A FLUFFY GUARDIAN ANGEL How a Dog Saved Its Foster Family From Disaster
When a Virginia family of five decided to temporarily foster a dog in 2023, they weren’t expecting it to be a life-changing event. But they might not be here today if it weren’t for the Great Pyrenees named Moose that they took home for the weekend. Christopher Cushna and his partner, Sheila Janes, were looking for something fun and unique to do with their three children when they learned about the Paws Around Portsmouth program. This program allows people to foster
daughters, Anya. Though everyone figured the energetic dog wanted to go outside, he was persistent, and they quickly noticed a neighboring houseboat engulfed in flames. As the fire began to spread, the family evacuated safely just minutes before the fire reached their boat.
“If Moose hadn’t gotten Anya and Chris up, we would not be here, as we were all sound asleep, and the fire spread very quickly,” Sheila said.
dogs from the local Humane Society for a short time. They fell in love with big, fluffy Moose and decided to take him on a field trip around town. The family visited their own music shop, where Moose met potential adopters at an event sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard. The friendly dog later accompanied them to a farmers market, a community band concert,
The family lost their houseboat and everything inside, but thanks to Moose’s heroic act, they are alive and grateful today. “What I like to think about is that we saved Moose from the situation Moose was in, and Moose saved us on the boat,” Christopher said.
Moose’s life-saving actions made big news, and a local woman adopted him. Now, the hero dog is living his best life
and a flea market, where they met a woman who wanted to adopt him.
on a 5-acre farm, complete with a swimming pool. For this family, who had no idea just how transformative a doggy day out could be, Moose will always be their knight in fluffy armor.
Moose returned to the family’s houseboat for the evening since the
adopter could not bring him home that day. As everyone slept, Moose suddenly woke Christopher and one of their
CHILDREN’S BOOK OFFERS MANY LIFE LESSONS
It’s usually a good signal that a book is worth reading if three or more people recommend it, especially if they come from different backgrounds and social circles. Around a year ago, Melissa had multiple people tell her about a quick read called “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” by Charlie Mackesy. What looked like a children’s book quickly revealed itself to be an inspiring source of wisdom. The 2019 book follows the unlikely quartet of a boy, mole, fox, and horse as they explore the world around them. The characters reflect on everything they encounter using simple illustrations and dialogue, dropping bits of wisdom throughout. At the root of the book are lessons on kindness and compassion. When you first pick up this book, you might not think much of it, but after reading a few pages, you’ll be hooked and enamored with the story.
A conversation between the boy and the horse provides a great example of how profound this book can be: “What’s the bravest thing you ever said?” asked the boy. “Help,” said the horse. “Asking for help isn’t giving up,” said the horse, “it’s refusing to give up.”
Anyone can benefit from that advice, regardless of age, education level, or any other factor!
If you look up this book or seek it out the next time you go to a library or bookstore, you may question whether it’s appropriate for you or not. By all means, it looks like a book for children, but the lessons within can be beneficial for everyone. It’s well worth the read! If you don’t think you have the time to read the book, there’s also a movie version available that’s currently streaming on Apple TV. It’s an enjoyable watch, but you might take more away from the book!
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