question that the wife had for Martin was regarding the tiger cubs' biological mother. Where was she when all of this was happening? Was she even still alive? But the wife also mentioned how the zoo owner had no right to simply take the cubs without considering the whereabouts of their mother.

At the very least, he should have searched for the tiger before taking the cubs back to the zoo. It was at this point that the couple decided to put all their efforts into locating the tiger's whereabouts. But would it prove to be successful for them?

Searching the Entire City

The couple started to consider all of the places where the tiger could be. Of course, the first places that came to mind were other zoos, sanctuaries, and wildlife centers. Either that or the tiger might still be stranded up in the mountains, living in the wild and looking for her cubs.

But Martin assumed the worst. He thought that if she was still alive, then she would have never lost the cubs and they would currently not be in the hands of that zoo owner. They came to the conclusion that the tiger must have been captured and was being held somewhere in the city against her will. There was only one logical thing to do next.

They Alerted the Authorities

Without hesitation, the couple picked up the phone and called the cops. In fact, the wife's brother was in the police force. So she contacted him directly to see if they could give her any leads. Maybe someone in the city had heard roars or detected some kind of suspicious behavior from a large animal.

Luckily enough, the brother was on board with his sister's strange request. He started asking around to find any useful information. And just like that, he called her back. He had learned about a formal complaint that had been made by a local. The cops had dismissed it, believing that it was some kind of prank. But now, it seemed legit.

There's a Lead

The wife's brother learned that the complaint had come from outside the city, on the outskirts. So he provided the couple with the person's whereabouts, so they could track him down themselves. On that very same day, they jumped into their car and drove to the address provided.

Upon arrival, they knocked on the door, which was opened by a very old man. With a confused expression on his face, the man had no idea why this couple he had never met before had turned up at his doorstep. But things made more sense when they explained their reasons. His eyes lit up when they mentioned the roar he had reported.

Not Much Information

Unfortunately, the couple were in for a bit of a disappointment. It turns out that the old man had agreed with the cops that he would call them back if he heard any more roars or suspicious noises. However, he never did. And he confirmed to the couple that since his first call, he had not detected any sign of a tiger in the vicinity.

The only bit of useful information that he was able to share with them was the direction from which he heard the original roar. So he pointed them in the right direction, they bid their farewells and started walking that way.

They Were Led to an Abandoned Warehouse

It's worth mentioning that they had also brought Maggie along for the ride. While they were walking, the dog started to act strangely, suggesting that she sensed some kind of familiar smell. She started barking and jumping around while running specifically towards a large, abandoned warehouse.

The couple were happy to trust Maggie's instincts and decided to let her take the lead. As they got close to the warehouse, Maggie was gravitating towards a small window at the bottom of it. She started peaking through it into the basement below. Naturally, the couple also tried to peak through to see what was inside.

It Was Like Noah's Ark in There

As they brushed the dust from the window, they could clearly see a wide variety of animals inside the basement of this abandoned warehouse. And it wasn't the typical kinds of animals that they would expect. It wasn't just a bunch of dogs, cats, and domesticated animals.

There were many different exotic animals that, as far as they were aware, would normally only be found in a zoo, or another country. The couple started to suspect that the animals had been brought into the country illegally and were being held captive in this abandoned place. Alarmed by the signs that this was some kind of illegal smuggling operation, Martin's wife called her brother immediately.

Shocking Scenes

After alerting her brother about what she saw, the couple sent him some photos of the animals as proof. Still on the phone, the police officer was completely shocked by what he saw. Immediately, he brought 20 officers with him to perform an organized raid. In less than an hour, the cops arrived and made their way towards the building.

While they were waiting, the couple could see that there was some human activity inside the warehouse. So these animals were clearly being monitored by some kind of traffickers. When the cops finally arrived, the people inside had no idea they were about to get busted.

Busted

The cops started to surround the entire building, dotting themselves along every entrance. As soon they got the command, they barged their way into the warehouse and locked all of the traffickers down. Their efforts to escape were completely futile, as the cops had their number.

It took just a couple of minutes to get all of the culprits in handcuffs. The employees from the sanctuary had also arrived to tend to the poor animals. Sadly, many of them were in very poor condition but would be able to recover with enough care. The staff started to help the animals into their rescue vehicles. But one question remained...

Was There a Tiger?

Unfortunately, there were no tigers among the animals being held captive. However, the cops did learn some interesting details that might suggest that the mother was smuggled. The traffickers did confirm that they previously had a tiger, that happened to be pregnant.

Although they were planning on selling the cubs, the tiger was able to escape the warehouse. They revealed that she had retreated to the mountains before eventually giving birth. Although they ended up finding and tranquilizing her, it was clear that she had already given birth. But the cubs were nowhere to be seen. So what did they do next?

The Missing Pieces

Some parts of the case were still yet to be solved. The biggest one was that although the cops had found the people involved, the leader of the trafficking organization wasn't there. What's more, was that the smugglers refused to give up the leader's name. The other loose thread was locating the mother's whereabouts.

According to the smugglers, because she had already given birth, they saw no reason to keep her around. Not to mention the fact that she was extremely aggressive. So they sold her to the highest bidder. While they were pleased with the fact that they had broken up this operation, the cops knew that there was still work to be done.

Three Years Later

So the couple tried to get on with their lives and put this crazy story behind them. For the next three years, they enjoyed their time with Maggie, who was already pretty old. Sadly, she developed some health problems and seemed pretty low a lot of the time.

The couple believed that it had something to do with the fact that she was forced to abandon the three tiger cubs she so selflessly took care of on the mountain. At the three-year mark though, the couple thought that maybe it would be nice to pay the tigers a visit, as they were reportedly still living at the cat sanctuary.

Paying the Tigers a Visit

They put Maggie in the car and drove over to the sanctuary where the tiger cubs lived. After confirming with the staff that the tigers were still there, they made the hour-long journey there. They were most certainly the main attraction that brought visitors there. As they got out of the car, they could immediately hear the roars of three fully grown jungle cats.

The staff led them to the area where the tigers resided. It was an incredible sight to behold. Those three babies had grown into huge, fully-formed tigers. All three were intimidating to the eye. But one of the visitors had a very different reaction.

A Family Reunion

As soon as Maggie saw the tigers, her old, slow demeanor changed. She started getting very excited and barked as if she was once again a young, spritely Golden. And surely enough, the tigers took great notice of the barking. It was as if they recognized that sound from years gone by.

In an instant, the three tigers galloped over to the partition and got as close to Maggie as they possibly could. The sight was so heartwarming. An old dog tapping on the glass, with the three tigers doing the same on the other side. There was nothing aggressive about it. It was clear though that the animals had some kind of familial connection and were just excited to see each other after so long.

The Mother!

As they marveled at the beautiful encounter, Martin started to tell the staff the story about what went down three years prior. And while they were partially aware of that story, they also had an incredible revelation for the couple. They also had the cubs' mother! Stunned by the news, the couple asked the staff how they could be so sure.

And then, the staff revealed to them the paperwork that confirmed the mother's identity. Completely taken aback by this revelation, the couple demanded to speak to the owner of the sanctuary for a full explanation. How did he manage to find the mother?

The Truth

Thankfully, the owner was happy to share all of the information about how he managed to locate the mother's whereabouts. It turns out that he already knew about the smuggling organization. Initially, he had asked them if he could buy the tiger from them, to which they declined.

However, when the mother finally gave birth and the cubs were nowhere to be found, the smugglers told the owner that he could now buy her from them — so he did. It was only when the cubs had been found and taken to the rescue center that he was determined to reunite them with their mother.

All Loose Ends Were Finally Tied Up

At first, the couple was extremely frustrated by this explanation. They had worried for so long that the cubs would grow up without a mother. Only now were they informed that for most of the last three years, this pride of tigers had been together all along.

Although they reported the incident to the police, it turns out that the zoo owner only needed to pay a fine for his involvement. While what he did was illegal, the authorities weren't so harsh because they recognized that he was able to reunite the cubs with their mother. So ultimately, the couple were grateful that all was well.

Maggie was able to save babies that weren't hers. In the following story, you will see another dog who had puppies of a different species and loved them anyway.

There are some pretty amazing people out there who will go above and beyond for man’s best friend. They will not only rescue dogs from the most terrible conditions, but they’ll also treat them, feed them, give them shelter, and even help them deliver their puppies.

A couple of awesome volunteers were used to doing all of these things, and then some. But when one special Golden Retriever mix came along, it didn’t take too long before they realized that she was heavily pregnant. And as the big day got close, her rescuers (and the vet who examined her) were completely dumbfounded by what she was about to deliver.

An Incredible Couple

Katie and John are a happy couple who happen to volunteer for a local Golden Retriever rescue center in North Carolina. They will often foster a variety of rescues while they work around the clock to find them homes. On one fateful day though, they chose to bring in Rosie.

In their words, she was “a little shy and scared, but very sweet.” So they made sure to treat her with the utmost sensitivity. They could tell pretty quickly that Rosie was very far along in her pregnancy. So they knew that she needed a roof over her head and a warm place to sleep in during this crucial time in her life.

Severely Understaffed

There was another reason why Katie and John were compelled to take in Rosie. At the time, the rescue center was extremely understaffed and was at full capacity when it came to the number of rescues they were sheltering. In other words, there were way too many dogs and not enough humans to take care of them.

The couple were well aware of this, and they knew that Rosie was a special case due to her current circumstances. Here, we can see a puppy being escorted out of the rescue center with a doppelganger, who was also taken in by a foster family.

They Were in It for the Long Haul

Katie and John knew what they were signing up for with Rosie. Not only were they going to help her deliver her puppies, but they knew that they’d need to give the litter plenty of care once they were born. So this was going to be a project that required a lot of time, investment, and patience.

It would also require plenty of trips to the vet (as seen here). During the early checkups, the vet actually believed that something was up with Rosie’s pregnancy and that they needed to figure out how to deal with it in the best way possible.

Weighing Out Their Options

At first, the vet was perplexed by what he was finding in the scans and wasn’t entirely sure how to deal with Rosie at such a late point in her pregnancy. Pretty much all options were on the table, including relocating her to another rescue center, among other things.

But Katie and John would not accept these options. They were determined to give Rosie the best experience in their home and believed they had both the tools and experience to give her the care she required during this delicate period. When you consider all of the other dogs they have treated, it’s not hard to see why.

This Wasn’t Their First Rodeo

Before Rosie entered their lives, Kate and John had already fostered a remarkable 20 dogs. They had loved the canine community their entire lives and would do everything in their power to make every dog they came across comfortable and happy.

Here, we can see John hanging out with one of their past rescues, Otis. They have no problem letting their rescues feel at home, letting them have the reigns of the place and even hanging out on their bed. John jokingly mentioned how Otis took his spot and from that point onward, refused to move. And Katie is also fully dedicated…

Providing the Best Care

Just like John, Katie dedicates so much of her life to ensuring that they can improve the lives of as many dogs as possible before finding them a home for the long term. She has seen the love that other owners will happily give to their canine friends, so she knows that the hard work usually pays off.

Here, we can see her taking one of their rescues to get their second round of shots. And even though dogs are messy and get fur all over the place, this couple knows that it’s ultimately a small price to pay in the large scheme of things.

They Know How to Help Street Dogs

With all of the experience they have built up over the years, it is clear that Katie and John have developed an in-depth knowledge of how to approach street dogs and take care of them. Up until this very day, they are still shocked as to just how many street dogs there are in their neck of the woods.

Both in the small town that they grew up in and the bigger cities surrounding them, there were plenty of stray dogs just waiting to be rescued. And all of this experience came to the surface when Rosie came into their lives. She had already been rescued, but they were desperate to take her in for the important few weeks that were coming up.

They Had Delivered Puppies Before

This wouldn’t have been the first time that Katie and John had helped a rescue deliver an entire litter of puppies. They knew the steps that needed to be taken to make the process as smooth and painless as possible for a pregnant dog.

