For the Love of Dog – Opinion

Sorry for not being able to make it last Friday’s Feel-Good Friday. Moving our stuff from storage into our new home was certainly a feeling-good thing, but coughing all the way through was not. The one-two punch of moving was interrupted by an upper respiratory problem that I did not have. I lost the ability to write and move because of sickness. My body was gracious enough to wait for me to get well so that I could rest in my bed. It’s a great thing!

You get two Feel-Good Friday stories. One of the stories will be available at a later time.

The Feel-Good Friday’s first story began last year. It is a testimony to the determination, fortitude and hard work of dogs. “Dog” is “God” spelled backwards, and I don’t think that’s any accident. Through my beloved dogs, I have learned much about God’s love and heart.

A runaway dog that swam 3,300 feet across the Ohio River in 2020 has been adopted after a year of training and trust-building.

Allie, an animal rescue, ran off from her owners on December 5, 2020. She swam the Ohio River, from Evansville (Indiana) to Henderson County (Kentucky), according to SWNS.

Newsflash – No dog who is happy runs off and swims in rivers over 3,000 feet. No indication of this has been reported, but my sense from the dog’s behavior is that she was abused by her previous owner.

After she was rescued one week later, Allie was brought to volunteer trainer Michelle Phillips, 51, from Boonville, Indiana, who recently adopted the pooch, SWNS reported.

According to the news agency, when Allie first ran away from her then-owner’s home, she ran to the Ohio River and spent an hour swimming across.

According to SWNS, while she was floating in the river officers from the Evansville Police and Fire departments attempted to save her. However, she refused to go near them and almost was struck by a barge.

Allie’s new rescue mom, Michelle Phillips, was a part of the initial rescue efforts a year ago:

“I raced down there and found several people watching her in the water and said she had gone under several times.”

Allie was able to cross the border into Kentucky and she fled immediately to the woods. Allie ran away from rescuers for over a week.

Rescuers managed to rescue Allie from a field after about six hours. They were then able fence and to leash Allie.

That night, she was placed in Phillips’ care.

Phillips claims that all Phillips did was to sleep. Phillips says that no matter how tired a dog is, if they don’t feel safe, then they won’t lie down. Allie knew instinctively that she was safe. Michelle Phillips is a blessing, thank God.

“We just brought her home and she went and laid down on our couch,” Phillips told SWNS.

Allie was extremely scared and fearful of people during her initial stay at Philip’s home for training. However, things slowly started getting better as the trainer worked on improving the dog’s trust in people. The fearful dog is now comfortable being around humans. She was outside with no leash, and did not attempt to flee.

Allie, who was originally supposed to be trained by Philips, was eventually adopted.

The video shows that Allie has a feeling of safety and is loved and cared by Phillips. Allie found her furever home and will never run.

There are no safety concerns in this home. Both furever homes can make a big difference for humans and their pets. Allie and Michelle Phillips, as well as the O’Connell household are looking forward to a Merry Christmas.