If a nearby resident were to offer a cup of tea, it would be gratefully accepted but most certainly not expected.

Imagine then the sheer elation felt by one lucky cocker spaniel who was helped out of the water by an army of 17 burly firefighters this week.

Matt the Spaniel’s ordeal began when he slipped into a duck pond having run playfully across the ice at Dean Country Park near his home in Kilmarnock on the west coast of Scotland.

As the terrified eight-year-old pooch struggled to raise himself out of the freezing water fire crews were mercifully scrambled and they were joined by a water rescue unit from Ayr which raced to the scene after the alarm was raised.

Using ladders and specialist equipment, they managed to reach Matt and fish the shivering Spaniel out of the pond after what started as a routine walk supervised by his owner’s neighbours turned into a living nightmare.

The firefighters were hailed as heroes by grateful owner Shelia Johnstone, 78, who wrote to thank them.

She said: ‘I still can’t believe one little dog caused so much fuss and had 17 firemen looking after him. I’m so grateful to all of them.

‘Matt came from the SSPCA’s rescue centre at Cardonald so it’s actually not the first time he’s been rescued – but hopefully it will be the last.’

Matt has now been given a clean bill of health.

The vets have told me he’s going to be fine.’ added Sheila. ‘They put him under the heat lamp and hair dryer as soon as he arrived at the surgery. He had been out for a walk with my neighbours when he ran on to the pond and fell in. They were as delighted as me that everything turned out all right in the end

Stevie Logan, Kilmarnock Fire Brigade’s station commander, in turn praised the quick actions of those who dialled 999 warning attempting a rescue themselves could have been fatal. He said: ‘The dog was in clear distress and had been in the water for some time when we arrived. He was trapped in a circle of water with ice surrounding it and couldn’t get out.

The people in this case did exactly the right thing by phoning us, and not attempting to rescue it themselves. Too many people have drowned trying to rescue their dogs, and although it is a hard thing to do to stand by and watch the dog struggling, we do have the specialist knowledge and equipment to carry out a rescue.’
Matt is now recovering at home after local photographer Sandy Ferguson captured the dramatic rescue on camera. He said: ‘You could tell the poor wee thing was in some kind of trouble. He was yelping away and struggling to get out of the water. It was incredible to watch the team of firefighters working to save the dog and I was delighted to see it come out of the water alive.’

Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn called it ‘a very lucky escape. There have been accidents like this in the past when dogs have unfortunately not survived.

Don’t just look at a dog’s breed when selecting one. Even the gentlest of breeds can be violent ones, especially if they aren’t given enough socialization and training. Did you know that the breeds that are more likely to bite are the ones people rarely think about – like the cuddly toy poodle or the Jack Russell Terrier?

• Chow Chows are one-man dogs that be given to bite with no warning. They’re also a bit ferocious around unknowns, and can be quite tenacious fighter. So be sure to discipline this dog and set right from wrong, immediately.

• The Papillon is fiercely loyal of their owners – to a fault. They can be quite possessive and standoffish to strangers.

• Old English Sheepdogs are very protective of their owners so they might be aggressive if anybody tends to be too close to its owners.

• A Llasa Apso often gets cranky around kids.

• Rottweilers are extremely protective of their masters.

• Chihuahuas aren’t too fond of kids. They’d rather be with adults than play around with tots.

• Toy Poodles bite people and other animals out of self defense. Unfortunately, ‘playing’ according to you may be perceived as a form of ‘attack’ to them.

• Dachshunds aren’t known for their patience.

• Jack Russell Terriers are feisty creatures who require early training to prevent long-term biting and digging problems.

• Giant Schnauzers are very dominant. They often challenge adults, particularly strangers.

• Cocker Spaniels often suffer from a dangerous genetic disease known as “rage syndrome.” This syndrome causes spontaneous violent action against not strangers, but actual family members. Many Spaniels have been put down because of this unwanted behavior. Check with the breeder to ensure your Spaniel is free from this dangerous dog disease.

• The Pekingese isn’t all that tolerant of strangers.

Here’s a rundown of breeds that are typically gentle but can’t shake off their “bad dog” image.

* Boxers are pretty good with kids. They are good watchdogs, but will only become aggressive
* Bulldogs are very playful and gentle.
* Great Danes, while considerable in size, happen to be kind and affectionate.
* Mastiffs are especially quiet and docile.
* German Shepherds are great with kids too. These are courageous, fiercely loyal dogs who, if trained properly, will be extremely gentle to family and guests.
* Rottweilers are also capable of tenderness and affection. They have a bad rep, but if they trust you, you’ll never have to worry.

Tubbs said, “They’re just, they’re amazing and to have this happen is just absolutely devastating.”

Over the weekend her two dogs were found shot and killed in Berne. Police say a shotgun was used. Tubbs had let her dogs out Saturday afternoon like she normally does, but this time they never returned. It was Monday morning when sheriff’s deputies arrived at her door saying they’d found the dogs.

Tubbs said the officers told her, “It was really awful the way they were left.”

