Off of the southern coast of Australia lies Middle Island.  Middle Island is a beautiful and rugged terrain, and also houses a curiosity unlike any other in the region.  It plays host to the world’s smallest penguin, and the dogs that have come to love and protect them.

These little penguins stand a minuscule 30 to 40 centimeters tall.  This makes the name they used to be called, fairy penguins, all the cuter (if not 100% politically correct).  There used to be hundreds of them all over Middle Island, until the local fox population noticed them.  Then they became a snack.

Back in the year 2000, a problem with the population becoming too easy a prey for the local foxes became apparent.  The fox population exploded as a result, and something had to be done to stop things for going too far.  That’s when a man who goes by Swampy Marsh (we swear we’re not making this up) came up with a plan.

Marsh decided to send one of his Maremma dogs in to protect the tiny birds from the burgeoning fox population.  This breed of dog is commonly used for poultry protection on farms.  Many of these dogs spend a life time protecting chickens from these very same foxes, so why couldn’t it work for the penguins, too?

The first dog to be sent out onto the island to see if this would actually come together was called Oddball.  The effect was realized almost immediately.  Just Oddball’s presents was enough to ward off some of the foxes that would have preyed on the little fuzzy penguins.  They could hear the barking, and definitely smell the dogs on the island, and it definitely made any would be penguin eater think twice.

Since Oddball was introduced to the island ten years ago, there has been no reported deaths of the penguins that inhabit Middle Island.  The population is up around 200 to date, and the penguins have really taken to their canine protectors.  Even on the offhand times that a dog may not actually be around on the island, the foxes still smell them, and know that these birds are not to be messed with.

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Const. Dave Ross was one of three Canadian Mounted Police officers reportedly slain during a Moncton man’s Shooting rampage last week.  A memorial service was held for the fallen officer where Danny, a German shepherd who was also Ross’ partner, was a guest of honor.

It was said that Danny could be heard whimpering during his human’s funeral.  Friends, family, and fellow officers gathered together in a hockey arena, which was required for the large turnout for the funeral and memorial service.

Ross was a police Dog Services handler.  He had been teamed up with Danny, and they were together since December 2012.  His family said he “took a lot of pride” in being with Danny, and what he did with the Canadian Mounted Police.  It could be said that Danny felt exactly the same way.

“Anytime Danny barked at home, it would be to get Dave to open the truck door so they could go to work,” Ross’ wife Rachel said.

While the procession was taking place, observers said Danny could be seen padding alongside his best friend and work partner’s casket, and could be heard whimpering throughout the ceremony.  At one point, in what was described as an attempt to find any trace of his buddy, Danny had been sniffing at Ross’ Stetson.

Even though the RCMP said it is highly unusual for police service dogs to change handlers, Danny will be kept as part of the crime-fighting team he has been with since 2012.  A new potential handler has been found, and there will be a trial bonding period they undergo to be sure Danny will still perform just has well as he always has with his team.

“It wouldn’t be fair to Danny to retire him as he loved his work as much as Dave did,” said Rachel.

Ross had been prepping dinner as he got the call about the shooter at large.  He immediately dropped everything he was doing to respond.  He didn’t even close the barbecue grill lid he had been cooking at, and the garage door had been left open to make as quick of a response as was possible.  Ross was very dedicated.

“For those closest to Dave, that barbecue left still open says everything about who Dave was and his devotion to those around him,” said Dave’s brother-in-law, Adrian Vander Ploeg, during his eulogy.

Justin Bourque is the man charged with three counts of murder after allegedly being responsible for shooting and killing Ross and his colleagues.  The names of the other two officers slain in the course of duty were Const. Fabrice George Gevaudan, 45 and Const. Douglas James Larche, 40.

Bourque’s trial is set to begin on the 3^rd of July.

The video below was posted to YouTube, and shows that even though Danny has lost his partner and best friend, he is doing alright and is still being well cared for.

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Senators across the country are lobbying for a bill to be passed that would ensure the care of military dogs after their retirement.  Deemed “military equipment,” many are left behind to fend for themselves, but now politicians are pushing for laws that would make it mandatory for them to be brought home, and preferably given to their handlers.

“After all we know about treating debilitating post war conditions, like PTSD and other health afflictions, it makes absolute sense to keep service members joined with their service dogs,” Schumer said. “To know that after all these years, this unresolved issue stands in the way of our veterans and their beloved four-legged friends is unfair and misguided. The federal government has always stood strong with veterans, supporting them and giving veterans the resources to return home and lead productive lives. That’s exactly why Congress should support this cause, because our veterans say it helps; it’s good for them. Here we have a commonsense policy that is good for the animals that give it their all for America – and for the American heroes who love these dogs so dearly.”

Though you may have heard it before it still comes as a shock to think that it’s not uncommon for military dogs to be left behind in the countries where they served, which is a load of crap coming from governments that spend billions of tax dollars on the military budget each year.  Sadly, they don’t spend nearly enough providing for veterans – human and canine – once they complete their service.

Most handlers and other platoon members view their dogs as brethren out on the battlefield, and would love to have the dogs come home with them, but at the very least want them to have a home.

Megan Leavey is one of many veterans who jumped at the chance to have her canine, Rex, come home to her when he was to be retired.  They served together on two very dangerous tours in Iraq, but it took five years for them to be reunited, and they didn’t have much time left.

“Those eight months I had with him, when we got back together, couldn’t have asked for anything better,” she said.

Now at least two senators – Ron Wyden of Oregon and Chuck Schumer of New York are hoping to see a change in the treatment of these important veterans.

“Right now the military says presumption is for the owner not to get the dog unless they fight, fight, fight to get it,” Schumer said.

He and Wyden are pushing to get the Military Working Dog Retirement Act of 2015 passed, which would require the Pentagon to arrange and fund the transport of retired military dogs back to the US.

“The bond between these military working dogs and their handlers is unique,” Wyden said in a statement. “By bringing these dogs that have served alongside our men and women in uniform back to the United States, this bill can provide assistance to veterans while supporting the close bond between these dogs and our soldiers returning home.”

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Angels Among Us Pet Rescue of Atlanta, Georgia rescued Denny and Drummond together back in November of 2014. Both dogs, believed to be cocker spaniel mixes, had shown signs of serious neglect and abuse, and due to an unchecked eye and skin infection, Denny was left almost totally blind.

Even in the horrific state these two were in when picked up, they were still as sweet as a dog could ever be.  One of the founding members of Angles Among Us, Karen Wallace, picked up the pair from a vet so they brought to their shelter.  Even covered in sores and rashes, under-fed and very, very scared, they were just so friemdly, and Wallace couldn’t get over how affectionate the two still were.

Over time, and with lots of love and medical attention the two were getting much better health wise.  However, it was noticed that Drummond pretty much refused to leave his best friend Denny’s side.  You couldn’t pry the two apart with a crowbar.

At first, it just seemed like a strong bond of kinship had developed between the two because of their similar backgrounds.  Upon closer inspection, it turned out Drummond somehow knew that Denny was suffering badly from cataracts and an eye infection, leaving him almost totally blind.  Drummond’s eyesight wasn’t exactly the best either, but it was enough to get the around safety, and Denny became a seeing-eye-dog

Lance White, CEO of Angels Among Us Pet Rescue, is amazed at how much the dogs go out of their way to make sure the other is alright.  He said, “(Drummond is) younger and he’s really looking out for the older one.  We just feel like they’re family. I feel like they’re family.”

It’s pretty much a given that if anyone wants to adopt either of these guys, they come as a pair.  According to White, it’s a mandatory thing that they remain together after adoption.

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