Especially Katie, who had worked her way through the ranks ever since she started to volunteer at the local rescue center. Here, we can see one of the rescues that they helped deliver and her adorable litter of pups. And although they were thoroughly prepared to help Rosie deliver her litter, nothing could prepare them for the actual day of delivery…

Then They Have to Find Them Homes

In many ways, delivering the litter is just the beginning of what can sometimes be a very long process. There are many families out there who are desperate to take in a newborn puppy. Even though it is a lot of work, it is extremely rewarding. But not all of the newborns find homes immediately.

And so foster families like Katie and John know that sometimes, it might take some time before each member of the litter finds a forever home. Until then, they need to treat every single pup like it’s theirs forever. With that comes 100% love, care, and dedication – which can be extremely tiring.

Poor Rosie

When they brought Rosie back to their home for the first time, it was clear that she wasn’t so comfortable. The couple knew that they’d need to work overtime to give her the quality care she needed. It was a demanding few weeks, especially when it came to balancing their jobs and this newfound responsibility.

Thankfully, the staff at the rescue center were very understanding and tried to cover for Katie and John as much as possible. But due to their severe understaffing issues, there was only so much they could do. It was an uphill battle for the couple.

A Real Struggle

At first, Rosie struggled to adjust to her surroundings at Katie and John’s home. Her nerves got the better of her, and as you can see, she sank her claws deep into the couple’s stairs. Knowing that she was under a lot of stress, the couple took Rosie to the vet more times than they had planned.

This cost them a lot of time and money, but they did everything in their power to keep Rosie’s health at the front of their minds. It would be all worth it if this rescue had a safe delivery and was healthy when everything was said and done. And the doctor managed to give Rosie the right treatment in the meantime.

An Interesting Ultrasound

As is the case with many pregnant dogs, Rosie underwent an ultrasound so that the vet could check how her puppies were coming along. And as the scan progressed, he started to get very confused. Based on what he was seeing, the puppies looked kind of peculiar, giving the vet all kinds of strange ideas of who could be the father.

After showing the scans to his colleagues, everyone in the clinic couldn’t put their finger on what exactly was wrong with the pups. The couple was growing increasingly concerned that maybe they were pursuing a lost cause. Was all of this time and money worth it?

Healthy “Puppies”

While Rosie was still not herself, the vet eventually had some more conclusive results for Katie and John. But the question remained – what exactly was growing inside Rosie? The vet seemed convinced that whatever they were – they were not puppies. Everyone around the table was perplexed.

Thankfully though, the vet did have some good news for the couple. Whatever they might be, he didn’t detect any signs that there was anything wrong with them. If these were, in fact, puppies, which was still nearly 100% the case anyway, then they were perfectly healthy. This gave the couple a sigh of relief.

Bonding Before the Birth

So it was just a matter of days before Rosie was expected to finally give birth, and she was back at Katie and John’s home. Thankfully, she was feeling a lot more at home and even started to develop a close bond with the couple. As you can see here, she seemed very comfortable alongside John.

The couple took a few days off to give Rosie full-time attention and the bond between them grew even stronger during that time. It was as if Rosie knew that she was being taken good care of. As a result, she started to trust the couple a lot more.

A Few Problems

Unsurprisingly, Katie and John ran into a few issues leading up to delivery day. For a start, they knew that it was going to be a struggle to provide Rosie with everything she needed during this critical time. They didn’t have all of the space in the world either.

And the home was only going to get smaller with an entire litter of puppies. Then there was going to be the responsibility of raising the babies, before eventually finding each of them a new home. Clearly, there were plenty of question marks and things to think about. And before they could even find all the answers, it was time…

She Went Into Labor

The time had finally come. One fateful night, when the couple had just gone to sleep, Rosie had gone into labor. Thankfully, they had thought on their feet and placed a baby monitor in Rosie’s dog pen so that they could hear any groans or moans she would be making.

So they went to sleep, hoping that the labor would wait until the morning. But no, they ended up getting woken up at 2 am by the dog’s cries and peculiar sounds. It was like setting the most bizarre alarm clock on, but one that could go off at any moment.

Desperate Times

Woken up by the noises, Katie and John quickly got changed and rushed over to the room where Rosie was resting. It was immediately clear to them that Rosie was not doing very well. She was breathing heavily, with her tongue protruding out of her mouth.

Every movement was difficult as she cried and moaned for help. But despite her clear distress, the couple knew that Rosie was still in the early stages of labor. This meant that they had a bit more time on their side, so they got everything ready for the delivery and stayed by Rosie’s side.

They Tried to Comfort Her

First and foremost, we must clarify that this photo wasn’t taken during the labor itself. But this shows how close John and Katie had gotten with Rosie. She would happily jump into their arms and enjoy the warmest of cuddles.

And surely enough, the couple was there during Rosie’s most difficult hour. They were there to comfort her. John even went into the pen and lay next to her to provide her with extra comfort. As for Katie, she stroked Rosie’s face and reassured her that she would always be there for her. With each passing moment, they were getting closer and closer…

The Final Moments

During those last few hours and minutes, all the couple could do was sit by Rosie’s side and provide her with as much comfort as possible. They surrounded her with blankets, towels, and pillows – anything that could make the experience as easy as possible.

As for Katie and John, they were still so uncertain of what to expect based on their visits to the vet. They had no idea what they were about to discover. What kind of puppies was Rosie going to bring into the world? Was it even conceivable that they might not be puppies? The time had finally arrived…

It's a…Cow?

So the moment was here. Rosie had finally given birth to her first puppy. And it was a puppy, by the way. All of those worries from the vet had been dispelled in an instant. However, there was still plenty for Katie and John to be shocked about.

They noticed that, unlike his mother, this puppy did not look like a typical Golden Retriever mix. In fact, it had white fur and brown/black spots that were more reminiscent of…well, a cow. In all of their time spent with rescues and their litters, the couple had never seen a puppy quite like this one.

How Is This Possible?

Katie was at a loss for words. She had never seen a Golden Retriever (mix or otherwise) produce a puppy that had the pattern of a cow! And after putting the pup in the paws of Rosie (who was still in labor, by the way), the difference in appearance was so shocking. How can this even happen?

There is no denying that genetics, especially in the canine kingdom, can be quite funny. It makes you wonder – what did the dad look like? We’re sure he isn’t a cow. That would just be bizarre. But at any rate, this pup must have inherited his daddy’s looks. And that was just the beginning…

More on the Way…

The reality was that Katie and John didn’t have much time to continue to be surprised. They had a job to do, as Rosie was about to deliver the next pup, and they needed to make sure that all of the other pups were safely delivered. So they took the firstborn, wrapped it in a blanket, and put it in a safe space.

Without hesitation, they switched their attention back to Rosie, who was working hard to bring her second “child” into the world. The couple wondered – would this next puppy also look like its sibling? Or would it look more like a traditional Golden? They were about to find out.

Number Two Says Moo!

Most dogs give birth to multiple pups in one sitting, and this was no different. But the question remained – was the first pup an anomaly dressed like a cow? Or would all of the puppies look like they just came from the field?

As soon as Rosie pushed out the second, the couple could clearly see that, lo and behold, it also had the same cow-like pattern! How was this even possible? It was like something from out of a strange dream. But once again, Katie and John couldn’t waste any time. They gasped in shock before wrapping number two in a blanket and bracing themselves for number three…

Three’s a Charm

Yes, we know. Upon first glance, it seems like this photo only shows the first two pups. But if you look at the bottom right-hand corner of the photo, you will see that very same cow pattern. This time though, it’s on another pup – which means that all three at this point were “cow puppies,” for lack of a better term.

Katie and John’s gasps had now turned into pure laughter. They found the whole situation completely bizarre and hilarious. But at the same time, they still needed to make sure that the third pup was breathing and in good condition. But before they knew it, a fourth one was on its way!

The Fantastic Four?

So it turns out that the couple was in store for another surprise. However, it was a very different surprise from the others. Unlike the three that came before it, the fourth puppy didn’t quite have the same large, black spots. This time, it had smaller, brown spots and showed a lot more white fur.

Nevertheless, number four still looked nothing like their mother, Rosie. If you weren’t reading this story and simply looked at the photo, you wouldn’t think that these four beautiful pups were Golden Retriever mixes. The only question that remained was the following: Were any more on the way?

That’s All, Folks!

So two and a half hours had passed in total. It was a pretty long labor for this strong Golden mix. Katie and John were exhausted, so they couldn’t imagine how Rosie was feeling at this point. After waiting a bit longer, they came to the conclusion that Rosie wasn’t going to deliver any more pups.

That was it, she had given birth to four beautiful “cow puppies,” and that was the end. The couple looked at each other and asked each other if they were dreaming. It was such a surreal scenario that led to the most remarkable photos. But do you think that’s where the story ends? Far from it.

Tiny Cows

A week had passed and truth be told, the puppies had not grown that much. They were still tiny and were sleeping a lot, understandably. Thankfully, they were regularly feeding from Rosie, who had earned herself a long rest, which she took full advantage of.

Katie and John were so proud of her and for the next week, couldn’t take their eyes off of these remarkable “cow pups.” They started to call up friends and experts alike, asking them how this could have happened, and if they had ever seen a litter like this one. So many questions needed answering. Oh, and their names? Clarabelle, Daisy, Betsy, and Moo.

Watching Her Babies

Thankfully, Rosie started to find her strength again and was walking around the apartment with plenty of energy to spare. But it was clear that something had changed. Her maternal instinct had crept in, and she was very protective of the pups.

In fact, both she and Katie kept a close eye on the little ones, especially for the first day of their lives. Katie just wanted to make sure that they survived the first 24 hours – which they most certainly did. And there was Rosie, watching her pups from outside the pen. It seemed like she was still trying to figure out what she had just produced.

A Natural Mom

One thing was for sure: Rosie was a natural when it came to raising her newborn babies. She was so gentle around the pups, knowing that they were these delicate little angels that needed to be treated with the utmost love and care.

She would calmly lie next to them and know that when they started to cry, it was feeding time. All of the pups had no problem latching and were being appropriately fed as they rested against the warmth of their mother’s belly. Katie and John knew that these were fleeting moments, so they savored every second. They took tons of photos too.

We Need Answers

As the first week of their lives came and went, the couple thought that now was the time to find some answers to their burning questions. Katie and John did wonder if the puppies’ unusual appearance was something they should be concerned about.

Did this mean that they had health problems that they were unaware of? They knew that the vet would probably have some answers to these questions. So the day finally came when Katie gently placed the pups in a special box, put it in her car, and drove over to the local vet. And she was in for some pretty interesting information…

Time for a Checkup

So Katie and John had reached the local vet at the crack of dawn with their majestic cow pups. They made sure to arrive as soon as the clinic opened in order to be first in line. Thankfully, it wasn’t too busy that day, and the doctor arrived around the same time.

They didn’t have to wait long and just like that – the pups’ first checkup was underway. The vet started to assess their health and make sure that everything was in order. But before he even picked up any piece of apparatus, some surprising observations made him raise his eyes…

His First Observation

First of all, the vet took a look at Rosie to make sure that she was in decent condition. He concluded that she was in good health. With that said, he did mention that she appeared to be quite tired and dehydrated. This didn’t seem so apparent to Katie and John during their time at home.

But nevertheless, they took the vet’s word for it. And they were just relieved that Rosie had come out of the whole ordeal relatively unscathed. All that was left was to check up on the pups to see how they were doing after their first week.

He Had a Theory

Like the couple, the vet also had some concerns about the puppies, having rarely ever seen a case like this. But it seems that he cracked the code that explained why the pups kind of looked like miniature cows. According to him, the likely cause of the spots was Rosie having mated with a Dalmatian.

