Two young sisters fell through the ice of a river after tobogganing on Easter Sunday.  A stranger walking with his dog nearby noticed the girls and went to help. One of the sisters was able to get out, but the other was drifting down stream. After trying to reach the girl with the dog’s leash, Adam Shaw’s dog, Rocky, dove into the water next to the young girl, which allowed for her to grab onto his leash and get pulled to safety. Fire rescue crews arrived shortly after and provided medical attention to the two young girls, who are now safely at home with their grateful mother.

Adam and Rocky were honored at their local fire station, and Rocky received a giant rawhide bone for his heroic efforts.

As a student enrolled in Ashworth’s online vet assistant school, what other stories of pets rescuing humans have you heard about? Share them below.

Pets, like humans, may end up needing to take pills in order to feel their absolute best. For pet owners, trying to get a dog or cat to swallow medication can be challenging which is why many turn to veterinarians or vet assistants for help. Anothe trusted animal expert, Ceaser Milan from Animal Planet, also distributes his advice. He says there are three main ways in which a pet owner can help their pet swallow medication.

1. FOOD - There are some medicaitons that are fine to be taken with food. For those, use a pill crusher or grinder to mash up the medication, then mix it in to the dog's regular food, peanut butter, applesauce or some other easily mixable food. Make sure you get a vet or vet assistant's permission before taking this approach. Not all medications should be taken with food or work when they're crushed.
2. PILL DROPPER - This is kind of like a syringe, but it works with pills. Simply have the dog tilt it's head back and drop the pill into the dropper which will then guide the pill down the dog or cat's throat. Once you've dropped the pill, massage the animal's throat to help it swallow. Be careful with this technique though; the pill dropper can lead to choking if you're not cautious.
3. YOUR HANDS - Much like the pill dropper, this technique works by administering the pill to the back of the throat, only this time, you use your fingers instead of the pill dropper. You'll still need to massage the animal's throat and be careful not to cause the pet to choke.

Make sure you ask a trained specialist who has earned their vet diploma - whether at a brick-and mortar school or online like at Ashworth College - before deciding which technique to use. Each pet and medication is different.

Do you have any other helpful hints?

For more information, check out Ashworth College's online vet diploma program

Summertime brings out all kinds of animals including some that may not be friendly to pets.  Jerry and Allison Noles realized this first hand when their bulldog Bella got a little too friendly with a porcupine.  Bella took an estimated 500 quills to her face, mouth, and paws which left her in considerable pain.  It is believed the warm summer in Oklahoma, where the Noles live, is to blame for the porcupine being in their yard.  They suspect he wanted some water from their pond.

Allison says seeing her dog like this was devastating because she feels like their dogs are their children.  She said knowing that Bella was in pain was "heartbreaking."

If your dog comes in contact with a porcupine, don't panic.  You'll want to first get them seen immediately by someone in veterinary careers.  Do not try to pull the quills out yourself!  For 2-3 days after their encounter, run your hands along the dog's fur and see if you can feel any more quills.  If the quills stay in, they are likely to cause an infection so you'll want to be sure they all come out. 

Has this ever happened to your pet?

Usually when a person is spotted it's because they were swerving, failing to maintain speed limit, or end up losing control of the vehicle.  This, however, may be the first case of a zebra leading to a DUI arrest.  Jerald Reiter of Iowa was driving with his pets in the car when he decided he wanted to grab a drink at a local bar.  This bar, which usually allows pets, told Jerald that in fact, his pets could not come in.  Instead, Jerald left his two pets in the front seat of his truck and decided to go in and have his drink.  This sounds all very normal except when you consider Jerald's pets are a parrot and a zebra.

Someone driving down the road noticed the strange animals in the truck and proceeded to call 911.  Police showed up just in time to see Jerald just starting to drive away.  A routine field sobriety test was handed out and Jerald blew almost twice the legal limit.  Both Jerald and his girlfriend dispute this story.  “They love going for rides. They’re just a part of the family,” Jerald’s girlfriend, Vickie Teters, said. “They were not left alone in the car, not even a second.”

Jerald said he knew he was too intoxicated to drive home and was about to call a friend to come pick up his car when he got pulled over.

As a veterinary student, what do you think of this story?

Each year, PETA chooses one lucky rescued turkey to hold the distinguished honor of Turkey of the Year.  This year's recipient is Jake, a turkey from Oak Ridge, NC.  When Jake was found, he was unable to eat or even move.  Thanks to some veterinarians, an animal rescue group, and one generous man named Tony Cooler, Jake gets to celebrate Thanksgiving not on a plate, but with a family. 

"Thanksgiving is murder on turkeys, but compassionate rescuers like Tony Cooler give lucky birds like Jake something to be thankful for," says PETA Vice President. "Rescued turkeys have been given a second chance at a life free from suffering on crowded factory farms—and that's the real prize."

