Great Animal Rescues: Advocates Help Animals Across The World (PHOTOS)

From the Canadian teacher who rescued stray dogs from Afghanistan to the Australian hospital workers who nursed nearly 100 baby fruit bats, poignant stories of animal rescue can be found all over the world.

These rescuers are exemplars of the human spirit -- people for whom kindness has conquered apathy, who've chosen selflessness over selfishness.

Unfortunately, sometimes animal rescue stories don't have the happiest endings. An animal hospice owner in upstate New York whose facility had been promoted by Oprah and Rachael Ray was recently charged with animal cruelty after an undercover investigation.

If you can't get enough of these rescued animals, click here for more stories of heartwarming animal rescues in 2011, .

For more information about how you can be an animal hero, visit the ASPCA's website. Also, check out Petfinder.com for information on pet adoption.

Comments

[rinoalisa]

08:04 AM on 05/17/2013

Please read, sign, and share this petition! 111 signatures are still needed by June. Signing this petition will give hope to the animals who go into this Humane Society. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this.

http://www.change.org/petitions/commissioners-of-carroll-co-md-create-an-animal-shelter-our-community-can-be-proud-of

[dopplerthesexybeast]

02:00 AM on 03/05/2012

I found a dog in a Thai rice paddy who was desperately ill. She had cerebellar abiotrophy, similar to cerebral palsy, and was unable to compete for food. She was so skinny and weak that she dragged her front legs when she walked, and there were massive, infected wounds on her joints. The first day I saw her, I took (stole) a sandwich from one of the people who works here, fed her, and demanded to be taken to the vet. It broke my heart to have to listen to her screams of pain as I cleaned her infections, but she tried her best to hold still because she knew that I was doing good things. At one point, her "owner" decided to take her home while I was at work. When I got home, I was livid and demanded that he surrender her; she had been 20 pounds under his care, but is now 44. I offered to pay 10,000 baht for her; pedigree dalmatians sell for 5,000 baht. He thought I was crazy and said to just take her, but she had run away. Days later she dragged herself up to my doorstep. She's been my baby girl ever since. She is now fat and happy, but will always be disabled. She's unable to navigate stairs and has to be carried. People say she is spoiled, and they can't believe that I'm taking her to America next month. But I wouldn't have it any other way.

[jhigh52]

10:33 PM on 03/05/2012

You are obviously a truly beautiful person.

[pupmobile]

01:53 AM on 03/13/2012

What a great story! You are a very kind person, good luck to you and your fur baby.

[JParker145]

06:54 PM on 02/02/2012

I get so weary of seeing stories and articles of animal abuse, neglect, abandonment, etc. They make me cry so hard sometimes, and they stay on my mind for days, weighing so heavily on my heart. How nice to see so many here who love animals as I do, people who love and appreciate animals the way they deserve to be.

How anyone can do anything to animals to hurt them is something I'll never understand. Nor will I ever accept it.

[pupmobile]

02:13 AM on 03/13/2012

What a nice post!! I agree with you 100%

[onebluebrick]

10:49 AM on 01/23/2012

My mom was a Chow breeder. My dad loved Siamese cats. So I was raised with both. I now have only Siamese cats. Living in NE and being elderly, I cannot exercise dogs as much as they need it.

[ProudtobeTeaBag]

11:37 PM on 01/18/2012

I have seven dogs. One mini pin, two Chihuahuas and four mixed breed Chihuahuas. All rescues. We have a big piece of property and they are all spoiled rotten. :) One is 15 years old and can no longer walk due to deterioration in his back hips. He still wags his tail and enjoys his feeding times and treats, and loves to be carried around and taken out for potty time. We would never think of putting him down because he can't walk. I find it hard going to our local shelter because I want to take them all home. I loath people that are cruel to animals. Animals have such big hearts and so much love to give.

[pupmobile]

02:10 AM on 03/13/2012

Love to hear good things!! Animals do have big hearts with unconditional love and so do you!!

[JParker145]

05:06 PM on 03/20/2012

I love your comment! I feel the same way you do about people who abuse animals, too. As for your 15 year old dog who can no longer walk, I don't know if you know this, so I want to share it with you in case it may help. I had a boxer who had gottten down in his hips too bad to walk, so I made a 'strap' of soft, but strong fabric, then put handles on each end of it to use a a sort of sling. That way I was able to put the strap under his lower belly and help hold him up (using the handles sewn onto the strap) while he did his business. It made it much more comfortable for him to go, and helped his ego a bit by giving him a sense of independence. But with a small dog, you can just fold a towel, place it under his lower belly, and hold him up with it. Bless you and your precious dogs.

