Today We Mourn the Death of Dunkin and Celebrate His Life and Legacy

Dunkin has departed this world for the Rainbow Bridge, but the once-brutally abused dog leaves behind a message of love and kindness.

It is with a heavy heart we announce the death of rescue dog Dunkin the Rhodesian Ridgeback. Suffering from neurological damage, he had probably been used as a bait dog. He had to have a bunch of metal nails removed from his belly, as well as surgery to fix his eyes. He needed a wheelchair for mobility and a strict diet to keep his megaesophagus in check.

The odds were heavily stacked against him, and yet Dunkin embraced the world with a certain kindness in his eyes and his human friends spared no expense in making his life as comfortable as possible for however long it would be.

According to his Facebook page, Dunkin passed away surrounded by friends and family in the comfort of his home when his lungs failed.

While it is always sad to watch our animal friends go to the Rainbow Bridge, Dunkin's final message leaves us with a call to action to continue to be kind and gentle to each other.

Please don’t be sad…while my body may be gone, my legacy is just beginning. All of you have lots of work to do to protect and care for other animals in need…just like you did for me. Please continue to work together to be kind, to be compassionate, and to educate those around you. It would mean the world to me if you could help my mom continue to give those in need, another chance.

My heart swells with love, pride and appreciation for all that each of you have done for me and for each other. Your cards, letters, pictures, prayers and encouragement gave me the strength to live each of my days to the fullest and while my life was short in time, it was rich with your friendship. I love you all.

You can read the rest of Dunkin's touching message here, but make sure to have a tissue handy.

We offer Dunkin's family our deepest condolences, and while these are difficult times, they are also a reminder of the power of compassion. Dunkin died in a warm circle of love -- a far cry from the fate that could have been his had someone not stepped in.

Photos via Dunkin's Facebook page

Read about other Monday Miracles on Dogster:

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Today is Giving Tuesday!

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Today is Take Your Dog to Work Day!

Friday, June 22, marks the 14th annual celebration of Take Your Dog to Work Day. Initiated in 1999 by Pet Sitters International, Take Your Dog to Work Day is celebrated the Friday following Father's Day and encourages people and workplaces to take advantage of all the health and productivity benefits of dogs. Businesses are invited to not only open their doors to their employees' four-legged friends, but also take the day to raise awareness for shelter pet adoption. There's even a catchy tune to help get you in the mood!

Both dog and human at ease in the workplace -- no stress here!

A co-worker who is always happy to see you!

The perfect paperweight?

With Take Your Dog to Work Day, Pet Sitters International hopes that by workers who may not have pets but are considering them can experience firsthand the pleasure and benefits of a canine companion and thereby get a shelter animal one step closer to a furever home.

If your place of employment isn't celebrating this year, there's always next year. The Take Your Dog to Work Day website offers a list of ideas for approaching your boss about allowing dogs into the office. And if for some reason Fido has to remain at home, you can celebrate with a pet photo contest or shelter fundraiser instead.

Is your office taking part in Take Your Dog to Work Day? Let us know in the comments! 

Photos via the Take Your Dog to Work Day website.

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Poignant Road-Vigil Dog Gets to Go Home with Her Family Today

The video of one dog's loyalty to her dead friend slayed us, but at least she seems to have a home. Her poor companion so far is unclaimed.

The loyal Labrador retriever we wrote about yesterday who refused to leave the side of her dead fellow retriever on a busy roadway is heading home today. Worried family members had been looking for her since she disappeared the other day.

In fact, animal control workers say that as their dog was guarding her friend who'd been killed by a car, the family was searching for her at the very shelter where she later ended up.

Maggie would not leave her friend's side after he'd been struck by a car.

It's not clear why it took a couple more days for the family to officially claim her, but it probably had something to do with the shelter being closed for the remainder of the weekend, and the family having to supply proof of ownership. The dog will be returned today, pending inspection of the family's home. According to reports, she was extremely happy to see them Monday.

The dog, who rescue personnel named Grace, is actually named Maggie. She is two years old. She was not microchipped, and wore no identification. She also wasn't spayed, but veterinary staff at the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control shelter in Baldwin Park performed that surgery yesterday.

The family's name has not been released. Nor has the story of how Maggie got out. No one seems to know who her poor yellow Lab friend was, either.

In case you missed it, here is video of Maggie's poignant vigil, as taken by the good Samaritan who set up traffic cones to protect her and phoned animal authorities to help her.

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Today is World Water Day!

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Paw it forward this holiday season, today and everyday!

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My ‘Year of the Puppy’ continues: A foster comes home today, maybe

December 18, 2010

If today’s adoption day doesn’t pop homes for two adorable German Shepherd-Labradormaybe puppies, one of them will be joining the G-Pack for a few weeks. Considering how cute they are, and that it’s almost Christmas,  I wouldn’t be getting ready for a puppy this afternoon, figuring that they’d both be snapped up. But we’re in the middle of some righteous winter storms here, with lots of high wind, heavy rain and street flooding, so the turn-out at for the Greater California German Shepherd Rescue’s Sacramento adoption day at a local Petsmart may be almost non-existent.

If one of these cutie-pies lands here this afternoon, he will be the fourth puppy to hang here in six months. I think I might have found a calling as a puppy foster mom! All three previous puppies — two retriever puppies and a corgi pup — have turned out splendidly for their time here, with the perfect dog family to help raise them: Woody, the patient and wise father; McKenzie, the tolerant and loving mother; FayBee, the always-up-for-any-mischief or play big sister; and Drew, the cranky old uncle who wants to be left alone. And then there’s the added excitement of the acreage out back, the poultry yard and so many pup-friendly places to socialize, such as the patios at the Whole Foods or Peets Coffee.

I love puppy-raising!

Check out these boys: Beorn and Bruin.  Aren’t they beyond adorable?

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