The dogs were actually found on a trail at the Partridge Run Wildlife area, which is a few miles from Tubbs’ home.

Tubbs said, “I’m either thinking, they lurred them into a vehicle, drove them there and shot them or shot them somewhere else and dumped them there.”

Tubbs believes the person or persons who did this probably lived nearby but the question that still lingers, is why?

She said Mocha and Rocky were the sweetest dogs, who were friendly with her neighbors.

Sheriff’s deputies have been canvassing the neighborhood. The only evidence they have is from the bullets, which may not provide much evidence at all.

Albany County Undersheriff Craig Apple said, “If somebody did this out of a pure violent act, you know they pay the price for it.”

Tubbs said, “Why they would go after someone’s pets like this is very disturbing.”

Tubbs’ hopes someone comes forward. In the meantime she’s mounring the loss of two dogs who were and will always be part of the family.

Wildlife pathologist Ward Stone is performing a necropsy on the two dogs. Results could take a week.

Even if this was an accident, anyone with any information at all is urged to call the Albany County Sheriff’s Department at 765-5979

About two weeks after the Kelmses were both killed in a fatal motorcycle crash over the Labor Day weekend, their family and a Burr Ridge shelter is looking for someone to adopt the pack.

They’ve had inquiries about one or two of the dogs, but no one has stepped up yet to take all four, said Kathy Deets, manager of the Chicago Canine Club in Burr Ridge.

“Their last wish was that they could be adopted together and they are an interesting little pack,” said Deets. “They’re just best friends, these four dogs.”
They are 6-year-old Anacortes, a 47-pound female American Eskimo lab mix; 3-year-old Cedonia, a 34-pound female husky mix; 7-year-old Tacoma, a 92-pound male lab mix; and Everett, a 4-year-old, 47-pound, male Austrian Shepard lab mix.

She said the shelter has been boarding the dogs since the accident as a niece of the Kelmses searches for a home. Deets said the dogs have an unusually close bond and tend to hang out together in the shelter.

According to a letter posted on the shelter’s Web site by Kim Mayer, the Kelms’ niece, the dogs were adopted over the past seven years.

“Their dogs were the only children they ever had,” Mayer wrote.

Deets said she understands it will be difficult finding homes for all four dogs, and said they have had inquires from neighbors and friends of the Kelms.

“To adopt two dogs together is a huge challenge … four could be impossible,” said Deets.

But she said the dogs are very well-mannered and show signs that they were well taken care of by the owners. “The dogs are super sweet.”

The dogs, all rescued from area shelters, are spayed and neutered and are up to date on vaccines.

That’s no surprise after the one-year-old bullmastiff mix was rescued by a local animal shelter, relieved of excruciating pain and given a new lease on life.

Alisa Sears said it’s a shame the poor pooch had to lose a limb in the process.

“He was running at large for about three weeks, and someone called in saying the poor thing was literally dragging his front right leg,” said Sears, manager of the Ontario Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) Barrie branch. “We think he’d been hit by a car. His leg was broken, but the injury was sustained some time ago, and the leg was dead when we got to him.

“He had been chewing at it and we’re not sure why, but we made the decision immediately to have it amputated because he was in so much pain,” she added. “He seems happy now. It’s like he’s grateful that we helped him.”

Moose, as shelter staff have lovingly named him, was placed temporarily in foster care for two weeks to heal and he’s in need of a new home.

Barrie resident Justine Perry, Moose’s foster mom, has fallen in love with him and says letting go when the time’s right will be hard.

“I’m usually pretty good with letting them go, but he’s going to be harder,” Perry said, giving Moose a good scratch behind the ears. “I wish I could keep him, but there’s no room long-term for him at home, and my dog doesn’t get a long well with him.”

Sears said the mild-mannered animal will steal any potential owner’s heart at first glance.

“He’s really very sweet with a great personality and he’s so cute,” she said. “He’s healed a lot faster than we expected him to, and he shouldn’t have any ongoing health issues to worry about.”

Moose’s gentle nature, shiny copper coat, bright golden eyes and wagging tail would make the friendly canine any dog lover’s dream pet. And he still has a lot of life in him.

There is a $400 price tag to adopt Moose, and he’s been neutered and has all his shots.

The shelter is still trying to locate the dog’s owner, but recent efforts have not been successful.

Coco, a two-year-old Patterdale terrier, went missing on a walk with her owner Rebecca Lewis, from St Ives, Cornwall.

Mother-of-one Ms Lewis, 38, who had no idea that there were any mine shafts in the area, searched for her dog for six days and had almost given up hope of every seeing Coco alive again.

But Ms Lewis, a self-employed artist and property developer, searched for specialist maps of mine shafts in the area and contacted the dog charity Dog Lost! who put her in touch with a group of cavers — who eventually pulled Coco out of the dry shaft.

Amazingly despite falling down the sheer drop and spending six days without food the vet gave her a clean bill of health, aside from a small cut above her eye and a sore leg — and she did not require any treatment.

