Louise was adopted as an eight-week-old puppy, and even at that young age she wanted dominance over her house.

“She put us to the test when she was little,” Wilson told PEOPLE. “We really had to establish that we were the boss, because she was trying to rule the roost. These ears – at first they crossed they were so defiant.”

Every puppy is a handful, but at one point things got so bad that Wilson’s wife, actress Dagmara Domińczyk, wanted to return her to Ruff Rehab in New Jersey.

“She tested our will, certainly. There were times early on when my wife was like, ‘I’ve got to give her back!’ I was like, ‘We’re not giving her back!’”

Things changed when their second dog died of cancer. Louise seemed to sense that her role in the family had changed, and she turned into an affectionate little kissy-face. She has opened her family’s eyes on the challenges and triumphs of animal adoption.

“When you rescue a dog, you just don’t know what you’re going to get,” Wilson explained. “Every dog is different, just like every kid is different, and you hope for the best. It taught us a lot of understanding, and how to deal with an animal like that. We really believe in rescuing, and she’s brought us so much joy and love.”

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His story comes from The Animal Rescue Site, which in addition to featuring fan-submitted rescue stories, offers a wide selection of clothing, décor, pet supplies and other gifts.  For each purchase made, a food donation is given to shelter pets in need.  Now is the perfect time to shop!

This story has been edited only for clarity.

Meet Capt. Jack. As a puppy – beyond adorable. I knew he was our next dog. As most rescue stories start, it wasn’t a happy one. He was dumped on a cold country road at night in Dec., six-eight weeks old. The country vet, whose wife happened to be hubby’s high school classmate, took him in. She posted pictures, hoping to find his forever home. Hubby saw the pics and I cajoled that we could foster. He agreed to foster, but I knew we were his forever home and the “fostering” was a ruse. We went to meet Capt. With our other rescue pup, Chloe, whose start was just as rough.

Chloe and Capt. were BFFs instantly. Loading Capt. in the car, my husband realized this was forever, not foster. The vet’s wife, thrilled he was ours, she saw red flags with him and was she right! We had challenges galore. Capt. was very different from our five previous rescues. He was scared of men, the dark, strangers, and the vet. He has fear aggression. He’s curious about everything and afraid of it all. He lunges at people and tries to nip. He bullies around the house and terrorizes our two cats. Mortal enemies are critters, he chases and on occasion catches.

He’s expensive with double knee surgeries. He ripped his toenails so badly, needed a vet visit to stop the bleeding, snip and wrap foot. He’s on Prozac. He’s doped for vet appointments. He has incredibly stinky gas. He can’t handle temperature extremes.  He lays on air conditioning and in front of furnace wall vents. He survived the great “Christmas Tree Massacre of 2012.”  He pulled glass bulbs off the tree and chewed them, and littered the room with glass shards.

He hates delivery people.  His battle with the neighbor’s cat ended in defeat and left Capt. a bloody mess.  He’s cute but not cuddly, a terrible combo. People always want to pet him. He’s not the brightest bulb on the tree, but he sure is the cutest. Cute can get you far.

On top of all that and his many other quirks, we love him fiercely. Our vet has said time and again, Capt. Jack is lucky to have us. Most other people would have given up and likely euthanized him. Capt. Jack, long may he reign!

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Mercy was found on the side of the road, in and unbelievable state.  There were so many broken bones, that she couldn’t stand up.  In this condition, most people would probably want to give up.  But not Mercy.  Not the eternal optimist.

She couldn’t stand, and was in what was probably an astounding amount of pain, but as soon as she realized that the people approaching her were there to help and not hurt, she just couldn’t contain her joy.  She just HAD to try to stand up and greet her rescuers, tail going half-a-mile-a-minute.

Once she was saved, and brought to have some medical attention, everyone around her was just amazed by her disposition.  Here’s a dog that has clearly seen some of the worst the world has to offer, and regardless her spirit was not remotely broken.  Her recovery began soon after, and now she’s walking again.

