Pets
sfgate.com
Who's your pet hero?
We all have human heroes-whether they're our mom or a Pulitzer prize winner. But what about the furry,
four-legged kind?
Pets have saved families from house fires, pulled drowning victims safely to shore and bravely put themselves between kids and
venomous snakes. They also regularly help guide the seeing-impaired, provide immeasurable comfort and security to veterans with PTSD,
bring smiles to the faces of hospital patients and alleviate mountains of stress from the lives of everyday owners.
This year's Bark & Whine Ball, which takes place on March 25, is dedicated to animal heroes everywhere, including the homeless ones
that the event benefits.
When I think of pet heroes, one story immediately comes to mind: the incredible tear-jerker of a tale about a mysterious "hero dog"
that allegedly saved a fellow pooch that had been hit by a car on a freeway in Chili. Back in December 2008, a traffic camera caught
the furry rescuer dodging cars to drag the injured dog to the side of the road. Perhaps called by one of the motorists who hit the
dog before it was pulled to safety, a rescue crew shows up at the end of the video, but the hero dog runs away.
Some news stations initially reported that both dogs survived (hooray!), but the sad truth that the injured dog died was eventually
confirmed (ugh). Considerable debate also arose concerning the overall legitimacy of the event after several videos (watch below)
made the rounds on the Internet. (Some argued that the rescue was fake and had been pieced together from multiple videos-which would
amount to a lot of work, and to what end? But conspiracy theorists must have their say.)
Although a search was organized to try and locate the homeless hero dog (authorities received many calls, some from people wanting
to adopt him), he was never found. In my heart, I like to believe that the hero hound was taken in by a kind soul and given a better
life, rather than meeting the same fate as his friend. But even in the absence of a confirmed fairytale ending, it's remarkable to
witness an animal risking his life in an attempt to rescue one of his own. Three giant woofs to the hero dog!
Help make the 2010 Bark & Whine Ball the best one yet-and not only for animal lovers (like you) who take part in the festivities,
but also, and more importantly, for all the unsung animal heroes in need. The annual red carpet event is presented by Critter Lovers
at Work (CLAW) to benefit the SF/SPCA's Cinderella Fund, which helps pay for the medical needs of homeless pets.
You can also email barkandwhine@sfspca.org or call (415)554-3052 for more information.
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