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Newsweek
3 days ago
- General
- Newsweek
Couple Go to Animal Shelter, Take a Chance on 'Oldest, Goodest' Dog There
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. After an unexpected loss of the couple's canine, Alanna and Keith decided to open their hearts to a senior dog whose eyes immediately pulled at their heartstrings. Alanna and her husband, Keith, received heartbreaking news of their 9-year-old St. Bernard passing away while on vacation in February. For months, they grieved their fur baby, unsure whether they could welcome home another dog, she told Newsweek via email. That is, until the couple came across a photo of Mulligan, a 10-year-old golden retriever at the Edmonton Humane Society in Canada. They slept on the decision, but his listing disappeared the next day. Days later, they saw his post returned, and they found out his initial adoption had fallen through. But again, they waited, and the process restarted. "A week passed, and something told us to check again," Alanna said. "There he was, waiting. We discussed that he was old, but decided it didn't matter. He deserved a safe and loving home, and we knew we could give it to him." Without taking any chances of him being gone again, they arrived at the shelter 30 minutes before it opened. They learned his previous owners, an elderly couple, surrendered him due to no longer being able to care for him. Then, he was returned by an adopter for being "too stinky." He lived at the animal shelter for three weeks. The stress of the shelter environment caused him to become anxious, and he received medication. He weighed about 30 pounds overweight and walked with a limp, yet the couple didn't mind. They were head over heels for this "oldest, goodest" dog. "From the moment we saw him in person, we knew we had to take him home," she said. Screenshots from a July 12 Instagram video of a couple adopting a 10-year-old golden retriever who was the "oldest" at the shelter. Screenshots from a July 12 Instagram video of a couple adopting a 10-year-old golden retriever who was the "oldest" at the shelter. @thegoldensaint/Instagram The couple shared Mulligan's adoption story on the Instagram account @thegoldensaint on July 12. Mulligan showed nothing but smiles when he met the couple. His tail wagged, knowing his happy ending had finally arrived. Alanna said during his first two days home, he barely left his bed, the couch or the living room rug. Then, his "spirit began to brighten," as he started exploring the house, watching birds through the window and adding pep to his step while outside. His upcoming vet appointment will help the couple develop a safe exercise plan to help get his weight under control. In the meantime, they're transitioning him to healthy food. The appointment could also include a hydrotherapy session to ease his joints, she said. "He's brought light back into our home and healing to our we're determined to help him live out his golden years in comfort and joy," she said. "And no matter how much time he has left, we'll make every moment count." Viewer Reactions The heartwarming adoption reached over 322,000 views and 30,859 likes on Instagram within three days of posting. "Thank you so much for giving this sweet boy a second chance at a wonderful life," commented an Instagram user. A second person wrote: "What a precious boy. So glad he found his forever home with you!" Another added: "You can definitely tell he's a good boy!! Aweeee, happy he found a home with you guys." Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Lorne Gunter: Who knew Edmonton promotes 'forest bather' program to 'reduce stress and enhance wellness'
Turns out I've been a 'forest bather' all these years and didn't even know it. No, no. That doesn't mean I run starkers into the woods until I find a pond, then leap in for a cleansing dip. According to the City of Edmonton's new 'forest bathing' program (yes, the city actually set up such a program with guides and schedules and everything), bathing in the forest can be as simple as going for an 'exploratory walk' or drinking in all the sensations that surround us in the river valley. Don't you just get all tingly imagining standing in a grove of poplars and chanting a mantra right now? 'Om Mani Pädme Hum!' For a dozen years, since we rescued our beautiful dog Kali with the help of the Edmonton Humane Society, I've been going on long walks down by the North Saskatchewan River three or four times a week. Now that we have a second dog, Cooper, it's a great way to help him burn off energy. (He's a five-year-old border collie–blue heeler cross.) Our frequent walks are a great way to meet other dogs and dog owners. But the dogs and I also know a couple of long trails on which we are unlikely to encounter anyone else. A peaceful hour on one of these paths is very relaxing. I guess that means that all this time I've been a closet forest bather. Who knew? Unbeknownst to me, I've even occasionally used one of the city's approved forest-bathing glades. Twice a week until Sept. 18, the city is offering free 'forest therapy' sessions 'to reduce stress and enhance wellness.' They've hired guides to lead 'silent meditation, mindful sensory exploration and group and individual reflections.' All of this to 'increase connection to nature in our urban forest.' Seriously!? This is an activity that needs to be organized and guided? Isn't that level of formality self-defeating to the simple enjoyment of nature? In his famous 19th-Century book Walden; or, Life in the Woods, a 'reflection on simple living in natural surroundings,' I don't recall Henry David Thoreau talking about meeting up with his government guide at the marshalling point near the parking lot for the spiritual walk to Walden Pond. It's galling to think the city is hitting up taxpayers for this exercise. If you want to get together with a bunch of other meditators to explore the river valley, have at 'er. Just don't make me pay for it from a budget city council is always complaining is overstressed. But beyond the notion that 'forest bathing' is a tax-funded activity in Edmonton — and an overthought one at that — what makes this doubly upsetting is that this program was announced the same week council manipulated its agenda so it could cancel a hearing on residents' legitimate concerns about mega-infill projects in the middle of existing residential neighbourhoods. Talk about getting its priorities screwed up. Council also found time to extend the community revitalization levy for Downtown. That will increase taxes through 2044 to fund projects that have very little chance of revitalizing our city core. But council didn't have time to hear from residents concerned that the neighbourhoods they have made their lives in are being ripped apart by enormous developments on tiny lots with all the parking spilling onto the streets in front. Homes that people have pumped their live savings into are being devalued and their quality of life diminished so the city can push ahead with its unbalanced obsession for 'more homes everywhere.' The majority on council couldn't take the time this week to hear those concerns, but it did manage to find time to approve a seven-acre mountain bike park in the river valley (presumably far from the forest bathing sites). Any councillor with priorities as messed up as this deserves to be turfed out. lgunter@ Zoning bylaw debate poses some thorny issues for Edmonton council Lorne Gunter: Trickery at city hall so Edmontonians went home without being heard You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun
