Posted on 10/20/2013 4:28:22 PM PDT by SatinDoll
[This story is an oldie but goodie and takes place in New York State}
There are plenty of stories of dogs performing acts of heroism, saving their guardians from house fires, wild animals and other dangers. But the story of Shana, a wolf and German Shepherd mix and her rescue of Eve and Norman Fertig one fall night, stands out as one of the most remarkable acts of loyalty and heroic bravery of a dog, ever.
Back in 2006, the Fertigs, both 81 years old, were tending to the injured animals in their forested animal sanctuary in Alden, New York as part of their nightly routine when a massive storm hit suddenly. The power went out in their aviary and Eve realized something was wrong. They went outside to see what was happening and saw trees toppling and heavy snow falling. The couple was unprepared for the elements as neither had warm clothes on since it had just been a clear, crisp fall day just a few hours ago. Exposed to the freezing cold, they hugged each other for warmth as temperatures dropped rapidly and trees continued to fall around them. Said Eve, "I wasn't prepared for this … I thought, 'we're trapped, we're absolutely trapped,'" Eve said.
Shana and the FertigsThe Fertigs huddled in a narrow alley between their hospital building and the aviary, where they were sheltered from falling trees. But they couldn't climb over the trees without injuring themselves, and the path to their home was blocked by the collapsed trees. She turned to her husband and said, 'Norman, we can't stay here, we'll die." Luckily they had Shana with them.
[snip]
(Excerpt) Read more at dogheirs.com ...
Awwwwww! And they say that you can never tame, or trust, a wolf-dog! That just proves that “they” don’t know what they are talking about.
“Shana, a wolf and German Shepherd”
OMG, MY greatest-ever-known dog was my Shana, albeit definitely purebred German Shepherd.
Definitely looks pure. You can’t tell if she’s overweight, though. She may be a little old.
Doesn’t look like anything but a German Shepherd, period, frankly. The wolf genes didn’t show through, except maybe in size (which I doubt 160, even obese).
Actually I think I remember this story at the time it happened.
I don’t understand here if the dog and owners are still alive!
For most of my life I’ve been afraid of wolves and German Shepherds. That is, until my best friend got a wonderful GSD. Now I love them.
Today I got into a little mischief. I spotted a wandering black & tan coon hound in my back yard and called her up to the house to see if she had a name and a phone number on her collar. She did. Turns out that she lives in the subdivision next to me, and her family picked her up as soon as we called. The owner didn’t even ask why we were calling. He just said, “Do you have my dog?”
Ellie was in my house about 10 minutes, but I gave her some chicken jerky that was left over from my Golden Retriever who crassed the Rainbow Bridge in February. She went NUTS over the jerky, and I gave her owner the whole bag to take home.
After she was gone, I realized that she’ll probably be back tomorrow looking for more jerky. I shouldn’t have done that, but she really liked it.
Most people try to make their dogs more like people. I think the point of having a dog is to be more like them.
I think the headroom was probably too low...:D
Her “weight” may have given her the extra inertial boost necessary to haul them both out.
A 60 pound dog could’na done it unless it was a pulling breed like a Pit.
:]
Good doggie, I used to go camping about 5 miles from them.
:waves at Sal:
She looks like a big, beautiful girl, but there’s one thing I fear about dogs like her...they all seem to have a self image confusion with 8 lb Yorkies or Chis, and believe themselves lapdogs!
The Fertigs “sowed” when they rescued the tiny, sick puppy from the puppy mill and they “reaped” in their hour of need when that puppy paid them back for all their years of loving care.
Wonderful opinion. Thanks!
I’ve got a 56 pound yellow Lab that could pull a truck. Muscled like a little draft horse, not an ounce of fat on her. But she’s about to lose her girlish figure - puppies in December (assuming the breeding takes).
;]
Odin is still a hundred pound upside-down-lap-puppy.
He probably always will be.
[and I’m gonna need hip replacements, eventually]
;D
A brawny, well built working type Lab is sort of a ‘pulling’ dog.
Any of the barrel chested, chunky breeds would fit.
I was thinking more on the lines of Border Collies and such...narrower, less stocky dogs.
Normally I wouldn’t consider GSDs for pulling due to the hind quarter angulation issues so this dog’s extra weight might very well have been what made the difference.
Dos used for pulling competition tend to be the short-backed, stocky breeds.
Hope your breeding takes!
:)
She’s a beauty!
[been snoopin’ around yer page]
;]
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