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Adorable pit mix gets seriously jealous after discovering his beloved vet has other patients

"She’s probably out there calling other dogs 'good boys' and I don’t know if I can handle it."

Photo Credit: Canva

Two dogs go to the vet.

Imagine you're a dog and you lock eyes with your caring (maybe even very pretty) veterinarian for the first time. Sure, maybe you were scared at first, but the second the vet bends down with a soft-baked treat and maybe a lilting baby-voice, all that fear just dissipates. "Your mommy says you can shake hands, show me how," they might say. "You bet I'm gonna shake," you howl proudly as you put one paw forward and then the other.

It's settled. This vet, aside from your actual human family, is now your best friend. It's you and them against the…wait a minute. Where are they going? Whatever could be more important than YOU?

These very well could be the thoughts of Harken, a cuddle-bug of a pit mix who was rescued last summer by a wonderful new family. After an hour in the car ride to his new home, he soon found his life filled with toys, treats, bubbly baths, and stylish outfits.

@HappyHarken has become quite a TikTok sensation with tons of videos, thousands of followers and over a half a million likes. One video in particular exemplifies that Harken's love knows no bounds as he has developed an attachment to his vet.

@happyharken

we are so lucky that his vet appointments are fun for him!! (but expensive for us 😀) #talkingdogsoftiktok #vetvisitgoneright #goodboybodie #sweetboy #pitmix #pitmixlove

In this precious clip, he is seen looking destitute after his vet has stepped out for a moment. The caption reads: "My dog loves the vet so much that he gets mad and sad when she leaves the room to see other patients."

We then see Harken showing off his precious vest that begs, "Please pet me," while sadly and longingly looking at the space where the vet once stood.

The comment section was equally adorable. "The vet obviously doesn't know how Velcro dogs work...and that's not acceptable." Another jokes, "You made an appointment. The vet knew he’d be there, and they still scheduled others?!"

This person took the point of view of the vet: "I’d gladly let this sweet soul keep me hostage in an exam room the whole day. 'Sorry my patient REALLY needed me.'"

And this one taps into the pure jealousy Harken must feel: "She’s probably out there calling other dogs good boys and I don’t know if I can handle it."

@happyharken

How has it already been a year since we rescued harken?!? Today was his “gotcha day” and *estimated* 3rd birthday in turn. I can’t imagine our lives without him!!! 🤎🤎 As soon as we saw his picture online we knew we had to get him. I’m crying as I type this out and edited this video lmao ❤️‍🩹 BE THEIR SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE. Adopt, rescue, foster, spay & neuter your animals peeps! . . . #mybaby #pitmixoftiktok #rescuedogsoftiktok #adopteddogsoftiktok #firstchild #happybirthdaypup #dogbirthdayparty

Harken's "Gotcha Day" celebration was just last month, with him now estimated to be about three years of age. In this wonderful clip, Harken is seen excitedly running down a hallway to a pile of fabulous toys. The caption reads: "How has it already been a year since we rescued Harken?!? Today was his 'gotcha day' and estimated 3rd birthday in turn. I can’t imagine our lives without him! As soon as we saw his picture online we knew we had to get him. I’m crying as I type this out and edited this video."

Lots of well-wishers hope Harken has a happy birthday (or Gotcha Day) and someone sweetly wrote, "I can see why you fell in love with him."

One of Harken's earliest TikToks shows the pure love bestowed on this lucky, big teddy-bear of a pup, shortly after he was rescued.

@happyharken

we 🫶🏼 our bubby boy #emosh #adoptdontshop #adoptme #americanbully #americanpitbullterrier


They chyron reads: "One day you're on the shelter's euthanasia list and then the next you live with a couple in their 20s." It's amazing how one day can change a life.

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Italy's lifeguard dogs work with humans to create a 'six-legged unit' for water rescues

Every year, the list of successful rescues on Italy's beaches grows, thanks to these good doggos.

Great Big Story/YouTube

Dogs are able to pull multiple people in the water at once.

If you're enjoying the gorgeous waters off the coast of Italy and find yourself swept out by a riptide or a rogue wave or in some other kind of water peril, you might be surprised by who comes to save you.

Lifeguards on Italy's beaches will sometimes bring a canine companion along with them to assist with water rescues. These aren't just any old dogs—they're specially trained lifeguard dogs who are paired with a human, making a "six-legged unit" that's able to paddle multiple swimmers to safety.

According to Ferruccio Pilenga, president of the Italian School for Lifeguard Dogs, our furry friends make ideal lifeguard partners because they are able to remain calm under pressure and instinctively choose the safest path through the water currents to get back to shore safely.

And because the dogs are able to keep both the rescuer and the person(s) being rescued afloat, they allow the human lifeguard to conserve energy and focus on being a more effective rescuer.

"I always say, to pull a sled you need at least six dogs.To pull six people, you only need one dog," shares Pilenga.

The lifeguard school has over 350 certified rescue dogs. They currently save between 20 and 30 people a year, with those numbers increasing each year. These heroes jump from speeding boats and helicopters to reach people in distress. The training is rigorous and exhausting, but the dogs seem to enjoy it.

