You may notice that Murray doesn’t look like other dogs. He is wonderfully unique. And it was his looks, in part, that made his family fall head over heels in love with him.

Murray’s story now has a happily ever after, but for a good, long while, things didn’t look so rosy.

Murray was born in Puerto Rico, where he contracted distemper and was abandoned on Dead Dog Beach — a beach on the southeastern coast of the island where hundreds of animals are left for dead every year.

Distemper is a horrible virus, that often kills the animals that contract it, destroying the nervous and respiratory systems. But Murray survived. The bout left him toothless (as such, he is unable to keep his tongue in his mouth) and with a disfigured head, neither of which do a thing to detract from his sweet, loving nature and zeal for life.

Murray was eventually found and rescued by The Sato Project, which brought him to the United States to be adopted.

But he very nearly wasn’t.

In fact, a vet had Murray slated to be euthanized due to his condition, but then had a change of heart when Murray began wagging his tail before the lethal injection could take place. Again, Murray beat the odds. And that’s when he met the Gallant family, whose love for him was sharp and instantaneous.

“The signature tongue out is just the cutest thing, and his crooked features, if you look at his face closely you notice his ears aren’t aligned right on his head. His quirks make him even cuter and more special,” Mackenzie Gallant told Barcroft Media.

Murray began life with the Massachusetts family as a foster, but they decided they couldn’t give him up and eventually created an Instagram account that’s been helping raise awareness for rescue dogs and The Sato Project in general.

“We made his Instagram when I left for college for friends and family to follow but over the past year he has gained a lot of followers and helped raise awareness of rescue dogs, The Sato Project and distemper,” Gallant said.

To learn more about The Sato Project, visit their website.

Tiny Maltese Soshe had been trapped alone in her house for more than a week. No food. No clean water. The sofa on which she floated wass all that was keeping her alive.

Video via: Animalkind

The little dog was one of many victims awaiting rescue in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, which ravaged residents of North Carolina. So many animals were stranded, in fact, that the local rescuers called in help. It was a team from the Humane Society of Missouri’s Disaster Response who wound up saving the day for little Soshe.

In some places, floodwaters were at roof level and the team had to make multiple attempts to reach the home where a dog (Soshe) was stranded inside. On their third attempt, the boat broke down, but they didn’t give up, paddling more than a half-mile to the flood-addled neighborhood. After finally locating the right address, rescuers could see Soshe inside, floating on the couch, but as the water had caused the wood to swell and the water on both sides created pressure, they found it difficult to open the door.

That didn’t stop them, either, though; they kicked it in and rescued the frightened and hungry little pup. Soshe was too scared to swim to them, and likely exhausted. She’d been alone without food for a week.

Once safe in with her rescuers, she was cheery and otherwise okay, happily scarfing down her first meal since the hurricane. Later, a friend of her owner (who was stuck out of town when Hurricane Florence rolled into the area) showed at the temporary animal shelter to claim her.

“She was distraught that she couldn’t get to her house and knew that Soshe was inside,” said the woman who picked up Soshe. She will reunite the dog with her owner.

Soshe was one of several dogs, chickens and horses rescued by HSMO’s Disaster Response Team following Hurricane Florence. The nine-member team headed back to Missouri on Tuesday after a 10-day deployment.

Anyone interested in helping pets affected by Hurricane Florence can donate online here or by calling (314) 951-1542.

When Miami-Fire Rescue got a call about a tired dog in a Southwest Miami-Dade canal, they headed to the scene and found what appeared to be a Rottweiler-mix struggling to stay afloat.

“They quickly went in and pulled the tired dog out,” said Lt. Kirsten Miller, a spokeswoman for the department.

Video of the rescue shows three firefighters in the water, getting the dog to shore. The dog is then placed on a yellow tarp, clearly relieved.

The department said the dog’s rescuer, whose heart-strings were tugged by the sweet-faced pup, “will be taking the dog to nurse it back to health and try and find it’s owner.”

Did you know…?

Dalmatians, of course, are these days a mascot-dog of sorts to firefighters, but back in the early days of professional firefighting, this breed served a vital role that pre-dates even their time serving alongside these brave heroes.