It just happens to be that the entire litter inherited the Dalmatian’s dominant genes. You may have come up with this theory yourself. But for Katie and John to hear this from the vet? That put their minds at rest, for sure. But he had some other interesting insights to share…

They Were Premature

The vet believed that the reason behind the puppies’ unique appearances was possible because they were born prematurely. As a matter of fact, he thought that they may have been born a month ahead of schedule. Now that is very early!

And it made a lot of sense, especially since they hadn’t grown much during the first week of their lives and they were still pretty weak. They were underdeveloped in pretty much every way and the vet expected them to have been bigger by now. And he even had a theory as to why they may have been born a month early...

A Product of Their Environment

According to the vet, the puppies may have been born prematurely because of the conditions that Rosie was living under at the time. Who knows what kind of environment she was in? She may have been living in the woods, on the streets, surrounded by cars, and under constant threat from predators.

As a result, the stress and pressure she was under forced her to give birth early. The vet also explained that because they were so premature, the puppies were at risk of all kinds of health problems, and asked to keep them at the shelter for further monitoring.

They Got Very Healthy

Upon the vet’s request, Katie and John let him keep the litter at the shelter for further treatment. And it was the right call because all four puppies ultimately got stronger and healthier along the way.

After getting the right amount of treatment, Katie and John were able to take the puppies back home and raise them with Rosie until they were fit for adoption. The next few months would prove to be some of the happiest that the couple had ever experienced. The only question that remained was this one: How did they end up looking when they got older?

All Grown Up

Fast forward a couple of months, and not only was Rosie back to full fitness, but her puppies had grown a lot! Each pup grew up looking less like tiny cows and more like Dalmatian Retrievers. And you would never have known that they were born prematurely.

They had so much energy to give, were always running around the couple’s home, and were always up to all kinds of mischief. And it seems like Rosie also liked to join in on the fun, treating them less like her kids and more like her crew! And they only got bigger...

Meet Betsy

Surely enough, it was just a matter of time before the puppies were ready to “fly the nest” and meet their new families. Once they had weaned and were big enough, the couple put the pups up for adoption. In no time at all, each puppy found a home where they would forever be loved.

Betsy was the first to find a new home and quickly settle into life with her new mom and dad. Katie and John were so proud of her that they posted this photo of her on social media. And it wouldn’t take long before the next pup moved to pastures new…

Daisy’s New Adventure

As you can see, Daisy stopped looking like a cow a long time ago! She developed some important brown patches that really completed the transformation. Eventually, she also followed Betsy out the door and ended up getting adopted by another family.

Katie posted a photo of Daisy on her way to her new home, writing how it was a wonderful three and a half months raising her and how heartbroken she was to let her go. And we totally get it. If we had raised a pup that looked like Daisy, we’d also find it extremely difficult to pass her on to another owner.

Daisy With Aunt Annie

Sadly for Daisy, she had to leave behind some pretty amazing friends that she had made during the early stages of her life. Most notably, her “Aunt Annie,” an older rescue who kind of took her under her wing. The situation taken in this photo happened many times, with Daisy quickly using Annie’s head as a pillow at any given opportunity.

"She quickly got up and went to lay with Annie, much better to have a napping partner,” Katie wrote on social media. We hope that their separation wasn’t too emotionally painful for either dog and that they were able to make new friends in their respective homes.

They Were All Adopted!

After just a few months, all four of the “cow pups” were adopted and made their way to their new homes. And based on this photo alone, do you blame those families for wanting to bring one of these little angels into their lives? And it wasn’t just the pups who got adopted.

Rosie also ended up being taken in by new owners. There is no denying that Katie and John must have had a lot of mixed emotions saying goodbye to the mother who brought them so much joy (and confusion) during that fateful night. Ultimately though, they’re just glad that she found a home.

A Family Reunion

Fast forward a few months later, and it turns out that two of the “cow puppies” ended up having something of a family reunion at the local vet. According to Katie, the two respective families messaged her a photo of the surprise reunion. Daisy and Clarabelle were the names given to them by the couple.

But the families decided to rename them Lily and Kona, respectively. It seems pretty clear that the two siblings recognized each other. What’s more, is that they are both sitting with the exact same stance. It really does run in the family. The fact that they both had appointments on the exact same day and at the exact same time was a crazy coincidence!

Betsy (1 Year Later)

Let’s take another flash forward into the future. A year after the litter’s remarkable birth, we got the chance to see what Betsy ended up looking like. What you might not know is that she was actually the runt of the litter.

And yet, Betsy went on to grow into a beautiful, elegant Dalmatian Retriever, who absolutely adores her new family. It’s amazing just how fast the average dog grows in just one year. They basically reach full size! And when you consider just how small those four “cow pups” were just a year prior, the transformation is absolutely extraordinary!

Rosie Has a New Friend

As for the wonderful Rosie, it seems like she is living her best life ever since finding a new home for herself. In this heartwarming photo, she can be seen walking with another Golden mix that Katie had since taken in for foster care - Bernadette.

She noted on social media just how similar the two looked and how they could even be twins! If it wasn’t clear by now, dogs have the purest of hearts and simply want to live with an owner who loves them and makes them feel special. If this photo is anything to go by, then Rosie and Bernadette are going to be just fine for the long haul.

Rosie's pregnancy was a mystery that ended up having a simple answer. In the following story, there is a human pregnancy that reveals a mystery much more sinister.

Animals' intelligence has never been underestimated, and the unique wisdom and sensitivity of horses have been always praised. The story of Jolene and her intuitive horse is just one out of many, and you will find the outcome of this tale astonishing and unexpected.

With unwavering loyalty, Jolene's horse guided her through treacherous situations, their bond growing stronger with each challenge they faced together. What started off as a regular pregnancy, turned into a nightmare in a police station and was followed by a betrail by the one person Jolene was supposed to trust the most.

Time for Expanding the Family

Like any other couple, Jolene and Rick were over the moon when they found out she was pregnant. They couldn't wish for anything more and finally, they could make their family complete. A long journey of trying to conceive was about to come to an end and a new chapter could finally begin.

Funnily enough, it was at the same time that Jolene's horse, Keola, started to behave out of character. At first, they didn't make much of it, however, when they realized something was going on, they couldn't ignore it for much longer.

Everything by Nature

Unlike humans, who can very often be unpredictable, in the animal kingdom, if there is no pain or nothing abnormal, an animal usually doesn't behave in a very different way. Jolene was familiar with her horse as she had had her for several years now, however, she couldn't understand what was going on.

What was making Keola behave the way she did? Determined to unlock the mystery, Jolene embarked on a journey of discovery, determined to restore Keola's inner peace and restore their unbreakable bond. Both lives were about to change and never be what they were used to.

Was It Horse Jealousy?

At first, Jolene thought Keola was just reacting to her pregnancy as she could feel the fetus inside her and was able to feel the heartbeats and the movement of the fetus, but it wasn't that. There was more to it, and it wouldn't leave Jolene in peace. Keola was rubbing herself against Jolene, which wasn't pleasant.

Being so connected to her horse, Jolene knew something had to be done. It was too tense to ignore and it was too worrying to be oblivious to. Jolene began to pray, knowing that God would guide her and the mystery would soon be solved.

There Was More to Come

Alongside Keola's strange behavior, Jolene started to suffer from severe back pain. She was 25 weeks pregnant and there was still a long way to go before giving birth. The pain was so bad she was having a hard time walking. As there was an unborn baby to consider, Rick didn't think twice and rushed Jolene to the nearest hospital.

Never in his wildest dreams could he imagine that a trip to the hospital would end up in a police station with outrageous outcomes. Let's go back to the beginning to better understand how a hospital visit turned into a criminal investigation.

How Did It All Begin?

Jolene and Rick were dating since they were 16 years old. After living together for a few years, they bought a horse together. This horse became their pet, and they both loved her dearly. Like all relationships, Jolene and Rick had their ups and downs, however, there was something bothering Jolene that wouldn't leave her at ease. What started off as a small matter very soon turned into a big deal.

Even though Jolene and Rick had been together for many years, and practically grew up together, Rick was very secretive about his past. Jolene knew nothing about his life before she came into the picture and if he did mention anything about his pre-Jolene life, he was very vague about it. She didn't like the fact that there was something about Rick's life she wasn't aware of and it was troubling her. What dark episode could Rick be hiding from her?

A Hard Nut to Crack

On many occasions Jolene tried to fish out some information, however, Rick always seemed to find a way out of detailing his past. He was so closed within himself as if h had a brick wall within him, separating him, from the rest of the world.

He just kept on saying that he had no close family and it was too hurtful for him to open up. Rick's life seemed to be a hard nut to crack open, and this was, apparently, something Jolene would have to learn to live with. Rick had no intention to dig into the past, and whatever it was, he wanted to leave it all behind.

Time to Get Married

When the two turned 26, they decided to tie the knot and get married. They were together for over a decade, they managed to save some money and felt the time was right. Jolene assumed that she would finally be able to learn more about Rick's past. She was wrong.

Rick had no intention of inviting anyone other than their friends to the wedding, and not only that, he invited only mutual friends, those they both made after they began dating. What was Rick hiding, and how was it related to Keola's behavior?

A Blast From the Past...or Not?

There wasn't even one person at the wedding that knew anything about Rick's past better than Jolene did. His past was the past, and she had no choice but to look into the future. It bothered her to the point that it kept her up at night, but there was nothing she could do.

This was the man she chose to spend the rest of her life with and she had to embrace everything about him. Rick was the love of her life, she married him for what he was today and not for the history he was carrying with him. All the pain and struggle that was involved was pushed aside.

Things Were Not All That Smooth

Trying to conceive was more complicated than they initially thought and things didn't come naturally to them. All of her life Jolene was waiting to become pregnant, and never in a million years did she think it wouldn't come fast and naturally. They were hoping no medical issues were involved and that neither of them was carrying some genetic flaw preventing them from having their own baby.

They had no choice but to seek professional help and they booked themselves a doctor's appointment. With today's modern technology, anything was possible, and they had no plans of giving up. They were going to have a baby.

Doctor Calling

After multiple tests and neverending diagnoses, Jolene's doctor was finally ready to give the couple their results. The look on his face was a bit uneased.  Jolene was under the impression that these results could be given over the phone, however, her doctor insisted she came into his clinic.

This raised a red flag. What was so abnormal about Jolene and Rick's test results that he had to see them in person? Was having a baby of their own going to be a struggle, or was it going to be completely impossible? With all the trouble around, a bit of good news was on its way.

Everything Was Aligned

The doctor confirmed that Jolene and Rick were perfectly healthy, and not only that, there was some more good news for the couple. Jolene was relieved that neither of them had any serious medical condition, as the last thing she wanted was a long and complicated journey into motherhood.

Apparently, one week after their visit to the doctor's clinic, Jolene took a pregnancy test and found out she was already pregnant. They couldn't wait to share the big news with everyone and spread the word on social media and in person. Everyone was thrilled and over the moon for the couple, except for one outlier.

Everyone But the Horse

Everyone was happy for Jolene and Rick's new addition except for Keola the horse. She wasn't so keen on expanding the family, and she didn't hide her restless thoughts and feelings. Keola was a significant part of their family, and Jolene was concerned. She wished for a child and for a big family and prayed that her beloved Keola would embrace the new addition with grace and love.

At one point, Keola's behavior was too much for Jolene to handle. She became aggressive and almost injured Jolene when leaning on her heavily. Keola was behaving like this whenever Jolene was around. Jolene was now thinking that maybe this behavior had got nothing to do with the pregnancy and that Keola herself might have been injured. Maybe she was in pain and needed medical care and was trying to get Jolene's attention.

Mysterious Ways

Jolene and Rick called the veterinarian to examine Keola. This was the best vet in town and they had received so many recommendations, they felt they were in good hands. They knew that if anyone could solve this mysterious behavior, it would be the vet. After several checkups, tests, and examinations, the vet brought no salvation.

