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.

Traditionally, firefighters are called in to rescue cats from trees (if cartoons have anything to say about it, at least) bbut this time, it was a dog who benefited from the rescue knowledge the brave men and women of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department have cultivated.

After receiving a call about a small dog who had gotten trapped in the HVAC system of a West Springfield-area home this past Friday night, crews responded.

The team worked diligently to determine the dog’s location and craft a strategy to safely extract it from the duct. In the end, the dog was removed unharmed, but we can’t report the same for the ceiling.

Check out the video of the frazzled-but-uninjured pup being rescued:

The department let its social media followers know via multiple platforms with a fun sense of humor. The tweet read: “Engine 427, West Springfield, responded to a ruff and far-fetched rescue last night. A small dog was trapped in an HVAC duct. Crews took a paws to shed light on dogs location and work out strategy. Firefighter Williams cut a hole in ceiling and retrieved dog. A pawsitive outcome!”

*****

A pretty strange rescue, but if you REALLY love wild stories of rescue, check out this video from The Dodo!

In this dramatic compilation, there’s only one dog story – but all three are about as compelling as could be, and feature people who are, without a doubt, genuine heroes. The first is an especially scary one, in which two bucks became antler-entangled, a terribly dangerous situation for the animals if they failed to disentangle, but also for the men trying to free them!

In the second, a lovely horse is trapped in the rising Texas floodwaters of Hurricane Harvey, too frightened to move.

And in the last, we have our sweet dog story, wherein the pup fell down a well and was unable to get out. Clinging desperately to the rock, she tries to stay afloat — and finally, at last, is rescued.

Sweet Grandma Tala arrived at Frederick County Animal Control as a stray and was never reclaimed.

Though she quickly became a staff and volunteer favorite, it quickly became apparent that confinement does not suit Tala.

Left in her kennel, she would panic, trying desperately to escape. She broke three canine teeth this way. As a short-term solution, staff kept her with them in their offices or at the front desk, greeting visitors. And seriously – watch the below video to hear more about her and see how sweet she really is!

Then Amy, a foster care provider, stepped up to take Tala in. Amy has found ways to keep Tala from hurting herself (or Amy’s home) when left alone in the house.

In her foster home, Tala has proven herself to be wonderful with both children and cats. Tala also has found a new friend in the family’s puppy, who plays with her every morning.

Thanks to the Grey Muzzle Organization, Frederick Friends of Our County Animal Shelter has been able to cover most of Tala’s medical needs. First and forement, she needed her three broken canine teeth extracted. Second, Tala has some of the health concerns that older dogs often develop. Most notably, she’s had a number of tumors removed.

Tala’s foster family loves her very much. In fact, Tala sleeps every night with their older daughter. Though they wish they could adopt her themselves, they have found that Tala is a little too interested in their goats and chickens. But this active senior girl is happy and loved while she waits for her forever family to come along and fall in love with her.

If cute dog videos are the pinnacle of adorable on the internet, what happens when you add a baby lion to the equation?

Viral infinity!

Back in 2014, a male lion cub was born at a zoo in Sri Lanka, but sadly, the cub’s mother rejected him. Zookeepers were concerned, of course. They wanted to ensure the baby lion grew strong and felt love while doing so, and since a dog’s love is, arguably, the best love, they decided to try and incorporate him into a newborn family of pups..

At first, his potential new mom was not interested, but, said the dog’s owner, Heshan Mendis, it only took a short time for her maternal instincts to warm her over.

“After five, six hours, the dog changed, and she treated the lion cub as her own pup,” he said. “She licked him and she loves the lion cub more than her pups.”

In the above video, shared by BBC News, Mendis’ sweet dog tenderly nurses the baby lion along with her own biological brood of pups. She did so for three weeks, and the cub was welcomed into the fold by the puppies, too. They all played together like a natural litter and the little lion was a welcome playmate.

Naturally, as the lion grew, he needed to find a more suitable home. He was first relocated to a zoo, and then a sanctuary and today is a beautiful, full grown lion, no longer the tiny furball that Mendis welcomed into his home for a time. The lion, however, never forgot him – and Mendis still visits, and enjoys petting his old friend.

Animal experts say that there are a multitude of reasons why a lioness might reject or abandon a cub. One could be that she doesn’t have enough milk or may favor a stronger cub over another. In rare instances, lions may reject a cub that has been overly handled by humans.

For this once-little lion’s sake, it’s good that a dog mom’s love is so vast, she can share it with other babies, too.

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.

When this family adopted Kurbis, who literally “fell into their lap” at a senior dog adoption event, they could feel how much he wanted to be loved, but his past was a mystery. In the time since, he’s learned to be a dog and they say it even seems like he’s getting younger!

Why you should adopt a senior!

Senior dogs are often overlooked at shelters and rescues because of their age, passed over for cute, little puppies. Those puppies are undeniably cute, but not every household has the time or energy for a puppy. They can be challenging (which is why so many end up back at the shelter!). Senior dogs on the other hand, often come with life skills at the ready. Important ones like leash walking, not going in the house, even tricks! They most often know that toys and treats are for chewing, while shoes are not!

Seniors often love to sleep and or snuggle the day away, and while they need exercise like any other dog, it’s usually less.

The fit easily into a household and make wonderful companions (for instance, with human seniors, who not only appreciate their low maintenance, but their calm, age and wisdom!).

Senior dogs may not have as many years as a pup, but they often have many more than you’d think. Just think about Kurbis in the above video from The Dodo‘s Pittie Nation — he seemed to get younger once he was in a happy place with a family who loved and cared for him!