Watch:

Pilenga started the training school after his own dog, a Newfoundland named Mas, rescued his daughter when she was struggling to stay above water in a lake as a young child.

Newfoundlands make great water rescue dogs with their thick double coats, webbed feet, and immense size and strength that allows them to pull large loads behind them as they swim. But other breeds of dogs are trained at the Italian School for Lifeguard Dogs as well. The school is serving as an inspiration for other countries to utilize dogs to aid in water rescues. In fact, there's even an American Academy of Canine Water Rescue in Massachusetts.

What a wonderful way to use a dog's natural strengths to save lives.

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Animal shelter celebrates being empty for the first time in nearly 50 years

The silence coming from a Pennsylvania animal shelter during this holiday week is being hailed "a true miracle."

Adams Count SPCA/ Facebook

So many animals spent Christmas in loving homes.

For the first time in 47 years, the Adams County SPCA met the holidays with silence. Not a creature was stirring—not even a mouse.

Because this year, every kennel was empty. All the animals had either been adopted or reunited with families, thanks to what the organization called a “true Christmas miracle.”

To celebrate, the Adams County SPCA shared a photo of its employees and volunteers smiling alongside all the empty kennels, and thanked the community for its continued support.

“This year we have adopted out 598 animals and reunited 125 strays with their owners! WOW! It has been a busy year!” the post read.

This miracle comes despite the shelter “discouraging” potential pet owners from adopting pets during Christmastime, as there is a long-standing belief that animals adopted during this season as gifts are more likely to be returned weeks later. (TODAY)

While this belief is certainly warranted (there are plenty of tragic stories of Christmas pets being returned once the novelty wears off), studies show that might not necessarily be the case. In fact, a lot of research has found the opposite—that animals given as gifts are far less likely to be returned to shelters.

And to add to that optimism, several people responded to the Adams County SPCA’s post with pictures of their own fur babies adopted from the organization, showing them in happy, healthy homes.

"Happy Jack who was named Briscoe, is excited to hear the great news!"

"Toulouse (adopted 16 years ago) says Meowy Christmas and congratulations"

"Harper was adopted 4 years ago from Adams County SPCA. So grateful for all you do. Merry Christmas!"

The shelter also regularly adds “happy tails” of adopted animals living their best lives, including Bootsie the cat, adopted in November.

As Bootsie's new parents can attest, the sweet feline is “adored” by all, but has been a “game changer” for their autistic daughter, hope.

"Hope cuddles Bootsie when she’s upset instead of having full blown meltdowns, cuddles him and practices her verbal expressions of compassion, love and affection. Thank you so much for all you do!" their post read.

So maybe, just maybe, we can really believe this was a well deserved miracle after all.

But still, the work continues. As the organization explained in a subsequent post on Dec 26th, other overwhelmed shelters in the state have reached out in need of support. Right now resident owner surrenders still take priority, but they are branching out to surrounding counties when able.

In their words: “We are going to do the best we can to help as many animals and people [as] we can.”

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Dog rescued from Romanian forest goes from terrified and lonely to joyous in triumph of love

There's no place like home.

via Noah's Ark Dog Rescue/TikTok

Mischa goes through an amazing transformation after being fostered.

Mischa is a mixed-breed dog discovered in a forest in Romania with her two siblings in March 2021. It’s believed she was just a month old when she was rescued. "They [Mischa and her siblings] were terrified of humans. If they hadn't of been rescued, they all would of died from cold and hunger in the forest,” Paula Biddle, a volunteer at Noah's Ark Dog Rescue in East Anglia, England, told Newsweek.

Even though Mischa’s and her siblings were fostered, she was returned to the kennel after she was sent to "didn't work out with the resident dog."

After spending just about all her life in kennels, the rescuers felt they were running out of time with Mischa because of her deteriorating mental state. As time passed, Misha "got more scared and started to shut down; she wouldn't come near us at the kennels so we had to do something," Biddle said.

​But on October 1, over two and a half years since being moved to a kennel, Mischa was fostered by Trish Edwards, who saw her story on the Noah's Ark Dog Rescue’s TikTok page.

The video of her first moments outside the kennel shows how Mischa’s attitude completely changed once she was in a comfortable home environment. "We were all amazed at how different she was,” Biddle said.

@noahsarkdogrescue

Remember the video of terrified Mischa? Well she has gone into foster and the difference by the afternoon was amazing. We can’t thank the family enough fir giving Mischa a chance of a happy life. #dogrescue #thisisrescue #adoptdontshop🐾 #rescuedogsoftiktok #noahsarkdogrescue #dogadoption #kennellife #dogfoster #terrifieddog

The video shows what can happen to dogs when they are fostered or find a forever home. "What a beautiful and lovely dog. Terrified to the bone, but still no aggression. Hope she has found her forever home," Jewelry by Jorika wrote on the post. "All they need is a chance and a bit of love and patience," JohnnyMoore128 added.

If you’re interested in helping a dog like Mischa, learn more about becoming a dog or cat foster from the ASPCA.

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