Keola was perfectly healthy, all test results were as expected, she was strong, and she was fit. Keola's behavior continued to be unexplained, and whenever Jolene was nearby, she would lean against her, lick her continuously, and try to warn her of something.

Looking for Answers

Jolene looked for answers online. Was this a common thing when it came to horses and pregnant women? She read some articles and was quite astonished by what she found out. She couldn't believe this could actually be the answer to her horse's behavior.

According to some websites, Keola was trying to tell her that there was something wrong with her unborn baby. Jolene hit the panic button. She didn't know how to handle this new situation. She didn't want to involve Rick in her fears which had no base at this point, so she turned to the closest person to her — her mother.

Keep Your Feet on the Ground

Jolene's mother was determined not to let her daughter get carried away with the information she picked up online. It was misleading, it was inaccurate, and it was making Jolene more anxious than she already was. Jolene and Rick decided to go back to their doctor. By now she was heavily pregnant, and if there was something wrong, the doctor could identify it by now. The results of the next set of tests Jolene had to go through were going to be life-changing.

After the results came through, the doctor assured Jolene and Rick that everything was ok with the baby and that there was nothing to worry about. This assured Jolene, however, Keola's behavior was not getting any better. The bad news was just around the corner. The doctor asked Jolene to return to his clinic for an additional test just to make sure nothing has changed, but Jolene felt there was something beyond her understanding. Someone was keeping something from her.

The Pain Was Getting Worse

As the days went by, the back pain Jolene suffered from was getting more unbearable. It got to a point that she couldn't handle it anymore, and asked Rick to take her to the emergency unit. Instead of driving to the nearby hospital, Rick called 911 and asked for an ambulance.

The ambulance paved its way through the heavy traffic, and Jolene and Rick had nothing to do but pray. They prayed for the health of their baby, they prayed for their own health, and most of all, they prayed for this episode to be over. But there was more to come.

The Truth Comes Out

One of the doctors on duty that day attached Jolene to the ultrasound machine for an examination. At first, it felt like any other test she had been through with her regular doctor, however, within moments, the doctor's facial expression changed. The doctor finished examining Jolene, and then he looked at her with worried eyes. He turned to Rick and said very calmly that he was sorry, but he has no choice but to call the police.

Within seconds, Jolene's world turned upside down. One moment she was pregnant, having her unborn baby tested, and a minute later, her husband was brought down to a police station for investigation. What could have happened? What was going on, and why were the police involved in what seemed to be a medical situation and nothing criminal? Jolene was terrified as she had no clue what next was awaiting her. They had reached rock bottom.

Investigating Rick

Before they knew it, the police were already there, ready to take Rick into questioning. Rick was troubled and confused and couldn't believe this could get any worse. Rick was put in the interrogation room, not having a clue where this would lead him to.

At first, the questions asked seemed very general. He was asked where they live, what do they do for a living, and so on. Later, the questions became more and more detailed, asking who was their regular doctor and how long they have been seeing him. Rick began feeling uncomfortable, still shocked by what fate had in line for him.

The Questioning Began

The police proceeded with asking about Jolene. How she was feeling, how far in her pregnancy was she, and if she was experiencing anything abnormal. All these questions made Rick feel very uncomfortable. After a while, Rick lost his temper. It was a long day and no one was giving him accurate answers as to what was going on. He snapped at the policeman who investigated him, something he would later regret.

Rick was uptight as he was afraid to miss the birth of his child, he was apprehensive as he didn't know what was going on with Jolen, and most of all, no one at the police station was able to give him any answers. He had no idea how long he was about to stay at the police station, however, the policeman did assure him that soon enough, everything will clear up, and they will be able to explain exactly what was going on.

Surgery Was Needed

While Rick was going through torture at the police station, Jolene was having her share of hell too. Each was going through the hardest hours of their lives and instead of being together, they were each on their own. Could you imagine being in a hospital (or in a police station) and your partner not being beside you?

The doctor who earlier examined her returned and said that surgery was needed. Jolene couldn't believe what she was hearing. She was afraid, she was confused, however, the only thing that gave her hope and kept her on her feet was knowing that sooner or later, this will all be over. She couldn't handle this situation anymore.

Having No Option

The doctors did give Jolene the choice of going through the procedure or not, however, after they explained the risk of not having the operation, she knew she didn't really have a choice. All she wanted was to see her husband and finally understand what was going on.

While Jolene was in the surgery room, Rick was put back into the interrogation room for another session of uncomfortable and awkward questions. What Rick didn't know is that soon enough, everything would clear up, and if he thought he was now shocked, he had another thing coming. Things were about to get even more complicated.

Things Were Becoming Clear

Suddenly, while still in the interrogation room, a dark window in the room lit up. It was another interrogation room on the other side of the wall with five men standing along it. Rick was asked if he recognized one of them. At first, all five men seemed strangers to Rick, however, he soon enough did spot one out who was familiar to him. He didn't understand what he was doing there and felt even more confused than he did moments before.

Rick was shocked. Their regular doctor was aligned with the other four men, who has been a significant part of Jolene's pregnancy for the past few months. Soon enough, everything will fall into place. The truth was going to be even harder for Rick and Jolene to swallow. The closest person to them, the one they shared their fears and thoughts with, would soon turn his back on them, and his true colors will be revealed.

Illegal Technology

What was discovered by the last doctor that examined Jolene was what framed their doctor who they trusted and eventually put him behind bars. Apparently, their regular doctor inserted a microchip into Jolene's body, one that would monitor medication that was ingested into her body.

The biggest problem with this chip was that it was illegal. The person Jolene trusted the most and allowed to examine her was now a first-class fraud man.  Now everything made sense to Rick. This was probably the reasoning behind Keola's behavior and the reason for Jolene's back pains. But what about Jolene? She is going to be devastated.

Looking for Jolene

With the help of a police car, Rick raced back to the hospital. At first, he couldn't find her. She wasn't in her room and she wasn't with the doctor who examined her. She was nowhere to be found. The doctors managed to calm Rick down before explaining to him where Jolene was. After hoping that this nightmare was over, he was about to discover that it had barely just begun.

After understanding that Jolene was stable, the biggest concern now was the baby. Rick had no choice but to place his faith in the doctor and trust whatever he said. At that point, he was the only source of reliable information he had. Rick felt betrayed, he felt alone and vulnerable and prayed that both his wife and his unborn child would come out of this unharmed. The doctor escorted Rick to Jolen's room. The next thing that Rick was about to discover would leave him speechless and change his life forever.

On Their Way Home

Jolene was resting, and she hadn't given birth yet. The microchip was removed from her body, immediately eliminating her back pain. They were soon to be released home. Was this the beginning of the end? Now Jolene was able to comfortably sit back and enjoy the last stretch of her pregnancy. Things were looking bright and she gave birth to a healthy little baby girl after a full term.

Being over the moon, the couple named their baby daughter Giulia. They had God to thank for answering their prayers, but more than that, they had Keola to thank even more. Their four-legged companion, their beloved Keola was there when they needed her the most, using her sharp instinct and intuition, she changed their life forever.

Happy Ending

Thankfully, Jolene and Rick's story had a happy ending and brought a beautiful and healthy family into this world. What they went through was anything but obvious or ordinary, and surely nothing either of them expected.  They have created a lifetime story to tell generations to come about how Jolene and little Giulia almost lost their life.

The bond Jolene and Rick have with their horse is something they will pass on to their children, giving them one of the most valuable gifts in life. Through this magnificent story, they will be able to teach them all about loyalty, friendship, and unconditional love.

Dogs are widely considered to be one of the cutest animals in the world. These four-legged creatures are often called “man’s best friend” because they share all the traits that make them perfect — they’re adorable, loyal, easy to maintain and please, and would usually do anything to keep you safe.

While most dogs have unique traits and abilities, some of them possess what’s called a “genetic superpower” that is exclusively related to their own breed. These abilities range from being much better than others at picking up scents, such as the bloodhound, while others can learn very complex commands and remember them perfectly. We’ve compiled a list of some of the most unique and amazing super breeds and what makes them so special.

Border Collie

Border Collies are the superstars of the dog world. These breeds are often seen competing in animal sports competitions and taking home the prize. They can learn and understand very complex multi-level commands and can easily learn many verbal, sound, and signal commands. They are very agile, fast, and acrobatic, and they're one of the most competent shepherds you can find. Border Collies originate from other collies in the British Isles.

This breed requires a lot of physical exercise and mental stimulation, due to having both a high level of physical ability as well as the highest intelligence of any dog in the world. These dogs are very demanding, which is why they are mostly owned by farmers as shepherds. Their demanding personality doesn't fit well in regular households, and they often begin to vandalize and destroy their owner's house and furniture if not properly taken care of.

Bearded Collie

The Bearded Collie is intellectually identical to the Sheepdog and other larger herders. This breed is known for being boisterous and charismatic. It was also the dog in the 1960s television show "My Three Sons". The Bearded Collie's intelligence can make it a challenge to train, as it is an independent thinker. Bearded Collies are mostly known for being the loyal and charismatic dogs that often appeared on television shows during the '60s and '70s. It's a Scottish herding shepherd dog and weighs an average of 50 pounds.

Bearded Collies are usually called that for good reason, as most of them have a very long smooth fur coat that could double as a rug. They are very independent and excel at competitive sports, while also having a surprising amount of agility and obedience. These dogs are extremely loyal and family-friendly. They're essentially herding dogs and can be used to work on a farm to take care of cattle. You'll find many of these in the UK, especially Scotland since they mostly originated from there and really don't mind the cold.

Australian Shepherd

Australian Shepherds, otherwise known as "Aussies", actually don't come from Australia — despite their misleading name. They were developed in the 19th century on American ranches for the purpose of herding sheep and participating in dog sports and shows. These dogs are extremely agile and have fast reflexes, making them very successful search and rescue dogs, guide dogs, disaster relief dogs, and more. They are a loyal and guarding breed and are inclined to bark at trespassers, although it rarely, if ever, engages aggressively.

These are highly intelligent dogs that love games and can easily learn new tricks. They are quite independent and low maintenance, which means that they can do very well on even 45 minutes of daily exercise. Aussies love people and love to hang out and play, especially in open places. They might not be a great fit for kids under eight though, as their highly energetic and erratic behavior is prone to injuring kids below a certain size, due to accidents such as accidental tackling. They are best suited for ranches and big, open houses, and should not be raised in small and closed apartments.

Rottweiler

Rottweilers are considered one of the top ten most intelligent working dogs. These gentle giants got a bad reputation over the years due to the media’s panic over several attacks by badly trained dogs. Don’t be alarmed by their giant build and terrifying teeth, as Rottweilers are some of the most loving, gentle, and protective breeds you can find. They are generally very calm, loving, and loyal, while also being very territorial. This is one of the best protection dogs you can get, but they are also a lot more than that and should be treated with a lot of love and respect.

Rottweilers are often used as service dogs and have been successfully helping blind and disabled people for the past few decades. They are not high maintenance, although they do require at least an hour of daily exercise to keep them happy and content, as well as a large place where they can roam without feeling too constrained.

Collie

Collies are one of the most famous and beloved breeds in the world and often appear on TV shows and films. They became extremely famous and overappreciated when a collie named Lassie was portrayed in her famous film, books, and TV shows from 1938 until today. Collies are very trainable, gentle, loyal, and intelligent pets, but you should lower your expectations if you expect to find these qualities at the same level as you did with Lassie.

Collies weigh about 60 pounds on average and have a fairly athletic build. They are considered good family pets and are very compatible with children, although not to the extent that most people believe, as they are more suited for being watchdogs. Collies don’t require too much maintenance and can get by on relatively low amounts of exercise, but you can bet that they’ll beat any person in a running match, as they have nimble legs and almost infinite energy.

English Setter

English Setters are a lot more popular than Irish Setters; they are both quite large, although the English setter is slightly smaller. Both are smart, easy to train, playful and loyal. Unlike the Irish Setter, which is mostly a quiet dog, English Settlers are very loud and tend to bark often. They are considered as strong-willed and mischievous dogs that are perfect for hunting, as they are suited for methodically finding the scent of their prey.

These dogs are truly British in both their posture and personality, so if you like them or not might have a lot to do with what you think of the English culture and behavior in general. Many people describe the English Setters as “Gentleman By Nature”, and they are best suited for active families that have the time and willingness to play with them and take them out often.

Jack Russell Terrier

Jack Russell Terriers became very popular in the United States after one of them starred as Milo, in Jim Carrey's 1994 superhero comedy film, "The Mask". They are also popular detectives in the "Jack Russell: Dog Detective" children's book series. These small terriers were originally English fox hunters, which is why they always seem sharp, focused, and ready to pounce.

These dogs are extremely energetic and require a lot of exercise and stimulation during the day, so they only work well with owners who don't mind spending time with them and putting them through the occasional physical challenge. They are perfect for owners who love to play games with their dogs, but careful, as they can get aggressive and ill-mannered if not raised properly. They generally have excellent health and a long lifespan that can reach up to sixteen years.

Australian Cattle Dog

Australian Cattle Dogs, also known as Red Heelers and Blue Heelers, are a unique breed of herding dogs that were developed in Australia by a 19th-century farmer from New South Wales, named Thomas Hall. The farmer crossed various dogs and managed to create a breed later called "Halls Heelers", which became available once he passed away, and turned into the Australian Cattle Dog. These dogs have a tough and sturdy build with a large and thick head, making them quite resilient despite their compact size and just 40 to 55 pounds of weight. You can basically think of this breed as the Australian Joe Pesci.

Like many other working dogs, they have a high level of energy and are quite independent. Australian Cattle Dogs are considered one of the most intelligent dogs based on obedience and trainability levels. They need a lot of exercise to vent out their high levels of energy and can get bored and easily frustrated if not paid attention to. They are great pets for active dog owners who like to hunt or spend a lot of time outdoors, otherwise, it would probably be best to go for a more home-friendly breed.

Weimaraner

The German Weimaraner is one of the most unique and easily recognizable dogs breeds. It originates from the 19th century, where it was mostly bred for hunting purposes, as these were used by royalty to hunt deer, bears, and boars. Despite having hunting dramatically declined in the past few decades, it's still the perfect dog if you're looking for a breed that is perfectly suited to assist with hunting. They are quite athletic and great swimmers, they have very unique light eyes and an almost non-existent fur which gives them a very royal appearance, as well as hardly shedding at all.

You can expect Weimaraners to reach up to 85 pounds and become quite athletic when they reach adulthood. They are energetic and have a very strong hunting instinct, which means you should keep them away from any cats, as they will chase down prey without fail. They are not independent at all and like to stay close to their owners at all times, so make sure not to leave them alone for too long or they'll begin to get separation anxiety.

Saint Bernard

Saint Bernards are one of the most interesting dog breeds you can find. These beautiful hounds are gentle giants with smart, wise, and mature characters. These hounds originally come from the border between Italy and Switzerland and are the result of breeding many generations of talented mountain dogs and rescue dogs. They are extremely well suited to almost all environments and are some of the most relaxed dogs you can possibly find.

St. Bernards are quite large and weigh anywhere from 140 to 260 pounds (and sometimes even more). They have a short and thick coat of fur and a long, low-hanging tail. St. Bernard was named after the Great St Bernard Hospice in Switzerland, where the breed was developed during the 17th century for the purposes stated above. Many of these dogs appeared in films and TV shows, mostly comedies, although their nature is anything but funny — as they're actually built for rescuing.

Alaskan Husky

These magnificent wolf-looking canines have light blue eyes, a coat that covers them in black or light brown fur, and white fur on their faces and legs. Huskies are some of the most wolf-like animals and retain much of their pack mentality. They work best in groups and have very developed ways of communicating with each other and establishing a basic hierarchy. Alaskan Huskies are especially suited for cold temperatures and can thrive on just about any cold climate, no matter how freezing it might get. They are also known for their unique ability to vocalize their owners' words, as they have a very developed howling ability.

Alaskan Huskies aren't considered pure breeds, as they are a bred combination between Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes. They have excellent athletic abilities and are world-class sled racers, with no other canine coming even close to them in terms of their towing ability. They are extremely fast and have high stamina, which makes them perfect for hunters or sled owners. You can expect your husky to reach about 50 pounds of weight and have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years.

Golden Retriever

Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular dogs in the world and are considered by many to be the best family dog of all time. These dogs usually require about two hours or more of daily exercise, something which most dog owners either don't know or don't pay attention to. They have a long and beautiful golden coat, which gives them ample heating during colder periods. Golden Retrievers are extremely well suited to urban living and country environments and have an instinctive love of water. They are one of the easiest dogs to train and live to about 12 years old.

One of the amazing perks in having a Golden Retriever is that they possess the ultimate family personality — they are calm, respecting, patient, loving, confident, kind, and will not allow any form of unprovoked aggression or hostility next to them, to the point of even getting along with cats and most livestock. Another amazing attribute of Golden Retrievers is that they are able to adapt to various levels of energy, and can either be extremely fun and energetic or exceptionally calm and quiet when needed.

Bernese Mountain Dog

The Bernese Mountain Dog is a big and beautiful canine. It’s quite larger than many other breeds, often reaching a weight of up to 100 pounds. While it may not look like the smartest dog in the pound, there are many things about the Bernese Mountain Dog that make it unique among the breeds. It’s very athletic and needs to move often, that’s why this type of dog is most suited for living in an outdoor setting, such as a farm.

“Berners” are considered excellent dogs for anyone who’s looking for a big and energetic breed that can learn a lot of commands. It’s also known for being quite gentle with children and is ideal for a family with little kids. It might even let them ride on it like a horse! One thing to note, though, is that Bernese Mountain Dogs tend to attach themselves to one owner in particular, so it's best if you establish who is its primary leader right from the start.

Poodle

The poodle was originally bred in Europe and was often associated with royalty, as the dog was owned by various kings, including Louis XVI. Nowadays, the dog is a popular breed among Hollywood celebrities and elites and was owned by various stars and famous people such as Elvis Presley, Winston Churchill, Elizabeth Tailor, Lady Gaga, and many more. What's surprising about the Poodle is that despite the stigma that they are basically toy pets for the rich, Poodles are actually the second most intelligent dog in the world after the Border Collie.

Poodles are also vicious hunters and have lightning-fast reflexes and an incredible sprint. They are very good bird hunters and are even agile swimmers. Poodles are often crossbred with various other dogs, which results in some hilarious combinations, such as the Labradoodle, the Goldendoodle, and the Schnoodle.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Depending on your financial status and willingness to look pompous, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, otherwise known as a "dwarf dog", are either one of your favorite breeds or one of your most despised. These are the smallest herd dogs out of all that category and are famous for being the preferred breed of the late Queen Elizabeth, who had allegedly owned over thirty of them over the years. They are also quite popular in elite circles across the United States, mainly in cities like New York and Los Angeles.

Pembroke Welsh Corgis are considered the 11th most intelligent dog breed according to Stanley Coren's book, "The Intelligence of Dogs". They are quite small and usually weigh no more than 30 pounds. You can expect your Corgi to be very affectionate, loving, and eager to follow. They are very alert, well-behaved and will chase anything that moves fast due to their herding instincts. You can expect a Pembroke Welsh Corgi to live for up to 15 years.

English Springer Spaniel

English Springer Spaniels are very affectionate and excited dogs who came from England in the mid-19th century. They are considered great sniffers as their sense of smell is very developed for tracking birds and prey. They have beautiful black or brown fur with white markings that make them quite a joy to look at. They are considered extremely friendly, affectionate, eager to please, obedient, and can easily learn commands and tricks.

Springers are very family-oriented and are quite low-maintenance, which makes them one of the best breeds to get if you have children at home. One thing that makes the English Springer Spaniel unique is that it loves water and tends to try and get into it as often as possible, making it a great companion for outdoor swimming and rainy days.

Papillon

Papillons, also known as Continental Toy Spaniels, are one of the most unique and interesting dogs breeds that you can find on earth. These French-Belgian dogs are mostly known for their giant bat-like ears that make them look like cute little Gremlins. They also have interesting hair at the end of their ears that make them look like a butterfly or a moth. They are quite small and weigh no more than ten pounds, but have a relatively long lifespan of almost 15 years. The history of Papillon can be traced back to various works of art dating back as far as the 16th century.

One of the most famous paintings from the 18th century was that of Queen Sophie Dorothea of Prussia with her Papillon. These dogs are smart, obedient, and loyal, which is one of the reasons why royalty and nobility had a real penchant for the breed. Papillons have a high energy level and require a lot of exercise compared to dogs their size. They are very good guard dogs, and like many other small dogs, maintain a high level of alertness at all times, often barking at the slightest provocation or sight of a new and unknown creature.

Brittany

Brittanys are a breed of gun dogs that were developed specifically for hunting birds and share a lot of the advantages of a pointer or a setter. They were developed in Brittany, France, during the 17th and 19th centuries. These are athletic dogs with long, floppy ears. They are considered very intelligent and alert, especially if you take them outdoors. Brittanys weigh an average of 38 pounds and tend to live about 12 years.

Brittanys are very easy to train and have a great and loving temperament and are very easily corrected, which means that even a first-time dog owner can quite easily manage it. They are excellent companions, family pets, and field dogs, and are considered very loyal and loving to their owners. Make sure to take them out for a vigorous training session for at least an hour every day, as they are built to hunt and need a lot of exercise to stay balanced and calm.

Siberian Husky

Siberian Huskies share much with their relatives, the Alaskan Huskies. They are, without a doubt, one of the prettiest dog breeds in the world. Siberian Huskies are very independent canines, which makes them very poor guard dogs. They have a very different temperament than Rottweilers and German Shepherds and tend to act more like cats in terms of their loyalty and independence.

The main difference between the Alaskan Husky and the Siberian Husky is size and temperament. Siberian Huskies were originally meant to be working and hunting dogs, while Alaskan huskies were bred for sledding. It's preferable to get a Siberian Husky if you live somewhere without too much outdoor space, as they are much better suited for homes, although both of them aren't the most home-loving canines in general.

German Shepherd

German Shepherds are one of the most popular work dogs in the world and are often used by K9 police units all across the world for search and rescue missions, as well as military action. In fact, the leader of the terrorist organization ISIS, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, was recently taken down by a veteran German Shepard of the Special Operations Command who served in more than 50 combat missions. German Shepherds often weigh between 66 to 88 pounds and are either tan, black or red. Their faces often have black masks, giving them an unshaven look.

They are one of the most trainable dogs in the world, standing third in the dog intelligence list. They can learn complex tasks relatively quickly and will retain most of their training without a problem. These are very confident and strong-willed dogs who clamor to have a strong sense of purpose. They are highly loyal and make excellent guard dogs because of their smart and suspicious nature.

Irish Setter

Irish Setters, also known as Red Setters, are recognized by the American Kennel Club as one of the leading hunting dogs in the world. They originated from Ireland back in the 16th century and were often used by hunters as they diligently searched for prey while being able to stay completely silent. Over the years, these dogs turned into a very family-friendly dog breed and are amazing with children.

Irish Setters are often used as therapy dogs due to their loving and protective nature; they can often be seen in schools and hospitals or during reading hours for children. They aren't considered great hunting dogs, since assertiveness doesn't come naturally for them, although they crave human companionship, making them ideal for social purposes. You might recognize this breed as the pet of several United States presidents, including Richard Nixon and Harry Truman.