It was discovered, much earlier on, that Dalmatians not only did a good job keeping pace with horses as they pulled carriages in the days before engines, but even protected them and kept them calm. British aristocrats used them for this purpose in the 1700s and the dogs even became something of a status symbol, according to Trevor J. Orsinger’s book, “The Firefighter’s Best Friend: Lives and Legends of Chicago Firehouse Dogs.; the more Dalmatians you had running along side your carriage, the higher your social standing.

This became far more important when it came to fire, which of course, naturally frightens horses. The Dalmatians’ presence would keep them calmer during blazes, allowing the firefighters to better do their job. And so they became the breed of the profession.

For awhile, even after the invention of the automobile, the dogs were kept around for tradition, instead guarding the fire house and all that was in it while the firefighters were out battling a blaze. Though few stations still maintain the tradition of Dalmatians in fire houses (those who do have dogs have them in all shapes, breeds, mixes and sizes these day), they do remain a fun, spotted symbol of this noble profession.

Rosco went missing on last week. His family was beside itself searching. They feared the worst, but days later got the call they’d been hoping for.

Bayonne, NJ, firefighters rescued the 11-year-old puggle from near drowning after workers at a water plant heard barking coming from somewhere in their facility.

“Responding units found a puggle, an older puggle, holding onto a pipe in an approximate 8-foot pit full of water. Basically holding on so it doesn’t drown,” ayonne Fire Chief Keith Weaver told CBS News.

Rosco is so special, that brothers Drew and Jeff Adelung were dreading the idea of telling their 84-year-old father, Ken, that his beloved companion had gone missing.

“I knew that I was going to have to tell him and it was breaking my heart,” said Jeff Adelung.

Their father had been taken to a rehab center last Friday after suffering a fall. When the brothers returned later that night, they discovered Rosco had escaped through the kitchen door.

“The dog’s a little rascal and he ended up getting away,” Drew said.

They worried the news would affect their father’s recovery, and so delayed telling him in the hope that Rosco would be found. They posted flyers, the hoped. When they heard the news that Rosco was safe, they felt so much gratitude and relief.

Water plant employees called the fire department upon hearing the barks in an unused portion of the plant. Rescuers were able to reach him, cuddling the pup in a blanket before bringing him to a vet for examination. Drew told CBS New York he raced to the vet when the Bayonne police called. His father, Ken, had gotten Rosco after his mother passed away.

“All I can tell you is it is a miracle,” Jeff said.

The brothers, with dread, had been planning to finally tell their dad on Wednesday that Rosco was missing. Now they can instead share a story with a wonderfully happy ending.

Two weeks ago, staffers at Richmond Animal Care and Control (RACC) saw yet another heartbreaking case of the unthinkable; a little dog had been found in a trash bag, alone at the side of the road.

Generally, staffers told CBS 6, it’s usually too late for these animals – but little Annabelle was found alive.

And now, she’s got a forever family to give her all the love she was missing before.

(RACC) officials posted the good news on their Facebook page over the weekend.

“The day has come!” officials posted. “We are THRILLED to announce that Annabelle was just adopted. A thousand thanks to each of you for supporting her through this journey at RACC. We share our joy with YOU! Good luck, sweet little girl, and may your life be wonderful and filled with love and snuggles.”

Annabelle’s new mom was thrilled to have her home and later posted a photo of Annabelle,noting she was doing “awesome” in her new home.

“She and her big brother Jake are getting along great!” Magne wrote. “They’ve already eaten, and gone out, and had a visit and gotten presents! She’s sound asleep on my lap right now. Jake and I love her so much and can’t wait to give her the best life ever!!!”

Magne added that she was looking forward to seeing the dog “thrive and be happy.”

“I’ll try to start a FB and Instagram page for Annabelle and her brother Jake,” she shared.

The Shih Tzu mix was discovered in a garbage bag on the side of Midlothian Turnpike and was brought into the shelter late on Sept. 13, according to RACC Director Christie Peters.

“[The citizens] showed up here with a dog that had been found in a garbage bag that was still in the garbage bag in their car,” Peters explained.

Nearly 100 percent of the dog’s skin was infected including both of its eyes. The dog, that the shelter named Annabelle, is estimated to be five years old and also has poor teeth.

“She has been treated terribly in the past. Obviously, no one has cared for her in a very long time,” Peters stated. “This neglect has been months and months and months in the making.”

Annabelle is incredibly sweet and playful despite her appearance, Peters said.

Officials has asked anyone who recognized the dog or anyone who knows anything about the people connected to her to contact them, but at last check no one had come forward.

