Please vote for one of the following Pet News of the Week candidates by (1) sending an e-mail to jgerber@ideastream.org or (2) calling the WCLV Contest Line at 1-800-343-WCLV (9258) and leaving a message. The winner will be announced on WCLV Monday, July 25 at 7:20 a.m. EDT and posted here. Your four Pet News contenders:
- Fran and Earl, two bonded senior pit bulls, who were “married” July 12 at a shelter in Fargo, N. D. They wore floral wreaths, had a wedding cake, and were attended by bridesmaids Stella and Rosie, plus groomsmen Koda and Brute. There was also a marriage certificate including the dogs’ paw prints. They were surrendered when their owner could no longer care for them, and must be adopted together. Fran and Earl are together in a foster home while they await a permanent one;
- From the Queen of the Morn’s drive to work Tuesday morning: At a stop light, I noticed a man waiting to cross the street, walking a large German Shepherd. I asked him what the dog’s name was. He said, “Brutus.” I replied, “Brutus is walking YOU this morning.” Suddenly Brutus let out a low howl. I guess he liked hearing his name;
- Saul, the dog credited with leading rescuers to his owner, a 53-year-old man who fell 70 feet down a ridge in California’s Tahoe National Forest in Nevada. The dog’s owner was not able to call 911 for help until around noon the next day, when, despite sustaining a broken hip and ribs, he managed to drag himself to a place where he could use his cell phone. When rescuers arrived, they could not find the man until Saul “flagged down” two searchers, jumped around, spun in circles, then ran 20 feet ahead of them and turned back to look at them. Rescuers found the man, who was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Saul received lots of treats;
- The unnamed wallaby, who escaped through a fence and roamed through a town outside Merseyside, England. Through Facebook posts, the owner was notified and the wallaby was returned. Given the heat wave in the U.K., one person posted: “I think he’s hugely mistaken the U.K. for Australia.” Wallabies are legal to keep as pets in the U.K.