What do you think of this story?

Whether you have a dog, cat, or another pet, they're used to being your baby.  But if you bring home a human baby, they may not know how to react.  There are ways to get your pet used to the idea of you caring for something else and not being able to play or cuddle them whenever they want.  Parents.com has some great advice for people wondering just how to adjust their pet to their newborn.

Before the baby comes:

Schedule a checkup - A visit to the veterinarian will ensure that your dog or cat is in good health and up-to-date on all vaccinations. If necessary, you might want to spay or neuter your pet—this usually makes an animal calmer and less likely to bite.

Play pretend - Start getting your dog or cat used to the idea of an infant in the house. "Hold a lifelike doll so your pet adjusts to seeing you with a baby," said one vet.

Set up the gear - Put your baby's things in place—the swing, portable crib, bassinet—a few weeks in advance. Let your pet become accustomed to the new items and the different sounds they make.

After the baby comes:

Welcome your pet first - Say hello to your dog or cat—without the baby present. After the pet has calmed down, have your partner present your little one. "Sometimes it's a good idea to keep the pet and child separate for several hours while the pet gets used to the baby being in the house," said the vet.

Start small - For the initial intro, your dog should be on a leash in a sit/stay position and rewarded with petting or praise. Gradually, your dog and baby can be brought closer together. As long as the dog is quiet, you can let it remain nearby.  The same holds true for cats: Hold your baby near your pet, and caress and talk soothingly to the animal.

What other advice do you have for new parents and pet owners?

Taking a pet to the veterinarian is stressful on both the owners and on the animal.  Sometimes they feel scared by having a doctor poke and prod them in places they aren't used to being touched.  Maybe they feel threatened by having all these other strange animals around them.  Either way, the animals may need some reassurance when they go to the vet.  Like people, different animals need to be prepared and treated differently before they go to the vet.  Here are a few tips to help a dog:

1. Permit people you trust to handle your dog as much as possible. Ask them to run their hands all over its coat, under the belly and tail, and over the head. Let them play with the ears and look in the dog's mouth. This will accustom your pet to having someone other than you have control over its body.
2. Play with your dog's toes and paws while you are at home and the dog is comfortably sitting close to you. Doing this will get your dog used to having its nails clipped.
3. Train your dog to heel and sit quietly next to you in the waiting room, with no jumping or lunging toward other people or dogs.
4. Keep your pet's attention on you while in the waiting room or an exam room. Having a small bag of treats or your dog's favorite toy with you can help keep the dog focused.
5. Speak quietly and calmly at all times when dealing with your excitable dog at the clinic. If you become nervous or apprehensive at the vet's office, your animal will pick up on your emotions and might respond in kind.
6. Allow the veterinary technicians or assistants to handle your dog during the vet examination and subsequent procedures. It might be best for you to leave the room if you tend to get fearful or squeamish during inoculations, or when the techs take blood or feces samples.

And here are a few tips to make sure your cat is comfortable:

1. As early as possible in your cat's life, get him used to different people and environments.
2. Use a cat harness and leash to go out into the world, and give your cat treats and playtime in each new environment.
3. Take practice trips to the vet once or twice a week -- your cat won't be examined, but you'll give him treats and let him get used to the place.
4. Make the cat carrier a positive place -- leave it open all the time, filled with comfy bedding. Feed your cat in it and stick treats inside it often.
5. Get your cat used to being handled the way the vet will handle her. While you're at home and for just a few seconds to start, get your cat used to being scruffed, having her hindquarters handled and lying on her back, so those won't feel scary during a vet visit.

Will this help you calm your dog or cat at the vet?

Lets be honest: sometimes you give an extra slice of cheese to your cat when you're making a sandwich or let your dog eat the last of your chicken when you don't want the rest.  It's human nature to want to share our food with our pets.  With some of our food choices, we can actually end up hurting Fluffy instead of giving him a special treat.  Here are some foods that are great for humans and not for Fido.

1. Xylitol is an artificial sweetener found in gum, candy, mints, toothpaste, and mouthwash.  It releases too much insulin into the animal and can cause hypoglycemia and liver damage.
2. Chocolate, coffee, tea, and other caffinated drinks have theobromine in them which is toxic to dogs.
3. Grapes and raisins can cause sudden kidney failure in dogs and cats, although it is unsure why.
4. All parts of the avocado plant are toxic to dogs and cats.
5. Garlic and onions cause red blood cell damage in dogs and cats.  It causes the cells not to carry oxygen properly.
6. Macadamia nuts can cause depression, weakness, vomiting, tremors, joint pain, and pale gums in dogs.

Do you know of any other foods you shouldn't feed your pets?