Dog Day Diaries: Inspiring Stories of Our Dogs' Love

In honor of National Dog Day, join us in celebrating the wagging tails, wet noses, and unconditional love of our canine companions.

Our dogs are there for us in every big and small moment of our lives. There's the dog you grew up with, laughed with, and played with in the backyard—your first friend. Then there's the dog you get in your 20s, who is right there next to you as you start your first grown-up job, move out on your own, and figure out adulthood. Our dogs are the constants in our lives even as everything else changes. And the best part? They're just happy to be there next to us, experiencing it all with the person they love most.

Our dogs' loyalty and unending love is worth celebrating every day, but especially on August 26—National Dog Day.

In honor of the holiday, we're highlighting some of our favorite heartwarming tales of dogs doing what they do best. From service dogs helping their humans live as normal a life as possible, to dogs saving their humans' lives, to simply making us smile each day, dogs truly are our best friends.

On National Dog Day, Here's Why We Love Our Dogs

The Daily Paws staff couldn't resist the opportunity to share about their own dogs, past and present. From a 250-pound mastiff (nope not a typo) to a 3-pound shih tzu puppy, learn all about the dogs that have loved, enriched, and made everlasting marks on the lives of our staff members.

How These 2-Legged Dogs Inspire Humans Learning to Live With Amputations

Animal-assisted therapy is one of the most incredible ways dogs bring joy and comfort to humans. Cyrus, Lucky, and Deuce are two-legged dogs who volunteer at an amputee treatment and rehabilitation center, bringing comfort to human patients who have lost limbs just like them. Their dad, Domenick Scudera, recounts a time when a patient who'd lost both his legs simply wrapped his arms around one of the dogs and sat like that for a long time, clearly enjoying a sense of relief while not saying anything. 

Scudera says patients often tell him: "'If he can do it, I can do it.' They say that to me all the time."

Partially Paralyzed Dog Starts Walking and Wagging His Tail in His New Home

Ward the dog was found in Tennessee hiding under a car, after he presumably got hit by a car. When he was found, his rescuers said he couldn't move his back legs or his tail. Ward found a perfect adopter match in his new mom, Kellyn Murphy, a physical therapy assistant. With her help and the help of other therapies, Ward is starting to wag his tail and stand on his back legs. We can't wait to see what other amazing things this special boy will accomplish.

"He's so sweet," Murphy says. "He brings so much more joy into our lives than it would ever take work to take care of him."

Raina Doesn't Need Sight or Hearing to Inspire

Sweet Australian shepherd Raina was born a double merle, which caused her white coat, blindness, and deafness at birth. But her mom, Kristen Strouse, says her disabilities have never held her back. Raina was still a puppy when Strouse realized she could inspire those around her and began bringing her to pet and community events. She educated the public on what it's like to have a blind dog, showing them how pups who are a little different can still live full lives—while enriching their families' lives as well.

Hero Great Pyrenees Moose Saves Foster Family From Houseboat Fire

Three cheers for our hero Moose, a Great Pyrenees, who saved his foster family from a fire on their houseboat. Lucky for them, but even luckier for him because he soon after found the perfect family to adopt him. He now lives on a 5-acre farm, complete with a swimming pool.

Texas Teen With Epilepsy Wins Pageant Alongside Her Golden Retriever Service Dog

Alison Appleby decided at the last minute to enter the 2022 Miss Dallas Teen pageant and ended up beating out the other contestants to earn the top title. But she didn't do it alone. Brady, a golden retriever and Alison's service dog in training, joined her on stage throughout the competition. Alison has epilepsy, and Brady is trained to warn Alison if a seizure is imminent. He also monitors her blood sugar and stress levels—which can trigger seizures when they're out of whack.

After Alison was crowned Miss Dallas Teen 2022, Brady got his own pup-sized crown, and they strutted the catwalk as winners—together.

Watch Stella, the Labrador Retriever Whose Leaf-pile Bombing Enthralls Us Each Fall

You would be hard-pressed to find someone who loves fall more than Stella, also known as the Queen of Leaves. The yellow Lab has been leaping into giant leaf piles at her home in Maine for years now, delighting more than 442,000 fans across the world. Her pure, exuberant joy is palpable through the screen and just one of many highlights of the fall season.

Meet Cole the Deaf Dog: a Superdog Helping Students and Veterans Through Therapy Visits

In April 2017, Chris Hannah spotted a deaf puppy on a shelter website, fell in love immediately, and knew he needed to bring the pup home. Now known as Cole the Deaf Dog, the duo has become advocates for deaf dogs and humans alike, bringing joy, acceptance, and a "celebration of differences'' to children, seniors, and veterans through a social-emotional learning program called The Team Cole Project. Who better to teach compassion for people and animals of all abilities?

Read the original article on dailypaws.