Soon, Mercy will be ready for a new home.  She’s still working on her recovery, but to everyone’s amazement, she’s expected to make a full recovery.  Could you imagine being the lucky family that gets to welcome her in?!  We’re already jealous!

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The little dog is actually waiting for his human, who was brought to the Harrow A&E by ambulance.  An ambulance was dispatched to this person’s home, and apparently the dog came with the patient on the ride.

“One of our ambulance crews had been called to someone who was feeling unwell, and when they arrived they found the patient accompanied by a little dog,” said paramedic, Sarah Angelou.  “They had to get the patient to hospital as quickly as possible so took them both in the ambulance to A&E.”

For what should be obvious reasons, the staff at the A&E can’t just let the little guy in to wander the waiting area.  However, they’ve made sure to see to the dogs comfort, and have supplied him with some blankets and food while he holds vigil, waiting for his human.

“He seemed very entertained by the passing ambulance crews and hospital staff and even managed to sneak a bite of our lunch,” Angelou said.

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“He always has to be by somebody. So whenever it was just us and I would try and do some yoga he would have to be sitting/laying on the same mat as me,” Jerreth Ludwig told Life With Dogs. “So then I bought him his own mat and was pleased when he would stay on his own mat.”

“Over time my Dad taught him how to bow which is the closest we could get to the pose downward dog. We later took pics of him trying different poses.”

Winston naturally has downward dog mastered, but hopefully he’ll learn a few more poses so Jerreth can continue getting such fun shots.  To see more of them, follow Jarreth on Instagram

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As puppies and kittens haven’t mastered self-control and require a lot more sleep than adult animals, they’re usually the ones face-planting in their mash. Aren’t they so cute?

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A five-month-old Cane Corso named Sidon was saved by Penn Vet’s Shelter Dog Specialty Medical Treatment Project, making him the 100th dog aided by the program since its launch in March 2015. The life-saving program is made possible through the generosity of the Richard Lichter Charity for Dogs.

When a shelter dog has a medical problem that requires specialty care, shelters often do not have the resources necessary to address the animal’s needs. Experts from Penn Vet’s Shelter Medicine Program and partner facilities select dogs to enroll in the

Shelter Dog Specialty Medical Treatment Project. Through this program, veterinarians at Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital provide specialized medical care to dogs from area shelters that are in need. All diagnostic and medical services are covered free of charge to participating shelters. Following treatment, dogs are placed in foster homes and made available for adoption.

“It is incredible that we’ve been able to give 100 dogs a second chance at life through Richard’s tremendous support,” said Dr. Brittany Watson, Director of Shelter Medicine and Community Engagement at Penn Vet. “The Shelter Dog Specialty Medical Treatment Project has been so impactful for our students, staff, and shelter partners, enabling us to collaborate with the shelter community to save the lives of dogs in need.”

“This has been a wonderful opportunity to give a helping hand to dogs who just need some medical assistance in order to be adoptable,” said Richard Lichter.

Sidon arrived at the Pennsylvania SPCA with an extremely swollen neck and shoulder. The swelling appeared to be progressive, so he was sent to Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital for advanced diagnostics, intensive care, and possible surgery. Sidon was placed on antibiotics, which helped to lower his fever and swelling. A CT scan revealed a fluid-filled tract that spread from the base of his tongue to the thorax and the mediastinum, as well as to the shoulder blade and along the back. The extensive infection was the result of an unknown injury, most likely a penetrating foreign body.

Drs. Lillian Aronson and Christine Hsueh performed surgery to debride and flush out the abnormal tissue. They also placed a closed suction drain to remove additional fluid post-surgery.

Sidon recovered very well and the drain was removed after 36 hours. Today, he is happily residing with his foster parent, Allison Vetter, CVT, one of the nurses who cared for him at Ryan Hospital.

“I tell everyone how wonderful the Shelter Dog Specialty Medical Treatment Program is,” said Vetter. “It makes a big difference for dogs who wouldn’t otherwise have a second chance at life. I have high hopes for Sidon.”

