Ten Most Memorable Dogs Of 2011 – Plus One
Shelley Mamott, Staff Writer
There were a lot of great doggie awesomeness stories I came across in 2011. Whether they were historic, heroic, or heartwarming here are some that stood out to me as most memorable.
1. Roselle
The winner of the 2011 Hero Dog Awards in the Guide Dogs category, went to a Labrador Retriever named Roselle. Roselle led her owner, Michael Hingson, down 78 flights of stairs in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The honor was given to Roselle posthumously, as she passed away in June of this year.
2. Hawkeye
The picture that broke the nation’s heart – during Navy Seal Jon Tumilson’s funeral, his trusted canine friend Hawkeye guarded him one last time.
3. Daniel
The floppy eared Beagle known as Daniel the miracle dog, survived an Alabama gas chamber. On Wednesday, December 14th, Daniel’s Law, named after the Beagle was passed in Pennsylvania. The law will make it a crime for animals to be euthanized in a carbon monoxide gas chamber. Since surviving the experience, Daniel has been adopted by New Jersey dog trainer Joseph Dwyer, and has embarked on a trail of animal advocacy.
4. Lily & Maddison
Lily, now six, was a puppy when she lost her eyesight due to an illness. It was after this traumatic event that her relationship with seven-year-old Maddison blossomed. Maddison became Lily’s trusted guide dog and the two were inseparable. The pair were looking for a home together and were adopted by the Williams family in Crewe, Cheshire.
There has been an update on Lily and Maddison’s situation that has been brought to my attention. Despite the very best efforts of their new owners the two dogs were no longer happy living together and a decision has been made to rehome them separately. Maddison will stay at her new home and Lily is doing very well back at the rehoming centre. To read more dogstrustblog.
5. Military Dog Used In The Bin Laden Raid
Accompanying the Navy Seals who completed the bin Laden mission was a faithful four-legged soldier. Little is known about what may be the nation’s most courageous dog. The identity of the military super-dog will remain a secret. The trained dog, either a German Shepherd or a Belgian Malinois, was attached to a human Seal and lowered from a helicopter into the compound. Wearing canine armor, he went along to sniff out hidden explosives or, if necessary, find a secret room of bin Laden’s.
6. Hercules
A mere 6 hours after being adopted from a shelter, gentle giant Hercules, a Saint Bernard returned the favor to his new adoptive family by chasing away an intruder from their home.
7. Loukanikos
Loukanikos or Sausage, the riot dog, continues protesting in Greece. Allegedly present at nearly every major Greek riot since 2008. He is followed by photographers, earned fame on you tube videos and has a facebook page called ‘riot dog.’ In recent photos he is seen showing solidarity with hooded protestors.
8. Baks
This heart-warming animal odd couple shows that love truly is blind! A blind boxer named Baks got a whole new lease on life thanks to a goose named Buttons. The goose leads Baks around everywhere either by hanging onto him with her neck, or by honking to tell him which way to go.
9. Harper
Determined Pitbull puppy Harper beat the odds and learns to walk again. Discovered in a trash bag, and unable to walk, a regular at the animal shelter decided to take the puppy home for one full and final day of unabashed affection. Today Harper is not only alive — she’s thriving. The frisky puppy is gaining more and more mobility each day, to the astonishment of onlookers and medical professionals.
10. Ricochet
Ricochet, one of the eight finalists in the running for the American Hero Dog Awards, won the award for ‘Emerging Hero Dogs.’ Ricochet surfs with special needs kids and people with disabilities for therapeutic purposes. She has raised more than $100,000 for a number of human and animal causes and has helped inspire many people.
11. Patrick
Known all around the world as Patrick the Miracle dog, a Pit Bull that survived a near death experience and inspired movements nation wide. Found by a maintenance worker at the bottom of a garbage chute in Newark, New Jersey, Patrick was extremely malnourished and in such poor condition no one believed this dog would survive. After medical treatment and the doting attention of doctors and veterinary technicians, Patrick showed his determination to live and has continued to beat the odds.
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picabo likes the toy box
i got it!!
run corgi run
it’s a tough job, but someone has to do it
sleepy time
Charlie
We’re Ready!!
Corgi Rae Jepsen ‘Call Me Maybe’ Parody | Video
Marley At Home
So Proud Of Himself!
i love you more
Just Like You
puppies having a meeting
stop monkeying around
This list is great! Agreed!!
Thanks Elisha!!!
Youn need put in this list Patrick the Miracle!!!
All these dogs are fantastic in there own way….if I had to vote on one it would be Richochet! I love them all!
Omg Jessica you are so right. How on earth did I forget about Patrick, I am going to add him on to my list. Thank you!!!
your welcome A place to Love Dogs!!! I’m happy that you add patrick!
Merry Christmas desde Panamá!!!
Shelley, I’ve become acquainted (in a fashion) with most of these dogs, and I agree that they are all worthy of note. Placement is not important to the dogs; they are just God’s creatures doing God’s work in their own pawsome way.
Seeing this makes me want to go to the animal shelter and take home all of the homeless animals.
wish i could save them ‘all’
What a beautiful tribute to some awesome babies!
Beautiful. How anyone can say that pitfalls are dangerous dogs is beyond me. I love all animals. But I can’t have dogs bc of my two cat babies.
