7 Animal Superheroes We Know You'll Love
By Maximillian Wollner, Everyday Health
We all know what makes a superhero: strength, compassion, loyalty, selflessness. In her new book, Unlikely Heroes, Jennifer Holland has collected heartfelt stories of animals that have all of these qualities and more. Some have overcome serious disabilities, others have saved lives (human and otherwise), and all are true heroes.
Here are just a few examples:
Bionic Dog: Nebraska, 2010
This mutt was just a puppy when he was discovered in the ice-cold basement of a foreclosed Nebraska home with severely frostbitten paws, stuck to a frozen puddle. He survived but had to have all four feet amputated. Nicknamed "Stubby," he was soon adopted by Christie Pace, who renamed him Naki'o — meaning "puddle" in Hawaiian.
As Naki'o's bones grew, he struggled to get around on his stubs. A bit of research let Christie to OrthoPets, a company that makes custom prosthetics for animals. She raised $1,000 for Naki'o's first leg, and when his story got some local publicity, OrthoPets decided to donate an additional $3,000 for a procedure to give him four prosthetics (as seen in the photo above) — and make him the first-ever dog with four bionic legs.
His new legs allowed him to run, jump, and even swim, achievements that Christie says made Naki'o more confident and even friendlier. Now, he inspires kids who also have disabilities, and is the namesake of Naki'o's Underdog Rescue, a pet adoption organization that helps animals with special needs.
'Alarming' Parrot: Denver, Colorado, 2006
Who isn't entertained by a parrot that lets slip some gossip or reveals its owner's favorite bad words? While many parrots could amuse you with parlor tricks, a bird named Willie used his gift of gab to save the life of 2-year-old Hannah Kuusk.
One morning, Hannah was watching cartoons while her babysitter, Meagan, prepared her favorite breakfast, a Pop-Tart. Meagan put the treat on the kitchen counter to cool and slipped out quickly to use the bathroom. Next thing she heard were Willie's shrieks of "Mama!" and "Baby!" Hannah was choking on the Pop-Tart. Meagan quickly performed the Heimlich maneuver. If Willie hadn't sounded the alarm, Hannah may not have survived. Willie was honored by the Red Cross in 2009 for his heroics.
Giving Greyhound: Warwickshire, England, 2003
One greyhound's compassion for other furry friends landed her on Holland's hero list. Following a noise complaint, a Warwickshire policeman discovered the emaciated greyhound Jasmine in an abandoned shed and delivered her to Geoff Grewcock at the Nuneaton & Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary in England. After a few months of sanctuary life, Jasmine was in good health and high spirits. Since then, she has acted as a mother to other sanctuary animals. She has let birds perch on her back, gone on friendly strolls with foxes, and even helped a tiny deer (Bramble, pictured with Jasmine) recover from a coma by gently licking and cuddling it. During her time at the sanctuary, Jasmine doted on more than 50 different creatures, making them all feel safe and welcome.
Loving Llama: Vancouver, Washington, 2007
Big animals can be heroes even in the smallest situations. Rojo, a llama that serves at Mtn Peaks Therapy Llamas & Alpacas, spends time with mentally disabled children and adults, helping them to be less anxious. Rojo's ability to bring out joy in everyone is especially helpful in his visits to nursing homes where he acts as a companion to Alzheimer's patients, who seem to be energized whenever he's around. Even if it's just for one day, this therapeutic llama eases the burden of Alzheimer's caregiving.
Veteran's Best Friend: Chicago, Illinois, 2012
As a Vietnam veteran, Lon Hodge had seen more catastrophe than most people see in a lifetime, which led to recurring episodes of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. PTSD is common among veterans, and his case was exacerbated by the death of his father, himself a former soldier. When Lon's mental state hit rock bottom, the military put him on medication, but it made him even more depressed.
Then Lon discovered a group called Freedom Service Dogs, and they set him up with a poodle mix named Gander. Gander has helped Lon become less internally focused and distracted by the past. With a companion who would never leave his side, Lon stopped having panic attacks and night terrors, and was able to go off his PTSD medications.
Therapeutic Goat: Comstock Park, Michigan, 2013
Service dogs are the most common companions for those with disabilities, but Sara Manley has a different kind of four-legged friend, a goat named Prince. Sara was born with severe allergies and spinal problems, and her medications put her at risk for seizures and blackouts. When Prince detects that Sara has low blood sugar and might have an episode, he gets very visibly agitated and nips at her, reminding her to take her medication. It's not clear why animals like Prince have sensitivities to certain human biological cues, but for this service goat, it's a life-saving skill.
Compassionate Camel: San Dimas, California, 1997-present
Camels aren't known for being nice — they stink and spit — but one exceptional camel belies their grumpy reputation.
Bert (which stands for "Be Enthusiastic, Responsible, and True") was raised by Nance Fite, a member of the Mounted Enforcement Detail in San Dimas. Fite taught the camel to be friendly to animals and humans alike. Bert's naturally protective and nurturing personality comes in handy at hospitals and therapy sessions for sick children, where he even puts his head in a child's lap to make it easier to pet him.
Fite, through the sheriff's department, also worked with Bert to help at-risk kids stay away from crime and drugs. Bert was even sworn in as a deputy by the department, and has since been promoted to Reserve Sergeant, making him the highest-ranking camel in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
Maximillian Wollner is a Production Editor at Everyday Health. You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter.