A loving dog rescued a tiny stray kitten by coaxing it into following her home during pouring rain.
Monica Burks couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw her dog, Hazel, helping out the squeaking kitten during the heavy downpour.
Monica, 48, peered outdoors after Hazel, 3, did not come back from her “restroom” break and instead kept drawing attention to a faint cry underneath their shed.
Hazel persisted, staying out in the rain until Monica, from Abilene, Texas, was met by a surprise: her dog trotting down the driveway, the squealing kitten in tow.
Pic from Monica Burks / tt-creative.com – (Pictured: Monica Burks’ dog Hazel rescues a stranded kitten) – A loving dog rescued a tiny stray kitten by coaxing it into following her home during pouring rain. Monica Burks couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw her dog, Hazel, helping out the squeaking kitten during the heavy downpour. Monica, 48, peered outdoors after Hazel, 3, did not come back from her “restroom” break and instead kept drawing attention to a faint cry underneath their shed. Hazel persisted, staying out in the rain until Monica, from Abilene, Texas, was met by a surprise: her dog trotting down the driveway, the squealing kitten in tow. Each time the kitten stopped, Hazel – a mixture between a Yorkie, Chihuahua and poodle – encouraged her along and waited for her. And when the kitten couldn’t make it up the step into the warm, dry home, Hazel even picked it up in her mouth and carried the cat inside. The moment took place on September 30, and since then Monica has named the kitten Sheba and given it to her brother, Michael, to look after. – EMAIL licensing@tt-creative.com
Each time the kitten stopped, Hazel – a mixture between a Yorkie, Chihuahua and poodle – encouraged her along and waited for her.
And when the kitten couldn’t make it up the step into the warm, dry home, Hazel even picked it up in her mouth and carried the cat inside.
-Scroll down to see emotional video below-
The moment took place on September 30, and since then Monica has named the kitten Sheba and given it to her brother, Michael, to look after.
Monica said: “That’s love, pure love – I saw the motherly instinct come out in her.
Pic from Monica Burks / tt-creative.com – (Pictured: Monica Burks’ dog Hazel rescues a stranded kitten) – A loving dog rescued a tiny stray kitten by coaxing it into following her home during pouring rain. Monica Burks couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw her dog, Hazel, helping out the squeaking kitten during the heavy downpour. Monica, 48, peered outdoors after Hazel, 3, did not come back from her “restroom” break and instead kept drawing attention to a faint cry underneath their shed. Hazel persisted, staying out in the rain until Monica, from Abilene, Texas, was met by a surprise: her dog trotting down the driveway, the squealing kitten in tow. Each time the kitten stopped, Hazel – a mixture between a Yorkie, Chihuahua and poodle – encouraged her along and waited for her. And when the kitten couldn’t make it up the step into the warm, dry home, Hazel even picked it up in her mouth and carried the cat inside. The moment took place on September 30, and since then Monica has named the kitten Sheba and given it to her brother, Michael, to look after. – EMAIL licensing@tt-creative.com
“Sheba is a feisty loving little thing, she was no bigger than my hand when Hazel found her.
“I want people to know that you don’t have to spend a lot of money on an animal, there are so many dogs and cats that need to be rescued or adopted.
“My daughter and I rescued Hazel and her brother at five weeks because their momma rejected them.
“They have given me so much joy and laughter, I think maybe they rescued me.”
You’ve got to admit kittens are pretty cute, and oh so soft and cuddly. This is one great Mama; she just goes above and beyond.
Cat Takes in Hours-old Kitten As Her Own 10 Days After She Has Her Litter of Three
Fern the cat and her kittens@fosterkittens_tn
Earlier this year, Nashville Cat Rescue was informed about a pregnant cat needing rescue at a rural shelter in Tennessee. The shelter lacked the resources to keep her, so they sent out a plea, in hopes of getting her help.
“We don’t know if she was a stray or surrendered but the staff recognized how friendly she was, and knew she needed to go into a rescue,” Becca and Nathan, who foster for Nashville Cat Rescue, shared with Love Meow.