Established in 2006, the Penn Vet Shelter Medicine Program programs consultative, educational, and veterinary support to regional shelters and residents of the Greater Philadelphia community. The program has a significant impact on how many homeless animals are given quality care and placed into permanent homes. In addition, the program provides interdisciplinary and authentic instruction to veterinary students through the lens of shelter medicine, by integrating best practices in educational techniques and research with community outreach, collaborative partnerships, and service learning.

Ranked among the top five veterinary schools worldwide, the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) is a global leader in veterinary education, research, and clinical care. Founded in 1884, Penn Vet is the first veterinary school developed in association with a medical school. The school is a proud member of the One Health initiative, linking human, animal, and environmental health.

Penn Vet serves a diverse population of animals at its two campuses, which include extensive diagnostic and research laboratories. Ryan Hospital in Philadelphia provides care for dogs, cats, and other domestic/companion animals, handling nearly 35,000 patient visits a year. New Bolton Center, Penn Vet’s large-animal hospital on nearly 700 acres in rural Kennett Square, PA, cares for horses and livestock/farm animals. The hospital handles nearly 4,900 patient visits a year, while the Field Service treats more than 38,000 patients at local farms. In addition, New Bolton Center’s campus includes a swine center, working dairy, and poultry unit that provide valuable research for the agriculture industry.

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She was rescued by Muttville Senior Rescue in San Francisco.  When she was found, her teeth were in such bad shape, they had to all be removed.  This may have left her without teeth, but it also gave her a deep understanding of what it means to suffer with this type of problem.  Perhaps this is what makes her absolutely perfect for her current job.

Karma was adopted by Debra Garrett.  She was looking for a companion dog for her elderly mom, and from the moment Garrett met Karma, she thought that it would be a perfect fit.

“My mom is 82 with Alzheimer’s and really wanted a dog,” said Garrett to The Dodo.  “We did not want her to have a dog that was likely to outlive her or that would require a lot of training and energy. Muttville provided us with the perfect solution for my aging parent, an older dog that was tried and true.”

However, things just weren’t meant to be.  It became very clear very quickly that Garrett’s mother just wasn’t ready to take care of Karma.  Garrett and her husband didn’t want to take Karma back to a shelter or rescue, and ended up taking Karma in themselves.

“Karma is the sweetest, quietest, most loving little dog we ever could have asked for,” said Garrett.  “She loves people and just wants to be held or cuddled by someone.”

Garrett and her husband both work at a dental practice.  The job often requires them to work long hours, which when they didn’t have a dog was fine.  However, they didn’t feel right just leaving Karma at home alone for all of that time.  So, they eventually decided to bring her to work with them.

Karma being the sweet dog that she is, and having such a strong desire to just be with someone, it didn’t take very long for the Garrett’s to realize that this was where Karma belonged all along.  She seemed to have an innate ability to calm patients that were very anxious to be in the dental chair in a way that no human had ever been able to before.

“It’s magical to watch a true dental-phobic patient melt while holding Karma in one of our chairs,” said Garrett.  “Even patients who didn’t think it would help much found that their appointment went much better with Karma on their lap.”

Maybe it’s because she’s been through it all herself and knows just how scary the dentist can be.  Maybe she’s just so full of love and thankful every day for being rescued.  At the end of the day, the reasons don’t really matter, Karma is PERFECTLY suited to do what she does, and she enjoys it so much.  Apparently, having a mouth full of really healthy teeth are NOT a requirement for being a dental therapy dog.

“She fills me with a sense of contentment whether I am holding her myself or watching her with one of my patients or seeing her in her little bed,” said Garrett.  “The office is a much better environment with Karma working beside us!”

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(Carson City, Nev.) – 3.5 million Americans are homeless. Between 5 and 10 percent of homeless people have dogs and/or cats. In some areas of the country, the rate is as high as 24 percent. During the holiday season, cold winter weather and loss of hope during a time of giving pose additional hardships for the homeless population. And for their pets living on the street, they will need the extra calories from food during the winter months to keep warm.

