Here's the newspaper headline that caught my eye this morning:
Blind man, guide dog safe after subway track scare
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| John Minchillo/The Associated Press |
Ah, perfect for a still-dark-out coffee. A nice, heartwarming story of a heroic dog. Something to feel a little holiday glow in the morning.
I read the whole article. Read about Cecil fainting and falling onto the subway track, despite the efforts of Orlando. "He tried to hold me up," as Cecil grew weak. Orlando followed his master onto the track, licking him and jumping in the roar of the oncoming train.
Orlando and Cecil lay in the trench between the rails as the train passed overhead.
"The dog saved my life," said Cecil from his hospital bed. Ah yes, a miraculous story for the holidays.
Wait, you haven't gotten to the heartwarming part yet.
It was the last three sentences that finally brought me wide awake:
"The Lab will be 11 on Jan.5 and will be retiring soon, Williams said. His health insurance will not cover the cost of a non-working dog, so he will be looking for a good home for him. If he had the money, Williams said, "I would definitely keep him."
Colleen Long and Kiley Armstrong, The Associated Press
What? This heroic dog loves his owner enough to face an oncoming train with him (and I don't believe any amount of training alone could make a dog do that). Yet as soon as he gets too old to keep working they will be separated?
Nuh - uh. Someone HAS to start a fundraiser for Cecil to keep Orlando. Hmmm, checking Google…
Now you are at the heartwarming part.
A gentleman named Mark Jacobsen started an account at Go Fund Me with a goal of $10,000. He's working with Guide Dogs for the Blind, the organization that raised and trained Orlando and matched him with Cecil. Here's the total as of 1:02 PM, Dec. 18 :
$22, 579
699 Donors
17 hours
Isn't that amazing? It's Christmas for crying out loud. Americans have been maxing out their credit cards since Thanksgiving and yet… As for the surplus, Mr. Jacobsen's page indicates that it will almost certainly go to Guide Dogs for the Blind to continue their work of providing service dogs. They're still formalizing the details because the page hasn't even been up for a whole day yet!
Here's the link so you can see news and updates for yourself:
And here is a link to the update from Guiding Eyes for the Blind:
Yes. There is violence and hate in the United States. But today this story reminds me of the true America, the people I actually see around me. Americans are the best, most generous people on the planet and today I'm proud to be an American.
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14 comments :
Christmas is the best when people are good and kind. Bravo to each and everyone who put their hands in their pockets. That is what it is all about.
Have a wonderful Wednesday.
Best wishes Molly
I saw the original story on Facebook. I didn't know that someone was organizing a fundraiser for him. It is truly heartwarming.
My sister sent me a link to the story this morning and said "you should see if you can raise money for him" and before I even had time to think of what I wanted to post about it, I saw a news story about all the money coming in for him. It warms my heart.
Im so glad they can stay together!
retro rover
Its a great story. Glad they raised enough funds to keep the two together.
I saw the story on fb and thought it was amazing. I had no idea they were going to be parted though. Amazing that so many have reached deep to keep them together xx
Heart-warming. Glad there are some kind souls out there that are helping these two stay together :)
What an awesome story. We don't have TV I rarely hear the news, but It's nice to know there is good news out there.
I read this story this morning - truly heartwarming.
What a heartwarming story for the holidays!
Hi Y'all!
Just stopped to thank y'all for visitin'!
You story today was truly moving! What incredible things we pawed ones will do when our humans need us. So happy this fellow won't have to be separated from his human.
Y'all come back now,
Hawk aka BrownDog
We love your Christmas card!! Very creative to have certain things colored.
We heard about Orland and Cecil but we had not heard the happy ending.....hugs madi your bfff
what a fantastic story. i think it's wonderful that because of mr. jacobsen, orlando will be able to live out his years by cecil's side; right where he belongs. thanks for sharing this story.
waggy tail, bailey unleashed
Wow!! That's an amazing story. Animals often show amazing unconditional love.
I am glad to know he can still has Orlando through the fund...it's just cruel to separate them.
Merry Christmas to Amy and Toby :)
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