Pui and Ping Pong are the June 23, 2019 Pup of the Week

My dad likes to tell a story about his boyhood dog, Barney. He lived in the 70s when it was common for dogs to run free all day, sometimes far from home. Barney became well known for impregnating any intact female that crossed his path, chasing cars and exceedingly good nature.

One day Barney walked a half mile up the road to visit Papa's Aunt Bev. While he was there, he saw the garage door was open at Mean Mister Medas' house across the street. 
  Barney couldn't help but take a look inside. He found a 30-pound bag of Gravy Train. Barney, like all dogs, was worried about running out of food and thought he had located enough kibble to last the rest of the year. He dragged the bag out of the garage, then down the street to his house where he laid it at his dad's feet and announced he was now self-sufficient, and should no longer have a curfew.

Unfortunately, Mean Mr. Medas witnessed the entire incident.  He walked out of his house and saw the black dog dragging the big bag. A small hole opened in it during transit.  Mean Mr. Medas walked down the street picking up the kibble and putting it in a cellophane bag until he reached Daddy, from whom he took the Gravy Train.  Daddy told him that he should appreciate the humor in the situation. Mean Mr. Medas did not find it funny.

The days of dogs being neighborhood scavengers ended with the leash laws. At least in this country. Thankfully, in some forward-thinking nations, dogs are still allowed to roam and accomplish great feats.

Because he was allowed on the street  Pui, a six-year-old Bangkeaw dog from Thailand had the opportunity to become a national hero.

Barney and Pui were alike.  They both liked to roam their neighborhoods they were curious, and they brought mysterious bags home.  

Pui was investigating the local dump, when, like Barney, he found a bag, which he carried home.  When he arrived, no one paid attention to him or the bag. Pui began barking loudly and would not quiet down. Twelve-year-old Sudarat went outside to see why Pui was so upset.  To her shock, she realized Pui had brought home a baby home in the bag.

The family rushed the baby to the hospital.  It took several days, but the child was released and adopted into a good home.  Pui was hailed as a hero.

That occurred six years ago.  Pui is now a hero at the Bridge. He has dedicated his time to helping dogs become heroes like him.

Pui visited pups' dreams to inspire them to be heroes.  Ping Pong, who yearned to prove himself as a dog after he lost a limb when he was hit by a car, learned every hero lesson Pui taught him.

One day Ping Pong went to the large field where his dad tended cows.  Ping Pong picked up a familiar scent and began barking loudly.

Ping Pong found a baby buried in the ground.  He helped his dad dig it up. They rushed the newborn to the hospital, where it recovered from being abandoned and buried.    For Ping Pong, it was a dream come. He was hailed the hero of his village: Kora Thailand.

I know there are many good reasons not to let us roam free, the biggest being to keep us from being hurt. If humans concentrated on ways to guarantee our safety while we are exploring off leash, they would be stunned at how much good we can do and how many lives we would save.

We are your angels on Earth.  We can do so more than being constant companions and mending broken hearts. Remember, don't assume we are barking for no reason. We might be trying to save a life.