Homelessness continues to be a national issue. In 2006, Genevieve Frederick founded Pets of the Homeless, a volunteer-based organization that offers animals the food their owners cannot provide. The organization garnered nonprofit status in 2008.

Pets of the Homeless’ mission is simple – to feed and provide basic veterinary care to pets of homeless people in the United States and Canada.

Pets of the Homeless is busy promoting to veterinarians and pet-related businesses the importance of joining the organization as a donation site, and campaigning to food distributing organizations the importance of providing pet food to the less fortunate.

Since 2008, donations have surpassed 442 tons of pet food delivered to food banks via the network of donation sites across the country.

To reach its goal in 2016, Pets of the Homeless will need another 24,000 pounds of pet food donated and $43,000 raised nationally. They are actively seeking donations to assist homeless people and their pets.

“Eighty seven cents out of every dollar donated goes directly to our free programs,” said Frederick. “For homeless people with pets, many are forced to choose between their pet or a roof over their head. These pets are non judgmental, provide love, comfort and an emotional bond of loyalty. In some cases, they provide the homeless with protection and also keep them warm. During the holidays, giving human food to local food banks is great, but remember that Fido and Kitty need assistance too.”

About Pets of the Homeless:

Pets of the Homeless believes in the healing power of companion pets and of the human-animal bond which is very important in the lives of many homeless. They find solace, protection and companionship through their pets. They care for their pets on limited resources so they themselves have less. The task, nationwide, is to feed and provide basic emergency veterinary care to their pets and thus relieve the anguish and anxiety of the homeless who cannot provide for their pets. For more information, please visit petsofthehomeless.org or follow them on Facebook.

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Lola was taken from his yard on the 7600 block of Brunache Street in Downey, which is near Las Angeles.  According to LeClair, a young boy saw a woman in a red car pull up to the home and take Lola while he was on his walk home from school.  When the boy asked what she was doing, she told him that the dog was going to the vet.

No one has seen Lola since that time.  She’s not shown up on any social media sites as of yet, but almost every available person in Downey is looking for this woman in a red car, but more importantly looking for Lola.  The dog happens to be very well known in the area, and many of LeClair’s neighbors and friends are putting up flyers and canvasing the area.

“For the last week and a half, day and night, I go to bed thinking about her, I wake up a time or two at night thinking about her.  I guess you call it grieving,” LeClair said.

This year hasn’t exactly been the easiest for LeClair.  First he lost his daughter, then he was in a car accident, and now someone has stolen his best friend from him.  As stated before, LeClair doesn’t want to start any trouble, he just wants his dog back.  Anyone with information on Lola’s whereabouts is asked to call 562-923-3364.  LeClair is offering a reward, and says that there will be “no questions asked” as long as Lola is returned to him safely.

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The little guy has been dedicated to becoming a search and rescue dog.  This way, if and when disaster strikes again, he can be ready to lend a helping paw.  He, along with two other dogs adopted through animal rights organization ENPA, will be working with local emergency services for training.

ENPA has also been working in that area since the quakes, and so far say that they’ve helped about 1,000 animals so far.  The goal is pretty clear.  They want to make sure that the earthquake prone-area has protocol in place to help rescue those in need when the time comes.

Norcia has seen the strongest quakes measured in the area since the quakes that hit Naples in 1980, which killed 2,735 people.  Luckily, there have been no recorded human deaths in these recent quakes.  The 6.6 magnitude quake did lots of damage to buildings and it will be some time before everything is rebuilt.

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Carl Gough says the attack began in the kitchen of his Manchester apartment when the woman beat her four-year-old dog with a shoe. She then chased Lennox down a hallway and kicked him.

A UK man was thrown out of his home when he confronted his pregnant landlady for hitting her Rottweiler with a shoe and kicking him numerous times.  When he posted the video online and reported the crime to police, he was told there was nothing they could do because “it’s only a dog.”  Thankfully, the dog has now been removed from this house of horror.

Carl Gough says the attack began in the kitchen of his Manchester apartment when the woman beat her four-year-old dog with a shoe.  She then chased Lennox down a hallway and kicked him.

“I have been out with some friends and came home. I opened the door and went to the kitchen and she must have not seen me or something,” the bartender explained.

“I saw her beating the dog. It was horrific to watch. I asked her what she was doing and she said she was punishing it because it wouldn’t sit down.

“She then started kicking it in the hallway. Afterwards she kicked off me with when I confronted her and threw me out.

“She said there wasn’t a problem with it and that her partner also beats up the dog. I’m scared for its safety. It needs to be removed.

“I’d only been living there for two weeks and she’s kicked me out now.  I’ve got nowhere to go so I’m going to end up sleeping on the streets.”

Gough had only been living in the two-bedroom apartment for a couple of weeks, and thankfully he was there to film the brutal incident.  He posted the video online, and contacted the RSPCA and called police.

“The police turned around to me and said they can’t do anything because it’s only a dog. They said if I don’t pull the videos down I can get done for harassment.

“I was absolutely disgusted. I haven’t done anything wrong yet the police are telling me I’ll get arrested and doing nothing about her.”

After numerous posts were made on the RSPCA’s Facebook page, they told concerned folks:

“This dog is now in our care and we are investigating. A date has been set to interview the person in the video but, as our investigation is ongoing, I’m afraid we can’t give any more information at this time.”

Hopefully the investigation will ensure that Lennox is not returned to his home and that this heartless woman charged with abuse, which most certainly is against the law in Manchester and all parts of the UK.  Click here if you’d like to visit the Greater Manchester Police’s Facebook page and give them a piece of your mind.

It is also hoped that this woman’s abusive behavior is addressed with the help of a therapist before she gives birth and treats her child similarly.

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A few years later, while Alex and his mother were driving, they happened upon an injured pit bull running in the middle of the street. Naturally, Alex had to help

“I was pulling off the side of the road when I hear Alex’s car door open,” his mother, Valinda Cortez of Canton, North Carolina, told The Dodo.  “Before I could stop him, he was out in the middle of the road with this dog.”

Completely disregarding his own personal safety, Alex grabbed up the injured pup and got the dog into the car.

“He picked up this bloody baby and brought him to the car,” she said.  “We got him all healed up and now he lives a wonderful spoiled life.”

Now, Alex is 16.  Recently, he became a part of a vastly different kind of rescue than what he was used to.  It was the kind of rescue that be highly emotional, and can push people to their breaking point.

“He’s helped before in animal shelters and homeless shelters but this time was different,” said Valinda.

Alex had a day off from school, so he decided to go do some work with his mother that day.  She’s a volunteer with many other people that are parts of various animal rescue organizations.  They’ve all come together, and are working at a warehouse that’s been turned into a makeshift shelter for animals that were a part of a terrible hoarding case.

There were more than 140 animals taken from the property in question.  They were in various states of poor health, almost all of them had never known life outside of a cage, and many of them were small Chihuahuas and dachshunds.

“Most of them had only had little or no human contact,” said Valinda.  “They were so scared. They would tremble and cower if we tried to pet them.”

That’s where Alex first met Trouble.  Trouble was a bundle of fear at first, but for whatever reason, Alex was drawn straight to him cage.  He did spend a bit of time walking around and talking to the other dogs, but as his mother explains it, Trouble was, “The One.”

“He held him, played with him and, probably for the first time in this dog’s life, he felt loved,” said Valinda.  “He fell asleep while Alex was holding him.”

His mother’s heart was overflowing with joy.  Her 16-year-old son is just a big softy when it comes to the animals, but what’s even more, he seemed to know that this particular dog was really in need of some love and attention.

“My wonderful 16-year-old son has a giant soft spot in his heart for the animals that are ‘less desirable,’” she said.  “He has asked me several times this evening about Trouble.  After he gets home from school tomorrow, we’re going back to the temporary warehouse where the remainder of the dogs are.  I hope Trouble got adopted, but if not, I’m sure we will be bringing him home, if only as a foster.”

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