Alaskan Malamute

Say hello to the Alaskan Malamute, the Siberian and Alaskan Huskies' brother. He’s related to the two on many levels, although the Alaskan Malamute is the most different of the three. They are huge, fluffy, and cuddly animals, often reaching a weight of almost 100 pounds. They have a beautiful coat of fur that's soft to touch and incredible to look at. In terms of temperament, Alaskan Malamutes are much more loving and home-based creatures than either of their brothers.

These canines also have a rich history of living in tough environments, which makes them highly intelligent and resilient. Malamutes absolutely love people and prefer to stay with them as much as possible. One additional bonus is that they are also very quiet and rarely bark, which also means that they aren't the best guard dogs. If you have a loving and comfortable home with children who want a large and adorable pet, the Alaskan Malamute is the perfect dog breed for you.

Doberman Pinscher

Dobermanns, also known as Doberman Pinschers in the US and Canada, are medium-large dogs that were originally developed by Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann, a German tax collector who was looking for a way to make his life a lot easier. Dobermans are some of the most trusty and terrifying guard dogs, often keeping people with bad intentions away just by the mere sight of them. Two of these dogs can easily take out a grown man, which is why they are considered extremely dangerous in aggressive situations and not to be messed with.

Underneath their heavy bodies, which weigh up to 100 pounds, these dogs have a very good heart and are very loving and devoted to their owners if trained properly. They are very stubborn and tend to have a very assertive personality, but a seasoned dog owner can dominate a Dobermann if he knows what he's doing. Dobermanns are actually considered the 5th most intelligent dog breed according to psychologist Stanley Coren.

German Shorthaired Pointer

German Shorthaired Pointers are medium to large-sized hunting dogs that originate from 19th century Germany. They have long, strong legs and a long muzzle, making them appear like a Roman emperor. These breeds are excellent for literally "pointing" at various animals, which makes them a favorite pick for European hunters. These dogs are also suitable for families, as they have an intelligent and eccentric temperament that allows them to communicate well with their various members. These dogs are high maintenance though! So remember to take them out for a run at least three times a day.

German Shorthaired Pointers are the best watchdogs you can find, but they do require a lot of care and attention, which means they aren’t necessarily the best fit for everyone. Also, pointers have a very strong hunting instinct, so it would be best if you keep them away from cats and other small mammals. Don’t let their serious look fool you, these are mischievous little creatures and will definitely cause trouble if you let them get bored for too long!

Chesapeake Bay Retriever

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever was specifically developed in the Chesapeake Bay, which resides in the United States between Maryland and Virginia. These dogs were used specifically for hunting, and are excellent fish hunters, bird hunters, and are even able to rescue people out of water when needed. They are well suited for lake and forest environments and love nothing more than to help their owners hunt a good salmon or bird.

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers weigh between 66 to 100 pounds, depending on gender and size, and live between 10 to 13 years. Their coat is extremely well suited for cold water and icy conditions and helps the Retriever stay warm even after being submerged in water. They are bright, intelligent, and quiet dogs that love to live with families. They will never let you down as hunters, and will quickly become a great part of the family.

Shetland Sheepdog

Shetland Sheepdogs often have a beautiful leather coat around their neck, similar to that of a lion, but much smoother. They originate from Scotland and were developed in the early 20th century to act as talented herding dogs in tough conditions. The Shetland Sheepdog is mostly raised nowadays as a farm dog or a family pet, and it behaves extremely well in both cases. This little fella weighs anywhere from 11 to 24 pounds, making him a relatively lightweight dog.

It's important to note that he sheds a lot of hair (more than most other dogs) and does not regrow their hair if they are shaved. They are highly intelligent and stand just behind the Dobermann in Dr. Stanley Coren's dog intelligence scale, which means that your average Sheltie could understand a new command in less than five repetitions and would obey it on the first try almost 100% of the time.

Labrador Retriever

Labradors are the most popular breed of dogs in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. They are also the most popular disability assistance breed and are often trained as therapy and help dogs for people with various disabilities. They are one of the most obedient, fun, loving, and loyal breeds on the planet and are ideal family dogs, as well as excellent spotters and hunting dogs. This breed is also used by military and police forces to track criminals.

It's highly recommended for first-time dog owners to own a Labrador as their first pet, due to it being arguably the easiest and safest dog to train and own. They are curious, fun, and competent in many activities due to their high level of intelligence.

Old English Sheepdog

Old English Sheepdogs look a lot more like bears than actual dogs. These adorable things remind us of a cross between a polar bear and one of the Queen’s guards. It’s a very big and hunky dog, weighing between 60 to 100 pounds. It’s considered a very agreeable dog that knows how to follow commands very well.

The Old English Sheepdog is considered a herding breed, probably because it scares the sheep senselessly into their place when it comes close to them. If you move the fur above their nose just a bit, you'll reveal beautiful eyes that show great care and devotion to its owner. This is a great dog if you’re looking for a well-grounded herding dog that will make your family’s life easier and more entertaining.

Akita Inu

The Akita Inu is a very special breed that originally came from Japan. This breed is similar in many ways to German Shepherds and Siberian Huskies, but it does have a very different temperament. It's quite dominant and never afraid to let you know exactly how it feels and what it wants at all times. Akitas are very territorial, large, and strong. They are considered a tough breed to train and own, which makes them very bad pets for first-time dog owners.

They became popular in the United States after Helen Keller, the famous deaf-blind author and political activist, visited Japan in 1937 and was gifted two of these as a token of appreciation. Akitas are owned by some of the most famous people in the world, including Putin, Evander Holyfield, Cher, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Henry Cavil, and more.

A Great Pyrenees Was Elected Mayor

While it may sound crazy, a Great Pyrenees called Duke the Fluffy was chosen as mayor more than three times in a row, in the city of Cormorant, Minnesota. The citizens claim that he ran a tight campaign and made some impressive promises during his bid for mayor. Apparently, the townsfolk were quite sick of electing human politicians who ended up not fulfilling any of the promises they made while campaigning. Their rationale was, “If we’re not going to get what we want anyway, why not just vote for a dog?” And that’s exactly what the citizens of Cormorant did.

Duke has been happily presiding in his mayoral role for many years now. This is apparently not the first time that a United States city chose a dog as their mayor, it also happened in other cities such as Sunol, California, Eastsound, Washington, and Rabbit Hash, Kentucky. It seems that the recent progressive wave of diversity managed to reach not only diversity of race and gender, but also that of species. At least we know that this politician isn’t lying to anyone.

A Chicken Farmer and His Guard Dog Save Hundreds of Penguins

Penguins are one of the cutest animals on the planet, especially tiny penguins that are only about a foot tall. They are the smallest of all the penguin species and are very vulnerable to predators. There was a small colony of these penguins in Middle Island, Australia which consisted of almost 1,000 of these little cute things. Unfortunately, a pack of foxes found them and began to systematically hunt them down.

When Australian chicken farmer, Swampy Marsh, heard what was happening, he quickly got his chicken-guarding dogs and went there to keep watch over the penguins. Ever since Marsh and his faithful guard dog began protecting the penguins, not a single one has been hunted and their population has grown back to about 200 strong. Since then, many dogs have guarded these penguins over the years, allowing them to live their lives in peace.

A Jack Russell Became a Hollywood Star

One of the world’s most famous acting dogs is Hollywood’s Uggie. This beautiful and loving dog was originally rescued by animal trainer Omar von Muller when the dog was still very young. Uggie was raised by Muller and taught basic acting skills, which culminated in him getting his debut role in the 2011 Award-winning French comedy-drama, "The Artist". In the film, he plays the main character's trusty sidekick, Jack. The film was critically acclaimed and won five Academy Awards in 2012, with Uggie winning the Palm Dog award at the Cannes Film Festival!

He has since appeared in various other films, as well as a Key & Peele comedy sketch, as a racist dog. Uggie was born on February 14th, 2002, and passed away in 2015, at age 13. He was widely loved in Hollywood and even appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show back in 2012. He was the first dog ever to have his paws printed on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.

This Colombian German Shepherd Helped Get More Than 200 Drug Traffickers Arrested

Dogs have been found to be pivotal players in the war against drugs, as they possess both the sense of smell that allows authorities to detect and track down illegal substances. Colombia is one of the world’s largest producers and traffickers of substances and has a huge problem with menacing drug cartels and their operations. This is where Sombra (which means “Shadow” in Spanish), a six-year-old German Shepherd who works for the Colombian National Police, comes in.

This brave and talented police dog helps authorities find and arrest various illegal drugs in the country’s airports. She has been extremely successful in her duties and managed to help track down and arrest over 200 criminals who tried to send drugs overseas. This work culminated in more than nine tons of illicit narcotics being found, which made her a huge target for these cartels. Sombra has apparently attracted enough attention at this point to get her very own security staff to protect her, and she often gets transferred from airport to airport in order to keep her safe from harm.

Dogs Can Fetch Tennis Balls and Baseball Bats During Official Matches

If you’ve ever watched a tennis match or a baseball game, you know the disappointing and dull moments when the tennis ball gets missed by one of the players, who then has to walk on over to get it, bending slowly with a sad face before returning to the match. The same thing happens in baseball when a bat flies, usually nobody runs there, everyone just strolls over there looking disappointed. This was solved with the simple idea of taking man’s best friend and getting him to do what he loves best — play fetch.

Apparently, various tennis courts and baseball fields began employing dogs to help them fetch the respective ball or bat whenever they fly out of a player’s hand. This is quite amazing, as you can see the dogs running straight at the object with massive enthusiasm and happiness.

This Staffordshire Bull Terrier Helps Video-Game Animators

Motion capture technology has revolutionized the animation industry in the past few years, which allowed video-game animators to rapidly create realistic motions for people and animals. Remedy Entertainment, a Finnish video game developer based in Espoo, is responsible for some of the most popular video games in the past two decades. The company employees a Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Uuno, who helps them do motion capture for dog characters.

Remedy Entertainment’s animators put a motion-capture suit on him, which uses advanced camera technology to translate his movements into an animated 3D model. Uuno helps the team create various animations for their video games, which is a lot easier, simpler, and more realistic than animating a dog by hand. It’s very helpful that the Terrier is a fast learner and can easily do tricks. You can tell that he really enjoys his job and is rewarded very well based on the smile on his face.

Great Dane

Great Danes are German dogs known for being the largest canines in the world. The tallest dog that ever existed was a Great Dane called Zeus, he broke the Guinness record with a standing height of 7 ft 5 in (2.26 meters). Great Danes were bred by the nobility in Europe who tried to create big and royal hunting dogs, and they were originally called "English Dogs", only to have their name changed later. The main defining characteristic of the Great Dane is obviously its size and particularly its height, which gives the dog a length-to-height ratio of a square.

They weigh between 110 to 180 pounds and live a relatively short lifespan of up to 10 years. Despite having an imposing appearance, they are actually very gentle and loving. Great Danes aren't aggressive nor prey seeking, and are even quite polite and sociable. They appear often in films and TV shows, such as Astro from The Jetsons, Fang (Hagrid's pet) from Harry Potter, and more.

This Pitbull Supports His Owner’s Neck During Seizures

The woman in this story has trained various military dogs for most of her professional career. Unfortunately, she had gone through a traumatic head injury that caused her to start experiencing epileptic seizures that include fainting and convulsing uncontrollably. That’s where Colt, the military dog trainer’s Pitbull, comes into the picture.

As you can see from the picture, what Colt does is position himself directly under his owner's neck, effectively acting as a soft surface that will cushion the blow if she ends up smashing her head on him rather than the hard floor. Colt has also been able to predict when his owner is going to have a seizure ahead of time. This ability can’t be explained by science at the moment, but it seems to be fairly well documented by his owner as a real phenomenon.

