The Humane Society of the United States is gearing up to announce its 2010 Dogs of Valor Award. Through the winter visitors to the HSUS online site are encouraged to cast their vote for a rich medley of heroic pooches.  Last year's finalists included Aubrey, a Doberman Pincher who directed her owner through an overgrown path to an elderly man lying unconscious and bleeding; Butch, a rescued Pitbull who overcame his phobia of basements to save his 21 year old “stepbrother” from fire; and Hank, a rescue dog who in turn rescued his 81 year old owner when a farming accident caused a tractor to roll on him.

The contest brings to light only a handful of stories documenting the bravery and enduring devotion of pet companions.  On a daily basis, pets bring small acts of kindness into the lives of those around them.  While I’m convinced that our two Shepherd, Lab, and Chow mixes would not hesitate to pull me from a burning building before venturing back into the flames to save the our cats, I hope never to test my theory.  Rather, I’ll be content with singing the praises of their random daily acts.

So, let’s start our own regional recognition society.  Send the AppIndie both heroic and run of the mill accounts of your favorite four footed companions and let’s celebrate the contributions they make to our everyday lives.

I’ll start….

Polo showers me with gifts.  Inside, they are usually in the form of bones, which he wishes me to anchor while he chews.  But, as he grows increasingly frustrated with winter, he’s become overly fond of tennis balls.  While inside ball play may work perfectly for a Scottish Terrier, the game isn’t as successful when played with 4 year old dogs tipping the scales at 70 pounds.

Outside, Polo obsesses over Frisbees.  He stores his favorite on the back porch and, if he neglects to retrieve it when rushing outdoors, casts a pleading and frantic look my way.  While a game of Frisbee is always a well appreciated bonus, he’s usually content to carry it in his mouth, displaying it like a prized kill to the neighbor dogs.  When games go awry he’ll station himself under the backyard tree for hours waiting for the wind to release his beloved object.  Not able to witness him in such a state of anxiety, my husband and I often resort to using rakes and brooms to assist.  Polo never fails to return inside without restoring the Frisbee to its back porch home and he will treasure that disc until it is nothing but tatters and mourn its passing when we’re finally forced to throw away the scraps.

Marco, his littermate, is the lover of the family.  While he’s content to chew bones for hours on end, his needs are rarely addressed via mere materialism.  Tummy rubs and lots of hugs are his cup of tea.  He serves as a foot warmer in winter.  But, with Shepherd instincts he carries a heavy burden of responsibility.  It’s his job to herd us up to the bedroom at night and he’s up at least three times a night making the rounds to check up on sleeping humans, cats, and sibling.  Long walks are his favorite activity, but even those come pressure-laden.  He seems unconvinced that I’ll be able to navigate our way home should we venture too far astray from our well trodden path.

No, these aren’t stories of great heroism.  Then again, welcoming me home with overwhelming enthusiasm on a daily basis seems pretty heroic to me.  So, send me your stories and let’s contribute to building the good will needed to contribute to the founding of a Frostburg Dog Park.