Oftentimes, people mistakenly think that older dogs in rescue or at a shelter were problematic, which is why they ended up homeless. Most of the time, this isn’t the case. There are many reasons people give up their older pets. Some arrive at the shelter because their owner had to move or even passed away. But more importantly, it’s not generally their “fault.”

These dogs need homes, just like the younger ones. Give a senior a chance. Most people find it to be an incredibly rewarding experience.

Prince, say volunteers and staffers at the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society in New York say that Prince, who has been with them for 5 five months, is doing wonderful with his obedience training. But come night time, he has THEM trained!

You see, since he arrived at the upstate New York animal shelter, getting tucked in is an important source of comfort. Some people may find it surprising, but pit bulls are a very emotional and sensitive breed.

“Every night at closing, if someone gets into his kennel and gives him a toy, he climbs right into bed and waits to be tucked in with a blanket,” Mohawk Hudson Humane Society spokeswoman Marguerite Pearson said in a statement to InsideEdition.com.

She explained Prince can get nervous at the shelter, but tucking him in every night helps keep the animal calm and situates him to his environment.

“When he first arrived, Prince was terrified,” she explained. “He stayed curled up in a ball, shaking in the back of his kennel. Staff and volunteers started working with him, and slowly but surely, he came out of his shell.”

Prince came to the shelter back in April. His owner, unable to care for him, gave Prince to his girlfriend, but Prince slipped his collar, ran away and ended up in lock-up, attempts by the staff to reach her went unanswered.

“We followed up, expecting that she would come to redeem him, but she never did,” Pearson said.

Pearson said they’re now looking to find Prince a new home, and spent the last several months training him to sit and drop a toy on command.

“[Staff has] been taking him on outings and showering him with affection, which he loves. And he gives it right back,” she said. “He’s very smart and people-oriented.”

Pearson explained the 2-year-old pit bull would do best in a home where he’s the only animal, and when he gets to know you, “his loving personality shines and he becomes a real love bug.”

To find out more about Prince, visit the shelter’s website.

This lovely lady is Ms. Brynn, 7 years young. And the folks at the Little Shelter Animal Rescue in Huntington, NY (that’s on Long Island!) are sure you’re going to fall in love with her.

Thanks to a grant from The Grey Muzzle Organization, Little Shelter is able to help more senior dogs like Brynn.

A true Renaissance woman, Brynn is a worldly pit bull mix looking for someone who can appreciate all her fine qualities. She will gladly join you for a midday sun bathe or an evening stroll, made all the better if snacks are served…! Who doesn’t enjoy tasty hors d’oeuvres?

Her friendly, sweet and outgoing personality makes her the perfect pup to complete your family. Once she is by your side, you’ll wonder how you ever binge-watched a series on Netflix without her!

This lovely girl is ready to meet you. Don’t keep her waiting! For more information, check out the Little Shelter’s website.

More about Little Shelter Animal Rescue in their own words….

Little Shelter Animal Rescue and Adoption Center is a non-profit, no-kill animal shelter nestled on six wooded acres in Huntington, Long Island. Little Shelter has been dedicated to saving abandoned dogs and cats and placing them into loving homes since 1927. Age, physical condition, and socialization issues are never criteria for rescuing a dog or cat whose life is in jeopardy. Through rescue from kill facilities, rehabilitation of sick and unsocialized pets, and a 100% spay/neuter program, Little Shelter hopes to end pet overpopulation and place all dogs and cats into loving homes. All Little Shelter animals receive the highest quality medical care and are spayed or neutered prior to adoption. Every potential adopter is interviewed and thoroughly screened to ensure the best quality homes. Included on the grounds is Sheltervale Pet Cemetery, which has been the final resting place for companion animals for more than 90 years. Little Shelter Animal Rescue has won Best of Long Island 9 straight years (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018) for Best Animal Shelter and Best Animal Rescue!

TO THE RESCUE: ABC station reporter interrupts live stream to rescue dog chest deep in the flooded streets of New Bern, North Carolina. After struggling to carry the big dog out at first, they all made it back to safety. https://t.co/Tbsr5qdPl5 pic.twitter.com/Sl87T0Nntd

— ABC News (@ABC) September 15, 2018

With Hurricane Florence bearing down, a reporter for a local ABC station interrupted her Facebook Live broadcast to help rescue a dog caught in the storm’s flood waters.

WTVD’s Julie Wilson was in the middle of streaming live in New Bern, North Carolina, when she saw a woman struggling to save a dog, a Rottweiler, from the deep water. The dog had been injured.

Wilson was amid assessing storm damage when she noticed the woman having difficulty steering the dog through the deep water. Wilson asked the woman if she could pick up the dog.

“Can we pick this one up?” Wilson asked the woman. The reporter gave the woman the camera and carried the dog.

“You are OK, baby girl,” Wilson told the dog.

“Nobody is leaving the dog in this mess,” Wilson said. “That’s what we are doing out here.”

The woman thanked the reporter for her help.

The dog, it turned out, was the woman’s child’s therapy dog.

“That dog wasn’t going to budge, it was just standing there. And quite frankly, [the woman] was just going to get hurt because she wasn’t going to be able to lift that dog. That dog wasn’t going to go, that dog wasn’t going to walk. The only thing we could do was lift it up and get it out so she could get out before more people got hurt in that situation,” Wilson said.

Hurricane Florence has been downgraded to a tropical storm and has weakened on Saturday since it made landfall on Friday. The storm has been blamed for at least six deaths. Many animal rescue operations and animal lovers have been out en force doing what they can to rescue animals who have been displaced by the storm