Sergeant Gander – A Canadian War Dog Hero

It was seventy years ago in December when Sergeant Gander gave the ultimate sacrifice serving his country in the Battle of Hong Kong during WWII.

Gander, a Newfoundland dog who started out as a mascot of the Royal Rifles of Canada, became a hero for saving many lives of his regiment in the defence of Hong Kong Island during WWII.  Twice Gander’s attack halted enemy’s advance and in a final act of bravery, sensing the danger against a group of wounded Canadian soldiers under intense fire, Gander picked up a live grenade and ran with it in his mouth.  It exploded killing him in action.  Without Gander’s intervention and ultimate sacrifice, many more lives would have been lost.

Gander received the highest honor in bravery and was presented posthumously the Dickin Medal - often referred to as the animals’ Victoria Cross.  The ceremony took place in 2000, some fifty years after his death.  A look-alike Newfoundland dog named Rimshot stood in for Gander to receive the medal in a touching ceremony. The medal is now on display at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.

At the insistence of survivors of the battle, Sergeant Gander’s name was listed with those of 1975 men and two women on the Hong Kong Veterans Memorial Wall, unveiled in Ottawa, Canada in 2009. A war dog hero honored, alongside his fellow soldiers, by his country and by the world.

Another war memorial is taking shape in New Brunswick on the east coast of Canada. The stature of Sergeant Gander will stand on guard for the brave men and women who sacrificed in the Battle of Hong Kong, December, 1941. May their lives and bravery be remembered always.

Digital Dog Pack

Mutt Nutt is focusing on using social media to help with animal charity events.  What’s more fun than taking your digital dog pack for a run through Twitterville, you’d be amazed how many peemails there are to sniff! 

Please follow me at www.twitter.com/mutt_nutt

A New Year of Dogcentricity

The new 2009 Mutt Nutt will focus on dogcentric ideas, thoughts and vision.  Here are just a few for starter:

The newly wrapped Muttmobile now features a SUV full of dogs looking out from the windows, making sure that you are not tailgating….

A proposal for an iPhone app designed to locate missing mutts…

…and there are plenty more where it came from! Stay tuned.

The Feast of St. Francis

“All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small; All things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all”

 

Today I brought my 14-year old Toby dog to church to attend a special mass dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi on his Feast Day. 

 

Toby is a very special dog. He used to be a loyal companion of an elderly lady, living a peaceful and happy life in a beautiful country estate.  There they were, keeping each other company, spending many hours playing catch with a tennis ball, or just strolling along the grounds of their home.  One tragic day and their world was turned up-side-down.  The elderly lady suffered a severe stroke, and as soon as she was taken away, Toby was left alone, and was immediately sentenced to death by her relatives, who had not a care or concern about his welfare, nor the feeling of his loving owner. 

St. Francis was there to watch over Toby… through caring people who spoke on his behalf, actions were taken and Toby was saved from the attempt of being senselessly put down.  He was taken away from the horrible situation.   

I am blessed to have met Toby.  It was love at first sight and I took him home.  It was almost 6 years ago.  Since then, Toby and I located his previous owner in a nursing home, and reassured her that he was safe and happy in his new home.  

Also since then Toby has had some serious medical setback, but now declared a cancer-survivor.  He also has had a series of infection this summer, but every time, slowly and surely, he recovered.  St. Francis watches over him everyday.  

That’s why today is a very special day.  Toby receives a Certificate of Blessing.  It reads… “On October 5th, 2008, Toby, a Bulldog Cross, was blessed on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi at St. James’ Church, Caledon East, by Reverend Wendy Moore.”  

After the blessing, he received a Greenie treat, and he barked the Lord’s prayer.  

  

 

  

  

(Note: One month after the blessing, Toby started showing symptoms of paralysis, it progressed rapidly and at the end of November, he crossed over the rainbow bridge.  He forever left a void in my heart.)  

Salute to Chesty!

The story of Chesty the Marine Mascot was broadcasted on CBS Sunday Morning today.

Sergeant Chesty XII officially retired last Friday from the U.S. Marine Corps after 7 years of service.  Despite his disciplinary record with three demerits, including sleeping during parade rehearsal and eating a fellow Marine’s hat, Chesty was given full Marine honor at his retirement ceremony, when he walked down the Marine barracks for the last time.

I wonder how a retired Marine usually spend his time?  Perhaps he would appear occasionally on CNN, giving commentary on war and defence;  or pen a book, an autobiography perhaps, if his paws are not too fat for the computer keys.  Whatever it is, I wish Chesty a well-deserved Happy Retirement!

Stumble Upon

As I was strolling down the streets of Montreal last week, I saw this in the window of a bookstore.  It was a moment of delight, when I stumbled upon something so witty and profound. 

“Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend.  Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read.”

- Groucho Marx

Dog Art Gallery

Artist Moira McLaughlin recently created a beautiful clip showcasing the metamorphosis of dogs in art through the centuries.  The sequence is mesmerizing, compelling and full of delightful surprises.  This video further confirms that dogs are indeed beautiful creatures, both in looks and in spirit.  From a different perspective, this video seems to illustrate the “making of a mutt” by combining dogs of all shapes and sizes together in a three-minute clip!

Well done, Moira!

A Tribute to War Dogs on Memorial Day

War dogs use their unique abilities to complement the skills of human soldiers in carrying out the difficult tasks involved in places all over the world.  To commemorate their courage and sacrifices, the National War Dogs Monument Organization is in the process of dedicating a national monument in Washington D.C. “to honor the service and sacrifices of all military working dog teams of all U.S. Armed Services of all Wars and Peacekeeping Missions since WWI.”

John Burnam,  Vietnam Veteran War Dog Handler, wrote with regards to War Dogs: “As a free nation, we own them this monument, mandated by Congress, and erected in our nation’s capitol of Washington D.C. for the entire world to know and see that they are NOT America’s forgotten heroes”.

On Memorial Day,  be sure to take a moment to remember our fallen heroes.

Back to Back Mutts

Inspired by an ad which I came across recently, that of an image of a dog wagging its tail at the back of a London taxi cab, I proceeded to create my own version.  The result is a life size image of my beloved Tweedy, now rides smartly at the back of my car wherever I go.  However, it causes a bit of jealousy from Toby’s department.

 

 

The One-of-a-kind Lapdog Computer

This is the world’s first ever Mutt Nutt Lapdog Computer, designed for doglovers who often find themselves caught in territory dispute between their laptop and their lap dog.  In my case, Zeus the dog always wins as he persistently worms his way up on my lap and proceeds to lie across the keyboard. 

You can say that this laptop skin design is inspired by the red Dell computer and Zeus, my lap dog.  However, it is no remedy for the territory dispute over my lap, that’s why there is always a doggie lint brush nearby to wipe off the dog hair on the keyboard.

If you want to convert your laptop to a lapdog, send me an email.