Tuesday, March 9, 2010

For Tweedles an' all our Puggy FURends: Brave little Pug helps rescue her drowning kitty friend


Bob Zellar/AP Amanda Bjelland's early morning stroll turned scary on Feb. 25.

The Montana resident usually starts each day with a walk to the mailbox at the end of her property accompanied by her two best friends: Chloe, 6, a female pug, and Willow, 1, an indoor Siamese mix cat.

"We do this around 6 am while it is still dark outside," Bjelland, a receptionist in the radiation dept. of a Billings health care facility, tells PEOPLEPets.com. But something was off that day when came back inside the house, "Chloe walked to the back door and started crying," she recalls.

Bjelland quickly opened the door so Chloe could run outside. Soon the pug started barking and circling around in a banner of excitement -- a sign that something was definitely wrong.

Bjelland, whose husband Ron, was just waking up, noticed that Willow was not in the house and ran down the steps behind the house to find Chloe circling around their koi pond, which is 12 by 22-ft. The 3-ft. deep pond normally attracts birds, rabbits, raccoon and deer.

"I was horrified to see that Willow had fallen through the ice and was struggling to get out," Bjelland tells PEOPLEPets.com. "Chloe was telling us that her sister was stuck on ice chunks."

Instantly, Bjelland, crying and frightened, grabbed little Willow, who is declawed on the front paws, and pulled her out of the pond that had partially thawed from a couple of unusual 40 degree days.

Warming her little kitten in towels, Bjelland held Willow in her arms, but the cat was not interested in cuddling. She was freezing cold.

On most winter mornings, Willow could walk on the ice covering the pond because it was frozen solid. So when she chased a rabbit after their mailbox walk, she immediately fell through the melted ice.

"Finally, Willow shook her paws to get rid of the excess water and I could tell she was feeling better," says Bjelland. "For the next two days she was lethargic, but by the third day she was feeling fine."

Chloe was elated that her sister was alive and well. She ran around excited and barking in a happy frenzy.

"Chloe was as happy as we were that everything turned out alright," Bjelland says. "She is a good dog. And she loves to sleep with Willow each night. They absolutely adore each other."

National Canine Cancer Foundation

18 comments:

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

I'm sure Tweedles will be sooooo furry happy!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra & Khousin Merdie

Sierra Rose said...

What a wonderful pair! So glad for the joyful outcome. Warms our hearts.

Hugs and snaggle-tooth kisses,
Sierra Rose

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

What a wonderful story to start my day! I'm sure Tweedles will love this story too! Enjoy your Tuesday!

Dexter said...

What a wonderful story about brave and good friends.

Slobbers,
Mango

Maxmom said...

Yeah...that is a Tweedles' kind of happy story! Thank you for uplifting our hearts.
Lotsalicks
MAXDOG IN SOUTH AFRICA

The 'splorin' Wolfies said...

wow! what a story!

The Adventures of the LLB Gang said...

What a wonderful and upliftng story!! Thanks so much for sharing it!!

Smileys!
Dory

Sam said...

This is an amazing story. I am always so awed by things like this. What a great little dog!

Sam said...

This is an amazing story. I am always so awed by things like this. What a great little dog!

♥I am Holly♥ said...

Thanks for sharing such an unlifting story. The little dog saved his friend's life!! Love, Debbid and Holly

Unknown said...

What a pair! Lovely story. Good job puggy
Twinkie

JacksDad said...

I needed this today!

Thank you! :)

Sagira said...

Wow, what a great story. What a beautiful kitty!

^..^Corgidogmama said...

Such devotion and caring! Terrific story...wish more humans were as "good" as these two!

Emma Rose said...

What a precious bond they have! Thank you for sharing the story with us.

Tweedles -- that's me said...

That's the way love is.
I would do anything to help my friends too.
My heart was beating so fast as I read the words!
And now I am smiling.
Puggies are sooo smart and Chloe knew exactly what to do, to get help.
Chloe did not give up.
She was determined, and willow did not give up either. I know that Chloe could hear Willow crying "Chloe, please help me".
I know Willow was so relieved to see help come.
And now I know they are cuddled togethers like they should be.
I would help, and I would help you too.
Thank you for making my heart happy
love
tweedles

Anonymous said...

We know here that cats and dogs actually do like each other; most of the time.
- TBH&K

The Oceanside Animals said...

Good dog!