These Three Musketeers Track Down Illegal Elephant Poachers

Kenya is home to many exotic animals, including those that are in danger of extinction. The country has a national park called the Amboseli National Park, which houses almost 1,000 lions, zebras, elephants, giraffes, and other unique animals. These parks are known for their elephants, who are often hunted by poachers that extract the ivory from their tusks and sell it on the black market. Fortunately, the Big Life Foundation employed these three dog handlers and their trusty dogs to help track down the criminals and stop them.

The three dogs, named Didi, Bonnie, and Clyde, and their handlers, work in shifts to keep the place secure from poachers. If any animal is illegally killed and poached, the dog will track the criminal using their scent all the way to their homes. These canines are so good at their jobs that poaching has gone down to almost nothing. When they’re not catching criminals, the dogs and their handlers often train in the Ol Jogi ranch dog unit to be prepared for their next catch.

These Dogs Jump From Helicopters to Save People

The coast guard in Newfoundland, Italy helps rescue people stuck in the ocean from drowning by sending swimming dogs via helicopters to save them. These big and fluffy dogs train for three years on the entire procedure, from jumping out of the flying chopper, to swimming and assisting those in trouble. After three years the canines are ready for their first rescue mission. The Coast Guard estimates that it saves around 3,000 people every year with these dogs.

The reason why the Coast Guard is so effective at rescuing people is that their dogs are trained to stay calm and rescue people with minimal problems. The Coast Guard specifically picked these canines for their love of water, which means that they won't panic under any circumstances. The helicopters patrol the seas and look for people in trouble and then send down these trusty dogs to help.

This Black Labrador Helps Save Bees

Bees are one of the most useful insects in the world, as a third of the world's food production depends on their pollination. Unfortunately, they are on the verge of extinction due to both human actions and various diseases that threaten their population. One of these diseases is called the American Foulbrood Disease. Luckily for us, a smart and devoted Australian beekeeper, Josh Kennet, found a potential solution for this problem that’s cheap, scalable, and quite entertaining.

The Australian beekeeper trained his dog, Bazz, who is a black Labrador, to sniff out the scent that this deadly disease produces. This helps the beekeeper quarantine bees that have contracted this disease, effectively saving the rest of them from being killed by it. Bazz is suited with a custom-made beekeeper outfit that helps him stay safe while tracking down infected bees. The two work together amazingly and prove just how productive human and dog relationships can be when used for good measures.

This Golden Retriever is a Service Dog to a Blind King Charles Spaniel

It’s not every day that we see a blind person with a service dog companion, as these are quite an uncommon sight due to the rarity of the phenomena. Golden Retrievers and Labradors are some of the most popular dogs for this purpose, due to their easy and loving nature and high receptivity to training. Imagine if instead of seeing a service dog who helps a blind person walk the street, you see a service dog who works for a blind King Charles Spaniel!

Ginger, the Golden Retriever, is owned by a loving family who has a thing for animals. A few years ago, the family decided to adopt another dog but weren’t sure which type to go for, so they decided to take Ginger along to the shelter in order to help them make a decision. She was immediately enamored by a fellow Cavalier King Charles Spaniel called Kimchi, so the family also took an interest in him. The only catch? He was completely blind. This didn’t stop the family from adopting him, and they trained Ginger to help take Kimchi out on walks and make sure he doesn’t stumble or get into dangerous situations.

This Golden Retriever Helps Young Victims During Trials

If you’ve ever known anyone who was the victim of a crime, you know that the most painful and often nerve-wracking part of the whole ordeal is having to speak in front of a group of people that you don’t even know about what happened to you. When it comes to children victims, things get even tougher, as they often break down in tears and are unable to even speak due to the massive stress this experience causes. That’s where Pella, a trained therapy dog, comes in.

Pella is a therapy dog that is specifically trained to help young children in courtrooms. She sits next to them and helps them relax a bit and feel like there’s someone supportive right there next to them. Adults can’t be next to the kid because of the fear of them influencing the testimony, but everyone is fine with a dog because these animals are obviously neutral and can’t manipulate the children. However, there was some controversy around Pella, due to fears of judges and defense attorneys that the beautiful dog will end up biasing the jury in favor of the child’s testimony. But these fears have not been proven to be true.

Dogs Are Often Sent to Disaster Sights In Search of Victims and Survivors

In the aftermath of a natural disaster, one of the first things that rescue operators do is to send in tracking dogs that are specifically trained to find survivors and help rescue them. Unfortunately, another part of the search mission is also to look for cadavers so that they can be accounted for and hopefully be given a proper burial. During the recent Northern California fires, a dog named Amelia “Mia” Earhart was sent to help find survivors, missing people, and cadavers at the wildfire site in Paradise, California.

Mia was specifically trained to find cadavers and managed to help find countless people that were either survivors or victims of the horrible natural disaster. She did an amazing job and helped save many lives, as well as accounting for many missing people. Many of the dogs sent to the site were volunteers, which just goes to show how amazing the bond between humans and dogs is. At the end of the search, 67 people were discovered by the dogs, and the list of missing people dropped from a few thousand to less than thirty.

Dogs Can Find Historically Significant Artifacts

A very luxurious form of theft is that of historical artifacts. One interesting solution to this predicament was proposed by the Red Arch Cultural Heritage Law & Policy Research group. They decided to form a unit called the K-9 Artifact Finders, which is comprised of dogs who are specially trained in locating missing artifacts that were stolen from museums or archaeological sites.

These dogs use scents to find missing items. The program has only just begun, which means that there aren’t any major results just yes. Despite their initial stages, the Red Arch Cultural Heritage Law & Policy Research group is certain that its dogs will do an amazing job tracking down expensive artifacts. They plan to put these dogs in airports with the goal of intercepting the smuggling while it is occurring.

Dogs Can Help Diabetic Patients

Some dogs have the ability to smell when their diabetic owners have low blood sugar levels. This is a preventive measure and can help turn a horrible episode that should have ended in the hospital into a simple insulin injection. Scientists have puzzled around the question of how these dogs are able to smell sugar levels in a human’s blood, and their conclusion was that diabetics have more isoprene, which is a chemical compound found in a person’s blood.

This higher level of isoprene causes the dog owner’s breath to smell differently when blood sugar levels drop, a change that a great sniffing dog can instantly recognize and pick up on. That’s not to say that dogs are perfect solutions for diabetics, as they might make mistakes, such as judging an unrelated change in a person’s breath as a sign of low blood sugar. However, if you have a chronic disease such as diabetes, a service dog who can smell blood sugar levels will come in extremely handy, in addition to being adorable and making you happy, which is a huge bonus in and of itself.

Service Dogs Help The Disabled

Here’s one of the most important rules that apply when dealing with kids, elderly people, and those with disabilities — never do something for them that they can do on their own. This is critically important in all three cases, as it helps children become responsible and independent adults while helping elderly and disabled people retain their sense of identity, individuality, and competence. This is where a service dog comes in handy in a beautiful way.

Some of the incredible feats of service that these service dogs do for their owners are things like helping the dog’s owner get his or her medication, mail, or even food or drink from the fridge. They can also save them from dangerous situations, such as a wheelchair rolling on its own down a hill or incline. Some service dogs also press on elevator buttons, although they probably make a few mistakes along the way. What makes service dogs even more special, is that in addition to being free, honest, and extremely helpful, they also serve as some of the cuddliest and most loving creatures on the planet.

Sniffing Dogs Are Trained to Find Truffles Which Sell For Up to $3,000 a Pound

Truffles are a special type of fungi that grow underground and are considered a rare and expensive type of food. These are highly in demand due to their various health benefits, with white truffles reaching prices of up to $3,000 per pound. Humans used to train pigs to find these precious fungi in the past, but they eventually transitioned to using dogs due to their being easier to train, having a lot more endurance, and the lower chance of dogs eating the valuable truffles once they finally find them.

According to various sources, hunters had a lot of trouble when using pigs to hunt truffles, and would often have to literally wrestle the fungi out of the pig’s mouth upon finally finding one. The best breeds of sniffing canines for truffle hunting adventures include Springer Spaniel, Poodles, German Shepherds, and Golden Retrievers, with the best breed arguably being the Lagotto Romagnolo, who is specially equipped for hunting truffles.

Belgian Malinois Participate in Navy SEALs Combat Missions

The U.S. Navy SEALs are the Navy's primary special operations force and one of the top branches of the military. They have one of the lowest recruit retention rates in the world due to the challenging nature of their elite missions, and it reportedly costs the United States over a million dollars to fully train just one SEAL. These kinds of elite units require all the resources they can get to complete their secret missions, which is where the trusty and competent Belgian Malinois canine breed comes in. These dogs participate in various missions with Navy SEALs, often rappelling from helicopters along with them in the dead of night or the heat of battle.

These Navy SEAL canines are trained to perform various complex functions that they are naturally better at than humans, while also preventing unnecessary deaths for these soldiers. Their missions range from finding explosives to tracking down and hunting terrorists. Navy SEALs use these dogs’ range of abilities to the max, utilizing their agility, speed, force, and sense of smell in the pursuit of the perfect mission. These dogs are often equipped with body armor and other automatic gadgets which improve their already impressive abilities.

Many Canines Can Even Detect Various Forms of Cancer With a Surprisingly High Accuracy

In recent years, there’s a strong indication from scientists that dogs can actually sniff out various types of cancer with almost 100% accuracy, which means that they are more reliable to some extent than doctors and machines. There is a myriad of tests being done at the moment to understand just what role dogs play in cancer detection.

If they are found to be effective tracers of cancer, this means that you could use your dog as a real-life cancer detector, saving you a bunch of uncomfortable doctor visits and a possible late diagnosis. It’s been suggested that dogs are able to smell cancer because it causes subtle changes in a person’s chemistry, thus making him secrete slightly different odors from his body. Perhaps in the future, dogs will become a more integral part of cancer prevention.

This Labrador Helps His Owner Lick Stamps

It’s easy to notice that dogs have much bigger tongues than humans, and are also much better at using them. If you’ve ever seen a dog drink water from a bowl in slow motion, you know just how capable these canines are at manipulating and controlling their tongues. One of the most interesting dog jobs we’ve seen recently was that of a dog named Jax, who lives on the Island of Skye, in Scotland.

His owner Ray Chandler, a postmaster, thought that his trusty dog could help him lick stamps, as he found his own tongue getting dry way too often. The first attempt was a great success, and Jax appeared to love the action, so Chandler decided to ask the black Labrador to work for him full time. Since that day, Jax is considered by the village of Portree to be its Official Stamp Licker, and he definitely enjoys the title and his work.

Turtle Trooper

Who has four water shoes, technicolor sunglasses, and is also a good boy? This dog! This happy German Shepard is more than just the best beach companion with the coolest style, he's a protector of sea turtles!

With his supreme scent-detector ability, this furry friend has been trained to find and safely dig up sea turtle nests from sandy beaches. This ensures that the vulnerable baby sea turtle nests can be incubated in an animal shelter far away from predators like crabs, birds, and lizards. A brave fluffy doggo AND baby sea turtles. Cuteness overload! Where do we sign up?

Vancouver’s Police Dogs Help the City in a Myriad of Ways

The Vancouver Police Department makes sure their specialized police dogs earn their wages by participating in various beneficial and often hilarious activities. The dogs, which include German Shepherds and Bulldogs, even pose in ‘good cop - bad cop’ poses for the city’s annual police dog calendar, which is sold to raise money for various charitable organizations.

When they’re not busy modeling for hilarious pictures, these dogs put their training to the test and help catch criminals and protect their fellow human police officers. We imagine these awesome dogs riding in the back of police cars with their paw and head out of the window while wearing aviator glasses and letting their tongues follow in the breeze.

Two Dobermans and Two Northern Inuits Helped Film a Recent Star Wars Movie

Disney recently released a spin-off film to their popular 'Star Wars' franchise, called 'Solo: A Star Wars Story'. The film revolves around one of the franchises' most iconic characters, Han Solo, and reveals various details regarding his past adventures that predated the film trilogies. Two pairs of canines, the first, a couple of Dobermans called Blackie and Boyce, and the second, two Northern Inuits named Saxon and Elsa, were used in the film production to play as “Corellian hounds”. These are alien canines from a planet called Corellia, who are basically a very deformed and fur-less version of dogs.