We are so thrilled for Annabelle and her new family; it’s a beautiful “happily ever after” story for this newly minted princess of a pup.

Can a dog have a dog? In the city of Manila in the Phillippines, it would seem that not only can a dog have a dog. It can have a seeing-eye dog! And this sweet pair is taking social media by storm, according to Fox 8 Cleveland.

According to their Facebook page, Ginger and Kimchi have been “ambassaDOGS” for three years now.

Kimchi, you see, is a blind spaniel mix who’s believed to be between 9 and 12 years old, and her wonderful friend, Ginger, an 11-year-old golden retriever, serves as her companion and guide.

According to the page, the couple who owns the dogs had planned to adopt Kimchi from CARA Welfare Phillippines several years ago and brought Ginger along to meet this potential sibling. In the past, Ginger had been aggressive with other pups, so they weren’t sure it was going to work out, but the pair hit it off right away.

“We immediately took them out for a walk that turned out to be very pleasant, Ginger even licked him when we stopped for a breather,” the couple said online, “Seems like the dog, whom we later named Kimchi, chose us, and Ginger chose him.”

Kimchi was rescued after being found abandoned. He suffered from many health issues and was almost completely blind.

He lost his sight for good three years ago, but Ginger has been his seeing-eye dog ever since. The couple said that Ginger acquired this role without any formal training and that “Kimchi doesn’t mind being led around, for the most part anyway. They are always paired when we go out, a guide dog, for a blind dog!”

So inspired were they by their dogs’ devotion, and grateful to the rescue that brought the family together, not only do they volunteer for CARA, they have more than 22 companion animals!

In addition to serving as “ambassaDOGS,” both Ginger and Kimchi provide service for the community as well. The two dogs are often invited to provided emotional support to hospital patients, students, and company employees.

Guy the beagle has gotten loads of attention since becoming the signature “rags to riches” story of the shelter-dog universe. His story – as much of it as we know, anyway – begins with our hero dog lost in the woods of Kentucky and ends with his moving to Kensington Palace, courtesy of the young actress who adopted him from a rescue in Canada, and then went on to be the newest member of the Royal Family.

Now, Guy has apparently “written” his story for the benefit of fans (and hopefully new generations of adopters-not-shoppers!) around the world. According to the Daily Mail, it is set for release in November.

Its full title – His Royal Dogness:The Rebarkable Stoory of Meghan Markle’s Rescue Dog, is reported to be officially endorsed by Markle’s new family, with help from co-authors Camille March and Emmy-winning writer and producer Mike Brumm. It was illustrated by artist Gerald Keller.

You can pre-order it on Amazon already, in fact!

Back in November of 2017, just after it was announced that Markle was engaged to Prince Harry, news broke that she’d taken Guy from her then-home in Toronto to London, settling into Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace. It was also much reported that Markle made a difficult decision, too, leaving her other rescue pup, Bogart, behind. The senior dog was reportedly too frail to make the trip.

Guy, as many now know, was found wandering and eventually made his way into the hands of A Dog’s Dream Rescue in Toronto. Markle saw him at an adoption event, fell in love, took him home and the rest is now a fairy-tale story if ever there was. From the Kentucky woods to paparazzi chasing him as he reportedly rode in a limo with the Queen herself.

In an interview earlier this year, the Duchess of Sussex revealed: “One [dog] is now staying with very close friends and my other, little Guy, he’s in the UK, he’s been here for a while.”

During her time filming the show “Suits” in Toronto, Markle regularly posted photos of her dogs on her former Instagram account.

We recently reported that last month, the royal couple reportedly welcomed a new dog called Oz to their family. Photos have yet to emerge of the new pup, but we’re betting that Guy’s tell-all book will be a big seller for the upcoming holiday shopping season.

Harley has had quite the adventure, one neither he, nor owner, Shane Hale, are likely looking to experience again!

Hale and Harley were happily reunited this week after the small pup fell overboard while sailing in the Gulf of Mexico last Saturday night. The pair was on their way to Key West, sailing about three miles off the coast of Englewood, FL (just north of Fort Myers) when a nasty storm blew up.

Hale told reporters that Harley was wearing a life jacket that was attached to the boat with a tether, bbut apparently slipped out of the flotation device once he fell into the water.

He posted about the tragedy on social media and – miracle of miracles! – found out the next day that Harley had made it to a nearby beach! The little dog made the three-mile journey on his own. He picked up a mild case of pnuemonia, Hale said, but is otherwise healthy and happy!