This is a wonderful tribute to some PAWMAZING pups! I would love to see Bella from the Elephant Sactuary on the list
http://www.elephants.com/Bella/Bella.php
Beautiful and Amazing dogs!!!
these dog are all amazing if you really want to help please do go to your local shelter and adopt a dog there are plenty of hero dog in there waiting for homes <3
please Spay and neuter your pets:-)
Hello, my name is Mary, and I want to have a good preso.aplacetolovedogs.com
relationship with you, please I need your help, I am yours mary
This is my email address (maryassane099@hotmail.com)
we need more people to bcum heroes to many of these dogs that ask nothing but love from us
I remember all of them , they are all HEROS. They are all so special & beautiful, god bless them all<3…….especially my sweet christmas angel Patrick<3
What about Braveheart??? He needs to be on that list!!
The two Danes that are on the list have been split up. The adopting family claimed the dogs didn’t get along any more… they put poor Lily up for adoption again and kept Madison. Sad sad story.
Here is the updated story on Lily & Madison – the great danes – please update the story in your article.
http://dogstrustblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/lily-and-maddison-update.html
And what about SCHNAUZI???
I’m sad to see that you left out Mei-chan, the loyal tsunami dog who sat by her friend, Lei-chan. Mei-chan has now been located by Akiko at Nippon SPCA and is safe with her human. Sadly, Lei-chan, the white dog, was never located. These dogs were very famous and on CNN and on all major news outlets. They even have Facebook pages… “Dedicated to the mystery surrounding the two tsunami dogs” and “Loyal Tsunami Dogs, Cats and Animals of Japan”. I’d post their photos here if I could. I’ve followed their story from the very beginning and so has Global Animal. We at “Loyal Tsunami Dogs, Cats and Animals of Japan” have been trying to do our best to help the other animals who have been left in Fukushima’s exclusion zone. Rescuers are going and bringing out cats and dogs right now. I hope people will remember them and donate to help the animals. Thank you.
This is gorgeous story of love
Fantastic stories. Thank you for putting this together & warming my heart.
GO PATRICK!!
Dear A Place to Love Dogs, this is a wonderful story and reminder of all the great dogs on this earth. I am sorry to say, however, that Lily and Maddisen were separated shortly after their adoption. The new owners returned Lily saying that her and Maddisen had a “falling out”. The rescue allowed them to return Lily only and keep Maddisen. Many, many people were very upset about this but as far as I know, nothing has changed. Maybe you can do something abou this? Either way, great story and Patrick ROCKS!!
omg that is Patrick now? ~tears~ This photo has truly made my day!
all these dongs are amazing in their own way but omg I just can’t believe how terrific Patrick looks! so so so happy for him!!!
thank you all for informing me of Lily and Maddison, I am so saddened by this news
I will look into it and update my story.
Love the list!
Leao was one of my favorites. He wouldn’t leave the grave of his owner, who died along with many others in a mudslide in Brazil in Jan. 2011. He was subsequently rescued and adopted by a new family.
Thanks Donna, Oh boy I think I am going to have to expand my list!!! There are so many wonderful dogs out there!
There are so many more that should be on the list, (as in several that could be classified just with the likes of Patrick–Chamberlin, & Miracle for 2); That this list would be so extensive….All the dogs that participated in 911 S&R…most of whom are gone..one lost just this year;
We could be reading for months, literally! Thanks for posting this list!
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/01/15/article-1347499-0CC55ED5000005DC-639_634x419.jpg
Patrick inspired me to create the Go Green Movement in his Honor! Patrick is a miracle!
Thanks Chris, I had previously done a story on the 9/11 dogs to honor them http://www.aplacetolovedogs.com/2011/09/911-remembered-honoring-these-heroic-dogs/1486621604/
and a small story on Leao as well http://www.aplacetolovedogs.com/2011/01/lion-guards-his-owners-grave/1486608277/
All of these dogs are so amazing and memorable.
And sweet sweet Bella how could anyone forget about her
http://www.aplacetolovedogs.com/2011/10/the-elephant-sanctuary-mourns-the-loss-of-bella-dear-companion-to-tarra/1486623879/
There is nothing on this earth that is as unconditional as the love of a dog. Wonderful tribute to some of the finest.
Ohioans are working together to try and bring Nitro’s Law into affect. It will make the charge of a misdemeanor offense to a Felony offense for the abuse of an Animal. So few people know about this new law we are trying to pass. Please check out the website Nitro’s Law! Just a little bit by everyone will mean a lot! Please help!
Please help Ohioans change the laws to make a misdemeanor charge changed to a Felony Charge for the abuse of an animal. Ohioans are behind the times with their animal abuse laws and animal abuse has to stop! Please go the the website Nitro’s Law for the details how you can help too! If everyone does a little it will mean a lot!
you can rename this “top 11 Dogs of ’11″ or something like that.
Don’t forget Dozer, the goldendoodle who joined in a Maryland Marathon back in May and now has a page to raise money for University of Maryland’s Greenbaum Cancer Center.
This is absolutely extraordinary! After seeing all these dogs and their stories they have indeed earned their places on the most memorable dogs of 2011! I found each to be touching and inspiring. I know that they are the best known across the country, but as many of you had said there are also many more that could be listed as well for their courage, strength, and endless loyalty, and love. After all isn’t that the true spirit of every dog?
Thanks everyone for all your comments and mentions of awesome dogs of 2011!!! They are all wonderful!!!
Great post. I was checking continuously this blog and I’m inspired! Extremely helpful information specially the remaining section
I handle such information a lot. I used to be looking for this particular info for a long time. Thanks and best of luck.
Thank you for these stories,they are all inspiring and heart-warming..
thank you for sharing these touching stories with us.