[karen lyons kalmenson]

09:47 AM on 01/14/2012

oh how nice it is to see
such a good side
of humanity♥

[arimoore]

08:04 PM on 01/17/2012

I know, right? Thanks HuffPo!

[karen lyons kalmenson]

04:38 AM on 01/18/2012

☻♥

[pupmobile]

02:15 AM on 03/13/2012

Yes it is great to see the good side of people for a change!!

[Michele Bennington]

03:15 PM on 01/13/2012

Spencer Sekyer...he's right about not being able to take homeless kids home. I understand very well.

Working for the homeless community is similar. You can't bring people home...so I have two rescued animals...a cat who had been shot @ at a crack house...and a big head sumptin, sumptin dog on his way to a kill shelter. All life is sacred.

[sabela]

02:16 PM on 01/13/2012

My dog and three cats are all rescues. They make the best pets.

[arimoore]

08:05 PM on 01/17/2012

Ours too - 3 feral kittens taken right off the streets of Brooklyn, now our closest, fuzziest little friends. Adopt, don't buy!

[pupmobile]

02:17 AM on 03/13/2012

You are a good person!!

[peacekitten]

02:08 PM on 01/13/2012

beautiful souls, both two and four legged.

there is a wonderful rescue organization started by british and american soliders stationed in afghanistan called nowzad.  they raise loads of money to bring animals home that rescued soldiers there, and have built a shelter there for those in need, and those who are waiting to come to their new homes.

they have proven the amazing response both other humans and our furry friends have to kindness.  this is the kind of thing that needs to grow bigger and deeper and spread until it touches every heart.  how much better the world would be if that were to happen.

[jhigh52]

10:31 PM on 03/05/2012

Yes, yes, yes...oh how beautiful the world would be if that were to happen.

[pupmobile]

02:19 AM on 03/13/2012

Nice post!!!

[Igor Purlantov]

12:44 PM on 01/13/2012

Hats off to all of the amazing people that were apart of these rescues. Let's 2012 is a great year for animals around the world.

www.igor-purlantov.org

[pupmobile]

02:20 AM on 03/13/2012

I agree!!

[karen lyons kalmenson]

07:43 AM on 01/13/2012

this story rocks
this we know
but the comments
are like the joy
of watching love
grow
so nice to see
that those who huffpost
really love all animals
you are the most!!!!

if you have an extra $5.99
this ebook celebrating dogs
and it is mine
♥☻

http://www.scribd.com/doc/75285555/Dogs-of-my-Heart

[Michele Bennington]

03:16 PM on 01/13/2012

...when I get a job....

[karen lyons kalmenson]

03:22 PM on 01/13/2012

i hear that all too well. what a world, eh♥

[moflard]

02:01 AM on 01/13/2012

Both of our dogs are rescue dogs. We rescued one when the local farmer stopped feeding her, so he replaced her with another. And then stopped feeding her after a year or so too, so we took her in too. Unfortunately here in rural Spain this is not at all an uncommon way in which people treat faithful animals. Luckily though the farmer seems to have got the message, from us and from the village, that this is not acceptable and hasn't gotten himself another victim.

[arimoore]

08:06 PM on 01/17/2012

Wow. Thank you for rescuing these doggies, and for sharing your story!

[missnoee]

11:30 AM on 02/03/2012

moflare,
Thanks for sharing. Unfortunately this kind of thing happens all the time, and sometimes these poor creatures are saved only by concerned neighbors like you. Thanks so much for being who you are !

[modelaford]

01:28 AM on 01/13/2012

I love animals having grown up on a farm. I love good news animal stories. Thank you for bringing these to HP!

[Lisa Snyder]

10:51 PM on 01/12/2012

I was blessed to be able to volunteer with the Beagle Freedom Project. Shannon Keith is one of my heros.

[mother10]

10:28 PM on 01/12/2012

you know what I have noticed, it is very easy to love dogs ! ALL of them...I just love dogs...smle

[Krumble]

06:21 AM on 01/13/2012

Join the club! I couldn't live without my 2 labs (twins or is is 2 drom the same litter) Anyway we love them dearly and I know that in their way they wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

[Krumble]

06:32 AM on 01/13/2012

I can't watch cruelty of any kind to animals on TV , or anywhere for that matter. What have they done to deserve it?........................NOTHING!

[HKB]

07:41 AM on 01/13/2012

You get fanned !

[karen lyons kalmenson]

07:41 AM on 01/13/2012

http://www.scribd.com/doc/75285555/Dogs-of-my-Heart

my little ebook, celebrating the love of all things canine♥☻