With the help of volunteers, the expectant mother was safely transported to her foster home with Becca and Nathan. The gorgeous cat, named Fern, quickly settled into the cushy home life.
@fosterkittens_tn
Two weeks into foster care, Fern gave birth to three healthy babies and dove right into mommy duties. The doting cat gave her precious trio her undivided attention, with short breaks for replenishment and the litter box.
Ten days later, the couple received an urgent call about a newborn orange tabby desperately seeking a mother’s love. “She was just two hours old after her biological mom rejected her, and she was cold and screaming when she came to us,” the couple told Love Meow.
Fern accepted an orange tabby who had been rejected by her mom, and raised her alongside her own@fosterkittens_tn
“Hoping that Fern’s motherly instincts might extend beyond her own babies, we cautiously placed the tiny newborn with the rest of her litter.”
Fern sniffed around the little newcomer inquisitively. Despite being a bit unsure at first, she let the pint-sized baby stay without a fuss. After the tabby warmed up and snuggly wedged between other kittens, Fern turned to her and started bathing her from head to tail.
Peep the orange tabby@fosterkittens_tn
It didn’t take long until the orange kitten, named Peep, joined her big brothers and nursed away on Mama Fern in perfect harmony. Overnight, she put on 19 grams and gained lots of strength for a tiny body.
Peep was raised alongside her brothers who were a few days ahead of her in development. By the time they were allotted expanded territory to roughhouse in, the kittens began climbing cat trees, playing with toys and creating mischief.
Peep adores her brothers and follows them everywhere they go@fosterkittens_tn
The little sister followed in her brothers’ paw-steps and tried to match their pace like a champ.
“Peep adores her big brothers and has developed quickly trying to keep up with them. She was quick to have her eyes open, learn to walk, start eating solid foods, and learn to wrestle and run around. She doesn’t know she’s different at all.”
She tries to keep up with her big brothers and doesn’t think she is any different@fosterkittens_tn
When the boys returned from a vet appointment, Peep ran up to them with the warmest greeting. “She was quick to welcome them back into the cat tree house. My heart is so full fostering this sweet family.”
As the quartet are blossoming into rambunctious young cats, Fern is spending her time with her people, preferably on a warm lap.
@fosterkittens_tn
“She has been such a loving and devoted mom and saved Peep’s life taking her in at just a few hours old. She is over mom duties, and desperate to get out of the foster room,” the couple shared.
@fosterkittens_tn
“We are thankful she will get to stretch her legs and snuggle on laps whenever she wants.”
Young Man Jumps In to Help Elderly Woman Struggling On Ice
On December 8, Isaiah McIntyre helped the elderly woman so that she could get into Katahdin General Store in Millinocket. It all started after he saw the woman slipping and struggling on a patch of ice with her cane in one hand and her purse in another.
He got out of his car and asked her if she needed any help and helped her to the dry sidewalk, the lady thanked him, and he carried on not thinking it was a big deal. But there was a woman bystander who caught the moments on camera which ended up on Facebook.
Users identified the good Samaritan and the woman in the photo as 93-year-old Marjorie Moore who said her children questioned why she went out on a cold day, but she assured them that it wasn’t so cold and there was only a little ice on the sidewalk.
“He was just a young fellow…I thanked him and told him he was a very nice gentleman,” recalls Moore who will turn 94 in January and still lives alone in an apartment at an assisted living community. The picture has been shared more than 2,600 times in Maine and as far as Italy with messages and comments from common people.
“It’s not every day that you see people react positively towards other people,” says Mcintrye who has been surprised by all the compliments. “There is a lot of people who is very nice. Even over at the shopping center, they will see me and say you need help getting into the car or with your groceries. There is a lot of people out there that is very kind,” says Moore.
Meet the Man Who Created a Theme Park for People with Special Needs
Gordon Hartman is the founder of Morgan’s Wonderland (shown above on right, photo credit: Morganswonderland/Facebook.com). It’s a 25-acre theme park in San Antonio, TX, with a twist. It operates as a non-profit because the 25 rides you’ll find here are accessible to those with disabilities. Or, as Hartman calls it, ultra-accessible™.
A view of Morgans Wonderland. Photo Credit: Facebook.com
Hartman has always followed an entrepreneurial spirit. He started a landscaping business when he was 15, bringing in enough money to start a home-building company before age 20.
At 23, Hartman owned a land development company. That business became the largest enterprise of its type in the city, leading him to be inducted into the local halls of fame for sports and business. It makes for a good story, but it gets even better.
He and his wife sold the company in 2005 to establish a foundation that lets children and adults pursue their dreams, even when cognitive or special needs are present. Morgan’s Wonderland was designed in 2010 and opened its doors in 2017.
It Started with a Family Vacation
Hartman and his family were on vacation in 2006. He observed his daughter wanting to play with two other vacationing children at a hotel swimming pool. Still, they didn’t want to interact with her while tossing a ball around because of her physical and cognitive special needs.
“I’ve made hundreds of speeches about why philanthropy is important,” said Hartman. “It’s not just about giving money. Those who are less fortunate also need time donations. I’ve found that donating my expertise to non-profit organizations allows them to grow and thrive, and that is gratifying.”
Hartman signed The Giving Pledge as part of this transformation, promising publicly that he’d give away his wealth.
“The cost of caring for a child or adult with special needs is staggering,” Hartman said. “This segment of society is largely overlooked, marginalized, and has no voice. Our mission is to make their world a little easier to navigate and enjoy – and to be their advocate.”
Morgan’s Wonderland Supports Numerous Diagnoses
You can’t miss the Whirling Wonder when arriving at Morgan’s Wonderland. This colorful Ferris wheel takes visitors high enough into the air to deliver a panoramic view of the park without being scary for most riders. It stands 5.5 stories tall, which makes it visible from the interstate. A dozen gondolas accommodate children and adults with wheelchairs. [[3]]
There’s an eight-acre lake at the theme park that visitors can tour by riding the Wonderland Express™. It carries multiple railcars equipped with wheelchair-accessible ramps.
The train is designed to accommodate even powered wheelchairs, taking visitors around the park for a fun ride.
Then there is the unique Sensory Village™ at Morgan’s Wonderland. This stop creates a community built on creative play and imagination. It’s an indoor area where five themed regions are available to explore, encouraging hands-on learning with a mindful design that encourages everyone to be curious and interact as they are comfortable.
The current Sensory Village includes a grocery store, an exploration station, and an interactive shadow room. Visitors can enjoy exploring a television newsroom or the Microsoft Experience, which features adaptable Xbox consoles and accessible technology.
“We need to close the gap between the rich and the poor, the sick and the healthy, and those with and without special needs,” said Hartman. “The private sector can step up more aggressively and address these inequities through better education, health care, and living conditions.”
Camping and Sports Are Part of the Morgan’s Wonderland Experience
Since the theme park’s opening, the Hartmans have added two different properties to this experience. The first is a fully inclusive sports complex that focuses on fun, fitness, and competition for athletes of any ability, while the second is a 102-acre campground on the northern outskirts of San Antonio.
“People come up to me all the time and say that they love my park,” said Hartman. “I tell them no – this isn’t my park. It’s everyone’s park.”
Hartman’s team consults with doctors and therapists to ensure each activity at one of their properties is inclusive. That proactive approach ensures that visitors can play and enjoy themselves in whatever way they prefer without being unsafe. Hartman says their zip line is an excellent example of this design, which takes visitors up 11 stories – even if they’re in a wheelchair or have a breathing apparatus.
“People have come from all 50 states and 121 different countries,” said Hartman. “I never anticipated the numbers we would have. That’s the culture here. It gives people an opportunity to do the things they never thought they could do.”
All ages and all abilities are welcome in the environment of inclusion. More information about Morgan’s Wonderland is available at https://morganswonderland.com.
Vegan Book Blogger 