The dogs wore full-body costumes which turned them into hideous creatures, with the only part of their bodies that remained exposed being their paws. These costumes took a very long time to make, as they had to look realistic while also being fully functional and safe for the dogs. Saxon and Elsa, the pair of Northern Inuits, have apparently been featured in a Hollywood production before. They appeared as the dire wolves from “Game of Thrones”, so it’s good to know that they already have some experience.

Bird-Hunting Dogs Are Used to Save New Zealand's Native Bird Population

New Zealand lies somewhere along the pacific ocean and hosts some of the most exotic animals, especially birds. Unfortunately, it also hosts a lot of predators who end up devouring these precious birds, causing their population to dwindle and disappear due to their rarity. Various bird species, such as the Kiwi, a flightless bird that looks like a large piece of hair with a beak, are quickly being dispatched by various pests, such as rats and stoats.

The New Zealand government recently put together a special task unit of canines that specializes in tracking and hunting birds for the exact opposite purpose. These dogs are trained to help save New Zealand’s exotic bird population by finding them and helping clear out the predators that try to hunt them down. So far the government managed to clear about 100 islands of these predators, but the threat still exists.

Spaniels Help Track Down England's Leaky Pipes

Earlier this year, an English water company called United Utilities hired two spaniels to help them find leaky pipes. The dogs are Snipe, who’s a Cocker Spaniel, and Denzel, a Springer Spaniel. They are tasked with tracking down underground leaky pipes using the scent of chlorine. This is not an easy job, as these pipes are often deep inside the ground, but the two have been extremely successful at it and helped the firm save a lot of money.

The dogs work by first sniffing a bit of chlorine to know what smell they’re looking for. People originally used this ability of spaniels to track down scents for hunting and finding missing people. United Utilities uses a combination of advanced satellite technology and their on-the-ground dogs to find these leaky pipes and take care of them.

This Golden Retriever Received An Honorary Degree From Johns Hopkins University

It’s quite rare to meet a dog with better educational credentials than most people, but this is exactly the case with this amazing Golden Retriever called Kirsch. His owner, Carlos Mora, goes to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. This is quite an expensive university, which is why Kirsch is fortunate to be Mora’s service dog. Many high schools and universities allow for service dogs to accompany their owners, which is always an amazing sight to see due to the beauty of that kind of relationship.

Kirsch got to enjoy the double pleasure of getting to spend time with his owner Mora, while also getting educated and even getting a degree! Johns Hopkins University decided to allow Kirsch to accompany Mora to her graduation and even asked him to wear his very own graduation outfit, including the iconic graduation hat. Kirsch ended up getting an honorary degree while his owner received her Masters of Science in Counselling.

Some Dogs Help With the Laundry

Dogs can do quite a large range of activities if they are trained properly. They obviously don’t have the ability to make complex decisions when it comes to laundry such as “don’t put the white clothes with the colored ones” (it also doesn’t help that they’re color blind), but they can still do some very physical functions like taking the clothing out of the laundry basket and putting it into the washing machine. Apparently, there are service dogs who are now using a laundry machine specifically tailored for dogs to help disabled people. The idea was created by a company called JTM Service.

This dog-friendly washing machine is called the “Woof to Wash”, and as the name implies, it starts working once the dog starts barking. The entire thing is built for a dog’s abilities and body, including a rope knot that the service canine can use to open the hatch. Another cool function is that the door can be opened by using the paw pedal, which can be seen at the bottom right of the machine. The service dog puts all the clothes from the laundry basket into the machine, barks, waits for it to finish, opens it, takes out the laundry, and puts it back in the laundry basket!

This Dog Squad Rescues People

The Vail Avalanche Rescue dogs are trained at Vail Mountain, Colorado to find people buried under snow or trapped in a storm. To the dogs, it’s a game. They’ve been trained to find toys and things under the snow, with increasing difficulty. They’ve ridden chairlifts and jumped out of helicopters. Their noses are just that useful in search and rescue missions.

A trained avalanche dog can search for two and a half acres in a quarter of the time it takes 20 people to search the same area. They sniff out human scent and stick their head in the snow when they find it, following the strength of the smell. One dog in Switzerland even found someone buried 40 feet deep.

Labradors and Other Patient Breeds Listen to Kids Reading

It’s quite heartwarming to see our young kids grow up. When your child first smiles, takes their first steps, mutters their first word, and eventually even reads. Unfortunately, many adults have busy lives and aren’t as available as they’d like to be when their children want to read to them. Fortunately, there are some dog breeds that are especially patient and don’t mind sitting for hours and listening to a child speak.

Having someone to read to makes the kids happy and excited. It's also very empowering to know that there's someone out there who lives to listen to you read. This initiative has been widely accepted by parents as a great way to motivate kids and help build their self-esteem. We only wish our library was also full of amazing dogs that can't wait to listen to us read. In fact, these types of dogs should be standard additions to every school and home!

New Guinea Singing Dog

If you're in need of a four-legged duet partner, look no further than the New Guinea singing dog. This canine breed has some vibrant vocalizations that will make anyone or any dog turn their head.

The New Guinea Singing Dog is known for its high-pitched howls. If you're a music lover, a pack of the breed is even better! Why? Well when one dog starts its distinctive howl, other new Guinea singing dogs will join in. It's known as a "Chorus Howling." We want front-row seats!

Basset Hound

Basset Hounds' most recognizable feature has to be their large floppy ears. What may come as a surprise is that hearing is not where Basset Hounds shine. Their superpower is actually their strong sense of smell.

Their ears act as scent collectors and help fan smells towards their noses. This also makes them proficient predators. They've been used as hunting dogs since the 16th century.

Bakharwal

These peculiar pooches are known for their dietary preferences. Bakharwal dogs, also known as Kashmiri Sheep Dog, are vegetarian!

You won't catch a Barkharwal snacking on a meaty treat. Instead, they prefer milk and bread. Their distaste for flesh makes them the ultimate trustworthy guard dog for farmers and animal breeders alike. You'll rest assured that your Bakharwal dog will only protect your property and not take a bite out of it.

Dalmatian

To say that this breed is fearless is an understatement. Ever wondered why Dalmatians are firefighters' best friends? It's because they aren't fire-phobic! They stay cool and collected in front of a fiery blaze.

Back in the day, when fire trucks were horse-drawn carriages, Dalmatians were brought along to keep the equines relaxed. Turns out that Dalmatians aren't afraid of horses either, in fact, they often befriend them. Talk about a fiery friendship!

Irish Wolfhound

It's not a tall tale that Irish Wolfhounds are the tallest breed on the planet. They clock in at approximately 32 inches, or 7 feet tall on their hind legs! Since Irish wolfhounds are a particularly loyal and obedient breed, if you train them correctly they can help retrieve objects that may be hard to reach.

They also have a keen hunting sense and are the perfect companion to help you hunt prey perched in high places

Pomeranian

Don't be fooled by these poofy pups! Not only are they cute and fluffy, but they're incredibly intelligent.

Pomeranians' intelligence can really be seen when the dogs learn tricks and crack problems. This breed is the perfect combination of clever and cute, which is no easy feat!

Otterhound

It's all in the name! This breeds' superpower is... you guessed it...catching otters! This breed has every feature needed to be a proficient otter hunter.

Otterhounds have waterproof fur, webbed feet, and a strong sense of smell. Not to mention they are super swimmers. Otters, beware!

Catahoula Leopard Dog

Who said only cats climb trees? The Catahoula Leopard Dogs, like their feline frenemies, are skilled tree climbers.

Their tree-scaling abilities not only make them great hunting companions but also proficient search and rescue canines. They're also easy to...spot! Why? Their spotty coats of course.

Labradoodle

This breed's superpower is not its endlessly entertaining name (although it could be). Labradoodles' special feature is that they're hypoallergenic.

It means that they don't shed their fur, which makes them the perfect poodle for those with sensitive noses and allergies.

Norwegian Lundehund

This canine breed certainly has some curious quirks! Norwegian Lundehunds are very flexible, particularly in their necks.

They have the ability to bend their necks backward. This skill comes in handy when catching birds! Lundehunds also have six toes per foot. This gives them a better grip as they run across various terrains.

Saluki

This prestigious breed has many traits that make for an outstanding four-legged companion. Salukis have excellent eyesight, even preferring to hunt prey using their sight as opposed to their sense of smell, unlike most canines. However, what the Saluki breed is best known for is their whimsical beauty.

Salukis' graceful appearance has inspired and appeared on various forms of artwork for generations, dating back approximately 6,000 years. Now that's some good-looking genes!

Czechoslovak Wolfdog

What do you get when you mix the loyal German Shepherd breed with the strong and agile Carpathian Wolf? You get the Czechoslovak Wolfdog.

These wolfdogs have a balanced blend of pack (which usually includes their owners if trained correctly) prioritization and wolf-like stamina. It's no wonder they are commonly used as search and rescue dogs.

Pekingese

Yes, these may be the cutest canines on the planet but that's not all they bring to the table, we promise. The Pekingese breed has a long lineage dating back to ancient China where they were mainly used as guard dogs.

You read that right! Despite their adorable appearance, Pekingese are proficient protectors of their human families, and will always alert their adopted parents if an intruder is near. Their small stature also makes them great guard dogs for people living in more confined spaces.

Coonhound

Have an issue with feral pigs or raccoons? Then a Coonhound might just be the canine companion for you! Coonhounds are hunting dogs, even known to pursue bobcats and bears. Their superpower has to be their unparalleled perseverance and tracking skills.

No hunt is too daunting or too treacherous for these pups! Coonhounds are also adored for their harmonious howling.

Tibetan Mastiff

Tibetan Mastiffs are hard to miss. Not only due to their large build, but also because of their double-thick coats. However, where this breed reigns supreme is in the strength category.

With a bite pressure of approximately 500 pounds and the ability to pull up to 7,000 pounds, this brawny breed is not to be messed with! However, that being said, they're still known to be loving and sociable animals.

Pyrenean Shepherd

As all dog lovers know, having to say goodbye to your furry friend is heartbreaking. Since most dogs have a fairly short lifespan, these goodbyes come too often.

The good news is that the Pyrenean Shepherds have a long lifespan, stretching to 17 years! That means you'll have far more time to bond with your pooch without worrying about the inevitable farewell for a while. Pyrenea Shepherds are also known for, you guessed it, their sheep-herding abilities.

Chihuahua

If you're looking for more than just a docile dog, look no further than the tiny but sassy Chihuahua breed. What these dogs lack in size they certainly make up for in personality.

They're the embodiment of the phrase "dynamite comes in small packages." Chihuahuas are known for their well-developed and unique personalities. They are more than just purse fillers for the rich and famous.

Beauceron

Beaucerons are renowned for their protective instincts, especially when it comes to their human families. They have unwavering bravery and loyalty. It comes as no surprise that they were a common breed used during the World Wars.

Nowadays, those traits make them the perfect guard dog to keep a watchful eye over your loved ones.

Daschund

Daschunds, otherwise known as sausage dogs due to their elongated shape, are proficient badger hunters! Their short stature allows them to shuffle in and out of badger burrows with ease.

Don't let their humorous hot-dog-like appearance fool you! Daschunds can be aggressive and dedicated hunters when needed.

Pug

It's no wonder that Pugs fall under the canine "toy category." Just look at these little guys! Their wrinkled skin, big eyes, and smooshed-up faces make them too adorable for words! What's particularly special about Pugs is their ultra-calm temperament which makes them the ideal dog to adopt if you have small children.

They also don't really bark or bite, instead, they love affection and hanging around their adopted family. Teach your children about caring for an animal without the risk of harming them.