[News] Yorkie's Courage of Hall-of-Fame Caliber

[fasteddie]

The 7-month-old Yorkshire terrier had been a Valentine's Day gift to Atalie Stewart from her parents, Julia and Matthew Stewart. He was a perfect companion and friend to the 11-year-old handicapped girl.

But on Aug. 9, Matthew Stewart, pastor of Lee Street United Methodist Church in Americus, was wondering about the still-growing puppy. The normally calm, quiet dog, named Winn-Dixie by Atalie because she loved the book and movie "Because of Winn-Dixie," would not stop barking in the doorway of his study as he shuffled through some paperwork early that morning.

"He was just setting it up, barking and yapping, and even when I told him to hush, he wouldn't," Stewart said.

It was so out of character for the dog that Stewart wondered if someone was breaking into the house. When he got up to see what was bothering the dog, Winn-Dixie high-tailed it down the hallway. That's when Stewart was sure something was wrong.

"It was like in the movies," Stewart remembered. "He'd run a little way, barking, then look back over his shoulder to make sure I was following him, then run some more, then look back."

By the time they reached the end of the hall, Stewart smelled the smoke. As Winn-Dixie tore into the kitchen with Stewart on his heels, the preacher saw that their laundry room was in flames — flames that were soon going to block his wife's exit from the bathroom where she was showering.

Stewart pulled his wife from the shower, then they rushed to the other end of the house where Atalie, 11, who has Down syndrome, was getting ready for school. Scooping up Winn-Dixie, the family rushed from the now smoke-filled home — Julia in a bathrobe, Matthew in shorts and a T-shirt — and watched everything they owned go up in smoke.

But Stewart knows it could have been much worse.

"If Winn-Dixie hadn't started barking and come to get me, something deadly would have happened that day," said Stewart. "He was very much our hero."

For his heroics, Winn-Dixie was honored Nov. 19 by the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association, which inducted him into the Georgia Animal Hall of Fame as its hero animal of the year. Each year since 1999, the GVMA has inducted pets into its hall of fame in three categories: companion, professional and hero. This year, the group also had a special recognition award for a therapy cat. Here are the other winners:

• Lisa Rodier-Yun's Bouvier des Flandres, Axel, was named the companion animal of the year for his therapy work over the past 10 years. The large, shaggy black dog, who retired this year for medical reasons, visited hospitals, special-needs children and reading programs, and at rehabilitation centers he would pull patients in their wheelchairs.

"He just adored doing the therapy work," said Rodier-Yun of Alpharetta, who averaged six visits a month with her pet. "When he saw me get out the bag for our therapy visits, he'd go sit by the door and wait."

• This year's professional animal of the year is Newport, a black Labrador retriever owned by Janice Scott of Byron. Newport is a guide dog who helps Scott, who is legally blind, get around. But Newport's also learned, on her own, to signal Scott, a diabetic, when her blood sugar levels are too high or low.

"I thought it was a fluke when she first did it at the school, but the behavior continued once we got home," said Scott.

Scott has had Newport just over a year and said she believes her companion has saved her from going into a diabetic coma on at least three occasions.

"She's given me my independence back. She's given me my mobility back; my dignity back," said Scott. "She's given me my life back."

• The GVMA also gave special recognition to Rena Cresman's therapy cat, Lydia. While there aren't any cats in the hall of fame yet, the group recognized Lydia for her more than five years of therapy work at nursing homes, hospices and children's events. Cresman found Lydia while taking her therapy dog to a nursing home.

"She had a terrible head wound that was infected," said Cresman. "But she was just the sweetest cat."

After surgery to repair the damage, the long-haired gray cat quickly proved her upbeat personality, so Cresman added her to the pet therapy rotation. Now she has four therapy cats.

"A lot of people just don't think cats can do therapy work, but that's just not true," said Cresman of Marietta.

To see earlier inductees into the GVMA hall of fame, go to www.gvma.net and click on "Programs and Awards."

Strutting their stuff

Most of the best show dogs in the nation will be at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship on Saturday and Dec. 3. That's because the show offers $225,000 in prize money, with the owners of the best-in-show winner taking $50,000. Most dog shows award only ribbons and prizes.

This year, 2,449 dogs have been registered to compete in 153 AKC registered breeds. The show, to be held in Long Beach, Calif., will be broadcast live both nights on Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel simultaneously from 8 to 11 p.m. Viewers can even vote for their favorite dogs online during the show at animalplanet.com.

Free low-cost spay/neuters

The Fayette County Humane Society has received a $10,000 grant from PetSmart Charities to spay and neuter the pets of people who otherwise probably couldn't afford it. Brenda Hamrick said FCHS is trying to reduce the number of unwanted animals pouring into the county shelter, where many of them must be killed because of a lack of homes.

Under the program, families in Fayette and surrounding southside counties with an income of less than $35,000 a year can apply to have their dogs and cats spayed or neutered for free at several vets in the area. To apply for the program, call 770-487-1073, Ext. 1, or go online to www.fayettehumane.org and click "spay/neuter."

QUICK TIP

CHILD-WISE: Never leave small children unattended with pets. Even friendly animals can snap or even bite if provoked by a well-meaning but overly exuberant child.

[News Article Found by: blackwidow]

http://www.ajc.com/living/content/li...slpetdish.html

[Sadie's Mom]

Yea for Winn Dixie!! A very smart guy! I love happy stories like that.

[chattiesmom]

Thank you for sharing the story, FastEddie. I loved the book and movie, Because of Winn Dixie. Even though it is a kid's book, put it on your list of reading for one of those times when your spirit needs a lift.

Go Winn Dixie! You are a hero in a dog suit!

[MrsLee]

That's a great story

[Boobaleeze]

WOW.... what an amazing story! So glad that everyone got out of the house in time and that no one was hurt. You go WinnDixie... you're definitely a hero in my books.

[Jenn218]

Great story!!!! Our little furbabies are greater than people know, huh??!!!