Ms Lewis, took Coco for a walk with friends and family on the evening of September 4 when Coco disappeared at a place called Little Brunnion, near Trencrom, Cornwall.

Volunteers from the Cornwall Mines Explorers Club gave their time to help search for Coco.

David Penhaligan, who was part of the mines rescue team, said: “We have done quite a few dog rescues over the last few years but that was the deepest shaft we have ever taken a live dog out of.

“Coco was so lucky because neighbours gave us a very large scale map that was part of their deeds and on it was a square building and quite close to it was a shaft.”

This news comes on the heels of guilty pleas from Robert Hackman, Teddy Kiriakidis, Ronald Creach and Michael Morgan entered Monday to conspiracy and other crimes, admitting their roles in breeding, trafficking, fighting and killing pit bulls in a lucrative dogfighting network, the Associated Press reports. A fifth co-defendant, Jack Ruppel, pled guilty Sept. 4.

During the raid, agents also seized “rape stands” used to strap female dogs into place to be bred. One hundred puppies have been born since the raids.

Breeding is crucial to the industry because fighting dogs don’t live long, says Tim Rickey, director of the Humane Society of Missouri’s anti-cruelty task force.

The Humane Society of Missouri staff “is outstanding,” says Red Star Animal Emergency Services program manager Tracy Reis. “This temporary shelter is one of the best run that I’ve seen. They’ve been working this shelter since the beginning and are tireless in their efforts to care for these dogs. I’m proud that they’ve asked us to help.”

Yankee Spirits, a liquor retailer based in Sturbridge with a store in South Attleboro, sent $1,000 to help the pooch, which is in critical condition at the Dighton Rehoboth Animal Hospital.

The dog was found by Rhode Island state workers Monday, who took him to the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

According to information on the RISPCA Web site, a doctor at the animal hospital said Willie’s survival is “questionable.”

Willie was emaciated, dehydrated, anemic and infested with fleas when he was found cowering on the tracks. A news release described him as “a walking skeleton.” The pitiful pup had ingested sand and foreign objects, which is typical of animals who are slowly starving, the press release said.

Recovery will be slow and take a lot of money, the RISPCA said.

Yankee Spirits has three stores altogether and its employees recently voted to allocate $15,000 to three animal shelters. The Willie donation is part of that effort to help needy animals, said company President Michael Cimini.

Anyone who wants to help pay for Willie’s medical expenses can make a donation to RISPCA’s Marvin Fund.

Checks should be made out to RISPCA Marvin Fund with “Willie” in the memo line and sent to RISPCA, 186 Amaral St., Riverside, R.I. 02915-2223.

Donations can be made online by going to the RISPCA Web site, www.rispca.com.

Willie’s story and updates on his condition are also available at the Web site.

Miniature pinscher Nicky sprang into action after the kitten’s mother became too weak during the birth at the weekend, said her owner Bev Darlow.

The family often fosters kittens for Cat Care and Nicky has become adept at lending a hand.

Darlow, of Kabega Park, said the cat had “battled tremendously” after hours of labour and did not have the energy to free the third kitten from its amniotic sac. “I broke the bag a little, then Nicky just jumped in there and took over everything.”

She said Nicky got the tiny kitten breathing, cleaned it up and then cleaned the others, the mother and herself. “It is amazing. Ever since then she just sits there, checking to see the kittens are OK and the minute the mother gets up, she jumps in there to keep them warm.”

The mother, who is only five months old, and the four-year-old Nicky get on well, said Darlow.

“The secret to their survival is to keep them warm, and Nicky seems to have mastered the art.

“Nicky is a star with cats. Once when she had a litter of her own, she also allowed our kittens to drink from her.”

Steve Markwell, who runs the sanctuary, says the aggressive behavior Snaps demonstrated since the attacks was due in part to being housed in a kennel at King County Animal Care and Control. But Nancy McKenney, acting manager of the King County facility, disputed that claim. “It is unsubstantiated and false that the aggressive behavior was the result of being held in the shelter,” she tells the Daily News.

Snaps was released to the sanctuary just two days after its owner, a 16-year-old girl, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree assault, one count of third-degree assault and one count of being a minor in possession of alcohol. King County prosecutors say the girl, then 15, sicced the dog on two women in SeaTac on June 21.

One woman, 63, was attacked when she saw the girl and three boys kicking Snaps. When the woman threatened to call police, the girl leaned into the woman’s car, yanked her hair, grabbed her cell phone and beat her with it, according to the charging papers.

The girl kept assaulting the woman as she tried to escape through the car’s passenger door, charging papers said. The dog then bit the woman on the thigh and hand. The woman was treated at Highline Medical Center in Burien.

Another woman, 41, was attacked after she witnessed the first assault and confronted the youngsters. The victim told police the girl punched her in the face and head, knocking her down. She said the pit bull bit her on both arms, court papers said. She was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where she required surgery.

According to the Daily News, the Olympic Animal Sanctuary specializes in taking dogs that have bitten or attacked animals or people, and are unable to live among them. They are given a permanent home at the sanctuary. None are put up for adoption.