True Hero Stories

As a kid I was taught that all dogs go to heaven. I hope so. As us dog owners know, our furry family members embody loyalty, companionship, and unconditional love.

Nothing is better than a tail-wagging greeting from your pal when coming home after a bad day. Whether our dogs go to heaven or not, they are missed and long remembered after they are gone. But life does go on, and memories fade.

I thought it would be good for the soul to resurrect and share a few old true stories of some pretty special dogs. Bugs, Spot, Jack, Keno and Stubby are real canine heros that were recognised in local papers long ago. Today their stories may be long forgotten, but you'll agree, they deserve to be remembered.

"Bugs" Goodman Fox Hound, January 9, 1939, Pike County Pennsylvania

Bugs and his owner Harold Place were crossing a frozen pond in rural PA and misjudged the thickness of the ice. Both went tumbling into the frigid water. Bugs was lightweight and nimble enough to scramble back up on the ice, but Harold, weighed down by his heavy clothing was submerged to his neck. Harold tried and tried, in vain, to climb onto the ice but was unable. The frightened dog shivering and whimpering refused to leave. Harold, tiring and feeling the effect of the freezing water was losing hope. Then Bugs on his own, began crawling toward the edge of the ice, close enough so that Harold could grab the dog's leg. Bugs meanwhile braced and dug his nails into the ice, giving his owner the leverage needed to crawl onto the ice with and survive, thanks to his loyal dog.

Camden Morning Post

"Spot" Bull Terrier, December 31, 1921, Denver Colorado

Spot a scrappy Bull Terrier watchdog, lived on the premise of the Market Chemical Company in Denver. One day, out of the blue, an ammonia tank in the storehouse exploded. Spot and the endangered employees quickly scrambled to the exit of the building escaping the dangerous fumes. As soon the fire department arrived, little Spot started barking furiously and leaping repeatedly against the closed warehouse door. It turns out one person, Edward Van Buskirk, had fallen unconscious and was missed by the others in the confusion. Spot's antics attracted the firemen's attention who broke in the door. Spot led the way to the unconscious man who was carried to safety.

The Macon News

"Jack" Mixed Breed, May 31, 1908. Norfolk Nebraska

Fourteen-year-old Leroy Lundburg and his dog Jack were walking through the woods near his Nebraska home when all of a sudden, an angry wolf appeared and made a dash toward the young teen. Jack quickly sprang in front of his frightened master. The wolf immediately turned and went after the brave dog. Jack and the wolf fiercely fought, snapping and biting, while Leroy was able to escape and sprint home to alert his father. As Leroy told the story, his father turned pale, knowing that the dog had saved his son's life. "We must save Jack", Lundburg said as he grabbed his gun and Leroy. When they reached the spot, there lay Jack bleeding, the wolf tearing at his flesh. Lundburg took aim and with one shot and killed the wolf. Unfortunately, the wounded dog soon died. Jack was buried near the woods, close to Leroy's home. On his grave there was a small stone and on it was written "Here lies the dog hero, who saved the life of his little master and sacrificed his own."

Omaha Daily Bee

"Keno" Border Collie, October 23, 1924, Superior Montana

An autumn chill had set in, the herd had settled down for the evening. Fred Johnson and his brother Arvid along with their faithful Border Collie Keno were in charge of a band of sheep in the Warm Springs Creek Valley outside of Deer Lodge Montana.

Fred and Arvid were sleeping in their tent when, at around two in the morning, Fred was roused by noises from the sheep that seemed frightened by something nearby. Keno quickly ran off to gather the sheep that had scattered and Fred got up to investigate. As he stumbled over the ground in the dark, as he later reported, he slipped through a hidden opening of an abandoned mine shaft and fell fifty feet to the bottom. As Fred fell, his chin struck a mine timber, the blow rendering him unconscious for a time. When he came to, he found himself unable to speak above a whisper, so rapidly had his face and throat swollen. For a time, Fred could hear Keno, barking and whining from up above, but then everything turned quiet, leaving just the eerie silence of the Montana night.

Meanwhile Arvid, who was asleep in the tent, was a wakened by the dog pulling at his bed clothes. Thinking that Keno wanted to play, Arvid turned over and tried to go back to sleep. The dog then left the tent and ran to where the horses were grazing and began barking at them. This finally aroused Arvid who then realized that Fred was missing and that something was wrong. The dog returned frantic, seized Arvid's coat and began pulling him away from the tent. Led by the dog, Arvid discovered the abandoned mine shaft and immediately knew that his brother was a prisoner at the bottom of it. Fortunately, Arvid was able to gather help from other nearby campers and rescue Fred from what could have been his demise.

The Mineral Independent, Superior MT

"Stubby" Austrailian Shepherd,, October 4, 1937 Medford Oregon

Two and a half year old Shirley Mansfield was asleep in her crib on the afternoon of October 4 1937, as her parents worked in the garden.

Shirley's mother was alerted to a fire in the home by the panicked barking of their dog Stubby. She rushed to the house to save the child but the heat and smoke repulsed her. The shepherd dog was then commanded to "Go get Shirley." The animal dashed Into the house and dragged Shirley to the window within reach of her frantic mother. The brave dog with fur afire was unable to leap out and became trapped when the window dropped. The side and feet of little Shirley were seared by the burning blankets of her crib, but she was alive and has since recovered.

The bones of the dog hero were buried by the family on the homestead, but later moved by Humane Societry to a special place of honor in the town's pet cemetery.

Medford Mail Tribune