5 Heroic And Heartwarming Animal Rescues

By Laura Simpson

It begins with the simplest gestures of compassion. An Ohio fisherman lowers an open palm to a drowning American robin and warms the fledgling by a lakeside fire until it flies away the next morning. A Texas obstetrics nurse negotiates with a man to release his badly neglected, nearly starving Labrador and then pays for surgery to remove the puppy sized collar embedded in his full grown neck. A Serbian schoolteacher can’t bear to watch a stray cat tunneling through snowdrifts during a bitter winter storm, so she captures the cat and gives him sanctuary in her house can find him a good home.

These are real moments, defining moments that transform ordinary animal lovers into something more. Some might even call them heroes because for an instant these rescuers felt the weight of the lake on a young bird, the ache of an empty stomach in a very hungry dog and the sting of snow against the body of a gentle orange cat. And most importantly, they decided to do something about it.
Today I'll introduce you to 5 special heroes who's courage and compassion will leave you with goose bumps...

Laura is Founder of The Great Animal Rescue Chase in Holden, MA. She also leads the Harmony Fund -- an international animal rescue charity devoted to saving the animals others deem "unreachable".

Deaf Boy in Shanty Town Rescues Burned Homeless Dog

On a cold morning recently, animal welfare organization Vida Digna was providing free veterinary care services to the pets living in one of Peru's shanty-towns. There were more than 200 people in line when a small boy, deaf and unable to speak, used sign language to express that he needed urgent help.

He returned moments late with a small, cold, miserable puppy covered in an angry, itchy mange and with a wound caused by scalding water, probably thrown at him to scare him away from market stands. The dog was completely abandoned, except for his faithful human friend who heard his cries for help through his heart rather than his ears.

Over the course of many weeks the boy's neighbor housed the dog and the boy brought him back regularly for veterinary treatments. The dog made a full recovery and was ultimately adopted. The little boy named Darwin continues to bring in other strays he finds. A few days ago an American audiologist heard about this beautiful little soul and has offered to sponsor the boy's medical testing and to provide him with hearing aids if needed.

Woman Suffers Head Trauma Saving Baby Raccoons

Laura Guttridge of Florida has been saving animals all her life. Her rescues have ranged from untangling pelicans from fishing line to relocating the endangered gopher tortoises from construction sites. One afternoon she received a call about a nest of raccoons that needed to be rescued from an attic The mother had been trapped, and relocated days before, forcing her to leave behind her babies. The homeowner did not realize the nest existed until he heard cries days later.

"When I got up in the attic, it was hot and dark. My little flashlight barely provided any light. To make the matter worse, there was tons of snowy insulation so I could not really see the rafters. I felt the floor starting to give, but kept searching for the nest."

Moments later, Laura lost her footing on the rafters and fell through landing on the homeowner’s backyard patio.My head hit the concrete and I was bleeding pretty bad," Laura said.

Feeling embarrassed but un-deterred, Laura insisted on going back up in the attic. The homeowner reluctantly allowed her to return.

"While up there, the cut on my head continued to bleed," Laura said, "I was a real mess when I finally got out but I had four of the cutest little baby raccoons ever. They all survived rehabilitation and were reunited with their mom. I ended up with 14 staples in my skull. The doctor said it was the worst head wound he has ever seen in which a person didn’t lose consciousness. It was certainly a lucky day for those baby raccoons, and for me."

She Finds Abandoned Pets on an Old Dirt Road

Recently, Lori Brown was driving home when she decided to take a shortcut down a deserted dirt road. Not more than a minute later, Lori saw motion up ahead. Her heart began to beat faster as she realized that there was indeed a dog on the side of the road, and she alone could help him.

"There were no houses or businesses anywhere near there ," Lori explains of the Tram Road location in Panama City, Florida. "I couldn't imagine how she got out there. It took me a full 45 minutes to slowly convince her to come close enough to me so that I could touch her. She was so scared."

This first rescue set off a chain reaction for Lori, who is a devoted mother to two autistic children, both under the age of 6. Over the past few months, Lori has rescued several abandoned cats and dogs in that area and is starting an organization to help.

Man Dives Into Highway Traffic to Save Dog

Recently, Don Hill was on driving home through the North Georgia Mountains above the small former gold rush town of Dahlonega, Georgia when on a grassy island in the middle of a hectic and dangerous intersection he saw a German Shepherd pacing back and forth. Obviously frightened to death, the dog was emaciated and holding up an injured hind leg.

"My heart was pounding in my chest," Don said. "I was so scared it was going to run out in to the very heavy traffic before I could do anything and I was going to see it die right there in front of me."

Don crossed two four lane highways to reach the dog and then slowly, over the course of 20 minutes of Don calmly coaxing the dog while crouched down on the ground, the dog summoned the courage to sniff Don. Just at the moment when Don was about to slip a leash around his neck, someone sounded their horn and the dog flew into traffic. Without hesitation, Don dove across the lanes too and grabbed the dog and carried it back to safety on the shoulder. A state trooper who witnessed the incident said, "said, “Mr. Hill, that was either the dumbest or the bravest thing I have ever seen."

Don credits his guardian angel for leading him to the dog that day and for keeping them both safe during that dangerous rescue.

Strangers Arrange Operation for Cat Lying in Street

Just a few days before Christmas, a college student named Gregory was passing through Brooklyn, New York when he found an injured cat lying on a snow covered sidewalk. It appeared to have fallen from a nearby building. He brought the cat to the vet and paid for an exam and xrays with what little money he had, but when he was told that the cat's leg would need to be amputated he didn't know what to do.

Even though it was a longshot, the college student posted a plea on Craig's List asking for help. That plea made its way to a New Jersey woman named Laurelei Baker and she decided to call and find out more.

"I asked him if anyone had stepped in to help with this cat, and he began to choke up," Laurelei said. "He was obviously very upset."

Lauralei made the two hour drive that weekend and picked up the cat and assumed his care.

"He did endure the surgery, and has assimilated himself into our home," she said. "He rockets around like nobody's business! I guess, no one thought to tell him he was crippled."