While we’re talking water safety for dogs….

There’s no firm data on canine drownings, so we can look at human statistics. Per the U.S. Coast Guard, drowning is the leading cause of death in boating acccidents – and in more than 80 percent of cases, victims were not wearing life jackets.

Dogs aren’t just prone to excited and unexpected voluntary leaps from your boat or dock. They can easily slip and fall due to the rocking motion. And just because your pup knows how to swim doesn’t mean it’s safe, either. Per the stats, most human boating accident victims know how to swim, too, but can drown due to injury, unconsciousness or hypothermia (any of which can affect a dog, as well).

So if you’re in the market for a dog life jacket, here’s what to look for:

FIT: It should be snug, but comfortable, allowing for good range of motion for both neck and legs.

HANDLE: Durable enough to lift your dog up out of the water. A tether is recommended no matter your dog’s size, but especially if you’d be unable to get the dog out of the water yourself.

COLOR: Bright! This will help with visibility. Reflective properties are a great idea, too, if you might be on the water after dark.

FLOTATION: Make sure there is a pad under the dog’s chin – this will help keep the head above water if he’s unable to do it himself – and one in the abdominal area, which will provide extra buoyancy!

Twenty-one-year-old Samantha Orr has had a bright spot to illuminate her life after a devastating tragedy. After 19 days, her dog, Bentley, who had gone missing after being thrown from the car during a crash in Colorado, has been found alive and well.

Orr lost her mother, 43-year-old Jennifer Orr, in the accident, which occurred on Aug. 7, when their Jeep plummeted some 600 feet down a mountain side west of Pueblo, CO. Samantha was severely injured, as well; she was airlifted by rescuers to get emergency medical attention. Bentley, a 1-year-old goldendoodle who had flown out the window during the incident, was nowhere to be found after the crash.

“We were just driving along having a conversation and the next thing we knew we were going over the edge,” Samantha Orr told KOAA News.

Once released from the Colorado hospital, Samantha returned to the scene of the accident to search for Bentley, not knowing if he had even survived the wreck. She had hope, though, and the help of kind strangers who helped look for him.

Orr distributed missing dog flyers and a Facebook group – Bring Bentley Home – was spun up to help share information and offer helpful tips on how to track a dog who was likely quite traumatized.

Nineteen days after the terrible accident, Bentley was spotted in the mountain terrain near the crash site.

With some patient and understandably emotional coaxing – Bentley was naturally spooked and skittish, even toward his owner – the nervous dog eased himself into Samantha’s appreciative and relieved arms. They were at last reunited. Orr was beside herself with joy.

“And from then it was nothing but tears and celebration!” Samantha wrote on Facebook. “Bentley is okay, he’s a little malnourished and dehydrated. But otherwise no noticeable injuries. Thank you to everyone who played a role in bringing this sweet boy home. I know the past 19 days, God and my beautiful momma have been keeping an eye on him.”

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Jennifer Vaz was walking her own dog, Molly, near a New Jersey beach, when she heard whimpering. Below her, near the rocks and partially submerged by the incoming tide, was a cage with a 10-month-old pit bull inside.

“When I looked down, I saw these eyes looking back at me — these cute little puppy eyes all shivered up and scared,” Vaz told WABC on Tuesday. “I couldn’t believe that this happened in our town and somebody could be this malicious and do that to that dog.”

She immediately hopped the barrier to rescue him, calling authorities once she was home safe with the dog. Now the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office is investigating.

“The tide was coming in and the water had reached the cage,” the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement. “When animal control arrived on the scene the cage was almost covered by the rising tide. If not for the heroic rescue act of the good Samaritan, the dog could have potentially drowned.”

Vaz gave him the name “River” before she turned him in to authorities. She plans to adopt him.

Jennifer Vaz, right, saved River. Now she plans to adopt him.

Prosecutors believe the dog may have been left there between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. and says he is now in good health.

“Although River is a bit shaken up, he is in good physical shape and seems to have been well cared for,” the SPCA said. “We are working with the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office to help bring justice to River.”

The center posted images on its Facebook page this week, showing him snuggled up with a uniformed police officer while sporting his new tags and collar.

It urged anyone with information about the dog or its owner to contact the Monmouth County Cruelty Hotline or the Highlands Police Department.