Three Dogs, A Goat, And A Baseball

"That’s the whole secret of life. Life . . . is a series of dogs." George Carlin

Look at that face!

Her name was Mollie. She had a chicken “nugget radar”.

After She Put Down Her Dog, The Dog’s Favorite Restaurant Sent A Condolence Gift
A Package Arrived From Chick-Fil-A With A Handwritten Condolence Note, Some Small Gifts — And A Framed Watercolor Painting Of Her Dog, Mollie
Sydney Page, Washington Post, March 31, 2023

Sarah and Jonathan Massey were devastated at having to euthanize their ailing dog, Mollie, and wanted her to have the best last day possible — a car ride, a park visit, a Starbucks puppuccino and chicken nuggets. . . .

Massey stopped at her local Chick-fil-A in Houston on Jan. 26 to buy 30 chicken nuggets for Mollie’s final meal. Mollie was in kidney failure and was deteriorating rapidly. Although she had minimal appetite, Massey knew she would not turn down nuggets. . . .

When Massey placed the order at the Chick-fil-A drive-through, an employee seemed confused that she didn’t want any dipping sauces or side dishes to accompany her 30 nuggets. Massey . . . solemnly explained that the nuggets were not for a human, but rather, her dog, who would be put down the following day.

Massey was stunned when she pulled up to the window to pay — and wasn’t charged. The employee at the window simply said: “Don’t worry about it. We took care of it today.” . . .

“Then I just started sobbing,” said Massey . . .

A few days after Mollie was put down, Massey received a message on Instagram from Chick-fil-A’s corporate account, asking for her address. They let her know that she should keep an eye out for something special in the mail. . . .

Massey — who recorded herself opening the box and unpacking its contents — wept as she unveiled the detailed portrait, which captured Mollie’s unique features — including her spotted brown and black fur, and her floppy ears. Mollie was a cross between an Australian cattle dog and a greyhound, with a silly personality and boundless energy.

“It’s my girl,” Massey said, as she clutched the gift tightly in her arms. “They painted my girl for me.” . . .

A Rescue Dog And Goat Are Best Friends. A Shelter Put Them Up For Adoption As A Pair.
Cathy Free, Washington Post, March 29, 2023

The staff at the Wake County Animal Center in Raleigh, N.C., had a dilemma when a goat named Cinnamon and a dog named Felix showed up together on their doorstep.

The shelter takes in thousands of dogs and cats each year, and generally doesn’t accept farm animals.

But Cinnamon and Felix seemed affectionate toward one another, said Jennifer Federico, director of animal services. . . . She made an exception and welcomed them in on March 13. When staffers separated them and put them each in their own enclosure, things did not go well.

“Cinnamon was very upset — she was bleating and calling out to the dog,” Federico said. “She was so stressed and frantic that we realized this pair had to be kept together.” . . .

“Cinnamon follows Felix everywhere and it was clear they were raised together,” Federico said. “You don’t even need to put a leash on the goat — she’ll simply go where Felix goes. When she became upset, we knew they had to stay in the same holding pen. . . . They obviously love each other.”

And so, Federico knew that the shelter had to try to get them adopted together. On March 25, one of the staffers posted on Facebook:

“We have a VERY unique situation and we need your help to find a RESCUE who can take this bonded pair and find them the perfect home,” the post read. “They are best buds and are truly bonded; they even sleep together and have been kept together 24/7 except when they eat.” . . .

Federico said that a local farm will send someone to pick up the pair this week after Felix is neutered.

“They have other goats, and hopefully over time, they will integrate Cinnamon into the goat herd,” she said. . . .

Felix is more mellow than Cinnamon and is equally happy hanging out with humans, she said, but he still shows affection toward the goat.

“He’s a big block-headed bulldog . . . [H]e really seems to enjoy being around her. The other day, we took him away briefly to see how he got along with other dogs, and he licked Cinnamon when he returned to tell her, ‘I’m back.’”

While Felix was gone, the goat butted her head against the wall and bleated her concern, Federico said, but she quickly recovered.

“She calms down immediately when she’s back with the dog,” she said. “This definitely isn’t normal, but they really are comfortable together.”

While plans are finalized to get the pair into their new permanent home, they seem content to nap and play together at the shelter, she said, although they need to be separated by a divider in their kennel when they eat.

“Cinnamon doesn’t really appreciate that, but if we didn’t do it, Felix would eat all of her food,” Federico explained . . . “Cinnamon also loves to eat, but she mostly loves cuddling with Felix. We hope they have many happy years together to come.”

Dog At Baseball Game Surprises Fans By Catching Home Run Ball
Ashley Ortiz, Dodo, March 28, 2023

At an MLB spring training game over the weekend, spectators in the outfield jumped for a chance to catch a home run ball. Fans raised their hands as the baseball flew over them, but only one viewer came away with the prize: a happy, fetch-loving pup in a Dodgers jersey. . . .

[Michael Busch of the Dodgers hit a home run in the seventh inning. Several fans tried to catch the ball.] As luck would have it, the ball bounced straight toward a four-legged fan, who, at first, had no idea what the commotion was about — he was just happy to be there. The pup picked his head up at the sound of people scrambling around him, and that’s when he saw a familiar round object rolling in his direction.

With his tail wagging and his eyes on the prize, the dog opened his mouth and scooped up the ball. He was already pleased with his catch, but his excitement only amplified when the crowd around him erupted in a celebratory roar.

“Did the dog catch that?” one of the announcers exclaimed. “Well, how ‘bout that!”

The pup’s owner, who wore a Dodgers K-9 jersey, jumped up in victory over his dog’s catch.